Big Changes

I've been pretty quiet for awhile. We've been busy, I guess.

The past month has been a little crazy.

This past week has been close to pushing me over the edge. I can't stop crying.

We thought we'd try to find a home to rent that's closer to Luke's work - GVGH - as well as to Trott Brook. We found it. We negotiated the price, the move in date. There was just a funny smell in the house, but we passed it off as a closed up, older house, lived in by many sort of smell.

We signed the lease, paid the deposit (that the Lord alone provided!), paid half of the first month's rent and started moving in. The smell got worse. I cleaned the carpets. It didn't go away.

Blinds fell.

Other blinds were all busted up.

Closet doors fell.

Closet door knobs came off.

Door knobs came off.

Doors didn't shut all the way/dragged hard on the carpet because they weren't properly installed/fitted to the door frame.

Towel bars fell off walls.

Shower head didn't work. Just a trickle.

There were bats in the walls.

The carpet radiated a putrid cat urine smell. That we couldn't. get. rid. of. And believe me, we tried. We pulled out the big guns.

We felt sick. Literally and figuratively. What did we get ourselves into?

Oh, but then a quail strutted across the front yard and a deer was in the back. It took two minutes to drive to GVGH and Trott Brook. A plethora of babysitters was a mere moments away! It couldn't be that bad...

And then we all woke up the next morning feeling sick to our stomachs.

What DID we get ourselves into?

So we called the landlady to mention our concerns about the MANY broken items and carpet fragrance issue.

"Open up the windows. The carpet just needs to dry. The smell will go away."

Really? I'm sorry to say that the carpet WAS dry. And we had the windows open. Constantly.

"Make a list of the repairs that need to be done and we'll just slowly start chipping away. But not this week. Maybe next week."

Really?

What did we get ourselves into?

Now I know that the Lord allows all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His good purposes. I also know that He does not give us more than we can handle. I also know that my joy is not to be found in my circumstances, but rather in Christ alone. I also know that we have a responsibility to take care of our children. So, we called our apartment management company to see if we could stay here. And we can!

But not in our current apartment. The guy already signed his lease and he doesn't want a different one. He wants this one.

And so now, I get to test my head knowledge and see how well my heart knows it. So far it's failing the test. We'll be moving up a floor (no elevator), down to the middle of the hallway and losing 122 square feet. And I cry. We barely fit here. How will we fit there? And I cry again. No, I sob. Hard.

Then the Lord gently reminds me of His constant faithful provision.

So tonight and tomorrow our faithful, loving family will rally around us to move our things back here to 201 and next week when 306 is clean and ready, we will haul it all up there.

The Lord has also gently reminded me of many possible ways this trying circumstance could be used for His glory. And a large chunk of that is utterly dependent upon my attitude.

While I still do not know how this story will play out, I do know that the joy of the Lord is my strength. And I love my sweet precious little boys and darling husband.

Sometimes I wish things would work out differently than they do. But, then I suppose I would miss out on the Lord's best for me. And my family.

The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Just a couple quick thoughts

1. We stopped potty training the very same day we started. Peter is just not ready yet, I think. I will, however, give it a whirl again in a few weeks. Hopefully he'll have some success!

2. The last time I went to the grocery store? So much better than my "Freedom" post. So much better.

3. I LOVE garage sales.

Mother's Day 2011 @ the CABIN!

Minus Dad.

How sad.

But we sure were GLAD to get that overtime check! :)

And now for some pictures from that weekend!

Peter loves playing outside so much that on Sunday I caved and let him play. In the rain.

David and Grandma P.

He loves that old boat.

Sam and Heidi rescuing a ball.

Gramma Geri and David (and his blanket!)

Brad trying to stay out of trouble. :)

Auntie Kerri chatting with Uncle Jim while Peter joyfully plays in the sand.

Potty Training and a Flat Tire

Today began a new chapter.

Potty Training.

Ugh...but more on that in a minute. First a few updates on my quickly changing and growing little boys!

Peter:

1. Is so sad that co-op and BSF are done for the summer. (Amazing, right?) He asks to go frequently. I have to remind him that co-op is done and we won't go to BSF for 4 months. Hard to wrap your mind around that when you're only 2!
2. Has recently started watching Thomas the Train videos again. Loves them. I haven't allowed him to watch the really "scary" one yet, but maybe sometime...
3. He's really into playing with his trains and tracks again, too. Mr. Potato Head is a thing of the past. It's all about trains these days! He loves to reenact what he sees in the videos. It's really fun to watch.
4. He kissed me on the lips the other day and remembered to close his lips. He was so proud for remembering that! (5/2)
5. He occasionally will walk up behind me (when I'm sitting on the floor) and give me a hug or rub my back a little bit and whisper, "I love you" in my ear. Oh, it just melts my heart...
6. He used to say, "mom, mom, mom, mom, mom...." and when I'd ask what he needed he'd just start saying mom all over again. So I started teaching him to respond more appropriately with "I need..." (fill in the blank). His favorite response is "I need MOM!" Normally said with a smile and a little giggle, of course.
7. Occasionally I'll let him "brush" his own teeth. He instructs himself what to do as he goes along, "say 'aaahhh'" and then he says "aaaahhhh", and "eeeee" and "llllll" (to brush inside of teeth, front, tops, and tongue).
8. One day he was playing with a hairbrush and so I showed him how to use it. (we rarely brush the boys' hair!) Later when Luke got home from work, Peter climbed up onto the couch behind him and said, "Dad, no fuss" and started brushing his hair. Hahaha!!!
9. Talks a LOT! He's saying more 4 and 5 word sentences all the time. He also is pretty clear, too, so I am able (and so are most other people) to understand most of what he says. Yay!
10. Potty training started today!!! So far (he's napping right now) this is what has happened: visit the toilet for 5-10 minutes every 20ish minutes. No toilet action. Two accidents that he doesn't even seem to mind. Ugh........

David:

1. Is 10 1/2 months old!
2. On 5/2 saw a picture of Luke and said, "Da!" (did he really?)
3. Has 6 teeth. Three on the top and three on the bottom. The middle two front on top and bottom and one side tooth on top on opposite side tooth on bottom. He's got at least one more (other side top tooth) coming. No hurry here, though, it seems!
4. LOVES to walk holding onto someone's hands. Or a toy. Or piece of furniture. Will stand on his own for several seconds. Has tried taking a step a few times, but lacks the confidence to really try. We're hoping he walks before summer is here. (although maybe having a crawler outside is better?)
5. Is eating more and more foods. This morning for breakfast he at all but a few bites of both a pancake and banana. Wow!
6. Will guzzle water from a bottle but will not drink milk from one. Funny boy! Also learned how to drink from a sippy cup.
7. Adores his older brother. Even when said older brother takes toys away, knocks him over or hits. :)
8. Has recently developed a massive love for mommy. He doesn't love it very  much when I leave him anymore...but he's still more easy going than Peter was!
9. Has become attached to his blue fleece blanket that I made. Awww....
10. Is starting to show a temper! :) He likes to throw himself backwards when he gets mad. He will also go limp if I try picking him up when he's mad. Oh, boy.

I'm sure  you've been wondering if I'm ever going to say anything about a flat tire since that's part of the title of this post. I want my sons to know what kind of a daddy they have. I want to remember for them the things that he does to serve others. To serve God.

Last night as we were driving home from an impromptu visit to my parents' house and cabin for the day, we saw a lady on the side of the road, trying to change a flat tire. Alone. After dark. On the traffic side of the car. With her 10-year-old son in the backseat. Right in front of the St. Cloud prison!!! Not exactly the spot I'd like to have a flat. We stopped and Luke got out to see if he could help. She was so grateful! They were 5 hours away from home and still over an hour away from their destination. Aaahhhh! What would I do? She didn't have AAA, didn't know anyone remotely close to St. Cloud or anything. And did I mention that it happened right in front of the prison?

If we had gone a different way home, left earlier or later, stopped for gas elsewhere, not heeded the Holy Spirit's leading to stop, we wouldn't have been able to help.

Thank you, Luke, for being a good example to our sons.

Thank you, Lord, for giving my husband the sensitivity and ability to stop and help. Thank you for giving him to us.

He IS Risen!

Just a few Easter pictures to share on this gorgeous April day! Hope you enjoyed your Easter day as much as we did. In no particular order:

Here's Peter on the way home, sleeping, clutching one of his prized eggs. :)

Proof that we were there. (tee hee hee)

Freedom

Well, for awhile, anyway.

And then I realized what time it was. And that on my very first morning of child-free errand running I was taking longer than I wanted to. MUCH longer. Way to not take advantage of a friend on the first day, huh?

And then I realized (at the checkout) that my laziness in keeping track of how much I was spending in Walmart today was not a good choice. I had more on the conveyor belt than I had money for. And there were people behind me. And I was hungry. REALLY hungry. Know what happens when I'm hungry and slightly frazzled? I get more frazzled. So I put a few things back, paid for what was left and went out to the parking lot.

Wandering...what does the new van look like again? Ugh, where did I park??

And the whole way back to pick up my sweeties, I chastised myself over and over and over, so that by the time I got to Elizabeth's house, I started crying.

And then she fed me some yummy, amazing tater-tot casserole. What could possibly be better for soothing an emotional wreck than tater-tot casserole??

Then I went home, unpacked the groceries I did manage to buy and realized that what I didn't get wasn't all that big of a deal! I mean, who needs diapers? :) Who needs diapers when you already have a stack big enough to last until next grocery shopping day, I should say! And so here I am, not missing any of those items that seemed like such a big deal. And determined to be more careful next time!

April Lovely Weather

**This info is a week outdated...FYI**

It is April. Most of the snow has melted. Bliss.

Yesterday Peter was sick, AGAIN. And David's nose is runny. AGAIN.

Today? Peter is well! David's nose is still runny. But, I think he's getting his eye teeth, so I'll just continue to wipe his nose and not fret. Hopefully those little buggers will  pop through quickly!

Last night Luke looked at David and said, "Honey, he needs his hair cut. For real, please cut his hair." So, I sighed, pulled out the clippers, set him on the counter and with #8, I gave him a 1" cut. He wasn't really very fond of it, I will say! But what can a mom do? I either could give him a somewhat even haircut with the clippers, or a terrible, choppy haircut with the scissors. Either way he'd wiggle, wail and thrash around.

He looks older today.

His hair looks lighter, too. Maybe it's the lighting? Maybe it's my imagination? Maybe it's my hopeful thinking that I'll have at least one light-haired child?

David had his 9 month check-up a couple weeks ago. He's holding steady at the 5th percentile, so the doctor gave the stamp of approval. Such relief coursed through me, I can hardly describe! A few new, noteworthy things:

• He has his top two teeth. The two surrounding them are coming...**UPDATE! The left one came through on Monday 4/11
• Tried bananas again yesterday and liked them!
• Has issues with constipation. Grrr....I will have to limit the banana intake.
• Is suddenly outgrowing clothes (size 6-12 mos). Must have just had a growth spurt.
• Has stood all alone for several seconds (10 even!) several times now. My baby's getting so big!
• Still will quite happily go to anyone.
• Loves going for walks.
• Likes to eat just about everything we give him. Still has issues with yogurt, though. I'm hoping he doesn't have dairy troubles, but I'm suspicious that he will. Both with regular formula and yogurt he has gotten a red rash wherever the offending substance touched. Hmmm.....
• He knows how to clap. Just a little bit ago, I clapped my hands for no particular reason and suddenly I realized that he was copying me. :) What a cutie!

Peter:

• Is starting to outgrow some of his 24mos/2T clothes. Yikes!
• Will need new shoes soon, too. His size 7's are starting to think about being a little smallish.
• Hasn't cried at BSF at all the past several weeks! Yay!!
• Realized the other day that hot dogs are pretty good. Last summer he decided he didn't like them. What child doesn't like hot dogs?