We are MOVING tomorrow and Friday!

Over the next two days we are moving to our new apartment!

Thanks to Stella, who provided this recent picture to encapsulate my feelings:

 

It's only two streets away, but it's still a move, especially when you factor in an almost-three-year-old and two rambunctious dogs!  We are looking forward to the following things about our new apartment:

• a fenced in backyard
• brand new windows
• a third bedroom...ahem...guests!!!
• lots more living space
• a dining area
• a sunporch
• a dishwasher (hallelujah!)
• a dry basement
• a two car garage
• staying in the same neighborhood
• living across the street from great friends, The Oliver Family!
• however God chooses to use this house for ministry to others

Things we will miss about our current place:

• being right next door to one of Stella's best buddies, Emery, and his family, The Hermans
• seeing our neighbors, Jenna and Tim, and catching up via impromptu conversations
• lots of great memories and "firsts" for Stella experienced here
• a wonderful landlord, Norm, who took really good care of us over the past two years

Our last move was on the heels of a foreclosure and was MUCH more emotionally draining than this current move.  We are grateful for how far God has brought us in just two years and for what a wonderful place we are at as a family.  Here's to the next phase of live in our little New Village Neighborhood!

Best Day Ever.

Here are a few of the highlights of my life:

Growing up by the ocean as a kid.

Learning about Jesus for the first time when I was 15 years old.

Meeting Tim and knowing I had found the person I wanted to marry.

My wedding day.

Finding out I was pregnant and having a little GIRL!

Giving birth to Stella.

And please add to the top of the list: 2.19.13 - the day I first painted my daughter's toenails.  Anyone who knows me understands how very much I love having a little girl and this is one small reason why...hopefully for years to come we can enjoy little things like this together:

Stella actually said, "CHEESE!" when I was taking this picture of her foot.

Look at those funny, little feet!!

We decided on "seashell pink" for her first color.

My Own Virgin Mary.

Stella is a very imaginative kid.  She's always coming up with new games to play or solutions to different problems.  Like today for instance, she was playing on the stairs and saw a ball on top of the fridge she wanted to get down.  So, she grabbed another ball and, with one throw, managed to knock the other ball she wanted off the top of the fridge!  This kid isn't even three and she thinks of these things all by herself!

 

One of her most recent games has been pretending to be Mary, the mother of Jesus.  For Christmas we gave Stella a gift from an old friend...one we've held onto since before she was born.  It is an interactive, kids nativity set and Stella has literally not stopped playing with it since Christmas Day.  She makes all the characters from the birth of Christ talk to each other...this morning Mary and the Baby Jesus went shopping for food in a toy SUV while the rest of the cast waited for their return...hysterical!  So, we are sure Stella has been inspired by her hours of play with this precious set to actually pretend to BE Mary.  She carries around a doll, who is Jesus, and either Tim or I play Joseph.  We walk through the house and Stella tells us what to do (she's very controlling, just like her mother).  Her favorite thing to do is to pray over her baby; she even puts on a head covering - usually she uses a white laundry bag which hangs in our back hallway. 

 I know it's just a silly game to her, but I hope the story of the birth of Jesus is setting in to her heart and her mind.  In the meantime, though, I am just incredibly grateful God sent ME a child like Stella...she makes me laugh, she is so bright and creative, and already her light shines so brightly in a dark world!

 

 

"Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." Luke 18:15-17

 

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

 



 

Valentine's Day Princess

Our princess has been busy lately!  We are preparing for an exciting move to a new apartment in our current neighborhood; normal life has not slowed down in spite of the upcoming transition.  We've been sick for much of the winter with one cold after another, and yet we've shared some wonderful memories as a family in the midst of our lack of good health.  Here are a few of them:

Stella and Caroline's simulataneous funny faces:

Winter Storm Nemo:

Lots of Mac and Cheese and other comfort foods while sick:

Valentine's Day Surprises from family and friends:

And celebrating our biggest milestone this year - the start of potty training...2 days and going strong!