Adjustment Time

We have moved! My husband is now the new Youth Minister at a church near Houston. So we moved clear across the state of TX. Are we crazy? Possibly, but not for making this move. We followed God, period.

So I decided to join insta-Friday and show some pics of how my son is adjusting. (he loves it here).

Poor baby only wants to take naps on Mommy and Daddy's bed. I give in so easily.

 

First trip to Burger King!

More naps on Mommy's bed.

Our morning alarm, every morning! I don't mind too much. It's an awfully cute alarm.

This is how mommy was adjusting! Yummy....  We were doing really well until this happened...

Ugh... now we are cleaning up.

Under a Rock

I've been living under a rock for a few months now. I wanted to write this post in hopes that if I can get all of this out I maybe able to come out from under this rock. My rock is very comfy. There is only enough room for me under here.

An old pic, before we painted the Youth room.

If you aren't immediate family than you probably don't know what had been going on with us lately. My husband is a youth minister. He is an amazing youth minister (I may be biased). He has a way of talking to teenagers that can get past their entitlement, their self grandeur, and self esteem (whether high or low). 

We had been at our church for 2 years when the church said they could no longer afford to keep him Full time. So he went look for a second job.

We were doing just fine with our two jobs, but when he became part time at the church we knew he would need another job. God amazingly took care of it and SL found a job at Sears very quickly. God  has truly blessed SL at Sears. He went from seasonal to Full time Head Cashier in one year.

A year a half after the church put SL as part time, they have now decided to hire a Full Time Music Minister/Youth Minister. SL can't sing or play a musical instrument. Guess what that means.  We're Out.

Our initial reactions was hurt, anger, bitterness. As we have had time to absorb this, we realize God was answering our prayers. We have been praying that God would show us if it was time to leave or stay since SL was put on part time.  God was telling us, It's time to go.  We are still a little hurt, it's hard to not be. But we have a lot of sadness for our youth. We have always stayed for them. Even when we have struggled financially, we kept thinking we are doing this for these teenagers who desperately need a positive influence in their lives.

So now we are looking for a new church or whatever God has in store for us. We don't know what is going to happen, how long we can stay in our house before we can no longer afford it. But we put all our trust in God. He has got us through everything put in front of us and we know He will get us through this too. 

So if you think about us anytime, say a prayer for me, SL, and Bubba.  We sure need it. I will continue to pray for you. Email me your prayer requests.

p.s. say a prayer for Julie also. You can hear about her story here  Another Chance Ranch

Texas Weather

The Bluebonnets are starting to bloom! In Texas that means Spring has Sprung.

Unfortunately our fields of Bluebonnets are not quite this full. We have been seriously low on rain. It has been since November 2010 since we have had any significant rain. In the part of Texas where I live, we are in a Stage 4 drought, there are only 5 stages.

When you haven't had much ran in several months it starts to take a toll on your psyche. Maybe that is just me. Rain refreshes me just as it does the Earth. I need rain, I thrive on rain. I know God will provide it for us soon if we just keep praying.

We always say here, "If you don't like the weather now just wait a few hours. It'll change." Yes, we say "it'll" - it will. It's Texas, here "oil" is pronounced "ol".  Stop chasing bunnies, back to the weather. Sunday it was just down right HOT! We were up around 100 degrees where I live. Some places just above 100. It's April for goodness sakes! It is not supposed to be that hot!! Well we just had to wait a day. Monday it was 60 degrees. So Strange. I had the AC on Sunday and the Heater on Monday. The weather should stabilize this week around 80 which is beautiful! However, no rain. Boo!!

Uncle!!!

I call UNCLE!! No more snow...ice...really COLD!!!  This Texas girl just can't handle the negative temps. This is Texas for goodness sake! Something is just wrong when Alaska is 1degree above us.

Our pipes had been freezing off and on this week. First the entire back of the house was frozen. Then part of it thawed yesterday. Yay!! The other end of it by the washer and dryer had not thawed. Last night we were woken by a strange noise around 4am. Let me tell ya how happy I was at 4am. I thought someone was breaking into my car right next to our bedroom. I jumped up put on my Uggs and ran outside ready to whip up on someone. You don't mess with my car. I LURVE my car. Well, there was no one there. Weird. I was pumped full of adrenaline so there was no getting back to sleep. Well SL heard other noises as well. Our water heater was dripping onto the flame. We heard a sizzle all morning.

SL went to put the dogs out and low and behold we had a small lake in our back yard coming from under the house. GREAT!! The pipe burst. We scrambled to get the water turned off. Now we need a plumber NOW.  Oh yeah and the water I saved in our bath tub was drained by our landlord. He is a wonderful man, but he left me with NO water, and SL took my car. I may have to whop up on him.

Feel sorry for me yet? No?  Well, I'm pretty pitiful you should.  I'll throw my own pity party. Anyone else snowed/iced in can join me.

I'm feeling really down. I just ate a muffin for lunch. This is the only thing that makes me happy.

Isn't that cute. Last time he played in the snow he looked like this...

So sweet. Here are more of my 2 year old with SL trying to play in the snow.

Don't worry Bubba had several layers on and he only stayed out for a few minutes. He screamed and whaled when it was time to come in. Until I gave him hot chocolate and cookies.

Fever Has Set In

We are snowed in still. It started Monday night with the storms and sleet. I wanted to feel it so I went out in the front yard and it felt like tiny shards of glass hitting you. I didn't like it. The weather guy here called it Thunder Snow/Sleet. It was weird. Then the wind hit and with it the snow and more sleet.

We woke up to a different place. Everything was white. I would say it was quiet and still only because there were no people out, but I can't. The wind was blowing crazy hard.

 I wanted pictures. I'm not a photographer but I love to take pictures. My camera is ok for a point-and-shoot. So I had my fleece pants with tights under, three long sleeves with hoodie on. I thought I was good. I figured there wasn't much of a difference on my skin between 6 degrees and 20 degrees. Normally there is not, but when the wind is blowing 50mph the wind chill drops to -5 degrees with lots of blowing snow it cuts through every layer I had on. I was not wearing gloves so I could handle my camera. Stupid. These were the pictures I took.

.... and then my camera froze. So did I. My hands here hurting so badly I could not get to my house fast enough. The blowing wind and snow stops you in your tracks. This is Texas right?

So now we are out of school for the third day in a row, we are having black outs, and freezing pipes. Where am I? Alaska is 1 degree colder than here right now. What?! I can't leave the house with my 2yr old.  So the fever has set in. The Cabin Fever. Can't do dishes or laundry, supposed to conserve water and electricity. Maybe that is a good thing, I hate dishes and folding laundry. My husband is getting through this by sleeping. I guess he needs it. Booo...

Silver lining I here a strange noise outside this afternoon and see this...

 A kind person has come to uncover our church parking lots and sidewalks. That is the front of the church. I told you I live right down from the church.
This was a different post for me. Cabin Fever has gotten to my head. When the snow and ice leave, things will return to normal, so will I.

If you are snowed in or freezing, try your best to stay warm. God Bless You.



Sad Day

It is another sad day for our small town. A funeral for someone who died way too soon. We have all heard that everything is in God's timing. Which is easy to say, but hard to accept. 



Since SL and I have moved to this town 3 1/2 years ago there have been 5 teenagers pass away. All of these have been a shock to our community. I have never seen anything like this before. 5 teens dying in the span of 3 years all from car accidents.

So as I type this my hubby is at our church attending the 5th funeral of a students he knew as the student minister at our church.  Many of our students don't understand how God would allow this to happen. We don't have eloquent words for them. All we have is that we don't understand God's timing. However we have to continue to have faith that God is in control and that these tragedies are all apart of God's plan.



This tiny town has had it's share, plus more, of tragedy.  Many unexpected deaths, serious drug problems, failing economy, and even a devastating fire.

In April of 2009 a massive wild fire came to the very edge of our town. It burned down about 6 houses and completely destroyed a manufacturing plant right outside of town. The fire reached the main intersection of town and burned the shoulders of the road.  The fire was so large and because the winds were blowing the smoke filled the city. I took my son covered his face with a wet clothe, grabbed my pets, our important papers and our computer. I picked up my husband and we tried to find a way out of town. We reached the neighboring town were my husband's grandmother lived and stayed there until we received word that all was ok later that night. We returned home to a very smelly town and house that smelled like burnt peas. Terrible. The plant never recovered and moved to another town. 50 people were now out of work.

All of this to say, God we continue to rely on you. We don't understand why these things keep happening to our town, but I have faith that you have big plans for us. As it dangles on the edge of collapse, I know you are in control.



Please pray as you read this for the family who has lost their son, grandson, brother, and friend. They will need it in the coming days.

It is DEAD

Our awning, our cowboy awning, the awning we bought each other for our anniversary, is dead. About a month ago a storm came through and blew it around. I had it anchored to our fence which kept it from blowing completely away. When the storm was over it looked like this.

Not too bad we could fix this, and we did. Please pay no attention to how bad my backyard looks. We have had  a lot of rain lately. Well, except where the pool had been laying (the big dead circle).
Early last week a strong line of storm came blowing through. And I mean blowing. I was home by myself so I couldn’t take down the awning. So I decided to lower it all the way to the ground and stake down. I was hoping the would work. The the storm hit and the wind hit. I knew it was strong winds when I heard it HIT the back side of my house. When the storm was half way through I went to check on the awning and it was blowing around getting the back of my house. I just prayed that it didn’t hit a window. When I eventually ventured outside this is what I found.
 

Oh how sad…. it is gone for good. No repairing it this time.

Good bye to our Cowboys awning. We had such a short time with you. Thank you for the shade you provided us during this blazing summer. You keep me and my son from being sunburned as we played in the pool beneath you. One day we will replace you, but it may take awhile. You were pretty expensive for us. Good bye friend.