Seven years ago when we got married I would never have dreamed that we would be moving for the ninth time but what an adventurous time we’ve had! . Most of our moves were totally unplanned but totally necessary. Moving is never easy and packing your life into boxes is always eye opening. 
Just when I think I have purged and downsized….we move again and I still think there’s too much 🙂 I suppose hauling heavy boxes does that to you.

This time we are actually buying our very own very first house!!! Its one of those milestones we have dreamed about and planned for and saved money toward. I can still scarcely believe this is happening and until we feel the metal of keys in our hands I am holding my breath 🙂

And even then I will have to pinch myself to believe we are in this stage of life…
What will we do without that renters groove of desperately scrubbing carpet stains and stressing out over holes in the walls and turning down pets and staring at plain boring paint colors….or hideous ones 🙂

We are planning to have closing on Monday so I’m hoping I’m not jumping the gun here. The bungalow is a nice size family home that was foreclosed on. It has some nice original hard wood floors and a newly remodeled kitchen with an open dining and family room and also a large living room, two bathrooms, and three small bedrooms. There’s a lot of cosmetic work that we’d like to do but ugly is liveable for now:)

We did a bit of work on it already as you can see:) eventually i will post before and afters. It took me most of a day to scrape off the old wall paper on this wall. And we have more to do;)

Steve tackled a water damaged ceiling

We put in super long hours and were totally shot by Friday so after attending a friends wedding in Gold Creek we headed for some rest and relaxation. Virginia City is an old mining town that has been wonderfully preserved. Its a great family friendly place with a fun short train ride through dredges and country to nearby Nevada City.

We drove up to Boot Hill where a crucial part of Virginia City history went down….four highway men were hanged for robbing and killing miners. They had no mercy and would kill anyone in their way…even women and children. After their deaths, the miners were much more safe and likely to actually be able to keep their hard earned gold.

They were buried with un marked graves but in later years the gravestones were added to preserve history. I wondered who their mother’s were. I wonder if they wept. Or if they even knew.
We got back to our campsight to having our tent literally blowing away. The 40 mph wind would have sent it tumbling if some kind souls hadn’t tied it down. The inside was a disaster. There was a nasty storm blowing in so we loaded up and headed for a motel for the night. We didn’t want to be tossed across the open fields like tumbleweed At midnight.

The next morning broke refreshing and rain whispered. Kobe and I did some fun water color painting at the open window before we headed for home and a new week of work.

Side note…
We bought our house! This post is a week old;) but I’m kinda behind in so many things I thought I’d post it anyway and eventually I will catch up with my own tail i hope;)
Blessings to your day!

Sometimes I wonder what is going on in my three year old’s brain. I’ve never had a three year old that can actually tell me what they are thinking.
As close as my connection to Kierra was (aw. I still don’t like that was word.) I was usually guessing when it came to what she actually thought of me. Her snuggles and brushes of lips on my cheek and little purrs let me know she loved me. Very much. But she could never let me know in English language. We have alot of catching up to do someday!

I read a book to Kobe the other day that made me so upset I nearly threw if across the room but since I expect more of him then that, I better hold myself to the same standards. It was a lovely illustrated older hardcover explaining how God loves you. Normally I would have loved it except this is a bit like it read….
“How do you know God loves you?
He gave you two strong legs to run.
He gave you hands to help your mommy.”
Ditto ditto ….more of the same through the whole book. It made me very upset! Because if God did not give you the ability to run, does that mean He doesn’t love you? Most defiantly NOT!! He loves you exactly the way He made you.
And that got me to thinking along the more grownup thoughts of how we explain Gods love to our children. When they are very young I think Gods love is shown through us primarily.

Acceptance. Patience. Affirmation. Direction. Consequences. Hugs and kisses. Time.

Kierra’s last physical therapist was a mommy of two darling boys. Recently she posted these questions to ask to your child. I thought they were totally worth sharing! I was amazed at Kobe’s answers and it gave me a clearer view of how he views me. His view of me right now will effect his view  of God someday!

So here they are….all 23 and remember…no prompting your child on right or wrong answers;) I did have to reword them a bit by asking in  first person instead of ‘mommy’. And he did get tired of thinking 🙂

1. What is something mommy always says to you?
2. What makes Mom happy?
3. What names Mom sad?
4. How does Mom make you laugh?
5. What was your mom like as a child?
6. How old is your mom?
7. How tall is your mom?
8. What is her favorite thing to do?
9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
10. If your mom becomes famous what will it be for?
11. What is your mom really good at?
12. What is your mom not really good at?
13. What does your mom do for a job?
14. What’s your mom’s favorite food?
15. What makes you proud of your mom?
16. If your mom were a character who would she be?
17. What do you and your mom do together?
18. How are you and your mom the same?
19. How are you and your mom different?
20. How do you know your mom loves you?
21. What does your mom like most about  your dad?
22. Where is your moms favorite place to go?
23. How old was your mom when you were born?

Just as these answers are not right or wrong…(its all about a child’s perspective) so our love for our children will not all look the same. Our children are individual little people who will not tolerate being put in a tidy box. At least most of them won’t:)

Just as God has given them different personalities He has also blessed some with health and others struggle all their life to reach out and hold your hand.

God loves them equally the same. He loves us exactly where we are as well. He doesn’t love us BECAUSE we can run and play. Not because we are talented or wealthy. He loves us simply because He is our Father and we are His child.

I discovered Kobe feels loved when I talk to him and play with him. That he thinks my favorite thing to do is work. And that my favorite place to go is Florida. My favorite food is even salad.

So here’s to playing, listening, and talking more. Here’s to showing him God’s love cannot be earned or handed out as a specialty club card for certain individuals. It’s a free gift with no favorites because everyone is the favorite child.

Here’s to thanking God for the blessings of speech and health and suntanned cheeks and sky blue eyes.
A

childhood of simple joys, wishful thinking, and still picking flowers for Kierra

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We discovered a lovely huge park in Lancaster City the other day. Since Autumn keeps steadily creeping in, we wanted to go on a little family picnic. It was a perfect day to be out. We took a walk through a small wooded area, then relaxed at the picnic tables, and ate “Our First” –apple wood pulled pork sub– from Subway. I saw that commercial a few times too often in the hospital and just HAD to try one 🙂 It IS VERY GOOD!!!

Kierra was feeling so sunny and happy. I can’t get enough of her smiles and sparkling eyes!!!!! Even if she wiggles so much her oxygen is constantly going crooked or coming off and her cheeks get too sore to tape up all the time .I was afraid she would never feel this well again. Now LOOK AT HER!!! God is SO MERCIFULLY GOOD!

She LOVES when you nuzzle her cheek and give her kisses. She closes her eyes and snuggles into your neck and makes the most adorable sounds ever 🙂

Kobe was so happy to have lots of space to run and bubbles to blow and Daddy to play with.

He wasn’t in the mood to pose with Kierra but he DID want to push her 🙂 Their love reaches around the words and ‘impossibles’ in life…right down into their hearts. Isn’t that the kind of love we should all have for others!

Then I caught her in a wave. And my heart melted all over again 🙂

 

A special prayer request for our little Wild flower. Steve and Kobe both had a really ugly  cold this week. We tried to keep Kierra away from the germs but there’s only so much you can do in a small house:) So would you mind saying a prayer that she would stay healthy? She would say “Thank you” if she could 🙂 And I WILL say “Thankyou!!”