What?!?

So, we made the long haul back home on Friday...just me and the kiddiepoos..oh and the dog...

Major Mother's Day Surprise!!!

Because Mum was the word until Mother's Day, here's the million facebook posts that I wanted to type but couldn't lol:

* Freakin' Orange Cones!

* No Rain for 80 Days in Cruces, Rained the ENTIRE way Up NM!

* At least an hour per stop...seriously need to invest in preteen sized diapers! (when we were
   kids, we stopped when the car needed gas..not because the billboard looks fun...and
   seriously..the southwest rival the Badlands in billboards)
* Freakin' Orange Cones!!!!!
* If I see the TIV or any other storm chaser vehicles, both me and the middle son will pee our 
   pants..both for different reasons lol.
* "Oklahoma City is nice, but I like Missouri's plain rainbow better." 10 cool detective points if 
   you figure that one out.

* Freaking Orange Cones!!!!!!!!!!!
* How many "turnpikes" does Oklahoma need? Seriously...have my ancient phone, an atlas, 
   and a 13 giving me directions...freakin mapquest!

* Missouri, the land of tobacco outlets, guns and ammo, and porn shops...oh and Churches..

* Sneezed in St. Louis should be a musical...popped my ears and I thought I was going to

Die all the way back up to Northern IL!

*Freakin' I55..or I7whatever..or I39 whatever the heck you are..you are long and boring and       smell like cheese...just kidding about the cheese, but it's loathesome!

* 50 degrees....let me just let that one rest for a minute.....stepped out in El Paso IL to 50    degrees....El Paso TX was like 60 something (ok, we had a cold front..but normally it has 
   been 90's!)

* Child #3, shaking in his boots..." I am Never leaving NM AGAIN!"

* Reached Auntie Crystal and Uncle Duane's house...child #3 "I am Never going back to NM".

* Surprised my mom at church...spent the last 2 days in the car trying to figure out her reaction..   nope, not what they thought (and someone had even said She's going to Pass Out!)...just sat 
   there, stunned into a frozen blank stare for like 30 seconds...and then the screaming and 
   jumping, but no passing out!

Best day ever :) 

So sorry about the wonky spacing..tried to fix it..but it won't and I really am so messed up with this drive and alt. change and whatever that I really don't care!!!

Fearless Leader...

After months of waiting, Jim starts his new job today!

Really, it has felt like climbing up a cliff...slow and steady, maybe not the surest of footings but we (really he) just kept focused on the day to day and God made the way. (I think that I've already shared these pics, but they fit so whatev lol)

 If someone would have said to me 10 years ago, heck even last year, that Jim would be in a job like this...with a real honest to goodness office...I would have just laughed!   But God has a plan and a sense of humor!  This life really is about putting aside yourself  (and your preconceived notions about yourself) and taking up all that God has in store.   

Someday I hope to have words that do everything we've been through justice.   

Until then, take hope that no matter what mountains lie ahead, you can make it through Anything with God's help!   The hardest times all of a sudden become the ones that ended up being the most blessed!

Giants, Ramblings, and Just Checking In...

 During Christmas break (aka the Grandparent invasion), we visited this park called the City of Rocks.  It's crazy how new and different everything is for us down here....I find myself connecting with how the Israelites must have felt as they journeyed into their promised land flowing with milk and honey.

 Awe inspiring to say the least...we think of ourselves as this ultimate force, but really we're just a breath...these rock formations have been here practically forever, seen countless generations and fads go by, yet they stay the same....

Jim is gearing up for a work trip, one that could change everything...it's scary big....way out of our box..but when you step back, you see that it might just be exactly what God's been preparing him for all along....and maybe our box has been way too small....

 The same God who set these rocks into place, who measured out the waters in the crease of his hand...the one who holds the universe together...is the same one who knew us before we were born and laid out our steps..these very steps, right here and now...for His purpose and His plan.  For such a time as this!

So we are not daunted by impossible odds, sales numbers, and comfort zones...We seek God with our whole heart, His way is the only way...and trust in His timing, in His promises...

At times, we might feel like grasshoppers in the shadow of the giants of this land.  But we have a God who has gone before us, our path is smooth and our footing is sound.  We put all of our trust in the Lord our God because in this world, He is the only sure thing!

If you think about it this next week, some prayers of agreement would be much appreciated.  I hope to be able to disclose more soon....God sure does make a great story out of humble journeys!!!!