Currently Listening Me and My Gang By Rascal Flatts see related

Change

I've always thought of myself as an adventurous person who always looks forward to the next challenge life brings . . .but I think I'm changing my mind.  I love adventure, you know, the temporary kind.  The two week long missions trip, doesn't matter where it is, I'll go . . .I'll do anything for a little while.  Weird food?  I'll at least give it a try. Backpacking down into the grand canyon in the middle of July - crazy but let's do it!  But big change, the kind that's permanent, that scares me.

WE are moving . . . .to Texas!  And I am really excited about the new adventure part of it - the part where we drive all around and don't have a clue where we're going but end up finding the greatest little place to eat or the part where there are so many things to do in one town that it's hard to know if to start with a Broadway show or a hockey game or even the part where you find all the cool and cheap decorating stores and get your house looking like you............that part is the adventure - that part I love and live for!

It's the other part, the change part that I'm not so sure about.  The part where you search this huge crowd of new faces and wonder if any of them will end of being a good friend. The part where I say goodbye to this great church family that has helped us become who we are and hope that we are loved the same in our new home...........the part where I leave behind this handful of amazing people who has taken me years to find and who I can't imagine life without ( you know who you are) and wonder if I will ever have friends like them again.  The part where I take my little girl to school and don't have a clue who her teacher is and if she really is going to be okay. This is the part that scares me.

So I guess I  have all these bittersweet feelings going on now....... and yet in the core of my being I know that us moving is of God and that HE is able to do IMMESURABLY MORE THAN I CAN ASK OR IMAGINE!!!! 

Please keep us in your prayers.  We are truly excited!!! Caleb has lived here for 26 years.  He was actually born in the same hospital as Carlee and Cade.  And I know that this is the perfect for him to spread his wings.  We are also trying to sell our house and get ready for our missions trip in Mexico and saying goodbye. So your prayers are welcome and needed.  

I love you friends.  Until next time....

THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS . . . .

1. Great Thunderstorms!

We had one of the best thunderstorms a few days ago - one of those where you're lying in bed and hear drop drop drip drip drop and you smile and think, "ahhhhhhhh! nothing like a little bit of rain to fall asleep to..."  But within a matter of minutes you hear it, yes! the thunder in the distance. And then lightning lighting up your room and by this time rain and a little hail  is just pelting your window, which, if you're lucky enough, you are sleeping right next to. This is when I get really excited and have to look outside because I know in the sky there's this awesome display that if I wait too long I am going to miss.  I LOVE THUNDERSTORMS!

So, during this amazing storm I just had this need to share my excitement with Caleb so everytime I heard a big crash or a big bolt of lightning filled the sky I would poke him and say, "did you hear that? that was amazing!"  Not a lot of response from Caleb, just a lot of "mmmmhmmmmmm"s (I keep telling myself he truly was excited in his own way). Then it dawned on me that when I die I REALLY hope it's in the middle of a great thunderstorm (which of course I felt Caleb would want to know . .. more poking and another "mmhmmm")......Right after I shared this revelation of mine with him a huge bolt of lightning ripped across the sky and I heard myself say in a loud voice "Jesus!  Take me now!"  For some reason Caleb didn't think that it was funny because his eyes popped open and he said  "Don't say that!  It's not funny." And just as quickly as his eyes opened, they were shut.  Well, by that time I couldn't sleep so I sat up, opened the curtain and watched until the storm was over.....It was great!  And even though Caleb didn't think my comment was funny, I had to smile as I thought, "well of course not TODAY God, but just so you know, I DEFINITELY think this would be one of the coolest ways to go".     

Adam and Sarah

Here they are!  My favorite couple of 2006! (and Bella).  Our family loves Mr. Adam and Miss Sarah!  Caleb and I were talking about how it does our heart (and the heart of God) so much good to see two people who are sold out to Him hanging out and having fun together.  Anyway, for those of you who don't know, Sarah is one of my best friends.  God sent her to me a few years ago and she has blessed our family incredibly with her friendship, laughter, encouragement, many hours of babysitting, not to mention her assortment of sweat pants that Caleb loves to make fun of.  It's a game we play now: let's guess what  Sarah is going to be wearing when she comes over tonight.  But most of all we love her desire to be who Christ wants her to be and where He wants her to be.

And then there's Mr. Adam (as the kids call him).  We met Adam when I helped lead a trip to Italy last spring.  The trip was a blast .....great friends......good times.  I remember coming back from that trip and telling Caleb that I hoped that one day Cade would grow up to have the kind of heart that I had seen in Adam.  

Anyway, we have so much fun hanging out with them . . . . and if you're my extended family, you've heard me talk about them so I wanted you to have a face to put with the stories. 

Carlee and Bella Twinkle Sunshine Miller

Here is my sweet girl!  What a beautiful 5 year old!  She loves her puppy.......it's funny, she even has a special mommy voice she talks to her in. She left Caleb in charge of her once day when we went to Wal-Mart and had to call home to check on her and told Caleb, "How's Bella? Do you have any questions for me?"  It's sweet. 

 Cade on the other hand, just looks at her and says, "I want a chihuahua!"  or when he hears her barking in the laundry room, he puts his head down by the bottom of the door and says, "what you bawkin' 'bout Bella?" 

KIDS KUOTES!

Carlee and Cade are always saying funny stuff so I decided to fill you all in.

Cade:  "Do you know what mama?  Water and toots and throw up make tummies feel better"

Carlee:  "Cade, do you like horny girls or nice boys?"  I overheard Carlee say to Cade  in the kitchen.  Of course I walked in to see what in the world she was talking about. "What are you doing, Carlee?"  "I'm asking Cade if he likes horny girls but he says he likes nice boys."  "What do you mean?"  "Well, you told me to give Cade his vitamin and some of them have horny girls and some have nice boys"  So I looked at the vitamins.  They were dinosaur vitamins and sure enough!  Some had girl dinosaurs with horns on their heads and some were boys with no horns. "I think nice boys are a good choice, Cade"  I said and then ran to my bedroom, closed the door, and had a good laugh. 

Cade: On Sunday I was getting Cade dressed for church and had his khaki pants on him and was buttoning up his white long sleeve shirt.  When I was done he looked down at what he was wearing and said, "Awwwwwwwwww man!  Do I look like a doctor?"  "What are you talking about?"  "Look at me, mama.  This is my doctor shirt."  

Carlee:  "We've been alive for a very long time"  "Yup, Carlee, 5 whole years for you", I said.  "Such a very long time" she sighed and then looked out the window.