Gift from God

Our move is quickly approacing.  It is hard to believe that in two weeks we will putting our belongings in a U Haul and driving to a town we have only been to once.  May i also add only a few hours.  I still have yet to see the house we are moving to, but Todd says it is perfect for us.  I am trusting him.  I am in complete awe of how God is taking care of us and meeting our needs perfectly.  I told Todd yesterday that I am not sure why we are being led to move from our family and friends right now, but God is showing us day after day that this is EXACTLY what we are suppose to be doing.  We heard a great sermon yesterday and I wanted to share how God spoke to me.  Each of our lives is a GIFT from God.   We are not moving out of DUTY.  Instead we are DELIGHTED and thankful for the GIFT God is giving us right now.  Yes---the GIFT to move.  During this "season" of our life this is the GIFT He has given us.  When I know this is a GIFT how can I question or not be thankful for it?   When we get down there I look forward to sharing in greater detail of how God has directed our path.  All I can say is that we serve such an awesome God!

Over the last few weeks we have been cherishing every moment of being with family and friends.   Last weekend we went to visit Drew, Ashley, and Evan.  We had a great day up north. I wanted to make sure and visit as we will be 4 hours away instead of 2! :(  Good thing we still can talk on the phone! :)  Elias had a great time with Evan.  We also stopped at a fun park in Ft. Wayne. 

oh yeah... Big NEWS!!  Adeline started walking a few weeks ago!  Just after I talked about how she wasn't in the last post.  She nearly walks everywhere now.  I love it.  She is so cute!

Then on Sunday we went over to Kelly and Molly's house for dinner which was nothing out of the ordinary.  When we showed up we were suprised to see several other friends.  It was so kind of them to do this for us as a going away cookout.  We enjoyed hanging out with everyone and of course letting the kids all run around having a blast.  We are so blessed with these friendships.  Many of them have been in our Bible study even before any of us had kids.  The times we have spent together have been very special to us and we will always treasure.  Elias is sure going to miss his friends too!  Even though we will miss them I have no doubt that we will stay in contact.  Who knows maybe we will move back someday!

i thought this was so funny of the kids chasing kelly while hr tried to keep his camera dry.

oh and Adeline likes to get into everything... yes... even grocery bags...

Our neighbors had a going away cookout for us.  We have the best neighbors.  All the more reason to buy our house.  they come with our great asking price!  :)  14 kids in our cul-da-sac for your kids to play with.  Elias is sure going to miss his neighbor friends.  He literally plays with at least one of them everyday.  Because of storms it carried on into Sunday night with a big Fireworks show.  Elias had a blast.  It was his first experience with fireworks.  He loved them.  Adeline on the other hand slept through it all. 

and adeline continues to get into everything...

when she isn't getting into things she can sure be pretty cute!  Thanks Jess for the cute idea of putting her hair like this. 

 

She is growing up WAY to fast!!

With all of these hot days we have enjoyed the splash park!Adeline is SUCH a mess when she eats!  Elias trying out his new strider balancing bike.  Thanks Sarah and Jodi for influencing me to get this.  :)

Elias and Todd in the town parade with his t-ball team.  I thought this picture was so cute.  Elias was so excited when he saw Adeline and I on the sidewalk.  He is still enjoying tball.  He has two more games left.  I am actually sad it is coming to an end.

We were in Rushville yesterday for Father's day and the county fair was just starting.  I have some fun pictures of the kids enjoying the fair, but I think this post is long enough for now. 

Wow!  this was really long again.  sorry if these long posts bore you.  Since I don't scrapbook I use this to keep track of everything. 

But I will leave you with a picture of the house we are moving to. 

Summer is here!

I don't know about you, but we have been LOVING this nice weather (minus the humidity)!!  The kids love being outside...and so do I!  

If you ever drive by there is as good chance you will find Adeline in this car. 

There is also a good chance you will see her climbing or falling out.  Have i ever told you that she is our fearless wild child?  Her nickname is wild woman.  It fits her little personality perfectly! She is 100% non-stop and into EVERYTHING!   as Elias likes to say, "mom, adeline is getting into mischief.  haha!

As wild as she is, one would think she would be walking by now at 13.5 months old.  But, she is taking her sweet time.  She gets around really well crawling and cruising.  Although... last week she started letting go of things and taking several steps on her own.  She has even walked across the room several times.  The conclusion is that she CAN walk, but chooses not to.

She loves to push her stroller and play with baby dolls.  She is such a girl, but of course still loves to play cars too. Actually she prefers playing with basically anything she shouldn't be over any of her toys..

Keet and Hillary and the kids came into town for my grandma's funeral.  We enjoyed spending time with them, but of course wish it wouldn't have been for this reason...

Parker and Adeline

Elias and Cole at Cole's 3rd birthday party!

Two weeks ago we said goodbye to the best grandma anyone could ever ask for. 

Serpah's funeral was such a beatiful celebration of her life.  Keet did a wonderful job, and all of the other little details made it so special.  She would have loved it!  Losing such a sweet, caring, and amazing grandma has been harder then I could have ever imagined. I loved her so dearly and miss her so much.  I am thankful I have so many precious and sweet memoires to hold onto.  I knew the funeral would be hard, but not a day has gone by since that I have not thought about her...and even shed more tears.  Grandma was our families greatest blessing and it breaks my heart....to not be able to talk her, see her sing songs and cuddle with my kids, hear her laugh and tell stories, see grandpa without her, always knowing she is praying for us and not being able to share the answered prayers she prayed so hard for, seeing my kids play with toys she got them, Elias randomly asking if we can go to the hospital to visit great grandma seraph, and of course not being able to spend another July with her at the Ohio River and over the holidays.  She will be GREATLY missed..  Heaven sure gained one of the best angels on the day she left us!

 

Seraph's great grandchildren minus a few...Cousins..The grandchildren (minus a few) and families...

Our first group pictures without her.  :(

Grandma was always coming up with fun activities to do.  Last July in Ohio she had us all release balloons.  So, we thought it would be special for us all to send her a balloon at the end of the funeral.

Have i ever mentioned that my children are a mess!?  ;)  While I was cleaning the kitchen they decided to empty out the diaper bag.  But, most importantly they had fun! 

Elias at a princess party.  He was the prince among many princesses.  At the looks of it he has several options!  ;)

Adeline in her little bikini.  Todd told her she is only allowed to wear these when she is little.  haha! 

Elias playing in our neighbors blow up water thing. He had a blast!  He is sure going to miss his neighbor buddies!

Adeline enjoying her little pool

i had to get a snapshot of her frilly bum!  :)

Todd's last day is today and then he is out for the summer!  We are busy packing up our house.  Unfortunetly Adeline likes to unpack our boxes.  At the looks of it this could take a while!!  We are still planning to move the first of July.  We haven't had much intrest from anyone wanting to buy our house.  Honestly hat is okay, because i am not sure i want anyone to buy it.  It is the house we built and the only place our children know as "home".  I think leaving it and knowing we can come back will make the move easier.  ;)  We have lots planned over our last few weeks here.  We are really excited about Todd's job and our move, but i would be lying if i didn't say we are sad to be leaving the house we built, our freinds and family.....and living near the city!  It is definitely going to be an adjustment for all of us...but at we are looking forward to this next adventure!  :) 

Wow!  If you made it to the end... kudos!  I didn't intend for this post to be this long!