Home is where the heart is.

We have finally moved to our new home and we finally have internet.  limited internet.  (warning: rant ahead) Even though I don't feel we are any further in our location, our services are much more rural.  There isn't any cable ran out here so it took us a bit to figure out what we were going to do. It was funny for the two weeks without how diconnected I felt and how many more people I actually talked to and interacted with.

Changed my address at the post office, Talked on the phone to a person for insurance, I even actually broke out the stamps to snail mail a bill.   With each interaction I had to explain to them that I didn't have internet... like I was the only person in the universe.  ridiculous on my part.

Grant and I were just saying how much more conscious I am of my internet usage.  When you know you can only use so much, craiglist searching and blog reading is definitely more... 

Intentional. 

 That's what life has been feeling lately.  And it's a good thing.

We've decided we are intentionally not going to get a tv for a while. (Maybe just a small one with a dvd player for the kids movies.  I am missing our Friday night movie night.) 

We intentionally sit on the porch or big rock in the backyard in the evening watching the cows walk across the pasture for the evening.

I intentionally sit in the kitchen table chair that looks out to the beautiful sunrise watching the cows make their way in for the morning milking.

We intentionally sit in the living room at night and read.

Grant and I are doing well. The Kids are adjusting well. The dogs are doing well also.

It'll take me a bit to get my thoughts together and get our move documented :)

 This is where we now call home.

Lillian finally quit calling it "Dead Aunt Betty's" or the "Die House"

However, she still likes to talk about Betty in the cemetery every time we pass it since it's 2 miles from our house.

 These two were so eager to help us get painted.

 Grandma Alma is a great slavedriver motivator/decision maker.

 I missed out of a really cute picture of Granny K watching the kids while we worked.

She was so sweet and helped us with the kids a ton.

This guy (hurt his back) and his wife helped us get moved.

We were so blessed come moving day.  We had so many family and friends show up to help us make our move quick and easy.  I wasn't even ready for that much help and didn't know how to manage it.

My bossiness was lost somewhere in the boxes that day. 

Thank you to the Reillys, Whitesels, Saunders, Sommers, and Kissels.

(and I feel like I'm forgetting someone)

This is my view every morning.

Glorious.

The cliche "Home is where the heart is" has taken on real meaning to me. I am a homebody.  

The week before we moved was very surreal.  Everyday I thought this is the "last ---day night that I sleep in this house." When I walked into the nursery, which was the hardest room for me to say goodbye to, I would feel saddened knowing I rocked every one of my babies in there.  

However, on moving day when I felt some tears wanting to work their way up,  I thought, I have had 7 awesome years in this house.  Most of which my children won't remember.  Once we move we will have, God-willing, at least 30 years of memories in our new house.  So I changed my perspective on where life really is and I was once again so excited.

Home is now here, because that's where my family is and where we will be making our next decades of memories.

Pre-k for the 4 year old

Lillian started Pre-K this week.  To say she loved it would be an understatement. 

So far she has loved everything about it. 

She actually likes getting her hair done in the morning. Which worries me.  She wanted it perfectly curled like a freshman going to prom.  She knew she wanted a side ponytail and would pick up pieces that weren't curled to her liking.  As you'll notice her hair doesn't even hold curl well.

She likes getting dressed in the morning.  As most of you know Lillian has her own sense of self.  Luckily or maybe sadly she hasn't requested a dance outfit on a school day yet.

She loves making her bed right now.  Like almost OCD likes making it.  We had her all ready for school, shoes on (which is a big deal) and ready to go.  I find her in her room insisting that her bed be made perfect before we leave and with her shoes off... to say I overreacted may be an understatement. 

Sorry Lillian.

Striking her signature pose

Gotta love it when I get in the picture with my babies once in a while

Josiah taking the group shot

Way too big. No hesitation

Miss Dawn.  They are going to be a perfect pair.

Peanut butter Lillian

Stay tuned for School according to Lillian.

1st of 1st

1st Day of 1st Grade

He was ready to go and start his new school.

Hot Wheels back pack.  

He's really into cars right now.

Lillian picked a special outfit for the day.  

Complete with the rolled up pants.

He was a little unsure about going in and I was confused on what to do.

 I drew him a map how to get to his room from the front door.

 So I walked him to the door and he told me to stay there....

...but I followed him, from a distance.

When he arrived at his room he was so proud that he made it there by himself.

He was also a little happy that he saw me too ;)

After the first day the drop offs were a little rough.

I couldn't figure out a smooth way of getting him dropped off.  After the first week people were settling into the "norm" a little more which made it easier for us to figure out what the heck to do.

Showing a little love

Showing a little love for The Fountain.

aka

Fountaintown Christian Church

Boy day in Pink

It's not officially summer to Josiah unless he gets to go golfing with daddy.

Grant normally calls the golf course at the end of the day so that they can go out for a few holes and not bother anyone.

 So cute how much Jo mimics Grant.

Grant took some video of Jo on the course.  He's doing so good and is so cute!

These are the kind of memories I hope that Josiah will always be able to hold onto... I know I will.

Blessed

Fountaintown Christian Church

Youth Group

Ignite and Fuel

Grant and I have been active with the youth group for almost 2 years now.  

We love it so much.  

It is awesome to get to hang out with teenagers (and still act like one)

It is incredible to build relationships with them.

It is humbling how much they teach us and help us grow in our own spiritual journey.

It is powerful when we see them make a decision to live for Christ.

It is the fellowship that brings so many smiles.

It is joyous to see them baptized.

It is a blessing for our lives to be shared together.

Last Day of school... or an era

So I figured a last day of school is as important as the first day.  

Josiah's class made tie dye shirts for "spring olympics". 

Daddy did a great job on them.

If you want to see just how much he's grown check out his

first day here!

Waiting for what could be his last morning bus ride ever.

Papaw and Weewa came by to see him.

Nostalgia.

He was being such a perfectionist!

People couldn't help but laugh at how careful he was being.

His desk.

Mr. Miller, my principal and Jo's.

Being the sentimentalist that I am, I couldn't help but welling up with tears when we left.

Grant and I went through all of Elementary there.  It makes me sad that Josiah was only able to get one year in there and the girls none.  However, I know that they will do great in their new school that's in the same district.

Goodbye Brandywine Bulldogs.  We had many great years!