It's Been Awhile...

Yep, it's been a few years since I have said anything on this space called my blog.
A lot has happened since the last time I have visited.

We packed up our stuff and we moved to Missouri.
We said goodbye to friends and the boys started a new school.
5 weeks into adjusting to Midwest life the house we were renting caught on fire.
Well technically the garage caught on fire and some plastic things melted and that smoke filled the house, excluding the basement. And plastic smoke is bad for you and gets into everything.
So everything got packed back up in boxes again.
We lived in a few hotels.
The boys and I road tripped to the East Coast to visit family.
Then we stayed with a great family, the kind of family where you enjoy hanging out with everyone.
Cody started middle school, which meant another new school.
We moved back into the house once it was cleared.
We had tackle football and lacrosse practices and games to keep us busy.
Boxes to unpack again. Things to replace, like a surfboard in the Midwest.
Having insurance is great but there is still a lot of work needed to put things back together.
Fall break gave us the time to go camping in the Smokie Mountains to relax and enjoy nature.
The boys had their first winter with some snow in their backyard but no snow days that canceled school.

Summer meant camps and road trips.
We traveled west to explore Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks with friends, And on the way back we stopped by Mt. Rushmore.
We bought a house. A new house, one where we picked out the cabinets and flooring, picked where the light switches were and if we wanted any more electrical outlets than what was in the plan. One with a floor to ceiling stone fireplace that we loved to use.
So we packed things in boxes again and moved, this time just 15 minutes away.
The boys changed schools again.
Cole started middle school, and like that we were done with the elementary years.

Be careful, don't blink, these years will go by before you know it.

More tackle football. More lacrosse. More adjusting. More unpacking.
Hunting happened. And 2 of the 3 men in my home killed deer to feed us and others. 1 has not been hunting since.
We traveled to Romania for a missions trip.
Summer brought camps and camping in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.
New school year and another new school for the boys, one with uniforms making laundry easier - who knew!
Still watching tackle football and lacrosse and a spring season of track (which will not be revisited by either again).
Spring break brought an adventure of Cody's choosing to explore the west coast of Ireland, Dublin, Scotland, and London.
Summer camps and returning to Romania for another mission trip.

Saying goodbye to friends who had become like family.
Moving back to California but this time North, on the Peninsula.
New everything again - well except In-N-Out was an option again that my now man-children love having again.
New schools again.
Unpacking again.
Adjusting still.
Cody is a freshman in high school; Cole an 8th grader.
Both are taller than me now.

Time where have you gone?

#my500words

End It Movement

Because people are not things that can be sold.

Looking Forward

That Time of the Year Again

Today we said goodbye to summer and embrace a new school year for the boys. 

Here's to more great memories this year boys; and continued trust in God writing our story!

In the words of Kid President "Give the world a reason to dance." 

Praying God's Words

Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my plea! Answer me because you are faithful and righteous. Don’t put your servant on trial, for no one is innocent before you. My enemy has chased me. He has knocked me to the ground and forces me to live in darkness like those in the grave. I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear. I remember the days of old. I ponder all your great works and think about what you have done. I lift my hands to you in prayer. I thirst for you as parched land thirsts for rain. Interlude Come quickly, Lord, and answer me, for my depression deepens. Don’t turn away from me, or I will die. Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you. Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing. For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life. Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress. In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for I am your servant. 

~Psalms 143:1-12 NLT

Today

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