Our Newest Addition: 2004 Honda Accord

God is just good!  He even guides and directs us in things like buying cars.  And it's so nice to have peace when you purchase such a big ticket item. 

When God allowed Russell's truck to be sold so very quickly last weekend, we knew He had a car out there for us.  Russ found this one on line at the Honda dealership and no matter what happened or what else he found, the Lord kept bringing us right back to it.  We have not had to purchase from a dealer since before we were married.  That's is always an adventure!  Why can't the price on the car be the price?  I don't fight with the check out ladies at Wal-Mart on what I'm going to pay for my groceries.  Wouldn't that be a hoot!

Anyway - we got a very fair price on the car and the Lord continues to confirm that this car was meant for us.  He is just so good!  Needless to say, Russ is a bit giddy each morning when he has to drive to work now and the kids have decided that dad's car is way cooler than my van!  Oh Well!  I love my van......

The Truck is Gone

A week or so ago we prayerfully decided to take our house off the rental market and get a new vehicle for Russell.  We had a peace about it so Thursday night we put Russell's truck on Craig's List to see what would happen.  Well, the truck is gone.  Left the driveway this afternoon.  We had a call on it the very next morning!  Now, if the Lord wanted us to move - that would have happened with our house!  Anyway - now we are down to one car and our heads are spinning.  Please pray that we will find the vehicle that the Lord has for us and that all will continue to go smoothly and easily.

On a different note - Marc & Sam took off for an Anniversary celebration.  A little late as they had to reschedule.  Their Anniversary is Dec. 20 and I was all set to keep Chloe at that time but had to go to Illinois for my cousins funeral.  So - they went this weekend and Chloe had her first sleepover.  It wound up being just us girls as Jarod and Russ went camping with the Boy Scouts.  Anyway - here are a few highlights of our "Girls Night"

Excited to see Anne when she arrived for her sleepover.

Playing a little before my nap.

Checking out the cup during bath time.

Looking sweet in one of Anne's old baby towels.

All dressed and smelling pretty.  Ready for night-night!

Playing with Anne the next morning while Aunt Cami makes breakfast

Bouncing!  How fun!

It was so much fun having Chloe over!  She is such a good, happy baby.  Come over any time Chlo-Chlo!!!

Anne's Birthday Trip to Disney

We spent last weekend at Disney for Anne's 5th Birthday.  We had waited to take her to any kind of character dining so it would be special and she would be old enough to really appreciate it.  We decided to take her to breakfast with Cinderella in the Castle.  We were going to surprise her but I just couldn't wait and we told her the week before.  Besides, sometimes anticipation is half the fun!  Boy was she excited!  She talked about it every day and counted her sleeps (that's how we count the days) until we were to go.

I couldn't get a reservation until Saturday morning so we spent Friday at Animal Kingdom.  Here are just a few highlights.....

Lilo and Stitch - A favorite at our house!!!  Love the Hawaiian Theme.  We play the sound track in the van often!

Love the Safari ride at Animal Kingdom.  Had lots of great pics this time - I thought this one of the giraffe was cool!

Went to the Petting Area.  Anne was brushing a sheep while these two were butting heads.

Jarod was chosen by one of the animal trainers to help train a goat.  He did exactly what Jarod said to do!

I just thought this was funny - Anne had a hard time getting up here for a pic.

And then there is my crazy husband.  He's an herbivore Russ!!!!

Jarod and Anne were chosen to take part in the Festival of the Lion King Show.  They had the best time!

Entering the castle for our breakfast on Saturday morning.

Even Jarod enjoyed it!

Tapestries hanging on the wall.  Disney does everything so well.  You really felt like you were inside a real castle.

Jaq and Gus Gus kept watch.

Anne got to meet Cinderella before breakfast and had a photo op.

Climbing the spiral stair case in the tower to the Banquet Hall

They gave Anne a wand

And Jarod a sword - not so sure how wise that was......ha!

They brought Anne her own little Birthday cake covered in Mickey Sprinkles.  They sang Happy Birthday and she also received a special Birthday card signed by all the Princesses.

Snow White stopped by our table

As did Sleeping Beauty

Jasmine

And Belle.  Anne was amazed that they all came to see her instead of us standing in line to see them.

Happy Birthday, Anne Girl!!!

We played the rest of the day in the park.  Russ was upset here because the horse took his hat!  Go figure!

Or course our trip to Magic Kingdom is not complete without a stop for Pineapple Ice Cream.  Magic Kingdom is one of only 3 places in the world that sell this!  It's AWESOME!!!!

Well, once again, I significantly narrowed down the photos.  It was a wonderful trip and Anne had a very memorable 5th birthday!  She brings so much joy and laughter to our family each day and we are so thankful that God has given her to us to raise.  I couldn't imagine life without our Anne Girl.  Until next time.......

House Update

Well - after a year and a half of my complaining, worrying and even crying - I'm sure that once again God is just shaking his head at me!  After a lot of prayer and discussion, Russ and I have decided to take the "For Rent" sign out of our front yard.  It's been there for 8 months and nothing is happening.  We are at a place where Russ needs a new vehicle and we can't afford to move to the beach and get a new (to us) car.  The cost of a house out there is so much more than we are in now that it would eat up any extra income we currently have.

His truck was great for going back and forth to school in when he was teaching - but it's not very practical for us right now.  It's 21 years old and although it runs great - it doesn't look so hot!  (It's not very Pastorly - is that a word?)  It doesn't fit both our children at once so it becomes a hindrance at times and it's just not commute friendly.  It doesn't have power steering or power brakes so it becomes kind of physically tiring to drive after a while.  It served it's purpose and now it's time to move on.  Anyone interested in a 1989 Toyota?

We went 'round and 'round about this and decided that this just isn't the right time to move.  If we were supposed to move out there - God would have done it already.  It does mean we continue to commute but a newer car will be easier for Russ and once school gets out, I will only have to go out there twice a week to do office work.  Once Russ made the decision this past Friday he had a huge weight lifted off his shoulders and we both have such a peace about it.  It's just not time.  We are going to stay in the house, continue to work on it so that once the market gets better, we can just sell it.  Maybe all the Lord wanted was for me to be willing.  And I was. I am. But for now, I get to stay here a while longer.  God is just so good!  Of course He knew this all along and has been watching me be a crazy woman about it.  But - nothing surprises Him.  He knows it takes me a while.......

Anyway - Thank you so much for your continued prayers about this.  It's been a long lesson in letting go and my hands are open.  It's all His anyway and it will sell in His time.  He has a plan and there is nothing we can do to change that - only learn the lessons along the way and pray it makes us better.  Until next time....

Seriously - Anyone want to buy a great little 1989 Toyota?

Anne's 5th Birthday

Okay - I can't believe she's 5!  She will start Kindergarten in the Fall!  Anne asked for a Cinderella Castle for her birthday cake this year.  Made my head spin.  She wasn't satisfied with me just drawing a castle on a cake - she wanted it to be tall.  Now - I can't duplicate Disney's Castle in cake form - I leave that to the Disney professionals - so we just did it the same color and used our imagination.  I could NOT have done this without my brothers help (Thanks Marc!!!)  After 10 hours and lots of cake and even more icing - here's what we came up with.

It's beautiful Mommy!"  - Made it worth every minute!

 

Side View

I hated to cut it!  But - it was Yummy!

For all of my friends on Facebook - I have highlighted step by step photos of Marc and I building the cake.  Here are just a few.......

1st and 2nd Story

Marc cutting the cake to make stairs

Building the stairs out of Graham Crackers

Iced stairs and the beginnings of the towers

The towers were pieces of cake stacked on top of each other.  They were quite fragile and very difficult to ice.

Figured it out and had to do it CAREFULLY!

Iced Sugar Cones made the "pointy things on top" as Anne called them.  They were way too heavy at first so we had to remove them because they were causing our towers to collapse. We let the cake dry overnight and added them again 10 minutes before guests arrived.

Added bricks, grass, trees, ivy and flowers.

This is what it looked like at 11:30 last night.

Anyway - we had a wonderful party with family and friends.  Anne picked out the theme this year and I just chuckle because what she doesn't know is that we are surprising her next weekend and having breakfast with Cinderella in the Castle at Disney!  OOOOOHHHH!  Can't wait!!!!!!  Until next time.....

Happy Birthday, you Anne girl!!!!!

Random Fun Stuff

My kids fight over who is going to feed Chloe.

Chloe doesn't care - as long as she gets her bottle!!!

She absolutely loves Anne.  She lights up whenever she comes around.  They are playing Peek A Boo with the Fireman's hat!  Too cute!

Russell's parents joined us at church this past Saturday for the Annual "Soup & Sing" for our Senior Adults.

Piglet!!!!  How cute is that?

Don't you just want to squeeze her?

Ready to go home - it's ccccold outside!!!!!