Clearwater Beach; Still feels like we're on vacation

The kids and I spent the day yesterday at Clearwater Beach, about 30 minutes from where we are staying. It feels like I am on vacation (albeit as a single mother), but nevertheless I still am having a difficult time believing that we have moved. I'm sure a huge part of that is because we really aren't settled permanently and we still are not sure where we will be when the dust finally settles. For a girl who likesto plan that is a bit trying, however the Lord is good and has been teaching me to take one day at a time and not let my mind wander too far ahead.

John is in South Carolina at a university hospital and will return this coming Wednesday. Yippee! We also found out that it looks as though he will be working in the Tampa area for most of December. This is a huge blessing to our family. We truly miss all our friends and other family so please keep in touch!

We're Here!

We are actually here in Florida, living here. I have to keep saying it because it doesn't feel real to me at all. I feel like we are visiting relatives or something. Very strange.

The Lord has been very good to us though over the last few days. Traveling by myself with the kids and the amount of carry-on luggage I decided to take was slightly stressful:) The airlines had us all sitting in different sections of the plane on the long flight from Phoenix to Tampa. Obviously that wasn't ideal but the flight was full and the airlines were not willing to move anyone. I started praying/pleading that the Lord would sit us next to someone kind and thankfully he did. A lady gave up her window seat next to me to trade with Ellie (Ellie was crying at this point), and I was extremely grateful. The other kids had to sit by themselves but did really well over the next 3.5 hours. Gracie's big eyes only filled with tears one time towards the end when I went to check on her and the older man next to her had fallen asleep all slumped over on her. I woke him up 2 more times during the trip to ask him to stop sleeping on her! Poor thing. I finally told her she could kindly elbow him if he did it again:)

As we flew into Tampa I was overwhelmed at the view of Florida. There really is water everywhere! The state looks like a giant sponge floating in a bathtub. In fact, in the mornings mist floats in many places like wisps of fog. Getting off the airplane was huge relief and it became clear how much the kids missed their daddy when they rounded a corner and saw him for the first time in a month. They were like moths around a flame, all trying to get their turns with him. I had been keeping it together pretty well until then...

Driving to Brandon from the airport was beautiful. Tampa truly is a lovely city, especially since freeway views are not usually the best. Downtown is beautiful and there seems to be ocean every direction you gaze.

Yesterday we took the kids to Anna Maria Island, on the southern tip of the bay, and then proceeded to drive over the giant water causeways to the west beach towns of St. Petersberg and Clearwater. It was really beautiful. In fact, it reminds me somewhat of the prettiest parts of Southern California without the pollution and psycho traffic.

I know my mom was hoping I would hate it, but so far it's really lovely:)

As far as adjusting I know it's going to take quite a while. First of all, John hasn't got a permanent posting yet and we don't know at all how long that will take. Second, the latter causes us to not know where we are going to live and so, as more changes are sure to come, I'm trying to not waste to much energy learning information that I may never need to know!

I did however, take John to the airport this morning by myself and I got home without getting lost. All of this at 5:30am! Of course I had our little gps gadget that the Ellie named "LaFonda". Her voice sounds more like a "Susan" but oh well, she helps a lot.

This week will probably consist of just getting settled, learning where the basic places are in Brandon, and getting back on some sort of school schedule. The kids brains are like oatmeal presently. I will definately keep posting pictures of our adventures and also ask for prayer from our loved ones for our adjustment and that we would be submissive to the Lord in whatever he has for us here in the big sponge!

Camping is Now Banned...

First of all, thank you to all of you who are praying for us, who posted words of encouragement on my blog (I needed that!), and who helped us move! What a blessing. I HATE feeling like a burden to anyone but receiving help is such a blessing so THANK YOU again.

We are officially at my parents (2060 Karen Dr. Meridian) and are mostly moved out of the Tysons. My legs feel like rubber and I am disgusted at how much stuff we own. I'll post some pics of our cute little "nest" when I get some time but I have a funny story to share.

We are all being stretched in a lot of ways right now, one of which is space. Our last 3 houses were pretty big and we could all get away from one other for the most part. That is proving to be slightly more challenging here. I'm pretty sure I'm going to get back into running:)

Anyways we are sharing 1 bathroom between 6 people (Miss Eagy can relate here). Well 3 of my kids are readers and the bathroom seems to be a favorite place for that. Tonight I actually had to make a rule called "No reading and camping in the bathroom".
Didn't really ever think I was going to have to ban the written word like that, but the truth is there is just no time. With one bathroom it's gotta be an all business kind of thing. Get in and get out. I know that we are spoiled Americans and dependent on our creature comforts but it doesn't make it that much easier giving them up just knowing that you're spoiled. It's still just one bathroom. Maybe I could make a cute sign that says "No Camping" or "Get'er Done" or...hmmm...I think I need to go to bed. I'm rambling.

Well thank you again for the encouragement and prayers. We need them!

This world is not my home...

I've been convicted of late that my blog is a lame excuse of "sharing" our life with others. I mean sure I post cute pictures and funny stories and things that maybe a few people may find mildly interesting, but it is far from a complete picture of my life or of my families. So in an effort to be more transparent I thought I would share with those who care what is really going on in our life. Maybe it will encourage you, maybe you'll just think "what a loser":), but at least I will be sharing something a little more authentic than the still-life menagerie showcased previously.

Right now we are moving again. We have been staying in the Tyson's home while they have been in China on a job assignment. We have had two wonderful years here and are extremely grateful to God and to them for this haven in our tumultuous life. Unfortunately I willingly admit that I've had expectations of God again, (even though I have been patiently taught this lesson many times in the past). I thought that surely two years would give us time enough to get our "act together". I expected that John's job would be better; it's not. I expected to be buying a house of our own again; we're not. I expected to be living somewhere besides my parents; we're not.

It's amazing to me how prideful I am. Everytime someone asks us where we are going to be living I inwardly cringe. "My parents basement" flows from my lips because I must not lie, but oh how I wish that was not the truth! Yes we (all 6 of us) are going to live in my parents basement for??? Who knows how long.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry!

However before this quickly becomes an entire post on me whining I must move on to what the hero of my life is doing. What the Lord is teaching me right now is scary, and completely liberating. This world is not my home. My dreams must be sacrificed on the alter of submission, and the blessing of drawing closer to Him is worth it!

We all take different things to learn these lessons of the Christian walk, but I must admit at times I feel like the dunce of the class. Apparently I need the long, hard, and humiliating road to learn what is really important in this life.

If you think of us, you could pray that we would be humble, that we would trust the Lord with our whole hearts, and that we would not love our desires above the Lords.

I will continue to share what God is working on in us!

This song encouraged me today;

This world is not my home I'm just passing through
my treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

They're all expecting me and that's one thing I know
my savior pardoned me and now I onward go
I know He'll take me through though I am weak and poor
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Just up in Glory Land we'll live eternally
the Saints on every hand are shouting victory
their song of sweetest praise drifts back from Heaven's shore
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore

O Lord you know I have no friend like you
if Heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
the angels beckon me from Heaven's open door
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore