Polar Vortex and such...

Well, we are a couple of weeks out since our house began to fall apart....well pieces of the house that is (refer to previous post). Honestly not a whole lot has changed besides-oh yeah, that our ceiling in the guest room (where there was a small leak) decided to fall down- meaning down drywall, insulation, water, the whole nine yards.

Oh and it gets better, this all happened RIGHT. IN. FRONT. OF. US.  Almost as if it were trying to throw it in our face. Why else would your ceiling fall down at 6 in the morning before a gym workout, while you are both standing in the hallway to witness it firsthand- seriously?!?!? This house we gotta love it- Or at least that is my endless chant.

Still I can NOT complain. Just a repair. No one was hurt. Nothing tragic. -my other chant

Ah....so about this snow. It is very pretty really it is, AND all the kids in school are happy because it has been a week since they had school last. As for me, my love of snow days went out the window when I received my high-school diploma and became a Nanny. You do the math. Oh but don't worry, I still love how magical it is to the kiddos on the receiving end- well at least for the first couple of snow days that is!

I just continue to remind myself that this too shall pass and until then I might as well make the best of it. Oh and knowing that a vacation to somewhere warm is in my near future doesn't hurt one bit. Maybe if I start packing now it will come sooner...

Here is to another day of embracing this winter wonderland, praying safety over all of us weary winter travelers, and looking forward to running outside again....someday...I hope!

 Anyone with me?

Aftermath affects of the polar vortex...I guess an 80 year-old house can only handle so many Michigan winters before it caves I suppose.

God's beauty...worth it all!

At Least We Won't be getting anymore Bats...

It was 6:10 and I was standing in the Olsen's kitchen making dinner. (We are staying with their 3 little munchkins this weekend so mommy and daddy can get some MUCH deserved R&R) so there I was trying to spell the word Michigan out to Emme, as she wanted to surprise Mr. Chase with a U of M flag on her coloring page...my phone began to ring and I noticed it was Chase (YAY! ...he must be on his way here for dinner) as I was still spelling the letters out to Emme, "M-I-C-H-.....Hello?"...... "Hey babe, I just got home and..." 

The and was all I needed to know that something wasn't right. Chase went on to explain that when he got home he discovered the little roof over-hang that used to stay perched above our back door, was no longer where it should be. Instead it was a crumbled mess in our snow covered yard. Oh and then that small leak we noticed in our guest bedroom last night, (and tried fixing) was now a tropical rain storm, and leaking down to the basement as well. 

**Sigh.**

My initial thoughts were less than ok and miles from grateful. Chase sounded so relaxed and at ease, if I were the one who discovered the winter crime scene, I can guarantee I would have been on the other end in a panic, words a jumbled mess. 

The calmness in Chase's voice was just the thing I needed to hear. I snapped out of my frantic worried self and into who I really am at the core. A daughter of the King, loved, safe, and not in control. Worrying wasn't going to help a thing. Instead I finished up gathering necessary details with Chase, urging him to call with progress and then hung up. 

Next I did the only thing I knew to do. I gathered the kids and explained that we needed to pray for Mr. Chase as he cleans up/fixes a mess at Miss Lindsey's house. ( If anyone can understand a "house mess" it was the very children standing in front of me, but that is a long story...right Cherie?) There we were, the four of us heads bowed, hands folded, hearts believing that our God is in control. This little inconvenience was nothing short of just that, an inconvenience. No one was hurt, nothing was too terribly damaged, and God brought the right person home at the right time. 

God knew I needed a lesson in trust today. He always knows just what I need. A few extra moments to acknowledge His love, to surrender to His plan and worship His name. Some days you just need a little inconvenience or interruption to be reminded what this life is all about. Today, it was my turn. 

Thank- you Lord!

Oh and on a lighter note, we won't see anymore bats waiting under the over-hang to get into our house! I am NOT complaining about that one little bit :)  Stay tuned for a picture and conclusion to this post in the near future...but for now....Happy Friday! Have a very blessed weekend!

On New beginnings

Hello!

Welcome friend, come on in, sit down and get cozy...it sure is a winter wonderland out there! Today I just needed to write. About anything really. In fact I opened up this page a few different times, but after pondering and debating what post from (the hundreds) mixing about in my head, I busied myself with other household tasks. Until now, I think I am finally settled on where this is going.

This "New Beginnings" post is already a week overdue, in regards to the New Year, but Necessary all the same. As many of you, I welcome in the newness of a fresh start. Although after years of looking at a new year and proclaiming some ridiculous, unattainable resolutions and failing miserably on several accounts ( at least by my standards) I faced this new year of 2014 with apprehension.

When the new year came, after counting the seconds down and turning to give my love a "New Years Kiss" The single thought that stood in my mind (besides what a good kisser I married) was, "Oh, oh wait! I never made a resolution for the new year!" Seriously?!? Yup, that was the very first, single most important thought that I had in my head.

Coincidentally because of that unintentional stand alone thought, I knew just then what my resolution for 2014 must be. I am sure you are just DYING to hear what it is...right? Even if not, I am going to share, because it does me good to put it in writing. Here it is: Be Intentional. 

I know those two words could be lived out in so many ways, a broad perspective, and that is exactly my goal to let it encompass my whole life, every facet.  A year from now I want to read this post and be able to list all the ways that I intentionally did something and then saw God working in my actions the whole way through. I don't want to set myself up for failure, no I don't, but I am going forward with the expectation this year, that at times yes, I will fail. I may have a rough day or week, but as long as I lean on the grace of my faithful Savior who NEVER EVER FAILS, or leaves, or Ceases to love, I will have met my goal.

I believe in January of 2015 once I have a whole year of  Intentionality under my belt,  I will be amazed at who my GOD is and how He carried me, loved me, and showed himself to me (even amidst my own shortcomings). What I won't be focused on is the times I failed, the people I let down, or the things I may have accomplished in my own strength.

So there. My New Years Resolution. Oh and part of that intentionality thing is this blog. I want to be more intentional about writing about my life, here and now. In hopes that It can be a time capsule for any future children God may bless us with, or a place to remember the different seasons of life God has brought me through. I hope along the way that this space can be an encouragement to anyone willing to listen! SO expect to be seeing more of me this coming year.

Time for a picture:

Tonight, Chase and I are going through this jar,,,I am pretty excited to reminisce over all that happened in 2013.
One final hurrah before fully embracing all that lies ahead in 2014!

 Stay warm, live loved, and see you soon!