Christmas Program

Last night was Zoe's school Christmas program.  She has been talking for weeks about being a dove in the program and she couldn't wear glitter or heels.  We received a letter that the boys would be wearing red ties and the girls needed a fancy dress.  Zoe was beyond excited to get some more miles out of her favorite blue, twirly dress. 

The program was held at a local church.  Two of Zoe's classmates are members of the church and their dads are pastors there.  She was beyond excited to go to Addy's and Caleb's church for her Christmas concert! 

When we got there, we found her awesome teacher Mrs. Wood and some of her classmates.

What's funny is a little girl in the back totally photobombed me! 

Aren't they so cute all dressed up and ready to perform?  Knowing this was her second to last day with these wonderful people made me a little teary all night.  These are, quite simply, some of the best people I've ever had the privilege of knowing.  These children love each other like family.  Their parents genuinely care about each of our families and we all get along!  Mrs. Wood...there is not enough words to describe how incredible she is.  God has truly blessed her with a gift for teaching.  I am so blessed that she was Zoe's teacher.

The kids sang a song called "The Friendly Beasts."  It's about the animals in the stable being the first to welcome the Son of God to earth that night.  Zoe's part was the dove!



Because I have an "in" with the pastor's wife, I got second row to take these pictures of our girl.  When she spotted me, she waved and gave me this smile. 

Throughout the night I watched as families beamed with pride for their kiddos.  Absent was N.  While leaving these beautiful people is going to be hard, I'm beyond excited to share future events with him.  I know this is where God is leading us. 

Space Bubbles

On the weekends we have D & E over, we have to get a bit creative on the sleeping arrangements in my mom's 3 bedroom house.  It works out that Zoe has a slumber party with my mom while D & E sleep in Zoe's room.

This weekend Zoe was in with grandma and had this conversation:

Zoe:  Grandma, did you know in school we talk about bubbles?

G-ma:  Really?

Yeah, space bubbles.  Everyone has one and you're not supposed to go into other people's space bubble because you don't want it to pop.

That's a good thing to remember.

It is because you're in my space bubble.

(hides her laugh)  I'm so sorry.  *rolls over*

(minutes pass)  Grandma?

Yes?

I have too much space now.  I'm kinda afraid of the dark.  Do you see the space between me and the wall and me and you?  It's too much.

(Grandma rolls over)

That is so much better!

A Glimpse Into Her Future

This weekend my mom had her quilt group Christmas party.  She was planning to play Bunco.  Because you need a certain amount of people for Bunco, she invited Zoe and me to the party.  It was held at her community's clubhouse, so it's about 5 blocks up the road from her house. 

That usually means Zoe can ride in the front seat because it's not on main roads, just the community roads of the development.  Zoe LOVES that part.

After the party, she asked if I could put her booster seat in the front and buckle her in that way she could see out the windows.  She turned the whole ride into something hilarious.

She was the mommy, I was the daddy driving the car and we had an imaginary kid in the back.  She started to read my Pampered Chef catalog.

(not sure why the photo won't flip the right way.)

This was our conversation:

Zoe:  (talking to our imaginary child) Sweetie, we had to go all the way to downtown and it's going to take awhile to get home.  Just be patient.

(talking to me) Honey, can you believe this traffic?  It's going to take us forever.  Did you see this pizza pan for the BBQ?  We should totally get that!

Me:  I like that.  We should get that.  Are you planning lots of BBQ's for us? 

Should we look at lights on the way home?

For real?  Like we're going to take the real, long way home to look at lights?

Yes for real.  Want to drive around for a bit and look at lights near Grandma's house?

YES!!!!  (talking to our imaginary child) Sweetie, do you want to see some Christmas lights?  What?  You have to go to the bathroom?  Daddy, is there a bathroom around here?

I don't think so.

Sweetie, can you try to hold it?  Do you need to go in the car?

Go in the car?  That's not an option!  Daddy's do not allow that to happen!

Then we started looking at Christmas lights and our imaginary child that needed to use the restroom was forgotten.  It was the most fun car ride I think I've ever had.  I can only imagine the wife she'll be.  I'm a little concerned that she'll be the mom that lets her children use the car as their bathroom.  At least we've got time before I have to worry about that.

It Is Only the Beginning

The other day my cell phone rang.  It showed my mom's number.  When I answered, Zoe was on the line.  She had some questions about dinner. 

I found out that she got a cell phone book.  It's pink and says "Princess" on it.  Basically it's the same as a phone book, but she really doesn't know people, other than Grandma, that have landlines.  It's now a cell-phone book.

She's put all her people's names in the book. 

She also knows how to dial a phone...as long as it's a local number.  She's not too sure about long distance.

N and I have been getting calls.  All. The. Time!

It's super sweet.  It's usually to say she's thinking about me and loves me. 

On Sunday, N got about 5 calls about being loved and missed.

Who knew a cell phone book would be such a blessing.  It's way better than texting!

That's not the door we were expecting

Since we're moving in less than 50 days, we thought we should find a place to live.  Just a minor detail.

On Saturday, N and I went in search of the perfect rental house for our family.  That would give us space, but also time to get a lay of the land in our new city.  The first two rentals weren't really for us due to size.  However, the third rental was perfect.  Big enough for our family and in a great community that has walking trails, an 18-hole golf course, two ponds, playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts AND a swimming pool.  Hello lover!

N and I decided to drive around the neighborhood and get a feel for the area before we committed to anything.  About 6 houses up the road from the rental was a house for sale.  We decided to take a look and see what expensive area we would be living in. 

This house is 2,192 sq feet, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths plus a den.  It also has a fairly good sized back yard.  Did I mention it's new construction?  Like never been lived in.

I was expecting to see $250,000-$280,000 on the "Take Me!" page on the for sale sign.  To my absolute delight it was under $200,000.  That would mean it's in our price range.

With access to a community pool.  AND tennis.  AND basketball.  AND golf.  AND walking trails. 

Isn't it totes cute?  (That means "totally cute" for people without teenagers)

In a way that only God can orchestrate, we went to a perfect rental and fell in love with the house that was for sale. 

For less than $20 more a month, we can pay to buy this house rather than rent.  In His perfect plan, He slammed shut the doors that weren't His plan and opened wide the doors that He has for us.

That has been the absolute story of this move.  In many ways, we're stepping out in faith.  Despite how unworthy we are, He is always faithful, always good.  His love is unconditional.  We are completely blessed beyond any of our hopes.   

It's Amazing to Watch God in Action

As you know, N and I live apart during the week.  He spends Sunday evening - Thursday evening working at the dam.  I spend that time with Zoe here in Spokane.  For about 7 months we've been feeling like we HAVE to be together NOW!  We even use shouty capitals in our thoughts.

There is always 612 things that bring anxiety when we would talk about things:

1) What about Zoe's school?
2) What about a little thing I call a job?
3) What about our obligations at church?
4) What about the older girls?
5) What about Zoe's care?  My mom does that now, so I'd have to find daycare and what if I pick the wrong one and she gets hurt in some way? 

Then the rollercoaster of anxiety would carry me up the big hill and send me crashing into a ball of flames that made me only want to think of good things like rainbows and unicorns.

We spent much time in prayer.  At the end of summer I was told about an opening at an investment firm in the Tri-Cities.  I was overqualified, but I figured I'd apply and see where that led.

It led to them telling me that I was overqualified for the position, but they had an opening for the exact same job I do now.  The exact same job!  They only needed to create the job first.  For the last three months we've been talking and they've been creating.  N and I have been praying.  In the last three months things have happened to eliminate all my anxiety:

1) We found a Christian school in the Tri-Cities that is identical to Zoe's school here.  They have an opening.  We've applied. 

2) I've got the job that I love to do with the added bonus of a raise!

3) Our church is going through a split.  It's ugly.  It's saddening.  A large part of me grieves for my church home of the last 28 years.  It's definitely God's way of telling all of us, even my mom, that it's time to go.

4) We've been in a battle over the older girls for the last 10 months.  Without saying too much, we got word last week that all this will be resolved in the next two-three weeks. 

5) My mom found out that she can work from anywhere in Washington state.  She's moving too.  Zoe's routine will remain the same, which is what I worried most about.  She cries when she outgrows clothes, so I can only imagine what a move to another house in another city is going to do to her!

I'm awed by Him, His plan and His love.  He knew my anxieties and He's answered every one of my prayers.  While I know this move will not be easy in many ways, I also know, without question, that this is where God is leading us. 

Now comes the fun part!  It's Christmas, we're planning a two-prong move (N from the house we're renting now that isn't big enough and us from Spokane), and we're all going to be starting anew.  None of that worries me.  He will continue to open wide the doors to His plan. 

My Twi-Heart is Happy

This weekend, between Disney on Ice (posting pictures soon), cooking a memorial dinner for some friends who lost a family member much too early and church business, I had time to see Breaking Dawn Part 2.

I love the books.  I love them so much that I've read them at least 5 times.  I do think they get a little bizarre at the end, but they're sci-fi, that's what happens.

You can imagine my trepidation about this movie.  There is a child that is...less than human. 

I was blown away with how well they did it, how well they honored the book and how they ended the series.

I still refuse to watch the Twilight movie.  It was a shame to the series.  These last 4 movies make this very old Twi-hard very happy.