Home for Christmas

About this time last year, Jeff and I began the journey of trying to buy a home in Paso Robles.  The housing prices were lower and we hoped and prayed we could have a home of our own. Most of the homes we bid on were short sales. So even though we would get the "yes", we would have to wait for months....only to be told "NO, the buyer was not qualified."  This happened more than once. Here is a part of my journal after one of those heart breaking times:

July 11, 1012
"Hope deferred makes the heart sick..."
I fell like I have learned this verse over and over in my life. Make me wonder "why?" I always feel "last" in life--everyone else gets to have theirs first.  2 Sundays ago, we got word that the house we wanted and had waited on ...after 3 months would NOT be ours. Seller was not approved for short sale! And he was going to raise the price 35,000!! We sat in silence in bed.
We cried. In my heart, I was angry-disappointed with God-with life. I thought finally He would "wow" us with his favor.  He did not--not on this home. sigh...Hope. Trust. .....

Sounds silly really..its just a house. But for us, it was more. And it was heartbreaking for us.

Long story short. Last November, we got the call from Georgia Brown (the only dual immersion school in Paso) that they had a spot for Josie. This was on a Friday. I asked if I could call her on Tues and let her know. I shared with Jeff and to my surprise, he said, "Lets do it" We can rent and make it happen.

So I called Georgia Brown on Tuesday and asked, "When do we need to start?"
"November 26" was her response. WHAT!!???? That was the Monday after Thanksgiving break meaning I would have only days to inform her current school and teacher.

On Wednesday, Jeff called to say his boss had quit. Meaning he could office out of Templeton and not have to drive to Gonzales everyday!

Side note: All the while we have looked and prayed for a home. I would show the girls the mustard growing on the hillsides....and we would pray MOVE that Mountain and give us a house and two kitties...one for Anna and one for Josie. Anna wanted an orange kitty.

Thursday:  Well a home had come available and we were bidding on it. I had told Josie and Anna about the house.  And Josie had prayed in the car for the mountain to get out of our way and give us a house and two kitties. When she finished she asked, "Mom are we gonna get that house by Addie?" I answered honestly, "I don't know honey. I don't know if we have enough money." (We had been outbid often.) And her simple response, "Mom, I have money. I have alot of money. Will that help?"
Touched by her offer, I replied with tears in my eyes, "Of course, it will..."

So that night when Jeff got home. Josie ran to him with her yellow purse full of change and said, "Here Daddy you can have this to buy the house."  Such a sweet moment.....she gave all she had to give. She asked, "Do you think its enough?" Jeff's hugs her, "It just might be."

That night we got the verbal "YES" for our home. =)

From there it has been crazy. We had Paso Thanksgiving and relished in the joy of telling them...."We are in esgrow!"
The next weeks...3 of them...the girls in I lived with different families each week. So that Josie could start Georgia Brown. We would be gone during the week and then go home on the weekends. It was very hard. Josie sobbed most days...and as soon as the classroom door shut...so did I. At the end of the three weeks, we went on a preplanned vacation. To come home and pack and move just days before Christmas. Sweet friends cleaned our home while we were on vacation.

So when Jeff and walked into our home. (by the way we bought a home I had never been in)...I felt like I was on a TV show. Not only had our sweet friends cleaned our home. But there was a tree...and presents....and food...and wine....just some odds and ends....I cry now as I write...remembering the joy of it all. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick....but a longing fulfilled is a tree of Life."

And despite that our whole family got the stomach bug and Jeff and I spent our first night in our home throwing up in separate bathrooms.  My joy could not be snuffed out. I was throwing up thanking God for friends who cleaned my bathroom. So I could be sick in a clean bathroom. Details. God delights in details.

Oh and those kittens....a lady in Santa Cruz happen to have kittens who would be 8 weeks old on Christmas day. I told her our story and she gave us first pick of the litter. For FREE! And yep you guess it, one was orange. Our daughters who have been told, "No", forever on having a pets...got their Christmas wish. Two kittens in their very own home.

Feels so good to be in our own Home for Christmas.
Thank you Jesus for moving big and small mountains for us! I pray we never take this home for granted. It is a gift.

Makes me wonder, did God get as much JOY in giving us this home as I did being able to give my kids their kittens.

You are My Sunshine...My Only Sunshine...

You Make Me Happy...When Skies are Grey...

Josie Bear does just that. She brings joy, life, and color into our dull adult lives. When Josie was born, Jeff and I understood love in a whole new way. One that words can not describe. 

So I wasn't surprised when I saw the tears in Jeff's eyes. He has a great love for his baby girl. Going to school is a big step in life. A step where we as parents must let go just a little more. Entrusting her to the teachers of Lincoln Elementary School.

She is growing up which is what we want...what we pray for ...but there are times ..Like the "First Day of School" that we want to hold her a little longer. Safe in our arms. Cuddling her. Loving her. And even though she stands there..as cute as can be with her backpack...

We can't help but see our little baby girl...Josie Bear. 

One very cute Kindergartener.

She said, "YES!"

"Anna, she said YES!", Josie screams as she turns to run toward her sister. I smile at the joy to be able to say, "Yes", to my daughter. She came to me, hesitant to ask her question.  Her big brown eyes shy and her approach tentative, unsure if I would "buy" what she had to "sale." It was a question that deserved a "no." Maybe it was for candy, or to go to the pool during rest time, I honestly can't remember. But I do remember the smile that lit up her face when I surprised her and said, "Yes." As parents we get that joy every now then. We say "no" so much, that when given a chance we love to say , "yes." Josie is my beautiful girl and I want to give her everything! All the toys, candy, activities that would bring into her life pure joy and lots of fun. However, as a parent, we know some fun things aren't good for you. Eating candy before school would be one of those things, so we say "no."

As I relished in saying "Yes", I wondered....what does God feel like when He says, "yes?" Does He feel the same thrill in giving us our hearts desires? (psalm 37.4) Does he smile inwardly as we approach with doubt in our hearts? Knowing all the while, He will grant our request.

Josie and Anna have wanted a pet forever. Unfortunately, due to our housing we can not get them a pet right now. Which makes me heart sad to say, "no." But, I look forward to the day when I can surprise them with a big ol' "YES!" And we can bring two little kittens home. I pray for this. It is a silly prayer really. Yes I still ask unsure of when the answer will be "yes."

In Matthew, the Bible tells us to become like little children. Well my little children ask alot. Sometimes the same question over and over. Sometimes I give in just so they will stop asking. Hmm....maybe we should be more like little children approaching the throne day after day. I pray we are not unsure in our asking but that we may approach the throne with boldness. Confident and trusting in the King who loves us. Trusting His answer is the right and only one.

Proverbs 3: 5-6
Trust. Don't try to understand...Just Trust. Take His Word.

The dress she wore to school.

I think of the old hymn, "Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His word...."

P.S. I also said, "Yes" to Josie wearing her princess dress to school. At first I said "no" because I didn't want her to stick out or be silly but, then I thought about her point of view. This is her "nicest" dress and she feels beautiful in it. And you only get to be a child once. Somewhere along the journey of growing up ...we lose that ...that entitlement to wear a princess dress. To walk into school being a princess, or at least dress like one. So I am thankful for her choice and let her walk in confidence of that choice. I love you Princess Josie. Thank you for teaching me everyday about God's love and creation.

It been a long time....

I have not blogged since Josie was two! What happened?

Well a couple of things, I got pregnant with our second daughter, Anna, and Facebook became the easier means of updating friends and family.

However, Facebook doesn't always tell the "whole" story behind the happy photos. So I kept coming back to the blog but....I would walk away bc lets be real...everybody and their mom has a blog. Who cares if I do? Does matter? In the big scheme of things, probably not. But for me, even though, I am not a great writer I feel I have stories to share. So that is what I will do. Share my story.

This is my family. Jeff, (my sweet Darlin),  Josie (who is almost 5! going on 16) and sweet Anna (who brings so much silliness in our lives.), and me. We now live in Salinas, after a brief year of heartache (kind of more like Hell) in Texas. Jeff works for Constellation Wines as a grower rep so for the first time in our lives we have weekends! YEAH for us! And I am a stay at home mom that is winging it every day. And by the grace of God, we make it to the next day. =) "Morning by Morning new mercies I see..." which I won't be singing if I don't get to bed and get the coffee pot ready for tomorrow.

Thanks for "Keepin up with Cranks!" ha

Easter

We had a sweet day of worship, family, and enjoying God's creation. Josie was beautiful. She loves her baby who goes everywhere with her. And of course...her "beep beeps" ..the chickens...she is in love with the chickens. We have five...no eggs yet but soon.

Baby Lizard

Josie is very much an animal lover. We found this baby lizard and played with him but, when it was time to let him go...she cried..and cried. I could not get her to regain composure....poor kiddo just wanted to keep "baby wizard."

Mom or Dad's Athletic Ability

Well Josie is strong and very mobile but when it came to skee ball...her ball ended up in the other lane. But then again she is only a year and half in these picts. It was a big kid party at the Funky Monkey. The Monkey totally freaked her out..we had to leave after he made his appearance.

The Legend of Josie Crank

The other day, I asked Josie to go get her hat so we could go outside and play...this is what she came back with!!!!!! She might live in California but she has got Texan in her!

Momma's Little Helper

In this photo, I was making cookies for christmas gifts and Josie had been outside swinging. She came in and immediately needed to help. So this time (you learn this parenting thing as you go) I gave her, her own bowl and her own ingredients to make Josie's cookies. She did a great job! And of course we all had "bites" when the cookies were ready.

Josie always wants to help whether I am loading the laundry, unloading the dishwasher, sweeping...she wants to be apart of it. Which is very cute, however there are days when things would go alot faster (I wouldn't have to redo things) if she wasn't helping. But when I she hears me loading the disherwasher, I hear little feet coming my way with eyes that ask...hey don't you need MY help. =) Well of course I do..even though you are unloading what I am loading.

It was on the first day I let her help with cookies (in the pink a few weeks ago) that I realize how much patience God must have for US! We always want to help...take part in His work..even though we probably just slow Him down. But He allows us to serve so that we can have joy in our work and have purpose. Some days as a stay at home mom, you wonder what your purpose is....on that particular day, I was the student. Josie gave me eyes to see just a little more of God's character.

Morning Side

The right side of the backyard.

The left side holds a nice view of Mnt. Snt. Helena which had snow last week.

Even though I have an adorable alarm clock with dark eyes, I am still not a morning person. But there is always a little ancipation as I walk into the family room....I never know what my windows will reveal to me...God surprises me each day. This particular morning was indeed a "wow" moments.....I just couldn't take it all in...or capture on film. I am thankful for the beauty God creates. Beauty promotes hope...new life....and reminds me of Matt 6..if God can create such beautifully dresses wildflowers and care for the birds who are free and unfettered...how much more does he care for me? Delight in me. A good reminder for me as there are days...like today when I worry about silly things....or I just feel older. This view also reminds me of the old hymn..."How Great Thou Art"...morning by morning...new mercies I see...I am so thankful for God's mercy and love for me.

Cancun!