The Most Wonderful time of the year

It's suppose to be the most wonderful time of the year. It is my favorite time of the year. This year I am afraid will be different. All our family traditions and things we use to look forward to are put on hold because we have no home. It's been 7 weeks since we arrived in Texas. Our house IS finally on the market as of this week but the kids and I are still stuck living with my family until it's rented. There has been many comments made to me about needing to be thankful you have family taking you in, this is just a season, try to find something to do to make the time pass quicker. It's like pouring salt on an open wound. Yes it is in fact just a season but it doesn't change the fact that this season is rather stressful. I have threatened more than once to go back to Illinois and live in my empty home until someone rents it. Sharing a room with five kids and dogs has not been easy and it sure isn't fun. The kids schedule is messed up so most days they are whiny and sleep deprived not to mention missing their Dad. My protector and spiritual leader is not present and I am feeling lots of spiritual attacks. So I am whiny. So I may sound ungrateful. At least I am honest. Don't ever take for granted being in your own home, running things your way, kids having their own space, you having your own space, you having your own bathroom, a mess you can clean up when you want to, people coming over only if you invite them. You know things like that. Maybe this year I will be scrooge.

In limbo

I don't know about you but I hate being in limbo. Where everything is stopped as you wait for the final decision. This is where my family is right now. Currently waiting to hear if we will be moving and relocating to Texas. I am praying we will hear soon, although we aren't expected to hear anything until later in the month. Everything is in limbo, if we go ahead and plan for the kids to go to their school it will be money lost, if we plan to homeschool and don't get the job then we lose the slots. Then there is the whole house situation and a slew of everything else. I need to remember to breathe. I don't do well in limbo. I never have ask my parents. This whole situation is eerily similar to one my husband took me on ten years ago right before we married.

He had just separated from the Army in May, no job but knew something awesome would come a long, and it did TWO weeks before we married in August he interviewed and AFTER we got back from our honeymoon he had an offer letter to come to Illinois.

This current showdown started back in May after returning from a trip to Texas. "Carissa I just feel God moving us" he said. Two weeks later his boss happens to mention to his boss that E was looking to relocate to Texas, less than forty eight hours later on our way to Texas for a family emergency E receives an email letting him know the hiring manager for the job in Texas would like to speak with him, less than forty eight hours after that an interview is set up and we just happen to be in Texas. He pretty much HAS the job but we have to wait and see IF the contract is accepted. The contract has technically already been accepted but someone messed up on the first one and forgot to put these 7 new positions one in which E interviewed for so they had to re-submit this time with E's resume included as well as six others. So we WAIT...and WAIT...

To be continued...hopefully sometime soon.

21 days of stress

People keep mentioning to me these are the best times of my life. If what they say is true God help me, after this weekend if THIS is the best man Lord just send down your chariot now and take me to paradise.

February has not been a good month for this family. Eric had his procedure at the beginning of the month, then colds came on and you know they last a while, I mean there is seven of us that the germs have to make miserable. If each of us is sick for a minimum of three days that is 21 days total. This past weekend takes the cake. It started with Jonah and then spread like wild fire. Fevers, coughs, aches, chills, snot, lots and lots of snot. First it came on me, then on Eric, the dreadful germs, the headache, the pain of moving, the pain of sound all the while seeing to the needs of five kids six and under. Now chaos ensues on a good day, I will leave it to your imagination for what this weekend was like. Parenting and sickness don't mix.

So let me end with this, if you see me don't say this is the best time of my life, I just might slap you and I am not prone to violence, I have a hard enough time killing hornworms on my tomato plants.

The twins at three...

I am not sure if easier is the right word to use but things are definitely better now that the twins are able to speak in sentences. New challenges abound like fighting, competition, potty training, eating meals and other rather daunting issues. One thing is for sure Micah and Kerith are VERY different and for that I am very thankful but they do have one thing in common and that is they love their mom A LOT. So much so they won't go to Children's Church anymore. It's been the one challenge that has Eric and I both scratching our heads. They are well behaved as they participate in the adult service both cuddle up to me and let me rub their heads. I have to admit I am starting to treasure the moments even if it sort of takes my mind off the sermon. Seeing Micah try to sing praise and worship has been priceless, and watching Kerith try to take notes with her pencil has been another memory I will treasure. 

Their current favorite game is Mom and Dad. They usually fight over who gets to be Eric. Nice huh? I guess my job is not glamorous enough for a three year old.

Kerith's favorite saying is "I am not hearing it" she picked it up from me. I say it to the kids when they are tattling on each other. Micah's new word is actually which comes out as "axually" and everything is "axually mom..."

don't worry I haven't forgotten the rest of the kids I'll update them as well. I know you want to hear all the funny stories I have. I have many. Lots of blackmail...

Jonah turns 5!

Jonah turned five earlier this week. We had another cake and small celebration. The big party was on Saturday a long with Micah and Kerith. They are still young enough that they don't care if their parties are together.

All throughout the day he kept asking Mom am I bigger? as in taller. It was very hard to answer but of course I told him he was a lot taller than last year. That really wasn't enough to satisfy him so he finally told me he was ALMOST as all as me. Oh that IS coming, thankfully it is still a few years away. After all we have to get through Kindergarten first...

Road trip day 3

Monday this glorious Monday. The Lord gave us awesome weather for our first trip in to DC. We decided to take the kids to the National Mall. Parking didn't seem to be an issue. If only we could see into the future. We loved our walk. We saw the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, World War Two memorial, and from a distance saw the White House and Capital building. We should of known something would happen it was to perfect of a day.

You see that little red sign. Yeah it should of been our warning.

You see the white SUV in the middle bottom of the picture? To the right down a ways was where our van was parked. We walked down over the hill just after the picture was taken to find our van gone. Lovely huh? Apparently the FREE Parking 9-4 Mon-Friday should of been followed by a sign tow away zone 4 to ? because that is what happened to our van followed by a $100 ticket on the windshield. We finally found our van parked in a construction zone across the street. Would of been nice if someone would of pointed out that we'd get towed if we weren't back by a certain time I mean there were only two dozen security people around and obviously our Illinois license plate and packed car would make you realize we were tourists but I guess that is the point. SO BE AWARE don't park where it says free parking even when it says free parking you never know what might happen.

On the first day of first grade

Our Grace started first grade yesterday! It is SO hard to believe I have a first grader. She is growing to be a wonderful girl and a very good big sister but above all is loving to learn about Jesus.