Settling In

We have been here six weeks now and it SO feels like home. 

Everything except the master bathroom and the Grandbabies room has been painted.  The master bathroom will be done next weekend.  It feels good to have boxes unpacked and everything has a place.  Yes, there are a few boxes we have to look through, but it is all good.

Our list of projects is growing though!  Seems like when we finish one, we think up two more!!  We need to do something in the backyard to keep the dust down.  The pool dream, while still alive, will be on hold until we can pay off our credit card. 

The garden will be reality though.  That way we can grow some of our own food and it will be organic.  This will be a fun new adventure.

God is so good - somehow our finances are stretching far beyond where we thought they would.  He does challenge us to test Him in this.  We have and He has shown us what an amazing Savior we serve.

We can't wait to see how God uses our home to bring glory to His name. 

God is great!!!

Forrest

This being a grandparent is so much fun!!

This afternoon Kara and Tom brought Forrest over to play.  He is just over three months and full of smiles.  He is so inquisitive.  He was laying on my tummy just looking at me.  One has to wonder what he is thinking.... do babies think?

It is so cute how he sees Kara and just breaks into a grin. 

Can't wait to watch him grow.

God is so good!!

Daddy

It has been such a sad day.  Ten years ago today my (Vicki) Dad went to be with Jesus.

He was such an amazing man - quiet, a deep thinker, smart, so much common sense it was crazy!!  He loved us totally and completely.  He was our rock - even when we messed up, no matter how bad!!

There are days I almost forget he is gone.  There are days I miss him so much the tears won't stop.

I feel so blessed to have such an amazing model of our Heavenly Father here on earth. 

God is great.

The Craziness Continues

What a summer - we are SO glad to see the summer of 2012 gone!!

We made it through Kara's giving birth and gall bladder surgery.  Forrest is a joy.  We went camping the last weekend in July - Brian really wanted to be there for his first fishing trip!!

It was cute to watch Brian explain to Forrest there are no fish in Arizona!!  Forrest did amazing on his first camping trip.

When we returned home David shared the news that Sarah is pregnant. Since they broke up in June we were more than a little surprised.  David resigned from his internship and found a position working for a plumbing company doing quality testing on new homes before they are occupied.  Long hours but he seems to like it.  We don't see much of Sarah but understand she is doing well - the baby is due February 21, 2013.

We are finally in our new home - thank You Jesus!  Our original move in date was June 23, then it became July 10, July 19, July 31....  We closed on August 15!! 

Now comes the move.  We ended up hiring a couple of day laborers from a center.  David was pretty much down for the count because of shoulder surgery on August 3.  Jake was there all the way!!  Jay and Megan came over and painted and helped with the move.  Megan needed to tutor so they left about 2:00pm on Friday. 

I (Vicki) had to work, but was headed home about 2:00.  A few minutes after I left Brian phoned - Jay and Megan had been hit head on.  They were be taken to Good Samartian Medical Center (a trauma center).  The woman who hit them crossed the center line and hit them.  She refused to let the Officer see her phone....  At the scene Megan could not feel her legs and they had to pull the door off.  Jay's chest was swollen and hand messed up.

At the hospital I waited.  Because of the severity of the accident I was not allowed to talk with him but I stood by the ambulance door so he see I was there.  Megan arrived about 20 minutes later.  We did have the opportunity to meet Megan's Dad and Step-Mom.  Angels were surrounding these two - they were both released from the hospital about 6:30. 

Jay had surgery on his hand a week later - there are four pins in it and the doctor's are uncertain on what his mobility will be....  We will see how this impacts his tattooing...

So the summer of 2012 brought our first grand baby - Forrest Neil in June.  All three children had surgery.  We moved.  The attacks and adversity of this summer were crazy. 

My emotions have been all over the place -

• Joy - what an amazing thing to hold Forrest, to watch Kara be a Mom, to have him smile at me....
• Sadness - David is wonderful with children, his dream to be a Children's Pastor is on hold...
• Hope - Jay and Megan's lives were spared - God has something major He will use them for...
• Pain - not being allowed to be a part of the grand baby to be...
• Frustration - unforgiveness.  Families so need each other, to push one another away to not deal with the pain makes no sense.  Families are where we should be able to say what we think and still feel loved...  Life is too short to hold grudges.

Still - God is on the throne.  He is worthy of all glory, honor and praise.  My simple prayer is others will see Jesus in my life. 

God is great.

What a Crazy Ride

The last week and a half has been crazy - attacks from every direction.

Eight days ago in the ER with Kara.  They couldn't find anything, so she made an appointment with her doctor.  By Wednesday the pain was so intense she couldn't stand it so back to the ER.  This time they discovered it was her gall bladder.  Apparently common in women who have just given birth.  After getting her stabilized she had surgery on Thursday.  She is home but can't lift over five pounds for four weeks.....

Our home we were supposed to be in by now will not be ready until mid-August.  We are terribly disappointed with Beazer.  They lack communication and planning skills.  It will be good to finally be moved in.

Brian was driving down the interstate and blew a tire directly in front of a semi....  The DPS officer who saw the entire thing said it was a miracle.  We say there are some angels in critical condition!! 

Then yesterday the Kia had to have two tires replaced.... we are supposed to be limiting our spending in anticipation of our closing!!

This afternoon my Mom called - her hot water heater broke....

All of this simply lets us know that the evil one is not happy with our actions.  We have no clue how God is going to use us - but we are REALLY excited to see where the journey is headed.

God is so good.

Hurting Children

One of the worst parts of being a parent is when you child hurts and there is nothing you can do but love on them. 

Kara is having the typical hormone swings after giving birth.  She doesn't want to leave Forrest with a sitter in a few weeks.  How well I (Vicki) understand that!!

David broke off his relationship with Sarah.  He is focusing on Jesus right now. 

While we want to take the pain on ourselves and make things better..... all we can do is pray for them, love them and be there.  And have the knowledge that God is also loving on them. 

God is so good.

Guapo and Gramma

Our world has forever changed.  Forrest Neil joined us this morning at 10:28am weighing 9 lbs, 1 oz and 20.25 inches long. 

He was delivered by C-section because of his size - it ended up the cord was wrapped around his neck - three times.  God is good.

I am not sure I realized how much this one event would impact me.  When Tom called to let me know - I cried.

When we made it to the hospital - there were tears in my eyes.  God is so good.

As we begin this new season in our life - being grandparents, we can hardly wait.  To take him to the zoo, camping and the beach.  To shower unconditional love on him.  To talk to him about how much Jesus loves him!!

As we drove home I wondered if this is how our Heavenly Father feels about us - totally, completely head over heels in love with us.  He wants the best for us.

God has blessed us so much - we have each other, we have some pretty amazing children, we have a brand new awesome grandbaby.  

We can't wait to see what God has next for us.  We know He is about to shower us with even more love, more blessings because we love Him and we are being obedient to His word.

Life is short, we are hanging on to Jesus and loving every minute of it.

Thank You Abba Father for this new little life.  May he grow up to be a man after Your heart.

God is good beyond our imagination!