of Halloween's past

Because I'm back from Uganda and because I'm still a wee bit exhausted and jet-lagged and mostly because I enjoy a walk down memory lane, I bring you a photojournal of Halloween's past....

the week, going backwards

Today has been busy packing, once again...

Because tomorrow I fly out to Uganda with my Via sister, Kelly, and three of her girls. I'll be staying there till the end of the month, and I'll admit, it's uber weird for me to be preparing for a trip away. Usually it's Jeremiah that goes and I'm with the kids.

It's weird, but kinda nice just to pack for one. I'm just bringing my carry on and one suitcase?! What in the world?! Of course I do have to help Kelly and her girls and deal with all their luggage (the whole reason for my going), but for some reason it feels a lot less stressful.

I'm curious to see the similarities and differences between Uganda and Haiti on this trip.

Jeremiah has planned a fun exploring overnight trip up the Blue Ridge Parkway with the kids while I'm gone. And I'm pretty sure they will eat lots of junkfood and do dangerous things that would make my stomach knot up. Goes with the territory, right?

Right.

We've had the pleasure of house/dog-sitting for dear friends of ours here in VA the past few days. It was a wonderful relaxing few days...

Last week Ella and her cousins threw a surprise shower for Kelly. They planned it, picked out everything, decorated, and had a blast surprising her! They really are growing up...

And now, back to the packing.
(again)

when you are told to wait

"So, what's your plan?"

"Does Jeremiah have a job yet?"

"What's next for you guys?"

The questions are inevitable.
People just want to know.
People are interested.
And people care, I remind myself.

That doesn't make the lack of an answer any easier to try to give.

Because, truly, we don't have an answer. We don't know what's next for our family.

But here's the thing...

We know that God has told us to wait. He has told us that for this immediate season he wants us to rest. He doesn't want us to try and make something work, but to wait for His leading.

There have been times in our life where we were placed in a waiting season, but this is the first time we have ever known that we are being commanded to wait. We don't know why, we just know.

We know that the Lord wants us to "delight ourselves in Him and he will give us the desires of our hearts" and to "be still and wait patiently for Him" and that He will "meet all our needs according to His riches and glory." (Psalm 37 and Philippians 4)

And so, while that might make for some awkward moments when we answer questions, it's what we are trying to be obedient to. And while it might go against every grain of our get er' done American work ethic, it's what we are doing.

We are delighting in Him, seeking to honor Him in our obedience, meeting the needs of those he places in our path right here, right now, and trusting that he has a plan for our family.

And that, I am learning, is enough.

thursday thoughts

In the midst of all the evidence of Fall, I found this one last lovely rose giving its final tribute to the Summer.

I have had this weird 36 hour bug...low fever, fatigue, sore throat, headache, and even a nice little throw up session for fun. But, I woke up feeling great this morning, so woohoo!

I am so behind on editing my photos. So behind. To the point where I just don't know if I'm even going to do it.

I also think its time to change up the ol' blog header. Since we aren't in Haiti anymore. And the cleanness and bright smiles somewhat irritate me everytime I see that picture.

I also need some inspiration on topics to write about. Anyone have any questions for me? I have about 10 blogs that I've written that I just can't finish these days...

My husband and kids have been busy this week making their dreams of a tree house come true in the woods behind our house. They disappear with their tool boxes and  reemerge hours later with dirty clothes and happy smiles.

The weather has been absolutely perfect this week. I'm talking per.fec.tion!!!!! It could stay like this for a long time and I'd be so happy.

My sister and her hubby leave tomorrow for Ghana to bring home their baby twins, Lucy and Lucas! I'm so excited to meet them! I also love the fact that our family photos now reflect such a diversity of colors. It's a beautiful thing. Although it is getting harder and harder to actually be able to get a photo with everyone in the frame...

Happy Thursday everyone!

dirt under the nails

Back. Home.

I woke up with a great big smile of my face that I couldn't suppress...

I am stationary for two whole weeks, people! Two. Whole. Weeks.

Its been two months since I've been back in America and I haven't slept in our house for more than 5 nights yet.

In honor of this occasion I planted some fall flowers yesterday.

If you had told my teenager self that I would find gardening so satisfying I would have laughed in your face. But here I am, not a teenager, finding great joy in getting dirt under my fingernails.

Pumpkins are on the porch,
pumpkin scented candles are out,
and I have soup on the menu 2x's this week.

Yep, fall is here!

Our trip to Raleigh over the weekend was wonderful. It was jam packed, but felt oddly relaxing somehow. It was great to get to catch up with Josh and Tasha, who generously allowed us to crash at their house and eat up all their food. We had 11 children sleeping at the house one night, and we even managed to get a little bit of sleep.

We made it to Hillridge Farms for a family birthday party one evening. I severely underestimated how cold it was going to be, but my kids were troopers despite their chattering lips. The distractions of a hayride, giant slide, and the corn house helped a bit.

Floating head Ezra. 

Josh and Jeremiah were reunited on the stage for the World Reach Missions Banquet and for Sunday services at Journey church. Pardon my terrible phone picture, but its the only picture I have =)

Today feels like this great big huge gift given to me.
No driving, no schedule, no appointments...just home with my kids.

Yeah, there is the inevitable school to do, laundry to get caught up on, and toilets that badly need cleaning...

but I'm just going to soak up every second of being home.

thursday thoughts

I really had to think for a second (or 30...) to try and remember what day it was.

We head out today for North Carolina. It will be our first time visiting since we moved back from Haiti and I am sort of curious to see what our reactions will be to returning to what was home for us for 10 years. We have a lot packed into the weekend, but the reason for the trip is to help out and attend the World Reach Benefit Banquet held at Journey Church in Raleigh.

I went shopping last night at the mall. Temps are supposed to get down into the 40's this weekend and our wardrobes are obviously summer heavy...so it was a necessary evil. I haven't been to the mall in for.ev.er and it made me feel old-ish.

I have lived long enough for styles popular in my younger days to come around again?!
How can this be?

Zoe is officially potty trained for #1.
She took off her diaper a few weeks ago and handed it to me and that was it.
#2 is another story, but who really wants to hear about that.

Drama queen, this one is.
She feels things and expresses those feelings in big ways.
BIG ways.

She also has inadvertently learned her beginning times tables this week by listening along to her siblings lessons. Seriously. She also now ends her sentences with the word poop. Thank you big brothers.

Happy Thursday everyone!