…and some of the last. Because I’m behind. As usual. This year has been such a whirlwind! Homeschool has been non-stop but oh so fun! I was helping in the kids program at BSF which doesn’t seem like a big deal but it took up two mornings each week, which, in homeschool land is a lot. I just feel like we’ve been go go going and I’m so ready for the slow days of summer. HA. Today our house went on the market so the visions of rest shall have to wait :)

The backstory..

In January, we were sitting around the dinner table chatting about this and that and somehow Tennessee came up. I mentioned that “I like Tennessee… I could live there…” I don’t know what made me say it except that I really have liked it the couple times I’ve visited but Greg gave me the weirdest look and said “that’s interesting” and that was it. Naturally when I went to BSF the next day and they randomly went around the circle to check in on everybody, I of course burst into tears blubbering about maybe having to move and how everything was about to change and and and. Of course Greg and I hadn’t even talked about this yet but something in my spirit just knew everything was about to be different. Later when I had collected myself and actually asked him about this initial strange interaction, he said he had been thinking about it for a while and wanted to talk to me about it but felt the Lord say to wait… she’ll get there on her own. We have never talked about moving. Ever. Not seriously at least. We adore where we live. This is our forever house. We love our house. We have quite literally put our blood, sweat, tears and all our money into this place. We love all our family here. There’s nothing that was spurring this on.. except maybe the homeless lady down the street that kept lurking and stealing all our packages but really! not even her! We love it here so much!!! It was just this strange feeling that I’ve had maybe two other times in my life before big life events, that I felt again, so we started talking about it. We both had the exact same town in mind. Again, we’ve never talked about TN ever. It’s not like we were just looking to move wherever. It was strangely specific and so odd we were both so aligned, we just thought it was worth looking into.. so on our anniversary, we figured we’d just book a trip way down the line in May, and go out and just see… I don’t know what… just see. Ha. And this is how we do things ;) And since then, it’s been lots and lots of talking and discussing, a lot of me waking up in the middle of the night in a complete panic, or in tears, or in a WHAT THE HECK ARE WE DOING state of mind… a lot of processing… a lot of asking why?… a lot of not getting an exact reason but feeling like we need to just step out in faith because all I want in life is to go where He wants us to go and do what He wants us to do. There have been SO many prayers of GOD I’M SO SCARED!!!! and yet every time, it’s like He whispers to me it’s all going to be ok. It’s all going to be fine. He’s given me so much encouragement through His word and random devotionals and books. He’s just been so good. As He always is but ugh when you have nothing else to lean on, it sure is a comfort to have a great big God that will take care of all the things. And it’s a strange relief to give up something you’ve been holding on to so tightly. I love my house so much. I see His fingerprints and His faithfulness all over it. But at the end of the day, it’s just a house and if He’s leading us away from it, it’s going to be ok. Seasons come and go and there is so much beauty in each one if you have your eyes open to see it. Speaking of, I’m really excited to be moving to a place with seasons! I’m really excited about so many things! So long story short, our house went on the market this morning, we got a rental in Franklin and will be moving out mid to late July, hoping to eventually build! But we shall see where He leads. I’m just along for the ride :) So anyways, that’s what has been occupying my brain as of lately but here are some other snippets of things here and there! There was Fall… haha takin it back…

There was (most likely) the last time my kids would let me put them in theme costumes for Halloween :D

Abbie made the most scrumptious caramel apple cream puff deliciousness that night, that I still think about often!

There was our annual before Thanksgiving bowling tournament! The kids said they did NOT want to move to TN if there was no bowling alley but I checked and I think we’ll be ok. We are hard core once a year bowlers..

There was my most favorite of holidays where I got zero pictures except this but their vests were so cute I just hope they fit in them forever <3

This was the year of many an animal event. We lost like three chickens in one week earlier this year and only had one left.. and you know.. they like to be in flocks and she wasn’t doing too well so she lives with our neighbors now :) I ordered chickies for the spring but then our world turned upside down and I sadly had to cancel my order but one day I shall have chickens again!! I miss them!

We kept the dog though

Then there was winter :)

There was a lot of school done in this position

And other school activities requiring pasta

There was the sweetest little shower for the cutest of the pregnant womens

There were Nutcrackers to attend. And Nutcrackers to make friends with.

And magical nights away

And days with sinking lawns

And days by the sea <3

There were cuh-racy New Years parties to attend

And our most favorite way to welcome the new year with our most favorite people

Our last baby turned 5 so there was the traditional Disneyland trip!

There was a little girl who went on quite the adventure to find a kitten on her birthday. Who knew available kitties were so hard to find!

They like each other I think?

Abbie planned her whole birthday and it was the cutest thing :)

The boys started golf!

We welcomed the most precious nephew!!!

Maisey continued to think these grasses were planted to ease her aching puppy joints. They used to be so pretty :)

Kitty ate my knitting needles

And the week before any strange looks were exchanged, I put in a giant bulb order, ordered chicks for the spring, and called about putting a pond in because THESE were on their way!!!!

I finally got my duckies! I’ve wanted ducks for so long!!! And wouldn’t you know, by the time they finally arrived, the discussions were beginning and I’d just lie in bed at night wondering how to get them to TN if that is what we ended up doing. But I kept turning them faithfully each day hoping they would in fact hatch and 28 days later we had the most adorable creatures I ever did see! Here are a few hundred pictures :)

God did a good thing making them so cute because BOY do they stink! I was SO happy when they could finally move them out of the house :D And then they turned awkward real fast :)

I loved them. But two of them mysteriously drowned and the rest wouldn’t come out from the dark corner of their pen and I don’t know what was going on but with my mind swirling with trying to figure out our rapidly shifting future, they went to the neighbors as well :[

And then there were eclipses to view, and decks to sleep on, and sprinklers to run through <3

And then there was Tennessee where I had the best mother’s day where my whole family went to go see Unsung Hero with me and it was so sweet even if all I could hear were their chairs going uppppp and downnnn the whole time and there was so much greeeeeen everywhere and everybody wasn’t angry and it was just so lovely. I really loved it there. We wanted to go to a church that a pastor Greg likes goes to and I was praying Abbie would meet a friend in Sunday school and wouldn’t you know, she came out and said she met her best friend. And it was the pastor’s daughter! So then they invited us over for pizza one night, and we got to see our friends that live there a couple times and it was just so much fun. Tried to buy a house from the 1700’s :D even though I told Greg we were done with our old house phase. It was just so pretty :’) Everyone was just so friendly.. the firemen pulled up and walked over and asked the boys if they wanted to get on the truck… just felt like the sweet slower pace of life we’ve been craving :) we shall see we shall seeeee

Came home and finished school! So proud of those kiddos <3 they really pushed hard so we wouldn’t have to bring any books on OUR CAMPING TRIP!!!!

Had the BEST time in Pinecrest even if I was so sick the whole time. So sorry to everyone around us and the extreme hacking that was happening each night. And also for my kids screaming MOM COME HERE THERE’S SO MUCH BLOOD!!! IT’S GOING EVERYWHERE!!!! so very early in the morning. Luke got a bloody nose, and turns out, those do indeed get on everything :) Maisey became the best dog that ever was and seemed to find her inner peace amongst the pines! She was the best hiking dog and SWIMMING dog! and conquered her fears of the scary steps! She even fell asleep sitting up from all the new activities she participated in :) see da besssss <3 <3

I absolutely boo-hooed on the way home, thinking about that being the last time we’d camp there. Apparently I’m a mess at all times these days. But also very excited for the next adventure, trusting He knows so much better than we do! Thank goodness for His goodness :) Happy summer to you!!!