God is so so good!!!!

Excitement at our house this weekend......we accepted the offer made on our home 1.5 weeks after we put the For Sale By Owner sign in our yard!!!!! AND......the home that we would like to buy......THEY ACCEPTED OUR OFFER!!!!!

God is absolutley taking our breath away....our banker came into the bank today for us and the couple that will be buying our house......AND IT'S MEMORIAL DAY!!!! Yes....he gave us his cell number and said call me when you get here.....I'll come unlock the door and let you in. This is a big, big bank in Bloomington. Now what kind of banker does that? Um well.....an amazing banker. And God......is totally orchestrating it all. We can take no credit other than this:

One morning I woke up and heard God say: "put your house up for sale." and shortly after that we did. Now we had talked about always finding a bigger house in the future but we hadn't really talked about anytime soon. That is how big our God is.....and that is how much He loves us. Never did we even imagine of things moving this fast.

The paperwork has started....nothing is final obviously until the closing but we are just amazed (As my sweet friend Holly reminded me: Just let God amaze you Laura!) and He truly has...we are so humbled, in awe, trying hard not to get too excited....you name it....we have felt it ;) I am a little sad to leave our home where we brought our baby girls home from the hospital to. There is so much about this place I'm going to miss......but we are so blessed that a young sweet newlywed couple will be getting this place next ;)


So now I suppose I should get started on the packing ;) and purging........Thank you to all our dear family and friends who have prayed for us, supported us, stood by us, and helped us get to this point. We love you all so much and can't wait to have that first cookout at our new home!!!

God First

"GOD should be FIRST in your Life. However putting CHURCH first is not the same as putting GOD first. In other words, stop putting CHURCH before your FAMILY."

~Billie Miller

"Little Sis"..Best Friend...Our Nanny ;)

"Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up. "

~Ecclesiastes 4

Thought for the Day

"Without bad days, good days wouldn't be nearly as great."

Pictures-Easter

Finally got my Easter with Jason's family pictures uploaded...

Blueberry Dump Cake

1 #2 can crushed pineapple, not drained
1 pkg. yellow cake mix
1 #2 can cherry or blueberry pie filling
1/2 lb. (2 sticks) margarine
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans)

Grease 9 by 13 pan. Put in pineapple not drained and spoon pie filling over this...
dump cake Mix over this.
slice margarine over all and sprinkle with nuts.
Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees. Serve warm with ice cream or Dream Whip.

Come In Out of the Wind...

The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it.

It comes the very moment you wake up each morning.

All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals.

And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view…

Letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.

And so on, all day.

Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings

Coming in out of the wind.” ~C.S. Lewis

The One You Speak To

•Inside every man is a Prince and a Punk, a King and a Kid. The one that you speak to is the one he will act like.

~To read more.....go to.....

http://hollyfurtick.typepad.com/the_preachers_wife/2011/05/monday-morning-commentary.html

Monkey Business

When Gabe and Ellie aren't fighting.....they are giggling uncontrollably behind closed doors and i never know what i'm going to find ;)

Freedom

"Real freedom is freedom from the opinions of others. Above all, freedom from your opinions about yourself. "
— Brennan Manning

Photo of the Day

Who You Are...

"Yes, people will reject and betray us, but they still don't have the power to diminish or decide our value. Right?

Read this excerpt from Susie Larson's book, "The Uncommon Woman"

Giving people easy access to dethrone our identity and devastate us is not healthy. Deep in our souls there must be an inner chamber where only Jesus resides. It's in that place where Jesus sits on the throne of our lives. By His very presence there, we are made, and continually made whole. He has already decided our worth, so it must never be up for grabs again. Since we belong to God, we can rule in the midst of our enemies (See Psalm 110:2). Some people are just plain mean; and others, misguided. We can be kind to these people but we don't have to let them (or their words) in. Others might be on to something when they point out our flaws, but if they possess no fear of God, we must confidently leave their presence and bring ourselves before the Lord. In that safe and holy place we confess our sin, admit our need for more of Him, and then throw ourselves on the mercy of heaven's court." (p. 111)

God knows our frame. He doesn't forget that we are human. But He loves us still. And His Son paid an exorbitant price to save us. Our worth is a settled issue.

It's just true. We all need to be reminded of this from time to time. We all have days when the cold winds blow that door open and leave us vulnerable to the lies of the enemy. But every day, may we identify ourselves with the Lord, as His very own. Every day, may we embrace His love as the defining factor of our lives. And every day, may we turn and love others in the way that He has loved us, because we can. " ~Susie Larson

You Will Have Abundance

Matthew 25:29

"To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away."

Viva La Vida

http://youtu.be/dvgZkm1xWPE

Jason's choir performed this song the other night at the Pops Concert and they did amazing!!!

I'm hoping to get a clip of our kids up here soon....but until then....check out this song.

Pictures-More Weekend Fun

Although I have loved every minute of growing up with brothers my whole life......

I have also loved every minute of God placing people in my life that fit perfectly into little areas of my heart......like a place for "little sisters/best friends".....

the best of weekends.....

and the onriest monkies happen at our house ;)

On My Highway

http://youtu.be/ov39z42M17I


"On my highway the yellow lines,
Have disappeared from time to time,
And I've wound up on the wrong side of the road,
On my highway I've gone to fast,
Afraid that I might finish last,
I hooked a curve too hard and lost control,
Oh I never know which way it's gonna go,


But what a feeling chasing the sun,
Living my life like it's shot from a gun,
Laughing a little bit more with every mile,
Oh what a freedom racing the wind,
Dieing to know whats around the next bend,
And smiling as I watch the years roll by,
I'm learning how to take it day by day on my highway,

On my highway I missed some signs,
And left a good love behind,
I see her in my rear view like a ghost,
On my highway I've broken down,
And cried when no one else was around,
And prayed that God would save my soul,
Ya I've paid a lot of heavy tolls,


What a feeling out on the run,
Drinking up the rain soaking up the sun,
Laughing a little bit more with ever mile,
Oh what a freedom like a sail in the wind,
Not looking back not forgetting where I've been,
Smiling as I watch the years roll by,
I'm moving on from my mistakes,
And I'm learning how to take it day by day,
On my highway..."

Pictures-Weekend Fun

Silence

"LET US BE SILENT, THAT WE MAY HEAR THE WHISPER OF GOD."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Mama's Monkies!!!!

Best Mother's Day Gift Ever.....God has been so good to give me them!!!

Happy Mama's Day!

Happy Day to my Mom who is amazing.....I can't imagine life without her ;) Love you Mom!
Thank you for all you do for us....you are a huge blessing!

Superblessed Mama

Love....love...love these kids. My favoritest people ever ;) Am one superblessed mama ;)

Are We Like Christ??

Gandhi:

“I like your Christ,

I do not like your Christians.

Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

House for Sale!!

Our home is now officially FOR SALE......having mixed feelings.....we LOVE LOVE LOVE this place......but have outgrown it ;) soooooo........here goes the tour......PHOTO 1:
Deck in back of house with privacy fence that you can sit and enjoy the sound of the fish pond with water fountain in back yard.....

view from the front: 331 S Center

Nice sized side yard.....with low maintenance landscaping

large front windows in family room....one of the HUGE things I have loved about this house is all the natural lighting it has!!! we have put all new windows in except for 2......

we put in this beautiful white capecod style fence in our back yard....

another one of my favorite parts of the house: the kitchen!!! beautiful hickory kitchen with 12' cathedral ceilings and beautiful new cabinets....TONS OF natural lighting!!

skylights......we have enjoyed every bit of them ;)

high shelving platform great for decor and outlets on top for white lights....

stairway to basement complete with gate that matches cabinets

Deck doors that look out over backyard full of beautiful landscaping

tall, large windows that get an amazing breeze going thru house

Bay window perfect for plants .....microwave,dishwasher, range included....

backyard complete with fishpond with fountain, firepit, small trees, fencing, and beautiful landscaping.....we have spent so much time out here.....

oh wait....she's not part of the deal ;) she's too cute to leave behind ;)

2 1/2 car garage complete with carpeted room perfect for a "mancave" ;) comes with furnace, AC window unit, and bar......

Bedroom

all rooms in house have ceiling fans....

Bedroom with new flooring.....

Bathroom.....Now I understand bright colors aren't for everyone ;) So part of the deal is this: If you don't like the colors when you purchase the house, then you pick colors you do like and I will paint it for you ;)

Tub and shower

Huge linen closet/storage

Master Bedroom with cedar closet and beautiful woodwork

Dining Room with beautiful hardwood floor

Very large family room with office space in corner

Woodburning fireplace.......and that's the tour! If interested call or email: #815-370-2623 or countrygal141@hotmail.com