We made it to Bellingham!!

Wow, we made it! I still can't believe it. During the looooong 13 hour drive from Yellowstone to Seattle, I really felt like my eyes would never see that darned Space Needle. But we made it!! We spent two lovely nights at Dan's mom's house in the city, reconnecting with our friends and cleaning ourselves up (it was day 5 without bathing, and we'd run out of clean laundry, too!). After a refreshing time in Seattle, we headed north to our new house in Bellingham.

Last Saturday, we arrive and got the keys to this little cutie!

Actually, it's the biggest house we've ever lived in, and it's all ours!!! The boys walked in and immediately started running around. Bellingham is a sweet little town (about 90,000 people). Very compact and urban feeling but not a big city by any means. You can get anywhere you want to go within 5-10 minutes. Our house is about 2 minutes from downtown.

On Monday morning, the moving truck arrived and we were ready!

Dan's mom had come up for the day to distract the boys while Dan and I took care of unpacking. 

I think Lazarus was a little overwhelmed with all the activity though, because when it was time for him to join Elijah and Grammy on an adventure, he informed me he'd rather take a nap. And so he did. In the back yard.

It's now Thursday and we feel pretty settled. Elijah ended up going back to Seattle with grammy for 3 days. When I picked him up, I asked him if he missed me.

Elijah : "No, because I was just having too much fun! I can't wait to do it again!"

Such a little man!!! We'll definitely be planning more nights away now that we're just 1.5 hours from Dan's mom!

After dinner tonight, we took a short bike ride to one of three playgrounds near our house. It's the closest, but a little dinky. Still, the boys had a blast riding their bikes around the "race track" and playing with the rocks.

Dan officially started his new job today. He has a nice office at the church where all of his books will live happily (fhew!). It's been fun visiting the church and getting to know other members as they drop off dinners (awesome!!). I'm so thankful for this entire journey. Taking our time to get here helped me to process leaving our St. Louis home. It was also just great to be with Dan so much. The kids are so happy right now and I'm certain it's because of all the mommy/daddy time they're getting. We look forward to many evenings together as a normal family now!

Even though we're here and settled, I've got a few more posts coming up about our road trip. We got internet today, so I'm trying to catch up on everything!!

Moving, Just Keep Moving....

Along with Dan graduating with a Masters in Divinity and expecting baby number 3 this fall, we're moving!!

Since January, Dan has been in slllowwwww conversation with a pastor at a small church in Bellingham, Wa. In April, we visited, Dan interviewed and officially accepted a position as an assistant pastor!! We are so thrilled and THANKFUL to have a job right out of seminary. It's pretty rare for this to happen and we owe it all to God!!

There are many things to look forward to:

-Being back in the NW

-Close proximity to Dan's parents and dear friends in Seattle

-Dan using his talents and skills in a ministry setting

-Gaining experience and working alongside an amazing session and their families

-Dan having a DAY job!!

-Exploring a new part of the world

Of course, I'm nervous about switching homes again, especially since this was not in our future plans. Having a baby in a new community is hard (I've done it twice!). Suddenly going from seminary wife to pastor's wife-probably gonna mess that one up. But, we are certain this is God's plan. It's the next step and we are thankful for the clarity in making this decision!!

We've got 4 weeks left in St. Louis. I plan to be outside, soak in as much sunshine as my Irish skin can handle and spend time with my friends. If you feel I'm neglecting this space a bit, that's because I am :) It's summer y'all and I got stuff to do!!!

Times They Are a-Changin'

Today, the boys and I are driving to Nashville for 10 days. The next two weekends are filled with activities involving people of my past. A dear friend from high school is getting married and it's my 10 year high school reunion. 

ACK!! 10 years ago, I was 18, had no eyebrows and apparently wore eyeliner.

I thought I was invincible. I was angry and confused. I lived in the moment and had very few plans for my future. I did not love the Lord and had animosity toward those who did. I couldn't wait to get out of Nashville. I was scared to do mature things like apologize or admit my faults. I was SO SO stubborn!!

When I reflect on the past 10 years of my life, I don't really think about my accomplishments, but more about how God has absolutely changed me. I certainly have not yet "arrived" and am still a work in progress, but I am different. 10 years ago, I would have said EF YOU! to the thought of attending any sort of reunion with people from my high school. I was the girl who skipped my senior prom to see Bob Dylan live instead (I still stand by that decision, by the way!).

Today, I am thrilled to be traveling back home. Thrilled to see old friends and catch up. Thrilled to be encouraged by other people's stories of change and transformation. To see my friends' babies and spouses and to be embraced by those who've known me since the days of no eyebrows.

I'm feeling sentimental (a rare thing for me, you know) so I'll be listening to lots of Counting Crows, old school Radiohead, Bjork and Bob Dylan while on my journey. And if the boys have anything to do with it, we'll have "Seven Nation Army" on repeat for at least an hour of our trip. Nashville, here we come!

A Change Will Do Ya Good

Dan and I purchased a real rug this week. By real, I mean it's made of wool, is more than .5cm thick and was bought from a real store (not craigslist, a thrift store or a garage sale). It was an amazing clearance deal from Target with FREE shipping!! I was so excited about it when it came, I dragged it up the stairs and rearranged the living room all during nap time!

Before, our living room was wonderful, colorful and functional. But, with the introduction of our new soft thick 8 x 10 rug, I got inspired to open up the room a little bit more. I didn't want the rug to be covered up by any furniture, either. So this is what we got:

BEFORE

AFTER

I just love how open our living room is now! The (craigslist) rocking chair and (goodwill outlet) ottoman  will get much more use now that it's out of the corner. I plan to do lots of cuddling in that old wooden chair :)

We are driving back to St. Louis today and I can't wait to sit and catch up with Dan in our new living room tonight!

Missing Home {One of Many}

About every few months, I find myself missing one of my many homes. Sometimes I miss the North West and all of our dear family and friends who live there with their beautiful children I hardly know. Sometimes, I miss my parents' house, tucked away in a Tennessee valley. Sometimes I long for Heaven!

Today, I miss my Malawian home, Lilongwe. It's just been on my mind. I have been thinking and praying for our friends who still live and work there. A lot has changed since we lived in that peaceful country almost 3 years ago. I worry for their future but am encouraged by the work ABC is doing. I know for a fact that the graduates truly are making a difference. Still, I miss it and my heart aches for the people of Malawi during political tension. Elijah has also been asking lately if we will move back when he is five. Oh Elijah, if only we knew for sure. Things are more up- in-the air now than ever before. We've got a little over a year left of seminary and the possibilities seem endless. I just want Africa.

My husband and I have been watching the latest season of The Amazing Race. We're pretty sucked in and have been known to watch more than one episode at a time (benefits of watching it after it airs!). We were so excited and homesick when episode 6 opened with an introduction to Malawi as the teams landed at the Lilongwe Airport. When I read missionary friends' blog posts about the weather and bugs and challenges with fuel shortages, I long to be there with them, complaining along side them.

Today, I miss my African home.

Oktoberfest at the Meeksarosa

Being home with family means just a few things.

Wood (in different forms)

Kids:

{Aunt Abby has created a new character perfect for SNL. It's the "Picture Poker Inner".}

Bathing Every Night:

(what a concept!)

Time with much loved uncle Jesse and aunt Abby.

Organization projects! Abby and I cleaned out the big closet in our old room making a sweet little space for Elijah and Lazarus.

Before:

After:

We had a great time. I was able to relax more this week than I have all year. The boys, however, are worn out!

We are driving home today and we all can't wait to see Dan!

Homeowners make me SICK!

Well, not really. Just jealous.

I have never had the desire to own a house. Dan and I are both wanderers. We love to travel and often feel stuck if we've been anywhere longer than 2 years. Really, owning a house seems like such a chore. First, there's the buying it. Then the fixing it up. Oh, gotta fix it again. Yup, something broke. Back to fixing it. With renting, you just call your amazing landlords and the problem is fixed within hours while renter eats dark chocolate and reads during nap time.

Well, the longer we are in America, the more I want to own. Not because I don't love my cute apartment, but because I cannot change anything in my cute apartment! Just so you all know, if I was a homeowner, every wall would be painted various shades of gray, teal, and yellow. Chalkboard paint would been seen on more than one door and appliances would be vintage!

If I were somehow able to buy a house before November, would someone, PLEASE give me this kitchen for my birthday!!

With an adjacent matching laundry room!

I'm jealous of all my home owning friends who get to transform their spaces to reflect themselves. I listen to them chat about all the recent changes they've made and how "it's so much nicer having the laundry on the second floor!". Suddenly, when the boys' bedroom door falls off, I'm not jealous anymore.

(they had a curtain for a door, thankfully it didn't last too long!)

Back in the States!

Since Friday morning:

4 airports

3 flights

Countless lines

5 in flight movies

20 minutes of sleep

36+ hours travel time

I am sitting on my couch with my feet on the coffee table, Lazzy in bed and Dan and Eli playing trains. We are home. Our flight from Johannesburg left an hour late which then put us on a downward spiral once in D.C. We missed our connection and all other flights to St. Louis were booked until the 21st. Ha. Yeah right.

We sat in lines for hours, prayed and managed to grab some standby seats on a flight this evening. Praise God!! Thank you so much for all of your prayers! We really really needed them. It was such a tough time, but we got through it.

Our Zim stories are not quite over, yet. We didn't have internet during our last week in Bulawayo so I have a few more topics to post on before officially wrapping up our time in Africa. For now, I am just thankful to be home!

Business as usual

St. Louis has never felt so much like home. It's fun to be entering into our second year here in the great Midwest. We have such great memories from last summer which really solidifies the fact that St. Louis is now home. We've planted our roots and are quickly growing to love this city. Traveling for two weeks made it easy to come back and be thankful for our community here. We've been back for three days and it's been good. It's been business as usual:

Elijah was thrilled to be reunited with his toys. He wears his new slippers while rockin' out. (Thanks grammy!)

Wednesday night, we had Popsicles and played kick ball at the park with our community group.

We've been hittin' up the Tower Grove sprinkler park every afternoon.

Daddy got to join us there yesterday after studying Hebrew across the park!

Last night, we had a pic nick dinner in the park with new friends from Seattle. Elijah and Alaythia had a blast exploring in the fields.

It's summer and I'm happy to say that we are busy spending time with friends. Each time we move, we pray for the provision of friends and good fellowship. God has been so good to us!