Spring is in the air

I don't know what it is, the sunny weather? The Easter Egg hunts? School let out for Spring Break today? Whatever it is...Spring is HERE and I feel great! I feel God calling our family to a season of change and growth once again.

We will say goodbye to Germany in LESS than a month and begin our adventure in TX. The butterflies are brewing in my belly, but it's not nerves this time, it's excitement! A new base, a new house, we'll be living closer to family. Travis will be doing something different for his job, we're excited to see what that holds for him. While I can't say the kids are happy to be going to a new school, they'll miss Bitburg Elementary and their friends here so much. But, I know they are going to adjust well. We are so lucky to have such wonderful children. They bless us each day...even the tough days we learn something from them and are blessed by them!

God is so good to have brought us from where we were to where we are today. He continues to work in us and grow us everyday. He pushes us beyond our limits and after the test we ALWAYS come out better and stronger. We are so excited to begin our next new phase in life and the blooming flowers of spring are an ever preset reminder that we too are heading into a new season of our life.

Oh and PS I know this layout with the photos and everything is a little odd...I couldn't get it to agree with me and what I wanted it to do!!

Moving Life...

We just wanted to give you and update on our moving status.
The movers were here Monday and Tuesday and got everything packed nicely. They tried to say my Polish Pottery didn’t count as a high value item, tried to take some stuff away un-crated, and packed some Mayo and Mustard packets that weren’t intended to go, but these are all small matters. Everything went really smoothly. Even when FMO (our loaner furniture) got delivered before the packers got here on day one, we managed to find room for it all, and none of it got packed. We feel so blessed to have a smooth move so far!
Yesterday I spent 2 ½ hours cleaning the van...let’s rephrase that and say detailing the van, for shipping. Since they are so strict on shipping regulations regarding the cleanliness of the car, I was afraid to go to the appointment with Travis for fear they would pick it apart and be negative after all the work I’d put into it. But, he asked me to stay and I did. I am so glad I did, the lady that inspected it had nothing but nice things to say about how clean and well taken care of our van is. (She didn’t see it when there were french fries and Cheetos under the seats though! lol) And, after all our hard work, Travis and I have decided there will be no more eating in the van...few exceptions for road trips and such.
All in all everything has gone wonderfully. Travis is supposed to go today to fix a few things on our Port Call dates and flight itinerary, and then either today or tomorrow he’ll go to housing and give our intent to vacate our apartment here. We’ll then be able to make our TLF (hotel) reservations in both Germany and Texas.
We still can’t believe how quickly this is all happening. In just a few short months we will bid farewell to our wonderful friends here ( this is something I’m still not thinking about :( or looking forward to!) And then we’ll be facing the adventures that wait for us in Texas!

ER Visit

Well, this certainly wasn't our first ER visit with any of the kids, but it was the first that resulted in anything being sewn back together. Ashlynn got pushed down tonight and split her head open and it just wouldn't quit bleeding. So, off to the ER it was. We got there, got in quickly, and Travis held her down while the doctor gave her just one stitch. All is well now, but I thought you all might like to send up a quick prayer for a speedy and painless healing of her noggin!

Toothless!

Kalib FINALLY lost his first tooth...Here are some pics of his new grin!

Snow Fun!

We FINALLY had some snow to play in yesterday. Kalib and Ethan got an early start, then Ashlynn, Travis and I joined in the fun a little later.

Clearly, Travis had more fun then the kids.....(OH YEAH)!!!

I've come to realize...

So, as I am putting away groceries today I made a HUGE realization about my life. I've become too preoccupied with other things and put my family, my home on the back burner. I've been striving to be that "it" mom, the "it" person for ministries and volunteering. Trying to impress who? I don't know. What I do know is Travis has been telling me for a loooong time that I need to scale back. And, slowly I have started to. Today, for the first time in a long time, I stayed home. I took the kids to school, I clipped coupons, did the dishes, picked up the kids' rooms, did some laundry, made Valentine's Day Cookies for Kalib's class. I am happier today than I have been in a long time. I wasn't worried with going here and there and doing this or that for a ministry or a school function. Not that those things are bad, but for me, at this point in my life, they've become a burden. Not to anyone's fault except my own. I think now, the thing I am looking forward to about moving is the scaling back even more. Refocusing on my family life, my home. I'm not going to withdraw from society, I'm not going to become a hermit that lives only for my family. But, I am going to put my heart where it needs to be. I am going to do the one thing I always wanted to do. I am going to be a wife and a mom that cares lovingly for her family. I want to have a strong Christ centered marriage and raise successful children that always put God first. If those two single things are the only great things I ever do in my life, I've accomplished more than I ever dreamed. I love my family and I want to dedicate my life to ministering to them. After all, I know it's what God has called me to do in my time on this earth. I am no longer going to stand for society telling me I'm worthless because being a "stay at home mom" is what I choose to do with my time and my life. It is the job God has chosen me for and I'm going to do it well, not half heartedly like I have been.

Oh, and one more thing, before I sign off....Trav, I'm sorry for the things I've neglected in our life while I've been figuring this out! You're so great to hang in there and let things happen in God's timing! I love you forever!!!

PORT CALL!

We got our Port Call Date! Turns out we leave Germany May 1st! We will be flying out of Ramstein. Travis hasn't e-mailed me the itinerary as of yet, so I don't know if we are going through Baltimore and then onto Texas or what the deal is. I just wanted to share exciting news that we have our flight outta here scheduled. After the long wait, it's all happening so quickly now!