The Big Picture

I sit here in wonderment, a bit baffled. Just when I think I understand the Lord's plan for us, BAM, we are told otherwise. And I don't write this post in a complaining manner, or a negative or ungrateful manner (because I truly see more blessings pouring forth now more than ever), just honestly in pure general wonderment, and even amazement. (and writing it out helps me clear my thoughts and see the big picture all the more clearly, so this post is mainly for me *smiles*)

These last few years have been up and down and all over the place for our little family. Not that our family has suffered in the least, we are absolutely rock solid, but meaning our plans for our future have taken complete 360 degree flips every so often.

Our plans for our future began wavering when the economy dropped, and in turn we lost our home. And as weird as it may sound, I am so grateful we did. That wasn't where we needed to be. That's not where we were at our happiest. I thought having a big home was what we wanted, what we needed to be happy, but it so wasn't.

We wound up in Rexburg in a much smaller home, living on much less money, and I can honestly say I have never been happier. This is where the Lord wants us, and we absolutely love it here. One of my favorite books describes it as the the Lord plucking you up from your garden and planting you elsewhere where you are much more needed and where you will be so much happier.

In terms of Jeremy's job, as he so eloquently states it, it's like, "being smacked upside the head with a 2X4". And believe me, he's been smacked quite a few times. And again this morning. There have been so many opportunities where he is THIS close to getting everything he wanted, just to have it fall apart at the very last millisecond and to be told, "Get your hiney back in school." The first few times we figured were coincident. Until the promptings became very clear, very loud, and honestly- very blunt. Go back to School. I won't go into details, but just to say what he's doing now- as spectacular as it sounds: fabulous job offers that would make loads of money... it's not where he needs to be.

My first thought is to become upset or angry, or out of sorts with it all. Why on earth turn down (currently two) wonderful job opportunities where we could have it all? But the decision that is ours is to either listen to the worldly ways, or listen to the Lord's plan for us. And while we don't understand it, Jeremy doesn't want to be hit in the head anymore, so we're listening!

And timing. Ooh the timing. *sigh* This must be my test in life, because man, the timing is AWFUL! Our sweet little Alex will arrive in just a few short weeks... and coincidentally we are moving... in just a few short weeks! Funny how that worked out. Many of you know it took our little monkey a bit longer than we had planned for him to come to our family. We are currently finishing up remodeling our next house, which will be ready for us to move into just days before Mr. Alex arrives. Which leaves me completely useless in terms of packing and unpacking seeing as how I can't even bend over!

I find the timing of it all a little too spot on... but by putting my trust and faith in the Lord, I know it's all part of the plan, and I'll take it without complaint. And if we have to live on student loans for the duration of Jeremy's schooling, so be it. This is what we need to be doing right now. We don't make the rules, we're just playing the game. :)

And one last final thought, it's as if the Lord knew I would need something to sweeten the deal and go along with all this. This part just worked out a little too perfectly to be coincidental as well. He knew we needed friends. That's the one thing in Idaho Falls I needed the most and didn't have. And to plop us down in a newly remodeled house to suit our needs... directly across the street from the BEST little family ever, that's just icing on the cake. With little Miss Ava to be Courtney's best friend, their brand new baby boy Sterling to be friends with Alex, and (hallelujah) a wonderful NORMAL friend for me to help keep me sane. And our husbands even get along.

So to make a long story short... and this is quite the long story already... even though we think we know where we're going, or we think we know where we want to go, or eventually wind up, listening to the Lord's plan for us (though we may not understand it... seriously, at all!) is always best. He knows what's best for us and He wants us to be happy. And I know we will be. Granted, it's not where we ever thought we would be, but I've learned not to question the package that blessings come in. :)


And because I'm a firm believer in that every blog post needs pictures, I'm throwing in these 2 random tidbits. Courtney has invented "Fashion Rocks". I was trying to take a nap, so I told her she could go do whatever she wanted for the time being. This is what she came up with! Painted rocks, glittered, feathered, and ribboned. Fashion Rocks! Pretty creative for a 3 1/2 year old! (That top one flies... ever seen a flying rock? Now you have- just stay out of it's way!)

Fun Day!

Courtney had quite the fun today! She started off with having her cutie little friend Ava come over to play for a while. I took them to Spray Park... where they played for 9 minutes, then decided they would much rather have ice cream. Yep. So we packed up and came home and had ice cream for lunch.

Then they wanted "Veggables" for a snack:

And then they wanted to play dolls...

and puzzles...

And dress up.

Aren't these two too stinkin' cute together?!

Then, they wanted mac-n-cheese and cereal. I told them to give me a cute smile- to which both of them growled and gave me a grimace. Enough with the pictures already, hint taken!

After Miss Ava went home, Courtney's cousins had a play date back at Spray Park again.

I call this "Fatty fat pregnant Face". *sigh* 7 more weeks and I'll start looking more like myself again!

It's been a fun day! Courtney's been blessed with such good little friends to play with :)

Ups and Downs

Today has been so full of ups and downs. I finally was able to get into the dentist to stop this excruciating pain...UP.... come to find out I needed a root canal and crown...DOWN... they told me my insurance ought to cover it because I'm pregnant...UP.... come to find out, oh no no no, fooled you, none of the $1500 is covered, that's all you... DOWN....we don't have $1500...DOWNER....

I'm pregnant, emotional, poor, in pain, distraught, and did I mention poor? DOWN DOWN DOWN.... I went to my friend Katy's house, who was watching Courtney for me, and who just happens to be amazingly smart with big words and intimidating people on the other side of the phone, who while I sat on her couch and had my pregnant break down, she called every insurance person, medical office involved, this person and that, all the run arounds with the phone numbers they kept giving her to call (seriously like 2 hrs she was on the phone for me!) Up Up. Though even with all the magic she was working, they were still unable to find any loopholes to pay for this crappy root canal and crown, Down Down...

And then this fabulous amazingly wonderful Katy, with her bag of tricks, somehow managed to get them to take off 10% of my total bill (yes, she's that awesome!) UP UP UP.

Then Jeremy calls, telling me he doesn't think he got this house he bid that would've kept our bills paid for like... the rest of the year... DOWN.... Just for him to call me back later saying, lo and behold he did get it, UP! ... but man, my mouth freakin hurts, and i've still got to go in next Friday and have the second half done, DOWN.... But at least Courtney is having the greatest day ever playing with her friend Ava all day (while I fall apart on their couch!) UP.... but in the midst of falling apart, I now have zero make up left and look like a puffy swollen albino rat...DOWN.... hmmm....

*sigh* That was fun to read about, right? Me whining.

Anyway. On to the happier part of the post. Courtney has been riding this itty bitty teeny tiny little bike for quite a while now where her knees hit the handle bars and she's just way to big for it. And with Jeremy getting paid today, he told Courtney we were going to the store for a surprise. So we got there, (and she's BEYOND excited for her surprise)...and took her back to the bike section. We let her pick out her favorite bike and a helmet. Then we told her that her surprise for today was the helmet to ride with her little bitty bike at home, and that some day we'd come back for the bike.

I took Courtney up front and purchased the helmet, and she and I went and waited in the truck. Sneaky Sneaky Jeremy came out 10 minutes later with the bike and put it in the truck while I kept her occupied. It was sad and cruel in a way to get her so excited for the bike, and let her think she was only going home with the helmet, but you know... funny for us :)

So we got home and Jeremy got the bike ready for her in the back yard and told her to come out and see something. TA DA! At first she was so so mad that "Daddy didn't get me the bike in the store!" and that he tricked her. But then she was super happy, and we took off to try it out.

Blackie is all strapped in in the back and ready to go...

Courtney getting hooked up with her new fairy princess helmet...

And she's off!

And boy, can this girl cruise! I think she was amazed at how much faster it goes than the tiny bike with even tinier little wheels.

So while today was a crap-filled emotional up and down rollercoaster for my poor pregnant hormones, at least we ended on a good note!

Happy 4th of July!!

We started our day by walking to Smith Park to watch the parade. Notice how I said 'we' and 'walking' in the same sentence, yes I walked!! I shoved my fat swollen feet into a pair of flip flops and we WALKED!

See Courtney's little 'parade purse' (Those are also her 'parade clothes'... she's into labeling things lately) ... That purse was packed full of candy by the time we left! She raked in the goods!

The Rexburg parade was AWESOME!!! I can truly say this with a smile on my face because it was at 10 am, and it was a little bit over cast, the sun didn't fry me, we had the best seats ever, and the weather was PERFECT. We totally lucked out. Maybe I was being blessed for actually walking there.

This float was funny. That is one huge shopping cart! And here comes Brouly...

Remember my shy timid little girl who usually wants nothing to do with anything unfamiliar? She saw Brouly coming, jumped up, and gave him a high five! (She knows how to get the candy, ha!)
After the parade was over, we noticed someone had left their purse next to us, but they were no where to be found. We opened the purse and saw at least a couple hundred dollars in cash stuffed in there, plus a bunch of prescription meds. So what do we do? Yep, I slung that purse over my shoulder and waddled on down to the police station. (Keep in mind I'm in the middle of month 8 of pregnanthood, I now have no ankles, it's about 137 degrees outside, my face is melting off my skull, and that this little detour was a little bit in the complete opposite direction of our house!) For this I should be blessed with a healthy pain-free birth 3 weeks early!

After all that, we headed out to Menan and did the usual there, then came back to Rexburg for Miriam's baptism. And yes, I left my camera elsewhere nowhere near me, so I have no pictures, but Miriam was beautiful and the baptism was perfect. We enjoyed a nice refreshments and visit afterwards, and then headed back out to Menan for their fireworks.

And my camera was locked inside the house during this time as well. So no pictures. Of course.


But I did get this little lovely after the fireworks at Oma's house. Courtney in Jeremy's jacket. Kind of reminds me of E.T..

I hope you all have a fabulous, fun, and safe 4th of July!!