Still Packing

I'm too tired to post pictures.  Let me just say, we're STILL packing.  We're down to the last 24 hours now. Closing is Monday at 10am, and the buyer will be here Sunday at 5pm for a "quick" check of things.  I'm sure it's just to make sure we didn't rip the plumbing out of the walls and take all the ridiculously priced fixtures.


I know we all feel like we have too much 'stuff', ok, maybe not ALL of you, but for sure 99.9% of you.  To see it ABSOLUTELY, COMPLETELY fill up a 53' semi-trailer is flooring me right now tho.  Looking around we are in the stage of "just throw it in a box" already and let's be done!  All of my labels, and color dot sticker system has fallen by the wayside.  It was great in the beginning, but as people showed up to help us pack & load (don't misunderstand, I'm BEYOND THANKFUL for the help) it came down to a sharpie and a request to list a few of the main things on the outside of the box.


::Sigh::  Does anyone really enjoy the process of uprooting their lives and moving to a new place?  Yes, as believers it's exciting to see what the Lord has planned for you, but the process itself is such drudgery. 


I'm not down, discouraged, disheartened, just "done".  : ) 

Sooo Much To Do...So Little Time

With things coming down to the final few days, and countless boxes to pack, what do I do?  I bake.  As I began to box up my mixer, the kids were playing throughout the house and I was flooded with good, sweet memories of the smell of fresh baked bread.  That's right, the packing came to a halt and the baking commenced.

My Sweet M. Oh look, she's not using a pastry

cutter this time.  Do I see dental floss?

Cinnamon rolls are a new thing for me, that's why you've

seen so much of them from me lately.

I also made 5 loves of bread for the remainder of the week.

Becca and MeMaw waiting for their piece

Westin passing the time by playing cars

Take a Break

With all the hustle and bustle of packing, I accepted the offer of a friend coming over to do a craft with the kids.

She taught us how to work with polymer clay.  We each selected colors, rolled them together, smoothed out the seams, cut thin layers and placed them on the outside of ink pens.  She then baked them in her lil toaster oven for a few minutes.

Wa-laa, pretty decorated pens.  

Wordless Wednesday...It is really happening!

Always Time For Afternoon Tea

Earlier this week we received our copy of The Girlhood Home Companion magazine and Cadie loved the tea party ideas. We talked about it, and agreed that it would be a great way to say good bye to sweet friends by hosting a tea party.  She did most of the work herself, had plenty of brothers clamoring to be 'tasters' and couldn't wait for the afternoon to get here.

My baby is growing up in front of my eyes.

The menu for the event

Egg salad sandwiches in the shapes of hearts & a rabbit

Strawberries with cream

~ C o o k i e s ~

Ball point pens decorated with a flower on top

(later they each made their own to take home)

This was PRECIOUS, the girls twirled around in the living room,

quietly giggling and chuckling the entire time

Outside they demonstrated the dance they choreographed

Quick Trip

We just came back from a quick, 24 hour round trip to Houston.  We went with the intentions of looking at this 5 acre piece of land Paul's parents had been calling about for the last 5 days.


We saw the property, and the house that is there.  The work would be endless, the sweat equity tireless, and depending upon who you ask, the house is 'liveable'.  I thought I'd post a few pictures.  I feel strongly compelled to let you know that I am a city girl.  Since having 6 children, 4 of which are wooly, frontier conquering boys (with the exception of 1 bookworm boy), my heart now longs to live on a piece of land.  To have a garden to feed our family from, farm animals, nature all around us and room to run and explore on.  


We only desire to be where God wants us, and at His right time.  I don't know where we'll live in Houston.  I don't know if this particular property is in our future.

As of this moment concerning the house we've discussed the possibilities of living in tents (totally joking), tearing down the house, pouring a slab and building.

Paul outlying the endless possibilities...

...the face of a boy that doesn't quite see potential

In this midst of the task of packing up, selling our house in 8 days, I keep meditating on Psalm 46:10, Be still and know that I am God.  Followed by Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Protectors of the Wild Backyard

As I looked out the schoolroom window this is what I saw...

The boys making sure their surroundings were safely protected

Tracking their prey

Just look at those snarling faces

What? Poising?  There's no poising in wild adventures.  

The jig is up, I've been spotted.