No "Room"

Jill didn't make it home last night until around 9:00. That's a late night for her - most of the time she will make it home by 7:30-8:00. We visited while she ate a late dinner and got ready for bed. We stayed up to watch the weather since it had been storming since 7:30. Our kids are not the bravest when it comes to thunder and lightning. So after making the safe assumption that there would be no more storms until the early morning hours, we hit the sack. After debriefing a little from our day and praying together (our normal bedtime routine), we each rolled over hoping that sleep would creep up quickly.

I was beginning to doze just a little, when I hear Jill say, "just one thing - when you roll over onto your back you take up a lot of room and are on my half of the bed." That was at 10:42. I laid there silently for about 10 seconds while it regsitered in my mind what she just said. See, we have this ongoing feud about space on the bed (a friendly and funny feud mind you). I just couldn't believe my ears. Every night I gaciously allow her feet and arms to rest on "my" half. Very rarely do I complain, because the reality is that I love to know she's there after a long day; and the leg draped over me and the hand poking into my back remind me of the gift God gave me in Jill.

However, I couldn't let this one pass. I immeditaley sat up and held her foot in place while I turned on the lamp. I wanted her to see who really took up all the space on the bed. I kept telling her to put on her glasses and look at where her foot was but to no avail. The problem was, that by this point, she was laughing hysterically and not even able to sit up. When she finally raised up enough to look, she laughed even harder and rolled back over. I turned off the lamp, but couldn't let it go. I told her I would take a picture of the bed this morning with a blanket showing the amount of space I sleep in and prove to the public once and for all who takes up two thirds of the bed and who is left fighting for room throughout the night. So, if I can figure out this picture posting thing, the picture will be below.



As you can tell, the blanket on the left (as you are looking at the picture) represents the amount of space I sleep in. While I didn't measure (but probably will tonight before Jill gets home), I assure you that it is about one-third of the whole bed. So, when Jill says she has no "room" I just want it on the record and want to have plenty of witness that will agree with me that I am the one with no room!

It's sad to admit

I really don't know how God puts up with us (especially me). Maybe you're like me, but hopefully your faith is much more stable. We're trying to sell the house, right? So in our efforts to advertise that this is our desire we have a sign in the front yard that reads "FOR SALE by OWNER" and our phone number. That's it - no flyers or anything else. It gets better...We live on a cul-de-sac that branches off of a street that does not receive a lot of traffic. With all this said, it is huge that we've received at least 3 calls a week and shown the house 6 times! In today's market and economy, God is so gracious to provide this much interest!

One of these prospective buyers has actually verbalized a desire to buy it. Their English is not that strong, so their adult child is supposed to call this Thursday or Friday to talk numbers. I was very excited when I heard this and yet I still feel myself prone to being anxious about what the future holds. What if the financing doesn't go through? What if they change their mind? I have all sorts of similar thoughts racing through my mind. Don't I trust that God has it all under control? Why doesn't my mind find peace in this? Where is my faith? I am confident that God has a plan and I am so grateful for that knowledge. I guess it's a choice I make as to where I put my thoughts (that's what I'm always telling Dara). Please pray that I will rest in the knowledge that God has a plan that is perfect for us and it's a good one. (Romans 8:28) Do I think I'll be disappointed? How silly!

No wonder God said it only takes faith the size of a mustard seed in order to move a mountain. He knew how hard it is to have even that small amount of faith. It's pretty sad. I am so thankful that He loves us and desires us. We are so undeserving.

This is much longer and deeper than I usually post, so to make it lighter and add a picture (which I believe should be a part of every post)...here are the kids in their "fall festival" (a.k.a. halloween) garb. I didn't get off work in time to be with them, but Joel said they had a blast and we have enough candy to insure the high continues for awhile.

On the Thursday, Dade kept wanting to shoot Dara with his gun, but Dara was quick to point out that you shouldn't shoot an angel. Watching them wear their costumes then and knowing they will wear them for months to come, makes it all worth it.

Joel was right...

Well, Joel is right. His mother is amazing when it comes to rearranging a house. She was a bit deceitful as I thought she was just going to help clean while I finished painting my room. I knew something was going on when I heard from the other room, "Do you mind if I satisfy my curiosity about some things?"

Now, I am smart enough to defer to those who have a gift that I do not. So after much, much, much (I really can't say that enough) rearranging - my house has metamorphosed into a house ready to show to the two prospects coming to see it tomorrow.

I told my sister that I would post pictures that will only impress you if you knew what our house looked like originally.

This is our living room.

Our kitchen.

Our old dining room - now family room.

Please pray that the house sales in God's timing and that I will relax in His perfect peace while waiting for His perfect plan.

Charlotte, thank you so very, very much. I love you!

Moving

No - we are not moving yet, but some things in my life are. I just got a phone call from Jill (which I missed). I tried her back on her cell, but to no avail, so I called the house. My mom answered - she is over helping Jill do some cleaning and straightening - trying to get our house ready to show as we try to sell it. For those that know my mom, you know very well what that means. It means that I will go home tonight to a a completely differnt home. Rooms will be moved around, furniture rearranged, some pieces may even be missing and nothing will look the same. These are the times I wish I had taken 'before' shots, so you could see the 'after.' I'll let ya'll know how it turns out.

The one that got away

We had a wonderful little get away this past weekend. Joel's parents went with us to Lake Bridgeport, a little over an hour away. We went fishing, boating, playing, and fishing some more. Everyone caught a fish or a couple of fish. Dara actually caught 6! She would just dangle her poor little worm (some of them she named) in front of them and they would gobble it up.

Dade's technique was quite a bit different. He wanted to catch the fast fish so as soon as he cast out his line he would real it back in as quickly as possible. I am not lying when I say that he cast as well as any of us out there - except that he would often fail to look and nearly caught his mother on several occasions. It was hard for him to slow down enough to catch a fish, but he finally did it. He wanted to throw the fish back into the water, but he didn't want to touch it while it was on the hook.

Charlotte (Joel's mom) caught a fish too!

She caught it right down there!

We think Weldon's fish was a bass...pretty isn't it?

About the one that got away...I really did catch 2 little bass - about the same size as Weldon's, but we never had the camera with us when I caught them. I know that you're thinking "Oh yeah, right!" but I am telling the truth! Note how my precious son is tempting gravity by swinging around the pole. The water around the dock was 20 feet deep (thus the mandatory life jackets for those under 12). I feel the gray hairs popping up!

The love of my life was so busy helping everyone keep worms on their hooks and safely on the dock that he didn't get a chance to enjoy the fishing. Besides, the pole that was defaulted to him was in pretty sad shape - it wouldn't cast past the edge of the dock. He unselfishly sacrificed his fun to make sure the rest of us had some. What a great man!