When the kids are silent....WATCH OUT!

Two weeks ago, we were recovering from a whirlwind of activity.  We had celebrated Meliya turning 5 with 3 parties: her friend party, a family party in Houston, and another family party in the Dallas area.  All of which happened in 2 weeks with Easter, Dave's birthday, and Dave working late every night the week we left for Dallas.  Needless to say, when we got home I was pooped and so were the kids.  The great news was that we had a blast each step of the way and the kids enjoyed several days of going to bed early (actually sleeping and not getting in trouble for a hour or more!) and staying asleep until morning!  However, with everyone being tired our behaviors weren't as stellar as they should have been.  This is what happened when Mommy was busy taking care of chores...

While I was busy cleaning a bathroom or something Mommy related, Caillyn found the Easter stamp Rue had given her for Easter.  She decided it was lipstick and wanted to maker her lips nice and rosy...  I need to teach her where her lips are apparently.  Of course this was after she was coloring and got bored with the paper (note her left arm).

This was minor I know.  I decided to find the humor in her exploration and take a picture instead of get upset.  However, the next day wasn't quite so funny at the time.  My little mischievous one decided to explore in Mommy's bathroom.  Little did I know that she was going to be really creative...

No, I did not cut her hair like that.  Yes, she thought she could be her own hairdresser like Mommy.  Here she is demonstrating her new hair cut.  Thankfully it was just adding "texture" and bangs instead of some of the other horror stories I've heard from friends.  I tried to put it up into pigtails but what can you do with crooked bangs?  She was very proud of herself!  

Since staying inside wasn't helping her behavior, we went outside.  She enjoys playing with, I mean in, sidewalk chalk too...

After this, I went inside because Bryleigh was calling, but they decided to stay outside with their "homework."  Meliya had her paper and pens and was trying to teach Caillyn like a proper teacher would...or so I thought.  Later after they came in and changed clothes, I saw this...

Apparently, they decided to practice handwriting on their legs instead of paper.  

Although it was a very tiring week with many reminders of what is proper behavior, I am so incredibly thankful that this was the worst of their angst!  Here are the partners in crime...

So that I don't leave anyone out, here is our future mischief maker...

She's already plotting, I can tell!

When God moves...

When God moves, He moves!  When Dave called me on his way home from receiving his layoff notice last August, I was devastated.  Not only was it a blow to our egos, but where on earth were we going to get the money to pay our bills and have a baby?  Didn't God know that it was expensive to have a baby?! 

For the last 6 1/2 months, God has told us to wait...wait on Him.  We have dutifully waited with all the faith and trust we could muster knowing that our God would not leave us.  Two weeks ago, we were excited believing the waiting had ended with an impending offer.  However, we were deflated when the offer failed to materialize, and we were left back at square one.  For the last 2 1/2 weeks, we have been believing God would provide in His time and waiting for that time to come.  We didn't expect it to come seemingly out of left field.

As of lunchtime today, Dave has accepted an offer with a great company.  
*****!!!!! YEAH!!!!!***** (lots of screaming, dancing, clapping and praising!!!)


It was the offer we were waiting on a few weeks ago.  However, God wasn't done working to get it ready for us until today.  As of Friday, we were under the impression that they were still interested but movement would be unlikely.  However, we learned late last night that communications were scheduled for this morning.  We had a verbal offer by 8 am today!  

It seems like poetic justice that God would not just orchestrate Dave's layoff in such an unexpected, dramatic manner but also the new job's offer in the same way!  We are completely humbled and beside ourselves with joy as God has seen fit to close this chapter of our lives and open a new one.  

Starting Monday, this new chapter will begin.  It will be an adjustment for us all as we here at home get used to Daddy only being home after dinner during the week and on the weekends.  It will also be an adjustment to Dave as he puts his professional hat back on while leaving us at home.  Please continue to pray for us through this transition.

For everyone that has offered us help whether it be physical, monetary, or by way of prayer, we give you a heart felt thank you!  Words cannot fully illustrate how much we appreciate your loving us during this time.  We definitely would not have made it through without such overwhelming support!  God's love has been demonstrated to us in such a mighty way through this entire experience.  I'm glad we were able to grow in our faith during this time.  It has been rough, but God has been more than gracious to see us through!