An answer to prayer-our house

For the last year, Will has said "I want to live by Laura and Beth (his cousins). I want to live in their neighborhood, next door even." We told him that we didn't think we could afford to rent a house in their neighborhood, but to pray about it. It was one of those pat Christian parent answers we all give to let down our kids easily. He took it earnestly and as we prepared to leave the PI he prayed for a house near the cousins.

We began our search for a home in the same town as the family as well as an hour down the rode in Greenwood where we lived before going to the PI. There wasn't much in Greenwood, but the abundance of for sale houses and the current poor houseing market made our choices much better up near Greenville. We had spent some time looking and had narrowed our choice down to a couple of different places. When we finally decided we would make a decision, my Dad suggested we ride through another neighborhood that he thought would be perfect for us. He was right. It was just one street that made a loop around like the #6. It would be great for the kids to ride bikes. There was a big park in the middle and a walking trail though it. It was about a mile down the road from my brother's so Will would be close to his cousins, not exactly in the same neighborhood like he wanted, but close enough. There was a house for rent. The next day we went to see about it and decided it was the best place we had seen. It met almost all the things we were looking for in a rental. We headed off to fill out the application and start the ball rolling.

We had noticed that the walking trail passed along the side yard of the house into a wooded area beyond the backyard. That night Allan got on Google Earth to see where the trail went. We were shocked. It couldn't be! The trail connected the back of our neighborhood with the side of my brother's neighborhood. Door to door the kids are 3/10 of a mile from their cousins. 2-3 afternoons a week, they head off down the path after school for an afternoon of fun with them. I love having the cousins in and out of the house all the time. What a wonderful way for Will to see God work in his life. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7

Will and his cousin Laura

Family

In my last blog I told you a little bit about how crazy life has been. There has also been time to stop and enjoy the journey. It has been great to be back home with family. We were able to have nice visit in Birmingham with Allan's folks shortly after our arrival. The kids loved being spoiled by Nana and Gramps. It was a lot of fun and the kids and Allan even got in an afternoon of flying in Gramps plane between rain storms.

Lunch after church at Ruby Tuesdays with the Gilmers

Our first couple weeks were spent officially staying with my parents, although we traveled some of that time. Since last summer, they moved to the same town as my brother. They still live on a lake, but it is a little bigger (55 acres) and has the added benefit that the kids are allowed to swim in it. Emily and Will love jumping off the pontoon boat into the lake and swimming, especially with their cousins. Since we decided to settle in the same town, we have gotten to spend so much time with the cousins, the aunt and uncle, and the grandparents. Mimi and Pop have a big sleepover planned for Friday night with the 4 grandkids. Everyone is really excited, including Allan and I. We are headed on a double date with my brother and sister-in-law.

Boating on the pontoon

Will caught a dragon fly

Being in the same town as family has been really great. Last Saturday, we celebrated my Mom's birthday with lunch out at her favorite Mexican restaurant and then cake and ice cream at my brother's. I love being home and available to celebrate these days. After we stuffed ourselves, it was out to my parents for an afternoon of swimming and boating. We have truly been blessed with wonderful family, weather, and fun things to do.

Happy Birthday Mimi!

Mimi and the grandkids

Home

You might wonder what has happened to us since our last blog was so long ago. Did we fall off the face of the earth?? Actually sometimes it feels as if we have tunneled through the earth and come up on the other side. Just over a month ago we arrived at the Charlotte, NC airport. We hit the ground running and in the first 2 weeks we had visited 2 different orthodontists 4 times for braces, the dentist once to have 2 permanent teeth pulled, traveled among 3 states picking up items being loaned to us like cars and furniture, as well as gathering our own belonging at various locations. Next on the agenda was finding a place to live and beginning the homeschooling year. Needless to say we have run ourselves ragged over the past month.

We are finally settled in our home for the next year. While we don't have an abundance of furniture, everyone does have their own bed (ok AL and I share) and we can all sit at the kichen table and on a comfy couch or chair in the living room. It is beginning to have a homey feel. We are so thankful to all those who have graciously loaned and given us things needed for our survival. I have enjoyed going through the 5 or 6 boxes marked "save for furlough" that we packed up before we left. Somethings are wonderful finds...like the everyday dishes we got when we got married, and some of the pictures we had hanging on our walls. Some things I pull out of the box and say "what was I thinking??" Did I really think that the winter clothes my kids wore over 3 years ago would fit them this winter? They have grown quite a bit and I think everything I saved headed off to Goodwill except one Auburn sweatshirt that was Emily's and now belongs to Will.

Today, a new day dawned and we experienced something we haven't since 2004.......fall! The temps have hovered around 63 all day. It has been rainy and overcast so it was a wet, chilly 63. I threw open the windows, put on some bluejeans for the first time, and loved every second of it. We had soup and grilled sandwiches for lunch with Little Debbie Gingerbread men. It was a very fall lunch. Tonight I am sitting here drinking a pot of hot black spice chai tea (thanks Dad and Mom) and eating another Gingerbread man as I blog. I am hoping we have said goodbye to temps above 85 for a while, but this being the South, I am sure they will return. I just can't wait until the leaves begin to turn. For now, I am going to go snuggle up under the quilt on my bed. Yes I could close the windows, but I am loving the cool. I leave you with a picture of the new Emily.