Things here are great! absolutely great!! I was marveling all day today at how utterly gracious God is to bring us here, at this exact time, to such an awesome house/property, and to get to enjoy life as a little family of 4!
I have so many things to write, I don't even know where to start. And unfortunately, I should probably go to bed soon, too. But let me start back in Ohio. It was utterly torture to say goodbye to everyone. The last few days, especially, were just heartbreaking. Saying goodbye to best friends while trying to pack, squeeze in doctors appointments, "mother" the children, etc was just so emotional and hard and exhausting. But, the Lord continued to shower us with His grace and He more than provided for our every need.
The drive down here was wonderful!! Melissa came along and was an immense blessing to me, not only during the drive down here, but also during the following 5 days! The boys did great during the car trip and we had very little traffic, praise the Lord!
Mom and Dad Meade greeted us with huge smiles, warm hugs, a beautiful and inviting house, and a stocked fridge/freezer!! Their generosity blows us away every day!
I really enjoyed spending time with Mom and Dad Meade before they went to Tunisia and had an absolute blast with Melissa! Melissa and I got to take J and B trick-or-treating in downtown Newnan with some new friends from the Meades' church down here, We also got to see Nate and Mary Brantley that same evening and do some trick-or-treating around this neighborhood here, too. Jasper was seriously in heaven!! Our rule was this: "you can eat as much candy as you want today, any time you want and however much you want. but tomorrow, the candy rule goes back to normal." (aka one piece after lunch and one after dinner) Did I mention that Jasper was in heaven? :o)
Drew and Andrew worked their tails off up in Ohio while we girls were gallivanting around down here and then they came down to us on Saturday evening, with a VERY full yellow truck. Their trip was very good, also, and we're so thankful that the Lord blessed us with safe travels. Our small group and brothers up in Ohio loaded up the truck for us and a small group from Faith Bible Church down here showered us with love and unloaded our truck down here and helped us set up the kitchen, etc. We are seriously so blessed! I know I'm beginning to sound like a broken record, but the Lord just showers blessings on us constantly and we're so humbled and thankful!
We've gotten to see Danny and Bridget 2 times so far and it was wonderful!! I'm really looking forward to having them in our lives again! I knew I missed Bridget back when I lived in Ohio, but I forgot just how much I missed her till I got to spend time with her again. Melissa and I had dinner with Bridget and baby Jackson one night last week and then the whole Kell family came over for our first fire pit in the back yard on Sun eve. How we love those Kells!
The little ones are doing quite well, all things considered. They have had to adjust to sleeping in the same bedroom, but they're doing quite well. They love being here and love having a "loop" through the living room (Melissa and I named it "the athletic track") and a huge yard full of 3-year-old-little-boy-adventures (IE sand, a ditch, trees, a cat, pine needles, a hill, etc).
Monday was great- we Cleades (the clausons and the meades) went to Peach Tree City and walked all along the trails that go around the lake, through the woods, etc. I think they're technically golfcart paths, as lots of golf carts whizzed past us. It was so fun! We had to say goodbye to Drew and Melissa on Monday night. That was horrible. Absolutely, totally horrible. It stunk. It totally stunk.
But aside from all the heart-wrenching goodbyes to family and friends and friends-close-enough-to-be-family, we are all doing great, absolutely great, and we're so happy and thankful and loving it down here! We seriously can't stop praising God!
a few random pictures (hah! who am I kidding?!? it will probably be a ton!)
Jamal got us the MOST thoughtful going away presents ever!! Oh my word!
The morning we left. Cade came early and brought breakfast for everyone!
Getting ready to go to downtown Newnan.
Trick or treating with new friends, Maggie and Charlie
Jasper's dream come true.
Melissa was such a huge help and brody was such a sport!
Our poor little pumpkin finally passed out. :o)
Trick or Treating around the neighborhood that evening with Nate and MB
love.
double love.
Jasper getting candy from the neighbor's house
The truck and our sweet, faithful helpers.
Firepit with the Kells!
Walking the trails at PeachTree.
melt my heart
Jasper was tired of riding his bike (he was a trooper- I think we did at least 3 very hilly miles) so he and I stopped to throw rocks in one of the side ponds.
back on the trails again
The Cleades
Go bucks! Always and forever, we'll bleed scarlet and gray.
Playing in the back yard this afternoon
I love my little blue-eyed boy
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