I Really Hate....

...posting a blog without pictures. But when you've had no internet access or TV, and your waking moments are spent trying to solve issues that come up when moving, taking pictures of all the glorious moments of life takes a back seat.

We're moved. We're about 65% settled. We're sane again! These past, eh, six months have been very interesting to say the least. A stint with the in-laws proved to me, once again, that I have some of the best in-laws a girl could ever ask for. A decision to not build a home just yet proved to both Boog & I that we've actually learned something in our seven years of marriage. And a decision to enter into a new job field added to all of that wonderous equation.

"God's saying what? Job? In this economy? You must be joking. Ask Him again."

I'm quite sure those were my first words to my husband when he first voiced that quiet urging. Not exactly the words from a supportive, faith-filled wife. I honestly didn't know what to say. On one hand, in my own experiences, God has always provided for us. Always. Even in lean times, there would be a surprise check in the mail when needed.....or a job when needed....or career doors would open when needed. I quit my last job in advertising without so much as an inkling of a prospect in the teaching field. As soon as I told my boss my intentions, I got a phone call from my now principal an hour later, setting up an interview. Talk about stepping out in faith!

But when my husband told me that he was feeling the need to be in a place where he can make the most impact for Christ on youth - teaching - wow. I had one foot out the faith door, and one foot grasping by my toenails, hanging on for dear life. There were so many questions. I drilled him again and again and again on questions like "Are you sure this isn't a move to another church position? Or a different town?" , "Do you realize that teaching can be a grueling, thankless job sometimes?", "What if you don't get a job?"......the questions went on and on. They didn't exactly make me look like I trusted my husband or God.

Needless to say, God again, proved that my practical look on life is such a small, small, small, small, small way to look at what He has planned for us. Henry David Throeau once said, "Go confidently in the directions of your dream. Live the life you've imagined." (I've got to get better at that confidence part.)

So starting this fall, Boog will leave his youth pastor position to go be amongst the youth even more. He'll teach and coach at the highschool in my school district. I know my husband, and he'll show those kids what it looks like to be a Godly man. And he'll show it with a coach's face, I guess! Pray for his first year, please. Pray that he will follow the directions God gave him - to be a light among the lost, someone different than the rest.

A picture-filled blog will come next....let me get my house in the 80% functioning capacity first!

Much...

..... better now that the shack is more like a home. Boxes are gone finally!
Thanks for the encouraging words. I'll post more soon.

Update on the Shack

The update: Moving stinks. Period.

I'm in a horrible mood. My hubs is stressed out. My daughters have been ignored. My life/house/car/toenails/fingernails are total in disarray.

No fun.

5 months today!!

I can't believe how fast time has flown by! One day I have a newborn, who does nothing but eat, sleep, and cry. The next, I have a full blown bouncy baby girl who loves to blow raspberries, laugh at her sister, grab my face, and "speak" with her eyes.

There are so many fun things she is doing, but mostly, I just love that she can interact with us now. She watches everything we do.....and even though she can't speak, her eyes tell us what she's thinking. She's got such a sweet disposition, and really, she only cries when she's hungry or tired. When she is though, watch out!

I am enjoying this summertime with her, and I know.....I KNOW...it's going to be 100 times harder to go back to work now, than it was when she was born. I just have to keep being thankful for a job that allows me so many breaks during the year!

Sophie, you are a true joy in our lives. We love you bunches. Before you were born, I said I didn't know how my heart would have room to love TWO kids. I just loved Grace so much, I couldn't imagine it. But it does. It's amazing how God shows us about His love for us through our children.

Water Baby!

Moving Day!

We just got done moving the majority of our 'stuff '. Man....do we ever have too much stuff! Especially for this shack! I see a yard sale in the future.....

The inside of the shack is 95% done. There's minor touch-ups needed still, but all of it can be done with us living IN it. (Now the outside....whew! That is a task that will take quite a while. Landscaping is not my forte.)

Here's a few pics of our little shack.

Living Room Before...

Living Room After

Wood floors stained by my hubby

Fireplace redo courtesy of "you know who". Still some painting to be done....but look at the wiring ready for our flatscreen (that we don't currently own!)

The girls' room. Yes, it's for both of them....I'm telling you - tiny house here!

Our room...excuse the mess!

I'll post more pics of the kitchen and muse on my decorating dilemmas later. But right now, I must go take a shower. My dogs are barking, and I stink. Moving bites.

How Long Will This Last?

A giggling girl.
Hands clasping her face.
A favorite dress.
The picture perfect moment.
Sweetness personified....

Grace & I went on a "date" last night.

She said, "I've never been on a date before!"
We dressed up. She wore a skirt to match mine. In the beginning of the movie, we put on our 3D glasses, and she slapped me on my shoulder and said, "This is amazing!"
I'm glad I took the time for it to be just Gracie & I again.....we don't get much of that these days.
It all goes by so fast.

"I'm Scared!"

Every now and then, Grace will call from her room and say those words that I used to say when I was about her age......and I, being "super mommy" will comfort her and give her some lettuce to eat (that's a whole 'nother story) and do the whole "There's nothing to be scared of" song and dance. I love it because it's a chance for me to get to snuggle-bug with a daughter that so rarely wants to snuggle these days. She's already too old, too busy for that she thinks.

But as I sit here tonight, and storms are raging around our neck of the woods, I find myself in a small anxiety attack of sorts. I get like this occasionally. I sort of freak myself out when I start to really think that I....not anyone else....but me, myself, I.....am the big person here. The adult. The one who protects. Me. I've got two little lives to take care of. Two lives to assure that nothing.....nothing....will hurt them if I've got anything to do with it. When in reality, sometimes I'm scared myself! If there's a creak at night, I'M the one who wants to hide under the covers. When storms rage, I cringe and secretly hope our little house protects us. Every news headline is just one more awful reminder that I need to padlock my girls in their rooms and never let them leave my sight. (I'm starting to sound like Nemo's dad here....)

And here I am. I'm supposed to be two little girls' security blanket.

Does anyone else out there marvel at the fact that they are the adults now?
It's probably just me.

I am so thankful though, that my dear hubs would rage like a bear in the instances where I would hide under the covers. (If he ever wakes up...he's the deepest sleeper.) And before I get too many comments, I know and am thankful that God is our ultimate protector. I know, I know, I know all of that........but I still get scared. I'm human.

Anyway, just a little monologue here during a storm. It's going away now....thank goodness! My little Grace slept through it.

Countdown!

T minus 7 and counting......that's the estimate I give for our days before move in (DBMI, if you will!)

We've certainly had mixed responses during this whole process of remodeling an old, tiny shack instead of building a new house. Let me see, some examples......
"I think you two are going to start something here in Malakoff!"

"It's a dump."

"You should have just built your home instead...."
"I love it!"
and my personal favorite....
"You guys are dumb!" (yes, we have good, supportive friends!)

Nonetheless, I can't tell you how excited I am to be moving in within the next week. My in-laws are amazingly wonderful, generous, supportive people, but it is time for the Ferrell family of four to be back on their own. I've also been more and more and more sure that waiting, and not building just yet was the right thing to do. One day......one day.... we'll build our house. When we're ready.
So here we go!

The newly floored screened in porch!

(It still needs to be painted)

New sink, faucet, and looky at the light fixture!

Can you tell how cute I think it is?

New bathroom. I don't have a "before" pic, but it was completely gutted....COMPLETELY!

Dining room...painted, finally! Hardwood floors are going in as we speak...

I still have to show you the remodel we did on our fireplace. If you read The Lettered Cottage, I stole her idea (again!) and completely copied what she did with her fireplace. Pictures soon to come of that.......

Have a wonderful day all!

Steady She Goes

I just finished sewing my first set of drapes for the shack's window treatments. I'm not a super-experienced seamstress at all, but I am a picky about fabric.....so thus, I make the best of what little skills in sewing that I have. I should write a book

"If Flo Can Sew...Sew Can You!"

Isn't She Pretty?

And finally, my love of all things old, beaten up, or salvaged...I scored this little ditty at another antique shop outting. There's something about antique shops. My heart flutters a little everytime I go into one, because usually there's always at least one thing - even if it's just a tiny little plate - that I end up loving. And if I love it, I'll find a place for it in my home....

I imagine this Campbell Soup box holding my laundry detergents....or stacks of Southern Livings ....or guest towels....who knows!

Updates on the Shack Coming....Until Then -

more pictures of my girls! I know, I know....in lieu of a good ol' blog, it's just good ol' photos.

Sophie's Eyes are STILL Blue! It's a medical mystery....

Sisters....

I AM very excited about a couple of things, however.

1) 2 more days of school!!! Sum-sum-summertime!

2) We're within a week of moving into the shack! I never thought I'd be excited about moving into a smaller house than we previously had. It's all about perspective, baby....perspective. (Anyhoo, if we get any smaller, next time, we'll be moving into our car.)

and finally....

3) I'm excited about life with my hubs. He's not perfect, neither am I, but I'm so blessed to be married to someone who "gets" what marriage is all about....most of the time, at least!