I'm Back!

OK so to be truthful I haven't had any urges to write lately and things have been crazy since we got back last Monday. One thing I have learned about myself or maybe has gotten worse since I am getting older is my trouble dealing with more then one thing at a time. We did put an offer on a house that was accepted and we are supposed to close tomorrow. I am happy and feel so blessed with this house but it is an odd feeling not celebrating it and sharing it with my close friends and family. OK so maybe it makes me feel even more lonely when we are making a move knowing that this is the FIRST time ever that we will move by ourselves. We have ALWAYS had friends and family around to help either with the actual move or with the kids. All I can say is it is an ODD feeling. I am an admitted procrastinator big time (my family can attest to that) so we will be taking this move little by little. Soooo, that's been on the plate (signing papers, sending document ion, etc) mixed in with recovering from a wonderful whirlwind trip to OH and NC (on 6 planes in 10 days). Still doing laundry from that one- actually I just finished unpacking today. Also on the plate has been my business, Chickpea Cafe, LLC (ooooooohhhh it actually has an official name :)) but that has been put on the back burner (no pun intended) because as I mentioned my brain can only deal with ONE thing at a time. Here's what's next for the business: obtaining liability insurance, creating a logo, packaging and labels, taste-testing (if you are here in Bozeman let me know if you would like to participate in that) and just continuing to practice recipes which has been close to impossible lately- so hard with trying to keep Adam busy. Oh and let's not forget finishing up the cookie sales! Wow, I never felt so relieved to turn in all that money.

I have to say I have felt lonelier since we have been back. Maybe I forgot how nice it is to have people around that I am still not "getting to know". People who know me and my history friends and family. Not to say that I am complaining because God has sent us some really nice people here to be in our lives, but it definitely feels different coming back. I question my effort in developing relationships with people here all the time. I think I have made friends but am I really putting the effort into fostering and developing those friendships? Probably not- mostly because I have so much going on including keeping my family happy. Oh well- yes I am FAR from where I would like to be but I think I am doing OK.

Next blog: how my thinking has changed thanks to Joel!

Taking a break

Hi all,

Just wanted to thank everyone for your love and support. I can truly feel and hear it all whether its your comments on my blog, in our conversations or emails. It's so cool to know people are listening- even ones I have never met. I am just trying to be real to who I am- not worrying about how stupid I may sound (believe me sometimes I look back at what I wrote and think- ugh I shared too much or why did I say that???). I will be taking a break from posting for a while until we get back.

Are you struggling with something? That's a good thing. It means that God is trying to teach you something, bringing you to a new and better direction in your life. He has a plan for you.

Much Love!

Doing good...

Had a few thoughts while sitting in church today. First, I really didn't want to go after all it is Sunday but I knew we were going to be gone for a few Sundays (going to OH and NC to see family) so I got everyone up and going. Summer and Adam really don't complain about going but they are not really enthusiastic about it either. That's OK . So I was sitting there thinking about what God wants us to do with our lives (pretty big thoughts eh?). Sometimes it can be overwhelming to think about how much we are given and how much we give back. Often I feel like I am not doing enough. That if I died today could I say I did enough with this life I was given? That can be overwhelming but I don't think it needs to be. Sometimes I think things I should be doing grander things like taking in an orphan, or teaching Sunday school every week, or committing myself to some cause but I really don't think our "work" here needs to be that big. I think that if we are contributing somehow in our own way that is good too. I think that the little things count: holding the door open for someone, taking the time to talk to someone who looks lonely, being a good role model to our children, letting someone else get the best parking spot (oooohhhh that's a hard one isn't it?), avoiding sin and temptations, doing one good deed a day, go out of your way for someone, cheering someone up, being a good listener, etc. Are these things doable? I think so. Sometimes it might put you out of your comfort zone, but those moments can often be the biggest blessings. It feels good to be nice- I mean really nice and people take notice. OK so sometimes people don't appreciate your kindness or take advantage of it but that's not the reason for doing it. It's easier to be nice here though because everyone is so friendly.

To say that we are excited about seeing family is an understatement. I am really looking forward to it. But, its gonna be weird for me in a way. This is the first time I have lived outside of OH for an extended period of time and I wonder how I will feel about it when I am there. Can you imagine living in a beautiful painting (well if you live here you know)? That's how our life is here. Doing mundane things like walking out of Target and seeing the most beautiful snow covered mountains. Or driving down the street and seeing horses or cows grazing. Yep that's life here and I LOVE IT.

I apologize for the lack of pictures recently. I guess its because of time limits but I will try harder!

God working in me

Been very busy and tired lately but very excited for the things that are happening in my life. As usual, when I go to "volunteer" or "help" God reveals something to me (usually its me that needs the help!). We had our girl scout cookie booth sales this past weekend. I stepped up at the beginning of year to be the cookie chair (mostly because I did not want to be the leader). So after much drama of finding out that we could not sell at the original location (another test of faith- had to let God handle that one)we sat for 6 hours Sat. and 4 Sunday at the Home and Garden show at the fairgrounds. On Sunday I was feeling very tired and drained. The girls actually kept me going with their enthusiasm and cheerfulness. As I was sitting there, a young lady with disabilities approached me. She proceeded to explain that she was in Girl Scouts her whole life and she was told that she could not participate after she graduated. My heart sunk. As she was speaking I thought about this girl's life and how hard it must have been for her throughout school. I hoped in my heart that she had a good experience with GS and that she had a least one friend that stuck by her. As she was speaking her hand was clutching a big amount of change, pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters. She put the money that she had on the table and said that she wanted to donate to the girls troop. My heart sunk even further. I wanted to do something, anything for this young lady who obviously had some big struggles in her life. I wanted to cry. The only thing I could do was talk to her and thank her.

God reveals so much to us if we just take the time to look. I think he sent this girl to me to make me wake up. Here she was giving everything she had. I cried last night when I thought about it. God has blessed me with SO MUCH and I am going around complaining (in my mind) about 10 lousy pounds? I am complaining (again in my mind) about how this business I am working on won't work and not focusing on HIM, the one that is limitless! Thank you God, for putting things in perspective for me. Once again, I set out to do good and God reveals something pure and good to me.

Update: we put an offer on a house that was accepted! I am now the official owner of my own business: Chickpea Cafe, LLC!