We have moved!

We moved last Monday. For some reason, I had been operating on the assumption that we would have packers. I thought Jamie and I discussed this. A week before we moved, Jamie and I discovered he had no intention of hiring packers and I had every intention of enjoying packers. Jamie said we would be packing ourselves. I announced that I would not be packing and would wing it (I was bluffing because I was ticked). I could not conceive of packing with three kids in the house and feeling as tired as I did each night. As I type this, I remember two families from our small group where the wife/mother packed themselves up and headed to Africa in the last two years. I guess they were made of tougher stuff than me!


Last Monday, our movers came and packed up what we did not finish and put it on the truck. Another truck packed our storage belongings and met us at the house (comically, down the street from our rental house:)). All in all, it took 14 hours. Wow!


As of right now, we have most of the house unpacked and shelves lined with paper but still need closets outfitted with bars and shelving. So, we are dressing out of boxes while we wait on that. Jamie keeps looking at me, saying, "We don't deserve this" and "I feel like we are living in a resort." He is right - we don't "deserve" it but I am glad we get to live in a house that is on a safe street. 


The boys have been busy this summer. We have gone to the pool and it has been amazingly easy. This is the first summer in about six years where I am not panicking or stressed at the pool. (I often have tried to operate our life all on my own trying to prove to myself and others that I can handle what God has given us but have been miserable and angry in the process.) 


I am thankful for the pool experience thus far. Neither Joel nor Jono wear a vest, but both stick close to me. Joel hangs out in the shallow section and steals toys from other children while I send him mixed messages - share with other kids and don't take their toys even though they take yours (I dread this social issue at the pool). Jono is content to throw things in the pool and watch them hit bottom. He was grabbing them with his feet. Then I began to push him underwater and he got them with his hands. Later he told me not to help him and he would try to push himself underwater - quite funny. Now, he has figured out how to kick his legs hard enough to get to the floor of the pool and retrieve the toys. He is quite amazing. Jackson is working on diving and touching the bottom of the pool in the deep end. Sometimes we hit the pool and no one his age is there, so he hangs with the young kids. He is very good at playing with the little kids but can get a little rough so we have to have a "tone it down" talk most days.:)


Joel is attending his preschool two days a week. If our neighbor takes him, he is much more likely to want to go. Jono goes to camp at the Exceptional Foundation three days a week and is much happier now that he has a friend with him. Jackson has done Art Camp, Lego Camp, and is now doing Rock the Block with me. Rock the Block is our church's version of VBS where we go into neighborhoods and share the gospel VBS-style. We are both enjoying it. We are at a point where going on a mission trip is not easy but this is. I am thankful for an opportunity to teach Jackson how to share the gospel in a natural and fun way while serving.


Hope you all are enjoying your summers. One day I will post pix!


Julie:)