Houseguests and Sleepovers

Last week my brother and sister-in-law came out to visit us for 5 days. We had such a good time with them. We toured Boise and the surrounding area, did some shopping, ate at some yummy restaurants and went to a movie. The weather was pretty nice, so it was fun to walk around downtown and go to some parks. Unfortunately I forgot to take many pictures, except at this one park.

Here is Trever and Anna.

Jared did not want to have his picture taken that day, but like a good sport agreed to take a picture with me (and some ducks in the background)!

Apparently this park has the oldest Ponderosa in the United States... Trever, Anna and I had to check it out!

Like I said we had a great time with them (although these pictures are kind of pathetic) and I always love to have my family visit!!

Last night we had a sleepover with our 3 year old niece. This was the first time we kept her overnight, so I was a little nervous, but she did great and we had a fun time.

We made chocolate chip cookies, played outside, went to Target, had a tea party, ate pizza for dinner and watched Bolt.

Our niece was very excited to get to sleep in a sleeping bag next to our bed. She thought that was pretty fun and Jared kept her up giggling and goofing off for quite awhile.

We realized that hosting a 3-year old is exhausting but is also really fun. She is at a fun age and a real cutie. I will admit that I did take a nap this afternoon when I got home from church though!!

New House...

So, our life has been REALLY uneventful and I haven't been able to think of a single thing to post lately. Basically, we have been adjusting to our new normal without Lucy and working.

In one of my first posts I talked about the fact that we were contemplating selling our house. Well...we cleaned out closets, packed unnecessary "stuff", simplified rooms, washed and painted floorboards, caulked and painted walls, replaced our carpet, had the windows professionally cleaned, had our furnace serviced, cleaned out the garage, and thoroughly cleaned the house. After all was said and done we decided not to sell the house! I know it sounds crazy after all the work we went through but we both really felt like the Lord was telling us that now was not the right time. We spent a lot of time in prayer and in the end the Lord laid it upon both of our hearts to hold off and trust Him.

Honestly it was one of those moments in life in which I felt an incredible peace knowing the comfort that comes from trusting the Lord. I was feeling like it might not be the right time to sell the house and Jared was thinking the same thing. We didn't know how to tell the other person thinking that they would be disappointed. Once we finally talked about it, I felt so encouraged by the fact that the Lord was so good to speak to both of us and give us both the same answer at the exact same time.

Now, we have a great house that is clean, has new carpet and is organized! I am thankful we did everything because I don't think I would have been motivated to clean and organize the entire house otherwise. It is very freeing to have less "stuff" around and to simplify. We both are now motivated to keep it that way.

I am not worrying about the future, knowing that if we need a different house someday, God is going to be faithful to provide. Right now I can just be at peace knowing that I have a God who loves me and cares enough about my life to take care of little details such as buying and selling a house!!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord..."

Jeremiah 29:11

Amen!!!