FLORIDA!!! *sigh*

I know it's been some time since I have written.  Things just got a little crazy towards the end of our stay in PA...  ya know, with packing and saying goodbye and all that jazz.  We survived all the snow storms just fine.  (thanks to some wonderful people who continually gave me rides to work)  Would I do it all again?  If I had to...

Charles graduated, with HONORS, on March 19th.  It was a lovely ceremony (short) and then we celebrated with family at his favorite japanese steakhouse.  It was such an joyous time for everyone.  Even his grandmother, aunt and uncle drove down from Michigan to see him walk across the stage.  :0) 

We left Saturday morning after a few days of frantic packing and cleaning.  (thanks to Charles' sister Kim it actually got done, and to his mom and sister Elizabeth who were cheap labor)  :0)  The first day of driving was pretty easy.  We stopped in Charlotte and stayed the night in a "pet friendly" hotel that had an amazing breakfast spread!  ;0)  You know me and food.  haha!  The second day of driving was a little rainy and generally an icky day of clouds and no sun.  As soon as we drove into downtown Jacksonville, about to cross the Fuller Warren bridge, the clouds parted and sun shown brightly.  It was probably just a coincidence, but we like to think that it was a welcome home present!  :0)

We have now been home for 2 1/2 weeks.  It is finally starting to feel like we aren't just visiting.  FINALLY!!!  Charles had an interview at a custom shop on Monday and is waiting to hear if they have it in the budget to hire him.  They really want him, but they have to be able to afford him too!  I just accepted a position as the Lausanne/Cape Town 2010 Communications Executive Assistant.  Lausanne Movement is an amazing organization that I didn't know much about until recently.  I'm really excited to have this opportunity to work with some great people!  I know it will be a learning experience and I'm totally up for the challenge! 

In case you haven't heard, my mom had a bi-lateral mastectomy March 5th and starts chemo next week.  They originally thought that it wasn't aggressive and all, but the oncologist wasn't happy with the sample size of the biopsy and did more tests.  They discovered that it is aggresive and non hormone responsive.  She will have to go through 4 1/2 months of chemo incase it has spread anywhere else.  I know that she is trusting the Lord and that He is leading her and her doctors to make the right decisions.  The Lord has us here, living with my parents, for a reason!  We are trying to help out in any way we can!  My mom is a tough lady and has an amazing attitude!  She's staying positive and I think that's half the battle! 

'til next time...

~case

Blizzard = stay home and pack!

For the past month I've been saying that I just wanted to experience one blizzard.  Just one or two days where it snows so much that everything shuts down.  Well, I got my wish!  Friday afternoon it started snowing and didn't let up until saturday morning.  We got approximately 20 inches and they declared it a state of emergency.  If you were caught out driving around you could get a ticket.  It was crazy. 

Charles and I decided to walk up to the store down the road.  We had so much fun playin' in it!  The walk back, cold and wet, was even fun!  We have spent the entire weekend packing and cleaning and just spending time together.  It's been amazing!  I love my Charlie! 

There are boxes everywhere in the house and the fact that we are leaving seems more and more real!  I can't believe it's here!!!  Florida has missed us I'm sure!  LOL!   I know we have missed Florida!  6 weeks from today we should be there!!  Starting to get settled in!  :0) 

The art of NOT stressing!

I'm getting so excited about our move back to Florida!!!  OH, to be a part of something again!  To be a part of a community and family and church!  It will be amazing!  We never really felt like we fit in here.  Although we've met some amazing people, it's really just been the two of us. 

I have been starting to stress over the move back.  It's overwhelming!  Everything that has to be done... leaving here and preparing for our arrival in Florida.  I was re-reading the first part of a book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan.  In the beginning of the second chapter he says this. 

"I used to believe that in this world there are two kinds of people: natural worriers and naturally joyful people.  I couldn't really help that I was the worrying kind.  I'm a problem solver, so I have to focus on things that need fixing.  God can see that my intensity and anxiety are ministry related.  I worry because I take His work seriosly.
Right?
But then there's that perplexing command: "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoince!" (phil. 4:4).  You'll notice that it doesn't end with "...unless you're doing something extremely important."  No, it's a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge, "Do not be anxious about anything" (v.6).
That came as a pretty staggering realization.  But what I realized next was even more staggering. 
When I am comsumed by my problems--stressed out about my life, my family and my job--I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstance are more important thatn God's command to always rejoice.  In other words, that I have a "right" to disobey God becuase of the magnitude of my responsibilites.
Worry implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough, or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives." (pages 41-42)

WOW!  That spoke volumes to me!  I know that everything is gonna be okay when we move back.  I KNOW that the Lord is going to guide us and provide for us, but by stressing over it I'm really not trusting Him.  Everything happens for a reason.  Somedays I give this to Him what seems like every five minutes.  I try to worry about it... because that's what's comfortable.  (can stress be comfortable??)  but I MUST believe Him... His Word!  I don't think that "not worrying" means not doing anything.  Things still have to be done, but I've started making lists, praying and then not letting it comsume me.  It will get done.  Charles and I will find jobs.  Things will be taken care of.  :0)  The Lord will get the GLORY!!!  He is faithful! 

Okay... so on to other things.  Charles and I are still doing p90x and mixin' it up with wii fit.  I'm having so much fun and have lost another 10 pounds!  YAY!!  I know i've lost about 2 inches from my waist and I feel so much better.  I can acutally do more of the yoga poses and feel myself getting stronger.  Why did I not do this before???  I love it and look forward to the next days workout!  Oh, how I had missed working out!  It's been too long! 

Okay, I really should start cleaning.  I don't feel like I can pack if my house isn't clean.  I know it's strange. 

Oh yeah, it's been in the forties and the snow is almost all melted.  I think we're supposed to get more soon, but it's nice when the icky stuff gets washed away and we have fresh powder!  (icky is my technical term!) 

Miss you guys!  See all you Floridians soon!  :0)

getting ready

Charles is at school today and I'm supposed to be packing and cleaning.  I'm just so overwhelmed.  I keep thinking of all the things that I will have to do the next twomonths.  There is sooo much!  I started writing everything down so that I can remember and try not to stress, but I keep realizing there is more and more. 

Charles is an amazing packer.  I'm so thankful for that!  I hate packing and I'm just not very good at it.  It's funny how we really balance each other out.  He's good at organizing... I'm not.  I'm good with details and scheduling... he's not.  He's also very good at making me get rid of the things that I really don't need anymore.  We are hoping to really downsize everything before we go.  We are selling our fridge, stove, couches, chair, dresser, desk, and a few other things we just don't have room for. 

We have been praying that Charles and I will both find jobs right away in Florida.  I will most likely have to work for a bank again...  and Charles will probably work at a dealership.  I was thinking about going back to waitressing, but I don't think I could handle the hours again after having a normal schedule with lots of holidays.  It's really amazing how many we get a year!  Bankers!  HA!  Although I do miss the fast pace of waitressing and the fast cash! 

It's been in the 40's here for the past few days and all the snow and ice is melting.  Yay!  I think it's supposed to start snowing again tomorrow, but it will be nice to get a fresh clean start again!  It gets so yucky after a few days!  I didn't even have to turn the heat on today which is great for our electric bill!  :0) 

Anyhoo...  Florida here we come in 9 weeks from today!!  SOOOOOOO excited!!!!!!  Believing that the Lord will provide all that we need to get there and survive until we get jobs! 

Ice, Snow, Ice and Snow!

I love this picture of the icicles hanging.  This is our back porch and usually the stairs we would use.  We've had to rearrange our parking so we can use the front indoor stairs.  Everyone says the icicles are dangerous.  I can see why.

Charlie with the icicles that he was knocking down every few days.  I can't imagine what they would have looked like if he hadn't.

Our steps.  The first three had about 4 inches of ice on them.  I didn't realize it at first and sent Evie down them to go potty and she slipped.  It was funny but sad at the same time.  She wasn't hurt at all. 

Charles knocking down ice.

Charles is knocking down the ice from the second story eve.

He was having too much fun!

This is an icicle that he brought in.  This was only the middle of it.

Counting Down the Days!

9 weeks and 5 days and we will be heading home!  :0)  Charles will graduate on March 19th and we will be loading up in the truck on the 20th and driving back to sunny Florida!  Oh, how I've missed the beach... the smell of fresh cut grass... SUNSHINE!!!  Of course all of these things are secondary to my family and friends! 

I'm so proud of my hubby!!  He's graduating with honors as part of the National Technical Honor Society.  He has excelled in everything he put his hands to.  He's a tutor, a mentor, a student activities advisor, and part of the SAE.  (society of automotive engineers)  It's amazing how far he's come...  how much he's learned...  and how his dreams have grown!  I'm so thankful to the Lord for showing Charles that he could be more than what he's been told he could be his entire life!  His confidence level shot through the roof this past year!  I think he finally realized that the Lord had bigger and better plans for him.  Jeremiah 29:11

I should probably go and start packing now.

More snow pics

A few days ago.

The snow is now up over my boots... It's crazy!  We've had about 8 inches since I took this picture.

I am obsessed with how the snow covers the bushes and things. 

Charles' car. 

I love the icicles!

Evie puppy in the snow. 

Our back steps this morning.

These are the bushes ourside my work.