The Move

Whew!! So tonight is March 26, and the last six weeks have been an absolute whirlwind. Over the course of the last month and a half, I have...gotten a passport for myself, visited the Netherlands for a week long preview trip, researched the Netherland's schools and houses, applied for all three children to get into the American School of the Hague, applied for passports for all three children, received confirmation for all three to be accepted into the school, received all three children's passports, cleaned out all three children's closets, prepared items for consignment sale number 1, have begun preparing items for consignment sale number 2, dealt with two bouts of strep throat, dealt with one round of rash, had one child tested for TB to get into a zoo class for this summer, and just celebrated one child's birthday with a fun old fashioned sleepover last night. I have also managed to deal with the normal "life" with three children with my husband having only been in town for three of the last six weeks. Who wouldn't want to be me right now? Anyway, all that to say...hello, blog friends...hopefully I can begin to update a bit on all these crazy move details that so many people want to know.

Our story is so incredibly long that it really will take several posts to catch everyone up, so let's just start from the beginning...

Back on Sunday, October 31, 2010, Chris received an email from a "guy at work" at about 9:00 that night. All it said was, "I'd like to talk to you tomorrow after your meeting. Good topic, no worries." Chris knew immediately that something was up. We speculated all kinds of things that night trying to figure out what it was that needed to be discussed. Chris had been telling me over the course of the summer that some things had been said at work that had made him wonder if he was going to be offered a transfer position. Of course, we assumed that the transfer position would be in Bloomington, Illinois, or Des Moines, Iowa...neither of which sounded inviting to me. So, when this strange email popped up, we immediately began to wonder if we were about to be offered a new job opportunity.

So...Chris had a meeting the following day that was to be over around 10:30. I was supposed to start my new seasonal job at Ray Hines and Co. on the square in Murfreesboro the following day, too. But, all I could think about was wondering what in the world Tim needed to talk to Chris about. I emailed and called a few times, but "the meeting" kept geting delayed thoughout the day until they finally had to reschedule it for the next day. Good grief! We had to go another day in suspense!!

So, Tuesday, November 2 came and Chris finally met with Tim that morning. I received an email from Chris giving me the highlights..."transfer offer to the Netherlands." He then tried to put a positive spin on it by including how close it was to Paris, Brussels, and Germany. After I got the email, I immediately called him, of course. He thought I was at work that morning, which is why he sent the email instead of calling. (Just for the record, I still think a move of that magnitude deserves a call instead of an email...I'm just sayin'.) Of course after the initial, "WHAT?!?!," Chris gave me what few details he knew...which were few. I believe all he knew at this point was that it was a temporary move, possibly 3 years, but not certain. Then, he said, "Now, don't tell ANYBODY." WHAT?! You can't possibly give me THAT kind of news and expect me to just hold it in!! So, I immediately got off the phone and called my parents, my sister and my best friends, Melissa and April. After I had gotten off the phone, I eventually got on the computer and googled "The Netherlands." I had no idea even where it was! For the next couple of days, Chris and I were CONSUMED with researching as much of that country as we could. I can't even begin to tell you how many millions and millions of details that went through my mind during those couple of days...Where is this country? What do they speak? How would the children transition? Who will cut my hair? Do they have Target? Do they have peanut butter? Do they have doctors there?...on and on and on. There were several points during those few days that I literally thought I was going to hyperventilate, because I just couldn't handle all the thoughts.

Then, it finally occurred to me. "Christi, there is no reason for you to make this kind of decision by yourself! In fact, why are you even trying to carry this on your own? If this is part of God's plan, HE will work out EVERY single detail of this situation! If this not part of HIS plan, HE will close the door. Give it up, girl!"

And, I did.

And, I had an immediate, unusual peace.

And, in the back of my mind, I thought..."There are SOOOO many details that are going to have to fall into place that this will NEVER happen."

Boy, was I wrong. As I have learned in my BSF class this year...NOTHING can thwart God's plan.

Stay tuned for the DETAILS!!☺

Drumroll, please...

Okay, okay, so how long has it been since I've made a post? Who knows? I'm going to TRY to do better about updating and posting...we'll see how long I'll keep up.

Well, for starters, we have had an awesome weekend this weekend!! Friday night, Avery had baseball practice, which he loves! Ashlynn and Aaron did not want to stay and watch him, because the highly anticipated "Camp Rock 2" movie on Disney was supposed to debut that same evening. So, we dropped off little man with Coach Daddy, and we headed home to pop us a huge bowl of popcorn and snuggle up on the couch to watch the movie. And, of course, Disney did not disappoint! It was SO good, and the kids (even Aaron!) loved it!

Then, on Saturday morning, Chris got up super early to go to Clarksville and play golf with some of his high school buddies to celebrate his 25th high school reunion. Yes, I said 25TH!! I admit I am married to an old man, and I also admit that I was a child bride, too.☺ In the meantime, Aaron had a baseball scrimmage that Chris had hooked up, so I was left to take him and the crew to the scrimmage from 11:00 until 1:00. What beautiful weather we had for that scrimmage!! Love, love, love this time of year!!!

Then, as soon as the scrimmage was over, we loaded up in the van and made a bee line to Clarksville for the "formal" part of the reunion. Now, I have to admit that I wasn't particularly thrilled about going to this reunion, because I have only met most of these folks one or two other times, and except for Chris' best friend, it has been five years since I've even seen them! I really don't have a lot in common with these people, so I wasn't nuts about going to the "social" hour before the dinner. But, because I love my honey, I dressed in my new outfit and went on. We got there, and we immediately ran into Chris' buddy Danny and his wife Brenda. Danny is actually a physician in Cool Springs, and they live off of Concord Road in Brentwood. We kept saying five years ago that we were going to get together since we live so close, but here it is five years later, and we still hadn't gotten together. Anyway, we had so much fun with them, and we have promised that we won't let another five years go by without getting together at least a couple of times. I also met several other VERY sweet and interesting people, and I really did have a great time. I really am already looking forward to the next one in 2015.

Well, we spent the night in Clarksville last night, went to church with Chris' parents this morning, and then we left to come home just before lunch. Chris cut the grass, and then we got ready to go to our church for the annual Deacon's dinner. We had SO much fun just eating and hanging out with our church family! We couldn't have asked for more beautiful weather, too!! We really had a perfect day today!!

Tomorrow, we are planning to go to Huntsville to the Space and Rocket Center. The kids have never been, so I hope we'll have fun!

So glad to be back...hopefully, it won't be as long between posts next time!☺

Snow Night/Day!

I think I get the Worst (or the Best) Mother of the Year award...depending on who you talk to. Last night when the snow started to fall, I immediately alerted the kids who immediately ran to get their shoes on, so that they could get a closer look at the fluffy white stuff floating around outside. (You know, here in the south, we don't get to look, see, touch, and taste snow very often...in fact, this could be our only snow of the year!) So, all three of them quickly ran outside with the bare minimum. I think two of them had on crocs, Avery had on short sleeves and none of them had on even a jacket. But, boy did they have fun! They scooped it all up, made a Charlie Brown snowman, and Avery ate his fill of snow last night. They only stayed out for less than five minutes, and I promised them that if school was cancelled today, we could go out and spend more time outside.

Well, we got the call Thursday night from the county automated service informing us that school was indeed cancelled for Friday. I made the mistake of telling the children that they were not going to go to school the next day. I was convinced that they would sleep in and get lots of good rest. (I was hoping for some good rest for myself, too!)

Sadly, they were SO incredibly excited about the snow that they all came bouncing down the stairs at 6:11 this morning screaming about wanting to go play in the snow. We convinced them that they needed to at least wait until the sun came up before they went outside, because the neighbors might get upset with us. They reluctantly complied, but around 7:00, they couldn't wait. Chris decided to go into work late, so he got up, showered and then donned his snow attire. They all went outside and had a blast. They even got to ride on the sled that my sister and I rode on when we kids. (You know we rarely get to pull this thing out...it isn't much fun going on a sled ride through the yard, when it keeps getting caught on the grass.)

Afterwards, my three cold babies warmed up with a cup of hot chocolate. What a perfect Friday right before the Christmas break.

Thank you, God, for our blessings!

Visit to Santa Claus

Well, we decided to venture up to the great Opryland Hotel today to see Santa Claus. My sister had emailed about wanting to take the girls up for their first visit with Santa, so she wanted to know if I could go with her to help out. Well, we decided that Friday was a good day for both of us, so we put it on the calendar. So, we (along with my mom) took our three combined children to see Santa this afternoon. I decided to dress Avery up in his Halloween costume (which was Santa), so that I could get a picture of "Big Santa" and "Little Santa". By the way, last year's visit to Santa was an absolute bust for Avery...he was absolutely terrified, so he wouldn't get anywhere near him. I had been talking to him really since last Christmas, and he had finally convinced himself that he was ready to meet Santa.

Until he saw him for real in person.

After several minutes, I finally convinced him that we could stand beside him and I could hold him just so we could get a picture of him since he looked like Santa. (I also bribed him with a ride on the "choo-choo," so I think that helped a little.)

I actually got my mom to take some pictures of us while we were up there. She had a little trouble with my camera, but we did get a couple of good shots.

Anyway, I think Avery and I were much more of a hindrance than a help to Candy. The girls did a great job. I think they may have been asleep during the actual photo op, but I was busy calming Avery down, so I didn't even get to take a picture of them with my camera. Candy ended up having to feed the girls while Avery and I rode the train, and I ended up having to leave to go pick up the kids from school, so our visit was a little rushed. I apologized to Candy for not being more help, and she said she'd have to find better help next time.

I posted a few pictures of our day today. I also included a picture of Avery in his jammies on "Polar Express" day. Sweet baby! :-)

College Host Home

A few months ago, Chris and I heard about a ministry opportunity that involved being a host home to a few poor college students who are involved in the Alpha Omega college ministry at our church. We both felt called to act on this opportunity. As we investigated, most of the host families that we spoke with couldn't speak highly enough of the blessings that they receive from this particular ministry. They spoke of the wonderful relationships they built with each and every college person. One of the things that I was particularly (okay, selfishly) excited about was the possibility of acquiring a babysitter! I have to admit that I was a little shocked when we got the word that we would be hosting four young boys. I immediately thought, "Hey, where is my babysitter?" But, I can not tell you how incredibly impressed I have been with these four young men. I can truly say that I have been blessed beyond measure by them. They are such wonderful examples of young Godly men who are striving to do what God's plan is for their lives. They are also very careful about finding a mate and making sure that she is the one that God intended. Tonight, we had a somewhat lengthy conversation about marriage and the reality of it. We discussed how society tends to make marriage out to be that you should always have the "warm fuzzies," and when you don't, then it is time to get out of the marriage. We discussed how love is a choice, and sometimes(or a lot of times)we don't have the "warm fuzzies," but we choose love our spouse and stay in the marriage, because we made a committment to our spouse. They were genuinely interested in Godly marriages. Anyway, I just wanted to share how God has blessed us with "our boys." By the way, no one could have prepared us for how attached the kids would have become to them, also. It is the highlight of their week! Anyway, three of our boys will be graduating in the spring, and I can honestly say that I will miss them terribly when they move on.

The Lights are On!!

Yippee! I just wanted to post a very quick post to say that I was just watching the news and the lights at Opryland Hotel are officially turned on! I am SO excited!! To top it off, I am planning to go to Christmas Village tomorrow evening with my Mom, so it's official...the Christmas season is upon us!!

I absolutely LOVE this time of year. I love how the leaves that have changed colors are falling on the ground and are making beautiful blankets on yards all over town. I love how Smyrna has already put up their Christmas lights on the light poles. I love hearing Aaron play "Jingle Bells" on the piano five thousand times a day. I love listening to my Josh Groban Christmas CD when I am all by myself in my van on chilly nights. I love to watch the excitement of my children build up as they anticipate seeing Santa for the first time this season and wondering what he is going to bring them. But, most of all, I love the excitement of being able to celebrate the special birthday of Jesus. After all, if it weren't for Him, we wouldn't be able to celebrate any of our special moments anyway.

I just hope that wherever you are, you are experiencing the joy of the season. Try not to get too busy that you miss it all! (I'm speaking mostly to myself on that one!)

Trick or Treat...and Babies, Too!

Well, it has been a while since I have posted a new post, but of all times, this one is definitely worth posting. My sister had her sweet twin baby girls yesterday evening on Halloween!!

My mom happpened to be watching Avery for me on Friday afternoon so that I could go to Ashlynn and Aaron's school for their Halloween parties. She called me as I was on my way to her house to pick up Avery and said that my sister Candy had called and said that she was at the hospital. A little while later (around 3:00 in the afternoon), my brother-in-law Brandon called and said that they were going to do a C-section at 4:00. So, our plans changed a little...we at first had decided to go to the square in Murfreesboro to trick or treat, then I had promised the kids that we could go to Toys R Us to spend gift cards that they had gotten, and then we planned to go to Chuck E. Cheese. Well, we ended up going trick or treating on the square and then we went to Toys R Us. I had planned to leave then and go on to the hospital to see the girls. Well, I got the call that they were here, and I believe this information is pretty accurate...Anna was 5 lbs. 3 oz. and 18 1/2 inches long, and Lauren was 5 lbs. 1 oz. and 17 3/4 inches long. At 35 weeks, they were a really good size.

I was a little concerned that they might have to be transported to a hospital with a NICU, so when I got the call that everything was going well, I decided to wait to go up there early Saturday morning. I'm glad I waited, because Lauren had a little trouble breathing, was put on oxygen and stayed in the nursery the entire night. She actually improved a great deal and was released to the room while I was there on Saturday.

They are both absolutely beautiful!! Candy was pretty nervous about holding them and feeding them, but so was I as a new mom. It will all come together, and I know they will do a great job!

I will post a few pictures of both the girls and of my own sweet trick or treaters...the proud new cousins. They were so disappointed that they couldn't go see them with me. Hopefully, Candy will get to take the girls home this week, so we may make a trip up there this weekend or so.

I'll try to keep you all posted...you know how that will be, though. You may get a picture when they start first grade! :)