We're expecting!!!

Jesse and I are so excited to be expecting another miracle in October!!! I am deep in the throes of morning sickness right now and severely exhausted, but that should pass around week 13.

6400 miles, give or take a few...

I have a deep respect for those brave and enduring pioneers who travelled to Oregon in this mode of transport...

It really is incredible to wake up in Florida and go to bed in Oregon, 3200 miles away. I made this journey over Presidents Day weekend, to see my sis. I can see why Oregon was a destination for many. She lives in the South Central part of the state. It is very temperate with beautiful mountains all around. Plus there is a drive through coffee stand on every corner!!! Notice Human Bean to the top left of my blog:)

Thomas and her little boy, Laken are the same age and they mischievously followed each other around and enjoyed dropping rocks in the next door neighbor's ac unit. That was their favorite activity.

Where is home?

Lately,I've been feeling a bit cranky about this topic. Let me explain...when I was 5 years old, my family moved into the little red brick home on Cedar Drive. This would be my home for the next 15 years. Next, after marriage, Jesse and I moved into the big old farmhouse on the hill. We lived there for 7 years until we put in our modular home down the road. We voluntarily "gave up" that home after 7 years to leave Iowa (and escape family problems) and bought a new home in Florida. This was a really nice home with a swimming pool. When the economy went south in Florida, so did our business. Thus, after 3 years, we left that home, too, as we couldn't afford the payments any longer. Now we are in a temporary home. It is a little, old Florida style farm house. I don't know where our next home will be. The carnal me wants a permanent home again. I want someplace that I don't have to leave, that I can settle in to. I want to know that this is where I'll grow old. I feel displaced and up in the air. My husband will tell you that this is a bad feeling for me. I am a planner who likes to know what the future will bring. I can only say that God is helping me cope with this. There are so many displaced people in the world, who long for their real home. That is a "forever" home. God has promised a home..."Your promises are sweet to me, sweeter than honey in my mouth." psalms119:103. This will be a home without fear, pain, tears. A home where we never have to say "Goodbye". I'm tired of saying Goodbye. My mom lives in Washington, my sister in Oregon. My dad has moved on to be with the Lord. I am resting in that promise. "In My Father's house there are many homes. If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you." John 14:2.

Kumquat is the furriest beast. In the summer he looks like a skinny old man, but in the winter (even in Florid?!) he gets a huge fuzzy coat. Our neighbor thought he might have some Maine Coon in him. We adopted him from the animal shelter about 18 months ago. Carlina loves to hold and cuddle him and even dresses him in funny clothes sometimes. He doesn't seem to mind.

My little screaming man. He loves to make himself heard and has A1 vocal cords. Hopefully on the trip to Oregon we won't get kicked off the plane in mid-air:)

Brachs Chicks and Bunnys

I cannot wait until Easter season and these candies are on the shelves. I am absolutely addicted to them. Besides, ain't they pretty? Go to this website to review them or other favorite candies:
http://candyaddict.com/blog/2007/03/12/candy-review-brachs-chicks-rabbits/

More favorite photos...

Hats

Thomas loves to try on hats. His favorite hat lately is Garrett's Diego bicycle helmet. He wears that all the time. He also loves to get into mischief...constantly. He wants to stand on the table and (true examples) step in soup, spread butter all over his body, pour flour on Katie's homework, dump out all of the silverware...etc. You get the picture. Oh, well...he is just too darn cute to get into trouble.

This is the face he makes when he says "moon".

Billy Goat's Gruff

Katie's first grade class did activities this week revolving around this story. They made goat's out of potatoes and bridges out of carrots and toothpicks. They also put on a play and colored trolls. Katie said that she tried to make her troll very scary! Mrs. Bagley said in her newsletter that Katie wondered why the goats in the story didn't just swim across the stream to get to the other side:)

Chocolate chip cookies

We probably make them once a week here. No wonder I am so fat. Colton and Carlina take turns making them, always tollhouse brand chips and tollhouse recipe. They are so delicious. We have tried to make other kinds of cookies, but none is ever as good as chocolate chips. Thank you Mrs. Wakefield (the originator and proprietor of the Toll House Inn)!

ps. I did not take the photos of the flower or squirrel below, lol. I am no photographer and borrowed those from another site. There are no credits on the photos so I cannot give them to where they are due. I loved the vibrant colors in both photos.

85 degrees!

I am not complaining but loving it!!! When we lived in Iowa, February was the time of year we would always visit the Sunshine State. It is warm during the day but cool at night, perfect!!! Yesterday, we took a walk on the Seminole Trail and it was lovely. Katie picked azaleas and we watched squirrels (Katie informed me they are Eastern Grey's) and lizards scamper around us. The trees are loaded with oranges and a citrus smell literally permeates the air. We also went to a friend's nursery and picked a laundry basket full of oranges and tangerines. Yum!!

Another book review....

I have been trying to catch up on the classics that I should have read in school or younger but didn't and recently finished Uncle Tom's Cabin. I really enjoyed it and although had read about the horrors of slavery this really was an intimate portrayal. It was shocking and devastating to read and I was hooked until the finish. Mrs. Stowe was a Christian and the story's Christian "overtone" is wonderful. I love how Tom saw a vision of his Savior at one point after being beaten by Simon Legree. Tom's faith through terrible times was very inspirational. I guess this story is based on the memoirs of a true individual....http://www.uncletomscabin.org/ I am not sure what I am going to read next...