Blown Away

          Last year we had our house on the market starting in January. We had 17 showings and two open houses, but we didn't get our first offer till May 25th, 2012. It was exhausting keeping the house in what I felt needed to be a "state of perfection". "The tidier the house, the quicker the sale" is the general widsom concerning selling a home. It was not something I have been looking forward to at all. Last week, while decluttering and preparing to show the house, I had a thought. If God wanted to, He could just blind a person's eyes to anything they wouldn't like...to the clutter, to the spit up stains on the carpet (or the ear wax our dog rubs into it), to the cloudy windows in our bedroom...to all of it. Last year, no matter how perfectly I tried to keep the house, we still had no offers after 5 months of hard labor. We then recieved two offers within a week of each other. I hadn't done anything any differently...it was all just a matter of, I believe, God's timing.
          This year on May 25th, we listed our current home. We had two showings yesterday, an offer by 6pm, and papers to sign for the sale this morning. I am blown away by this! It happened so quickly that my head is still spinning. God gave us a great realtor who happens to be a very hard-worker and is always ready to serve. (I'm not sure our house would even be listed by now if another realtor had only been given the green light for listing it on a Friday night of a holiday weekend.) While waiting for all the paperwork to be finalized through the relocation company, we'd shown the house three times ourselves.  Three times, we had suffered the disappointment of the buyers being put off by various things...the most common was the proximity of our next door neighbors (we are only separated by a driveway). However, yesterday, someone was able to see past that the same way we did.
            The pressure is off. My fears are being blown away...fears that our house would be on the market for two years (like it was before we bought it), fears of double house payments,  fears of a long distance relationship, fears of having a very challenging summer with five children. The Holy Spirit is coming like a "mighty rushing wind" (Acts 2:2), and my burdened, over-heated heart is shouting "Hallelujah! "

Boot Scootin Boogie

          I have never gone country line dancing before; but when I saw an invite for all her "central Illinois friends" pop up on Jill Savage's facebook page, I thought, "Why not?" After all, I have the boots for it.
          Then it dawned on me, my other four kids do great with a sitter; however, I'd still have my three month old to take along. He is a very good baby, but I wasn't sure about how well I/he would be received at a "Mom's Night Out". Being minus four children is definitely still a mom's night out for me. I asked the coordinator if he could come in a sling. The reply that came was from a mom who would be unable to attend, but stated "I'm just gonna say that personally if I'm having a mom's night out, I don't want anyone else's children there either." That was what I had been worried about, and that night I felt let-down because I had really wanted to go. The next morning, bright and early, there was another comment by Jill Savage herself which said," I think it would be fine!" One of the reasons I love this woman is because she is just so unassuming and welcoming. Then the event coordinator also replied. She went on to comment about how she went country line dancing at 8 months pregnant...she even went bowling for a mom's night out with a baby in a Moby wrap. She echoed the sentiment that Jill had said that I was most definitely invited.
               There is something priceless about a good woman who is willing to extend her hand in friendship. It is good for the soul and definitely a pick-me-up when you are feeling blue. I almost missed the event due to house hunting, but our plans changed (partly inspired by my desire to go...and my hubby's enthusiastic encouragement that I SHOULD go). By the time the evening arrived, I was a little on edge. It was a rough day. Supper consisted of pancakes that weren't even finished by the time the sitter arrived. The last thing I felt like doing was meeting a bunch of new faces to try something I'd never done before. I cringe a little even now as I add the tag of depression to this post, but that is honestly what I've been battling this week. (I cringe only because I wish I could write to you as an expert on the subject...not someone who is still learning how/what to do with her feelings). My three year old threw a super fit when I left, which made me 15 minutes late by the time I left. My GPS led me to an industrial park (and the wrong side of the road). I almost gave up, but I knew I'd regret it if I didn't look a little more for the place.
            I did finally find it. Lessons started at 7pm, and I showed up after 7:30pm...everyone welcomed me warmly. No one cared that I had a baby in tow; and before you know it, I was line dancing. I'd like to say I'm a natural, but I was off more than a couple of times. No one seemed to notice. When I went in, I was greeted with a hug and friendly smiles from all the moms in the group. Jill even mentioned she'd been keeping an eye out for me. When I shared my struggle with even feeling like coming, they all nodded their heads like they'd been there. I felt at ease with them, and I was pleased to sit and chat with a couple of moms while the instructor showed some more challenging dances.
              Nothing makes me feel more like myself (plus gives me a little perspective) like getting out of our house. When I feel blue, I just want to hide. Just the opposite is what helps lift me up.
           I'm so glad I went. I gained more than the knowledge of how to dance to "Cotton-Eyed Joe". I had a night away from my cares with women who cared enough to make me feel welcome, and that alone is enough to make me want to dance in my boots.

Looking To The Hills

          Yesterday, the girls were in a panic over our rooster, Duke. He was laying on his side  digging his feet into the wood chips, which resulted in him spinning in a circle. The description reminded me of a clip I vaguely remember of Curly from the Three Stooges laying on the floor spinning. They told me that he couldn't get up.  By the time I came down to the barn, we realized he COULD stand up because he was standing next to the barn door, a little wet...but fine. I'm still unsure why he did that, but I saw the matted circle left from his spinning.  I could be just like Duke these days. When I wallow in negative thoughts, I have the same silly circle dug into my mind. I run and run, but go nowhere. Looking up is what I need to do.
            Today, moving and everything that goes with it seems much more real. Adapting to change is not my strong suit. It makes me tired and weary. I've honestly been struggling for the past few days with just feeling tired and wanting to bury my head in the blankets. I miss my hubby, and I miss just relaxing and taking in the warmer summer weather. I don't feel like decluttering, and getting the girls into a cleaning routine to prepare for the showings that I anticipate.  However, I don't believe that God wants me to live by how I feel. Thank God that I have learned that I have a choice in the matter.
            Psalms 121 has become one of my absolute favorite chapters of the Bible. Today, as I began to feel weary this Psalm started playing in my head,  like a much loved LP. The first four verses say, " I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep." I was outside at the time, and when I looked at the hill behind our house I could feel God's presence and strength filling me up with what I need for today. I don't know what you are facing today, but I know God is watching over you the same way that He is watching over me. All you need to do is look up and cry out. His strength is there for the asking. 

The Venus Tick Trap

           
            Last week, my daughter got a venus fly trap. We talked about what we'd feed it if it was an inside plant...it needs to eat insects to live. After brainstorming,  we thought maybe it'd eat the ticks we keep finding on each other and the dog. Apparently, tick season is upon us. On my worst non-perfect 24 hour period, we found more than ten! I hate the thought of getting sick with a disease from these nasty critters, so the thought of them being slowly disolved sounds like justice to me.  One of the people helping in the gift shop for Shedd Aquarium confirmed that it would eat them.  My daughter has happily fed it each time a leaf opens up.
           This morning I was having a negative thought fest despite that there were lots of great things to think on. Today, we went to Chuck E. Cheese to spend the tokens from my daughter's Christmas present. It was lots of fun, but I was tempted to dwell on the thoughts about different possibilities of temporary living...none of them quite as appealing as our current home. I was tempted to feel frustrated about being woken up at 5:45am and not getting to return to sleep again before we needed to get up. Today was our actual last day of school, but I was tempted to feel irritated about trying to keep the girls on task after having a fun morning playing. There is a mountain of laundry waiting for me upstairs. One child smacked into her sibling who was balancing on an exercise ball (who cried out, "I almost hit my head and could've died!"). The youngest is happily sleeping on me after filling his belly, with the occasional snort due to the cold he is suffering from. I found pee and green pus on the carpet today, both of which I've dutifully cleaned up. One of my girls has poisin ivy, and continues to itch despite her medication for it. It would be easy to look at the negative things about this day and feel discouraged.
             Ok, so it's time to apply the "venus fly trap" of 2 Corinthians 10:5 which says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." It is easier to dwell on the positive when I choose to be mindful that Christ is with me, moment by moment...and that I can choose what to dwell on.  God wants us to experience a great (not necessarily easy, mind you) life with Him leading every step of the way. Today,  I was encouraged in 2 Corinthians 2:14 about how "In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade." I love a good parade, but I've never pictured my life as being a perpetual victory parade. That brought a smile to my face. God came through in amazing way last year...is there another victory around the corner? Every day, God can make our life amazing, victorious even, because of His power to work all things together for good. I would encourange you to give those negative thoughts to Christ, let Him trap them and devour them.

Adventures in the Windy City

         I've been quiet lately, but a lot has been happening around our home...I just can't share our major news yet. My mind has totally been consumed with it, so I haven't been able to write about anything else...until now.
         Last year, we celebrated the end of the school year with a field trip to the children's museum. This year we went on an even greater adventure, traveling to Chicago. It was sort of last minute for me (being the super planner that I am) since my hubby first mentioned the possibility of me going on a trip last weekend. Monday,  we talked about it some more (originally, we had discussed him taking the girls on this trip). Tuesday evening,  I made the reservations, including a bid on Priceline for our hotel (my $99 bid was accepted for a four star hotel on Michigan Avenue--hooray!).  Wednesday morning, we began our adventure in the "Windy City". I just took the two oldest and our three month old baby while our three year old and five year went on their own adventure to Nana's house.
         Going into a new situation with kids in tow can be a little stressful for me if I choose to think about all the things that could go wrong.  Talking to a friend who lived in Chicago for many years helped me a lot, but I admit that "Adventure Girl" wondered if she could really pull this off. After successfully getting on the train loaded with a backpack, purse, diaper bag, and three month old in a sling, I began to feel a little more confident. After all, the girls were old enough to handle their own luggage and wouldn't wander off. By the time we arrived in Chicago, the four of us were in great spirits. However, I made a memorable entrance onto Chicago soil thanks to the narrow stairs on the Amtrak train and my long cowgirl boots. There was too much shoe and not enough stair to support it (when I dismounted on the way home I was sure to put my feet sideways on the stairs).  I tripped down the stairs, landing on my knees. Several people asked me if I was ok, but the baby slept in the sling through the whole thing...really it was all just very embarrassing.  Within a minute or so, the girls and I were laughing about it.
          One of the coolest things about the trip was watching the girls experience so many new things...their first train ride, their first taxi ride, their first trip to the American Girl Doll store, and their first trip to Shedd Aquarium. It was exciting to watch them take in another city's norms as well.They had never seen street performers and wondered how the saxophone player made it down the street  before us. They were surprised when I informed them that there was more than one person playing for people on the street...that this wasn't the same person we had seen several blocks before. They were amazed by the heights of the buildings as we walked along Michigan Avenue because they'd never seen skyscrapers up close before. We talked about the lake effect from Lake Michigan and how they dyed the Chicago River green for St. Patrick's Day (later we watched videos about it).
             I watched as my oldest came to life at the American Girl Doll Store. She has read every book at our library from their series of books, and virtually memorized their magazine. She's also been saving up money for the past eight months to buy her own doll. Five hours after we entered the store, we were finally done shopping.  My second oldest (who loves animals and spends hours exploring our pond) glowed with excitement pointing out all the crabs Shedd Aquarium had to me. She raced from one exhibit to the next, talking about all the turtles, snakes and frogs she could spot. My girls also fell in love with the penguins, the dolphins, and beluga whales. I personally thought the jellyfish were amazing, and the 4-D show was fantastic (the dimension they added when the shark snapped up the sea lion nearly made me scream and caused my ten year old to view the rest of the flick from the back of the movie theater).
          We were able to experience new cuisine in Chicago at Mercat, a restaurant that has a menu made up solely of appetizers (except for the whole roasted suckling pig for $440). It was hilarious to hear my daughter say," Mommy, I can't read this menu!" since she can read at a high school level. It took me a moment to realize that it was because it was written in Spanish (the english was written in tiny font following the Spanish). I thought the bacon wrapped dates stuffed with Marcona almonds were amazing! My daughters enjoyed the shortbread, one topped with beef shortribs, fresh horseradish, parmesan, and bacon marmalade...the other with marinated shrimp, chorizo cantimpalo, garbanzo bean puree, tomato escabeche, and manchego. It was definitely different fare than we've had before...but delicious!
          After all these wonders, guess what their highlight from the trip was? It was feeding seagulls leftover pizza crust in Grant Park. They weren't quite able to get the birds to eat out of their hands, but they were close. They delighted in that just as much as the store and aquarium we went to.
         I know this is a trip we'll never forget. I'm so thankful for my hubby suggesting I go (and financing the whole thing). I felt God's blessings continually upon us . Our room was even upgraded to one with a view of Lake Michigan. Nothing truly bad happened to us. No one mugged us...although a worker at the train station mistook my daughter's venus fly trap as trash and "stole" it, so I found myself digging through his trash bags to find it. We missed our return trip on the train by five minutes because I took a wrong turn  (and there were too many people and not enough taxis outside the aquarium).  After accepting that we would be late, I told the girls that worst case scenario we'd just stay another night. However, Amtrak exchanged our tickets for a train leaving a couple of hours later. The girls were severely disappointed to find out that we would be leaving Chicago.
         The "Windy City" blew us away and left us dreaming of another visit. That, however,will have to be an adventure for another day.