ONE HUNDRED!!

It's just a little thing to most people, but it's BIG to us! When we lived in C'ville we used to have a sign in book during the summers and encourage our kids to bring over as many of their friends as possible. We'd always try to get 100 kids over, but usually hit only around 60 (which is still A LOT of kids). When we built this house, we started thinking how many people had started coming over with our kids, our life group, our family, and our neighbors and made a list.

Christmas week Ryan and Katelyn's friends from Fayetteville came over and Emilee was our 100th guest! I wanted to have a trumpet fanfare, confetti and a live video...but instead, we gave her one of our favorite things - Peanut Butter M & Ms - and took a picture.

It's fun to be able to open our house and know that we use it to welcome, love and serve others. I'm not always good at it, I often discourage my kids from inviting people over when I don't "feel like it" but I know it's what we are called to do. It's not our house, we dedicated it long ago to HIM and don't consider it our own.

WHOBILATION

Well, this year we decided to do something totally different from the norm. Ryan and Katelyn were going to be with us for 5 days, Erin was going to be at home, and the kids were out of school the whole week before Christmas so we decided to plan some events to have fun and family time! 

Our first event was a WHOBILATION! Our family loves the Grinch movie and can quote WAAAYYYYY more of it than any other movie! Last year we invited about 10 people and spent the day cooking fun food. This year we upped our game and added decorations, invited more friends, and well...we cooked all day too! It was a blast to have the house full for just FUN! 

House on the Hill

This isn't the best picture, as a matter of fact, it was taken from the inside of my car and I might've been moving. However, I'm SO THANKFUL for this place we call our home and I couldn't resist since it might rain the rest of the weekend. This week we got GRASS! We've had dirt piles and no steps for four months and now...well, with a lot of water and some more landscaping our outside will be done.

We can have fun anywhere, but...we have so much in this house because it's JUST RIGHT for us! I love every room and look forward to having Christmas here for the first time.

UP next week here:
Ryan and Kate (arriving Tuesday)
Whobilation (Tuesday night)
Family Christmas (Thursday)
Rogers Christmas (Friday)

On the Hill

Every day I wonder if this is really my house. I'm so thankful for so many things here...my utensil drawer, my hidden trashcans, my big garage, our attic for storage, my jacuzzi, our closet, the kids' rooms...and more. I love our built in cabinets, the navy room and the foyer...never had those before! I'm also very thankful for the sweet neighbors we have. They wave when they drive by, watch Cameron drive his bicycle, and probably wonder why we are in and out so much!

On Friday we hosted our first birthday party here..used the WHOLE house for that and then on Saturday, we decided we'd have friends over for the Razorback game. That's all I have to say about the game...it was a horrible thing, but having three of our neighbors over...it was so sweet!

The Flemings have two girls, both one year older than my girls at home. So we had a 6th, 7th, 8th and 9th grade girl here. The McIllwains have two girls ages 5 and 3. The 5 year old has become a great friend for Cameron. She has toys and energy and he loves going to their house to play! And then there's Mrs Jetton. She's a grandmother who lives across the cul de sac from us. She's brought us cookies and juice when we moved in and last night when she came, she asked if she could sit at the kids' table! Really, how sweet can a neighbor be to sit and get to know the kids?!

I'm full of thankfulness today. Getting snowed in, running out of eggs and needing help at the house isn't going to be bad at all ON THE HILL.

Not one clear thought...

I haven't blogged in two weeks and it's not for lack of content, but I can't get one clear thought about what we're doing or how we're doing it! We've moved, gotten school activities started, and I'm working every day on my upcoming event.  We mostly manage to eat meals and keep the floors swept too.

Highlights from the last few days: It's taken around 50 trips but we've finally got everything here...I mean, there's still my vacuum, a few cleaning supplies and a broom I'm missing...but we're here. Most of the things we use are put away in the house but the daunting task is the 2 of three garage bays filled with boxes and "stuff." We've already purged...this is furniture I'm going to sell and books we haven't seen in a year, a card collection and the mopeds. Someday, someday.

This happened. Jordan has been so ANXIOUS to get her tuba home! I mean, it will hardly fit in the back of my 4Runner but she's got to get that thing home! I'm thankful for the extra insulation in this new house. 

Volleyball season has started. Sheridan is the smallest player on the court...but not the quietest. She knows how to call the ball, is getting to be a really good setter and most importantly works hard on the floor. Cam loves volleyball because there is popcorn for $1. He was SET UP to watch on Monday night. 

The final details...pillars. Seriously, we've had SO MUCH RAIN...the yard is still a mess. But the finishing guys just took their sweet time getting back here to get the last touches on the house. I can live without pillars...but there's no reason to if the rest of the house is finished. They will cover the wood later in the week...so they said. Left to do: gutters, yard work, some electrical panel changes, and sorting the mess in the garage.

Wild Week

Whoa. I'm sitting in a room filled with my family watching a crazy movie but I have so much in my head I need to record it. It's been a WILD WEEK. There are times when so many things come up that it's hard to balance emotionally, physically and mentally while still talking nicely to Richard and my kids! Of course, if I was healthier I could probably do the days better...and if I kept up with all my meds and kept us all on task, I would probably do better too. But this week I crashed because I'm not healthy and had so much to do and keep up with, I did not do well. I feel better right now than I have all week, so I can record how God sustained me even when I do not have strength.

There is NOTHING like a bad day, bad week or a bad situation to show me how He has the whole world and even me in His hand.

Last Sunday I got to sing in our praise team. I got to lead two songs because someone on the team was sick. I was swept up into the Holy Spirit's anointing during the singing and even though I know He always wants me there when I'm leading, he also was preparing me for the week ahead.

Christ Is Enough:

Christ is my reward and all of my devotion

Now there's nothing in this world that could ever satisfy

Through every trial my soul will sing

 No turning back, I've been set free

Christ is enough for me, Christ is enough for me

Everything I need is in You, everything I need

Christ my all in all, the joy of my salvation

And this hope will never fail heaven is our home

Through every storm my soul will sing

Jesus is here to God be the glory

I have decided to follow Jesus

No turning back, no turning back

The cross before me, the world behind me

No turning back, no turning back

Monday: Sheridan had volleyball every day this week. Richard was home and we took everyone to the movies (we don't ever do that) to celebrate the last week of summer.

Tuesday: Volleyball, trips up the house to order blinds, Richard out of town. Sheridan's Open House at the Junior High at 6pm. (#1)

Wednesday: Cameron's teacher is listed at noon and Jordan and Cameron's friends come over to play all afternoon. Meanwhile, I have details about my upcoming event that are completely out of my hands.  Not only do I need to be chasing down things, but I'm distracted by packing and keeping kids sane on this last week at home. I make a decision to postpone our BIG marketing day until details are worked out, and need to send mass emails and social media posts to let people know.

Thursday: Richard is home and tying up all loose ends on our house so we can move in. We decide to move in next weekend, but move non-essentials this weekend. Lauren comes over to help and helps me get things orderly so I can feel OK about how we're going to do this. Cameron has open house at his elementary school. (#2) The driveways are laid at our house although we didn't think that would happen. However, we can't drive on it until Monday.

Friday: Erin, Richard, the girls and I start moving as much as we can in two SUVs and a trailer. We'll park as close as we can to the doors and walk it in! I'm not used to the humidity, the heavy lifting or this stress and I'm not handling it very well. I snap at the girls and then ask their forgiveness. (Through every storm my soul will sing, Jesus is here, to God be the glory) Jordan has open house at the middle school! (#3)

Saturday: Erin and a friend are here, Jordan is getting new braids, Richard and I pack cars and take more to the house. I've worn out my muscles in the last two days, so I unpack boxes and do what I can to direct traffic and wipe down floors after dirt comes in. (The house we're moving in to is the most beautiful place I've ever seen! Richard has built us a wonderful place to call home) The details of our move & my event are weighing on me and Richard and the kids continue to love me more than I deserve and gives me time to take a much needed nap so I can recoup. Momming is hard, but not harder than He can handle.

So now the movie is over, and the Olympics are still on and I'll try to decide how much I can watch tonight before I need to turn in. I can't wait to worship tomorrow at church. I need the TRUTH, the FELLOWSHIP, and the FOCUS on all that is really important in life.

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace

House on the Hill

T- 2 weeks until moving day. 

Back side of the house as you drive into the street/neighborhood. Brick & stone all finished...yard = a mess! 

Front of house, almost completely bricked and stoned. No pillars yet on porch and no landscaping!

First day of wood floors down! I'm thinking this room will be my favorite. I can't wait to fill the shelves with our games/books/movies and a comfy window seat cushion. There will also be a huge gray sectional and a navy/gray rug. 

Back porch. I love the stained concrete but it's pretty dirty now. I anticipate family time on the porch and a great view out of our trees and maybe a pool someday. (hint, hint)

Snocones, volleyball and firsts!

Summer days are LONG...but we've managed to stay pretty busy! We stopped by the local sno cone stand one day and the kids chose watermelon, strawberry and tiger's blood as their top picks! It was a good way to cool off on these 100 degree days.

Sheridan has been going to open gym with both basketball and volleyball all summer. There are some kids who play on competitive teams all summer but we didn't think we could make that work this year. She's enjoying herself and played in a team camp at Tech with her classmates last Saturday. We got to pop over for a game. She's very short compared to the girls on her team, but she can hit as well as anyone from the floor!

We had our FIRST MEAL in our new house this week. Richard called me to come check some things and the kids were already with him. I wasn't going to have cheap pizza as our first meal in our forever home...so I made the trip across town for some Chick fil a. It's only right that you get your favorite fast food for your first meal! The counter was dirty and the floor was dirty, and there was no seating, but NO ONE minded! TWO WEEKS until we can get in!

Let there be light!

Richard just sent me this pic from the Hill. We've got power...and he and Cam are putting in the can lights so we can see! It's been a slow few days as we had to re-work some power things to get signed off by Entergy and the city to get our power. The guys are still outside rocking and bricking...it's been SO HOT this week...we feel for them. Now that we have A/C the wood flooring has been delivered and it can acclimate to the temp of the house before being put down. We're headed up the hill now, the girls and I, with our first meal...we'll clean up and get ready for the final touches. I don't see us moving until August 20th...but if we get things rolling, maybe just maybe...we can start the process.

House on the Hill

Whoa. I am getting that crazy panic-ky feeling about packing. We're still living here, so we can't pack entire rooms. So, we'll keep chipping away at the extra things and grow up our garage sale pile...and get excited instead of anxious and watch it all come together.

Bricks and stone.
Built ins installed.
Tile set and ready to be grouted.
Beams up in great room.

House on the Hill

So, now it's summer at our house! Swimming, sleeping in (8am) and staying up late...

We've got more things coming our way including packing for the move and my event.
Yesterday I ordered all our marketing materials and I've got to get a timeline going so I can build up to our fall event. The kids and I are working through some Bible Study work books this summer and I love doing them with them. They are reading, answering questions and we're having good discussion. I also thought we could pack a few boxes a day to get ready for the move. I don't mind packing...until the very end when you can't decide what you're going to use in the next 24 hours, etc. And then there's all the loose stuff...that doesn't fit in boxes. OK, maybe packing isn't fun, but I'm hoping to get some done every day now that we're done hosting major events like bridal brunches and life groups in our home.

The stone layers have finally arrived on the Hill. The stone and brick have been on the property long enough that we'll probably always have marks where they were stacked! I'm thankful they are there and I won't say one word about their work because I just want it up! Richard will probably be the liaison with those guys.

Today they are starting to lay flooring, most of the painting has been done, and the cabinet doors are on their way. The island in the kitchen is going to be huge and the cabinet maker is on his way over now so I can "OK" the stain. I've got one paint color I'm questioning, it's pretty, but it's blue. I thought it was more green. So many decisions, none of them life-changing!

House on the Hill

This weekend closets are being trimmed and baseboard is being layed. The walls have been primed and the painters are prepping for painting on Monday. The backsplash, paint, the flooring have all been ordered. The kids and I even packed away our winter things this last week in anticipation for July.

The stone and brick pretty much look like they did 4 weeks ago. They are sitting spread around the house and our stone and brick layer is on a 2 week vacation out of the country. So, other than that delay, we're rolling.

House on the Hill

The interior of the house is taking shape as the first round of insulation has been put up, sheet rock is going up and we've picked out all plumbing fixtures and found our countertops! Richard is keeping us ahead of the workers and keeping all our subs on track! Erin has moved home until she goes to Falls Creek at the end of the month, Lauren has moved in...until she gets married! I'm focused on graduation and wedding things right now and just realized the kids get out of school THIS MONTH! Whoa! It's May!