Praise God!

I can't stand having a rental house. I really can't stand it. Not the work involved (which varies) but the uncertainty of having renters/not having renters and then possibly paying two mortgages a month! YUCK! And this month, in less than 24 hours, the current renters went from wanting to renew their lease for 6 months to moving out in less than 30 days! But, I am happy to report, that the Lord has once again proven Himself faithful in providing. THANK YOU, GOD!! It is really convicting to be worrying about having renters while watching the Veggie Tales' "Gideon" which is all about trusting the Lord, or to be reading David and Goliath to your two year old. Kids are good for a lot of reasons :)

As a side note, if you want something beautiful to look at, check out this:

http://www.uppercaseliving.com/OurProducts/InspirationalIdeas/

This stuff is awesome! I have no idea the cost...I'm in process of getting a catalog...but it still makes your home look like something out of Pottery Barn, which should truly be the goal of all of our lives (read ladened with sarcasm). But, in honesty, doesn't it just look like fun??

Montana Caucus

For those living in Montana, the Republican Caucus is next Tuesday, February 5th. The Democratic Primary is June 3rd. That's right--if you are a Republican, you get to be a part of "Super Tuesday"! I'm not nearly as involved in politics as I feel that I SHOULD be, as is my responsbility as an American to participate in my government, but I have been trying to stay on top of the world of politics in regard to the presidential elections (Isn't there already a lot that we are all doing in our lives?!?) I have a feeling that many of my "readers" feel the same, so I wanted to pass along a link that is a "quick reference" of sorts on hot topics you might be interested in:

http://www.afa.net/pdfs/08vg.pdf

I encourage you to participate. We can't complain about the way our government is functioning when we refuse to be involved in that Government. Not that I feel the Gospel (or even morals) can be forced through legislation but our democracy was designed as a participatory government. Are you participating?

Southern Living Magazine

Somehow I've managed to get a full year subscription to Southern Living Magazine for just $2 for the year. Not even $2 an issue, which would still be a phenomenal deal, but $2 for the year. While curled up in my bed with less than a full brain cell functioning last night, I turned through the beautiful pages of my favorite magazine in the entire world. And as I forced myself to close it's pages and go to sleep, I thought about how I should blog to the world how much I love this magazine. (Yes, Christi, these are the riduculously random postings that make you NOT want to blog!)

When the mailman brings my monthly issue of Southern Living to my door, it's like he is delivering a little piece of home. In every single magazine there is at least one article about either a place I have lived or a place I have visited. I see pictures of beautiful, stately mansions of different cities, the Blue Ridge Mountains that I called home for so many years, or the leaves in many shades of reds, oranges, and yellows. I read 10 pages articles on how to have a great tailgate party (because who DOESN'T like football in the south??) and find mouth-watering recipes to add to my repetroire of Foods-That-Make-You-As-Round-As-A-Southern-Mama.

I used to read the magazine and ache. Now, with the Lord's help, I can read it and be filled with the warm peace that comes from being home. I can't wait for the next issue! (And don't worry Rachel, I love it so much that I never throw an issue away...)

As a completely tangent side note, one of my fabulous friends from church is in labor and will have her little girl tomorrow!! YEAY for not being pregnant anymore! YEAY for being able to sleep on your back again and tie your shoes and eat without having indigestion! And, of course, yeay for meeting the little person God has been forming for 40 weeks!! Congratulations, Tosha!

It's about time...

For those of you who faithfully check my blog to find out any little tidbits I may actually get around to writing once a month (or so it has been...) you have hit pay-dirt because I'm actually blogging. At least for the month :)

December, of course, was a whirlwind of family activity with my parents visiting for three weeks. It was a blast, it seemed like normal life, it was way too short. If only they would realize that they need to move here...

Jeremy had three weeks in a row with three days of work or less. And in that time he only used two days of vacation. You can see the look of pure joy on his face. Really. That's what this face says. In additional news, he may have found the much prayed-for "hunting buddy" last night. He is already counting down until next year's hunting season!

I did as any normal, loving daughter would do and put outside life on hold for those three weeks. Christy and Becca did not, thankfully, and this is my first chance to say via blogging-world

CONGRATULATIONS!!

Also, congratulations to non-blogging friends Heather and Christine on the arrivals of their bundles :) And to Mary, we are thrilled to hear of your SON to come in May!

The day my parents left I fought tears and fought tears. And then the Hokies lost yet another BSC bowl. The next day I started busy season hours and ended the day sick. I stayed sick for 10 days with a nasty cough and zero energy. It's been a fun week and a half.

On the upside, we got a "roommate" that weekend. Alisha Grubb recently came back to Great Falls after finishing school at Portland Bible College. She is getting married on April 26th and is staying at our house until then. Quite the social gal, she isn't home much, but when she is, we have a ball talking about weddings and marriage and, well, all of those things you worry about before you get married! (She is the gal on the far left.)

Hannah now has a "big girl bed" as I converted the crib to a daybed. She didn't fall out or get out without permission for the first week. It was great. A flip has gone off in her head, though, and she has decided that getting out of bed is worth the spanking. Everytime. Hopefully that won't last long. Much to my chagrin, she still has no interest in using the potty. One sweet day, one sweet day.

Benjamin took positive "steps" today toward walking. He'll actually walk behind the push toy! YEAY! The kid just loves to investigate and play with toys (and mommy's plant) and is too consumed in these activities to pursue walking. I really wish he would. I've been carrying kids to the car for 2.5 years now and would really like to walk to the vehicle without a child in arms! He has been wearing 18 month clothes since before Christmas and will celebrate his first birthday in less than two weeks!

The most important thing to celebrate, however, is that I gave up nursing the little man the day after Christmas. I was D-O-N-E!!! And it has been such a liberating feeling! I had a pretty good streak going--I was either pregnant or nursing a child for 38 straight months. Time for a break! Second runner up in the "best things to celebrate" catagory is the fact that I got a brand new DOUBLE OVEN! I actually have an oven that cooks the food! It cooks it so well that I can bake two pizzas at the same time--in just the top oven! For those who have been within earshot of me (whether in person on over the phone) you probably know just how much I loathed my last oven. I'm THRILLED with the new appliance that my husband so lovingly installed for me!!!

More to come...but probably not until February! :)