loving....missing...

i've been asked many times how we're adjusting to living in idaho. i'm happy to say it's gone smoother than i imagined. not that i imagined it going badly, i just thought it'd be hard than it's been. 


there are so many things we're loving...

the changing of seasons. 

clean air.

open skies.

no traffic. 

being near family.

our new church.

smaller town.

the way it's drawn Caleb and I closer.

having a house and a yard.

meeting new people.


how fast it feels like home.

 of course we're missing lots about california though. it's just hard leaving. i wish i could make these two worlds collide. but we're adjusting to life without...

in-n-out. our wastelines thank us.

being near the ocean. it still feels like we're forty minutes away.

family. okay, maybe not adjusting so well.

having a pool. this summer we're going to really miss it.

 familiarity. 

trader joe's. barely surviving. 

our friends. i try not to think about this one too much. my heart just aches.

trips up the coast. some of caleb and my best times together.

our church. seriously.

play dates. elijah is desperate. 


disneyland. i can't explain my deep love for this place. it's a little crazy.


mostly, we're really grateful. grateful to be where God's led us. grateful for answers after praying for direction for so long. grateful God comforts our hearts when we are struggling. grateful to see the Lord has a plan even when we don't see it or understand it. grateful we can trust him.

Date nights

what date nights look like at our house...

we stay in. get cozy with some frozen yogurt...

 and a little harry potter. such is life when you're preggo.

i know you're all a little jealous of our adventurous lifestyle.

the perfect day...

Caleb and I were enjoying a quiet morning together, but was quickly interrupted by our two little ones. We all cuddled on the couch as Caleb and I finished our devotions. We were enjoying one another and oblivious to the outside world when I got up to fill a bottle and looked outside. Our first real snow. It was so perfect. 

We opened the front door and just watched the snow pouring down.

It snowed most of the day. Quickly the brown we'd been looking at for months was covered it white. It was beautiful. 

Caleb was able to come home a little early from work to play with the kids. We quickly dressed them  and went outside. 

Elijah fell right in and rolled around. 

This was Nay's first real snow. She thought it was good for eating.

We did snow angels...

snowball fights...

and a snowman.

Nay's hands were like ice, but she didn't care. Neither one wanted to come in.

We got warm by the fire and ate brownies. (elijah ate his in one bite)

It was the perfect day.

Evangelizing

 Caleb and I were sitting together reading in one of our favorite devotionals Morning and Evening and that particular night was about not wasting opportunities in your day to point others to Christ. I told him that sometimes I'm a little jealous of the interactions he has in the "outside world." Since we've moved Caleb could easily be the only adult I talk with during the day. (okay i might talk with my mom too) I just don't have lots of chances to share my faith.


Caleb on the other hand spends his days in lots of adult conversation and many opportunities to share Christ. I love that for him and pray he doesn't waste it. 


But he reminded me of something. I spend my day with two little ones in desperate need of a Savior. I have all day long to point the souls I care about most to Jesus. What could be a better use of my time? It's easy to loose perspective, but I'm so thankful for a husband that points me back to truth. 


I want to be like Susanna Wesley who was willing to, "entirely devote twenty years of the prime of life in hopes to save the souls of my children." 

I see my purpose when I look at my babies.

Nay

My parents took Elijah for a sleep over. Of course we missed him terribly. 

(i know kind of silly since it was only one night, but our house just isn't the same without that boy.) 

But we loved our alone time with Nay. It's nice focusing one on one and soaking up time with our girl.  

 No cars, tractors, Lego's, or super hero costumes...

just dolls.

 She cried for Elijah a couple times, but I think deep down she kind of liked all the attention.

We love you Nay.