The MOVE

Well, the time has come!

This past week has been PACKED (no pun intended) with packing...unpacking...throwing trash away...giving things away...packing..unpacking...breaking down boxes...putting boxes up....packing.

Let me be honest, we have moved several times.  As a matter of fact, a friend of mine asked me recently, "Is this the 4th place your littlest one will live?" I sat for a second and thought....No, no way. But, YES, yes it will be.  To give you a little perspective, she is not 4 yet.

Now before you think we are 'hoppers', we haven't changed jobs THAT many times in her little life, but, we have moved quite a few times. Why? One reason is because we wait for the perfect place to raise a family, and in those waiting times, we live in temporary places. We take our time, because to us, that is a vital part to raising a family. We should be expert movers by now, right?  Yeah, not so much! Each move proves to be so different than the other!

The biggest reason we move is because of the coaching world.  We have done two things and have learned from both.  In our 12 years of being part of this coaching community, we have lived SUPER close and we also have lived somewhat 'far' away.  Can you live further away, commute, and still be a super supportive coach's wife?  Of course!!  But from experience, when your husband's season gets going, you will either pack for the entire day and 'wait it out' to support him at his games, OR be able to go home, regroup, have the kids do homework, get a little snack, etc.  To be married to a coach is to be part of a huge, wonderful family.  Being able to support him, have fellowship with the other coach's wives, support the team, cheer them on...all those things are big deals.

So, with this new change and exciting opportunity, we are moving to be close so we can embrace and support the school we will now be a part of!

This time around it seemed like we had so much MORE than ever before!  We did some major purging and 'down-sizing our stuff', which was incredible to do.  Even a little therapeutic!

In the end, we ended up with a gazillion boxes (I never seemed to get enough of those suckers - always went back to the store for more), pounds of trash, many things to give away, a few little mishaps (yes, I fell on a chair box trying to get clothes OUT.  It was not pretty, folks.  Not pretty at all), and then a beautiful home to leave for the new owners!

And then, before we knew it.  That was that.  We went to the title company, closed on our house, and went to our new 'spot' until we make final decisions on our next phase!  

Were we sad?  Yes.  You see that spot in the middle of the wood floor? In front of the fireplace? The 4 of us gathered there to pray.  We prayed in THANKS and gratefulness for the roof that God provided faithfully over our heads.  We prayed in gratefulness for the people that surrounded us on all sides.  We prayed and asked that God would abundantly BLESS the home for the new owners. We prayed for all the scripture that is written by us in sharpie deep inside the walls, on the frame of that house, would do exactly as is written.  Blessings.  Gatherings.  Fellowship.  Protection.  We prayed for our family, our adventure, and where it takes us next.  I cried.  BUT, I left with hopeful anticipation and expectation of what God will bring.  

A lot of folks have asked how our kiddos are doing.   I always respond with this:  A wonderful coach's wife, Robin, told me once when I asked about how she dealt with moving many times, and she said, "You treat it like an adventure!  You tell your kids how neat it will be to make new friends, new teachers, and a new house!  It will be so fun!".  There ya' go.  One of the best pieces of advice I have ever gotten.  My boy was just a few months old when I asked her and when she told me that and I hang on to that advice and that IS what I'll do! So...to answer that question...the kiddos are so excited! 

There are a TON of unknowns.  And it makes me a tad fearful at times. 

But, then again, it also makes me incredibly excited.  To know that HE is in control and knows what is ahead for us? And WILL provide for us and give us exciting opportunities?? How can you not get excited about THAT!!  

We are in our new 'pad' now; settled in, and ready to move FORWARD.  Not looking back, but reflecting on the precious times and knowing that MORE memories will be made.  They are being made right now.  

And, thanks to a neighbor in our 'old' neighborhood, our new place is oozing 'cozy, sweet home' from that delicious candle she gave me.  Something as little as a beautiful candle can make a huge difference in this coach's wife's heart! 

Home is what you make it...is it not?  This move has already taught me so much.  We will continue on this adventure with hopeful hearts and excited attitudes!  One chapter closes and another one begins!  Thank you, Lord.  

And yes, that may or may not be M&Ms sitting on the counter.  Don't judge.  

Lightning Bugs and Summer Nights

The night sky made its appearance as we all sat in the pool chairs at my parents'  house, and my dad said to us, "Did you see that lightning bug?"  Sure did.  That little guy, being the first one I saw as dusk settled in, reminded me what it was like to chase lightning bugs. The way your eyes have to strain in the night to see the faint light of these little creatures who seem to never be in the same spot twice.  The way you would run around like crazy with a mesh bug catcher in hand trying to snatch those things!  You were always happy to catch just one.

My little loves' faces were so excited to catch some lightning bugs as it grew darker and darker.  My mom provided a plastic cup with a lid and we went a-runnin'.  The Coach caught one and right then and there, our hunt was complete! It's funny to see the differences in your kids' personalities, isn't it?  While my girl wanted to keep it trapped inside the plastic cup (poor thing had no 'vent' to breathe)
and put it by the nightstand all night, my boy, after enjoying the catch, was desperately wanting to release it.  

After my littles were in bed and the house was quiet, I sat there remembering all the times and nights outside watching lightning bugs and being in that house. Being at my parents' house is always nostalgic. Because we live so far away, when we come to visit, we stay for a while and I always have time to travel down memory lane.  I remember so many summer nights there.  Summer days.  School days.  Holidays...

I remember a Christmas party upstairs with my high school friends and we laughed and laughed while we exchanged presents and ate snacks.
I remember the sound of lawns being mowed on Saturday mornings waking me up, but loving the sound of people taking care of their home.
I remember driving in the driveway after getting a speeding ticket and being so scared to tell my parents.
I remember watching countless movies with my best friend, having sleepovers, and staying up as late as we could.
Speaking of staying up late, I remember writing a research paper on the book The Joy Luck Club all in one night and got one hour of sleep before the next day in school (I made a 95 on that paper, by the way - procrastination might just work).
I remember my mom waking me up for school and knowing she would wait downstairs to hear the shower come on - her cue to know I was 'up'
...and I would turn it on...but I would go back to sleep until the absolute last minute I could (Sorry mom for those water bills!).
I remember loving it when my two older sisters and their kids were there, either for the day, or overnight.

So many memories.  But then, I realized, these are just my teenage memories.  What about the memories of the childhood house?  I began listing those memories out visually in my head, too.   My sisters babysitting me, my younger brother being brought home from the hospital, watching my mom cook, the tire swing, the ditch we would play in, the trampoline with (GASP!) NO net.  

I looked around and thought about what I would do if my parents ever moved and I didn't have to drive to that house anymore.  It honestly made me sad.  But then, I stopped.  I thought.  I pondered.  I loved the homes I had memories in.  I loved the walls that surrounded me.  But that house would be nothing if it weren't for the people who were inside.  It truly isn't WHERE the catching of lightning bugs and summer nights happen;  it's about WHO it happens with.

My parents, my siblings.  We are NOT perfect.  We are flawed.  We have issues just as good as the next person. BUT, THEY are the childhood memories.  They created the lightning bugs and summer nights.

I went down the hallway, checked on my littles and watched them sleep for a bit, and I began to pray. I prayed, especially since we have our own move coming our way, that Coach and I would be the memories for them.  That they will be the memories for each other.  My prayer is that when they go and catch lightning bugs again, whether it be with each other, with us, or with their own families one day, that they will remember.  And they will remember fondly of the place, but even more so, their heart will be full thinking of the who they were with.

Here's to more lightning bugs.

Did Someone Say Cream Cheese?

I could eat cream cheese from a spoon.

Don't laugh. I truly could.

I love all cheeses, really, but cream cheese just tops them all.  And oh, how cream cheese tastes so awesome in desserts....and breakfasts...and dinners....and alone...on a spoon.

In looking through all the bagillion of 4th of July recipes across the good ol' 'net, I knew I shant look any further when I stumbled across a recipe with cream cheese involved.  The only drawback...it has fruit.  But, I'll take one for the team since the fruit is 'festive' and matches our beautiful American flag.

Before I begin, I need to tell you three things.

ONE: This is easy.
TWO: It also requires to be chilled overnight.  Just a little FYI for ya' there.  There is nothing I hate more than when I get halfway into a recipe and all of a sudden it reads, "and chill for the next 24 hours before serving", which is also like saying, "if you don't chill for 24 hours, it will be a miserable fail and all your guests will be wondering why you step foot in the kitchen to bake".
THREE:  I use graham cracker crumbs; no crushing of real deal graham crackers for me.  I like to make it quick. :)

This beautiful red, white, and blue cream cheese heaven is from a new blog I have found called,
Mr. and Mrs. Pear (cute, huh?)!  Click HERE to go to their link and see all about them.  Cute couple!

Mr. and Mrs. Pear call this dessert, "BERRIED TREASURE".  So clever, Mrs. Pear!  The fruit is wonderfully buried underneath the cool whip and vanilla pudding.  And don't worry, the cream cheese is there.  Perfectly placed on top of the delicious buttery graham cracker crust.  My Your mouth is watering, right?

This is how mine is turning out through the process...

I'm happy!  It is chilling as we speak right now so I can whip it out tomorrow, throw the cool whip on top, as if I am the queen of the baking world (I'm really not...don't get too excited).

Want to see the recipe?  Click on Mr. and Mrs. Pear's link HERE to get it.

Go grab it and enjoy your BERRIED TREASURE!  Blessings to you and your family on this 4th of July!!!