re-thinking television

4 more days and we are moving to our new house!!! (that will be Feb. 17th). We are very eager and excited to go.

We've been having a strange struggle. There is just so much going on that is huge, that we aren't content with the normal, daily stuff. We get itchy to have something "happening" all the time. Because we are living in a hotel, we had the option to run to the T.V. This seemed to relieve the discontent because it was instant gratification. It was so energetic and fast and constant. It was so opposite the evenings we had previously spent sitting around the table playing games with the kids or singing and reading together. In fact, the more we watched the T.V, the less any of us wanted to spend our evenings doing those other things together. Leon saw this and (with God's strength) put an end to it. The T.V wasn't to go on again at the hotel and it was back to our sweet fellowship, eye contact and listening to each others rambling tales.

It was almost 10 years ago that God used Ephraim to convince us to throw our T.V in the dumpster. That first month was full of agony and depression over the loss. After that, we never regretted it. We can't imagine how we ever had time to watch all those shows. We have been so busy enjoying real life such as looking into Naphtali's eyes when he talks and noticing how perfectly shaped his little nose is and wondering what name to give to that heavenly shade of red on his lips.

sweet feet, gifts from God

Yesterday I was thinking about what to plant in a garden and when to get chickens and today it's a winter wonderland outside. It's captivatingly beautiful.
We are still in the hotel. Every morning at about 9:30 the kids and I go out on an explore and when we come back the beds are made, the floor is vacuumed, the towels are replaced with clean ones and all the counters and windows are wiped. I hope that keeps happening when we get to the new house.
When I was a girl, I would go out to school and when I got home all these things were done and there were cookies and dinner cooking in the oven. I was sorely dismayed when I moved out and got married and this did not continue. It took me years to learn to clean my own house. UGH, I am an awful slow learner but, I do indeed learn and for that I thank God who is continually conforming me into the likeness of His son.
Speaking of being made in the likeness of God, I wish I could share the joy and sweetness of my newest blessing. I feel him/her wriggling inside me and when I press on his little elbow or foot or hand he pulls back and reaches out again. It's our first game or affection exchange.
The most common comment I hear when I go out with the kids is, "you sure have your hands full". I sometimes respond ,"better full than empty". Sometimes I just light up and say rapturously, "Yes, I do". I think a more insightful thing for onlookers to say would be, "Wow, God has blessed you abundantly". There is a sad, humanistic deception that robs christian homes of rewards that God desires to bestow on them.
Thank you God for the rewards, arrows, and blessings. Please increase the godly seed that you create to do good works which you planned in advance for them to do.
We love you all. Thank you Charissa for flying out to stay with my children while Leon and I flew to Idaho and found a house to serve God with. Only you and God know the innumerable sacrifices and inconveniences you had to endure to serve us in this way.

oopsy, we moved to Idaho

It's true. God has several times given us the possibility to move to Northern Idaho so that we would have something of value to offer Him. We wanted to move there very much and it gave us a great gift to give Him. Then God taught us that we could be satisfied and content Anywhere, IF we looked to Him only for satisfaction. He filled us with contentment and joy living in Oklahoma which was not (so we thought) anywhere we'd want to live. When we moved there, we realized we loved it and saw ourselves growing old there. However, Leon was not getting a permanent position in Oklahoma despite his efforts. So he sent resumes to other states to see what would happen. Then Coldwater Creek in Idaho called him about a position he hadn't applied for. He was eventually hired after many interviews. After signing on with Cold water Creek, several different places contacted him with work in Oklahoma. It was like God was saying that He could have provided a job for Leon at any time and that He was leading us.
So we are in Missoula, Mt. We are about to drive now to Coeur d' Alene. This is the drive we have wanted to make for years. Our new house should close Feb. 23rd and until then we'll stay in a hotel. It's all been so easy so far. We've just been along for the ride.