Visiting

Well we have started visiting another church. We have spent the last week at Western Hills and are really happy. Now I am definitely not saying that we have found a home yet, but we have felt the most welcome here. We still want to visit a few more to narrow our decision down but I think that we might really like this one. I will keep you all updated.


I am going to try and get my TN license started this week. I want to get my certificate this year so that I can start submitting resumes to area private and public schools. There is a private school right here in Bellevue called Nashville Christian that has a Life Program (basically special ed in a private school). I have been thinking about applying there and a few others. Matt and I still have not decided what to do as far as the kids schooling. A lot depends on where we will be living in the fall. I actually have to think about it now since Caleb will be starting pre-k next year!!! ( Crazy huh. My first born will be in school.) We are going to try and get Ian into a 2-3 day a week program too. If we decide to send the kids to private then I have to get a job at that school. So a lot depends on that.

Anyway...not a lot of updates here. I am going to try and get some pictures posted soon. I tried a little bit ago but the blogger photo sight was down and we were having some difficulties. I will try to get them up soon.

Trip to the Zoo

Well we headed to the Nashville Zoo a few Saturdays ago. Grandma and Papa Anderson joined us for the day. The boys and Riely enjoyed it. We saw the parts that we missed last time. The Meerkats were a huge hit again and Aligator Cove was a hit as well. We skipped the elephants and giraffes this time since they were by the merry-go-round and jungle gym. The boys enjoyed the petting zoo . They brushed goats and touched camels. A lot of the animals were in the shade and sometimes hard to see, but some were real close. Rileys favorite were the zebras and Meerkats. They were so close that she kept trying to touch them. Enjoy the pictures!

Comments

Ok so I am still an idiot. Aparently it didn't save my changes or something but I really got it right this time. I clicked all the circles I was supposed to and hit submit and THEN republish. What a complicated process. Probably not but it is when you have 3 kids hanging on you cause 2 of them want to "play puter too" and the third wants you to feed them...ya know how it goes!

Little Miss. Kaitlyn

Here are some shots of our beautiful neice. We had a great weekend trip to IN (Matt's parents now live in Indiana with Heather and Scott). We got to spend time with family and meet Kaitlyn. She is a very sweet baby and really loves to sleep. It was a chore to see her eyes, but when they were open there was a lot of intensity behind them. Scott and Heather are great parents. We got to see Kaitlyns' fist church service. She pretty much slept through it all but did eat somewhere in there. She slept through class too- she must not have enjoyed the sermon or class topic. :)

Study

Now that we are in our apartment, I have begun doing a study by Beth Moore entitled "The Patriarchs:Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob". Let me just tell you how amazing this is. I have learned more in the last 3 days about Abram, about the Jewish culture than I have ever known. Now maybe many of you already now a great deal from your times and classes at Harding, but now that I am older (gulp) I am finding myself thirsty for this "background" knowledge. Anyway- I was finishing up my day 3 lesson and there was a quote that Beth placed in there and it spoke to me like nothing I have read in the last 3 days. It is not a quote from the Bible but rather a quote from F.B. Meyer. We just finished reading about Abram and Sarai living in Egypt during the famine in Canaan. Abram has told pharaoh that Sarai is his sister and God inflicted pharaoh and his household with serious diseases. We were asked what might Abram have done differently. Here is his alternative plan (and what spoke to me after)

"How much better would it have been for Abraham to have thrown the responsibility back on God, and to have said, "Thou hast brought me here; and Thou must now bear the weight of providing for me and mine: here I will stay till I clearly know what Thou wilt have me do." If any should read these lines who have come into positions of extreme difficulty, through following the simple path of obedience, let them now look at God through difficulties, as we see the sun shorn of splendour through a fog; but let them look at difficulties through God. Let them put God between themselves and the disasters that threaten them. Let them cast the whole responsibility on him. Has He not thus brought you into difficulties, that He may have an opportunity of strengthening your faith, by giving some unexampled proof of his power? Wait only on the Lord, trust also on Him....He will provide."


Tell me that is not amazing. As I sit here and think of that, it brings me such peace. I have struggled with letting it all go and trusting that God has a plan in us moving out here with our house not sold and not selling. I have been very vocal that this is a growing time for us and that God has something planned and I just need to have that faith. And on today, a down day- when I think things can't possibly get worse, I find that passage. I felt that God had me find that today to uplift my heart and to reaffirm that he has a plan and it will take place if I am obedient to his stretching and pruning of my faith. I pray that He is blessing you beyond measure and is revealing His will for you daily. Peace, my friends.

Worship

I get daily devotional emails from the Purpose Driven Life website and I got this one a few days ago and thought I would share it. Sometimes I have to take a step back in my day and remember that in all my actions, thoughts and word I should be praising my God. I sometimes find my self not nessarily leaving God behind at the "builing" but I tend to forget that I am able to praise and worship my God in every breath I take. That is what I should be doing. I'm working on it hope you all do to!

Worship is a state of mind.

What do you think of when you think of worship? Stained glass? Choir robes? Praise choruses? Worship band? Hands lifted or knees bent? If you’re anything like me, it’s bound to have something to do with church or doing something religious.

Jesus once said that those who worship God must worship in Spirit and in truth. Now that doesn’t say anything about church or religious activity; in fact when Jesus said this, he was answering a question about the proper place to worship. There was a difference of opinion at the time about which mountain to worship God on. One group said on this mountain and another said on that. That’s when Jesus responded that the Father was looking for true worshipers who worship him in Spirit and truth and that neither mountain meant anything compared to this. In other words, it doesn’t matter where you worship, it matters how you worship.

I think sometimes we approach worship as if we have to have all the right elements working in proper order for something to capture our emotions and truly qualify as a worship experience. We need to hear the right songs, performed in a certain way by the right musical group, enhanced by great visual graphics, and presided over by a trusted worship leader. We go to a certain church because “we like the worship there.” All of this makes worship dependent on certain elements all adding up to create a familiar experience we can identify as worship.

But is worship something that happens to me or something that I make happen? Is worship a mood or a mindset? If, as Jesus said, worship is something that we do in Spirit and truth then it would seem to be something we can do any time, any where. This is, in fact, what true worship is.

I have worshiped at ball games and movies, schools and sock hops, workout gyms and restaurants, on the golf course and at the beach, in the car and in the air, while reading a novel and reading the newspaper, at work and at play.

You are worshiping right now as you read this. The fact that you signed up for these devotionals says that it’s important to you to take a few minutes to focus on God while you go over your e-mails today. But you don’t have to stop worshiping God when you click this window closed. You can just keep on going; no one’s stopping you.

You don’t need anything but your heart and soul to truly worship God. Worship is not something you go somewhere to do, it’s what you pay attention to as you do everything else.

Oops

Sorry to those of you who have been posting comments. I didn't realize when I did a certain setting that I had to go in and approve them to be on there. What can I say- I'm still learning how to do this ;). Yes.... My hubby laughed at me. I just thought no one wanted to comment! Now they are all on and I changed the setting back. So hopefully no weird people will post random things again!

Happy Birthday!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!!

"You are the best daddy in the whole world. I play basketball with daddy. he play baseball with me. He play wrestle with me and him. Daddy give me,Ian and baby Riley hugs. He love Caleb. He love Ian too. Baby Riley laugh at him. "
~Caleb

"I play basketball with daddy. I play baseball with daddy. Dear God, baseball, basketball, Amen. Love you"
~Ian

"oooohhhhh. Dadadada...(laugh)...Ahhhhhhhh."
~Riley

" I love you tons and thank God for you everyday. You make us smile and laugh. You provide for us in everyway possible. Happy Birthday!"
~The wife

More updates

Well now that I have gotten some pictures up from the last couple of months I thought I would give a little update:

Riley is crawling and starting to try to pull up. She gets on her knees and hangs on to anything with in reach to try and see over it. I don't think it will be long before she is pulling up and cruising. Her brothers will make sure of it. She thinks she can do what they do and tries really had to be "one of the boys". She crawls around after them and shrieks at them if they leave her behind. She is really interested in what I do too. She will watch me fold laundry and load the dishwasher so intently. I almost think she is taking a mental note so she can try it later.


Caleb is becoming so...big. He is so ready to start school. I hope that I can find a mothers day out program or even a pre pre-k for him to do a few days a week. It will get him around other kids and he is soaking everything up right now. He wants to know about everything- what it is, how it works, what it looks like on the inside... He is really smart for his age I think. I could just be saying it casue I am his mommy, but I really think so.


Ian is doing really good. He is talking a whole lot more and is becoming very inquisitive. He is the quiet ponderer though. He will sit and think about it more than Caleb does. He is also trying to find his own I think. It gets him into trouble some. He thins he can do what ever he wants. I know Caleb is head strong and wants things his way, but Ian just sneaks around to do it. And he does it several times to see the effect. After a few punnishings he gets the idea and drops it.


All in all we are doing good. We might try to go up and see our niece this weekend. Matts parents are coming down for Matts birthday on Friday and then taking the kids home with them till we get up there on Saturday. Then my parents are coming on Sunday to celebrate his birthday. We couldn't all meet at the same time so Matt gets several birthdays this year.

Our "New Home"

Well we have offically moved into our apartment. It is interesting to say the least. It really isn't too bad except the kids are having a hard time understanting why they can't be as loud as they want. But it is temporary and we will make the best of it.

We are in a little community called Bellevue. We have enjoyed it so far. We are still pretty close to the church we have been visiting (20 min away) and there is an awsome park here that the boys love. We have started going there early in the morning while it is semi-cool to play. In the evenings, we will sometimes go after Matt gets home from work. There is pretty much all you need here (except Target) and we are still pretty close to my parents (an hour if you take the Natchez Trace)









The boys now sleep in their bunk beds. Ian is doing well with the move from the toddler bed to the bottom bunk. Caleb thinks he is big stuff now that he is on top. We have to take the ladder out while they fall asleep and then put it in so he can get down in the morning. I have to get Ian some spiderman sheet like Caleb that way he will feel like a big kid.

Riley is still sleeping in the pack-n-play since we can't find 2 metal rods to her crib. I am sure they are someplace in my parents basement but it might take a while to find. Hopefully they made the move with us and madeit off the truck.

Where we are now, Matt is able to take the bus to work and even if he drives it is only a 15 min drive. We are really blessed to be here in a family oriented community. It reminds me a little of Maumelle, only not as green.

First attempts

There were many first attempts this last month. Riley attempted crawling (of which she is now a pro) and Mommy attempted to "fix" her hair. Now having boys you pretty much buzz their hair and then brush it after a bath and you are set to go. It is totally different with Riley. Her hair is long in the front so I have to pull it back. Actually looks cute if she will let me do it. Some days are a battle to get a clip in her hair just to do it again in a couple of hours later when she pulls it out. I am getting better at it. It would really help me out though if she would just sit still :)

A few pictures

This is the turtle that Papa found outside in the yard. We caught several more after this one. The boys LOVED having "turtle" there to watch.

We got the boys an inflateable pool and they had a blast. It took them a while to actually get in because the water was pretty cold. Papa finally got in with them and then they started playing and sitting in the water. That pool was a life saver when the temps got real high and they wanted to play outside. I think Iam going to try and get them into swimming lessons next year. They seem to love the water.

Riley had a blast in her pool too. She tipped over a few times and got a face full of water but none the less had a blast. She was too cute in her two piece. Luckily for her she was in the water while her daddy was at work or I am sure she would have had a shirt on for modesty! :) She is a big time water baby- loves baths pools or anywhere she can get in the wather

Kaitlyn Grace Stewart

Scott, Heather and Miss Kaitlyn

DSL here we come! :)

Well the time has come for us to leave the comfort of my parents house and move into the city. We have decided to get an apartment in the Bellevue area. This allows Matt to ride the bus to and frorm work and gets us closer so we can meet new people and find a church home. I am really excited. We got an awsome deal. It is a 3 bedroom, on the ground floor and we got some good Vandy discounts. It will be nice to have a place to call home for a little while. We hope it is only temporary but I plan to make it a home for the boys till we find a house. We should be moved in by next weekend....so we are open to guests! I will get pictures of the apartment posted after we get moved in along with the others that I can't get on here with Dads computer. We truly feel that this apartment find is a blessing from God after much prayer.

The new baby...

For those of you who know our reputation... this is not about us :) Matt and I are now the proud owners of a.... NEICE! Yes that is right- a neice. Scott and Heather had their beautiful baby girl this morning- Kaitlyn Grace Stewart weighed in at 6 lbs 6 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long. Heather did good through the c-section and everything seems to be going smoothly. We have yet to see her but hope to make a trip up after they are home from the hospital and settled in. We have to let Kaitlyn get some resistance before we let the kids get their germs around her. Praise God that she was healthy and everything went smoothly.

Visiting

Well...we have visited Otter Creek Church the last two Sundays. Last week we visited only the worship service since the boys were in KY with their grandparents and we got a late start on the drive. This week we took the kids to see how they liked the classes. It was very nice and the kids had a blast. Once you drop your kids off in their prospective classes you don't have to pick them up till the end of worship. They have a childrens worship for ages 3 and up and the 2's and down have nursery. So for once Matt and I got to enjoy a sermon with out distractions. They started a series on what they believe and who they are, which is nice in helping us to decide if we would like to attend there. Today, they spoke on membership- what it means to be a member. One thing that he said that stuck out to me is that "God places you in a specific church to use your specific talents for a specific purpose. There is something odd about "church hopping"- to find the place that fits YOU the best rather than finding the church were GOD finds you fit best. God has led our family here and I know that he has a specific place for us to be. Rather than "hopping" around and finding a place that makes us happy and "feel good"- we will find a place that we know gives God joy.

We are also doing some apartment hunting. I have already located one that is a 3 bedroom, in our price range and will be available in mid August. But it is not in the "best neighborhood" so I am on the scour again to find a home till our place sells. Please pray that we will find a place in a decent neighborhood for a good price. We are looking foward to finding our own place again. Thanks to all of you who are praying for our family. We appreciate them more than you know. We miss all of you and pray for you daily- God Bless..

Houston- we have lift off!

Crawling...yes the big news is crawling. Riley has begun to move. And boy is she happy about it. Last night Matt and I were watching the Softball World Cup (in which the USA beat Japan 5 to 1 in case you were wondering- Cat pitched a great game and the defence was amazing with only one blunder) and Riley started moving. She had been doing a kind of bear shuffle before but has it all figured out now. She gets so excited that she tries to go to fast and promptly hits the carpet. But at least she can try to keep up with her brothers now. All 3 on the go.....hmmmmm! :)

Learning

Ever sense we have moved I have struggled with trying to find a time through out the day to get in some excercise and study time. While in AR I usually got up early and got excercise in before the kids woke up and my adopted kids got to the house. Then while they were all napping I cleaned and then had my Bible study time. Well now that we are living in limbo, Riley wakes up at 0 dark thirty and the boys are not far behind her. They also never nap at the same time if they choose to nap at all. Needless to say I have gotten slack about it all. I recently decided to start a study by Beth Moore entitled "The Patriarchs". I am so excited about it, but I have yet to find the time when I can do it. The lessons that you listen to are at least and hour long and then you have a ton of homework. Hopefully once we get moved I can get that started. Since I have not been able to start that, I have begun reading a book by Nancy Leigh DeMoss (author of "Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free") entitled "Holiness". Even though I only gets snipets in here and there it has changed the way that I percieve things and how I think about them. I can feel a change begining inward that I am excited about. I have always wanted to become Holy as we have been called to be. I just didn't take the time or I thought I was already on track in areas. I have really , truly begun to transform inside. Not only has it helped my spiritual walk but it also has helped with keeping my sanity in all things and I think has made me become a better wife (you'll have to ask Matt on that one!) and mother. I feel a closeness with God that I haven't felt before for such a long time. It makes me want to do more, learn more and study more. It also has made me sit down and make a plan for exercising and eating healthy. I can feel and see God in all the aspects of my life now and I know the ares of my temptations (some foods, certain shows on tv, ect) and am learning how to get rid of them. Please pray that I continue to grow and to hold tight to the path that God has placed me on. I know that through all the things going on now that he has a plan and is gently leading me in the direction he wants me to go.

Errors

Please excuse the spelling mistakes in the previous post. There is a pop-up blocker on the computer and I cannot get it to let me allow them. So when Matt gets home he can figure out the program and then I will fix them. My brain thinks faster than my fingers can type!

???

Well we had an open house on our house in AR this past Sunday. It was a terenchal downpour so only 2 couples showed up. It has been a very discouraging process and yet I have felt peaceful about it all. These last few weeks have been a range of emotions that are sometimes in-describeable. It has been a strong period of growth for me and for Matt as we have moved, begun a new job, driven everywhere, and visited a new church. I know that God has a plan and if we are patient, and yet productive, that he will bring it before us.

We have several options that we are considering for the house. We are not sure if we will stay with our agent or if we will try to do by owner. We might also try to rent it out for a while till the market is better. But then that brings a whole slew of other issues. We are just in prayerful contemplation on what we need to do. We have decided that we are going to move into the city, though. I want to get the kids plugged into a church and get them around more kids their age. That way we can begin to make friends and feel more comfortable. I am currently looking at houses and apartments for rent in the surrounding areas. It is a fun and tiring experience. Especially when you don't know the areas too well. But the kids have had fun with me.

It has also been a growing time with my parents. Although ithas been difficult at times to live with them, the kids have gotten to know them better and I believe now have a relationship with them. There is a completely different experience when you move in with them. We have all grown and come to a higher level of understanding with each other.

On news with the kids:

Riely has been on her knees for a little while now. She has figured that she can go from the keeling position to the sitting position. I know crawling is around the corner. I am excited and yet a little sad. Knowing that this is the last time I will truly experience this. But God has truly blessed us beyond measure with our baby girl and I am pleased to have the opportunity to raise her in ther love of her heavenly father. She has a new carseat that I am going to install today. She kept wanting to sit up and look around. The infant carrier was jus tnot working. I will post a picture of her in it later.

Caleb is as crazy as ever. He has had the hardest time transitioning. He misses playing with kids his age and looks for them anywhere he is. We were in Wendys eating lunch yesterday and he was talking to a kid a little older than him. He was enjoying himself so much that when the kids had to leave Caleb almost started crying. It was in that moment that I decided we were moving into town to help him find friends at a church. He has had so much fun here though. He loves playing baseball, football or basketball with us in the evenings. He likes to walk down by the woods and listen for animals. He is getting a little more head strong but other than that he is doing well.

Ian has been growing so much. He is talking real good now and as always does what ever Caleb does. He has enjoyed plaing outside in the woods. I have gotten to spend a lot of time with him working on letters and numbers. We still choose to say every color is green but everynow and then will decide to name them correctly. If he gets in trouble then he gives you this grin that squishes his eyes and cheeks together to try and get out of it. Luckily for us it never does. But it does make you laugh when you eave the room.

I have started having "School" everyday. We do a lesson and devotional in the morning. Then we do a craft activity. They seem to like it and show off their work when Daddy and Papa get home. In the evening we have a reading marathon and the kids love that. We see how many books we can read in the half hour before bed time.

Well That is all for now. I will do better at updating and such. Look for pictures in the naxt day or 2...they will be there. ;)