3 weeks and counting...

So we've been here over 3 weeks now but it seems like it's been SO MUCH LONGER!  It doesn't really feel like this is where we'll be living for the next couple years since we're still in limbo right now.  But that comes to an end this Friday!  Until now we've been living in a guest suite at the complex we've signed a lease with but our townhouse wasn't available until Oct. 1.  It feels like we're at a hotel and living out of suitcases....which we kind of are.  So this week is devoted to packing all this stuff here up again to move it across the complex to our new "home."  All the rest of our stuff will be delivered and unloaded (thankfully we don't have to do any of it!!!!) on Friday.  

So how have we been spending our time while here so far? 

Story time at the library.

Playgroups.

Bowling (for me!) 

Taking full advantage of living less than 5 minutes from Target, Old Navy, and Kohls :)

Enjoying the fall weather.

Switching all that fun stuff like License plates, driver's licenses, insurance, banks etc. 

Getting back into couponing (I now have access to 4 computers, so if I want to I can print up to 8 copies of printable coupons!  I know that might not seem quite so exciting to a lot of you but that just makes me giggle with excitement at all the possibilites of savings!)

Garage Saling.

This weekend we're going to a small pumpkin patch with hayrack rides (there is a bigger one with an apple orchard as well that we want to go to in the next couple weeks)

Studying up for the driver's license test (found out we actually don't have to retake the "driving" portion...phew.)

Looking at plane tickets to Nebraska and Wichita :)

Buying "Wrinkle Free" shirts for the hubby, because ironing is my least favorite thing to do.

I ran a mile the other day and I'm not sure but I think I almost died. (yes only 1 mile, quit laughing Kaely!)

Got amazing results back from the Kidney Doctor!  Everything was normal! Yay for good health! Don't have to worry about that for another year....check that one off my list!

Found a Pediatrician for Linc man.

and

Looking around for furniture to purchase to replace the things we pawned off on Hope and Derek :)

It seems to be getting easier to find things to fill my time up with so that's been great.  It makes the move so much easier when I'm busy and not thinking about missing everyone so much.  

So that's our "as of late."  I'll let you all know how the move goes of Friday!

147 million orphans {minus 1!}

That's right, there is now 1 less orphan in this world and his name is Isaiah!  My good friend Julie and her husband were finally able to bring home their son on Friday.  Their were lots of friends and family at the airport waiting to welcome them home.  I wish we were still in Wichita so we could've been there to celebrate with them but we'll just have to from afar.  Here are some pictures I stole from my friend Kendra (they're adopting too and have been waiting and waiting and waiting for a long time.  Read about their story here).

 Great Sign!

Isaiah's welcoming party

The little man of the hour....amazing!  Isn't he just precious?

I am so excited for their now family of 6! 

James 1:27

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

a reminder....

....of the events of last year.  Tomorrow I have an appointment with a new nephrologist (fancy name for kidney dr.) here.  Because of what happened with my kidney's during my pregnancy with Lincoln, I will have yearly check ups on my kidney function.  So since this is the first year after having Lincoln, this is the first time in a year that I've had to get them checked.  I'm just a little anxious about this.  I don't have any reason to think there is something wrong, there is just always a chance that something could show up I guess.  My doctor last year cleared me and said that I was back to normal so I'm hoping that's still the case.  Just asking for some prayer for tomorrow's appt.  It's a whole new Dr. who has no idea what I went through so pray that he has had other experiences with HELLP patients and knows what he's talking about.  Pray that the creatinine levels are normal. 

That's all for now....thanks for praying!

walking!

showing off some dance moves

"pumpkin spice latte" kind of day

It was in the 50s this morning and all I wanted to do was crawl right back into bed and stay warm.  But I had a 1 year old who seems to think he "needs" me.  I can't imagine what he would need from me?!  haha I'm kidding.  So instead we stayed in our pj's all day and got a pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks.  mmmm....I LOVE those.  So here is an update on what we've been up to now that we've been here a WHOLE week.  It seems like much longer (my mom thought it had been 2 weeks already, can you tell she misses her grandbaby?)  So far things have gone pretty smoothly.  We got here last Tuesday and Tyler started work right away on Wednesday.  It's been a crazy week trying to get used to a new schedule, living in a space that isn't mine, and living with a boy again. :)  

So here is a glimpse into our lives right now:

-getting used to paper thin walls = short naps and early mornings

-learning how to iron dress shirts (I honestly have not ironed a shirt in who knows how long)

-figuring out a new "normal"

-visiting our first church - "Providence E Free Church" it's a contender but we've still got 4 or 5 more to visit before making a decision

-comparing every church to River....missing that awesome community

-accidentally stepping on and crushing veggie sticks into the carpet that were left there by some little boy I know :)

-having lots of headaches (I think I'm a little stressed, or not drinking enough water...jury's still out on that one)

-Listening to Gungor and dancing while eating lunch with my favorite little man

-slowly reading "Shepherding a Child's Heart"

-everyday outings with Lincman whether it be just on a walk or to the various grocery stores to find one I like

-getting good at retrieving binkies from anywhere!

-dreaming about decorating a house again....eventually

-counting down the days until we can be in our "own" townhouse and not the guest suite....26 days.

-I'm actually working out almost everyday....go me!

and....

Really missing all our family and friends....come visit us! :)

oh and.....

Really loving this song right now by Gungor

one step at a time {learning to let go}

My little boy is just growing up so fast.  I can't believe that he's come so far in just such a short amount of time.  It's so crazy how they go from being completely dependent on you for every single thing {and still is for the most part} but little by little we have to learn to let go.  I guess this is what being a mommy is all about.  Little by little watching your child grow up, teaching him so he can learn to do things for himself.  I love watching when Lincoln makes a new discovery.  You can just tell in his eyes that he is so proud of what he just figured out how to do!  Our newest "step" is learning to walk.  Now don't go getting too excited here, he can't walk on his own just yet but he's getting soooo close.  He has mastered the walking with just one hand and lately he's been "accidentally" walking.  It's like he forgets what he's doing and will almost run to Tyler or I but when we try to repeat it he just sits down....little stinker! :)  

Lincoln and I are both learning how to "let go."  He's trying to walk on his own with no assistance from me and I'm trying to "let go" and let him do it on his own.  We both have to let go for him to be successful.  As moms we need to know the right timing to let go.  Throughout his whole life I'll be trying to figure out how to and when to "let go" of certain things.  

I learned very early on in Lincoln's life that I have to let go of him completely.  He is not mine but God's.  I've just been given the privilege to raise him but ultimately he is God's alone.  I had to learn that pretty quickly.  About week 24 of my pregnancy to be exact.  I had to "let go" of my worries and fears for him and let God be the strength for both of us.  I had to "let go" of my own ability to take care of him and grow him and let God perform his miracle.  I had to "let go" my plan for this pregnancy and my plan for this little boy's life and let God unfold His perfect plan for Lincoln.

As Lincoln learns to take his first steps I am constantly reminded of God's power.  There is no explanation for this little boy to be here and to be doing the things that he's doing except that this was all God.  These steps remind me of what a miracle I witnessed. 

I just love that boy so much.

N.E...braska Kids {California Gurls Parody}

Another parody done by my brother and Lyndsee!  

Nebraska State Fair

Well it took until I was 24, moved to Kansas for 4 1/2 years, back to Nebraska for 5 months and then planning on moving out of state again before I finally made it to the Nebraska State Fair.  I don't ever remember going when I was younger although Dad said we went to a couple concerts here and there but for some reason I don't remember them.  Well it also helped that the state fair moved from Lincoln to Grand Island for the first time this year and the fact that my awesome brother was singing in a talent competition to get us there!  We went for about half of one day and watched Trey sing and walked around for a little while until "Mr. I Need a Nap Now and I WILL NOT Fall Asleep In The Stroller" came along.  Lincoln does pretty good but when he needs a nap he really needs to be in his pack n play or in our big stroller in order to fall asleep (and of course I had already packed that one in the moving truck and all we had was the little umbrella stroller).  I think he would've had more fun if he wouldn't have been so tired, he didn't care to look at any of the animals or anything.  So we cut our time short and headed back.  But we DID get a chance to taste the smoothest and most delicious ice cream known to man!  It's call Nitro Cream and it's made using liquid nitrogen so it's REALLY cold.  They said it takes 25 minutes for the Nitro Cream to start melting.  Oh man, it was heavenly!

 Daddy and Lincoln looking out the window of our bus while we were being shuttled from parking to the fair

 Lincoln with Grandma Hunni on the bus

 Doesn't he look so sweet holding his program and watching the performance so intently? :)

 Trey singing, "I'll Stand by You"

 Nitro Ice Cream!!!

Yes he liked it THAT much!

Howie the Huskie Mascot

Between the time that Tyler and I got back from his graduation and the day that we had to leave we decided to pack our days with lots of stuff including an Aurora Football game!  My brother just happens to be the Huskie Mascot so we went to see him and give him a hard time :)  We ate the sloppy joe supper that was before the game with Tyler's family and then my parents came a little later and we all were barely able to sit together.  The stands were SOOO packed!  I guess it kind of makes a difference in crowd size when the team just won the state championship the year before and it was #1 ranked Aurora playing #4 ranked McCook.  It was a REALLY great game to watch and have I mentioned before how much I LOVE this time of year?!  I LOVE football games and the cooler weather that comes with it!

 Eatings Sloppy Joe's with Grandma

 hmmmm....I'm pretty sure he liked them, his face doesn't make you think that though.

 Mesmerized by the football players

 Go Huskies!

 Watching the game with Grandma Hunni

 Grandpa H. gave him popcorn....he ate so much!

 Go. Fight. Win!

 Cheering with mommy

 Our family at the game

 With Howie the Huskie!  Lincoln wasn't so sure about him....

 My cousin Riley LOVES Howie!

 Sorry it's blurry but this one really shows how uneasy Lincoln was about Howie!  I was surprised he even let Howie hold him!

It was cool that Lincoln's first football game that he went to was Tyler and I's high school team.  The Huskies won by the way! :)

baby bottle for a measuring cup

We made it!  We've been here for a couple days now and are starting to get used to this new life.  We drove 10 hours on Monday, stayed the night at a hotel right off of the interstate and then drove the remaining 5 hours on Tuesday.  Lincoln did pretty well, considering he was confined to his carseat for SO LONG!  One of the first things we did once we got here and got in our temporary townhouse, was go get groceries!  We had zero food to eat (not counting the road trip snacks we had gotten along the way).  

Because our townhouse isn't available until the middle of October (worst case scenerio) we are "roughin" it in the guestsuite that they have here.  It's exactly the same set up that we'll have in the townhouse we rent but it's "fully furnished."  So we're having basically all our stuff kept in storage while we wait.  Since we were told that the guestsuite was "fully" furnished I figured that meant the kitchen as well.  2 small pots, 2 cutting boards, 1 knife, 1 skillet, 1 small round cake pan and then plates, glasses and silverware isn't how I define "fully furnished."  Since all my stuff is packed, I bought a 9x13 pan today and have been using Lincoln's bottles as measuring cups! :)  We'll see how creative I can get with our meals and still try and stay on our budget. 

Lincoln and I have been doing some "exploring" of the area and are starting to learn it pretty well already.  We have about 4-5 churches that have been recommended to us so we're trying to figure out which ones to visit and hopefully it won't take too long before we can get involved and connected to one.  We're excited to see what God has for us here.

Sorry for no pictures in this post....they'll be coming soon!