Transition

Is it funny that we are in the same position-almost-as last year? Moving, setting up a home, starting a new job, deciding on what to do for school.

We have moved a few times in our thirteen years of marriage. Some big moves and some small. Every time though we have learned something new. We moved into my sister and her husband's house when we were newlyweds, as we waited for our own house to close. I learned about respect and thin walls. And before you get the wrong idea, it was more along the lines of me having a early to work job(coffee shop) and the rest of the house working late nights. So movie watching in the wee hours of the morning were a no go for me as I tried to sleep through the surround sound. Hey, I was young and it didn't bother me none.

Being in our first home showed me how much I enjoy setting up a home. I loved that home but was also caught up on making it just right and realized the balance of being content, dreaming, and knowing that what I had was enough.

We then moved a few states away to Oklahoma. That was a rough move for me. I was out in the country with just about no friends and surprised to find myself pregnant in the first week we got there! I realized how I had been back in Oregon. I has all the friends and family I needed and didn't really give it a thought to reach out to families that had just moved into the area. Now, I was that new person. I wanted a good friend desperately. I have never cried so much in my life. It was rough but I learned a lot.

Fast forward two years, and now I found myself surrounded by tons of great people in Idaho. Micheal.'s job was a better fit for our family and as a whole we were a pretty happy family. We lived in the same house for three years before a hop, skip and jump to a small town just 30 minutes away. It was a great fit from the beginning! We loved our new house, Micheal's job was great, and we made friends fast!

Now, a year and a half later we are in the mountains instead of the desert of Idaho. It too is a great fit, although in different ways. I can tell that it will take a bit longer to settle as we finish our home and get to know the community. Once again, I am observing the community and church services and am amazed at how different we all are!

There are many ways to do life and I have learned a lot from many wonderful people. I don't regret all our moves although I hope this will be the last move for a long while. Micheal and I both love it here and I think the kids have transitioned well also. We still don't have close friends-heck, it's only been a couple months!- but we love the people we have met and we have absolutely wonderful family here.

So this is home. This is what we wake up to every morning and continue to search out for new places to explore and new things to be involved in and new people to meet.

It's different from all the other places before, but it's kind of the same too. It's a great place to call home!

Let the music lead you

This last couple of weeks we have hit up our local(tiny!) library and August found a set of books that he loves. They are a bit longer than picture books, but not chapter books either. Each book is about a different person from History and talks about their life and some kind of character trait.

Today we read about Beethoven and giving. Many people invested in his life and music and when he felt like giving up, he persevered and gave back, with his beautiful music. 

Afterward I got on youtube and found a couple songs and I said to lay down, close your eyes and dream about what the music is saying. 

Well, there was no lying down, but there was plenty of imagining! Zade rushed over to me and said, "Mom, I thought of a new word! Musimovie!" They started creating a story of a man in the desert with a turban, sneaking up to a princess' window and trying to capture her. They went in and out of character and multiple characters throughout the music(about 30) minutes, and came up with a pretty good story! Princess, ballroom dancing, sword fights, poison, the antidote, good guy, bad guy, etc. 

I wrote it down as they performed and they loved that even more! I read it back to them and then they chose a couple other symphonies and made up new plots and stories. 

The only input I gave them was to try to think of a completely different story and characters from the one before. 

It was such a fun hour! We haven't delved into Shakespeare yet, but I hope when we do, they will want to reenact the plays! 

We finished our read aloud today also. Ralph Moody's, Little Britches. We all really enjoyed it. There was a lot of great lines from Father to son that I hope sunk into their heads and hearts. 

For the summer we kept things really simple. We wrote out 1, 2, 3 John and the kids read 2 chapter books. Zade read Sign of the Beaver and a magic tree house book and Grace read May B. and the same magic tree house book, Dolphins at Daybreak. I wanted to challenge them to read something a little harder or longer than they have been, but in the end we made a compromise of one hard and one easy. Their reward was a date night with mama. Zade and I saw TMNT, and Grace are going bowling tonight. 

Other learning happened through planting our first garden and reaping the benefits of that. Also, having a garage sale and making change, lots of life lessons and many late nights with great conversations and movie watching. 

We are moving in a week so we haven't started the traditional school year yet. We will move and get settled, spend a good week with long nature walks exploring our new area and then get back to the books. I am looking forward to every part of it! 

I will share more as we get into September what books we will be going through, but for now I just wanted to journal a little of what our summer has consisted of. 


Enjoying the last of it, for soon enough we will be snuggled up with hot chocolate and tea and gazing at the leaves changing and the snow falling. 

Abiding

I can't quote lengths of scripture and if I do in fact spout off a verse from the Bible, there's a good chance I can't tell you where it's to be found. That's not something to be proud of, just a telling of the truth. 

What I can do is testify of the many things that Christ has done in my life and what He speaks into my life, and oh how He speaks! 

I have a simple faith but it is fierce. I like to say it's an unshakable adherence to the One who saved my soul. Nothing has shaken me so badly as to let loose of Him and I pray nothing ever will. Without God I wouldn't be the woman I am today, like me or not, agree with the way I live or not. He lives in me, and I cling to Him. It's an abiding kind of life that leads to peace and calm even when the storm rages. 

I am in the midst of a mini storm now. 

We are moving soon and have no place to move to. Interesting, if I do say so myself. Ever since we had our first big move across half the country, I have felt a kindred spirit to Abraham.  

From the ocean to the prairie, to the desert and now up into the mountains; we keep trucking along with our Saviour who opens one way and closes another. 

The house that almost was

The house we thought we had secured for our family fell threw. The owners needed to sell it as fast as possible and we weren't able to be in that kind of hurry. I'm a slow mover with most things but I sure would have moved quick to snag that cute little cabin if I could of. But circumstances being what they are(we are waiting on our business to sell and Micheal's other job to start up),  we have no choice but to be patient and wait hopeful that when things need to work out, they will. 

I loved the idea of that sweet mountain cabin. So cozy and a bit of a stretch to fit us all in, but we were going to make it work and by the Lord's grace be happy about it! 

After the initial shock of that house not working out, what else could we do but start praying again. I was feeling a bit overwhelmed that first evening after getting the call that the house was not to be ours and Micheal hugged me and said that we have done enough thinking and worrying for one day, we needed to rest and get up in the morning ready for another. 

That's exactly what I needed to hear. Rest. In the Lord. It's the only way to get through anything, with peace that is. 

So, here we are waiting to hear about another house. Hoping it will work out. Hoping for a home to live in. Hoping for the timing to be good and hoping that we will be like water off a duck's back with whatever Christ lets come our way. 

Currently the house we are looking into seems to be a HUGE blessing from the Lord. Isn't that just the way it works out? He knows best.  It's a lot newer and doesn't need any improving, just some adding on. In the end, it will be cheaper and bigger. About 1600 sq. feet and for us that is a perfect size. Not the cute little cabin feel like the other one, but it is in the mountains and it will be cozy in it's own way. 

Today is just another day. Another day to rest and abide in God. To allow Him to do His thing and a chance to offer my life as a living sacrifice, a holy offering of trust and obedience. Today I get the joy of thinking(and sharing!) of more things the Lord has shown me and done for me and my family. 

I get to breathe in the grace of my Lord and breathe out my worries. He has them all taken care of and there is no need to fret. He loves me. I must remind myself of this and I must remind you too. He loves you. Trust in His leading, even when you can't see the way. He sees it all. Trust that He knows what is best for you. 

I am Yours, yes I am. 
       Only Yours, I will abide. 

Through it all, through it all, 
      My eyes are on you. 
Through it all, through it all,
                 It is well. 

This is the goal of knowing You; to be Yours. 
          I will abide because I am Yours and You are mine. 
                    Nothing else for me. 

Hold me together Lord, I abide in You. 
                New mercies every morning, moment by moment. 
                            I am Yours. 

                                                                I abide in You. 

- Bits of worship and thoughts from my journal mingled together


Here we are abiding in Christ, waiting with a hopeful heart that we will have another temporary home here on earth, waiting with a patient hope for our home eternal. 

Castles in the sand, trusting in the Rock

To start this post off,  I want to share that sometimes things don't work out as you think they will. When I wrote this post, I was on cloud nine, but I had counted my chickens before they hatched. The next day, the guy came to work and said his wife had shown them their finances and they shouldn't be spending more money on a truck. So our truck is still for sale. God knows what we need and more importantly, He knows when we need it. Apparently our truck doesn't need to sell, just yet. 

When we got that call a couple months ago about the job, we just knew it was God opening a door for us. It was exciting, but in all reality there is a lot that has to happen for it all to work out. I was watering our garden one morning and was talking with Jesus about it all and He convicted my heart of unbelief. Ouch! 

I had asked for prayer and we have been praying for things to happen but I did in fact have a heart that kept saying quietly, "I don't think this is working out. I don't think our house will rent. I don't think anyone will buy the truck. I don't, I don't, I don't...." 

So there I was in the back yard and my eyes were opened! Stop with the "I don't" and start believing the, "God can." 

And He has! 

Our house has renters moving in the first of September. Our business is selling. The house in the mountains is working out. The job is waiting for us. We signed Micheal up for school! 

We still need to sell the truck and van but we still need them to get around, so I am praying, really believing, that God will sell them right when they need to be out of our lives. 

We are doing what we can to make this all happen, but that isn't much. God is the One that really does the work. He is the One that opens doors and closes them. Gives and takes away. We are just sand in His open palm. 

This whole transition has been a great time of seeking the Lord and waiting patiently, in hope. 

And that is great practice for the ultimate thing we wait for, the hope of our salvation, coming in the clouds to take us to heaven, where we will forever sing His praises and talk of all the wonderful things He has done and who God is! 

The next few weeks will be super busy, so will you please continue to pray that we would rest in Him, and that God would continue to work all things out. We sure would appreciate it! 

The gift of July

It's been a full month and a surprisingly perfect balance of rest and busyness, being social and keeping to ourselves, procrastinating and actually getting stuff done. 

It's been a luxurious month and when I say that I don't mean that I have flown around the world, eaten the most expensive foods, or spent a bunch of money on clothes or what have you. I mean that I fully recognize this gift of staying home with my children and I fully take pleasure in getting to do what we get to do; staying up late, waking up late, eating toast and eggs together while reading a Bible devotion or the next chapter in our read aloud, jumping on the trampoline, splashing in the water, gardening, cleaning, having a garage sale, hanging out with friends, and the list goes on and on. 

My reading slowed way down this month. I have only read 1.4 books! I started a couple but couldn't get into them. I have found that July has been a month of hands on enjoyment of this beautiful earth. I didn't want to read. I have wanted to experience and explore, to get my hands dirty and get down on the floor with my kids and tickle and play. I needed to put together a garage sale in hopes of making a few bucks and getting rid of some things we no longer need. I enjoyed some much needed time with friends to just talk and live it up! We traveled just a bit to see family and celebrate freedom. Yes,  July has been luxurious! And I am so very thankful for it all.  

And on this last day of this wonderful month, we find out we have some people interested in renting our house. That's some exciting news for our little family but with that news comes a realization that a bunch of stuff has to happen within a very short amount of time. 

So farewell my luxurious and fun July and hello to you, my adventurous August! 

30/52

Last week I wanted to focus on Grace turning 10 so I didn't post any of the boys. This week is nothing especially fancy photo wise, but as a Mama, these photos are precious to me.

Enjoying the summer in all it's fullness:

You will be jolly

Micheal comes home happy pretty much always (one of the many reasons I love the man!), but tonight I could tell a load had been lifted. 

He was at the bread depot after a long days work and one of the guys he works with told him to not even bother putting his truck up for sale, he would buy it.    !!!!!!!  

This has been one of the harder things we have been trying to figure out. He needs the truck until his last day of delivering, but we can't afford it after we sell the business, nor do we want a vehicle payment in general, but there won't be any more than a week to try and sell it before we move. What to do? What to do? 

He came home and told us all the news and we couldn't help but send praises up to God and thank Him for this small (but really big!) miracle! With the kids looking at us with huge smiles, we shared with them the joy of praising God when He does the unexpected, the amazing, the miraculous. 

"Every day you will see things and you have the choice to give praise to whom it is due, or not be moved and think it no big matter. But the more you see and realize that God is moving and working things out all the time and always making the sun rise and set, always giving us air to breathe, always making beautiful things, you will be jolly!" 

We both feel completely over our heads with this life. We don't have all the answers. We don't have all the money. We don't have all the connections. 

But we have life, because of Christ. We have the answers we need when we need them because of our God. We have all the money we need when we need it and not a moment before then, because of the provision of our Lord. We have all the connections we need, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. 

So we rest and know that all things will work out, in His timing and in His way. 

And we rejoice when God moves in our lives! 

How fun is it to live this life with Jesus?!! 

It's the best kind of fun I know!

Plot twist!

Four years ago Micheal sent a messenger hawk up to his Uncle's house carrying his resume, asking for a job. 

All these years, it has been circling up in the sky above their house and just a few weeks ago, it landed. 

Just about that time I was praying and telling God that things seem to be going quite well and that there really wasn't anything as of late that had tested my faith. You know, just having an honest conversation with my Maker. 

Hehe. I think God says, "Hehe." Yep, pretty sure He does. 

So here we are living in the desert, totally content - but let's continue with the honesty- always open for adventure, so long as God leads the journey and BAM! God opens up a new avenue. 

We started praying. Then the excitement mixed with doubt came. Then things started working out, one by one, and here we are; planning on moving to Garden Valley in September.  

Micheal will be going through a 4 year apprentice program to become an electrician while working with his Uncle. We are selling the bread business, selling our vehicles and the trailer, renting our house and renting/buying a teeny, tiny cabin in the woods. 970 square feet tiny. :) 

That's the short of it and we sure would appreciate your prayers for this upcoming change of pace for Team Thompson. 

Our new view. So long, desert! 

The long of it, if you choose to continue reading, is this:

Over a year ago we went to a couple's retreat and it was a really nice time together. What we came away with from our weekend getaway was that we just needed more time together. You see, Micheal goes to bed early and I stay up late. Our schedules are opposite and we don't have time for just the two of us. As a family it's wonderful but date night, even a stay at home date night, is basically never happening. That is just not okay. 

Add to that the amount of hours Micheal works and it just doesn't add up to a good quality of life for him. Now I know a lot of people work a lot of hours, but that is not our goal in life. We like to keep things simple and we value family over things. 

So obviously Micheal will be very busy with work and school a couple nights a week, but we should still have more time together and in the long run we feel like this is a great opportunity for our family. 

Bonuses are that we will be WAY closer to family, we get to live in a place that is GREEN, and we get the challenge and honor of trusting Christ with all things. Not that we technically haven't been doing that, but we were pretty comfortable if you know what I mean. This will be a lovely (and trying time) of growth, obedience and surrender to our Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Down side is we love our church and the friends we have made and Micheal's Dad and Grandma live here so we will be missing all the wonderful people that make our life so grand here in southern Idaho. 

Specific prayer requests:

* To find a good, long term renter for our house.  
* To be able to buy the cabin in Garden Valley in a few months. 
* That Micheal would do well with school and the new line of work. 
* That the truck, van, trailer and random house things would sell. 
* That the business would sell and not take longer than a couple of months. 

God has us all in His hands and we are placing all our trust in Him. If all this doesn't work out, we take that as a hint that Christ has other plans for us and we are good with that.  
If He does work this all out, then we look forward to the years ahead in a mountainous country with long winters and slow summers. 

Commit your works to the LORD, 
    and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3

Commit your way to the LORD, 
   Trust also in Him,
     And He shall bring it to pass. Psalm 37:5

And so we commit. 

26/52

Big brothers share this week's photo and little brother gets two. Family unit working together to get the job done! ;) 

The year is half over. Just sayin'. 

Summer is:

Fidgety reading,

a spoonful of honey, 

building a fort and spending the afternoon in it with your brother,

eating blueberries and tickling toes, 

eating salmon for dinner one night and frozen pizza the next, 

watching a movie and deciding you must be a flying dragon or at least try to be one, 

realizing your Dad wants to fly just as bad as you, 

and potting beautiful plants in orange pottery. 

That's what the first weekend of Summer looked like for us. 

What are you up to?