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!

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! 

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. 

Being frugal: a post for my Mom

My Mom is the most frugal gal I know. She sticks to thrift stores and garage sales and rarely buys anything that is not on sale. While in my first 29 years I hadn't been so good with our money, these past couple years she must finally be rubbing off on me.  

For our garden,  we wanted affordable and tasty mixed with a pleasing aesthetic. Bluejeans and Pearls style, you know? 

I think we are there. 

We bought our heirloom seeds from Baker Creek , a few bags of soil and a roll of twine. That's it! Luckily we had the rest. 

Our lilac in the front yard needed a bit of trimming, so we -and when I say we I mean Micheal- whacked off a few branches and used them to support our 'maters. Have you seen how expensive tomato cages are? No thank you! 

Our boards for the raised beds were saved from when we ripped out our back deck last summer. 

Our potatoes were going bad so instead of tossing them, we stuck them in the ground. They weren't in the original plan for our garden. 

Bring on the frugal and beautiful!

Mom, I hope you are proud! 

 

One year

As I look back over the last year, I smile. It has been a good one. We bought our home last June! 

 After renting for three years, we were ready for our own place again. We had one day to look at houses and God directed us to this little cutie. It doesn't have the most personality (pretty plain jane), and it's small to boot, but we call her home and we sure love her and try our best to take care of her. In return she keeps us safe and warm. I think it's a good relationship. 

Moving is always a fiasco right? Micheal had just started a new job and things were hectic. We threw all our belongings into the garage, put the mattresses in the living room and slept together that first night. The new house noises kept me awake most of the night, but it didn't matter because I was overflowing with joy to have our own home again! OUR OWN HOME! 

Although it took just a few days to get things moved here or there, I feel like with a home you are always settling in, making it more and more what you need or want it to be and reflecting who you are as a family. 

We have moved the kids' room around more than a few times and I have lost count on the living room rearrangements! Have I mentioned I love change? 

 There have been two walls painted and pictures hung. There have been three grapes, one raspberry, two blackberry plants, a trumpet vine and our first ever garden, including broccoli, cabbage, sweet peppers, potatoes and tomatoes! There is a new patio out back and the tree we transplanted in the front didn't make it. You can't win 'em all! 

Liam learned to crawl and walk in our living room. The oldest ones have built forts, read books, ran through the house screaming like wild Indians, and we have baked and cooked the most delicious and the most simple of foods. We have fought and made up, laughed, cried, danced, played, and prayed under this roof. We have had dinners with family and friends and celebrated birthday parties. 

It has been a fabulous first year here. We have hearts full of gratitude for all that we have, all that we don't deserve. 

And on we go each day; 

                                   living, 
                                 loving, 
                                        learning. 

Cheers to new homes and old homes and loving the home you are in! 

P.S. Taking photos of a home is hard. I realize that although my walls are calming, they are NOT photogenic! I have so much respect for home interior photographers! 

Love where you live: part 2

The most important part about loving where you live is loving who you live there with. 

I'm married to a dreamer so I hear new ideas about living and exploring on a weekly basis. He doesn't really want to do it all, but just likes to talk and think about the possibilities. I made the sign above to let him know that as long as I am by his side, I don't really care geographically where we are. 

At the moment, we are in southern Idaho. And we love it. I never dreamed of moving from my home town on the coast of Oregon but 6 years ago that is precisely what we did and now we are here; in the desert.  

Last week we joined a small group of friends in the next town (or two?) over for a field trip to a dairy farm and their creamery. Ice cream for everyone! While we were there, we figured we may as well follow the signs to Balanced Rock just a few miles away. 

Monolith: pillar of rock: a tall block of solid stone standing by itself, whether a natural rock feature or a stone column shaped and erected by somebody, e.g. as a monument.

Balanced Rock is nature made. Over the years, the weather has caused it to be shaped as it is. Looks like Africa to me. 

The trek up was very steep. The kids raced up like it was nothing, I was panting and Micheal carried Liam the whole time. This girl is thankful for a strong ox of a husband! And what do you do when you reach the top? You yell, of course! 

On the way up, a bird darted away unexpectedly and we found this little nest of eggs. Teensy, weensy beautiful things. Just took enough time to observe and take a picture and then moved on. I jumped when the mama bird flew away so quickly right in front of me so I can imagine her surprise and terror at someone being so close to her soon to be family! 

This Idaho bucket list floated around the internet a couple months ago. We have done quite a few of them. I would love to do #9 for a date! #12 will have to be just the kids and I. Sadly, #15 is no longer an option. I should have gone when I had the chance! And # 34 is a must! I have great memories of going to the races with my family as a kid! 

Life, for us, is half intention and half spontaneity. :) Embrace what the day has for you. Be thankful for the ones you get to spend it with. Look forward to the next. 

What are you doing to "love where you live"? 

And if you have never heard the song by Edward Sharp and the Magnetic Zeros... well, here you go. Enjoy! 

Love where you live

We live in the great state of Idaho. It is beautiful and there are so many things to do and to see. We have been here overall for four years and in our new area for almost one. With it being summer time, I have made a little challenge to explore new places. Mostly, I just want to get out and enjoy the fresh air and show my kids how wonderful this planet is. 

Yesterday we had absolutely nothing to do so it was the perfect day to start. 

We headed off south, going about 28 miles and then west another 9. We ended up at precisely the place we were wanting to be:

the middle of nowhere!   

More accurately, the hummingbird feeders in the middle of nowhere. There were at least 15 birds humming around us as we sat and watched them eat and fight and pester each other. Then it was off into the woods. 

Little lovers stayed in one spot almost the whole time. He threw in tons of rocks and sticks and didn't even pay attention to where he was throwing them. He just bent over, picked them up and hucked 'em! 

The other three were all over the place. Climbing over dead trees, splashing each other, making up some river rock game, running through the grass, etc. 
We only spent a couple of hours there but it was enough to break the monotony of home. 

Dirty kids with hair bleached from the sun, smelling like creek water and mud. Now that's my idea of a perfectly spent summer day! 

We sure do love where we live!