celebration

our frugal celebration treat

On Friday, Scott accepted a job offer in Maryland! 

Looks like we are cleared for take off...just in the nick of time!!

God is good!!!

For those who haven't already heard the details (or for posterity), here's how it went down:

Weekend of February 18-19: I see an ad on Craigslist for a job with an environmental non-profit in Annapolis.  I (partly jokingly) ask Scott if he would like to work for them.  He replies, "Sounds cool."  We do nothing for a couple days.

Tuesday, February 21: After several days of painstakingly reworking his resume and slaving over a cover letter, Scott sends them off and breathes a sign of relief.  Then we wait.  And wait.  And wait.

Monday, March 12: After almost 3 weeks (which at the time felt FOREVER), Scott gets an email that they would like to do a phone interview with him.  He finds out when I screech the news to him over the phone on his way home from a trip to St. Louis.  Very exciting moment:)

Friday, March 16: Phone interview goes extremely well!  Much rejoicing.  They promise to get back to us by the middle of the next week.   So we wait.  And wait. And wait.

Tuesday, March 27: Scott gets an email asking him up to Maryland for an in-person interview.  Seeing as we had both given up (since it was a week past when they said they would get back to him), this was another very exciting moment! This time, Scott finds out when I screech the news to him over the phone on his way home from a trip to Atlanta:)

Monday, April 2: Interview in Annapolis goes very well.  Much rejoicing!  Then Scott receives a late night call to come in for a second interview the next morning, which also goes well.  Then he comes home and we wait.  And wait.  And wait.

Thursday, April 12: Scott gets an email that the executive director would like to have one more conversation.  As you may have guessed, this time Scott finds out when I screech the news to him....from the den.  Conversation goes well-mainly a salary discussion.

Friday, April 13: We spend the morning crunching numbers and looking over our budget.  Scott has a talk with HR and then with executive director.  After talking and praying, we decide that he should take the job if it is offered.  That night, about six o'clock, the phone rings again.  This time Scott has news for me!

April 14 - 26: We pack, clean and ask for help.

April 27: The truck is loaded and we finish cleaning

April 28: We make the long trek up with truck, car trailer, car, kids and cats up to the next chapter in Annapolis!

May 1: Scott starts work at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation!



easter

This year I tried to make some time to prepare our hearts for Easter.  We decorated, did resurrection eggs, made an Easter garden and, of course, dyed eggs!

Easter morning started off a bit rough (check out Gus' face!).  The kids were too sick to go to nursery and Sunday School so they sat through the service with us (sort of) and then we had a store bought Easter lunch....which may become a tradition!  So quick, easy and no clean up:)

But in the afternoon, things turned around.  We went for a family walk and then had an Easter egg hunt in the backyard.  Instead of more candy in the eggs, I put in little fingerfoods and we had a picnic dinner when they were all done hunting!

  He is risen!

Go Cards!

We're ready for the season to begin!

springtime

We are enjoying our spring around here: breezes, beautiful skies, and warm weather!

I am enjoying our yard in a whole new way since I don't feel the compulsion to plan another year of yard projects.  I can just sit back and enjoy all the work we've done in the past.  It kind of makes renting long-term sound appealing!

Favorite springtime activities so far?

Caterpillar catching...

and bubbles with Nonnie!

Happy-Sad

Today is a tough day for me.  I just finished painting the back door red-one of the final projects before closing on Tuesday.  I'm trying so hard to let go of this place, but it's really hard.  We have so many wonderful memories here, especially with the kids. 

Anyway, I'm so thankful for all the memories of this place and truly am excited about new ones to be made in a new place, but I'm definitely learning how much your home can become an idol.  My identity has so easily become wrapped up in where I live and it has been a painful process letting go of something I've loved so dearly.   But I'm grateful that the Lord isn't content to leave us in our sin and works to change our hearts. I stumbled over this quote last week:

"It is an irrefutable law: one needs to be dispossessed of the possessions that possess-before one can be possessed of God.  Let the things of this world fall away so the soul can fall in love with God."

~Ann Voskamp

What a great lesson to be learning!

Easy Peasy Japaneasy

We tried out Kip's potty for the first time a couple weeks ago.  She was SO excited!  Within 5 minutes, she had peed, but had no intention of getting up.  I suppose the novelty was too great!

I walked out for a few minutes to grab some refreshment to fortify myself for what I imagined was a long ordeal ahead.  And, I kid you not, when I walked back in, she said, "I'm all done."  She had pooped, too!

Needless to say, everyone was excited!  Yahoo for kid #2.

So proud!

Now in all honesty, since that day she has decided to be a true 2 year old and flatly refuses to go anywhere near the potty.  But I figure she's bound to change her mind soon, right? 

Here's hoping the second attempt will be just as successful!!

Snowmen

Well, since we've had zero snow this year in Chattanooga with which to make real snowmen, we decided to make our own during the 2 or so really cold days of winter we had last week.  Thanks to my mom for teaching me how to do this on snow days long ago!

  

Yum.

Homeward Bound

A lot of you already know this, but I figured it was time to formally announce that

we have decided to move back to Annapolis, MD: land of boats, crabs and high summer humidity... 

and Amy's side of the family:)

We began to feel the Lord leading us in this direction sometime in late August and have continued to follow His guidance over the past 6 months or so.  It has been amazing and exciting to watch the Lord move powerfully to work out the details.  But it has also been extremely hard at the same time.  We have such a strong and supportive group of friends here in Chattanooga, a unique and welcoming church family and a wonderful home.  It has been beyond painful to imagine leaving all of that behind to step out into the unknown future.

So far God has allowed us to sell our rental property in record time.  It was on the market just a hair over 24 hours before we had a contract on it for asking price.  Then just after Christmas we received an offer on our house (as is) before we had even officially put it on the market.  Although we had planned to finish fixing the house up first, then find a job for Scott and THEN list it, the offer was too good to refuse so we are set to close in March.  Thankfully we can rent our home back from the new buyer for up to six weeks after closing which will give us a little more breathing room.

Here's some before, during and after pictures of the new paint job on our house, by the way....

So now we are prayerfully asking for direction on Scott's job search in Annapolis.  It sometimes seems as though we have done some of this out of order, but we believe that God knows what's best for each member of our family and His timing is always best, as well. 

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:9

As we walk through the uncertainty and excitement, we ask for your prayers for peace, faith and a positive outlook even when doors don't seem to be opening in Annapolis.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"
Luke 12:25

We also would covet your prayers for a job for Scott in which his gifts and talents would be used for the Kingdom, in which he would find enjoyment and fulfillment and through which our family would be provided for.

"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Matthew 6:33

If you know of anyone who is hiring or that Scott should talk with, please let us know.  Here's a little mini resume to get you started:

Scott has an interdisciplinary degree in business, missions and sociology from Covenant College.  He has experience as a small business manager, president of a small non-profit neighborhood association, Chair of our local Historic Zoning Commission and as an executive assistant at a large non-profit.  He is passionate about neighborhood revitalization, the environment and helping others with whom he has developed relationships.  He is interested in sports, photography and eating out:)

We'll keep you posted as our adventure continues!