Move

It has been exactly 10 years that we have lived in our house.  It is the first home Rob and I bought.  I remember the first time we drove by it...Rob had found it online and he took me by to show me.  We weren't even really looking to buy a house. We sat outside and prayed.  Roughly 3 days later we made an offer.  We bought this house with the intention of it being a "starter" home.  Live here for a few years and then move to something bigger.  Time kept passing and I began to think we would never leave.  I began to settle in and dream of what the future would hold in this house.  Now 10 years later we are preparing to move.  After many long conversations we put this house up for sale.  3 days and 12 showings later we had received and accepted an offer. 

There is a part of me that is sad about leaving this little place we have made a home.  I think of all the memories we have made here.  Bringing a baby home, potty training, first steps, first days of school, holidays, baking days, pillow mountain, playing in leaf piles and the snow, squirt gun fights, sleepovers, many fires in the fireplace, and neighbors that have become friends.  This house holds a lot of love.

I keep remembering that those memories and love go with us wherever we go.  With each picture I take off the wall and each item I pack up this house feels less and less like home.  It is feeling more like a place we are staying.  God has been preparing me to say goodbye to this special place that holds so many memories and to move on to the next chapter of our lives. We will move on to a new house.  We will begin to make new memories, hang new pictures, and make a new house our home.

In 3 short weeks we will be signing papers and handing the keys over to a new family so they can begin making their own memories in this house. 

Camp

Even though it has been a rainier and chillier summer, it is well under way.  In fact, we are closer to going back to school than we are from the kids getting out.  I had all these well intentioned plans of bike rides and completing workbooks and not turning the tv on before 8:00 and eating healthy but that has not happened because well...life. 

There have been several unexpected things that have happened over the course of a few weeks. For one, Broderick went to church camp.  As a middle schooler.  This whole middle school thing has been kind of emotional for this mama.  Okay...not kind of but really emotional.  I was already having a hard time with him going to middle school and then to send him off to camp for a week...tears.  He really wanted to and I knew deep in my heart it would be good for all of us.  It may have been one of the best parenting choices we have made.  He had a blast, made new friends, grew in the Lord, grew in being responsible and came home with a whole bunch of great stories and memories. 

Mid week the camp had family night.  Did I mention camp was only 20 minutes away...Ha! Rob and I went to spend time with him and participate in their night worship service.  Can I just say...I want to go to camp.  I never went to church camp as a kid.  I did however spend half a summer with my cousin in Atlanta when I was Broderick's age.  Best. Summer. Ever.  Anywhoooo...back to Broderick....he walked us around the grounds, showed us his dorm, told us what he had been doing and eating and spending his money on (snacks, paintball, Mountain Dew...tweens, geesh!)  He introduced us to his friends and told us what they do each night after worship.  I absolutely loved hearing about all of it.  I saw a grown up version of my son.  I saw a happy, responsible, young man.  I learned he is completely capable of showering and getting dressed and cleaning up with out me constantly reminding him.

I left camp that night with a new perspective on being his mom and our relationship.  I left excited about what the next few years hold.  I left with a desire to stay connected to my son and his friends.  I am so excited about what God has in store for this boy and our family.

Oh...and we excepted an offer on our house last week.  More on that later. 

#33goingon13

A friend and I had a conversation the other day about being in our mid-thirties...which I am not!  She is 34 so she clearly is...I am not though.  Anyway, I refuse to be in my mid-thirties or any age beyond that.  I prefer to live like I am 13.  I mean, why not!? Who wants to act old?

That being said, I had every opportunity to act 13 this weekend and so I did just that.  You all know of my love for Needtobreathe and that I have wanted to meet them for a long time.  They are just people...I know, I know.  But they are people that sing great music!  Did you know that they are currently touring with my 2nd favorite, Ben Rector!!!!?  When Rob called me a few months ago and informed me of this fantastic news I got a little excited.  Okay, okay...I FREAKED OUT!  After I got done freaking out with him on the phone I called Amber (because she shares the same love for Ben Rector's music) and continued to FREAK OUT!  (Amber likes to say I am "easily excitable" which she equates to childlike joy/wonder and I equate to being childISH.)  When tickets went on sale my fantastic husband was online the moment they went on sale and bought us great seats.  I came to learn there was a VIP package where you could meet the band and they sing you one song!  Wait...what!?  So I kindly requested that we purchase these VIP tickets as well.  He was adamant that this was not going to happen. 

Well, I waited and waited for the months to pass and finally Saturday night was the night for the concert.  To my surprise Rob did purchase the VIP tickets!!!  He is so sneaky. He said this was my birthday present which was fine by me.  BEST PRESENT EVER!!! To say I was shocked is the understatement of the century.  I was so excited to meet the band and Ben Rector.  What would I wear?  What would I say?  What do I do with my coat and purse?  Which I clearly made a bad choice on that...

While we were in line I said to Rob, "Do you think I can stand wherever I want? Because I really want to stand by Ben and Bear."  He of course laughed.  When we got up to them he grabbed me and said, "this girl wants to stand right here. You will make all her birthday wishes come true." and then placed me in between them.  Ben (we are on a first name basis now) said, "Oh...happy birthday." AH!...you guys, I was dying.  I get to cross something off my bucket list now!  Random: do you have a bucket list? I didn't until this year...it's kinda fun.  I have crossed two things off already.  Meeting Needtobreathe and riding a Boda Boda with Amber in Uganda - that is a whole other blog post for another day.  Back to the meeting of the band...How perfect is that picture?  I think I am going to print it into poster size and hang it above my bed!

The concert was just as amazing as the other 4 times I have seen them. Actually it was better.
At one point I looked at Rob and said, "I am standing up when Ben performs even if I am the only one!" No shame people...no shame. There was maybe 10 people in the whole place standing and at first I just sat on the edge of my seat, but that didn't last long...I couldn't take it.  And you know what...my sweet hubby stood with me.  Gosh, I love him. 

So there you have it friends my dreams coming true and why I am, and will always be, #33goingon13.