Life in Piperton

When we first moved back to Memphis we lived with my parents in Piperton. They have a beautiful home out in the "country". There is lots of land to explore and it feels like it is forever away from most places we wanted to go. hahahahaha I was a little nervous moving back in with my parents as a 30 something. I won't say I didn't have my moments but for the most part it was a really great experience. Isaiah loved all the attention he got from his gp's and I know they LOVED having him around after 2 years of him being 800 miles away. Thank you Mom and Dad for opening your home to us and giving us a cozy place to call our own until we found our own house. You are the best and we love you very much. Here are some pics of the days we spent in the country! Isaiah loves bubble baths!

Loved my view every morning!

Zoo and Friends

Shortly after moving back to Memphis our sweet friends the Holley's came to town for a visit. Ryder and Isaiah are about the same age so we thought it would be fun to take them to the zoo. What a great time we had. It did get a little warm that day but Isaiah knew just how to cool off. He jumped in the little fountain. I think it made Mr. Matt a little nervous but Isaiah just wanted to show off his Florida boy skills!

800 miles

I have to admit, I hate wrting this post. However it is a part of our story and because I print our blog as a book each year I want this documented. Leaving Florida is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. I think one of the reasons I quit blogging for three months was because I did not want to type this blog. It's like writing the ending to one of the best chapters in my life. Sometimes 6 years seems like an eternity and sometimes it seems like it all happened in the blink of an eye. Even if Florida was one of the shorter chapters in our book of life I know it will be one of the most life changing and exciting chapters we shared as a family. This is the house we moved in to October 2006. This is the house that entertained and made memories with some amazing people. This is the house that we brought our frist born home to in October 2010. This is the house where Michael and I grew tremendously as christians and as a couple. This is the house I love!

Before we left we tried our best to spend time with everyone and make a few more memories (or sit around and cry our eyes out because none of us really wanted this to happen). I will admit I lived in a state of denial for a few weeks. I didn't pack any boxes and I kind of just went on with my life like nothing was changing. I think a few of my girlfriends were also living in denial. Then one day it hit me, this is REAL! It was like I was grieving. I went through all these different emotions in stages. It's kind of funny but oh so true. We made a trip to downtown Disney with Brandon and Mary. Isaiah was sick this day but I thought the fresh air would be good for him and I knew seeing Buzz Lightyear would cheer him up. We just strolled around, ate ice cream and some dinosaur grub. Really just trying to soak in some time together.

I had a girls night out with the better halves of our family of 8. hehehehe This EPIC night was complete with tattoos, dinner, 2 for 1's, comedy, karaoke, dancing, lots of WOOHOO's and a late night stop at McDonalds. I have to say this was one of my most favorite nights ever. We laughed, I cried, we hooted, we hollered, we let loose and I made some great mental pictures that night. bwahahahaha

We also had a party with my bestie loon Karen and her hubs Tony. No one had a camera this night but it's always a great laugh when we get together. Mark, Kathy, Windella, Sarah and Reed all came out to join in the fun. These were some of our first friends when we moved to Florida and they are all so amazing. I love the laughter we all share together. We get going and it's almost impossible to stop us. It is totally intoxicating. There was also an impromtu hurricane party with Mark and Mike B. Mark has always been my little hurricane buddy (the perks of being a school teacher) and this night was just as fun as any in the past. I will certainly miss hurricane days. Sweet Carson celebrated his FIRST birthday and I am so glad that we were still in town to celebrate a whole year of this amazing little boy.

Our last night in Lakeland we went to have dinner with some friends from church. They even did a little birthday party for Isaiah since they would be missing his bday a month later. It was so sweet. I truly appreciate everyone who came out and sorry if I wasn't as chatty as normal. I was really getting sad and knew that if I said too much I would start sobbing. The kids ran wild through the back of Red Elephant while we all chatted away. And then it happened....time to say goodbye. I think we stood in the parking lot for an hour (at least it seemed that way at the time). I cried A LOT! I only have one picture from that night of me and Cheri. She is God's little angel in my life and I am so glad that He put her on my journey.

Thank you so much to everyone who made our last few weeks in Lakeland so memorable. I know that I probably missed some events and names but you are really all so special to us.

God took us 800 miles from home (in 2006) just to bring us back home (to Him). Looking forward to the next 800 miles and all the God has in store for us.

EPCOT

Before we left Florida (insert sad face here), we decided to take Isaiah to EPCOT for a day. We weren't really sure how much he would be able to do but (if I'm being honest) it is my favorite park and I really wanted to go back. hahahaha! So off we went. Our little family of three.

We had so much fun. Isaiah was able to ride almost every ride they had. I think his favorite was the Finding Nemo ride or the Mickey Mouse boat ride we took through Mexico. There was so much there for kids and adults of all ages. We tried out some science experiements, learned about saving money, going green, tested out food in Germany and Mexico, discovered our five senses, traveled to the future, danced, made music and laughed our way through so many rides. It was a great day and I am so happy we were able to do this before we moved.

My Goal

I just looked at my blog and realized I have not blogged in THREE MONTHS! Wow time has really flown. I have so much to blog about and so much to share. It has been a whirlwind for sure. My goal is to catch up on the blog and be up to date by the end of December. With all the things that have happended in the last three months and all the holidays coming up that will be an obstacle, BUT I WILL DO IT! Here is a little I want to share right now though. First and most importantly, we found a new church home. We are in love with HighPoint Church in Memphis. LOVE WORKS! Every sermon and time of worship has impacted me in some way. We are in our new home in Germantown and we love it, too. We are in an amazing neighborhood with great neighbors and tons of little kids for Isaiah to keep up with. We can even walk to the park. Isaiah turned 2. I absolutly cannot believe my little guy is 2 years old. CRAZY. He is talking more and more every day and we love being outside to enjoy this great fall weather. I'm an aunt, Mike's an uncle and Isaiah is a cousin. What a great blessing the month of November brought with the birth of James "Bryant" Lawrence. I love that my little brother is a Dad now. I hate that he is 1200 miles away though. Bubba and Amber are doing great and Cappy and GranDebbie say they are adjusting very well to parenthood. I wish I could sit at this computer tonight (since it is the FIRST TIME I have taken it out since we moved) and catch up but I am off to cook my first Thanksgiving feast. I am cooking for 12 people and could not be more excited! I feel like such a grown up. hahahaha! Wish me luck. Check back soon and sorry for slacking.

.....plans to give you hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." In the big picture God is talking about our eternal life with him. The future and hope that we find IN HIM. However, He also has plans for this earthly life that help bring us closer to Him and encourage us to be Jesus to those around us. I began this series of posts a few weeks ago. Let me just begin by appologizing for slacking on this last one. LIFE HAS BEEN A WHIRLWIND AND A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE! Mike was offered an amazing opportunity within his company and it is taking us to a place we never thought we would return. Memphis! Now, I don't mean that in an awful way. It just wasn't in "our plans". Funny thing about "our plans", they aren't His plans. A very dear person to me always reminds me that "Man plans, God directs!" This is so true. God has a bigger plan for us. When this offer came in we didn't even start by talking about the "job". We talked about what God was trying to set forth for us. There have been so many "mile markers" and situations that have lead to this decision and it just blows me away to look back and see how He has prepared this path over the past year. I will not even begin to tell you that I didn't try to fight God on this one. I have so many special people here in Lakeland and it BREAKS MY HEART to have to walk away from this life. Mike always says that "God moved us 800 miles from home just to bring us back HOME". We were poured into here. We have built relationships that will last in my heart forever. We are who we are now because of this experience and for that reason, Lakeland will always own a part of my heart. I seriously cried for two weeks (just ask my mother in law. she was here the first week and probably thinks i'm a WHACK A DOODLE). There are still days that I ugly cry. I have decided this move is like the grieving process for me. I have been filled with saddness and cried my eyes out. There was a period of denial. Then a period of pure silliness that I can't even explain. Who knows what will come next. All I know and WHAT I HAVE KNOWN through the entire process is that this is where God wants us. I do know that 110%. With every fiber of my being. I just know it! He has gone before us and paved the way. I am sure everyone is waiting for this ground breaking ministry I am going to announce, but that is just not the case. God is slowly revealing His plan and we are just waiting to hear the rest. What I do know is that this isn't just about a career move. It's about a GOD MOVE. It's not about closing a chapter. It's about BEGINNING A NEW CHAPTER. It's not about life ending because of a broken heart. It's about LIFE BEGINNING FOR THOSE WITH BROKEN HEARTS. I am excited, nervous, sad, happy, anxious, sane one minute and crazy the next. But that's ok because I am a daughter of the King and He is going to get me through this. I saw something the other day that really made me laugh but it is exactly where I am right now. It referenced the "footprints" poem about two sets of footprints in the sand. Then through hard times there was just one set because God carries you through. This went on to point out the long ditch in the sand. It is where God drug you through the sand. hahahahaha, that is so me right now. He is dragging me because my earthly self is so much more content with the known and the comfort of being in Lakeland. All that said, we are looking forward to all of the perks that come with moving back home. FIrst and foremost Isaiah is going to get to know his family a whole lot better and this puts a big smile on my heart. There are also the friends that we rarely see anymore because we all have children and go 9 million different ways. There will be trips to Greersferry Lake (woohoo), Bama games, great shopping, weekend trips to Nashville, LOTS OF BABYSITTERS (although Isaiah is really going to miss his Uncle Mike and Aunt "Gegan" Megan), and SEASONS! For all you prayer warriors please keep us in your prayers. Specifically for continued peace, safe travels, sanity, and that we find a great home in a great neighborhood. ~STAND FIRM IN FAITH~

...plans to prosper you and not to harm you

So here I sit in the present moment. Reflecting back over the events of the last few days. Praying, seeking, giving thanks, crying, planning and trying to enjoy this ride. On Friday our family was presented with an opportunity. Mike and I have prayerfully considered our options and asked God to give us a clear answer. I can say with 110% certainty that He has answered our prayers and given us our answer. I asked for a neon sign and I got one! I asked to hear His voice and I did! Mike asked for a burning bush and he got it. God has plans for us. Plans to prosper us and not to harm us. Plans to use us for His kingdom. Even though His plans were not our plans this is the path He has chosen for us. That's all for now! Stay tuned.....