When the Devil's Eyelashes keep deflating your spirit

One month, three weeks, four days and eleven hours since our feet planted here in Prineville... and life is hard.  As Jonny said the other night, "Life has not been as hard or overwhelming as it is now."  Which, on one hand is a BLESSING because we know life could be much much much, oh so much worse!  Still, its rough.  We aren't meeting our standard in almost every area of life: marriage, parenting, quiet time, work (Jonny's classroom and mine!), household, finances, etc.  

So... this morning I found myself feeling like a bike tire.  It would make more sense if you knew the bike tire situation over here, in these desert parts of Oregon.  Our bike tires cannot seem to avoid these nasty poky weeds that Rory & Lindsey call "goatheads.".  Wiki says, "It can thrive even in desert climates and poor soil. Like many weedy species, this plant has many common names.... devil's eyelashes, devil's thorn, devil's weed,... or goathead."  It reads on, "thumbtack-like nutlets are a hazard to bicycle tires."  Yeah, so our tires keep going flat!  And if one punctures the skin of your foot!  Oh my gracious!!!  Devil's Eyelashes are a perfect name for them!

Back to my realization this morning- I'm like a flat bike tire who has been bitten by the devil's eyelashes!  lol  When I feel those sad, homesick feelings like I don't belong here, I get deflated, so-to-speak.  Then I get my face in God's word which is like this green goo (tire sealant) we put in the tires.  The tires are then healed!  Funny though, they seem to heal better as you use them right after putting the goo in.  However, in my case, after lots of 'use' I get deflated again.  Back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.  
 

This morning I read this from a Billy Graham devo:  "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word." -2Thess. 2:16-17.  (Did you hear that!?  ETERNAL encouragement!!)
 

He went on to quote someone who was going through intense sorrow (puts mine into perspective)  :  "In a time like this, there are three courses open to man:  He may give way to despair and become bitter.  He may endeavor to drown his sorrow in drink or in a life of wickedness.  Or he may turn to God."
 

Ack!  I don't want to give way to despair and become bitter!!!  Praying the Comforter will be the sealant (goo) to my heart and give me courage to face the heartache without the ugliness.  In studying Daniel, Beth Moore was saying that in times of trial we should make it our aim to persevere through trials with resolve like Daniel and his three buddies.  When Daniel's three friends were rescued from the fiery furnace, they came out not even smelling like smoke.  I want that!  I'm afraid I already have a smidge of smokiness lingering on me.  Grateful God's mercies are new every morning!  I want to work through these homesick feelings (which I'm thinking are normal and okay) without getting ugly- without smelling like smoke AND without being deflated by so many darn goatheads!!

Interview with a Second Generation Homeschooler

I liked reading this.  :)

http://suzyhomeschooler.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/interview-with-a-second-generation-homeschooler-1/

Oh, Eli...

So Eli is in this weird boy phase of what I like to call "maker of annoying noise".  Drumming on things, hooting, hollering, squawking, mouth farting, burping - oh how I HATE the burping!  Honestly, I've been a bit annoyed with him lately.  I've been wondering what will come next as he turns seven... more burping?  More annoying high pitched singing from the back of the van?  More weird screech talking? 

But today, today I was so proud of my son.  Yeah, he's going through odd stages.  But he is also doing some incredible growth.  He is becoming an amazing athlete. Finally, the years of chasing toddler Eli make sense!  His energy was balled up inside waiting to be targeted in the right direction.  

Today Eli's team participated in a single elimination soccer tournament.  They played four games today and won them all.  Champs!  Eli scored 10+ goals.  He was awesome.  I couldn't believe it.  God has given him an incredible athletic gift.  Hard foot prints for younger brothers to follow in, but God's plan is good and I can't wait to watch and see the giftings God has given to each of my boys.  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i1jVrbUQPgE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LhsSTLn-Xo

After our first week in Prineville

***Its actually now been two weeks, but I wrote this after one week here***

Today marked one week being here, and the last week feels like a weird blur.  I kept saying I felt like I was walking around in dreamland-- still shocked this is actually reality.  It is absolute craziness to unpack and try to put a house together with four little boys .... especially in the heat (we were so spoiled by AC in our Albany house).  I've been feeling like we've been on a trip more than this is home.  


I like the layout of this house but there are quite a few things I miss about our Albany house. I can probably list ten or so annoying things about this place but I'll try not to make this post negative!  ;)  Just for fun though, here's one-This house doesn't have a screen door for the kitchen slider (our landlord will replace it) and its HOT so we open it up in the mornings... so of course FLIES invade our house.  We've even had three bee stings!  I keep thinking of a precious friend and their calling to be missionaries in Kenya.  I think: Okay, if Autumn is going to Kenya, surely I can put my house together in PRINEVILLE while enduring moderate heat, swarming flies and bee stings!  ;)  


The boys are adjusting alright.  Zekey has been asking for neighbor Nona... which breaks my heart.  The other morning Siah asked me "when we go back to our REAL house so we can play with Poole Boys?" ... which caused that lump of sadness in my throat to swell up again.  Noah says he hates Prineville water (it tastes a little funny & no fluoride!) ... that just made me laugh. We had a grumpy neighbor across the street YELL at Eli for scooter-ing in his driveway... made my Mama Bear blood boil!  Those are just little things- all in all they're really carrying on fine... life as usual.

I went to a bible study the other night- Beth Moore (love her!). The ladies were nice, its just weird being the stranger. I think it will be a really good study & I think perfect timing for me. We're studying Daniel & in the intro Beth said: "I didn't expect Daniel to become one of the most effective antidotes I've ever taken for fear. It shows God in control absolutely sovereign never shaken and nothing can deter his plan for the ages." Sounds a bit perfect for me. I want to make the best of this & live life to the fullest for God's glory but at the same time there are moments were I'm frozen in sadness and doubt.  

The people we've met are nice... definitely a small town.  Our neighbor is a teacher Jonny works with.  The nurse at the family practice is the mom of a boy on our soccer team.  It really does feel like everyone knows everyone... or at least knows someone you know.  The Vice Principal & Athletic Director at the high school go to Calvary.  The principal is a believer also but she lives in Redmond.  I've run into people I "know" at the grocery store, park... stoplight  :)  I met up with a nice homeschool mom today (At Starbucks! There is a Starbucks!) who seems to know everyone in town.  Seriously!  She's super nice and we're going to join a Prineville homeschool group that meets twice a month to do science crafts & experiments as we go through an Apologia Astronomy textbook.  


Anyway, I'm trying to keep my overwhelmed and grieving eyes on the Lord and be persistent in prayer.  These verses come to mind:

^"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thes. 5:16-18

 "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope."  Romans 5:3-4

Moving over the Cascade Range is fun for tots!

Okay, let me first say I was being as safe as someone drinking something or fiddling with the radio in the car.  My phone was safe on the center console- I just pushed the record button.   I thought these were just too cute not to share.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkx6aqDU0bM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LR9H1skW4mE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjRSAnq2iA0

Oh, Noah!

I want to remember his 5yr old quirky cuteness forever!

I love him :)