Update Time....

Hi Friends,


We have landed!!!


As I write this, I'm sitting the the lovely bay window in our new kitchen, with the reflection of a whole host of beautiful trees, glimmering in my computer screen. The trees are to my back. 


What I'm looking at is a pile of things that need to be put away and an open pantry door (this time it's ME who forgot to close it...I was chomping on some honey....mmmmm).


I'm feeling easily 75% better here. Praise Jesus for that!


The humidity really does make a difference!

My children are absolutely beside themselves with excitement over being here. Last night in her prayers, Brennan said, "and God....thank You for moving us to Tennessee! We love it here! We all love it!"


Currently, there are 5 kids upstairs playing their hearts out. Who thought I'd be able to handle that?! When they get wild, I will send them to the basement. Who knew that basements were so cool?!


Hey...there they go right now. :)


Oops...change the number, now there are 6. 


All boys, except for Brennan...she really holds her own.


I had a talk with the boys yesterday about how their role will always be to protect her, and that I expect that from each of them. I explained that they were to conduct themselves as gentlemen around her, and treat her as the sweet blessing that she is.


They got it.


The boys in this neighborhood are such kind and well mannered young men. Most of them come from Christian homes, and it shows in their behavior.


I love this!

The first day we were here, 4 of the boys came over to play and as they ran into the back yard and down to the creek, I heard Caedmon say, "C'mon guys...follow me, I'm the leader of the 5 Guy Gang!"


To which one of them immediately said, "You're not the leader! You're the new kid and you're younger than me! I'm the leader!"


Whoopie!


Just what he needs. I could've hugged that boy's neck!

I'm going to try to upload a picture of my view out of my kitchen window for you...if it posts here you'll know I was successful.


If you don't see it, you'll know that I'm getting ready for my husband to come home. ;)


I love this house! It truly is my dream home. There are so many things about it that I love, that I can't even begin to list them all, but I'll share a few:


We have a dedicated music room. Caedmon was in there today playing the trumpet, and Brennan was on the piano. love it!


We have a laundry room. love it!


We can drink water straight from the tap. Wow! What a blessing that is! No more frantic midnight runs to the Circle K just to have water to drink the next day. love it!


The kids have a stream to play in, woods to explore, birds to watch, nature everywhere. 
love it!


We are only 15 minutes from Precept Ministries. love it!


My kitchen doesn't open to the family room anymore. I might be able to cook a dinner without burning it now! love it!


My bathtub is so big that the kids think it's more of a mini-swimming pool. love it!


We have plenty of room for guest to come and stay and they have their own bathroom, entrance and driveway. How cool is that for hosting people?! love it!


Much love to all of you tonight,
Jes

The Devil in the Desert

Tonight is going to be full-on honesty time.


I've no doubt that I'll wake in the am and rush to my computer to re-read what I'm about to write, in fear that I've let myself go way too far...


But until the light of day shines, I'm going to write like a crazy woman.


I do hope you'll oblige me.


You know, writers who craft their prose in the dark of night, hunger for those comments to show up when the sun breaks over the horizon. :)  My fairly lame literary attempt to beg you to converse with me. 


So here's the truth of the matter. We know that the devil is alive and well, and on a rip-roar all the time. The Bible says that he comes to kill, steal, and destroy.


Period.


That's his mission. 


Kill.
Steal.
Destroy.


Hmm.....aren't we pretty stupid if we live thinking, "You know, I'm just not going to think about him."


Yeah. 


That terrifies him when we ignore him.


I don't think so.


I want you to know that I am just about convinced that he or one of his fallen angels, lives in the desert.


OK, so maybe I'm half kidding.


I tell you, we went to TN for a week, which turned into a week and 1/2 due to the snow that shut down the Atlanta airport. While we were there,  I felt SUPER! I mean....great! I had 2 days that were tough, but on scale of comparison to being in AZ, I really was wonderful.


We get back to AZ and we're here all of 12 hours, and I begin to T-A-N-K.


It's so hard, you know. I LOVE my friends here in AZ. They are the best I've ever had...truly, wonderful friends.


Yet, I know that if I don't get out of the desert, I'm not soon going to get better.


Crazy.


I love Tennessee. It's beautiful, and our new home is a dream come true. I'm blown away by it, and by God's grace to save it just for us.


My dream, my heart prayer for a home was to have space where guests could come to stay, and have their own private bath and personal area in the basement.


That's exactly what God gave us, too! It's perfect for friends, or Precept leaders who want to come in for an event but can't afford a hotel. It's just PERFECT!


I truly love the house. I pray it will be a great blessing to many.


I pray that Ms. Shelly will be my first guest! I need to give that girl a hug!


Love ya'll.


Thanks for listening. 


We'll be off of me tomorrow.


For today, I'm just struggling with my hatred of MS.


I do hate it, yet I gotta get past that, as God is using it to His glory....so I need to quit whining.


As I said, I'm ranting tonight....so I'm not going back to proof read, or I'll likely delete the whole post. 


Looking forward:
I'm going to learn to sew.
Brennan and Caedmon are going to take horseback riding lessons in TN.
We're joining the YMCA. Oh, to be able to swim in the cold months!
I'm going to write more often.


Immediately forward:
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz


Love ya'll tonight!
Jes