Breathing again

Has it really been over 2 weeks since my last post? I suppose that's a sign of how crazy our life has been lately. But it's been a good crazy! We are breathing again and marveling at how God continues to work everything out for us. For those who were kind enough to pray for us while we traveled through uncertainty, thank you. We would not have made it without you. I have lots of fun picture posts to add but wanted to give an update on our family first. I am working full time again at the freckled frog and loving every minute of it. Coco is thriving at MPNS and Sebastian is playing hard every day at "Mimi June's." Want to hear the best part? (Insert drum roll here.) Donald has a job! He absolutely HATES it when I use the terms "real job," "unemployed," or anything remotely close to those words. But hopefully, I'll never have to use them again. He is working for a good friend Steve Acree at his rockin' business Seismic Audio. The job began as temporary and praise the Lord is going to be permanent! Finally out of the manufacturing world, Donald is not having to get up before the rooster crows and actually getting to eat breakfast with his family. We are living upstairs at my parents and will (hopefully) start a house hunt after Christmas. While our current living arrangement may not be ideal, we are super grateful for the roof over our head and refuse to rush into a home purchase. I have already warned Donald I will be super picky because I do NOT want to have to move again for a very, very long time! Now, those are words I never thought would come out of my gypsy mouth. Finally out of what seemed like a hopeless situation, we are reminded that God's plan is far greater than any one we could ever create. (Romans 8:28)

9/11: We will never forget

It's so hard to believe it's been 10 years since the 9/11 attack. Like most people I remember exactly where I was when I heard the news. I was driving to work when the radio waves were interrupted with beeps and panicked announcements. Once I got to work, the entire firm was huddled around a t.v. in the conference room. We all had blank stares and exchanged no words. However, and maybe unlike most people, I'm not sure I grasped the gravity of the situation. At nearly 22 years old, I was still so "green" and didn't fully comprehend that this attack would forever change the history of the United States. Kathryn Schurch, my good friend and co-worker at the time, said between her tears that day, "America will never be the same again." She was a little older and much wiser than me. Filled with naive and unrealistic optimism, I couldn't understand why she would say that. Well, 10 years later, I understand exactly what she meant. I also have come to better understand the tenacity of the America spirit and that freedom is not free.

The Twin Towers: awesome structures and symbols of democracy, freedom and the American dream.

The attack: gruesome. cowardly. barbaric.

The Memorial: Proof that the American spirit will not be silenced and that we will never forget.

Weekend with Buddy Bear

Coco just finished her first full week of preschool. (I have cute pictures from the first day of school that I can't get off my camera yet. It appears the printer power cord is just the first of what is sure to many things missing from the fast & furious move.) Anyway, her first week ended with a double-whammy treat! She got 10 "good behavior" stickers earning a trip to the Treasure Box. The diva glasses in the picture were her treasure treat. Buddy Bear was the other treat! Buddy is the class bear and Coco's name was the first one to be drawn to take him home for a weekend visit. Lucky girl! We had a low-key but very fun weekend with Buddy. She didn't want to take him EVERYwhere she went because she was afraid "someone would take him." She played dress up with him, slept with him, put a bib on and fed him a banana, swung with him in the tree swing and did manage to take him to Taco Bell of all places! We completed her homework in the Buddy Bear notebook tonight and she was super proud. I'll keep my fingers crossed she maintains her enthusiasm for doing homework.

One in a million

I have this amazing friend. She is one in a million. She flew 1,000 miles to be right beside me when I was at my lowest and needed help. I don't know what I did to deserve her friendship but I do know that life just wouldn't be full without it. A big, gigantic, ridiculously HUGE thank you to Sara for flying down to Florida just to ride back with me. She made the 2 day trek in the "sassy Sienna" packed to the brim with 2 kids and so much stuff the rearview mirror was pointless. What could have been a completely miserable trip turned out to be a completely wonderful trip, all because of my one in a million friend. Much love to you SaSa!

Defeated

Today is not a good day. As we load the U-Haul, the reality of our situation is weighing down like a giant elephant and crushing our spirits. This homecoming is shaping up to be more bitter than sweet. Quite honestly, we feel defeated and know that we cannot make this journey on our own. God can and will carry us through.

Our Day at Disney

The Castle, in all its glory, did NOT disappoint.

Her excitement on the tram going to Magic Kingdom was contagious!

Trying on "ears"

Briar Rose was the first princess we met.

(For whatever reason, Coco calls her by her name in hiding.)

Belle told Coco she had beautiful, princess hair.

Cinderella was wonderful and took so much time making Coco feel special.

Sebastian got some princess lovin' too and even had lip prints on his cheeks. After a minute or two, Cinderella looked at us and said, " I think he wants to stay with me today." Apparently, she had been giving him verbal cues it was time to go back to Mommy & Daddy but he was just enjoying the lap time. Look out Prince Charming, here comes Sebastian!

Daddy & Coco watching the show on the castle steps.

Silly boy waiting to ride Dumbo

Prince Eric, Sebastian, Ariel & Coco

Coco asked where Melody was and Prince Eric was impressively quick on his feet.

He said she was at school and was coming home afterwards to play with Max.

Sebastian's visit with the Green Army Man was so much fun. We told him that Sebastian called him "Hut Hut" (from the opening credits of one of the movies) so he signed his book accordingly. Hut Hut also thought it was pretty cool Sebastian shared a name with a very famous Disney crab and even drew a picture of one for him.

Anxiously waiting to see Buzz & Woody

Let me say that it was HOT, hot, hot. Extreme heat means extreme sweating and for some, extreme body odor. Unfortunate for us, we were stuck in the hour long Buzz & Woody line behind a man with a serious smell. No one likes stinky things, but Donald has a particularly low tolerance for odors. I just had to capture this moment on camera.

The Toy Story rockstars were totally worth the wait!

The wait was nearly 2 hours and no more Fast Passes were being accepted so Donald didn't get to experience Star Tours. Not all was lost; we did get to see a mini Jedi training show.

"even your desires"

In the midst of our life crumbling, we always have reason to praise. So, I am going to brag on our powerful and perfect God. I was talking to my good friend Kress the other day and she encouraged me with words I'll never forget. She said, "God will meet all of your needs and even your desires." From the moment we learned we were moving to Florida, going to Disney World was top on our to-do list. Neither Donald nor I have ever been and honestly, we were as excited about getting to go as any child I know. However, life happened and we have not been able to go since living here. Coco talks about going to the "castle" at least once a day, seriously, and she thinks that Donald works just so he can make money to take her. It doesn't take a genius to figure that Donald losing his job also meant we lost the chance at Disney; at least for a long while anyway. Here's where God stepped in and did just what Kress said he would do. He gave us one of our desires: a trip to Disney!

Here's how it happened:

A chance encounter at the park a few months ago introduced me to Jessica Kriby and now I am blessed to call her my friend. She and her sister-in-law Carissa, also known as Mary Poppins at Disney World, made our dream come true. Hearing our story of unemployment and abrupt relocation back home, they gave us a free day at Disney World! When I played the voicemail Jessica left telling me we were getting to go, I cried...and screamed...and cried a little more. I feel so humbled, honored and blessed that these 2 ladies showed God's love to me and my family and gave us a day that we will never forget!

P.S. LOTS of pictures will be coming soon!