Too Big Too Fast

Baby L
Big Bro and Baby J

Big Bro, Big Sis, and Baby M

Sigh

So Many Changes

Well I suppose it is time for an update After nearly 4 months of staying with family we arrived in Colorado on J's 4th Birthday. We signed for our house and went out to dinner - it was a wonder we could get the kids back into the car after 2 days of driving.

Over the next two weeks we went furniture shopping and waited for the movers to arrive with the rest of our stuff. Fortunately, with the furniture we needed to buy and the stuff we took with us to my mom's, we had enough to make our empty house livable :).

Before our things came the kids had a blast running through the empty house playing. L started school, which has been a huge COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED transition for everyone. Jeff has been given busy work until he leaves (in 2 weeks), so unfortunately he does have to be at work everyday. J and M get along surprising well while brother is at school. It is odd only having 2 children in the house - it is a completely different dynamic that I have to adjust to. Definitely a much slower pace. Before our days were spent homeschooling and now we have hours to play. It is weird, but fun!

Currently 2 of the 3 of them are sick. Little M constantly asks to 'Go Home Now'. The house is only 1/2 unpacked and we are trying to familiarize ourselves with the area. Hopefully I don't get cabin fever being so isolated from the city and not knowing anyone yet. There is plenty to do to keep busy for now with unpacking and organizing.

We haven't had the opportunity to look for a church yet, I am praying the Lord will guide us to a home where we can serve. Sure do miss Lighthouse and Calvary Hills. It is amazing how much my spirit needs fellowship and church to feel refreshed. The Lord meets me in quite times, but it is obvious that my soul needs the accountability/interaction of other believers, without it I easily become spiritually lazy.

Please continue to pray for my brother DEAN who is Iraq for the next 11 1/2 months and for his wife HEATHER who is due ANY DAY! YAY!

TROUBLE with a capital T

Homeschooling Hiatus

As much as I LOVE homeschooling we enrolled L in kindergarten this week.

Long story short, after much prayer and discussion Jeff and I decided it would benefit L more to be in school at this point than at home. The reason - we live in the middle of nowhere with very few neighbors. It is a 25 minute drive into town and nothing in between. We live on a tiny base that has maybe (MAYBE) 75 occupied homes. With these two factors we didn't see a way for him to be involved in many extra curricular activities in order for him to make friends and have play time. So we went down to the local school and enrolled him. Currently there are only 2 streets that have occupied homes here and it was -18 this morning, which makes things difficult for going out to play and make friends in our neighborhood.

My heart is sad, but happy for him at the same time. He was so thrilled to go to school. He just completed his first week. He is gone all day from 7:15 to 4:30 M-Th and has Fridays off. It is a huge adjustment for all of us, but I know the Lord is good and has a perfect plan. I miss my boy with an aching heart during the day, but it makes my time at home with him that much more treasured.

Can it really be just 5 days now?

Well after 3 LOOOONNNNNG months I get to see my husband again in 5 (I hope) short days. The blog updates have been brief because I haven't had much time to sit in front of the computer. When my head has hit the pillow my body has been done for the day.

My parents were kind enough to take me, my two dogs, and three kids in while Jeff was away. I know it was difficult to go from a house of quiet to a house of choas and I am grateful for everything, although I complained along the way :(.

It has been a few months with lots of changes and things to do. The most exciting thing so far was when my sister came out from Colorado and my brother and his wife came down from Washington and we had an early Thanksgiving, a baby shower for Heather (my brother's wife) and a going away from my little brother. Please keep Dean Jensen in your prayers for the next year. He will be deploying next week with the Army for one year. Heather is due in January. As soon as my brother deploys she is coming to California to have the baby with family and then in April she and little Brodie will come out to Colorado to live with us for the remainder of Dean's deployment. We can keep each other company as Jeff has found out that he will be away from February to August for more training.

My parents will also be relocating to Colorado next year. And my little sister Nichole and her husband are expecting their first baby as well and are due in June! They are already living and teaching in Colorado - so we will all be close together. (With the exception of my sister Tanya who needs to move there ASAP). While this season of life is full of change and stress for all of us, God has been faithful to see everyone through. These new lives are a beautiful reminder of his love for us. How exciting for these new joys. I can't wait.

Last week I spent a week with my friend Shalana and her family. We are very grateful that they had us for a whole week. It was a blast and I miss her already.

Next week I get to go to Jeff's graduation and partake in all the festivities that go along with this very exciting time. I am so excited to see him again I can hardly contain myself. The kids are anxious for daddy's return too. They talk about it all the time. We decided not to tell them that he will have to leave again until a few days before he will have to go. Their little hearts couldn't take it right now - and honestly neither can mine.

Anyway - this is my update. I probably won't update again until we are settled into Colorado, we are leaving right after Christmas. Then I can post pictures of Jeff's graduation. I am so proud of him. One week from today I'll be an Lt.'s wife.