Changes

Everything changes with Jason's job! These past 3 months have been quite the roller coaster ride... we were originally planning to go to Ponca City, OK where Jason was to manage the Osage wind farm. Well, a few legal battles and delays later (on the company's part, not ours!), that plan fell through. I was SO bummed when I found out we wouldn't be moving back to OK, but I know that God has a plan for us. He will lead us where we need to be.
In March, a few days after Osage fell through, Jason got another opportunity to go to Flat Ridge II near Wichita, KS. It's going to be a HUGE site, and a major challenge for Jason (which he LOVES a challenge!). We prayed about it, a lot. I was very hesitant because it's not what "I" wanted... but then again, life never goes the way "I" plan, it's all about God's plan. Sometimes trusting that plan is hard, but it always works out in the end. After a few days of prayers and careful consideration, and research, we decided we would accept the position.
Making the decision to move when you have children is so much more difficult than if we didn't have children. We have to consider their friends, their school, their activities, their safety.... it's more than just thinking about whether it's what WE want to do. How's it going to affect them? Will they be happy with their new school? Will our new church be as good as the one we are at now? Will there be other activities for the kids to participate in? So many questions... so much time spent researching.
Once we accepted the position, things started happening really fast. It was mid-March by the time we had decided everything, and Jason's start date is May 7, and school ends May 25. That gives us just over 2 months to figure things out. Obviously, we're not going to pull the girls out of school 2 weeks early, so we'll finish out the year here. We immediately began looking for a house and researching the schools/churches. The town we're going to... it's not exactly OKC. It's T I N Y. Very. Tiny. Very.... Very... TINY. It's going to be a culture shock once we move. The closest Wal-Mart is going to be 1/2 hr drive away. There are no *real* restaurants in town, however, there is a Sonic! ;o) We found our house... and we're in love! It's beautiful, on 1.4 acres, each girl gets their own room. I wouldn't say it's our dream home, but the land is gorgeous, and the house is great too. We are currently in the buying process, which is NOT fun at all. We went back and forth with our offer and their counter offer a couple of times. Then the inspection, which was pretty good, then the appraisal.... now to re-negotiate! It appraised a little under our contract price, so the sellers have to make some adjustments. House hunting is SO much fun, but once you pass that point, it's not so fun anymore. The paperwork is extensive, the phone calls seem to never end, it's one inspection after another, one hurdle after another. Eventually it will be over with and we can close the deal.... then I will be able to rest again.
One good thing, we don't have to move ourselves this time! The company is going to move everything for us... AWESOME! Of course, I found this out AFTER I had packed about 20-30 boxes... that they will un-pack and re-pack. Oh well, I don't have to do it. I think I'll be a bit anxious watching these random strangers messing with all my stuff, but from what I've been told, I'll never want to move any other way again.
This move comes with so many mixed emotions. I'm excited for our next phase in our lives, but I am a bit nervous about all the changes to come as well. One of the best things about moving is that we'll be a LOT closer to 'home', and my brother in law and his family will only be about 45-50 minutes away from us!

Life is a highway.... and it flies by!

I don't know why I struggle keeping up with this blog.... I spend enough time on the computer, you'd think I could pop in and update once in a while! :) Sorry!

So, last time I updated,  I announced that I'd be starting my online classes. I've now made it through 2 semesters, and I'm loving every minute of it. Of course, right now i'm  only taking 1 class at a time. Having Jordyn at home all day, and Jaclynn in half day kindergarten (not to mention the killer out-of-state tuition!) I thought it would be best to take it slow and not get too overwhelmed. I have passed both classes I've taken with an A+... I've never in my life made straight A's! :) College is the best time to start I guess! Right now I'm waiting for my 3rd semester to begin. I'll be taking Intermediate Algebra. I have to admit, math and I, we have NEVER gotten along. So I had to start back at remedial algebra classes. It stinks to take 2 full semesters of math and NOT have it count towards my degree, but it is definitely a good refresher course to take! I'm just ready to get in to the "real" classes now! Let all my hard work count towards something!

My family is doing wonderful! We're still living in Missouri. Janie is now in 2nd grade, and she'll be turning 8 in a couple of weeks. She is such a character... she's is drama all the way around! LOL! We're actually hoping to get her an audition at a local theater for a play soon. She's very active and busy, and LOVES to talk (I have NO clue where she gets that from ;-) LOL!) Jaclynn is 5 1/2 and in Kindergarten. I can't even begin to describe how proud of her I am. She is so quick at learning EVERYTHING!! She's reading and writing (and her penmanship is probably better than mine!). She loves to dance and do any and every thing girly! She HATES having her hair brushed though... makes it hard to be girly with ratty hair! LOL! Jordyn just turned 3 years old... it's hard to believe that my last baby is already 3. We have been officially out of diapers for a few months now, and it has been wonderful! However, the older she gets, the more I yearn for her to be a tiny baby again. I don't think I'd want to add another baby (right now anyways... and I couldn't physically if I wanted to), but I just want to hold on to my babies as long as possible! I look forward to what their futures hold, but I am so sad for them to grow up at the same time!! Jordyn is quite the handful. I joke that she runs our household. She is very strong willed and independent. She's got a killer sad face.... anytime she gets in trouble for anything she just melts down, and it's heart breaking! She's definitely got us suckered ;-)

Jason's job is going wonderfully! He is the site manager of the Lost Creek Wind Farm here in Missouri, but we are now looking forward to our next journey with this job. We'll be moving back home to Oklahoma this coming summer, where he'll be managing 2 different sites! I can NOT WAIT to get back home, closer to friends and family!

This year holds a lot for us... new job, new house, new school and church. I'm anxious for this summer to get here! But I have to say, after all the time I spent trying not to like St Joe, I'm definitely going to miss it. I'm going to miss our church, and our school, and the relationships we've formed while being here. I'm going to miss the connection I feel to God in our church... I have never felt closer to Him than I do now. I pray our next church is just as comfortable!

Hopefully I can get better about updating on here... honestly, I guess my life just isn't interesting enough to blog daily! LOL! I'll try though :) God bless!