A Sense of Accomplishment

Welcome back!  Soooooooo yesterday was such an amazing day for me!  I didn't win the lottery, or get a new hairstyle, or even a pedicure, but what I did has made me feel just as great as any of those things.

The day actually started the night before when I had a fabulous talk with my wonderful husband, Mike.  I've been consistently working out for over 4 weeks now, mostly 6 days a week if possible. Mike and I talked about that and how it is not only changing my life, but our life, our marriage, and how it will impact the lives of our children.  Harrison and Heidi are going to grow up experiencing triathlon races as a normal, everyday event that families do.  They will also naturally eat correctly instead of having to undo all the bad things that Mike and I have learned.  We pray that they will never know or learn of our former bad habits of over eating and not exercising.  Since I've been working out it has stirred in Mike a desire to work out too. I am so proud of him for making this commitment to himself and to our family.  Our lives are changing for the better and it is a wonderful thing!

First off, all members of "Team Orange" were heading into the city together to purchase the gear we would need for tri training and race day.  While getting ready I received a text asking which drink I would like from Starbucks.  What a perfect way to start the day!  Mike was already preparred to be SuperDad today as I was likely to be gone nearly all day shopping and then doing our timed test. I am so grateful to have a hubby who is so loving and giving.  Thank you Baby!

We went to BowCycle and I got road shoes that will clip onto my bike pedals.  From there I also bought a pair of fingerless gloves so that my hands wouldn't hurt while racing.  Next stop we went to Tri It, a whole store dedicated to the needs of triathletes.  Here I was fitted for race clothing including swim suits, one pieces, sports bras, goggles and the list goes on.  I would have loved to buy a new bra but spending $85 is not in our budget at this moment, especially since the race is still 3+ months away and my shape should change by then, too.  Maybe in August that is something I can look forward too.  I ended up purchasing a new set of goggles with large lenses, and a biking jersey that was on sale, and just happened to be orange! YAY!

From here we went for lunch at Julios Bario, a somewhat trendy Mexican place in very trendy Kensington.  The food was ok, nothing to write home to, especially to those in Texas.  It is sad that for 3x the price it really didn't even touch the quality and taste of the food at Rosa's.  Too bad.  Our next stop in our power shopping was at Swim Co. to find new bathing suits since the one I was wearing was a maternity suit (my only one) and it was nearly falling off of me.  I swim at least 3 time a week, so this was an investment.  I found one that fit awesome, was an ok color (black & purple) but the price was great.  I was so happy with this purchase.

Last but certainly not least was our stop at Speed Theory, where I was fitted for my new bicycle.  It is gorgeous and is so light I can easily do bicep curls with it!  And guess what?? The entry level bike, the Felt F95, just happened to be... ORANGE!! (with a little bit of white).  I was fitted and ended up needing a 52cm because my legs and arms are longer compared to my body.  It's awesome.  I am so very, very thankful for my coach who bought the bike for me as motivation to stick with the sport.  He is proud of me for training and working so hard to lose my "training suit", aka all the extra fat I've been carrying around for years.  I can't wait to pick it up in 2 weeks time.  They are special ordering it just for me!!  Here is a picture of my new beautiful ride:

My new bike, a FELT F95

To cap off our day, Stan, Heather and I set out to complete my first triathlon.  We wanted to time each section at a race effort and pace to get a realistic look at how I can train to improve by race day (August 8).  We did not do all the events in order though simply because we had to work around the lane swim schedule.  We started with a 20km bike out on Horse Creek Rd.  What a beautiful (and challenging) ride.  The winds were high and at our backs headed out but very strong against us on the route back.  This road is nicely paved and the vehicle traffic on the road is so used to cyclists being out there that they are patient and friendly.  A great first bike.  I'd like to state here that I have not rode a bike for over 5 years!! And to do my test I was riding my old Canadian Tire mountain bike that is rusty and too small for me.  It took me 9 minutes longer coming back than going out did because of the winds, but I finished the 20km in 1hr and 3 minutes. I can't wait to see what I can shave off of that time with my new bike. 

the view along our bike route

We quickly loaded the bikes in the car and jetted over to the river path to start our run.  If there is an event that I am weaker at it is definitely the run.  Right now I don't actually run.  I walk at about 5.5 km/hr and when I do jog it is only until my heartrate reaches around 165 bpm and usually that's around a pace of 9 km/hr.  SLOW.  This is mainly due to all my extra weight and lack of endurance.  This will get better, too.  I finished my 5km "run" in 42 minutes.  Most elite athletes complete the same sprint distance race (triathlons that I am training for)  in just over an hour (for women)!!!  I certainly have a ways to go!

Off we drove to the pool to get changed and start our laps. On an actual race day it is swim, bike then run, plus you transition from one to the other immediately, no driving inbetween.  Thankfully Cochrane is a small town and we weren't in the car for more than 5 minutes between events.  I finished my 750m swim in 22 minutes making my total time for my first tri in 2 hours and 7 minutes.

I am very happy with my first time and it sets the mark for me to improve upon.  I absolutely love the sport of triathlon, I am just sorry I haven't done it sooner in my life.  I really felt like I accomplished something today.  When it is pure human power driving your bike up the hills, you body through the water and down the trail, it gave me such a natural high that I may never stop.  And that would not be a bad thing!

Thanks for keeping us with our family! We love hearing from you in the comments! God Bless.

Catching Up

There is so much to write about I don't know exactly where to start.  Thank you for peeking in to see if I've written anything new.  I've been slacking on writing because I've been so busy in other aspects of life, I guess.

I have to brag on Harrison for a mintue.  The 3 day potty training was a complete success!  We started on Good Friday and by the following week Harrison was wearing big boy undies, with very minimal accidents, including days we have gone into the city for 5-6 hours at a time.  Now 2 weeks later he is going potty when asked, or telling us he needs to go, and he has been accident free for over a week now.  I am so proud of him!!  If any of you have children needing potty training I can definitely recommend the method that was recommended to me.

My triathlon training is going really well.   I am becoming more and more confident and comfortable in the water, finding a nice even rhythm with my stroke and my endurance is increasing.  I have swam 1000m, biked 20 km and walked 5 km consistently for the last week and I feel great.

Tomorrow is a very exciting day for me.  My coach, Stan, is taking me to a few of the triathlon shops in Calgary and I will buy some of the clothing I need for training and racing.  I will also be fitted for whatever size of bike I need.  My understanding is that it's mostly based on height and proportion, so we'll see!  The amazing blessing is that Stan is so excited to help me train that he wants to buy the bike for me and encouragement to continue towards my goal.  The big deal is that the road bike is around $1000 for an entry level bike!  Crazy!  It has always been Stans dream to help coach and train someone so it is fulfilling for him as well. 

I was watching a DVD of the 2005 Ironman Canada this week while I folded laundry (exciting, right?) and I cried my eyes out.  I don't know how much you know about triathlon and the Ironman but it starts with a 2.4 mile swim, followed by a 112 mile bike, and then a full marathon of 26.2 miles; distances that are totally inconceivable to me right now.  It is a grueling race that takes nearly 18 hours for the top athletes to complete.  So why did it make me cry?  Because I felt like it was speaking to my heart; calling to my inner desires to do better, to be more. To challenge myself.  I used to be fairly fit while in high school and very active and competitive in athletics but where did it all go? Realizing that those desires are still there, that they've just been dormant made me cry with joy.  The announcers were talking about one woman saying that she is peaking at her triathlon career at age 38 and I knew deep down inside that these athletes are all just human beings like you and I.  That if they can train and be disciplined, so can I.  I can do this!  I may never complete an Ironman but maybe I will.  I am leaving that as an open door and possibility because I have discovered the drive and fire that is still burning inside of me.

I have so much more to write and share but this will be it for tonight as it is already 2 am.  I am sure that I will be posting some photos of my new road bike tomorrow.  Tomorrow evening I am actually doing a "test" triathlon where I will be covering all the distances back-to-back, just like race day so I can get a benchmark for where I am at today and have some times that I can aim to improve on.  Lots more to share in the upcoming days! Stay tuned and thanks for reading.

Happy Keester!

Exciting times at the Burnett house these days.  Momma is keeping busy with triathlon training (only 129 days and counting), Daddy is busy with a few paper routes, Heidi is as happy as can be and Harrison is about to embark on a BIG 3 day adventure!
Potty training days have arrived for us. I am very excited to take this next step for a couple different reasons.  One, when you are living on a tight budget every dollar counts. Diapers are expensive, especially having 2 kids to cover.  The second reason is mainly because I think he's ready.  He is recognizing when he goes "pee-pee" or "boop" and of course, he doesn't like the feeling of it, which is a very good thing.  I am glad I am blogging about it the night before, not tomorrow after I've cleaned up 30 accidents.  Please pray that this is a positive experience for all involved and that I am consistent and patient with him as he learns to be a BIG BOY.  This method guarantees that your child will be trained in 3 days if you strictly follow the steps. I look forward to posting some good news come Sunday!

Other changes are on the way for the kids too.  Heidi has been sleeping in our room in her playpen but is sleeping well through the night now, so we are going to start putting her in her crib in the other room.  Since we are in a small apartment (and likely will be for awhile) both kids need to get used to sharing a room with each other.  I know it will be a good thing, eventually.  We may have some interrupted nights at first. I pray they surprise me!

The next big step will be to transition Harrison to a BIG BOY bed.  We will wait on this until potty training is successfully completed.  He is already such a big boy.  It is so hard to believe that Harrison turns 2 next month.  Wow.  It has been a super crazy year for our family and it is hard to look back and think that last year we celebrated his 1 year birthday with a pool party at our house in Texas.  This year we are planning on having a Cowboy themed party at Grandpa & Grandma's farm in Fort MacLeod.  It should be fun!

Other news for me this week was that I started my new job at Coffee Traders here in Cochrane.  I love it!  They are an independent coffee roaster and retailer.  I am working at the warehouse site which also sells retail items and serves coffee.  When there are customers I will be making drinks and serving coffees, but when things are quiet I will be mixing/blending beans, bagging beans, and filling warehouse orders.  The hours are absolutely perfect because I didn't want a 8-5 job where I was away from the house all day, every day.  For the month of April I start at 7:30am and work until the days tasks are done.  The retail part closes every day at 1:30pm, so if there aren't any other pressing tasks I go home after that.  If there are still jobs to be done I stay until they are done. It is so nice to come home (usually Harrison is still down for his afternoon nap) and have the entire afternoon and evening with Mike and the kids.  The owners are really awesome people too, which makes it that much better. I will be sure to take some pictures of the shop soon.

Enjoy celebrating the Easter holiday wherever you are.  Jesus is the reason we celebrate. He died on the cross so that we may all one day live a sinless, eternal life with our Heavenly Father. Do not take it for granted. Accept this beautiful free gift and learn to walk in the freedom God has given us.  Yes He died a grueling death on the cross but the best part is that on the third day He rose from the grave because death could not hold Him.  Jesus is alive today!! Let us celebrate together!!

Officially Official

There you have it folks! It is officially official. I am registered to compete in my very first triathlon on August 8, at Lake Chaparral, Calgary. My mind is still reeling a little bit... am I really doing this? The greatest thing is that YES, I AM!! I am even considering registering for a second one in September, in Banff because I think the experience will be amazing. Good friends of ours, Stan and Heather, have been into biking and triathlons for quite awhile. Stan has even completed the grueling Trans Rocky 200km road race. WOW! Stan is training Heather, Cindy and I all together to compete at Chaparral. It is so nice to have a great support group and to know you aren't doing it alone. I think we'd really like to design a team shirt for race days, so throw any ideas you may have our way!
For those of you not familiar with triathlons, they consist of swimming, biking then running. The Lake Chaparral triathlon for the 'sprint' distance {vs. Olympic or Ironman distances} are 750m of open water swim, 15.5 km of biking, and 4.5 km of running. In my mind I am not really intimidated by swimming or biking but the run terrifies me. I am not a long distance runner and I never have been so this is the area I am going to have to really focus on... or so I originally thought.

You know when you are a kid spending your summer days swimming away at the lake or pool, you don't give a second thought to how far you have swam, you just do it, over and over and over again. And it was easy back then. I have always been a strong swimmer. I could have easily been a lifeguard but I never did the class, I should have - but didn't. Last week I had my first day {night, actually} at the pool doing lane swim in a very long time. My goal was to complete 500 m since that is about 2/3 of my race distance I thought that was a good start. Hmmmm. First of all I think I nearly inhaled half the pool water. Did I mention that it is a salt water pool? And that public swim is right before lane swim? GROSS. My technique/form was terrible. And my endurance - that was even worse. I completed my 500m goal or 10 laps {25 m there and back} as I gasped, coughed and gagged my way along. I even had to use the flutter board for a couple laps. I was so sad and discouraged but strangely motivated at the same time. There is nothing like putting on a bathing suit to make you realize what you've been trying to hide under clothing for so long. If I could swim in unrevealing clothes I totally would. Needless to say I slept like a baby {or a log} that night and I look forward to every swim night now! I think 750m in 4 months will look like a piece of cake. There is still the biking and running to deal with though.

Last Sunday morning I met with Stan and Heather at 7am to take an early morning stroll up the Cochrane hill. This hill is massive! If you've ever been here you know the exact one I'm talking about. Highway 1A that goes up past Glen Eagles. Thank goodness we didn't take the highway route, I was a little leery of the traffic. We took the residential/path route up the hill which is actually a little more winding and scenic. I am not used to getting up so early and to my detriment I put my left sock on inside out, unintentionally. About 5 minutes into the walk I had to stop and fix my sock/shoe; it was rubbing a bit and I thought it was just slouching down into my shoe so I pulled it back up and kept going. About 3/4 of the way up the hill I finally asked if I could sit down and take off my shoe, it was getting very uncomfortable by now. I was really surprised when I pulled off my runner and my heel was covered in blood that was leaking through my sock! In Stan's words, I'm so hardcore that I trained until I bled! Sadly our walk/hike was cut short as I had to try to walk all the way home with a damaged heel. Lesson learned, I will soon be getting fitted at The Running Room for proper running shoes.

Thankfully before the hill/heel incident I was able to get in a workout every day of the week except Fridays which is my complete rest day. I have already biked 10 km on the spin bike at the gym, so I am confident that 15 isn't so far out of reach. I keep telling myself to remember that I need to be able to complete all 3 events back-to-back! Now that my heel is healed, I am back at it.

Stan in all his wisdom and experience is encouraging me to do a mock triathlon here in Cochrane one day soon so that we can get a benchmark and be able to track my improvements. I am very scared of not being able to complete it and the three ugly letters DNF {did not finish}. That is my goal for Lake Chaparral - just get across the finish line in one piece. I think it is a smart idea, it is just very intimidating since I just started training. I am sure he is right. Happy training!!

Heidi & Harrison

Kennedy, Cindy, Heidi and Harrison

Cindy and I

Harrison

Heidi

Heidi Jo

First training "injury"

The Father's Mighty Love

It's not that I don't have much to write about because I do, a lot in fact.  I am struggling with putting it all into words that will do our gratitude justice.  How do you describe an outpouring of love?  I will do my humble best to share the rest of our week together.

Thursday morning we all actually slept in at the Burnett household.  What pleasant surprise when that happens!  Not too late though because Mom & Tots started at 9:30 am at the church.  I decided for our first visit I would leave Heidi at home with Mike and take Harrison by myself.  I'm really glad I did because I was able to visit with the other moms a little bit more.  I love meeting new people and had a great time introducing Harrison to the other familes represented at the play time.  Not much time for visiting unfortunately, as I had worried about.  Harrison hasn't had much play time with other children simply because we haven't been in one community long enough to make those connections.  Let's just say that we need to work on sharing.  I was sad to watch my son hoard all the trucks. He walked around the room and collected a not-so-small pile of trucks and cars, pretty much anything with wheels.  I know that his attitude about sharing will change the more often we go and play with friends, so that's the plan!  I was happy that by the end of our time I was able to convince him that it was kind to share and he gave another boy a truck all on his own.  It was fun morning and definitely worth going.  There was another mom there who drives a school bus, which is something I am considering doing until Mike is allowed to work. I was grateful to hear her perspective on the job.  We are excited and looking forward to this week's play time!

That night we were blessed with another wonderful meal.  If there is a new family in your neighborhood, or church I strongly encourage you to take them a homemade meal. It is amazing how much this simple act will bless someone!  I realize our situation is a little different than most, but I can only speak to how much it has blessed us.  Friday was a great day too and Mike and I had a chance to visit with my good friend Jill who conveniently lives only 20 minutes away now! YAY!  Friday night was pretty special.  As dinner time approached, I described to Jill all the blessings that have been poured out on us since our arrival in Cochrane, and that someone would be bringing dinner shortly.  When dinner arrived, we invited Jill to stay as there would be plently to share.  Not only were we blessed with a delicious entree, but also a tossed salad, a fruit salad and tons of baking!  The special delivery also included 2 boxes of diapers (in each child's size) and diaper wipes! Wow!  I was really floored by the thoughtfulness of this special woman.

The biggest surprise of the evening came when a wonderful couple knocked on our door.  They didn't want to stay, they just wanted to drop off a card from their care cell group.  I graciously took the thick envelope with tears in my eyes, knowing it was stuffed with something wonderful, and said thank you.  Once they had gone, I couldn't open the envelope because I was so overwhelmed.  Mike opened the beautiful card and stuffed inside was $1000 worth of gift cards to a local grocery store.  I couldn't hold back the tears of joy and gratefulness a second longer.  I read the card to discover that I only personally knew 1 couple from the home group.  Everyone else was perfect strangers.  People who were willing to recognize a need and to give so generously!  It is hard to describe just how large the lump in my throat is even now as I write.  Mike and I were finally able to meet and thank all these amazing people at church the past Sunday morning. A good friend stopped us and asked if she could bring a meal by our house this Tuesday as well.  Thank you Father for all that you have provided for us!  Yesterday the friend who is bringing dinner stopped by with some "goodies", as she called them.  When she returned from her car she was carrying a huge box of diapers, a refill box of baby wipes (all 900 of them!), toothbrushes, floss and Qtips.  **sigh** It is hard to take it all in when so much has happened at once.  So much love!!

Sunday after church and lunch Mike had a guys day out with Paul and his boys at a car show in Calgary.  Afterwards they invited us over for dinner and games. It was such a wonderful evening out with friends, something else we have desired for a very long time.  Another indescribable blessing. Paul and Cindy have really been prayer partners for Mike and I over the last year. They have been instrumental in helping us survive this struggle.  They have also been a major catalyst in this move to Cochrane by sharing our needs in a loving way with their care cell. They love our children like their own.  When we spent the weekend up here at their house to consider if we were going to make the move, Cindy took Heidi and kept her for the entire night so that Mike and I could get a good nights sleep. That was the first time I didn't have to get up and feed since Heidi was born.  I don't think I could ever put into words how much their friendship means to our family.

All the pieces have really fallen into place. A home, provision with money, food and supplies, friends, church, community, our house in Abilene has sold, and I had two job interviews for part time work. How do I begin to thank everyone, especially you Lord? Words hardly seem enough.  I am so grateful you can see how happy we are and how our hearts are overflowing.  I love you Father God. Thank you for showing us your love too!

It Takes Your Breath Away

We, as a family unit, have been settled in our own house since Saturday. Our own house. Those words are sweet music to my ears that also tug gently at my heart. I have shared how much "home" means to me. Our apartment/townhouse is small, about 500 sq. ft. upstairs and the same downstairs but is it perfect! We have a small balcony to grill on, Harrison already loves to "go outside" on the balcony. The kitchen and open living room are upstairs with a large walk-in pantry/storage space, and a couple of closets. Downstairs is another storage space under the stairs (Harry Potter style), the bathroom, two bedrooms, and a large closet that houses the washer and dryer plus all laundry supplies. Perfect. And it is our home.

Not only did we arrive on Saturday to all the wonderful blessings that Cindy had described to me but more. Way more. God has been busy, and people have been answering the nudges and urges they've been experiencing. There is not one thing we've wanted for and haven't been able to find it in the house. Toothpaste - in the vanity. Strainer for noodles- in the kitchen cabinet. Food- every cabinet, shelf and fridge - over flowing. A large, comfy chair to curl up in and snuggle my babies - in the living room. It's all here. We're all here and that has to be the best feeling of all.

To top off the experience God has provided us with meals all week! People have stopped by to welcome us to Cochrane, often bringing dinner for that night and one for the freezer. So amazing! The love of the Father knows no boundaries.

Tuesday night was our first night welcomed at the connect group/care cell. Just a reminder, these are the people that are paying for Mike and I to live essentially. They have committed to us for the long term, 6-12 months, as long as it takes to get Mike's paperwork approved so he can legally work and provide for our family again. This wonderful group of believers has adopted us, truly extended the arms of Christ and lovingly taken us in. We are so blessed and look forward to the discussions and friendships as we grow with them.

Heidi and Harrison are adjusting to our new home beautifully. They will be sharing a bedroom, though not now for the moment, not until we have our video monitor up and running. Heidi will stay in our room in the playpen/bassinet until then. Harrison has always been a good sleeper but his quality of sleep seems to have improved since he's been in his own room. Our sleep and marriage has improved as well since I am no longer a couch dweller and I share the bed with Mike. At least I try to share!

There is an awesome park just down the street from us that we have walked to with Harrison and he absolutely loves it. People drive from all over Cochrane to take their small kids to this park because instead of rock or sand they have recycled rubber ground so it is very safe for toddlers. I have connected with another mom whose daughter I recognize from the CAC (Cochrane Alliance Church) nursery; I hope to get to know them and their family better over time. Tomorrow is Mom & Tots time at the church where moms can take their kids to socialize and play (a.k.a. wear them out!) while the moms chat and visit. It will be my first visit there. I plan to just take Harrison the first time to get him used to it. I am looking forward to meeting some moms/families that are in the same stage of life as we are and making some friendship connections. MOPS (Mothers of Pre Schoolers) is next week, too. I belonged to MOPS in San Angelo, TX and I really looked forward to going each and every time to connect with the moms, be built up and loved on, appreciated and blessed. I met some of the sweetest women there during my brief stay. The social time was really good for Harrison as well, which I am hoping he will grow to love here too.

Each morning I wake up here in Cochrane I breathe a sigh of relief. Yes, this is real. Our life has finally made a turn for the better. We have really been blessed with all that we see. The crisp mountain air fills my lungs as we stroll hand-in-hand-in-hand and I am filled with awe by the peaks that have been blanketed by a fresh snowfall, seemingly so close I would be tempted to reach out and touch them. I look at my family, they look at me. We take it ALL in; the scenery, the change of events, the blessings. And it simply takes our breath away.

Sometimes God has a different idea...

Things aren't always what they seem. The job in Montana hasn't happened yet. Mike had the phone interview and said they would process him to the next step but no one has followed up with him yet. We are not sure if there is still an offer on our house or not due to some property line issues. These are a few of the concerns on our plate this week.

Good news is... we're packing, AGAIN! If you know me, you know I am not a big fan of moving. I grew up in the same house my entire life until I went to college so always being able to return "home" and have roots is something I highly value in my life. I so badly wanted our kids to have the same experience that I did but so far it hasn't worked out that way. This time God is moving us, and it's a totally amazing experience!

One of my very best friends emailed me last week Tuesday night at 11pm to say she really, really needed to talk with me but I didn't get the message until the morning because I just happened to go to bed that night at 8 pm. (Guess I needed the extra rest!) She called the next morning because she couldn't wait to share about their bible study the night before. Cindy said that they are working through the book of James and studied a scripture speaking about taking care of the widowed and the orphaned and putting your faith into action. Paul and Cindy's care cell has been praying for Mike and I for a long time, over our houses, jobs, babies etc. They were discussing the scripture and one of the older gentlemen in the group said something along the lines of "who are we if we know this couple in need and we do nothing about it but pray?" He said it was on his heart for some time now to do something tangible to help our family, and everyone in the bible study agreed. Cindy called to ask Mike and I to consider moving to Cochrane where a 2 bedroom apartment would be rented for us, all bills paid with money to help buy groceries etc so that their care cell could support us and love on us!! I was so blown away I didn't know what to say. I definitely did not see this one coming! I told her I would talk to Mike and we'd have to pray about moving our family yet again.

We took the rest of the week to pray about it and we actually went to Cochrane last weekend to spend some time there, see the apartment, and seek if this was really what the Lord would have us do. The more time we spent seeking the more obvious it was becoming. We need to belong to a community of believers who can build us up and help us recover from this terrible year. This was the next step for us.

We have been so entirely grateful to my parents for all that they have done for us. Being at the farm has its disadvantages though. We have been so isolated here. It is 25km to drive anywhere, to Lethbridge or Fort MacLeod. Driving to work would cost a lot in gas, just like driving to church a couple times a week would. Living in a small town where we can walk or bike everywhere will help us stretch our budget so much further.

Not only has a house been provided for us but the more people that hear about our situation, the more help keeps showing up!! God is moving and people are being so obedient and the blessings are over flowing! Furniture, appliances, baby clothes, baby supplies, grocery gift cards, cash.... you name it and He has provided it all through His faithful followers! Praise God!!

Cindy keeps saying she can't wait for us to see the house because we are going to be SHOCKED. I am already blessed to the point of speechlessness. Tomorrow is the big day. As we are fully dependent on Him, we actually regain some of our own independence. Lord you are so amazing! Thank you for hearing our prayers and blessing us!!