Friday, November 20, 2015

Hellos and goodbyes.

The new place. The main living area is set up like a studio sort of with our bed in the dining room. It could change later, but currently works best to accommodate the children sharing the rooms and to give ourselves our own space...Since we stay up for awhile after they go to bed this set up has been working great!

Letty chilling in the living room.

Our very small kitchen. We definitely feel the loss of space most here! I didnt realize how much smaller appliances were in the 80's lol. I remind myself that when Mason and I first got married we lived in the back of a building(with good reason lol) with no kitchen just a hot plate and toaster oven...we did that for about a year...so this is totally doable!

I do love the simplicity of it. It's small and therefore quick to clean.

Well we are about 85 percent settled into the apartment! It took a little longer to unpack the second time we moved because I had lost all enthusiasm lol. Mostly just some shelves to be hung and organizing of bedrooms left. We are not hanging up much decor because we don't intend to be here super long term and we just decided not to waste the time doing that this go around. Just trying to keep things as simple and de-clutered as possible.

Surprisingly 830 sq ft with all 6 of us has been going fine. Much better than expected truthfully. My only complaint is not being able to let the dog out in the backyard, but having to take her out on a leash;) Oh, and I'm proud we have been making it for weeks without a microwave since there is not one in the apartment. Really pretty easy to do without if you have a little more patience!

Our foster daughter was not supposed to be in the apartment for more than a few days with us, but that turned into weeks and it's been snug... but more than enough. God has continuesly given us peace that we made the right decision with this move despite many obstacles we have faced.  Many good things are ahead here!

Miss A does officially return home tomorrow so tonight will be her last night here. She came to us in August right before her birthday and so much has changed in those few months! It's all been far from easy, but oh so worth it. We've all been a little bit forced to give of ourselves to welcome in A and sometimes that's painful, but I truly believe it's in everyone's best benefit. Naturally I want to protect my children and make their lives easy...but if we take that too far by assuring they are always comfortable then are we really benefitting them or protecting them?? I want my children to be exposed to some of the heartache and brokenness of this world while we are still here to walk them through it. I want them to see how clearly life is not supposed to revolve around just our own happiness.

That often times love hurts, but we keep loving anyways.

I pray to protect them from dangers in this world, but also from the self entitlement that so many in the coming generations will have. Our lives are not our own and I hope that caring for the least of these just becomes the normal part of who they are because we made it a priority for our family.

So tomorrow we will have a mini celebration and write about special memories in a children's bible to send with A as she reunites with some birth family. Though our job of being her family she lives with has ended we will take up the job of praying for her protection and future. Most importantly that she finds her heavenly Father who loves her so very much!

So new hellos have come with this move and now we prepare to say goodbye to A tomorrow...or hopefully a see you later. All of it in God's good timing.


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