There's no place like Home

"There's no place like home! There's no place like home! There's no place like home!"

I'm sitting in my nice big kitchen waiting for my first Kansas Pie to finish baking so that I can go to bed! I'm getting back to my roots of late night baking and loving it!! I'm also joined by a million and one tiny bugs flying around that managed to escape INTO my nice safe home through the space in the doggie door seal. I hate bugs. I think I might throw my elbow or shoulder out trying to swat them all away. Did I mention that I STRONGLY dislike bugs??!! 

We are coming up on nearly 2 weeks here. TWO weeks here, wow that's absolutely nuts, crazy and who-would-have-thought, definitely different to hear myself say. 

I'd say we jumped right in, making this house our home. More and more boxes are disappearing every day, as shelves and cupboards are being filled. We still have a couple rooms that are basically empty, still waiting for a strike of genius to magically decorate them!! :) Fairy godmother where are you? 

I know that none of the promised pictures are being shared and posted, but I've good reason! My computer hard drive is full and I can't download my phone picture or camera in order to and I've too many to upload directly from phone to blog! So that's my project for this week! Amongst other productive activities!

Today is the first day I'm starting to feel like myself. I came down with some sort of virus when we arrived (Karis too sadly), and between feeling like I'd been run over by the train (it literally runs along our driveway), and throat so sore I couldn't swallow easily, not to mention the awesome spots that showed up all over me that made me look like a walking poster for either measles or chicken pox (don't worry folks they weren't anything serious!), I was NOT feeling like Alison. Last night I finally could swallow for the first time in 10 days that didn't feel like I was trying to swallow a softball, and today I had enough energy to enjoy Karis finally walking around (yippee!!!!) and baked a pie!

Well, pie is out! My arms hurt from swatting away bugs, and I should get to sleep!!!  

Goodnight world!

Finding a new "normal"

Proverbs 19:21 (ESV)  

"Many are the plans in the mind of a man,

    but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand."

I've decided that there is no such thing as "normal"!!! :) I had decided this years ago, but every time major change happens in my life it solidifies it even more.

I had plans...big plans! When I was 14 I knew I was called to serve children, so I started making "plans". I planned that I wanted to work in an orphanage, preferably in Asia, and to never go back to the States except for necessary college education, but then again online was becoming more common! :) I planned to marry someone other than American (because at that point most American guys I knew didn't get what I was about - what 14-16 yr old does?!). I planned to live overseas for as long as I could. I planned to get married young. I planned to have at least 2 kids by the time I was 25. I planned to adopt 4 more by the time I turned 30. I planned and planned and planned.

So...how's all that planning turn out??!! :)

So most of my plans haven't come to fruition, but you know what? The Lord's purpose has changed them. I've talked lots with my friends about how in my life my expectations have always been needing to change to align with what God has purposed. Sure I can plan the best life I'd like, what my hopes and dreams are, what I feel God calling me to do. But if they are NOT God's PURPOSE, they will not stand. In spite of my planning and dreaming, God still had full authority over my life! I held my plans loosely and allowed HIM to ultimately guide my steps.  And as you can see, I do not work in an orphanage (currently), I DID marry an American (an American MK), I do not live overseas (currently), I did however get married young (I was 20), I did not have 2 kids by the time I was 20 nor adopt all 4 by 30 (I've still got another year for the 3!!! - do I hear a set of siblings through fostering possibly??!!). But what the Lord purposed was SOOOOO much better than I could have even imagined! I'm incredibly blessed! If I'd gotten my selfish way, I'd most likely have missed out on all this wonderfulness! Now my life isn't glamorful or one to be the envy of others, but it's the purpose God has ordained for me and my life. And I'm thankful. 

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

So in good times and in hard; I give thanks. I live in obedience! And as I do, I find JOY!!!

I count my blessings each day and thank my Lord for my wonderful life!!! And I find a new "normal"!!!

A few pictures!!!

Moving in

So tonight is our second day here in our new house! It's been a process! But so good! :)
We are up to our ears setting up and unpacking so I'll have to fill y'all in on our drive out later this week!

Thank you for all your prayers, love and excitement for us!