Happiness is…

~A house plan that we are loving and a sweet little plot of land to build on.

~The cool morning breeze whispering that fall is just around the corner.

~My hubby and my puppy snuggled up next to me every chance I can get.

~Paper work, slowly but surely getting done.  Which means than an amazing little baby is that much closer to being placed into our arms.

~Cleaning, donating and purging our home of all the possessions that we no longer need and don’t want to pack up and haul around town when we move.

~A renewed desire to live simply with a focus on what really matters.

 

This is just a glimpse of what has been making up the hours and minutes of our lives lately.

Finding joy in the {sonshine}

This summer has been so full. Full of joy, full of love, full of God’s grace and mercy. The sun calles me out of doors everytime it shines. The drizzly days have been full of happy craftiness, giving my home the deep cleaning it deserves, and discovering more and more of God’s gentle love between the covers of my favorite book. That has become the most joyous part of my day. Basking in the glow of God’s love and faithfulness. Its like sunshine times a million. I wish you all a summer full of God’s glorious “sonshine!”

P.S. Just so you know about the pictures, Rob made our Sunday afternoon lunch and has officially been crowned the master salmon griller of the world:)

Sunny Sunday

Originally uploaded by Andreabeth

Kindred Spirits

Its so important to have one or two.  My sweet friend Rusti owns one of my favorite stores in town.  Everything in it is so beautiful that it often takes all my self-control not to buy anything when I go a visiting.  I took some pictures today for her face book fan page.  Here are just a few of the drool-worthy things she has for sale! Enjoy the tour!!

The author of {LOVE}

The greatest artist of all times and the author of love likes to surprise us sometimes.  I was going through some photos from our trip this winter.  Do you see it?

People see God every day, they just don’t recognize him.  ~Pearl Bailey

Radio Static

Can it really be almost a year since I’ve written here?  Time has flown and drug by all at the same time.  This has been a really difficult year for us so I hope you will forgive me for not visiting your blogs and keeping up with your lives.  You see, we have been praying for sometime now that the Lord would see fit to expand our little family, and we thought that our dream had finally become a reality.  But last October at nine weeks, our tiny baby’s heart decided that it wasn’t strong enough to keep beating.  And we have spent the last few months grieving that little life we will hold in our hearts forever.

Life is different now.  We don’t know exactly where the Lord is leading us.  What we do know, is that this coming year will be the biggest leap of faith we’ve ever taken.  We are starting a new construction business this spring.  I have finally made the decision that I will not be returning to teaching next fall.  I will be taking care of my home, loving on my family, playing secretary extraordinaire for our new business, and making sure that my house plants don’t die.

I hope you guys don’t mind if I jump back into your lives.  I’m sure I’ve missed so much in the last year, but I can’t wait to see what you’re up to now.  And I’ve really missed you guys!

Aaahhh…

Sun + hubby +  friends + tea + front porch + giggles +  walk in the back yard + gentle breeze + movie + cuddling on the couch + good food + sweet memories = my favorite kind of weekend

 

 

 

 

 

 

summer

Originally uploaded by Andreabeth

 

Changing lives

We watched this video in chapel today at school.  I’m glad I was sitting in the back, because I cried through most of it and I’m kind of glad all my students weren’t staring at me. 🙂 

It can’t be denied that Jesus Christ changes lives every day.  There is power in his name!

Cardboard Testimonies

In Africa We:

*Made use of about a million nuts, bolts, and screws.

*Had a number of water fights.

*Got hooked on appletizer.

*Heard the future president of South Africa speak at our church service.

*Made some lifelong friendships.

*Ate at a five star restaurant and it was incredible! I LOVE salmon:)

*Watched an elephant flap its ears from 15 feet away.

*Got some serious tan lines.

*Fell asleep at lunch everyday (who knew construction was so exhausting).

*Pet adorably furry lion cubs.

*Went to a little market where we were accosted by every shop owner there.

*Got to see where God changes the lives of hundreds of kids every year.

*Built a custom playground set…mainly because we didn’t receive all the pieces… 

*Grew closer to my husband who is more amazing than originally thought… 🙂

 

The beginning:

The End

Here I am Lord, send me

Sorry, poor blog, I seem to neglect you so often.  We have been busily preparing at my house to do some missions work. 

For quite some time the song by Downhere called Here I Am had been stirring in my heart and I didn’t know why. 

We received a call from a friend of Rob’s asking us if we wanted to go with him and his wife to South Africa to help do some building at a childrens’ camp.  To make a long story short, everything fell into place from the time off from work to the finances. 

So we leave tomorrow at 4:30 AM and head to South Africa.  The Lord is doing something big and we aren’t sure what it is yet, but I can’t wait to tell you when we get home!

Mi media naranja

Literal translation: my half of an orange

Spanish meaning: my soulmate, other half

He is so easy to love.

Rob quote: (right after walking in the door from work)  “Sweetheart, love is like socks.  It takes two and they have to match.  Will you be my valentine?”