Good-Bye.....

 In just a couple of hours we will be leaving our home in New Hampshire, we'll be stopping for a visit with family, then headed to our new home in the Mid West. 

So much to miss here....but so much that our family is looking forward to.

Many wonderful memories have been made while we lived our lives in this absolutely beautiful area of our country....and I am so thankful to have captured a good part of them.

We would genuinely appreciate if you would be so kind as to keep our family in your prayers through this transition....for safety in travels, for the closing on our home to go smoothly,  for Jared and I to not be overwhelmed in the midst of all that is going on, and for our lovies to love their new home. 

We thank God for His continual provision for our family and hope to honor and glorify Him in this new chapter of our lives.

Saying Goodbye to My Sisters....

Dear Sisters,

Five and a half years ago I arrived in New England with my husband, two year old son and three month old baby boy.  I knew not a soul. I was many miles from home and terribly homesick. I was loving life with my hub and two little ones....but I missed my family more than words could describe. 

By God's amazing providential plan I met each of you...one by one...and one by one my life was blessed by each of you. God met me where I was and fulfilled a need in me, a need that wasn't realized until the friendships with each of you bloomed.

Among my sisterhood include a beautiful array of  loveliness that encapsulate biblical womanhood....some further on their journey than others...but none the less all traveling on this road. I am overflowing with nuggets of wisdom that I have gleaned from you and your love for our LORD, through the way in which you serve your husbands, your children and others around you.

I pray that a piece of each of you is woven into the threads that make up who I am as a woman. I have been blessed beyond measure with the love that each of you has shown to my family in all of the graceful acts of service.

Thank you for laughing with me...for crying with me...for praying with and for me...for encouraging me...for directing me into God's Word...for loving me.

All of you have cradled my newborns in your arms and have loved on all of my lovies as they have grown.....and I thank you deeply for showing your affection....for loving my four precious little people.

My heart aches as I say good-bye. I will miss you and your sweet families....all of the smiling faces of your children that I will not be able to see grow up.  

I will pray for all of you and your families and I truly hope to keep in touch over the years. Our God is an amazing and faithful God and as I say good-bye to all of my beautiful sisters in Christ here in New England....I eagerly await the moment that I will meet other beautiful sisters on this journey God has me on.

I Love You.

Love,

        Lisa

Peace....

A few days ago as the three older lovies played out on the front porch with their cars...peacefully I might add, (I savor those moments!), Luke was enjoying his bananas. I stood at the sink washing the breakfast dishes. 

I turned around and saw my baby happily sitting there....saturated in the sunlight dripping through the window. It was beautiful...he looked so beautiful in the light...he was glowing. 

I was drawn to this light, couldn't take my eyes off of how it covered my baby...I dried my hands and  sat there beside Luke for a moment and just enjoyed the peace and warmth that was pouring through the glass.  It was one of those moments.

Of course I had to retrieve my beloved camera off of the nearby shelf, which is the convenient home for my memory catcher.

 Luke hammed it up for the lens staring at him....a bit of a distraction from his bananas. I tried to capture the peace that I was feeling at that moment. 

That's kind of the way I take photos...and why I enjoy them so much at a later time.  I remember what I was feeling when I took the picture. I know that may sound odd...but it's true. 

I have countless photos that are so much more than just a visual image to me...yes they bring back memories...but I can sometimes actually experience the exact same feeling that I had the moment I captured it.

We only have a few days remaining here in the old farm house with the New England address. We are going to be saying good-bye very very soon.  The house is in shambles...boxes everywhere...papers and books piled.... toys scattered. I am not fond of clutter...not at all...so it has been difficult for me to find the peace in among the messiness and all of the emotions that parallel a change of this magnitude.

I have been praying and spending much needed time in God's Word....a refuge for finding peace and comfort. I actually have butterflies in my stomach on and off when I think of moving to the Midwest. 

This is going to be a huge change for our family on so many different levels.  I find major comfort in pondering the truth found in the Word. I will share a few of the verses that I will be clinging to throughout this transition. Yes.. I am genuinely excited and looking forward to this new chapter....however, change is change....and it's getting me out of my comfort zone...a place that I shouldn't ever spend too much time in. In my experience, not a whole lot of spiritual growth occurs when I am too comfortable for too long. 

By God's loving grace I am going to embrace this change...butterflies and all. And when I do feel the stress monster rear it's ugly head I will recall the Scripture that God has written on my heart....and just maybe I will reach for these photos of Luke in the peaceful light and remember how I felt at that moment. 

"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. "  John 14:27

"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

"And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15

Fun at the Fair.....

We spent the afternoon and the better part of the evening at the fair yesterday. The kids were beyond excited....especially Nate. When we pulled onto the road, able see all of the rides....there were little extremely loud squeals coming from the back.

They practically ran...oh wait a minute....they did run. When our lovies get excited it is contagious...Jared and I automatically feel their energy. It was a memorable experience for all of us. Needless to say that we had 4 very tired little lovies when we got home.

There is nothing quite like spending time with my most five favorite people in this world. Hope you enjoy the photos....because I sure enjoyed taking them!

Enjoying the "Lasts".....

 With less than two weeks remaining here in New England, I can't help but be aware of all of the "lasts", that we as a family are experiencing....

There is going to be the last time we visit our favorite park...the last view of Sunday Mountain from our front porch...the last time the kids get to play in the yard here...the last swim in the pond...the last dinner we will have with friends who are like family to us...the last Sunday we will worship at our church...the last walk we will take on our lane...and the last night in the farmhouse.

If I ponder too much about all of these "lasts", then I get caught up in the whole sadness of saying goodbye to our lives here in this beautiful area of our country. But....by God's grace, I really am looking forward to living our lives in Indiana...a whole new chapter for us....a whole new set of "firsts."

The first friends my lovies meet...the first park we play at...the first day of playing in our  back yard...the first time they ride their bikes around our new neighborhood...the first time we worship at our new church...the first dinner we have with brothers and sisters in Christ we will meet...and the first night in our new house.

Yes...I am realistic...it is going to be very sad the day we leave, but I am so thankful for this attitude that God has placed in my heart. I am hoping that our lovies will transition well to their new surroundings...it is wonderful to see them so excited.

The following photos are from our last fourth of July in New England.   It was just the six of us celebrating the holiday...a very special day for our family.

Our four little lovies stood safely on the front porch while Daddy shot off bottle rockets.  He opted against shooting off his own fireworks like he did last year...which made me a happy mama.

They were a hootin' and a hollerin' with each one. It was so funny to watch their reactions. I was thinking..."if they're excited now, I can't wait to see what they're like with the big ones we're going to see!"

After the awesome fireworks display by my hubs, (thanks Babe), he showed off his grill master skills. 

We enjoyed dinner outside on the porch and then headed out to a golf course just a few minutes away for the big show.  Of course the minute we arrived, they ran around and around as if we had kept them in a cage the whole day....Jared and I just sat there and laughed.

Of course we stopped on the way for some ice cream to enjoy. This little lady loves her ice cream...after she is done with hers, she is always mooching off of everyone else...and how in the world could we ever say no to that face....I mean seriously!

 Noah was keeping tabs on Luke while they ran around. It's so fun to watch this little guy try to keep up with the big boys.

 Just a little bit of brother lovin' going on here. I hope to do a post on Noah and Nate's relationship someday...it is actually quite fascinating to Jared and I.

 There just may be a cutie in pigtails who loves her big brother....but I have no idea why I would possibly think that!

I love this profile of Noah...although I do feel a bit guilty that I have let his hair get this fluffy...until he gets a haircut, Jared has nicknamed him, "Fluffhead."

And....four sweet faces that I love more than words can describe.

They all loved the fireworks. It was quite a sight...even Luke stayed awake and really enjoyed them. As we were all snuggled in around the blanket, Jared looked over at me, reminding me that this was our last fourth of July here...and I just smiled at him, knowing how he felt. I am just so grateful for all of these wonderful memories of our life here together.