“Home is the most popular, and will be the most enduring of all earthly establishments”

Before we moved to Trinidad, I had moved twice before in my life: both times before I was the age five! The first time we moved all I really remember was getting an eye infection from flying sawdust (we built that house). And the second time we moved I was five and I was learning to ride my bike! So...all the nostalgia to say, this move I shall recall with clarity! It has been such a new experience for me to settle into a new (to us) house. It’s really quite neat, finding new homes for things, new decorations, making it look all homey...but it’s also a bit of a challenge- people adjusting, finding their niche...:) So the our place is still a little rough in places but you can still get an idea.

The sign post for our street is kinda bent over. A little typical for here!

Here's the front of our house! The main living area is on the top level and the ground level can be used to park cars, and for storage.

Inside the gate and up the steps....

On the left is the living room-complete with several musical instruments! It just wouldn't be us without them!

The picture on the right is the dining room which also serves as the school room too! :)

Here's the kitchen...it's really nice! Lots of room for us to work together.

Our back porch is as long as the whole house- on one end we have the laundry area and freezer and the other end we are making a little sitting area, with that really lovely looking bench and plants. :)

This is the view out our back porch. That white looking building area is the market...and I know I'll post more about that later!

I like our place. It has lots of potential and I’m looking forward to some sewing projects and more decoration projects. I’ll be sure and post as I go....

Have a beautiful day!

Home again, home again, jiggity jig!!

My last post was about the first hint of fall....it's just delicious how it's feeling more and more like fall! At least for me....I've worn my yummy old hoodie twice already! I love this time of year...the old summer is bowing out gracefully, autumn isn't coming to fast...just that fascinating time of year. Mmmm!

My family and I just got back from an eleven day trip through the old south....We started out by attending Polishing the Pulpit in Sevierville, TN. And I could stop right there and that would be enough. There is so much encouragement to be gained by attending such a powerful lectureship. Listening to the lessons, meeting new people, catching up with old friends....seeing 2000 Christians all in one place just lifts the soul! My life is incredible blessed by the time spent there. :)

And then we spend most of a day at the Chickamauga Civil War park in Chattanooga, TN. Now that was fun! Our family outings almost always include a picnic and this one was particularly nice! Picture all nine of us crammed around a picnic table...with lots of "pass the mustard please" and "Are there any more tomatoes?" "Please pass the pepper" etc. :D So then on to the park! We saw lots of neat sites, climbed a very tall tower, marched down to a bridge, took pictures and generally had a lovely time together!

We spent the weekend with the Madaris family and they're always a joy to be with! We worshipped with them Sunday morning and then drove up Mississippi and worshipped with the brethren at Second Street church of Christ near Red Bay, AL. What a wonderful day! Plus spending the evening with two more lovely families...what a refreshing time! But then it was time to say goodbye and drive home. I loved driving up from Fort Smith...that's always so beautiful, no matter the time of year! When we got in, my bed said quite distinctly, "I missed you!" ;) I'm kidding....

It's just good to be home. :) I'm thankful for the safe trip and all the good times we had.

Back home again...

I have the tendency to not write something because I don't have that one certain blog that's in my head typed out and I haven't had the right time to do it yet! (you know, that "right" time when you're in the right mood, and the right situation and you're not too cold or hot...stuff like that!)

So! I'm back home again! Oh, what a wonderful feeling! To be home, with all your comfortable things- like those super comfy pants that should be thrown out they're so old! Like your siblings, close around you, telling stories and catching you up on stuff that happened. Like sweet little brothers that like to sit with you early in the morning...with their sleepy eyes and sleepy heads comfy on your shoulder. That comfortable feeling of laughing with your sisters as you're getting ready for bed...little chats with your parents throughout the day...:) It's truly a wonderful feeling to be home again.

Here are some random thoughts I'm trying to catch...

• I had a wonderful time in Africa! My life has been blessed so richly by my time there! I'm thankful for safe travels, for my dear friends the Jensen family and for the time God has blessed me with.
• Going through storage sheds and old junk is a good thing! Last Saturday we cleared out our "upper room" which translated is our junk shed! We threw stuff away, we put stuff in a garage sale pile...and it's quite neat and tidy now! We should have done that 10 years ago!
• I'm really enjoying this Far Above Rubies study with Kristen...I'm going to post more about that later.

So that's my list for now. I know this is a little random, but that's just me! :)

I hope you have a wonderful evening! Or morning! :)