A God Story

There has been lots happening in our lives in the last month or should I say the last several months. In April, we started the process of building a house. The contract was contingent on the sell of our house and if you've read past blogs you know that has been somewhat of a roller coaster. We did sell our house and have been preparing to move to our new house for the last month. We were scheduled to close on both houses on September 21, 2009. The closings were 2 hours apart and so we would spend our first night in our new house following the 2nd closing. Jared & I packed the truck and vehicles to the hilt. In fact, there were things that ended up staying at the old house simply because there was no place to pack them. This was no easy task as I have experienced tremendous sickness from being pregnant and was not the usual help that I normally would be. However, we cleaned our house, showered and headed to the first closing. We had our animals in the van as we signed the papers to sell our house. As we sat in our first closing, Jared received a phone call that our second closing was being cancelled. I made it out of the closing and into the van before having a complete meltdown. We were packed to the hilt with no where to go.
But our God was not having a meltdown, instead He had a plan. We have some gracious friends in our church that have an empty basement apartment that offered to let us stay (with our animals) until we got in our new house. They also have a quiver full of children that Billie & Kati Ann thoroughly enjoyed playing with. So, for about 24 hours we waited. While we waited, I was able to rest and actually feel the best I had felt in weeks.
So, at 1p.m. on September 22, 2009, we closed on the house we were buying. I never look forward to the next part, unpacking. However, the God that knew my state of mind and body sent an army of people to my house that evening to unpack, make beds, put contact paper in the cabinets and make my house a home in a matter of hours. It was the most incredible experience to stand back and watch what would have taken Jared & I weeks to get done get done in a matter of hours. I was able to park my van in the garage the very first night! (If you've ever moved you know that's a 3 month milestone!)
So, to God be the glory great things He has done!

Several of you have requested pictures. Here is some pics of the outside of our house. I will continue to post more pictures as we finish rooms but there are still lots of things to hang on the walls and find the right place for so as we do that I'll post more pictures.

The Outside of our House

 

A New House going up down the street

 

The view of the mountains out our front door

 

The 18 acre lake across from our house

 

Sesame Street Live

 

 

 

Better late than never!! So, on September 8, 2009, we took Kati Ann on a very special outing to the Von Braun Center in Huntsville. As Kati Ann said, we went to "Elmo's house." We thought it was precious to find out that Elmo lived at the Von Braun Center. We actually attended Sesame Street Live. We had to really prepare for this event because it didn't actually start until 7p.m. Well, for a two year old we're quickly approaching bedtime at 7p.m. So, Kati Ann took a late nap that day and did great! We had so much fun watching Elmo & his friends dance.

Why Go to Church?

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

"I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So, I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."

This started a real controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30 years now.. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this. They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today.
Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are DOWN to nothing.... God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!"

Good Bye Old House

 

This week is our final week in the house we bought when moving to Huntsville. We've made so many memories in this house and have actually lived in it longer than any house Jared & I have lived in during our married life. I've been kinda sentimental about leaving this house because we started our own "Adventure with Kati Ann" here. Jared & I have continued to grow as a couple and parents here. Not to mention, I broke my arm in this house and for this house!
I'm grateful for our sweet little house where we introduced Kati Ann to our family and transformed this house into our home.
So, "Thank you, Old House! We've enjoyed your comfort and we'll cherish the memories we made with you"

Kati Ann's Big News

Kati Ann is proud to announce that she is going to be a Big Sister! Mom & Dad went to the doctor and have seen a sweet little heartbeat and the doctor says that everything looks great! Mom & Dad planned to wait a few more weeks before we shared our exciting news but due to Mom's relentless sickness is cannot be disguised much longer! We're looking forward to meeting the newest Allen around April 27, 2010.

Real Estate Update

So, for those of you that are interested in our real estate drama. As of last week, we did, in fact, release the buyer from the contract. God graciously provided us with a new buyer the following day with a similar deal. So, we are "planning"AGAIN on moving the middle of September. We'll keep our fingers crossed!

Happy Anniversary, Mom & Dad!

Thirty-two years ago today, my life was changed forever. Well, I know what you're thinking..."Bobi Ann, you're only 29!" I know, but 32 years ago my parents vowed before God to love each other and stand beside each other until death parts them. I'm so grateful they made those vows and more importantly that they kept them.
Jared & I are so blessed to have 2 sets of parents that have been such a great examples of allowing God to be the center of your marriage. I'm thankful for parents that not only pointed me to Jesus but showed me what it means to sacrifice, compromise and love one another. Happy 32nd Anniversary, Mom & Dad! We love you!