Zimmers

Well, its the news you have all been waiting for and we have been hoping for: we are in the process of buying a house here!

Yep, that's right, we are in the midst of contracts and mortgage applications and all that fun stuff. :)

May I tell you a bit about our journey to fining our cute little house?

We arrived in Pampa at the end of August and settled into our apartment here at church smoothly. We began to look at different houses in the area, just getting our feet wet, while trying to prepare our hearts for the fact that our condo in Chicago might not sell for awhile. Our Realtor, Judi, was so patient with us as we looked at, seriously (not even joking), countless houses, some of them more than once. Both Brad and I are pretty decisive people - we know what we want and we go after it. Never ever have we had such a hard time making a decision as we did deciding which house to buy.

In an effort to help the situation, we decided to make a list of things we really wanted in a house, so we could both be on the same page - we had already talked about this topic and had a pretty good list going in our heads, but nothing on paper. Here is our list:

• Garage or car port (we hear there is a lot of hail in the spring here)
• 3+ bedrooms/2+ bath
• Open floor plan (Kitchen open to at least one living space and hopefully the dining room)
• Fireplace
• Yard large enough for play-set and fun (Brad wants to throw a ball around with our kids - and hey, maybe I'll learn to catch one of these days. :) )
  
• Two living spaces (so the kiddo(s) can have a place to play/be during bible studies, get togethers ect.)
• Needs work (We would love to be able to fix up a home to improve it's value and make it ours)
• Lowish taxes/Low price (striving to be wise stewards)

There was this one house - let's call it M.E. - that we fell in love with the moment we stepped into the door - it had an open floor plan, large kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 5 (!) living spaces, a formal dining room, wonderful outdoor spaces and a double lot. But it needed a lot of work. Also, because it was on a double lot - M.E's taxes were astronomical. It was a foreclosure and as we sat, waiting for our condo to sell, we watched the price drop lower, and lower, and lower. Because we loved M.E. so much, we had a hard time loving any of the other houses we looked at - we were even about to put in an offer on Zimmers (another house that we were considering), but then decided against it. Our love for M.E. changed the week before Christmas, when we took Brad's family to see the two homes that we were deciding between: M.E. and Zimmers. It was so weird walking them through the houses, I felt so apprehensive walking through M.E. - "this-isn't-our-house" kept repeating in my head. But then we went to go see Zimmers - and I couldn't stop talking about all the dreams we had for it to fix it up and make it our home. I don't know what caused the change of heart - well, yes I do, we had prayed that God would make it clear to us which home He wanted us to buy, and He did. After much prayer, conversation and reality-checking - we decided to take the step, and make an offer on the Zimmers house. And you know what - it has all of the above characteristics! :) And our offer was accepted. :) Yippee!!!!

Wanna see it? Want to see what it looks like? Ok - fine, if you insist. :)

So much potential! New bushes, a light (that doesn't have two different bulbs - maybe this one) and front door (that will let in some light - maybe this one, painted a fun color) and the removal of those diamond things on the windows will really freshen things up - also, my first order of business is to take down those curtains in the front living room, they make the window look so tiny.

Here is an aerial view of the house (taken from Google Maps):

Blurry, I know, but you can see the good sized yard - the family room (see below) was an addition, seen above on the top left. And there is a storage building in the back yard (bottom left) that we are excited about too (a one car garage doesn't leave that much room to store a lawn mower or other yard tools).

As some of you know, there are a few blogs that I follow religiously (maybe to a fault). And in two of those blogs, the authors have recently moved/had accepted offers on homes - and both of them have laid out, using www.floorplanner.com, the floor plan of their new/soon to be homes. So I decided to do the same. :) (If you would like to check out their blogs here are the links: Young House Love and Bower Power)

Hopefully the floor plan will help those of you who can't come see it in person any time soon (although we would LOVE to have you!!!) It is not perfect - the hall isn't that big and the M. Bath, although small, isn't that small :)

There is nice carpet (we were surprised at how nice it is) in all the bedrooms and both living spaces and laminate wood flooring in the dinning room and hall. The bathrooms and kitchen have laminate tiles. (Eventually we would like to put hard wood flooring in the living room, dining room, kitchen and hall - and knock down the wall separating the living room from the dining room - to open things up a bit.... but all that is a little bit down the road). The laundry space is in the garage and there is a step down from the dining room to the family room. Let me know if you have any questions - I don't mind talking about this house. Not at all. :)

Oh, and possibly the best news of all - the current owners are believers! He is a youth pastor! I got so excited when I heard this news, the house will continue to be used for God's glory - to Him be praise for all His goodness!

We will keep you updated as to how the process moves along - we are so excited!

(I think I said, "excited" about 100 times - can you tell I'm excited?)

Christmas

This Christmas held a few firsts for our family:

• Lucy's first Christmas ever
• Brad and Mom K's first Christmas in Texas
• Amy and Dad K's first Christmas outside of Michigan (and Brad's too!)
• Sarah's first Christmas back in Texas

We had a fabulous day!

The traditional family picture taken before gifts. :) (Dontcha love how Sophie got into the picture? She didn't hold still though... :) )

We were all so excited! I don't know about you, but it was weird for me/us this year with Christmas on a Saturday. I thought on Monday - "It's the week of Christmas!" but it took longer than I wanted for the days to go by and for Saturday to arrive. :) It built up quite the anticipation.

Some favorite gifts: Dad got the llllooonnnnggggeeesssttt screwdriver ever from Amy. Amy got a Wii from Mom and Dad. And Mom got a personalized calendar from Amy. :)

Lucy got tired after a few gifts...

But after her nap, she was much more cheerful! :) I love this girl.

Discovering all her new toys and loving every one. :)

Giving some lovin' to Grandpa! :)

Our Christmas table and Amy and I in our Vera Bradley aprons. I got mine for my birthday (thanks mom!) and Amy got hers on Christmas morning - aren't they cute! :)



Lucy has the sweetest conversation with her grandpa in this video. :) Enjoy! And yes, Lucy stayed in her Christmas pj's all day. I was okay with it, and no one objected. :)

Know that feeling of exhaustion after a great day? Yep, that's what Lucy felt at the end of the day. She told me. :)

~

This holiday season, I was struck by the Hymn "O Holy Night,", its lyrics are so pognant.

"Long lay the world in sin and error pining" I have been reading through Jeremiah lately and have been overwhelmed by thankfulness that I do not have to be under God's wrath, like Judah and Israel, because of my disobedience because Christ took my punishment for me. But those who do not know/acknowledge Christ, are writhing in their sin and can't do anything about it. (I say writhing, because they are utterly lost on their own - I know it is a strong word picture, but I believe it is accurate)

"Til He appeared and the soul felt its worth." Without Christ, the soul is worthless, lost. But with Christ the soul has worth and meaning.

"A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn" Because of Christ we have a thrill of hope. Think about those words and how they applied to the NT Believers. They had had a period of silence from God - 200 years - and were weary in their waiting. But with Christ's arrival they a renewed hope, their Messiah has been born! They had the anticipation of salvation and with that salvation, a new and glorious future.

"Fall on your knees...." The knowledge of Christ's birth should make us fall on our knees in appreciation, gratitude and thankfulness. We are no longer writhing in our sin, because we have a Savior who was born to rescue us. Our souls have tremendous worth - we are given purpose in Christ. We may now rejoice, there is no need to be weary in waiting. Our Savior has come! He was born to die. What a gift.

It is the best gift that can be given/received at Christmas.

(November &) December Update

Phew! What a busy month we have had! FULL of FAMILY, FRIENDS and FUN! :)

Thanksgiving 2010
Petosi, MO - Trout Lodge

Brad, Lucy and I hopped into the car at 12:30pm on Sunday the 21st of November and headed north-west to join 77 family members (Addington side) for a family reunion. It was so good to see extended family - we had a ton of fun crafting, playing games and just catching up.

My sweet family on Thanksgiving day

Photo credit is given to Jana - my talented sister. :)

Decking the Halls
Pampa, TX - Our Apartment

Brad and I realized that we have never set up our tree in the same home twice - and it won't be set up here in our church-apartment next year ether! Goodness! I sure hope the next two Christmases are spent in the same place!

Pampa Christmas Parade
Pampa, TX - Main Street

We didn't have to go far to be entertained on a chilly Saturday morning in early December - just a few blocks down the road! :)

Becca's Commissioning
Austin, TX - Calhoun Hall

I couldn't be more proud of Becca - she has finished school, with a degree in Biology, and is now a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army. Way to go!!! We were honored to be involved in this special day - so glad we could make it down (although I was sick - ick). Lucy got to see her Grandparents, aunts and uncle.

(All of the above pictures were taken by Jana, I stole them off of Facebook - so they may be a bit fuzzy :) )

Kidder Family Comes to Visit
Pampa, Tx - All over the Panhandle

We came home from Austin, cleaned the house (I had been sick so hadn't been able to clean before we left) and Brad's family arrived a few hours later. Lucy was quite a lucky lady, getting love from all her extended family in one week! :)

I don't know why I don't have any pictures of Amy from the week - but I do have some of her on Christmas Day - and you can see those soon. :)

6413 North Leavitt, Unit 3
Chicago, IL - No longer ours

That's right! We closed on our condo this afternoon, literally minutes ago - it no longer ours. We are so excited about this next step in our lives, we can now settle down here in Pampa in a HOUSE! (Not that our Apartment hasn't been wonderful - what a blessing it has been to us - we are just excited to be in a house that has a working kitchen within it. :) ) God is good. We are overwhelmed by his faithfulness. We will (and do) miss Chicago, but we know that this is where God wants us right now. :) But oh, the memories that we have from 6413 - too many to count - but we can keep those with us right? I'm thankful for that.

And we think we have picked out a house here..... aren't you interested? :) You'll have to be patient for a few days til we can see how things pan out. :)

We have traveled 54 hours in the car in the past two months - Santa Fe, Petosi, Austin.... I think we will stay put for a little while now... but Brad's birthday is coming up.... hmmmmm :)

Six Months Old

A year from now, Lucy will say she is "one and a half," but for now she is just "half" :)

The day of Lulu's 6 month birthday, I woke up sick. :( But Brad graciously took her monthly pictures for me. They are a bit different than the way I usually do them, she is wearing the same outfit as her 4 month pictures and her bow sitting precariously on top of her head, but I love these pictures. They signify the flexibility of an infant (who I am sure knew something was different about this day) and the helpfulness of my husband (who did all our laundry and served me meals in bed).

6 month accomplishments:

• Sitting up on her own
• Eating like a champ (in her own way*)
• LOVING bananas, sweet potatoes and peas
• Not loving re-fried beans or avocados
  
• Listening well to our morning bible stories
• She has taken to Big Ellie this past month! Its the first thing she reaches for when put in her crib and if we check on her, she is often held close :)
  
• And possessing the most beautiful brown eyes (I think they have gotten darker in the past month!)

As usual, I have compiled a collage with some pictures from the photo shoot, simply click to enlarge :) Enjoy.

"Good job Daddy!"

*I say, "In her own way" because Lucy doesn't crane for food like other babies I have spoon fed, but she will open her mouth and accept the food. :)

We Wish You...

...A Merry Christmas!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

And a Happy New Year!

Much Love,

Brad, Sarah and Lucy Jo

Happy Birthday Grandpa Wayne!!!

Santa Fe!

Last week this song was on our minds:

(LOVE that movie!!! - Lucy will grow up with it. It has been decided.)

because we went away on a little family get-away. :) We left on Thursday morning at 6:30 and arrived in Santa Fe in time to eat at Maria's. A resturant that was recommended by friends here at church - we were not disappointed - Brad said his fajitas were the best he had EVER had. :) It was so good we went back for dinner on Friday! :)

We didn't have any agenda while we were there - and that lent to a relaxing few days together. We meandered in the art district, ate leisurely meals (amazing food!) and wandered around downtown Santa Fe. It was a great trip.

Brad had packed the tri-pod so we took some spontaneous family pictures. The landscape was too beautiful to pass up. It was a bit sunny - thus our squinty eyes.

Walking around downtown.

St. Frances Cathedral Basilica - it was beautiful...

...inside and out!

A street performer in downtown Santa Fe. His keyboard is on an ironing board - creative? I thought so. :)

Brad just had to try it out! :)

It was a bit chilly in Santa Fe - in the mid 40s, colder in the shade - and i was so thankful for Lucy's "bundle me." It fit inside her car seat and kept her nice and cozy warm. :) Little did I know that the first place we would use it would be in New Mexico!

Some other highlights/observations:

• We got to visit Whole Foods (a grocery store we greatly miss) and bought some of our favorite cheese and crackers.
  
• Santa Fe is a very dog-friendly town. People were encouraged to bring their dogs into clothing stores and almost every car that drove by us had a canine friend on board. (We left Sophie behind, but I think Brad will want to bring her next time we go.)
  
• ALL the buildings are covered in Adobe - our hotel's shuttle driver informed us that it is a city code that all buildings be built in the Adobe style. It made the landscape cohesive and the atmosphere "New Mexican." I don't think I would want to live in an Adobe house because they don't have many windows - and I love natural light - but it was neat to see so many of them.
• A non-highlight, Lulu got a cold at the end of the trip :( She had just cut two teeth the week before and I think that her immune system was weakened because of that.
  

Five Months Old

Time is flying by! Our Lulu is already 5 months old. I seriously can not believe it.


Lucy has cut TWO teeth since her last birthday - bottom middle two - and has also had her first cold (so pitiful :( and difficult for her mommy and daddy to observe). She has had some mommy-attachment that has lead to difficulty in the nursery on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, but I have been assured that it is a phase of life and it will pass. Misty reminded me that "It's nice to be wanted." so I'm trying to remember that as I leave her. :) Luce continues to find her voice and when she cries says "Mommom" - the jury is out as to whether or not she is calling for me (I say yes, Brad says no :) ) .

The dress she is wearing in the above pictures is her thanksgiving dress - I had so much fun making it! My mom and I started it when she was here visiting in October, I'm debating weather or not to make Lucy's Christmas dress too - we will see. :)

Trust

Brad here, writing at somewhat of an interesting time of the day and week for me. It's Sunday Morning at 9:33 in about 80 Minutes I have to get up and preach. But a small thing just happened that has reminded me of a huge promise that God made to me a long time ago and I wanted to share with all of you.

As many of you know Sarah and I have for weeks and months been praying that God would bring us a buyer for our Condo in Chicago. We knew our call to come to Pampa, TX was clear and right where God needed us to be. It was a bit surprising though that even though we were following God to a new place so far from all of our friends and current home that he would have us wait for so long to sell our Condo. This week we were blessed to get an offer on our Condo which we promptly accepted. We are so thrilled to be able to fully commit to this community buy buying a home here and have excited started to look at homes for sale seeking the place where God would have us live.

As we look for homes it is so temping to buy "more house" that we can afford or need. It is easy to look at the home that we can not afford and wish they could be ours. This morning I was given a gift that transported me back to years and years ago.

The summer after my Freshman year in High School I was given the opportunity to travel to the far northern parts of Saskatchewan,Canada on work trip to help fix up and prepare a camp which missionaries run in order to get Cree Indian children out of their community and home for a week and to hear of God's love. Up until this point in my life I was convinced that God had a plan for my life, that plan, be rich. As it turned out this was God's plan for my life, the kind of rich that I would be turned out to look different than what I imagined. Through a simple passage of Scripture Matthew 6:19-34:
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,[c] your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy,[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[e]?

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.



Through this simple truth God lead me that I was to commit my life to serving him in the ministry. I was not sure what this would look like I assumed I would be a youth pastor, however as the years went I was called to be a Senior Pastor.

This land us here on this Sunday morning with me sitting in my office drying a few tears from my eyes as I contemplate the gift I was given. A simple black and white wooden plaque with the word trust spelled out in pictures. Below that selection of verses from Matthew 6:19-34. This now sits in my office and will sit in every office that I ever work out of. To remind me that God has made me very rich through what I do, and that it is a great honor to serve him in this way. I am so thankful for the earthly givers of this gift, but so much more grateful to the great gift given in Heaven who has blessed me beyond compare.

Trust God.


Ok now off to preach!

Red Cup Day

A long lived tradition in Brad's group of college friends (which have become my dear friends as well - they graciously accepted me into the group :) ) is Red Cup Day. The day in which we celebrate Starbucks debuting their holiday cups.

Here is our family earlier today, unashamedly celebrating Red Cup Day, in Amarillo TX. (Yes, we set up the tripod in front of Starbucks - there are few things in life my husband is willing to look ridiculous for, coffee is one of them - so I rolled with it. :) )

And yes, we got Lucy a short coffee - she needed to celebrate this holiday with us!

She tasted it and kindly offered the rest to her daddy. :)

Brad has already asked me if it is possible to bronze a cup - I am thinking he wants to remember this day forever.

So do I.

Our Personal Penguin

If you have spent any time with Brad - you know that he loves penguins. Little did I know when I bought this book to give to my future husband (I wasn't dating at the time) that I would give it to Bradley Wayne. :)
The idea of giving my significant other a childrens book originated with my mom who gave my dad a book about Hugs - pretty sweet. I read this book and knew it would be perfect, "I want to be your personal penguin.... I want to talk to you night and day...." (I could go on and on, I think I have the whole thing memorized). The book expresses my feelings for Brad exactly ;) - "Look at these wings, so perfect to hold you. I'd like to say again what I have already told you, Let me be your personal penguin, imagine me your personal penguin...."

Ahem... moving on....

Lucy got to be OUR personal penguin recently:

She got all dressed up for the fall festival at church and was the cutest penguin in attendance!

She loved her costume - as you can see.

Have you ever seen a pigeon-toed penguin? Well, now you have... :)

Lucy donned her penguin suit on the 31st as well - we went over to the Langford's house to help them pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters because we didn't think people would stop by our house, it is a church and not a regular house - we had so fun!). Lucy was a tremendous help - she was oohhed and ahhed over by Wonder Woman and a Princes, what a privilege.

For those of you who do not remember, Brad bought this costume last year - before we knew if we were having a boy or girl, before we had bought any other baby clothes. :) I am so glad Lucy was finally able to wear her penguin costume - it has been in her nursery for a lot longer than she has! :)

"I wonder..."

"...what's going on today?"

"It must be something special."

"Is it seriously this guy's birthday?"

"It doesn't look right over here mom, can we try it on the other side?"

"Happy Birthday Papa!"

"What mom?! Seriously? It's Grammy's birthday too?"

"Well, sure enough, there is the sign."

"Happy Birthday Grammy!"

Your family in Pampa loves you both! Wish we could celebrate with you in person! We will be together in exactly a month! :)