A plethora of tales from TN

Where do I even begin? How about with a sweet story?

Yesterday Bright woke up from his nap... and on the monitor I could hear him singing a tune but couldnt quite make it out. Then all of the sudden..."Happy Day... Happy Day...Happy Day. Church please, church please." To translate: "Oh Happy Day, Oh Happy Day, when Jesus washed, He washed my sins away, Oh Happy Day." "Im ready to go to church." When he went down for his nap, as I walked out of the room I told him that when he woke up we were going back to church (Ive found this method successful since we spend way more time "up at church" then we have his whole life and that way he knows the expectations when he wakes up.) There are a lot of moments in our lives together... that my heart overflows with joy... when I heard his sweet voice singing this song, my eyes welled up with tears and I woke John up from his nap too to hear him doing it. Not only is he learning to sing about Jesus but he is actually enjoying life here in TN and more importantly the body of Christ.

Now... Johns tale. John went out to mow the back 40... more like 9....well, more like the one acre around the house on Saturday afternoon. It took quite a while compared to the quick clip timing of the house on E Jones in NC :)
The funny part: within two hours, a HUGE (and yes, I mean huge) tractor arrived and zipped through the side acres in a matter of moments. Someone in the neighborhood obviously notice the FL boy out mowing with a push mower (we havent seen a push one yet!) John relieved, Bright totally amused and Macey happy to have more room to run like a gazelle.
The gross part: come Saturday afternoon, John found a couple of mysterious little teeny black bugs in his socks and honestly all over his body when he went to clean up from being outside. By Sunday morning, he was covered in scappy sores and itching like the poor thing had the chicken pox. NO ONE else has bites or anything... and John has had bites since the day we moved to TN. At one point he was swearing they were in our bed... and well, one: thats offensive to the woman who washes the linens (ME!) and two: we do share a bed so therefore I should have bites too :) Well, after lengthy discussion with the older men at our fellowship time at the pastors house... the conclusion: chiggars and seed ticks. The treatment recommended: bacon fat to be rubbed onto EVERY sore. I think we will stick with shuttle (S Florida style) or nail polish (I thought purple would bring out Johns eyes.) SO yeah... just thought Id share that deliciously disgusting tale of woe!! OH and the funniest comment during the conversation: (a chuckle) "Chiggars!! Welcome to TN my friend!!"

Now the house tale... dun, dun, dun!! We termintated our contract on the house we found in July this past Friday. An appraisal and two home inspections later... the flags were clearly raising and our wisest decision be to back out. For some reason that can only be God's hand, we had a complete and utter peace about it... yeah, the pregnant hormonal lady had a peace about turning down THE HOUSE... like I said it must be God :) We are so thankful for Gods timing and hand in all of this... one: that we got a home inspection (most people around here dont seem to get them.)
two: that my wise husband waited to get them done once we got here (they could of been completed when we were in NC and we could of closed the day we got to TN.) and three: God has so greatly blessed us with a church body here with everyone knows someone that can get the job done and most people are in the church themselves.
We know Gods plan is better and His provision is perfect. We now know the areas far better, have met MANY people, are already looking at filling up 3 bedrooms by March, etc. How you can be praying for us specifically in this area: some sweet new friends recommended a for sale by owner home down their street two Mondays ago. Its in the process of being finished (yes, brand new.) The builder is very reliable and open and honest. It is on TWO acres :) 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and will have a finished half basement for a playroom and guests to sleep. The neighborhood is actually a neighborhood, very cute and well kept, homes appreciating in the area and every dog appears accounted for (a major issues with little leash laws and a slack animal control!!) He is selling it for a steal if we get it at the price we can offer him. So please pray for wisdom and Gods guidance through this process... that our hearts wont settle till we found the right one. John is going to talk to the builder/owner again on Friday probably for an assessment of what he can take price wise (after determining painting, cabinents, fixtures, wood floor, etc added in.) Please also pray for wisdom in our budgeting and for home insurance from the old house to cancel cleanly and transfer if this one works out. Please also pray for our patience during this time... being unable to organize, living out of boxes and not knowing where things are located are starting to take its toll on us. Thank goodness I am not nesting yet..haha!!

What a great reminder that we are but sojourners here on earth :)


Now the preggo update: Ive been excessively tired this past week to week and a half. Come to find out, my body is developing the babies placenta and totally normal during this phase. Morning sickness is subsiding... random bouts and only one full day out of 4... MUCH BETTER than every day. Now we are phasing into random things giving me stomach pains as my digestive tract is slowing down and absorbing more. Ill be starting my 12th week tomorrow and am looking to go to my first OB appt some time this week or next. The belly is DEFINITELY larger than with Bright and Ive only gained 1 lb so far. I dont think I was showing this much even at 16 weeks when we found out Bright was going to be a boy (Feb 14th, 2006.) Everyone here in TN is convinced we are having a girl... I wont tell you why cause it sounds crazy but they do this little "predictor test"... so we shall see. Im still convinced we will have all boys but we will see... either way we will love him or her just the same and that much more :)


Alrighty... Ive rambled long enough.. via dial up :) I hope this email some what updates yall on our latest (more like this past weekend) and helps guide you as you pray for us. Thank you for loving us so well and being such faithful family and friends!!

As Bright would say "Pd Out!!" Peace out!