From Homesick to Discovery

I guess you can say I am officially homesick. I miss my mom and dad. I miss my own house, the smells of MN. I miss having a friend to talk to.

We found out that it may be another 2 months before D starts on his hotel. Which means we may be down here a whole lot longer than we had originally planned. Figure the build may take up to 12 months to complete, and if it doesn't start until November.... well you do the math. We are praying D can get the bulid done in 7-8 months like he did in Red Wing, then we have the chance of being home in July or August. Worse case, we'd be home in Nov. of next year.

His boss doesn't seem concerned about the delay. He told D to "enjoy your wife and kiddies". We can look at it as a paid vacation, and enjoy our time as a family. But it is hard to sit back and enjoy when you're not used to sitting back :)

I have been learning to "let go and let God", not an easy thing to do in my obsessive compulsive life. But I can see Him working in my life and in my heart. I can look at this experience and worry and fret, or I can look at it honestly and realize that God is supplying all our needs. He must be up in heaven , shaking His head at me. I know that when I am worrying and freting that I am taking the glory of His works away from Him. I know that I must pray, then give it to Him, and quit obsessing. If I am worrying about it- then I am telling My Father that He is not big enough. But my God IS big enough!! I am working on these things, daily, it seems.

My mom told me something the other day that helped me so much- she told me to remember that GOD sent us down here, not work. That statement freed me from all the anxiouty I was going thru at that time. To remember that it isn't about D's job, its about God's Will for us down here!! To think that we are not crippled by the job at this time, maybe He wants us for something else down here!

I feel as if I am on a discovery, a discovery of God's Will for my life.



I am content knowing that this is where He wants me for now. I will try not to be too homesick. Maybe He is preparing us for something, something that we may not know yet, but something that He has planned for. I am looking forward to seeing my mom and dad next month. The kids want to show them our new life down here. Its so different than our life before- although I think it more of a difference in our hearts, a change that one may only see if they look very closely.

So I very quickly went from "Homesick to Discovery", in just a few short paragraphs, its funny how that can happen:) I am looking forward to all the things that God has in store for us as I learn to give Him the glory, all the glory. And as I learn to let go and let God.

Summer Fun

We have been loving spending time at the beach! I could get used to this very easily :) I'm sure I will miss those brisk fall mornings, the smell of apple pie and candles burning, the beautiful colors, always changing , the first snowfall of the season... but I'm liking my surf and sand and sun right now! I must say- I miss my kitchen at home, and all the colors- the greens and browns and all the wood, I miss that. I am surrounded by WHITE!! White walls, white cabinets, white tile. white white white!!! I guess its a Florida thing... if this was my house, it would painted, like, right away!! I talked with a nice lady at the beach yesterday, she came up to me and commented on my children--- I guess she watched Lexi tidy up the blanket and towels on the beach, and she folds towels a certain way (the same way I fold towels and the same way my mother folds towels:), she thought that was so funny, cuz it is the same way she folds towels and her family thinks shes nuts cuz she's so particular about it. Any way- I thought it was so cool, she called my kids "Beach Children", those kids who could live at the beach and always be content and happy just being there. I love having beach children :)We spent the whole day at the beach yesterday- from right away in the morning till we had to go home for supper, I guess I should have packed two lunches to bring with. I could live there all the time- I am starting to wish we had rented a home closer to the coast. Only until we have a hurricane come in, then I'm happy that we are where we are :) Well I am off to the beach-- I'll make sure to check in later!

Do you see Christ in me??

I was challenged tonight to ask those around me, saved and unsaved, friend, and neighbor, if they can see Christ in me.

So can you?

Can you see Christ in me? In my life? In my talk? In my attitude? In my everyday walk? Oh I pray that you can.

We studied Acts 26 tonight- the last 15 verses. Do you know that its not about how we began our walk with the Lord- it is about how we will finish. Paul, he started out with a bang- his conversion was miraculous!! But it wasn't about how he started out- it was about how he finished, his heart was so full of joy and peace from God. And he so wamted everyone to have that very same joy and peace!! I always viewed those few verses where he stated he wanted everyone to be like him (excepts for the bonds of course), as being very pious. But he wasn't. He wanted everyone to have the joy and peace and love that he was so filled up with! He didn't necesarily want them to be like him, but to have what he had! He had a Saviour. A loving Father.

It is heartbreaking to read those verses when King Agrippa states that he was "almost persuaded to be a Christian". ALMOST?? How Paul kept from shouting with frustration I do not know. To be almost persuaded, but lost. I fear that for so many of my friends and loved ones. To be almost persuaded, but yet to be lost to eternal damnation. Oh if I can beg of any of you- if you are not saved, please make that decision to become one of God's children!!

And if you haven't a clue as to what I am talking about, then I guess I have my answer. I have not shown Christ thru me. I have not been the witness that I am supposed to be. I have not made HIM the center of my life, if I had, then HE would be in everything I do and say. And you would surley see HIM in me.

I think this may be something I need to make a priority in my life. Paul was not afraid of what others thought of him, Festus said that Paul was a "mad man", crazy man!! If one would think of me as crazy because of my convictions, because of my joy, because of my witness,because of my God, then I would gladly wear that badge.

We are to be a peculiar people, I think I need to work on that. I think I need to be more perculiar to the world, so they may see Christ. To see that I have something in my life that makes me different. Peace, content, joy, love. Things that only God can give. These things will be so profoundly abundant in my life as I draw closer to my God! I pray that the next time I ask the question, "Can you see Christ in me?" there will be no hesitation, you will be able to say "YES!! Christ is so much of you, that one cannot see where Christ starts and Shanan stops." that is my prayer, that I will become more like Christ, so everyone who sees me will be able to see Christ shining thru my face, my smile, my life. You will see HIM in me.

Update

Well we have been in our new home for a month now- wow, has it really been that long?! We have settled into the house and have found a great church. The kids are already making new friends and we are starting to figure out the city a little more.
The pool is a favorite way to pass the time away. I love the ocean, but everyone else would rather swim in the pool :)

Dennis still hasn't started working. Its becoming long and he is getting very bored with staying home. I have enjoyed having him here! He spends a few hours a day in the pool with the kids, which they are loving! Still waiting on word when he will start- the only bad thing about him not having started yet is the fact that it means we will end up being down here that much longer. He is already saying we will have to make a trip home to MN at some point. To see family and friends and just to be there. We are already thinking we may end up being down here until next August.

Brooke may end up celebrating 2 birthdays down here. Poor girl, has celebrated the last 2 birthdays away from family and friends, and she has been very bummed out about that the last few days. I am just so happy that Uncle Alan will be maiking the trip down here to celebrate her birthday with us- it means so much to her.

Alexis got her hair cut! The first time she has ever got it cut, she has hed a few trims over the years- maybe an inch at a time, but this time we cut off about 13 inches!! Yikes!! She loves the fact that it no longer weighs her down in the pool, and it looks so much healthier. But I am already thinking... it will be grown out again, I miss her long curly locks too much!!

Belle got hers cut too, she had the same style cut last summer, so it isn't such a shock to my system to turn and see her short hair.

Michelle is off at camp this week. She is 13 hours away, in NC, at the WILDS camp! I have to think that this is why God sent us down here this early, just so Michelle could go to the WILDS. It is such an awesome opportunity for her, one that she may never have again. I am praying that her heart will be softened and decisions will be made for the LORD. I talked to her Monday morning, before they got there, everything seemed to be going fine, she has made a really good friend. They seem to hit it off really good, Michelle is more adventerous and Tina is more timid, so Michelle encourages her to try new things and Tina keeps Michelle on the straight and narrow :) Can't wait to see the pix and hear all about her adventures!! I will post some pix next week. We have gotten updates from one of the boys with a contraband cell phone * shhhh* he says everything is good, Michelle and Tina are attached at the hip and doing great.

It is suppose to be a beautiful day in FL today- hopefully we will see the sun for a few hours at least!! Its the rainy season--- which means it rains everyday, and everyday is cloudy and overcast :( Morning are usually beautful, but by 2 o'clock-- in come the clouds, then the thinder starts booming, and pretty soon, we have an all out storm on our hands! Craziness I tell ya!

I have a list of thing that need to be done today- laundry, floors need to be mopped, carpets need to be vaccumed, vents vaccumed, furniture dusted, bathrooms cleaned--- and it goes on and on!!

Musings....

Okay, here are just some random thoughts:

People that don't understand that "green means GO" really bug me
Florida sunsets are gorgeous
time is not always the same in every culture
I am very thankful for my children- God has blessed us beyond measure
no matter where you are, you are "home" with other believers
God's Creation is indescribable
I have decided having a pool in the backyard is a priority;)
I am not looking forward to school starting this fall
family is precious
Michelle is growing into a wonderful young lady


I may add to my musings, these are just a few things that have popped into my head the last few days!

All Settled In!

well, we got to Bradenton Monday night! We decided to drive all the way in 2 days! We weren't able to get into our new house until Tuesday morning, we had to meet with the realtor to get our keys and sign some final papers. We also found out we don't have water yet :0 I guess the neighbors were all watering their lawns out of this outdoor water supply, so the owner had a block put on the water. We are managing just fine- good thing theres a pool in the backyard- at least we can flush the toilets with the water from that! We are fully settled in- I got everything unpacked yesterday, and we all slept great last night. On the agenda today is 1) WATER!! 2) find one of the churchs on our list, then we plan on taking the kids to the Gulf!!

Oh- we also made it to D's new jobsite- only 15 minutes away, and a pretty easy drive to get there! Everything is lookin' good at the Anderson house!!

FLORIDA!!

Yeah! We made it to FLorida! We just crossed the state line-- palm trees met us at the border, and lovely moss hanging from stately trees!! 200 Miles to Tampa where we will stop for the night- still some miles to put on today- but we're in FLORIDA!!! :)