Nate's New Job

The first thing that comes to mind when I think about our big transition with Nate's new job is the fact that over and over again Nate and I kept saying to each other, "Wow, the Lord totally worked that out!"  From the biggest part of this change down to the small and even seemingly insignificant details of it.

We had known this change was coming for a long time.  But as to the 'when' exactly it would happen, we did not know.

ACB was and is owned by a father and son.  It was those two along with Nate and one other employee that made up the crew for ACB Construction.  The father was retiring this year and it was the son's desire to continue on his own, without a crew. 

Their last job was installing log siding on a house that happened to be a five minute drive from our house, which meant for the last month Nathan was working for ACB he was able to come home on his lunch break.  Nothing we ever anticipated happening when we decided to build 'out in the county'. 

The project took longer than they expected and ended up going well into the month of March. 

Elijah was due to arrive on March 31st but the Lord saw fit to have him arrive 2 weeks early.  Nathan took a week of vacation and went back to work for one week and found out that week was going to be their last.  Wow, thank you Lord!  Elijah could have come right at the same time as Nathan's job ending but the Lord blessed us with allowing things to happen in stages. 

There was already a potential job lined up.  Another construction company was ready to hire Nate as a Foreman thanks to a good word about Nate from a friend.

That following Monday Nathan also decided to go apply with a few construction companies that he knew about from when he worked out at the Air Force Base.  He went to interview with the first company, the HR Coordinator knew Nathan from the Base work, and basically hired him on the spot if he wanted the job.  "They wanted someone like Nate to work for their company!" 

We prayed about the two job offers and Nathan chose to work for Mattson Construction.  (The company that had also worked out at the Air Force Base building houses a few years ago)

Nate worked his final day with ACB that Tuesday, went to a safety meeting for this new company on Wednesday, then he took a few days off and started work for Mattson Construction the following Monday.

There was insurance involved, a whole other story that we saw the hand of the Lord work out right in the middle of delivering a baby.  There were big projects being worked on at our house, like our basement guest room that, by the guiding hand of the Lord, was also finished prior to his job ending.  This was a blessing because Nate drove a company truck with ACB and we were able to use the truck to get all the materials for the basement room before we had to return the truck. 

We truly saw the hand of the Lord clearly direct each day even though we weren't aware of it all the time.  He lined up our days perfectly with the arrival of a new baby in the midst of a job change, and He prepared multiple job opportunities for Nate right away to where there was no lull in his work.  Truly the Lord blessed us through this process of change and we saw His faithfulness throughout it all from the biggest to the smallest detail.  

Mattson will continue to stretch Nathan's knowledge for the construction world as they are geared towards commercial building, not residential like what Nathan was doing prior. So far the transition has gone smoothly for him and he is enjoying his new job. Another desire is that now Nathan will be working with non-believers and hopes to be a light in his new workplace. 

Nathan loved working for ACB, it was a wonderful job and a huge blessing from the Lord as they hired him on with little to no experience and taught him what he knows.  He had many opportunities to grow in leadership while working for them as well.  We became great friends with the father and son and their whole family over the years and have been so very blessed by them all.

7 Incredible Years

Today I sit thousands of miles away from home at my precious grandma's memorial service with memories flooding my mind. 

It's all so bitter sweet.  Life is like that sometimes, isn't it.  And a bit crazy.

Today is also our 7 year anniversary and what an incredible 7 years it has been! 

Our life is so full and blessed, and as I sit here remembering the life of my grandma and remembering that our days are numbered I am reminded to cherish each moment. 

Life is fleeting, we are pilgrims here on this earth, just passing through and only the Lord knows the number of our days. 

I am so thankful to have spent the last 7 years with the love of my life, Nathan.  What a crazy, incredible, amazing journey it's been.

I am more in love with him today than I was when we first got married and we have 4 precious blessings reminding us of our love for each other every day.

Our journey began 7 years ago in the very backyard that I sit today.  

We've moved across the country twice, living in 6 different 'houses', one being a camper for 6 months.  We've served at a youth camp ministry and watched as the Lord directed us to Minot, ND (where?!?!!) and Nathan began a career in construction, a job he truly enjoys.  We've welcomed four precious children who fill our life with so much joy, bought our first house and sold it before it was flooded and we even built our own home in the midst of it all. 

I usually sum it up like this:

engaged at 19
married at 20
had a baby at 21
bought a house at 22
had a baby at 23
bought a van at 24 (this was a very big deal to me, haha!)
had a baby at 25
finished building our house at 26
had a baby at 27

And there's no telling what's to come! 

Life has been full and sweet and blessed because I spend each day with you, Nathan.  You are the love of my life, truly my better half.  Such a loving incredible husband and the most wonderful father who our kids absolutely adore.  I can't imagine life without you, my best friend and lover.  I am so thankful for each day, each moment we have together.  I wish we were not thousands of miles apart on this special day but it only makes my love for you grow.  I am so thankful that the Lord brought us together, that you chose to get down on one knee and asked me to spend forever with you, and that we've walked this crazy journey together following wherever the Lord leads. 

I absolutely love and adore you, Nathan!  Happy 7 year anniversary babe!

Adjusting to Four

Can I be honest? 

I was nervous about having our fourth child. 

I was wondering how I was going to be able to handle 4.

I've heard some mothers say that adjusting to their 3rd child was the hardest transition and I've heard others say the same about their 4th.

I'm so grateful that I didn't feel that way about having our third child since we were living in a camper at the time of her birth and Nathan was in the heart of building our house.

But knowing the arrival was soon approaching for our 4th child to join our family I faced a lot of fear. 

I think part of my concern was the fact that Janessa was going to be only 20 months old when the new baby arrived. 

She was still a baby!  And now I was going to have another one.  How was I possibly going to get around?

Not to mention that my oldest is only 5.  That's a lot of littles to manage on my own.

And what about feeding.  There's so much time spent feeding the new baby, how was I going to manage the other 3.  One of which is still in need of a lot of training.

These were just some of my concerns. 

I was very overwhelmed.

Even the birthing process scared me like I've never been before.

All these fears I had to take before the Lord and ask for His help.  I had to put my trust in Him knowing that it's through Him that I can do all things. 

It wasn't going to happen if I tried to do it on my own, in my own strength.

I was aware, yet again, of my desperate need for Him. 

And I am so thankful that He is our Helper, that He is always faithful, He's our ever present help in our time of need. 

The birth was a precious experience, leaning on the Lord like I've never done before through my deliveries.

Janessa, our third child, absolutely loved her baby brother right from the start, as well as Zeke and Kenzie.  This made the transition so much easier. 

And low and behold, I had to stand in line to hold my own baby for the first time.  I realized that I had capable helpers this time around!  What a blessing!  For me and for baby.

And those fears of 'what if' began to dwindle as the Lord showed me His strength. 

Of course I absolutely love that Nathan could be home for the first week as we all adjusted but then as he went back to work and I was left on my own I realized my fears were greater than reality. 

I truly had nothing to fear if I turned to the Lord for help.  And help He did. 

I even made it to a doctors appointment with all four kids by myself that first week and we all survived.  Not just survived, but it went smooth and everyone did great.  It was possible to get around with 4 littles.  (Our double stroller came in handy once again!)

My baby has even napped on the same schedule as my others almost right off the bat.  Whaaat?! 

All these little things were unexpected blessings.

And I am so thankful for our precious bundle of joy.  He is such a sweet added blessing to our family and we are all head over heels in love with him!

Here are some pictures from the first month of our little Eli!

Big Changes For Our Family

My baby is already 4 weeks old!  How time is just flying by.

There's been a lot going on lately, which is to explain the lack of posts lately.  And there will probably continue to be a bit of a lul for the time being.

Since Elijah's arrival life has not slowed down much.  Nathan was able to be home with us for a week and then I had a little less than two weeks, before family arrived, to adjust to being home with 4 kids all on my own during the days.

Then this past week we had the joy of having Nathan's mom, sister and her family visit us for a week to meet Elijah and help out. 

Also, Nathan changed jobs during the last couple weeks.  His 5 year career with ACB has come to an end and the Lord faithfully provided a new job for him doing what he enjoys, construction.  He started his new job last week and hopefully soon I'll be able to share how the Lord lead us through all those changes.

And I'm currently working on trying/planning to get to California for my precious grandma's funeral.  As I write this she is in the hospital with kidney failure and her time is coming soon for her to go home and be with her Savior.

As well as colds, chiropractor appointments for my back, blizzards with an added foot of snow in April and of course many hours of snuggling our new little one, life has been a little bit of a whirlwind lately and will continue to be for a little bit longer. 

But through it all we have seen the Lord's faithful hand guiding and directing our family.  He has been there helping us through all these big changes. 

These are all things I would love to share in more detail with you eventually. 

Until then here are a few pictures of my precious new baby boy!

An Extra Special Resurrection Sunday

We have a Savior!

Who chose to die on the cross for our sins

and rise again 3 days later.

He has risen!  He is alive!

And He has offered us a free gift of salvation to all who would believe.

Our precious firstborn has chosen to accept this free gift and asked Jesus to come and live in his heart the night before Resurrection Sunday!

Even thinking about it now brings tears of joy!  This is the most important decision my children can make and we continue to pray for our other children, that they too would come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. 

I am one thankful and blessed momma!  And what a wonderful and special Resurrection Sunday it was this year, one we will never forget.

One happy boy:  "Jesus is in my heart!!"