....sigh...

Yes, we are moving, but WHEN and WHERE?! :)

Here's our latest option:

It has actually been on the market a VERY long time, off and on. It's a beautiful home... and actually just so happens to be about 8 houses down from my parents!!! We have walked by this home so many times talking about how pretty it is... but sooo close to my parents... John seemed to think it was a GREAT idea, and thought it would be fun! It seems I had to look in every other neighborhood before finally giving in and looking @ this house. It's a short sale, so I am praying that the reason that this house hasn't sold is so that God could save it for us, and put it within our price range so we could live close to my parents... it's a BEAUTIFUL home! There are a couple of things that I know we will eventually change, but seriously, it's PERFECT!

My mom and I have decided that if God blesses us with this place, we will make sure to respect each other's boundaries, and that it will be an amazing blessing! I am telling... I really believe God was saving this house for us! It's one of those things where you feel a nudge, but you keep saying... "no, that can't be the one... right?"... you know?

So... we are putting an offer in today, and then we will PRAY!!! Please pray with me, that if this is truly the house God has had in mind for us this whole time, that it will go quickly, and smoothly.

Thanks, and God Bless!!! :)

We Are MOVING!!!!

Well... we WILL be moving! :)

Let me give you some background. Ok, if any of you know me, you know that I have been wanting to move to Northeast Columbia for over a year. John and I bought our current house in November '07 about a year after we got married. We both worked near Lexington, it was just the two of us, and a 1150 sq ft home was perfect! We love the neighborhood, neighbors, it's near a school, etc. But then, both of our jobs moved to northeast Columbia... we had a baby... John's pay got cut (2x!), I reduced my hours, etc. So, we cut back... we went down to one car, we cut our cable, eat out less, shop w/coupons or at Aldi, we make sacrifices to make our life financially a little less stressful. Now, I went to John saying, can we please sell our house and move to northeast Columbia, near our jobs, near my mom (who watches Madi while I work) and near everything else we do? Having only 1 car, I am in the car driving for about 2 1/2 hours a day, and it's getting pretty old. He said ok, lets try. This was about a year ago... We were told no, basically in all turns. From God, from mortgage companies, etc... it wasn't gonna happen. So, resentfully, I gave up. I was upset... I admit it, I wanted to move! But I had to quietly trust God that he knew what was best.

So, earlier this year I wanted to try to move again. I asked John, he checked on a few things and we even went and spoke with a financial advisor... and he said, it wouldn't be the best decision right now. AAGGH, I was so mad!! I was like, are you SURE?! Man... looking back I was just so persistant! HA! So... I finally prayed and said, "Lord, give me a content heart. Make me see your will and your path for us. Help me appreciate what you have already given me, and be thankful for the quiet time in the car, and the beautiful home we currently have." So... that was it. God gave me peace, and I was learning to be content. I knew if we had to, I could live in our current place for as long as I needed to. It's a great home, just not in the place I wanted it to be. About 1 month after I thanked God and became content with our current situation, thanking HIM for what HE has provided (with HIS help) John's granddad called us. He said, "I'd like to give you your inheritance, but I want it to be physical, not in cash... so I'd like to buy you a house...". WHAT?!?! He was so nonchalant about it! I guess him being 89 and not knowing if he'll live another 11 or 15 years or not, he wants to make sure his grandson gets his inheritance, but also wants to help us out now. It's like God was making us wait so that we could see just how great and powerful HE is. So we could see how HE can provide in our greatest time of need, if only we'll wait and see. SO... we are on the hunt for a house! The first house we fell in love with, they didn't accept our offer... :( BUT, that just means there is something better that GOD is saving for us. If ever in my life, I believe that NOW! We put a bid in on a second house yesterday, we'll see what happens! Please pray for us that we will be wise, and search for God's will, be respectful of John's granddad, and find a great home that we can live in for a VERY long time!

2 Corinthians 12:9 .... to God be the Glory! PRAISE GOD!!!!!!!

John and my trip to Asheville

Last weekend we went on our annual marriage retreat. We had the privilege of going to Ridgecrest Fesitval of Marriages in Ridgecrest, NC. It's about 17 miles out of Asheville, and the campus is so gorgeous! Also, it just happened to be after our 4 year anniversary (Thurs. Oct 21st was our anniversary) So, we got to celebrate our anniversary in Asheville, which is where we had our honeymoon, so we got to see a few of the things we did on our honeymoon.

First off... my husband has a way of making me laugh so hard, that it brings tears to my eyes. Like, he has the funniest way of saying things, and I don't know how he comes up with some things. I made an absolute fool of myself when we were checking in for our retreat. While we were in line, John was being his usual goof of a self and saying that he was going to say to the teller when she asked us what our last name was, "Cain"... and if she asked, and how is it spelled, he was going to say "J-E-S-S-I-C-A". Then he went on to say that if she looked at him in question, he'd say "yes, that's Cain with two s'". So he was joking around about it and we were laughing and I was telling him he better not.... So, we finally get up to the girl @ the counter where we check in and get our paperwork for the weekend and she asks us our last name... well, because of our previous conversation, I just start laughing! And not just a light laugh, like really hard.... like, John has to say our last name because I said it so quietly because I was laughing so hard. Then... she proceeds to ask how to spell it! So, I start laughing so hard I am crying! This girl is looking at me like I am crazy! She's probably thinking that we are trying to sneak in under someone else's name and I just can't lie, or something. Then she kind of smiles, and I am still laughing so hard that I can't explain why I am acting so strangely. Finally, I am able to catch enough breath to say to her "my husband was going to say we spelled Cain j-e-s-s-i-c-a"... and that's all I got out. Oh man! She just looked at me with a smile, and we walked out laughing, with the 40 or so couples behind us in line just staring as we walked out of the building trying to figure out if we are crazy, or if the lady behind the counter is the funniest stand up comedian in the world.... I still smile when I think about it... seriously, where did he come up with that. "Yes, Cain, J-E-S-S-I-C-A... I mean really!?

Ok, so anyways, we had a great time getting away. We needed to just have some time together w/out a potty training toddler, and to be able to sleep in and just relax! They had some great classes that we thoroughly enjoyed @ the retreat, and we got to hear Greg and Erin Smalley speak. It was just perfect!

Then, Saturday night was date night and John surprised me and took me to a really nice restaurant for our anniversary. Haven't been spoiled with that fancy of a meal in quite some time, it was so nice! I am already looking forward to our retreat next year! Pretty sure that after my parents finish doing this for the first 7 years of our marriage, we will continue it.

We also went to Sky Top apple orchard on our way home and loaded up on some yummy treats. I'll be making a ton of stuff with apple in it here for the next week or so.

Here's some pictures:

Me and my sweet man

The little square in the downtown Asheville area... pretty trees huh?

There are a lot of musicians playing on the street in Asheville, these guys were really good! Then we noticed the one on the left was playing w/a saw!!

At our favorite coffee shop in Asheville, World Coffee

Tiramisu @ World Coffee... mmmmmm.....

In the Grove Park Arcade mall there was a guy doing a glass blowing demonstration

It was soooo cool!

This is the Italian restaurant John and I ate at on our honeymoon... I guess it was booked completely full while we were there this last weekend... too bad, it was yummy food!

Random vintage Rolls Royce limo... cool huh?

Where John took me for our anniversary

Lamb....sooooo good!

Crab cakes... also SOOO good!!!

Posana was a great restaurant

completely stuffed full of awesome food! :)

View leaving Ridgecrest

Bye Ridgecrest, hope to see you next year!

Went back into Asheville one last time Sunday before heading home so we could get lunch... and saw this guy running down the street dressed as a nun.... I've heard Asheville is random, but wow....

Cool coffee shop, we were gonna go there, but then we saw "cash only"... we only had debit and there wasn't an ATM to be found... too bad!

cute name huh? :)

one of our FAVORITE restaurants, Salsa's, in Asheville... we had lunch there on Sunday, we always try to eat there at least 1x while we are in Asheville. John got a grilled chicken empanada... it was soo yummy!

I got a slow-cooked pork quesadilla... mmmmm!

John ecstatic about his Mexican/Caribbean food

obviously, I am too!

There was a full moon Saturday night... tried to catch it and it didn't quite work...

On our way up the mile long rode up to Sky Top Orchard

Pretty views huh?

More views...

still warm apple cider doughnuts... SOOO Good!

entrance to the orchard

the bees makin' the honey

more bees...mind you, I am allergic (thankfully not deathly) to these, had chills the entire time I was taking these pictures...

Just couldn't get enough of those pretty fall colored, tree covered mountains!

John enjoying one of those Apple Cider doughnuts... they were heavenly!

And this was my view when I came out from putting dinner away last night. John and Madi watching "Elmo" together on the floor while John scratched Madi's back. If he stopped she'd say "more, more!"

Sooo sweet!!!

Till my next post...

Madilyn is 18 months old!

On October 17th, Madilyn turned 18 months old... my sweet baby! There are a few new things to report!

#1 : We turned her car seat around in the car... so she is officially forward facing. We were going to wait the extended recommendation, but car rides were beginning to be miserable... she needed to see, and I had to be able to see what was going on to help her. So... much better car rides come from turning her around... so happy we decided to do it.

#2: Madilyn can say so many new things! Most recently, she says moon, star and sky. The only problem is that she gets all upset when she can't see the moon or stars in the sky during the day, and can't figure out why mommy can't make them appear for her... if only I were that powerful!

#3: She is being potty trained. After much debate, and talking to 2 doctors about persistent rashes and trying every option under the sun... we decided to potty train! I was sooo dreading it, and probably would have waited until she went to Wal-Mart, purchased a potty and trained herself! J/K, but it's going so much better than I hoped. She hasn't had any accidents w/the #1... but #2 we are still struggling with, she's still scared of doing #2 on the potty, but she's getting better day by day. I am so proud of her!!!

#4: She is trying to dress herself! :) She can successfully take OFF her clothing... (Sooooo not the best thing for mommy), and she can almost get her pants back on after going potty. She can take her shoes off, and almost get them back on! She's getting so big!

#5: She tries to sing, and it is soo precious! She like, moves her head back and forth, with her mouth opening and closing, and hardly any sound coming out... it cracks me up, but it's just so precious! She tries to pick out words she knows, and will say that, then just continue to open and close her mouth while bopping her head back and forth. I am smiling just typing it!!!

#6: She loves to dance, but lately is consists of spinning until she falls down. A while ago we went to the Italian Festival downtown, and they had this great live music... but she wouldn't dance like normal, she just wanted to spin around. The problem with that is that we were outside on the asphalt, and if she fell, it would have been painful. So, I told her to stop spinning and just dance, she screamed and sat on the ground having a little fit... needless to say we had to leave a little earlier than we planned... :)

#7: She can't jump... but she tries so hard! She thinks her cousin, Preston (who's 13 months older than her) is just about the coolest thing in the whole world. He'll jump, and she'll try to imitate him... it looks like the cutest thing, he's jumping and she looks like she's galloping across the room. :) Love it!!!

#8: She is good @ helping mommy and daddy pray for meals and at bed time. She will even prompt us to pray before we eat, like... um, aren't we supposed to pray first? :) She'll fold her hands and squint her eyes. So sweet!

#9: She loves to pretend to go "nigh night". She'll lay on the floor w/her blanket and her lovie, or stuffed animal, and close her eyes. Then, she'll say, "mommy, daddy nigh night". So then we get on the floor and go "nigh night" also. She just giggles and thinks it soo fun! HA! The only problem is explaining to her that I can't pretend to go nigh night when I am driving... :)

#10: Her 12 mo pants are finally getting a little bit short. Most of her 18 month pants are way too big in the waist though, especially since she is now sans diaper... but we're trying to figure out what to do. It was so funny the other day though when I had her @ work with me and she ran across the room to get papa, and by the time she got there her whole tushie was exposed! I'm gonna have to tailor her pants!!! We don't want that happening in public!

Well, that's what I can think of for now. She has her 18 mo tomorrow so I'll have to post her stats... maybe she finally made 22 lbs! We'll see!!

See how excited she is to be hanging out w/big cousin Preston? :)

I'm big too Preston!

Look mommy, I can dress myself (and put a shirt on as pants!) hahahaha!

Likes to read while going potty...

Mom... I am trying to have some privacy here...

The cool water table @ The Discovery Place in Charlotte

Daddy and Madi playing @ The Discovery Place

Madilyn and her Uncle Stephen the weekend she got to meet him for the first time

Madilyn just hammin' it up

Madilyn's new cousin, Brooks

Madi @ Monkey Joe's

Madi and "Cle" (for Uncle) in the bounce house @ Monkey Joe's

She was trying to tell me something very serious here...

Woooo, she loved the slides!

Madi in her pack & play w/MOST of her stuffed animals....