The Most Difficult Decision We've Ever Made

November is just about over and I've written 3 blog posts total, which is ridiculously scarce for me. I have good reason though, I just haven't been able to spread it all over the world wide web just yet. Even now might be a little soon, but I can't take it anymore. I have to be able to get this off my chest.

We are moving. We are leaving our jobs, church, loved ones, house, and the life we've known our entire marriage. We are moving to northern Kentucky where my family lives. Long story short we feel like that is what God is calling us to do. It's the most difficult decision we've ever made. Getting married at 18 was a big risk and a huge decision, but I was so in love I felt more like it was a no brainer. Buying our first home was another major milestone, but it didn't affect our location that much. J quitting his job for full time ministry was another big choice we've had to make, but we still had a steady income either way. Even when we had our kids it felt like we were stepping out of the boat, but we had made a lot of plans and provisions over 7 years of marriage before we became parents. This move however changes EVERYTHING. We don't know what we are going to do when we get there other than live with my parents for a while. It's a big risk, but it's one we feel like we need to take.

There is so much more to share and now that the cat is out of the bag I can pop online every once in a while to give updates, but I still probably won't be able to really blog again, in the way that I like to, until next year.

So that is the deal, please keep us in your prayers. And if you want to be really specific you can pray that

1. We complete the home renovation project and that it doesn't cost too much, take too long, or destroy our marriage (just kidding, although it does put a strain on both of us).

2. We sell the house quickly and for the right amount. J's last day is December 31 and would be great if he didn't have to get another job before we move.

3. That there would be peace in our home and strength for our family during this stressful season, and that we would have closure and fond parting memories.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I will certainly post more details in the weeks ahead. It's going to be quite the adventure.

"Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore."

-Andre Gide

My Crafty Posse

I consider myself artsy, but not necessarily crafty. Although I always excelled in my art classes and even won awards, I distinctly remember a rare low score on a project that I did my freshman year. We had to create an intricate snowflake type design using an x-acto knife on some layers of white poster board. I don't remember my grade but I can still envision the words my teacher wrote in red pen with her beautiful cursive handwriting, "Poor Craftsmanship". Fortunately I am surrounded by people that have AMAZING skills in all areas of craftsmanship.

For starters, my mom works for Delta and the employees all dress up on Halloween day. Last year she decided to go to work as the Travelosity gnome. I figured since she had already created one gnome costume it should be easy enough to make one for SJ this year and the results were too cute for words!

and here is a little picture I created of SJ beside Juliet from the movie Gnomeo and Juliet

My mom ordered Z's Mr. Incredible costume on line, but it still had to be altered because it was too big. The mask didn't fit right either so we made a new one with left over material from "Julia's" dress along with a removable black bra strap. Thank goodness he's too young to be embarrassed by me!

and of course here is Z next Dash and the other Incredibles.

Along the lines of sewing and creating, SJ has been in desperate need of new hair clips because her hair is always in her face. Thank goodness for my two friends who volunteered to make some adorable bows for her! I even wore one and when my friend spotted it she said "That looks great. I think I might make some bows for myself". It might sound strange wearing a little girls hair accessory, but bows are hot right now, and besides it was a flower. Who knew I would start raiding my daughters closet so early on.

I don't have any close up photos of the bows, but they are all unique and super cute.

Lastly I told my husband that he never ceases to amaze and he begged to differ so I elaborated by saying your carpentry skills never cease to amaze me. When the coffee shop needed a stage and outdoor seating area for the art festival they had a non existent budget and very little time to work, but J took the bull by the horns and built these benches and chairs using entirely freecycled wood from Craig's list.

This idea was inspired by something he found on pinterest, (Yes, he has a pinterest, I don't. Yes, that is sad) but he designed and executed all of this from that genius mind of his, and I am wondering why I don't have some of this furniture in my yard! We are talking F-R-E-E here.

I have my own strengths don't get me wrong, but for all the crafty shortcomings I am thankful for an entourage of craftsmen by my side.

The Madness Continues

Yesterday, in the midst of preparing dinner and caring for a child that had decided to disrupt an ant colony, my phone rang and I answered it, a knee jerk reaction I guess. "Hello, this is Natalie" I said in my professional voice because when I don't recognize the number it's usually business related. They said "Hi, this is Staci, are you busy?" I have been in this position before where I can't really talk, but then I have to ask myself why I answered the phone if I can't talk, so I replied "Uhhh... kind of, but I have a second." So she went right into it about her husbands schedule and when we would meet and I thought it was a lady I had just talked about a photo session so I was making plans for a shoot and in the end our conversations didn't match up and she said "I think you are talking about something else. I am calling about the chickens". She laughed and I hit myself on the head a few times.

2 weeks ago in my last blog post I briefly mentioned tripling my work load. I had to send my kids off to grandmas so that I could work, have a yard sale, and use a groupon we got for our anniversary. The juggling act has been somewhat of a success, but not without a few meltdowns on my part. It's only for a season though. When I accepted this work it was because another photographer at the magazine had a family emergency come up and she had to abandon all of her assignments. There is no way I could keep up this pace long term. I just keep thinking "Gazelle Intensity" (you Dave Ramsey people know what I am talking about). So that is where I've been.

Hopefully things will start to slow down soon, although with Thanksgiving being next week I know that is probably wishful thinking. None the less EVENTUALLY I will check back in so I can explain why someone was calling me about the chickens. And then I can to tell you a little more about trick or treating and how the last two houses we went to Z went up to the door and when they offered candy he said "No thanks, I have enough already".

I also have lots of tales from the sales, yard sales that is, both shopping and having.

Then of course I did celebrate 11 years of marriage with J and I have a few photos from the Villas that we went to in Austin.

You've been missed little blog, but for now I've got to get back to work.

Dash and Juliet

I have too many irons in the fire. I'd go as far as to say my whole schedule is on fire right now. My work load has currently tripled, plus I have a yard sale and my anniversary this weekend. This is why I am forced to take a blogging break. I will resume sometime in the future? Seriously though, I won't be gone too long and I'll get back to writing as soon as I get a chance, but before I go here is the outcome of the kids in their Halloween costumes.

More photos of all this cuteness and some stories when I return!