Bragging a Bit

re·source·ful

rəˈsôrsfəl/

adjective

1. having the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties.

Do you know anyone like this? I do. I'm married to him! 

Did I mention that we bought a car a few weeks ago? No? Oh, well we did. It's a four door Kia Rio and the kids are tightly squeezed into the back. Or cozy, as we like to say. But it's a billion times better than pushing a double stroller for miles in the hot sun while your five year old (She just turned five!!) struts along beside us trying to keep up. 

We didn't go super far, and don't worry, we didn't walk too fast for Kaleigh.

But a car is better. And such a blessing! Now when you buy a car that is a little older, things tend to happen. Like parts breaking. And of course about two days after we bought our blue blessing (That's what I have just decided to name it, because it is blue and I am so grateful and blessed to have a car), the car stopped working properly. It would go.... but it wasn't running well and would die as soon as we put it in park. I was so bummed. Food is expensive here, about one and a half times the national average. Housing is two times the national average...so I'm sure you can imagine how much it would be to get a car fixed. 

Knowing we didn't have the money to go get the car fixed, my RESOURCEFUL and very smart husband started to do some research. YouTube and Google, and he was able to figure out what part was the problem! The valve that controls how much air goes into the throttle, was broken. Now, Nathaniel has never really been one to work on cars. This is not really his thing. I will admit that I was a tad nervous as he started to take things apart and work under the hood. 

I had no need to be nervous. It is fixed! He did it! The new part is installed and the car runs much smoother than it did before. I'm so proud of him for sticking with it and trying it even though, it was not something he was very comfortable with. It was just so awesome how it all worked out too, because we ordered the part online (saving us another $50 since it was much more expensive here. All together he ended up saving us a few hundred dollars.), and it came JUST in time so Nathaniel could fix the car and we could take the kids last weekend to a place where you can see dolphins swim. We had told them we would take them to celebrate their birthdays. I'm so glad we don't have to wait until the next weekend. It's the little things. Thanks God! 

So I just wanted to put that out there. Even if you aren't sure about how to do something, and maybe you are nervous about it, you can still TRY. It's inspiring to me and I hope inspiring to you. And I thought, I could just brag about my husband for a little bit :D. 

Making this House a Home

"Mommy, where is my home?"

A while back, while visiting a friend, Kaleigh asked them, "Is this your home?"

"Yes it is!" My friend replied. "Where is your home?"

My daughter's eyes glossed over with confusion, and she looked at me. "Mommy, where is my home?"

My heart hurt a little to hear her ask this. I know it's confusing. We have moved every six months for the past two years. 

"Home is wherever your family is. So right now, our home is with your Grandma and Grandpa Wells!" She seemed satisfied with this answer and went on to play with her little friends. 

Home is where your family is. Wherever God has called you to be. But part of my job as mom and wife is to make wherever we are, feel like home. I have little roll up beds for the kids that my friend from church made, we take those everywhere so they have the same bed anywhere we are. Certain toys we bring with, to help it feel more like home. It's the little things. 

I should have taken a before picture of our apartment, with our suitcases and things in piles and disarray . But that would have truly been embarrassing. Instead I took pictures four days later after I finally got all the suitcases unpacked and things tidied up. Ha! That only took me forever! By now the jet lag is starting to wear off and Gideon actually slept through the night. (Praise the Lord, Hallelujah!). We have had one staff meeting in preparation for the school beginning this week. Wednesday Nathaniel will go to look at a van, and we are settling in. This studio apartment with a loft is beginning to feel like home and it's wonderful. Who knows how long we will be here since we are keeping our eye open for places to rent off campus, just in case. But for now, we are happy and content, and ready to make the trek down the hill to the beach. Alinah's first time! 

For a girl who lived in the same home with her family for about 10 years, it was an adjustment to move around so much. We adapt and change and I'm learning how to do this quickly and in every circumstance. 

Here is quick tour of our apartment :). 

My reminder to myself after a long four days of being jet-legged and much to short with my poor family!!