2 Steps Ahead

I told my husband the other day that I constantly feel like life is 2 steps ahead of me.

If I could just jump up 3 steps I'd really be on top of things.

Seriously, for years I have felt that I was just days away from being organized, on top of everything, then those days got filled with diapers, dirty dishes, sports practice and games, sick kids, projects and just plain life!  A few years ago I reached a point where I realized that I am never going to get a step ahead and stay there, so I learned to cope.  However, I have these times (like now) where I just want to get ahead, feel in control.

I think the bottom line of being a step ahead is organization and incredible discipline.  It's the discipline part that I struggle with, I can print the most beautiful charts and get crazy organized but if I don't have the discipline to maintain it, everything gets messy.

All that to say, here's a little update on my life...

KITCHEN
In July we realized we had water damage and mold in our kitchen, after hours and hours and HOURS of hard work which included tearing out 2 full layers of flooring, all the cabinets, part of a wall and the old chimney which was from the original cook stove (110 year old house), not to mention using an entire bottle of bleach to kill the remaining mold...we have a new IKEA kitchen!!! 

It's not quite done yet, still have some wall repair, cabinet trim, back splash and touch up painting to do. In the end this project will be about 10 weeks of our life.  We hired out the floor installation and refinishing, a little plumbing work but the rest, we did!  I'll post more pictures when it is completely done.  I call it my kitchen on a "dime".  I know kitchen remodels can be $25K+ and we spent $8K which included all new appliances, not bad!

SCHOOL

This year we switched our middle son to a new school.  I was nervous about it but it is proving to be a good thing!  So 3 kids in 3 schools means me spending a full 3 hours in the car on M, T and W and about 1 hour on TH and F (my oldest is home those 2 days doing online school).  In the end, it's worth it to have all our children thriving in school.

I am also proud of my oldest son who has started bringing his Bible to school (he attends a public school) and has a deep desire to share his faith with whomever will listen.

MOVING

We still plan to put our house on the market once we get everything done.  I do have very mixed feelings, especially after seeing this amazing new kitchen, but we feel it is the right time to try and move.  However, I am clinging to Proverbs 3:5-6,

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will direct your paths.

I know that God will guide us and direct our path...it's a comfort to know.

BLOGGING/WRITING

I have this deep, deep desire to write more.  It's killing me not to have the time, again, a motivation to get a step ahead.  I am in the process of updating my blog and being more organized with communication about Ethiopia.  So my hope is to post more often, we will see.  Plus, I really want to write a book, the task seems overwhelming but the desire is there so...time will tell.