Could This NOT Be The One?!?!

We've been moving towards closing, but everything is at a stand still right now. The appraiser went to appraise the home today, and there are several things about the house that he would call "hazardous" (a bush growing the pool, plants growing through the windows on the porch, water in the basement). Since it is not appraising at the right price, we are unable to get a loan for it. So, we are calling off the inspection for tomorrow and will see what happens over the next few days. I believe we have until Monday to back out of the contract.

We both really like the house. We also like it's location and the land that it's on. We both have vision for it and at this point would even still look for ways to keep the process going. On the other hand, we really want to be seeking the Lord. A friend went by the house today and looked through it really well and just cautioned Steve that there may be a lot more work than we think. This could be God's way of protecting us from a major money pit, too!

Also, we have to give our notice to the rental company for the house we are in right now in October. We know the Lord knows exactly where we are supposed to settle, we just need wisdom!!! Even if we don't get this house, I'm grateful for the conversations that Steve and I have had about undertaking a big project together. I am grateful for what it's revealed in my heart. I'm grateful for the home we have now and that Steve takes such good care of us and is seeking to glorify the Lord with our finances! So, we could be house hunting instead of shopping for floors this weekend, but that's fun, too!

Could This Be The One?!?!

We just may have found our new home! Well, it's not quite new =), but it has lots of potential!! We looked at this home several weeks ago and to be honest, I didn't even really "look" very well. I was too concerned the girls may touch something...or that something may come out after us! Truly, I don't think I've ever seen so much stuff in one house in my life! Steve liked it after we looked at it. Me? Not so much. But I kept praying about it. And last weekend we went to look at multiple other newer, cleaner, move in ready homes...but this time I kept going back to the other one, too!

Yesterday we put an offer in on the house. Today they countered. We agreed to the counter with the addition that they remove ALL the "stuff"! So, now we are waiting again! We have to have an inspection and if everything comes back A-OK, it looks like we could be closing in 14 days! Then we have loads of work to do before we move in in January!

Here are a few details:
It's 4 sided brick, 1 1/2 stories
It's on about 2 1/2 acres and minutes away from the church property and Lake Alatoona
It's got a huge pool!! (Which right now has a bush growing in it!)
It's got character and needs a lot of care!

Here are a few pictures we took when we went to look at it yesterday. We didn't get as many as I thought we did - none of the bedrooms, bonus room, bathrooms, porch or pool. Hopefully I can get some soon! Please be praying that God will give us wisdom and that the remodeling would be able to be done well and finished by the time we need to be out of our house we are in now!

My Baby Has Turned Big Girl!!

Reagan began Kindergarten on Monday!!

It's hard to believe my sweet baby doesn't have hair that stands up on end anymore, that she outgrows shoes faster than I can blink, that she can empty the dishwasher, and that she started school this week. OK, I'm getting a little teary-eyed...let's shift gears! =) She did wonderful! She's a fun little girl to teach, too. I have to admit, I feel a bit overwhelmed that I am teaching my daughters school, but I am also grateful that God has laid it on our hearts and given us faith to home school our girls. Reagan learned her vowels this week, had a spelling test (one of the words was "a" =)!!), had great conversations about Bible, read some books, and practiced math and handwriting. Her favorite so far is math! We are doing a four day work week, so Fridays are reserved for play!

Sydney and Jordyn did really well, too. Sydney sits in for some of it and the other times she does puzzles or plays with different toys. Jordyn takes her morning nap during most of R's "school day"!Math time!
Sydney is the puzzle queen!
First day of school picture!
Donuts for breakfast!They couldn't take their eyes off of them!

Are We Fighting For Our Marriages??

My sweet friend Amanda was sharing with me about a message Joshua Harris spoke a few Sundays ago at Covenant Life Church. It is from Proverbs and it is about sexual purity. It is excellent for married couples and singles alike. Let me encourage you to listen to it...now! How we need to be fighting for our marriages! Thank God for men like Josh who will challenge us with Truth and speak about sexuality from the pulpit. May we run from temptations and may we delight in our spouses!

Visit from Mama!

Mama was able to come for a 9 day visit! We had so much fun and she amazes me with the way she serves and how she can just go and go and go! We were able to get a lot done! She helped me price stuff for a garage sale, we went and looked at houses, of course we went shopping =), we went to the park one day, out to dinner one night, to get pedicures, and we took the girls to get their nails done (too cute!). We played games and talked! She made us some yummy dinners and watched the girls so Steve and I could go out for a date day! I came home to sleeping children and a clean house!

Mama, we love you and are so grateful for you!!! Thanks for coming to visit!!

Family Fun!

Here are a few pictures from our Saturday trip to Rita's and our Sunday family fun pizza and movie night we had a while back!

Girl Time!

We also were able to spend the day at Sissy's one day! The girls had a blast playing with their cousins and I always love when I get to spend time with my Sissy =)! We actually got to talk a lot this time...it seems like the girls play more and more and need less attention from us these days! Reagan loves "cooking" with Emma! Madeleine and Ainsley made up a really cute show for us. It was amazing how creative they were making it up as they went...there was hardly a pause as they figured out what they were going to do next! We braved Publix with 6 kids to pick up a few things for our yummy steak dinner (which the guys and Mama joined us for!) and then visited for a while. We actually looked at the book Eat This, Not That and I was quite disturbed that I eat mostly the "not thats"!! =)

Good Times!

One night when we were in O-town we also got to hang out with Derek, Dena, Ben and Cristina!! These two couples have been wonderful friends to both Steve and I! Dena and I have been friends since high school and Cristina and I have been friends just over the past few years. Both ladies have been examples to me in so many ways! We had fun going to Sonny's and then to Ritas...time just went by too fast!!

Derek and Dena!
Ben and Cristina! Really, it wasn't all for her!

Visit with Praise!

When we were in Orlando, Praise came over with her 3 adorable kiddos to visit one morning! Well, visit as much as you can with six kids 5 and under!! =) Her little ones are precious and she is a sweet, patient Mommy!! I love seeing where the Lord has her and her family and even though we don't get to talk too often, it is great when we have time to catch up! It's amazing to see how much has changed and how much the Lord has blessed us over the last 13 years!

Jan Jan's Visit!

Well, I am missing an assortment of pictures. Some from JJ's visit and some from when we were at Mom and Dad's. Hopefully my hubby will know where they are! Here are a few from when JJ stopped in for a quick visit during her crazy time back in the States for a month! We love our JJ!! She has been such a blessing and encouragement to our family. Actually, she is probably one of the most encouraging people I know. She is serving the church in Wales this year, but we are looking forward to when she can come back through Atlanta and stay with us a bit!

Georgia on My Mind

For months we've been praying about where the Lord wants us during this season of our lives. We moved up to Georgia last January for a job change for Steve and we have love it up here. We miss our family and our friends in Orlando so much, but God has given us so much peace in being up here.

Steve's job is going really well, we love our church and we believe that this is where we are supposed to be right now. God has been so gracious to us and we've made some wonderful friends up here much quicker than we thought we would, too.

So, we've begun house hunting! I know that the good Lord knows exactly where we are to end up, but I'm praying that we will be sensitive to where He is leading us. We've found several houses and have thought "oh, this could be it" only to have the doors quickly shut. Hopefully by the end of the year we'll know where we'll be settling for a while!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun!

Wow! I can hardly believe it is the middle of September already. It seems like forever since I've sat down to blog! We've had a fun couple of months! JJ came for a super quick visit (I have pictures if only I could find them!) We loved having her stay with us even if it was a really fast visit! Then we went to the beach for a week, then to Orlando for a week, then came home! I tried to settle in real quick before Mama got here for 9 days!! We had so much fun and stayed pretty busy! (Pictures to be posted soon...hopefully!) Yesterday she left and Reagan got the stomach bug. It was really gross and I'm really hoping none of us other Roberts get it. So far, so good!

Let's see...for a quick catch up...

Reagan is starting kindergarten tomorrow. I can't believe my little girl is big enough to start school! She is so excited and so am I! (More on that soon, too!)

Sydney is our little drama queen these days. She cracks me up! She says so many funny things and uses her hands all the time when she talks! She consistently puts her shoes on the wrong feet and she dresses herself before I can get in her room and pick out her clothes. She actually does really well matching! Oh, and she's really good at playing memory!

We've seen so much change in Jordyn! She is happier (praise the Lord!!) and pulled herself up in her crib the other day! She jabbers all the time now and still loves to eat! She's got a mouth full of teeth and they keep on coming in! I will take her in for her 15 month check up (only a month late - not bad!) on Friday, so I'll post more on her then! (Again, hopefully ;)!!)