The only certain thing...

is change. And we're in the throes of change right now. After weeks of pages and pages of notebook sized paper full of things to do, our house is on the market. And now we wait and pray. Pretty sure at all times some portion of my brain is praying, if I'm not actively praying. It's amazing how clarity comes in the midst of chaos at times like this--with all that's going on, we're filled with absolute peace as to who directs the wind in our sails. 

Since I'm trying to keep the house as nice and neat as possible at all times, my days have now gone straight from full-on mayhem and to-do lists in one day to the strange absence of projects or anything other than general upkeep and maintenance on the next. 

Very, very strange.

I'm really tired though--so it's a very good thing. If someone gave me the choice of giving birth 3 times over, or going through the last few weeks again, I would, without hesitation, chose giving birth. Apparently that is how much I hate moving rock and the worst sinus infection ever. So glad the rock is done, among many other things. Still working on the sinus infection.

Did you know that moving is rated one of the most stressful things you can do? Like, right up there with death and divorce. Given the choice of that line-up, I gotta say I'm so very thankful that we're moving. I would guess that in a country where something like genocide is currently going on this might all sound a bit silly, but it's my reality, and that's what I'm writing about today.

It's so interesting (and wonderful) to me in times--the hard times--of our lives how clear God makes his promise to never give us more than we can handle. From my grandparents, my mom and my sister coming and helping me push through my lists, to my amazing neighbors who I'm going to miss SO very much being there for me whenever I needed them, my husband coming home on the weekends to finish off the last few things on the list that were just too much for me--like I'd catch myself staring at walls too much, the little things, like the fact that my dad sent me a Caffe' Mela gift card just before this madness started, and I've been able to have the treat of coffee and ice cream for the girls through all this when I run into town without worrying about the money spent. Or my sweet daughters, who set up a pedicure station out of nowhere for me one night, because I'd been working so hard. It's all those things put together moment by moment throughout the day that make me aware of how much He loves me, and cares about all the little details of my life. What a comfort!

In other news, we did start school. That's been suspiciously fun. Last year it was fun, but this year it's going so much smoother in the math department, As a bit of a math dis-liker myself-I'm a little weirded out. As a homeschooling mom, I'm excited. Note to Self: Different curriculum makes all the difference. What a blessing. We're having a good time--it's good to have that focused time with my kids that we all miss so much when I'm entrenched in household projects. I'm sure it won't always be smooth sailing this year, but I'm treasuring it while it is.

Keira and Brie's favorite contemplation spot. Regardless of weather, when they want to be alone, this is where they go.

  

 Needless to say, since Tuesday on, the girls and I have set out to just really pack a lot of enjoyment into the last few days in our sparkling-clean-paint-touched-up-no-honey-do-items-whatsoever-home before our base location moves over to the Auburn area. And we're really enjoying the Eastern WA fall weather while we've got it--crisp, windy and cold, with a mix of rain and sunshine. Actually, a lot of rain, which thankfully is clearing up every afternoon/evening for playtime. Playing outside with our sweatshirts, or just settling in on our couch snuggled together, it's been a nice reprieve. They're glad to have their Momma back from List-Nazi land, and I am glad to be back--or at least have a bit of a break. 

The book sitting under my blackberry? A copy of The Complete Works of Alfred Tennyson printed in 1895. It's in pretty bad shape, but I just had to have it. Especially when I found a little slip of paper in it that was the "City Teacher's Guide To Reading Examination Questions" from 1904. 

 This yard is one of the things that I love the most about this house. I'm blogging just a bit about my front yard tonight because I want to remember it at this time with words, not just a file of pictures on my hard drive. I'm not overly sentimental about this house, or really any house. I do have my moments, I won't deny... but while my first fleeting reaction might be sentimental, it's pretty easy for me to tap that down. I get sentimental about people and locations, not buildings and things, usually.

This front yard is one of those things that causes me to pause in sentimental-ville. It's my design and a lot of my back that put this yard together. I wanted drought-tolerant perennials, only--water isn't horrifyingly expensive here, but it does get a bit pricier if you're watering a lot. I wanted a yard with paths--so you amble through it and reflect, not a wide expanse of green that never gets used. And, I needed it to be really weed resistant, because the tumbleweed rolls through all winter/spring long, and I love textures--I'm a texture junkie. So I really wanted a variety of textures throughout. I'm really hoping this yard sells the house now... we get people driving by and taking pictures of it all the time. I've actually gotten landscape design job offers based on this yard. Pretty sure they weren't serious, but it was nice to hear, when so much work has gone into it. So, just a few pics of our front yard that we love so much...

 In this yard I discovered my deep and abiding love for ornamental grasses.

 We wanted split rail fence--because we love the weathered look.

 And a dry creek-bed was a must because we love them, but it turned out to be useful here too. Sometimes in heavy or spring rainfall the water gets a little nuts on this soil--the creek bed directed it down to the neighbors who put a dry pond in there, and now water management is  perfect.

 I love this grass. Zebra grass. It gets 7 feet tall, and makes a lovely sound in the breeze. And, it's interesting.

 My kids like this front yard for "offroading" on their bikes.

 How is Brie so big on her bike? I swear, she woke up last week and was too big for it out of nowhere.

So, now we wait and we pray. We know this is the move God wants for us--He's made that very clear, as only He can. We know he knows about our house and the current housing market, and that he could sell it in a blink of an eye if he wanted. If that's not what he wants for us, I'm sure he'll make it clear to us what we're supposed to do. We're resting in that assurance moment by moment.

We appreciate the prayers of our friends and family... we know they're going up in a barrage of prayerfulness for us, and we're so thankful.