I have been a little preoccupied with all things related to finding a home lately and have neglected to document, for future Stew family generations, what has been going on. So, this is my attempt to capture the last few weeks.

Bradley started back to Mother’s Day Out.
He is so fun to be around and has a lot of energy! He loves going to “school” to hang with his friends. He has been in a biting “phase” which is another post, but we have had a good week at school this week. He only goes two days, but it is progress! Last week, he was expelled from the Y for the day due to his biting, so we are hoping the thrill is gone for him!
I have attempted to add photos, but for some reason, blogger is resisting!

The girls are settling in at school. Emery is loving being a Kindergartener and especially likes the days she stays in after school care. Due to the fact that we live 25 minutes away, it is easier to let her stay some days. Luckily, we have great friends at the school who are helping get Parker home or who will pick Emery up. She is such a social girl and loves being around people. She does not want to miss out on anything. She has decided to take dance instead of playing soccer this fall. I am not thrilled, but it is so her thing!

We went to look at swing sets for the kids, yesterday. It is our bribe/gift to them for enduring our upcoming move. So not only will we have a gazillion boxes to unpack, Jason will be putting a swing set together!

Church is rocking right now. There is great energy and people are excited to be there, which is amazing. I love it!

We found a house!

I am excited about our move, except for the actual moving part! I feel like we have sought out what God desires for our family and were patient until He revealed our next home. The house is by no means perfect, but it has a ton of potential. We were both drawn to an older home with a big yard, so we managed to find what we were looking for!

Renovation and additions is in our future, which, I am sure, will be full of adventure!

You can read all about adventure over at Jason’s blog. He is reviewing Mark Batterson’s new book and may have a giveaway….

I don’t even have the mental energy to come up with a catchy title! We have been in the thick of looking for a new house. We have looked at a lot of houses, in different areas of town, different sizes, price ranges, move in ready, need a lot of work, need an addition, and don’t need an addition. IT has proven to be a much tougher search than either of us anticipated.

But, I will say, we are putting quite a bit of expectations on ourselves. One, being a short mortgage, where we still have money to save and have somewhat of a life. J and I are on a little different wave length right now about what are top priorities are, which very much compounds the issue. One isn’t better than the other, they are just basically what appeals more to us.

As I reading the Word this morning, I came across this verse and it really summarizes what I feel like is going on with us right now.

Proverbs 17:3
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but the LORD tests the heart.

I know I am being tested in the area of the heart right now. I am really seeing where my priorities are and trying to determine if my words line up with my heart. Basically, can I really do what I have been saying we want to do? Can I live less now, so we can bless our children later and be freed up to give more than we have ever been able to? That sounds great in theory until I see what we are going to squeeze our family of 5 in to! It sounds selfish and superficial when you write it out, but these are the emotions I feel. My mind has analyzed, done all the pros and cons, weighted it all out. My head hurts and I am tired. But, I am seeking to see how God is going to reveal Himself to us. I know and trust that none of this takes Him by surprise, and even this small detail of our life has been planned out before the beginning of time!
My rest comes in the fact that my life is His to use. I may not like how that looks some time, but that is truly where my joy and purpose are found, as well as a lot of character building!

We have found a house that we like. It has a great yard, with trees and is over an acre. It is a remodeled 1970′s rancher, which appeals to me, tremendously. I can already see the changes we will make, which will include an addition and taking down some walls. There are compromises, but that’s just life.

keep you posted as it unfolds….

The last few days have been a whirlwind, I must confess. 

Last Friday I scored big time on toys at Target. They were 75% off, so I stocked up on birthday gifts for the next year. FYI, if you are a friend of mine, your children will probably get the same gifts at their upcoming parties!
I did manage to find a kid friendly hose squirter thingy. Whatever its proper term, it caused many a moment of glee on Sunday. Also, my girls learned the lost art of the hoola hoop, for which I am very impressed.
Here are some photos of our evening o’ fun!

Happy Dog days of summer!

Here is the latest promo video for our next series, Dare You To Move.

Who knew the wide range of talent our staff had!

Dare You To Move Promo from FBCSmyrna on Vimeo.

It is too funny!

Well, I missed my two year anniversary of starting a blog. I can’t believe it has been that long.
My life was much different when I started. Mainly, I had a 4 month old baby, a three year old and a 4 year old. I had to change my byline under the title and take out preschoolers. I now only have one preschooler and he is more like a toddler! I also was just starting to read blogs and leave comments. I still read a lot of the same ones and have added more as I find one I connect with. I have also seen many of my friends start blogs. It is always funny when people stop and ask about something I have written or comment on something I wrote about the kids.
The main thing is I am chronicling our family’s life. I feel blessed by people I have connected with through blogs, challenged in my faith and very entertained!
Thanks for reading!

Do you ever wonder the same thing?

I am the new guidance counselor at the girls school.

Now granted it is only ONE HOUR a WEEK. The school is adding a grade each year and it goes through 11th right now. So, the high school is very small, as is the budget. Therefore, I am shaping young minds for the future for only one hour a week.

Yesterday, I met some of the high schoolers and we began to hang out and chit chat about college prep, actual college and career plans and the dreaded ACT and SAT. Here was one of the consistent statements I heard:

“My parents want me to stay at home and go to…..(our local state school)”

I’ll admit that I have a definite opinion on kids going off to school. But, greater than my opinion is my desire to see these kids discover GOD’s plan for their college choice, their future. I am not saying that their parents are not wanting the same thing. I am just realizing that as parents, we shape our children’s idea of the world, of God and their place in it. Seeking after the LORD may lead our kids farther than 15 minutes from home. It may lead them 15 minutes from home, but my prayer it will be because that is what God desires for their life, not because it keeps me comfortable and able to hold on a little longer. And, I know this mommy will want to hold on!

I was reminded that I want to instill in my children a worldview and open up many possibilities for them. I want to help them dream big, not for their own glory but for the fame of GOD. I want them to discover what they are passionate about, gifted at and give them a vision for using it to honor the LORD. In the last few years, God has given me a passion for seeing students grab a hold of the idea that no matter what are doing, you can do it with excellence and point others to Christ through it. I get teary eyed every time I see a student on our church campus serving out their passions and gifts. I love it.

But, I think my job at school is more about helping with the ACT and SAT! Lord, help me and help these precious students as we figure this out together!!

What a fabulous first day of school we had. I know it is a little early to be starting school, but come fall when we have our 2 week break, I will be thanking the good Lord. We have had an 8 week break and I think most would agree that isn’t a bad thing!

Both girls did amazing this morning. We stopped at Parker’s room first and she just skipped right on in. She did get a little “dear in the headlights” on us when Jason told her bye. She is a daddy’s girl.

Emery, as well, walked on in like she owns the place. She sat down at her chair and basically tuned us out. When we were ready to slip out (I knew from experience to do this before they read The Kissing Hand) she tilted her eyes up and gave us a little wave. Felt a little emotional at this point, but I had to stop Bradley from running in to people as he was pushing his stroller down the hallway at manic speed. So, the moment passed and I was good.

Here are our two cuties:

Could they look any cuter?

Sisters, Sisters

First day of school!!

Emery’s first day of Kindergarten

Off they go!

Parker at her first desk!
Parker with her Top 4 Books Poster

On a sidenote, Parker has been reading a ton this summer and had to pick her top 4.
She chose Go, Dog, Go; Clifford and the Runaway Rabbit; Five Pies and Sweet Treat.

We are at the beach!!!

I love the beach so much. I love the sound of the ocean, the breeze, walking along the seaside, sitting and relaxing by the ocean and so many more.

We have had a great time so far. The weather has been a little finicky, but we are still enjoying our time with my parents and my sister and her family.

Some first for us this trip:

• Parker and Emery riding the waves. They are little pros! We had to go buy boogey boards, and managed to come out of the cheesy souvenier store without a hermit crab!
• Bradley swimming in his new Superman life jacket. He is trying to mimic the girls and keeps putting his face in and trys to swim. He will be in swim lessons this winter!
• Being here at peak season. We have lovingly termed this “Our big Redneck Vacation,” after hearing LSU and BAMA fans yell at each other from the balconies and the beach. We are used to a little less action since we normally come in early Fall!

• Having swimmers! The girls are swimming fabulously!

We are looking forward to the rest of the week. We are planning on having professional beach pictures taken, going to see some movies, date night with Jason, going to the driving range, shopping and more playing in the pool and the ocean!!

I will post pics later!