Hello From Georgia!

So this trip has been very different. It is such a relief to be out for only a week! We have a quarter of the luggage we took last time, and unloading and loading is a breeze. So far this adventure has been a piece of cake:o).

The kids have fallen right back into the routine, without hessitation - except as we got near Memphis, Tennessee our first day of driving, Jadon asked what color the new house was going to be. We explaind that we were going to a hotel. "Nooo!" he cried, "We have to stay at a yellow house, so my new fishies will be there! They will be sad without me." And he started crying. Poor kid! He will be very excited to get home this time:o).

Bryce has had a very good run of installs so far, and is fine tuning and reworking a lot of the system with which installs take place. He's excelling at it - and is feeling very needed and good at what he does. It so much fun to watch him get all worked up (in a very good way) about his job.
The kids and I are enjoying lots of exploring time. We found a beautiful park on a river and with a lake, just off the Mississippi river. We visted a very cool zoo, and were about the only people crazy enough to brave the frigid 45 degree weather (in our spring coats no less:o)! We were able to whiteness the feeding of a hippo, have intimate interaction with a rhino, get a royal greeting from a flock of flamingos, who looked very much like they were eager to be better acquainted with Elie, and have a personal tour of the park on the train, where we sat in the caboose. And, these are only a few of the wonderful things we got to see. I think I really like visiting Zoos in the off season.

We've had very interesting walks around some very interesting parts of town... experiencing what it might feel like to be a minority. The kids make me so proud in how they act and respond to different people. They are accepting, respectful and full of joy. I've been stopped too many times to count any more to be complimented on their behavior and cuteness:o).

I am learning even more areas I need to let go of control in and where I haven't been trusting God to do His part. That's been my biggest challenge on this trip. Something about being stranded in a strange city without a car... :o). I've taken the opportunity in the quietness of the kids' afternoon naps to just soak in the silence and rest. What peace. I really enjoy that part of getting away from home.

We are heading to Kentucky tomorrow morning, bright and early! We're going to surprise the kids with a trip to the Creation Museum, and spend the night in Cincinnati, Kentucky. I can't wait! Then we'll take our time heading home to Michigan, with a stop over in Middleberry and Shipshewana, Indiana, one of our favorite places to stop and play as a family. It will be snowy again, and back to the 10 degree weather. We've really enjoyed the snowy winter, but I have to admit that a crisp sunny 45 degrees was an awfully nice break!

I'll send out pictures when we reach Grand Rapids.

Here We Go Again!

We'll be in Memphis, Tennessee by tomorrow evening. Another road trip for the Paulson family! Wahoo! :o) Actually, even as I type this I still haven't packed my own suit case and am totally at ease, as we are only going to be gone for about 8 days this time. Everyone else is packed, including the dog... yup. We're good to go, and after throwing a few things into my own bag I'm going to relax in the hot tub and hit the sack:o). Such a change from four months ago, to say the least!

Elie and Jadon are both so excited they're having a hard time sleeping. A good sign I guess:o).

Well, we'll soon have a link up so you can see where we are at. I'm not doing a whole separate blog this time, but hope just just keep up on this one. See you in Memphis!

Last Few Days

We have been very busy the last few days. Here are some pictures into our life of late.
Starting with Jadon, our newly turned 3 year old, speding some quality time with Daddy "at work" downstairs. Notice he's reading a home improvement book!
We celebrated Valenties with our neighbors, the Eatons, a week late:o)
We had a small impromptu party with lots of fun and games and treats.

I let the kids color a lump of frosting any color they wanted.
Jadon chose black! He chose that color because he thought it was the closest to chocolate:o)

They had a blast decorating cookie cuter cup cakes.

For weeks the four of us parents have been planning a surprise sleepover for Elie and Gracie... Starting at lunch time today! The girls were so excited. They had a ton of fun playing and getting ready for what the evening would hold:o) - so fun to be a little girl again!!

We made pull-apart pizzas for supper. Elie and Jadon don't like red sauce, so they got to have white pizzas:o).

Special pic-nic in the living room!! How fun! They watched the movie Ocie Nash while eating supper. After they finished pizzas, they pigged out on candy - pictured below. I'm surprised that they all stopped voluntarily when they'd eaten enough... so far we've not had any upset tummies either!

Sleeping in the tent tonight will be TONS of fun!

It's been a whirl wind few days, but tons of fun. Tomorrow we prepare to leave for another short road trip, where we will get to see Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Ohio.

Happy Birthday Jadon!

Jadon is 3 years old now!!!

I can hardly believe it. He is such a fun kid - full of life and energy. Very curious, loving, rambunctious, joyful, caring, fearless, and courageous. Very much a growing boy... no longer any trace of baby left (so sad for Mom!).

My favorite Jadon moment is in the very early morning. He still has to come snuggle Mommy before he can start his day. Elie's favorite Jadon moment is when he acts silly to make her laugh. Daddy's favorite Jadon-ism is his laugh!

For about a year and a half he has been totally in love with fish and fish tanks, where ever we find them. So this year we decided to do a Nemo theme party - with a fish tank as his present!
His birthday morning started with dough nuts and a present of aquarium toy to play with in the tub. A few moments later he opened his fish tank (which sat on our kitchen counter for two weeks under a lovely beach towel:o) - and was SO THRILLED!!

We went out in the afternoon to pick out 3 new fish that Nonnie and Grandpa Mike sponsored for him. He got a crab, "Crabby Pants," a sucker fish, and "Google Eyes," which we were told is a glorified goldfish. They joined the 3 feeder fish we got to help prime the tank. We were told that the feeder fish were supposed to die, but are still living!!! Needless to say, the feeder fish haven't been named yet.

Later we had the Eaton family help us celebrate with fish sticks (per Jadon's request), chicken nuggets, potatoes smilies and tater tots with broccoli cheddar soup and homemade bread for the parents:o). We played pin the fin on the fish, and enjoyed eating Finding Nemo cake and opening presents! A very good Birthday indeed:o). Such fun!! I can't believe we have a 3 year old now. Life is going by way too fast.

Happy Valenties Day!!!

My valentines present this year was two tickets to A Weekend to Remember marriage conference given by Family Life Ministries!!!
We even got to stay at the hotel, even though the conference was right here in Grand Rapids!

Kay, ladies, this was the best valentines present I've ever received. It was so encouraging, uplifting, reviving, refreshing and romantic. If you've ever been to one of these you know what I'm talking about and if you haven't - I pray you get to go some day!

We had lots of tears, laughter, romantic walks, amazing food, and honest open talks. Coming away from the conference I feel ready for life and so deeply in love with my husband. I felt affirmed and encouraged in my roles as wife and mom, and was so excited to see our kids again. Truly, it was exactly what I was needing at this point in time. The Biblical teaching and candid talks from the speakers gave us new tools to relate to each other and was so easy to relate with and absorb. We met tons of other couples in all stages, circumstances and backgrounds that we completely related and laughed with. We were prayed for by name before and all during the conference. I mean, really - what amazing blessing. I so totally recommend this marriage conference if you need a good dose of godly encouragement!!!

Okay, so our camera needs to be replaced (it's like one of the very first digital cameras invented!), but the Smurfs above are us in the hotel. Then there's me with the hotel behind me (I'm standing on a bench on a bridge). It was HUGE (and gorgeous). The Amway Grand Plaza, the nicest hotel in Grand Rapids, and it takes up several street blocks while connecting to tons of other impressive buildings via sky walks.

And below is the inside of the hotel - the lobby... one of the lobbies. The one we walked through on the way to the conference from our room. While we were there we saw at least 3 weddings taking place, about 5 different formal parties going on and there was a boat show, golf workshop and an opera!!! All in the same weekend.
Okay, so I was really impressed:o). Our room was fantastic. And after spending nearly 3 months in hotel rooms, I can say emphatically that I did not mind this one! It was luxurious and so clean!!!

Well, I feel like all I can do is rave. I have such an amazing husband - I can hardly say enough.
This has been such a hard year, and we've walked through so many dark days. All I can say is God is so so very good.

I hope and pray you are all experiencing His amazing grace and goodness for yourselves in whatever you are facing and walking through. And if life is particularly hard I can say from my heart and experience, hang in there, it will get better.

Cars need a place to sleep too!

Today around 3:30 pm I heard a ripping noise from the other room.

Now, our couches are used... a little worn and tattered... but when I found this I was a little miffed.

I got after Jadon for putting holes in the couch fabric. Talking about that's not how we treat furniture and we need to be respectful of others property...

He got teary about three sentences in, and started crying in earnest as I was coming to a close... I have to admit... he has me wrapped around his little finger at times - this being one of them.

When I asked what the matter was he very sadly told me he was sorry. I about cried at this point.
Then he put his little arms around my neck and got his nose about 2 centimeters away from mine and whispered, "But Mommy, where are my cars going to sleep?" Before bursting into tears again.

Of course... the arm of a tattered sofa makes a perfect car garage... right? After all, cars need a place to sleep too.

Elie is Reading!

We have been doing a lot of just laying around and reading the last few days, as we've not been feeling totally healthy. In the process I started having Elie give me letter sounds. Well, she started putting the sounds together and reading simple words - all on her own!!

I'm so proud - I can't believe it! I feel like it's a bit like when she first started talking, and only her Daddy and I could understand what she was saying... But she is actually reading!

Heart Bumps

Tonight Elie started cried about missing Grammy Ancy. This has become less common, so we were a bit surprised. Tonight when we listened to her talking she shared that she was having a hard time waiting until she could grow up enough to go to heaven. Especially because she has forgotten a song that Grammy Ancy used to sing to her about angels. The song, she said, is bumping around in her heart, but she just can't remember the words in her head. But that's okay, she informed us, because her heart is still singing praises to God too.

Paulson clan, if any of you remember an angle song that Nancy used to sing, would you mind sending us the words? It would make a sad little girl very happy:o).

On The Road Again

Yep, that's right! None of the details are hammered out yet, but it looks like we'll be jumping back in the car later this month. But this time it will only be for a couple of weeks, instead of months. We might be going to states we haven't seen yet - so that's a plus! Our kids will get to see all 50 states before they hit high school at this rate:o).

Woman

I think I have a bit more understanding for what Mary felt like when Jesus called his mom, "woman."
This morning at breakfast Elie, Jadon and I were enjoying a time of chatter and laughter when Jadon looked over at me and holding up his trash said, "I'm done with these, woman. Throw them away, woman."
When I didn't respond (out of shock) he gave me a huge smile and said, "Woman."
When I finally gathered my whits I said, "Jadon, I'm mom to you." He responded gleefully, "Okay, woman."

Well, at least he has the gender right!

Friendships

What better thing in life than girlhood friendships?

Gracie came over to play yesterday, and it was so snowy and stormy that we thought a spontaneous slumber party would be a treat. The girls LOVED it! Their first real slumber party:o).

I am struck by God's goodness as I listen to these two interact and play. They met when they were just 3 years old, and their friendship has grown right along with them. As they negotiate who gets to play what part, or with which ponies, or even what to do next they are quick to make sure each other has the best of whatever they are discussing.

It's no surprise that Elie would find such a good friend in Grace, as Grace's mom, Sheila, is one of the most caring and thoughtful people I know.

As we venture into our third year in Grand Rapids, away from family and close friends on the West Coast, I have to take a minute to praise God and thank Him for providing people here, who have made such an impact on our whole family that I can't imagine life without them. He truly has provided for all our needs, physically and emotionally. Praise God for Friendships!

Pinky

One evening Elie saw a picture of her and Pinky, before Pinky was lost in Colorado. She burst into tears and pretty much cried herself to sleep. So Bryce and I had the brilliant idea of purchasing a new pink pony from Toys R Us, and throwing it in the washer and dryer the get back the mangled hair look (that Bryce gave the first Pinky pony when he washed her). Our plan was to have the new Pinky "ring the door bell" and be waiting for Elie outside the front door, as if she'd walked all the way from Colorado just for Elie.

Well, our plan worked... except that our very bright five-year-old decided that because Pinky's feet weren't wet that someone had dropped her off - she couldn't have walked in the snow with out getting wet feet. While over joyed to have "Pinky" back, she continued her skeptical examination.
At bedtime just the other night Elie told Bryce that she was sure this pinky came from Toys R US, not Colorado. Bryce asked her why that was.
"Well, Daddy, look at the eyes... I think this is a boy Pinky who walked from Toys R Us and put himself in the washer and dryer."
Bryce said he thought there weren't any male pink ponies. Elie didn't hesitate, "Well, Daddy, see here, around the eyes? My Pinky had sparkly eyebrows. Well..." she said, hesitating now, "the nose is right... but the eyes..."
Bryce jumped in and explained that it's a long walk from Colorado and perhaps she went through a lot of trials and lost her eye brows.
"Oh, Dad," Elie exclaimed,"People don't just loose their eye brows!"