Great Falls

After a great month of July with my parents it was time to see our new home. We took off for Great Falls, MT and made it in 16 hours. Not sure I'll be able to do that on my own with 2 little ones but thankfully I have 3 sets of family between here and there. We arrived Tuesday at noon. Charlize squeeled with delight, "hi" when she saw her Mimi so we left her in great hands and Mike and I went to sleep after being up driving all night. The town is cute. Downtown actually reminds me a lot of Lincoln's just not as tall. There is a beautiful city park, residential areas are nice and the main strip (Hwy89) runs right through town and this is where most of the commercial business is located. Missouri River also runs through town and we saw three deer drinking at the edge of someone's yard right by the bridge. We met some of Larry and Linda's new friends for a picknick. Wed. we had non-stop apointments, banks, realtors, etc. In the afternoon we got to see a rental house that was available. Rentals are very sparse right now. One company owns 300 units and only 10 are available right now. This goes for apt and houses. We really liked the house and the price was doable so we filled out our application, today we were approved and we move in next week! Yay! I get to unpack! I'm no longer homeless!! =) If there were a fireworks symbol on here I'd be using it! =) Thursday we left our hotel at 9am and toured some more towns. After lunch we said goodbye and hit the road for AZ. charlize did great considering but it was still a long trip. We had smoke from a fire all across ID and NV. Got confused with consturction in Vegas and drove an extra hour there. Bummer. Drove over the Hooer Dam. Have you seen the new bridge? It's huge!!! Mike thinks as big as the dam itself. I felt really tiny driving by it at night. We pulled in our driveway at 6:30 this morning. Mike and I both got naps at different times but not much else accomplished today. I did get to the doctor and praise God things are still going well.

So what's next: The plan is that Larry and Linda come down from Montana and get their stuff from storage. They also found a condo to rent. All of us will pack up and move our things. I'll be there for about a week to unpack and then Charlize and I will come back to AZ until the baby comes. Mike will be staying in MT to get the store remodeled and ready for opening. Then he'll come to AZ in time for baby and we're hoping to have all of us up North 2 weeks after she is born. This is of course all with God's blessing and contingent on His will. It's been a very good process to go through as we trust God in every turn, change, twist, rewrite and blind corner. I know that He will continue to provide for us because He promises so in His word and this last year year has had no lack of evidence to prove it. Just the fact that we were only in MT for 48 hours and in that time found a house so that I can move in before the baby comes is just amazing to me. I'm humbled by God's good hand and His grace toward us. It's a busy week as we have to figure out what to keep here for the next two months as it has to fit into one pickup in Nov. By the way, last night I slept in my own bed for the first time since Dec. Ahhhhh! I love my bed, I love my bed, I love my bed! Oh the little things that make pregnant life easier. =)

Nebraska Trip

The 3rd one this year that is. What a great time we had getting to see all of Charlize's cousins and many of mine as well. My cousin Sheila got married and what a joy to see her at the wedding and meet her new husband, an Italian! It was a beautiful ceremony in both languages with much culture. The Flower beds are at the Sunken Gardens in Lincoln. Monica and I used to run through these planning our weddings as little girls. This year was the most beautiful I remember seeing it. We also got to go watch Papa cut down a tall tree. Charlize loved it. Everytime he brought down a big section she would yell, mo, mo! This was also the day she said her first phrase. "Mama go"!

From the mind of a 9yr old. . . . .

This week I've had the blessing of serving in VBS at the church where I grew up. It was amazing looking at a T-shirt display from years gone by how many I could remember specific lessons, verses or themes. I worked with 4th grade this year and had 4 very energetic boys in my small group. You might enjoy some of the following conversations.

Day 2. Topic: Good thoughts vs. bad thoughts. We have a cowboy theme so I shared II Cor. 10:5 about taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I told them it was like taking a lasso around a thought and taking control. Asking yourself, "Is this a good thought or a bad one". If it's a bad one, what do you do?
Boys: (yelling) (nothings quiet when you're 9) "Throw it away"!
Tonya: that's right. Then your mind is blank so what should you do?
Boys: ????
Tonya: The Bible tells us to put good thoughts in like Bible verses.
Andrew: But that's the opposite of what Star Wars teaches because Jedi are supposed to clear their minds.
Tonya: and that's exactly why we need to be careful to base what we believe on the Bible and not on movies or tv.
boys in unison: Oh!
Tonya: We need to listen to God because He is so wise.
Spencer: Yeah, probably even more than Yoda.

Day 3: Topic:Scripture is inspired by God.

Tonya: Why is it important to know that the Bible is inspired by God?
Boys: ??????
Tonya: It's important because we know what's in the Bible is true because it came from God.
Tonya: (writing) what did I write down on this paper?
Boys: (reading) Tonya is 96 years old.
Reid: Really?
Tonya: What do you think? I wrote this down. Am I telling the truth? Could I put this in the Bible just because I say it's true?
Andrew: No way, you're only in your 40's! No wait, 30's.
Tonya: Wait a minute, not till next year, I'm still 29....
Reid: (total shock on his face) You're only 29?!!? My mom's 43 and she looks way younger than you!!

What a blessing it's been to be around young hearts and minds this weeks. They are such eager sponges.

We're Employed!

What a process! During our trip earlier this year around the country we stopped in to see some good friends who live in Nashville. At the time we had considered not making that leg of the trip simply because of gas money but decided it was a good time to see the Howe's. Jon was just in the process of opening up his first Little Ceasar's restaurant and so we got to see and hear about his process of getting involved with this company. At this point Mike and I had been looking for construction jobs but were open to anything God brought our way. After leaving the Howe's house we talked a lot about their endeavor and after talking to Mike's parents it started to look like something we should at least look into. After much paperwork, study, thinking, planning and always prayer we applied to the company and Mike and his parents went to interview at headquarters in Detroit. Last week we were approved into the company and this week we were promised a reserved area in western Montana.

The plan: we will be looking to open several new stores in a three city area. (Great Falls, Helena and Butte). Mikes parents are headed up next week to scout out possible store locations. Then Mike and his parents will go to Detroit for 6 weeks to train at headquarters. This will take us up to the time that baby "Vernadine" (nickname--not real name) is born. Charlize and I will stay in Prescott so that I can make my baby apointments and all four of us will stay in Prescott until baby is here and I can travel. Probably Nov/Dec. The plan then would be to load up the storage unit and move to a rental in Montana. We're not sure yet which town our first store but we will try to rent near our first store. The hope would be that if God blesses with lots of business and good managers that we would open the rest of our stores one at a time over the next few years.

How do I feel about this?? Lets see: we need work; God provided a good job. I'm craving stability; this is definitely a long term adventure. I love new things; Montana is definitely new. I've been living out of suitcases since Dec 12th; I GET TO UNPACK MY STUFF!!!! I am so thankful for God's provision and He has definitely taken us down a path to help me see this as a good thing. I'm not a fan of driving in snowy weather but He has also commanded me not to fear so apparently I still need refining. (I know, a shocker to everyone =) ) I'm excited for a new adventure and excited to Mike tackle a new challenge.

How to Give Yourself a Hickey

So the other night Charlize and I were cleaning out the trailer. (I'm moving into the big kids house!!!) One item we found was her shade for the truck window that has suction cups. I showed her that I could make it stick to things. Namely my forehead. She thought this was hilarious so my addiction to her laughter only drove me to stick it to my head again and again while she squealed, "mo, mo, mo"! It wasn't till the next morning that I looked in the mirror and realized the results were not so temporary. And that is how I came to walk around Prescott as a 5 month pregnant woman whose husband is out of town with a hickey in the middle of my forehead. =) Oh my!

Catch Up

I know that it's been forever since I've caught up wtih pictures and video of Charlize so this is mostly a month or so old and random items but I wanted to get these put up.

Q: How does a girl play with a bulldozer? A: By pulling off the tracks and using them as a bracelet.

Happy Easter!


Hanging out with Grandpa.

Lincoln has one of the best indoor play areas I've ever seen and Charlize had a blast here.

It's a Girl!!!

Today I'm 18-19wks depending on who you ask. =) We had our ultrasound yesterday and got some great news. Our second child apprears to be a girl (much clearer to me this time than with Charlize who I doubted till they pulled her out) and is very healthy. She is measuring a little smaller than the due date that I've calculated but either way we'll schedule a c-section around the end of Oct. She was curled up pretty tight and we got great views of the spine, arms, legs, face, brain, heart. It is so amaing to see your child's heart beating with in you. This was my first ultrasound when I could also feel movement so that was pretty cool to feel her move and see it at the same time. Mike couldn't be at the ulrasound because of work in California so I got a hold of him several hours later and he's excited about another girl. I think my excitement comes from having grown up with sisters who are some of my closest friends. Even though it's not a guarantee that they will be close I'm excited for that opportunity for them.

Mike and I do have a name picked out but we're still working on the middle name and are going to wait until she's here to share that part. Last night I was cleaning out computer files and found some videos of Charlize in the first few months. I realized how much I had forgotten from the beginning and I'm excited to experience it all over again. Here's one of the things we are looking forward to:

We can't wait to meet you baby girl and see how God has created you in His own unique way.

San Clemente

God has again provided for our needs with a short term job. Some friends of ours from Phoenix bought a vacation house in San Clemente, CA that needs to be remodeled. Mike left last week to work on it. Logistics just didn't work for Charlie and I to go so we are staying in Prescott for the time. Looks like our part of the job will take 2-3 months and we'll try to fit one or two weekend visits in. So far Mike has been pretty lonely being in a new town all alone with nothing to do after work in the evening. He is getting help later this week from an old co-worker to help the project along. I think this life is effecting Charlize the most. Every morning she asks for her Da Da. Everytime she sees my phone she asks to call him and there are usually tears involved when we have to say goodbye. It's hard to see but on the other hand I'm glad she is remembering him and that she loves him so much.

Charlize and I have done some exploring and I'm starting to understand the labrynth of Prescott a little better. We're also starting to make some friends from church. The weather is so nice! 55 at night. 85 days.

Linda and I planted a garden which has proved to be quite the challenge here. Almost every morning we find a new plant that has been eaten to the ground. A little discouraging but we built some cages yesterday that should help. So far we have tomatoes, peppers, basil, cillantro, strawberries, rasberries, blackberries, carrots, onions, cucmbers, zuccini, watermellon, cantelope, corn and mint growing. We'll see how it goes.

The Ultrasound

We got to see baby Jolly today! Praise the Lord for a good day. We finally found a babysitter (thanks Molly) so Mike could join me. Thankfully everything they could see looked healthy and she said my placenta is attached high at the back which aparently is good. =) We got to see both lobes of the brain, bones in the hands, spine, face, femer. So fun to see what goes on inside and it's making me really excited about this child growing within. Unfortunately the umbilical cord was strategically placed between the legs so no "show and tell" this time around. We expect full cooperationg next month when they do all the measurements. =) This one was for the purpose of establishing the due date. They changed my due date by over a week but I happen to know they are wrong. =) Either way, Oct 27th or Nov 5th we look forward to meeting this blessing from the Lord sometime this fall as the Lord wills. He has been so gracious to us and we are thankful.

14 weeks

Well, I finally had a doctor apt. today. I really like my new doctor. She's friendly, informative and great bed side mannor. I got to hear the heart beat which is always comforting. I have an ultra-sound next Tues to confirm due date of Oct 27. (one day after Charlize). However this baby will also be a c-section as Prescott doesn't perform v-backs. They do not have anesthieiologists on location at all times and it could take 30min for the on-call to get there. Small towns sure are different. =) But, she said she always schedules for 39 weeks which will be fine with me at that point to go a week early. That also gives the kids a week between birthdays which is nice. My sister Jodi and my birthday are 5 days apart and it always worked well to have our own weekend to celebrate.

God has been blessing us with work lately. Mike has two small jobs this week and then two larger ones coming up. At this point it looks like we have work for the next 4months! Praise the Lord. He is so good to us.