a new home...for a little while

Quad 21 will be serving as our home for the next 9 weeks. The guys went fishing this morning and will start classes on Wednesday. Everyone is getting all moved in and I can already tell it's going to be very interesting! ;)

This room serves as our living room/great room. We share it with 4 other families. I KNOW, RIGHT!?! ha No, actually, the people we are living with are great. We already know all of them and they are all going to Brazil just like us!

The boys have made themselves at home...if home is where you hang your hat, anyway!?!

This is my favorite part of our quad. IT IS ALL MINE...for 9 weeks anyway. We've lived here for less that 24 hours and I've already washed 3 loads!

Chesapeake Bay

Today we drove through the mountains of Virginia and ended up on the Chesapeake Bay. We let the kids wade in the ocean and then we ate lunch on the beach. We decided to let the kids see a historic lighthouse located on Fort Story military base. It was really beautiful.

Driving back to Richmond wasn't quite as enjoyable. UGHHHH!!!!!!!

almost there...

Well...we made it to Virginia. We're not quite to Richmond but ALMOST!

Maybe some sightseeing tomorrow. We haven't decided if we want to go to the mountains or the ocean. Hopefully tomorrow I'll update with some pictures.

Looking forward to a good night's sleep. The boys are tucked into bed and watching Little House on the Prairie right now. I think I'll join them....

on the move

We have spent this week in Lexington saying goodbye to all our friends. We've had some REALLY hard goodbyes! We will be leaving for Virginia on Saturday morning so that we can begin our time of training.

I think I've lost my mind because I forgot my cell phone charger and so many other REALLY important things. My phone is completely dead but thank goodness my cousin is bringing the charger (along with baseball gloves) to us on Friday. THANK YOU GERI!!!

JohnMark is at camp this week and I pray he's having a wonderful time even with all the stress he is under regarding moving again. The other two boys have been getting in bed VERY LATE almost every night and they are struggling with getting up the next morning. We try to spend as much time as possible with our friends but the boy's sleep is paying a price. Pray we can get back into our routine over the next couple of days!

Sorry I've been barely blogging over the past month but life is absolutely crazy right now. I know that soon we'll be living a little more normalcy and hopefully I'll be on here updating more.

Thanks for your prayers...guys!!!

Playa Del Carmen

Mike and I spent a few days in Mexico last week!

It was wonderful!!!

bunk bed forts

OK...it's unanimous! The music is gone! I might bring it back again on occasion for Mike but I'll make it where it doesn't come on automatically!

I caught the boys making a fort out of their bunk beds today and it made me think of our old home. We moved their furniture here into mom and dad's house so they are still using it while we are in the states. (a little consistency for them is nice)

Anyway...I was so happy to see them making a fort again. I had to take a picture of their creation so I would remember it when they are old. The boys aren't in the picture because I wasn't allowed into the fort. I snuck in while they were in the shower to take the pictures.

the waves are crashing...BUT

But the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Matthew 14:24-33

Waves can come in the form of sick family members, ticks, mice, 70 mph winds, scary situations with our children, watching friends self-destruct, vomiting, bruises, staircases, death of a child with cancer...it goes on and on!

I SEE the waves and I ask NOT that you'd pray for them to subside but for me to keep my eyes on Jesus! Pray that we as HIS children, can realize WHO wins this battle!

For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12

A fUn WeEkEnD wItH cOuSiNs!!!

This weekend we spent some time with our cousins from Florida and Texas! We swam and played til we were exhausted but we had a blast!!!

Jackson walking through the garden with Maelynn

Fire pit time!!!

Angela with Abigail & Danielle with Maelynn

Parker, Logan, Jackson & Jayden snapping green beans

Parker and Jayden playing with the pirate ship

Pictured above: JohnMark, Jackson, Logan, Jayden, Parker, Hunter, Maelynn, Ana & Abigail

Listen to THIS....

The only 2 things we have left to get rid of before we leave are our vehicles! Mike planned on trying to aggressively sell his after he finished driving back and forth to Georgetown for work. His last day is tomorrow (Thursday) but had already listed the car online. We have been getting a few calls every now and then.

We hadn't been stressing about it because we REALLY knew that God would take care of it just like He has everything else!

ANYWAY...

Mike decided to leave his car with me this week and take the Sienna with him because it gets better gas mileage. This is the first time he has done this. He had no clue he'd be getting a call that very next day from someone in Illinois that wanted to see his car. They were able to drive over on Monday and see and test drive the car because it was with me in W. KY.

So of course, they are coming over on Thursday (MIKE'S LAST DAY OF WORK) to hand us a check and take off with Mike's Pathfinder. God's timing is quite remarkable, wouldn't you say!?!

A Really GOOD Week

Last Friday, I drove up to Lexington to spend some time with Michael and all of our dearest friends. Two of these dear friends opened their homes to us. Thank you Robert and Cheri and thank you Jim and Jennifer. The boys love you all so much and had a blast with your pool tables, basketball games, and ping pong! You both were so gracious to us in every possible way!

I cannot believe all that we accomplished in a week.

We woke up Saturday morning and drove to Cincinnati so we could spend the day at King's Island. The kids had a blast but most importantly Mike and I got to ride the Diamondback Roller Coaster!

2 Words...

ABSOLUTELY AWESOME!

Then after spending Sunday morning with the BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD at Center Point Church, we went to Natural Bridge State ParkWe had so much fun fishing, hiking and riding the sky lift!

We were wiped out by the end of the day!

On Monday, we spent the day at Jacobson Park with the Millers! We had a picnic and the boys fished and enjoyed the playground. They had a great time while Melissa, Lexi and I got caught up with lots of "talking time!"

And then, Monday night, I had an amazing Girl's Night Out with Dana B, Dana F, and Melissa! We enjoyed our favorite Thai restaurant and then spent a few hours over coffee catching up! Amy J...you were GREATLY missed! The Fab Five just isn't the same without ya!

Tuesday, after getting some much needed time at the salon and running lots of errands, Mike and I met our dearest friends, Peter and Susan for dinner. They took us to their favorite Korean restaurant. It was good! I was scared at first but Susan reassured me before the food arrived that I would love it and she was right!

On Wednesday, I was able to take the kids by our old house. They knocked on neighbor's doors, said hello, and gave out some hugs to their friends! AND Wednesday night, I got some Brandy time!!! WOO HOO! I miss you so much Miss Brandy! We ate at Abuelo's and then had Starbucks afterwards!

Needless to say, I've eaten out A LOT this week! I guess it's diet TIME!!! ha!

We're back at mom and dad's house now and even though it's good to be here, I'm missing my friends and hometown already! I realize now that Central Kentucky will probably always feel like home to the Powells.