Day 4,271

The Kind Gifts from the Lord

It was, by far, the most peaceful, joyful, simple, and enjoyable trip to Spokane we've ever experienced. Between staying in a camper, reading the Bible with our cousins, witnessing mountains and colorful trees, picking apples, eating pumpkin donuts, wearing mittens, homeschooling with our cousins, riding a gondola, exploring a forest, rock skipping on the river, feasting with our family, celebrating a birthday, meeting new friends, and just living the life we live in Florida there in Washington, we are full and thankful. The Lord is so kind. What a lovely trip.

AND WHILE WE WERE GONE, DADDY DID THIS!

It was all I could do but to cry in thanksgiving for his hard work, persistence, extremely late nights, and love for his family. We now--OFFICIALLY--have a three bedroom cottage, and I couldn't be any more grateful. My husband, you exemplify Ephesians 5. Thank you for loving me so sacrificially.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church [fn]in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkleor any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to lovetheir own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no oneever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church,30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHERAND MOTHER AND SHALL BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH, 

Ephesians 5:25-31

Day 4,264

The Florida Departure and Washington Arrival

Day 4,225

The Fellar Friday

With a giant mess of a kitchen, the rest of the house followed suit. No available table, no available chairs, no floor space...BUT the school cabinet was available!! And we made the best of it!!! It may not have been the ideal situation for our VERY exciting and upcoming day, but it was just as the Lord would have it and we were still thankful that though we had a big mess, our God wasn't a mess and because of Him, we didn't have to be either.  

So, we worked. 

Well, *he* worked mostly. 

We let him be for a few hours to lay the floors that HAD to be done before 7PM.

We went to chapel--where I was thankful to have the opportunity to teach on another attribute of God to the lower school at CCA. They learned about God's wrath and how God is very angry at sin and as His holiness demands, is therefore right to punish sinners. They were taught that you cannot have saving faith without realizing first what you're being saved from: the wrath of God due to your sin and unrighteousness. It was a sobering Friday morning chapel, but an attribute of God's we all must be confronted with before receiving the GOOD NEWS of the Gospel. This Good News directs the wrath of God that we deserve onto Jesus--who never sinned--in our place if we trust in the sacrifice He made on the cross, repenting of the life we lived before Him in faith by grace.

 

After Chapel, we went to violin and followed it up with an afternoon at the beach. 

Our busy day gave Adam some time to get a good handle on the floor before we returned home for naps. I got a chance to lay some floor myself, and we finally finished our destroyed floor at 7:30. 

We hustled to a quick supper at Chik-Fil-A and made it to the airport right on time.

On time for?????

FELLAR!

Meet our new puppy, Fellar!!!

Floors finished and with no time to spare, we brought our new Chesapeake Bay Retriever home to The Cottage and a family VERY excited to meet him. He was a few days over 8 weeks old and the best little guy ever! Heater is quite a bit jealous, but in time, they'll be the best of buds.

Day 3,652

The Life in Flight

Daddy’s leaving Boston and heading to Detroit. 

We…are not. 

I was quite tempted to take the babes and surprise him in Detroit for the week of our ten year anniversary(!!), but we decided it was best for me and the kids to come back to Stuart instead. Though not seeing him on the Tenth will, well…suck…we’re thankful for faithful friends to live life alongside here. So thankful. 

Another puzzle down means that we’re having plenty of fun here, even without our best guy. Staying in all these Airbnbs and creating this particular puzzle has opened my eyes to all that we’ve been missing out on here in our little town and we can’t wait to explore it more now!

Day 3,627

The Rays Debut

Fruit Loops for breakfast at the hotel!!! 

“Mom, these taste just like Pebbles, only in circles!!”

Our one-night stay in Florence, South Carolina went just about as smoothly as it could’ve with only one adult and four babes. 

When we arrived at the hotel Saturday night at midnight, I took all the bags off the roof and placed them inside the car. I discovered Sunday morning that though I had initially protected our belongings from theft, I simultaneously left the key in the car…unlocked. Thankfully, everything was still there in the morning. And heavy lifting—this time all by myself—was the only thing left between us and the road to Tampa. I heaved all three fifty pounds bags up onto the roof—thankful for all the days in the gym over the course of my life—strapped them down (this time, no mistakes!), ran upstairs to rinse off, poured some iced coffee in my thermos, and hit the road before noon!!

Here we come, Tampa!

I even had a co-pilot for most of the trip! 

He’s never ridden shotgun like this before, but he did it well and we had a good time learning all about driving, listening to Harry Potter, and watching the baseball game!

HI DADDY!!!

*Kids screaming in the car*

He’s a Ray. For real! And oh my word, that was fun!

His debut went just about as well as it could’ve. In 2 innings pitched, he struck out 4, walked one, hit one, and got an inning ending double play, while touching 98 on the radar. 

We’re so proud of you, Papa Bear!

Just as we were arriving to our hotel in St. Pete, Daddy was descending with the team into Tampa. 

We waited patiently for him with lots of jumping jacks and push-ups. 



And finally, after the most unanticipated and full week maybe ever, we got our Daddy back. Oh thank goodness, he’s back. We missed you so. 

Day 3,577

The Longest Flight

4AM wake up. 6AM flight. 

Try not to cry for me. 

The kids did as best they could,

but solo on an airplane with four babes that early is recipe for trouble. 

But we made it back in one piece and are now at an Airbnb in Durham for the week!

Day 2,946

The Last Hurrah

9 suitcases, three carryons, five backpacks, one stroller, four kids, two parents, and a grandma. We. Are. Here. And totally depleted, but we’re back home!!! Whew. Glad that’s over. 

Day 2,941

The Dada Has Landed

Happy faces because:

DADDY IS AT THE AIRPORT!

AND NOW HE’S HERE!!! 

HOOOOORAAAAAAY!

We went on a brunch date to celebrate. 

Everything is just how it should be again. 

The Conleys go together like Ella Mae and cake. 
Fact. 

Gonna get after it these last few days in Washington! So happy.