One of my favorite things about our new house is all the wall space! When we lived in Texas our home didn't have many walls, but lots of windows. In our rental home we had one big hallway but that was about it for hanging photos and making gallery walls. In this home we have a nice big hallway wall and a few good walls in the living room, dining room and kitchen! I have more photos of the home to share but I thought I'd start with the gallery walls.




 Then hang your photos on the wall! And stand back and admire your gallery wall and all your favorite photos!!
 Some of these photos will change...but I love the way it looks in our hallway!


And here's one of my favorite canvases at the end of the hallway right by Hannah and Micah's rooms.


I applied the same principals for the gallery wall in the living room. Traced the frames, marked the hangers and got to work. I LOVE this gallery wall and I know the photos will change from time to time, especially in October when baby girl joins the ranks but it'll be my place for my favorite photos!! We've considered adding a vinyl phrase but we're still in the debating stages on that. I'll make sure to update if/when we do add something else! 
 I put a colorful quilt on the couch and it really makes the whole area look brighter and more happy! I just need to re-photograph it!!
Straight across from the sofa is the love seat with its own little gallery wall. Two of my favorite canvases and three little chalkboard painted canvas boards. I have plans for the chalkboards but just haven't done it yet. Will update again when I finally get around to it!!

  In my kitchen I've got some great wall space too. I started my own little gallery wall here and plan on adding to it periodically. I have another thing to hang above the handprint canvas, I just have to finish it. Do you see a trend here? I found the "fruit of the spirit" printable online and also the "love at home" online. 
 I haven't totally decided on colors for the kitchen but I think I'm going to go with a teal and green color scheme...we'll see how that pans out!


This is hanging above my sink. I plan on changing out the printables from time to time and adding in some scripture verses. This would be a great place for me to see scripture and work on memorizing it since I stare at this wall more than I'd like to!!

   And this is our famous "cross wall". I think the cross wall originated with someone in Greg's family because I'm pretty sure every member of the family has one someplace in their house. I really need to get a better photo of that framed print, it is SOOOO beautiful. It's called "Triumphal Entry" and was painted by a former athiest. Greg got it as a gift from Lutheran World Relief and Human Care and we had it framed with gifts from church members. Each of those crosses are special to us...some more than others, but I love how this cross wall turned out and it looks great in our formal dinning room!

*pushes boxes out of the way* Hey there friends, surprise, it's me!! When you read this we will be in full swing of moving...and hopefully almost done. Boxes are packed. Furniture is being moved. Toilets are being cleaned. Foreheads are being wiped. Eyi. eyi. eyi. moving is not fun! But the change will be good and we're so excited to finally have our own place to call home again. The kids are excited and we can't wait to show them the new house...that's right they haven't even seen the inside yet. But we've driven past the house a couple times a week since we put in our offer and they are super excited.

I don't have lots of time to chat and fill you in on everything that's been going on but I've got a few camera phone photos to share! It's been a WHIRLWIND, crazy month that I never want to relive...but GOD IS GOOD!

My little climber...nothing can stop her!






















This box packed itself! Better make sure it doesn't get lost in the move!

Naomi has been invited to a few birthday parties lately and I've made these little t-shirt capes for the little boys. They are easy to make and the boys LOVE them. This one was for Nash...now I need to work on Micah's since his birthday is on Monday and since he's asked me for one everytime he sees me make one I figured I better make him one!

And one for little John, one of Naomi's classmates.


My friend asked me to make some shirts for her twins first birthday!


This was a SUPER easy dress to make and I can't wait to make more. I bought the pattern here.

And I made two other ones in the same night...seriously the easiest dress I've ever made...and super cute!

Oh and our other piece of BIG NEWS! We're going to be adding a new little one to the family in early October! We are SOOOO excited and can't wait to meet this little blessing!!
Hopefully I'll be able to post more regularily again soon! I can't wait to show you the new house...but first gotta get things looking liveable!

Well, we've made it to Tennessee. We are not in Jackson yet but are staying with my aunt and uncle in the Memphis area. We decided to drive on Sunday instead of Monday so that we were able to take our time and make sure to make it in time. We were driving two cars with three kids so we had no idea what the travels would be like. All three kids did GREAT in the cars!

We left San Antonio Saturday morning after saying goodbye to our neighbors and our (painted, empty) house. We made it to Plano by 3:15pm. We had a great time hanging out with Scott, Kimi and their three boys and PB and Linda also came over for a DELICIOUS dinner!! Thanks Scott and Kimi we're gonna miss being only 5 hours from y'all. Since we decided to leave on Sunday that means we missed getting to see Eric and Heather and their girls...we also didn't get to see Adam and Chelsea. They will have to come to TN to visit us :).

We got up early Sunday morning and started the drive. It only took us about 8.5 hours to make the drive. We stopped in Arkansas for lunch and ended up going to a softball diamond and ate in the dugout. The kids enjoyed the freedom of running around. We stopped two other times as well. We made it to Memphis by 5pm and got to help my aunt celebrate her birthday.

Naomi and Micah have been battling some sickness for a while. It seemed to just get worse and worse as time went on. Friday night, Micah had a 102.9 temp and it was that way till last night. They are both coughing a lot and had green gunk coming out of their eyes. So, our nights have not been filled with sleep, needless to say. But we're surviving and making it just fine. We are enjoying a day today at my aunt and uncle's house (and another one of my uncles is here too) without having to go anywhere. Which is SO NICE.

Tomorrow Greg, Hannah and I will drive to Jackson and meet the moving truck at the church to unload his boxes and boxes of books, then we will go to our rental home and unload there. Still lots to do...the unpacking and finding places for things, begins tomorrow. I know the kids will love the HUGE backyard that our home has and they will spend many hours out there I'm sure. I have LOTS of photos to share but it'll be a little while because I need to get my computer off the truck and connected before I can do that.

Thank you SOOOOO much to all our friends for your help. Thanks for the help with watching the kids. Thanks for putting a roof over our heads. Thanks for the meals, the hanging out, the laundry facilities. Thanks for loving us as Christ loves us and helping us out. We're very sad to leave ya'll and can't wait till we can hang out again!!! I hear fall in Tennessee is beautiful, you should come check it out! We pray that God would bless you in new and exciting ways!

I'm having flash backs to when I was 10 years old. We were moving from Milwaukee to Menomonee Falls and my sister and I shared a bedroom upstairs. She would have been 16 at the time...I remember that I was supposed to clean up and pack what was in my closet. Not my clothes just the junk items on the floor of the closet. I must have been given a deadline, because what I really remember is sitting on the floor of my closet crying...and crying, late at night because I hadn't packed my stuff. I don't know if my parents told me that whatever wasn't packed they would get rid of, or if I was just so upset at letting my parents down. But I clearly remember the panicked feeling of having to pack. Pack quickly. And packing late at night. Not sure why that all happened, but I seriously remember it like it was yesterday and ask anyone...my memory is not a great trait of mine. The anxiety of that 10 year old is coming back to haunt me.

I feel like I pack things and then turn around to see everything out of the boxes I just packed. While I know that is not true and is not happening it's just how I feel. I know we have too much stuff and I know I keep talking about it...but it's what's on my heart and in front of my eyes right now. I'm glad we're getting a smaller house and will have to downsize and not get everything out. I'm really hoping and praying that this is the step we need to live more simply. But part of my problem is...I am a consumer. I like my stuff. Some of it holds a high sentimental value for me. So, again, I'm trying to get over it and get rid of it but it's not as easy as it sounds. We've talked about buying a bigger house once we decide when and where to buy, but hopefully by that time we'll have learned to live simply and decide we don't need a bigger house...we'll see.

God is working on me. I can feel it. I need to put my trust in Him. Rely on Him for the strength to get through these next few weeks. I need to realize that this stuff is just stuff and that the MOST important thing in my life is my FAITH in Christ Jesus as my Savior and my family...I don't NEED anything else. Well, okay, I do need daily bread (shelter, clothes, food) but really the extra stuff is just that, extra stuff. So, here I go again...trying to get rid of stuff and then when Greg throws something away I get upset...but the kids loved playing with that...etc. Sorry honey. I realize some of the stuff is necessary but I'm excited to get to the new place we're going to be calling home for a year or so and only unpacking what is necessary...then maybe I can have a big garage sale and sell my stuff to someone else!

Here's another picture of the boxes in the kitchen...the pile keeps growing!

I am overwhelmed. Full of emotions. Full of anxiety. Exhausted. Full of gratitude. Full of heartache. Overwhelmed. Not underwhelmed. Overwhelmed.

The kids are besides themselves. Not sure what to do, what to think, where to go. We've been SOOO blessed by our friends and their willingness to help out. The week has been busy and the help has been invaluable. Each day this week we've been surrounded by friends and I only wish I would have taken this time with these friends earlier. It's been incredible to "live life" with these people over these three and a half years and even more in these last few weeks.

The packing is coming along...but we still have a LOT to get done before Sunday night. We've got some help with the big kids lined up but could still use someone for the weekend. They were here with us all day today, and it went pretty well but I'm sure they were bummed to not really have us to play with them. They will have a great day tomorrow of that I am sure. Anyway, I better get back to the packing so my anxiety can be diminished. Just wanted to peak out from behind the boxes and say hello. Pretty soon my sweet computer will be packed away and not unearthed for a couple of weeks...I've got a post or two lined up for while we move but please come back once we get settled I know I'll have LOTS to share. For now, here's some photos of the boxes...ha!
The corner of our kitchen!
Don't think I can really keep them in a box can I?
Thank you so much to all the amazing people who have helped us out these past few weeks. Amy, Billy & Anna, Connie, Jason & Karla, Sarah, Gayle & Sarah, Chris & Ashley, Wanda!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!