So Long Fare Well! (to my laptop and hopefully my apt)

Not going to lie.... it's been a emotional rollercoaster for me the past few months.

Lost my laptop that had all of the boy's photos on them (all of Asa's 3 1/2 years, and Emmett's first 6 months), and our wedding photos (excluding from the photographer), and some fun family photos over the last 2 years.  As well as all of my side work for Green's and These Are A Few of My Favorite Things Holiday Show.  **Geek Squad is working on getting this back for me, but there's a very slim chance.... please pray =( **

Finally had the finances to buy a House!!!!  Looked through at least 50 houses... found one!!!!  Prayed about it, sought council about it, put in an offer on it..... Denied.   Put in another offer on it.... Denied.  Prayed about it over the next few weeks, while looking at more houses.....  Finally, after not finding anything else, put in another offer on the original.... Accepted!!!!!!!!!!!  Oh, but God had something else in store.  The seller was going to write a check to a contracted upon closing (they were going to pay for 1/2 the repairs needed to the HVAC system, and we were going to pay the remainder come September when the system was installed), but our loan states that if the seller writes a check to a contractor for work to be completed, that work MUST be completed PRIOR to closing, and the loan appraiser must verify that the work is completed and PAID for.  Not normally a problem... except we still needed to save up the other half and it would take us 2 more months to get that.... and we'd probably be broke... and this just wasn't working.  I cried for 3 days, while pleading with God to come through with a wonderful miracle, while Brandon prayed for guidance, wisdom, confidence, ect.   I'm sad to say this.... but we are backing out of the buying this particular house at this particular time.  I mourned last night, but feel much better with the decision that my HUSBAND made (note... I did not make this decision, I'm waaaaaaaaay to emotional, and want a house waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay to badly).  I know that God will bless us for being patient and waiting, and that he has something better in store for our family.  But this was very hard on my heart.  Please pray that God will continue to guide us, and that he would provide quickly.

One of the reasons why we want to move so bad.  Our new neighbors.  It was nice when all of our neighbors were Walnut Creek girls.  But they have all moved out (due to reasons that I will not list), and now we have new ones.  At first it was fine, some of the new people were very quiet, kept to themselves, and it was peaceful.  But within the last few weeks, we have 3 new sets of neighbors... and I'm not comfortable with them.  It's to a point where, if I were to come home late at night (ummm... say Saturday after church and hang out?) Brandon won't let me walk through the parking lot alone.  Now imagine this, on a Friday night, when I have my children.  I'm not saying that there are people out in our parking lot with guns and knives and creepy looking faces.  But our new neighbors drink heavily out on there patio or out in the parking lot on their tail gates, and they aren't from around here, and you never know....  I know God will protect us, but I still need to be cautious.

Okay, so lots of things that the enemy is using to lie me into an anxiety attack.... it's not fun, and truth be told, I've been going to the Lord at least twice a week over the last two months just to lay it down at this feet.  I cling to Philippians 4: 4-9
^"4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 ⁸ Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you."

I know that this a lot, and if anyone knows me, I can say it a lot faster that I can type it, hahaha.  All in all, I've seen God be so evident in our lives lately, and I've seen him come through for us in mighty ways.  I've been learning not to put God in a box, but to trust that He can do bigger things than I can imagine.  And even though I didn't get "the house of my dreams", I know that He has the RIGHT house out there waiting for us at the right time to find it.  He has taught Brandon and I patience, humility, and submission this last week.  And we are very grateful for it.

Prayer Requests:

That Geek Squad would recover my laptop's harddrive so that I could have our photos back (i've learned my lesson and will be backing up to an external harddrive from now on).
That God would give us strength and time as we continue to house hunt.
That God would guide us to the home that He wants us to grow our family in (after all, we need one if we plan on having any more littles ones =) )

Here are some cute photos (from my phone) of the boys =)