Better Late Than Never?

Well, nearly a half a year has gone by since we said goodbye to Arizona and moved to Noblesville.  The timing of our move, the ease of transition for the kids, Matt and me, the selling of our houses, the purchase of our new one.... every detail went so peacefully.  I can only give the glory to God for working out each and every detail.  He placed it in our hearts to move home.  We listened.  And He provided.  

So great is the joy that we have found back in Indiana.  

The kids think snow is completely awesome.  In fact, Chloie asked me last week when it was going to snow again because "that was so so so so so much fun."  Currently, she adds emphasis to any statement by repeating words.  For instance, she'll randomly tell me, "I love and love and love and love Daddy."  (And sometimes she loves and love and loves me... but not as much as Daddy it would seem.) 

Owen found some cool new ways to play with his big push toys.  Snow makes great tracks.  You can load it up and dump it anywhere.  And it's so light!

I can't remember... because it was six months ago.... But I know the kids were so cute about these snow angels.  I think they must have seen it on a television show in Arizona and didn't get it until Owen laid his little body in the snow and swung his arms and feet like crazy.  We had a full chorus of snow angels in our yard!

The love grown between the kids and their grandparents and aunts and uncles and cousins is priceless.  They were always so shy around their grandparents, usually warming up about the time we'd board the plane to go home.  But now they can't wait to jump in a tractor, take a road trip, go out to dinner or just spend time with all their extended family.  

We took a trip to the Farm Machinery Show in Louisville this winter with Grandma and Grandpa Davis.  When we asked Chloie on the ride down to the show what she hoped to see, she said, "a pink tractor."  Well, we laughed and thought she was cute, but sitting right there in the middle of the show was her little pink tractor!  I'm a little surprised Grandpa didn't buy it and bring it home for her.

The best part of moving away is realizing how beautiful Home really was all the time.... I just looked past it, took it for granted, found it annoying when it wasn't perfect. Like so many other things in life I focused on the negative and let the beautiful parts slip away.  Well, I spent lots of time smelling the spring and watching the world unfold and being grateful to the One who made it all.

Worms!  Evidently there weren't any worms crawling around the Arizona sand.  The kids were quite fascinated with these little critters this spring.

Sweet Chloie turned 3 this spring.  It wasn't the same crowd, but we still found a bounce house and some barbecue, beer and cake... and few kids to bounce with us.

Oops... bounced a little too hard.  But always a willing Grandma to help out!

The beer is not actually for the children.... though it does appear that way.

Weird protective brother mode before the singing... "I got your back Chloie if you need help with those candles.  I've done this one time more than you so I'm very experienced..."  Maybe he was thinking???

And we did wait awhile on those candles to be blown out.

Owen's farming desires have gone into overdrive now that he's around the farm more.  Owen came in the house looking for tools one day to work on his tractor.  "Has an oil leak and I just can't figure it out!" he claimed.  I went to the garage and found his tractor jacked up just like this.

He gets some help from Chloie too. 

We spent much of the early spring cutting down trees and removing brush to add some tillable acres.  Disc it up, Matt and Owen!

Owen has also started a severe southern twang since moving back to Indiana.  I really have no idea where he gets it, but it certainly gets stronger when he's on the farm.  It's getting late, and I'm getting tired or else I'd try harder to mimic this ridiculousness.

"Take a picture with me rotten little kids!!"

Chloie was mad this particular day because I didn't pack her "work pants" for the farm.  These would be super cute pink jeans with fancy pockets, but they are her work pants.  Anyway, she was so mad that I didn't bring these she  insisted on wearing Owen's pants.  Just thought her attire needed an explanation.

Owen will ride in the tractor all day and all night rarely fussing or falling asleep.... unless they're putting on anhydrous.

Well, that certainly is a condensed version of the first few months of Indiana life.  I can't speak for Matt, but I know that he is overjoyed at being present on his farm every weekend.  He's in Greensburg putting some anhydrous on the corn planted above tonight, and I'm sure he couldn't be happier doing anything else at the moment.  And as for me, God knew I needed to be right here while Dad goes through the tremendous trial of brain cancer.  Not that I am much consolation or help to him, but I would be a mess living so far away during these past couple of months.  Just being near Dad and Mom and my siblings and their spouses and nieces and nephews helps me feel the affects of God's grace in those moments of  peace and joy and love we share together.