A Time and A Season

(A little disclaimer. Often a misconception is that American's have lots of money. We don't. Just to be clear. We just try to be very wise in our use of it. Also, a house like this, in the city we lived, was a 4 bed, 3 bath, 1600 sq ft.... and was ONE SIXTH the price of the Piano House [3 bed/2bath/ 1300sqft] in Saba.... so economy is simply very different)


Over the months, we often have recalled our old home, and the joys and memories we had there. Though we are establishing a new life here and there are many things to be thankful for, we are okay with being true to our feelings and recognizing that we do miss some of the old things too. 

Hannah came up to me today with a sad face and said, "Mom, I liked our old house, and my princess clothes" [costumes we didn't pack with us]. 

So today I thought I would share a little nostalgia with you. Here are some picture of our old house when we bought it, and 20 months later when we sold it to come on our island adventure. It was a lot of hard work, many many many hours, sacrifices, and dedication. We did it all ourselves...with the help of some family and friends when crisis hit (in the hospital at 28 weeks pregnant with Sades for example). But all that elbow grease just made us love it even more! It was ours! We built the fence, and then stained it. We tore out flooring, and replaced flooring. We painted and painted, sanded and sanded. We scrimped and saved money, and bought products on sale, or used. We replaced the doors, and door frames, lights, light fixtures. We built shelves, and fixed shelves. We patched holes in the walls, tore out moldy subfloor, fixed windows, eradicated the pests, cleaned and scrubbed and cleaned some more. We tore out weeds, burned weeds, cut down weed trees, and planted grass and a garden. We built a chicken coop and raised 6 hens that gave us 5-6 eggs a day. There was only 1 bathroom we hadn't changed when we sold it. 

BEFORE

 

 AFTER

 See the Fence we built? (Brown to the left of the house)

BEFORE

(Floor was old linoleum. It was peeling and you can see a big hole right of the chair)

AFTER

 (I found painting the ceilings white, brought in a LOT of desired light in the rooms!)

(See the new tiled floor?! :) 

BEFORE

This master bath was the same barney purple as pictured in the bedrooms below.

AFTER

BEFORE

 (Nearly every wall in the house had the yellow you can see above. It also was 3 different shades in some spots as I suspect they ran out of one color and didn't have an exact match. If it wasn't this yellow, it was purple. The ceilings were also all painted gray.)

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

(Okay, Matthew didn't have time to mow the lawn before pictures... but at least it is green and growing!)

 (Oh, and we bought our house in August, so the tree's had leaves. We sold our house in April, so the leaves hadn't come back yet. but no, they are not dead)

 (This was our beautiful garden! Of course we hadn't planted yet as it was too early in the spring. But the year before it had been bountiful! This is fresh rototilled dirt. Ready for planting!)

(The bottom right of this picture shows some of our garden. We had pea's, bean's, zucchini, yellow squash, broccoli, corn, cucumber, tomato, bell peppers, lettuce, chard, kale, spinach, carrots, and LOTS of herbs!)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;

4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

6 A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;

7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9 What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth?

10 I have seen the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it.

11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

12 I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

13 And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.

14 I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.

15 That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.

It was a time and a season we look back on with fondness and love. We are in a new time and season, that we continue to love, and I'm sure we will one day look back on and miss just as much. All things in due time. May we bloom where we are planted. Until another time and season. 

The Sacred Name of our Holy Savior

I know with all my heart, that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the true and restored church of our Savior Jesus Christ. I desire to share MY testimony of its truthfulness. 

Here we are on a beautiful blessed island, and with one other person, we are the only members of our Church. Matthew is the only Priesthood holder (someone ordained of God, to act by authority in God’s name, to give blessings and perform ordinances). There is no established church or branch, nor are there even any missionaries. For 7 and a half months we have been living the gospel alone. We travel to a neighboring island to participate in church services and most importantly to partake in the Sacrament when travel and finances permit. (Approx. cost is $1200).

My spirit yearns for refinement. My soul desires to be cleansed and purified in Christ. And I know it is through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ that these things are possible. I also know that it is through the covenants (sacred promises) I have made with our Father in Heaven. I know that the Sacrament enables us to be cleansed and purified weekly. I know that the Sacrament renews and refreshes the covenants we have made.  My heart swells, and desires to burst when I contemplate all that the Savior has done for me. 

I glory in my Lord. It is only by and through him that I feel the peace, joy, and happiness that I do in my life. I know that as we strive to “be in the world, but not of the world” we are blessed and strengthened.

I testify of the profound power of prayer. I know that the Lord knows each of us by name and answers our prayers. He desires to be close to us, but we must come to Him. I know that no matter what we are going through in life, He understands and loves us regardless. I know that my prayers have been answered. I know the Lord speaks to us in quiet, simple, soft ways and that we must be seeking and listening. 

I share my burning knowledge that I know this is the Lord’s church once again established upon the earth today. It is not worth risking the covenants made, and eternal salvation, to say otherwise. For I know that in 1820 the Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith, who, over time, was called as a prophet and directed to establish this Church, after the order of the Lord. I know that he was literally given the power and authority to act in God’s name.

I know that since that time we have had a direct line of prophets. I know that we have a living Prophet of God, on the earth today, to teach, warn, guide and direct us. I know that as we heed his words, we can come increasingly closer to our Savior, our Heavenly Father, and have a greater abundance of the sSirit in our lives. I also know that we will be prepared to meet our God again. 

I love my Lord and my God. I know that He lives. I know that my Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for me and that He rose again a resurrected being, making it possible for all men to rise again, and return to live with our Father in Heaven.

I also desire to share with you my testimony of the Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ. I know that it is a true and accurate account of the people in the America’s. I know that it teaches and prophesies of Christ. I know that it is an additional witness of the Savior to the Holy Bible. I know that there is no other book on the earth today which will bring me or anyone closer to the Savior then this one. I testify that it was brought forth and translated by the power of God. I know that it is through reading the Book of Mormon that one can know the truthfulness of it, and of this church. 

I know that living the principles & doctrines of the gospel, are what bring knowledge, peace, understanding, hope, and direction in a world of confusion, heartache, turmoil, and a feeling of being lost. 

I am forever grateful for the opportunity I have to be here with my family, learning and growing. I am grateful for the Atonement of my Savior. I am grateful for the power of prayer and faith. I am grateful for the sacrament and other ordinances of the gospel. I am grateful for the priesthood power. I am grateful for personal revelation. I am grateful for the knowledge of life after death and that families can be together forever. I am grateful for the angels that minister among us.

I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true. And I so testify in the Sacred name, of our Holy Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

(Please know, I have no rights to the pictures in this post. They are a few of my favorites, and many of which I have bought a hard copy of myself. But these pictures, were attached from google, and they are not mine.)

Life in the Slow Lane

Once school started back up, we fell back into the routines. Hannah went to school from 8-12:30 and Matthew is at school from 5am-5pm. 

The kids and I grew quite restless. The smallness of the island started to get to us. And then a friend told me about a job opportunity where the kids could come with me! I was very interested! I didn’t even really have an interview, it was more like, “what hours can work, and when can you start?”. I was thrilled! It is an afterschool program for ages 4-12. I am with the Kindergarten 1 and Kindergarten 2 kids that come. I bring my kids along! For Sadie I either baby wear her, or put her in a stroller while I am doing activities with the kids. During free play time, and screen time, I let her get out and she plays too. Thomas and Hannah are buds so they both participate with me in the activities. It is so great! The kids and I get out of the house. The kids have other kids to interact with, I have other adults to talk to, and it’s only 4 hours a day, for 4 days a week. It’s right up my ally too! This is what I went to school for, and I love planning activities and helping children learn and develop. It has, however, been very challenging, as we are quite understaffed. I am used to no more then 6 kids per adult (per US law).  Yesterday at one time, I had 30 kids to myself! Granted, it isn’t normally that extreme. Yesterday teachers were out for illness, doctor appointments, and funerals. 

I was sick last week, I had a bout of Pneumonia, but wasn’t hospitalized and with some antibiotics am feeling much better! The kids each took their turns being sick with colds too. Poor Sadies turned into a painful ear infection which I was able to use homeopathy to treat. The kids have had fun playing together, and as always Sadie continues to climb on everything, but hasn’t mustered the courage to walk yet. Haha. 

Matthew studies in the morning before school, comes home has dinner, and studies until it’s time for bed. Many people have asked If since school is harder and longer, if he studies on Sunday now. And the answer is still no. It’s not that he doesn’t study because he is all done It’s not because he is just spending a family day. It’s because it is his way of showing his commitment to the Lord, and honoring the Sabbath Day. We choose not to participate in the same things we would other days. Such as shopping, working, school work, social activities, as we want to dedicate Sunday to the Lord. We have seen the blessings from Sabbath day observance in our own lives! One example is that last semester Matthew made the Deans list (top 7 students in the whole school). I believe that is from his hard work, dedication to his studies, and honoring and keeping the covenants he has made, which includes the commandment to Keep the Sabbath Day Holy. But it has also blessed our family. We soak up these Sunday’s. We enjoy every minute of family time we can get and are grateful we have Daddy’s presence this day. Here Daddy is telling them a story before naptime. :)

Other things we have been up to, would be playing on the new playground they are making just down the street from us!

And I have started exercising more often (I’m doing couch to 5k running), sometimes the kids come with me, sometimes I do it at night after they are in bed. 

We've also gone to the school grounds to play once or twice, the kids loved driving their cars out on the "red road". In the evenings I’ve been crafting and finished Hannah’s crocheted blanket, and a finger puppet nativity set! (From a pattern). Trying new hairstyles for Hannah, and watching my kids be together.

I can’t believe it is October already! I miss cooler weather, and really miss soft, green grass! Haha I of course miss all of my friends and family! But we are a 3^rd the way through! It is going by fast, even on a slow paced, beachless and beautiful island.