Blessing and Difficulties

"You need both blessings and difficulties, because one without the other is neither."

Upon reading the above quote on my weekly email from Christ Notes, I decided to avoid blogging and get down to sharing somethings that have been happening in our lives...

1. We are still living at my parents, but have been looking into either buying a house or renting something in town that just became available. I often look at this situation as a difficulty because it would be nice to have our own place, my parent's probably would like their place a little less noisy (especially at 3:30 am), and even more relevent right now we will no longer have bedrooms to occupy when the construction crew breaks through the walls next week. All in all, I need to remind myself that the important lesson is the blessing that God has given us to have such great support. My parents have been wonderful allowing us to stay and even some would think over stay our welcome :) Thanks mom and dad!!

2. I have taken a job with the University of MN working as a Dairy Edu. Coordinator at their site on New Sweden Dairy. Not really looking for a job, this opportunity continued to interest me and presented it's self as a call to integrate my love of agriculture with my knowledge of education. I will start the new position on Aug. 23rd with some commuting to the Cities, but most days being onsite at the dairy or working from home. Lydia and Elijah will make a transition to a wonderful daycare in town. It will be a change, but knowing that they will be in the best care other then mine and Charlie's made it an easier decision. This new change is both a blessing and a difficulty because it pains me to think about not being home with the kids and being easily assecabile for our own dairy, but see this as a blessing for my professional development.

3. Our favorite time of the year is just around the corner... Fair time!! The Nicollet County fair is this week and I can't wait to take Lydia. She is talking so much and making so many connections to the world around her that it will be great fun taking her to the place where Charlie and I met 11 years ago. Then the best part of summer is here... Drum roll please!! STATE FAIR!

Our State Fair is a great State Fair,
Don't miss it, don't even be late.
It's dollars to doughnuts that our State Fair,
Is the best State Fair in our state!

Just thinking about is makes me smile. I love going to the fair!!

4. Oh and I guess some space should be used to update about the kids...

Lydia is a whirlwind of energy; going from running around in a diaper, swim suit or barn clothes. She likes to say "No way, gosh, actually, and lots of conversations about going to the mall park, farm, swimming pool in town, or any place that has to do with Daddy"

Elijah is a climbing fool. Today while I was at a meeting for work, Eli climbed up onto his feet using a stool and then just stood next to the chair all smiles. He is eating lots of orange colored solids, but not a big fan of the green veggies. We hear lots of sounds and laughing coming from our happy little man.

No pictures, much to my mom's disappointment, but I figure maybe that will get me to update the blog sooner than a month from now :) Oh and I should send out a challenge to my lovely sister- bet you can't update your blog before I do!! Looking forward to seeing if you can women up to that one ;)