I have not been able to bring myself to post anything about this until today. It has all been so overwhelming and it still feels like I'm living in the twilight zone or something. We found out a couple weeks ago that we have Chinese Drywall in our house. I won't get into the details. You can read about it
HERE on Travis' blog. It is a very scary thing. The gasses it omits corrodes copper, tarnishes silver, ruins ac units, appliances, electrical outlets, and who knows what to our bodies. I won't go into details about all of our personal health and home issues. We have filed a class action lawsuit. Yesterday we felt the urgency to vacate our home. We left to stay with friends of ours, Mark and Mary Similey (our youth pastor). They are an awesome family who has opened up their home to us. We plan on moving into a rental property on Saturday. I am glad to be out of a toxic house. I will sleep like a baby tonight knowing we are all breathing clean air.
Yesterday my dad told me a precious story. He said, do you remember when you were 5 years old and we were visiting at a friend's house? You came out of the back bedroom covered in blood from head to toe. (I do very strongly remember this moment - even that I was wearing a white dress). He said everyone around you was panicked. It looked like a horrible situation. Your mom even threw your baby brother on the couch (sorry Kev). My dad said, but I stayed calm. I picked you up and set you on the counter and began to clean off the blood. I wiped it away and began looking for what happened. And when I found it, it was just a very small puncture on your head where you got hit.
He said, I am your father and God is your Heavenly Father. He is not panicked but staying calm. He is wiping away the confusion about what has been going on in your health and your house. And it is going to be alright. What a precious memory to remind me of and how calming that story was to me. I tear up every time I think about it now.
We don't know what tomorrow holds, but we do know that God does. That he is in control. That he is calm right now and wants us not to worry. It is easy for me to let my emotions get the best of me during the day. I think about how Blake was born in that house, how my in-laws lived behind us, and how we lived there longer than any other house since we have been married. But I am also reminded that God's plan is bigger. That I need to just trust him. He is picking me up, wiping away the confusion, and keeping me calm.
I told Travis that I think God knew I would need such beautiful weather this winter! It has been the most incredible winter I have spent in South Florida and we have enjoyed every minute possible. This fire was in our back yard at our house in the Keys. Fun times. It was Blake's first time getting to be at the fire and we sure did have to watch him. One time he got Kourtney's huge walking stick and went to try to throw it in the fire. 
Mike was working on our house and inspired Blake to get out his Handy Manny tools and work on his own important things around the house. Blake is even sticking his tongue out like Mike. LOL!
This is Zaccheus. He is a white frog that camped out on the girls' bedroom window. He comes and goes. The girls call him their pet and named him Zaccheus because he climed up in the window.
While cleaning out the back yard the guys killed this snake (along with several scorpions - nice). Kourtney was happy to pose by it. McKenna wouldn't go NEAR it... just like Santa!
I really think Kourtney was hoping they found another snake! This lizard catching girl cracks me up!
We moved to Plantation Key to live at the parsonage on our church property there. It is a nice little 3 bedroom. The girls got to get a tv in their room so they feel special and mommy fit her king bed in her room so she is happy too!
McKenna dancing in her bedroom
The girls' closet
Inside the girls' closet where their toys fit!
Blake's room - we left the crib and opted for a pack-n-play and toddler bed (that is really just a toy at this point)
Happy to be home
Kourtney helping me with the dishes (we don't have a working dishwasher yet). She actually thought it was pretty cool. I let her wash and then I rinsed and dried.
Tammy took all the kids to the pool in her community while mommy and daddy went out for a date!
The girls are so cute. I love this age where they love dressing alike and loving all over each other! They are precious.
Valentine's Day 2009:
Valentine's Day 2008:
These pictures are several days old, but thank you Mark and Mary for letting us stay at your house for a few days!
