Praise GOD...we're home!!!

Okay...short and sweet...we made it!!! After not leaving Middle Tennessee until nearly 11pm on Wednesday night, we finally pulled into our driveway in Florida on Saturday morning at about 4:30 am!!! WHEW...exhausted and exhausted. Can you say EXHAUSTED!!!

We had dear friends and some folks we didn't even know who came out of the woodwork to help us get it all in the truck . For that we were so very very thankful!!! We had to get a second (although smaller than the first) truck and so our friends Brian and Gloria helped us to get to Johnson City to Babs & Henry's house. We arrived about 5am, got a few hours sleep and after a bit of rearranging to get their luggage in, we grabbed some food, put some more ice in the coolers and off we went. Boy...it was a LONG LONG day. David and the girls were in the car, Babs and I were in the smaller truck and Henry had the pleasure of driving Big Bertha all the way to Florida!!

Anyway, we had no idea who would be able to come help us unload. I only knew of a few people that had said that they could, but PRAISE GOD...we had nearly 15 people there unloading all of our junk!!! How blessed we are to have such friends!!! Dear people that I have known for years and they just all jumped in and started helping. It was a little interesting trying to figure out where to put stuff...but we did it!!! So, now even though we are now having to step over boxes, boxes and MORE boxes...we are all under one roof and we are HOME!!!!!

Thanks for all the prayers!! We have a lot of work ahead of us, but as my friend Jenny said..."How do you eat an elephant?? One bite at a time" So...we are chomping away at our elephant and grateful to God for getting us here and for all the friends and family who helped us to make it happen!!!!

Okay...more later!!!

In HIS Mighty Mighty Grip!!

Cadillacs, Carseats, and Courage

So, Shelley called and is having a little trouble with the internet connection (read: there is not one) and asked that I, “Aunt Babs”, update this blog for all of the faithful readers. I will begin by saying that we love Shelley and David and the Girls, and cannot wait to see them this week on their travels back to Florida.
Although the plan was to come home on Sunday, we all know that plans never go just as we want them to.
When The Swindlers were on the way back to TN to pack up and move all of the rest of their belongings to their home in FL, they were in a minor traffic accident. They were rear ended while at a stop just before they were to make a turn. There was not much damage to the vehicle but David and Shelley are experiencing some sore muscles and discomfort. The Girls are just fine, Thank God for Car seats.
Well after that, just as they were pulling in to the driveway in Nashville, the Car broke down. It was three in the morning. Thank God for Cadillacs?
The next day when they got into the groove of things (packing, getting ready for the yard sale, etc…) the Air Conditioning went out!! Not cool, literally. That was another ordeal with the landlord and the A/C techs. (I promise that I am not making this stuff up)
They had finally gotten everything ready for the yard sale on Friday and Saturday and had high hopes for a good turnout, but apparently God once again had other plans. It was a BUST! However, everything that did not sell was taken to a local church that is putting on a rummage sale to raise money to send their youth on a mission trip. We know that every penny raised will bring glory to God. (So I guess it was not that big a BUST after all).
As it stands now, the plan is to finishing loading the truck Wednesday, drive to Johnson City Thursday, and on through Columbia, SC, and back to Florida on Friday. They are already physically and emotionally exhausted. By Friday night when we arrive in ST. Augustine, they will be ready to crash. Please pray for strength, rest and endurance. We plan to unload the truck, after a good night’s sleep, on Saturday. David and Shelley would love any help you can give. The more hand we have to unload, the faster the process. Remember to keep the Swindlers in your thoughts and prayers as they go through out the rest of this week and plan to make yet another faith move and follow God’s leading on their live. Thank God for Courage!!

I'm outta here...

Okay folks...we are heading back to TN today to sell off what we can and move the rest back to Florida!!! I have no idea how on earth we are going to get it done in the short amount of time we have to get it done, but God has not let us down yet!!! We will be yard sale-ing it on Friday and Saturday, loading the truck on Saturday during the yard sale and then heading to a motel on Saturday night. Sunday morning we are heading HOME to Florida!!!
Please pray for safe travels, a successful yard sale, the supernatural time and ability to get it done and safe travels back home on Sunday.
For with God nothing shall be impossible. Luke 1:37
We will see you back here early next week!!!!

In HIS Mighty Grip

My Gift...

Aly has this book that a friend of mine gave her. It is called "You are my I Love You" It is about a Mother and daughter. I loved it before, but it has taken on new meaning for me now that I don't have my Mom here. Aly and I love to read it together...

"I am your parent; you are my child I am your quiet place; you are my wild
I am your calm face; you are my giggle I am your wait; you are my wiggle
I am your carriage ride; you are my king I am your push; you are my swing
I am your audience; you are my clown I am your London Bridge; you are my falling down
I am your carrot sticks; you are my licorice I am your dandelion; you are my first wish
I am your water wings; you are deep I am your open arms; you are my running leap
I am your way home; you are my new path I am your dry towel; you are my wet bath
I am your dinner; you are my chocolate cake I am your bedtime; you are my wide awake
I am your finish line; you are my race I am your praying hands; you are my saving grace
I am your favorite book; you are my new lines I am your night-light; you are my starshine
I am your lullaby; you are my peekaboo I am your good-night kiss; you are my I Love You!

last night before bed Aly and I were snuggling and laughing and talking about stuff and I pulled her close and said, "You are my answered Prayer" and she held my face and said, "You are my Gift!" My three year old said that I was her gift!!!!!! My God...I am so blessed!!!!!!

Wow...if this doesn't just cover it all right now!!!!

Bring The Rain (click on the title to listen)

Mercy Me

I can count a million times

People asking me how I

Can praise You with all that

I’ve gone through

The question just amazes me

Can circumstances possibly

Change who I forever am in You

Maybe since my life was changed

Long before these rainy days

It’s never really ever crossed my mind

To turn my back on you, oh Lord

My only shelter from the storm

But instead I draw closer through these times

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace

Bring the chance to be free

Bring me anything that brings

You glory And I know there’ll

be days When this life brings me pain

But if that’s what it takes to

praise You Jesus, bring the rain

I am yours regardless of the clouds that may

loom above because you are much greater than

my pain you who made a way for me suffering

your destiny so tell me whats a little rain

Who are you?????

Okay...I seem to get about 30-40 hits each day on this blog, but I don't recognize many of you through my site meter. I would love to know who you are and how you found our little world on the web. Please leave a comment and tell me a little about yourself. If you have a blog or website, please leave me the link so that I can check it out.

Looking foward to meeting lots of new friends!!!!

Oh, and for your viewing enjoyment...here are some pics of the ladies in their bikini's. Thanks to Babs for the suits!!!! Of course she sent them and they are still in TN as we didn't know we would be moving down here or even here for so long. Oh well...

Some news...Miss Alyson is POTTY TRAINED!!!!!!!!!! She has been wearing her big girl panties for over a week now and has only had one accident (just a little while ago). Poor thing came in with tears in her eyes and her pants soaked and said, "Mommy...I think I had an accident" Poor thing...it was so pitiful!! She is still wearing pull ups at night, but she has gotten up a couple of nights to go use the bathroom, so I don't think we will be wearing those much longer either.

Anyway, it is cooler here today and a bit overcast, so I think David and I will be taking the girls to the park later. They REALLY need to get out and get some exercise...physically and emotionally!!!!

We are not having the best of weeks. I was pretty emotional yesterday with lots of stops in the road to have a good cry. Some days it just seems more real than others. Some days it all just comes crashing down around us and I struggle to get anything done other than yelling at my babies!!!

David is having a rough day today. I am thankfull that our bad days seem to come on opposite days from each other!! God is good even in our grief!!!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!!

In HIS Mighty Grip~