We are getting ready to move again. But we knew that was coming. The shocker is that we aren't moving to where we thought we were moving. All year we had planned to move back to FL. But God had other plans. Instead of going back to a place that we love dearly (I already had us retiring there and we aren't anywhere close to retiring!), we are moving to Guam.

Brandon has been thinking of making a slight career change within the next couple years and the opportunity came up for him to make it now. We applied and he was accepted. We knew that would potentially mean we couldn't go back to our friends in FL, but we were willing to take that risk. We could always turn it down. But when it came down to it, we knew we had to take the job. We were given a list of places we could go, we told them our top pick. They came back with a different list and our top two were to either move 3 driving hours from home or 30 flying hours. I was praying, and telling everyone else to pray the same prayer I was, that we would NOT go to Guam. We had just days to decide. Basically, I went to bed Saturday night begging God to change Brandon's mind (he wasn't even sold on Guam yet, but he was at least considering it), but the part I added at the end of my prayer was what did it. I told God that if He really wanted us to go there He would have to completely change my heart and make it very clear. I woke up the next morning and He had done exactly that. Trust me, I am still a little shocked myself. It was our decision, but if you know me at all, this doesn't sound like me. That's why I'm telling you God had other plans. I told my sister several days later that I felt like Jonah. I was scared to think what would happen if I refused to follow God's plan for our family. 


We have been in touch with a few families that have lived there within the last couple years or are currently living there now (they sent us these photos). They have all had amazing things to say about it. My fears at first were that I was going to be stuck on an island and not be able to do anything or go anywhere. I'd only heard good things, but never heard specifics and when I googled it I didn't find any helpful information. So talking to these people really helped. They actually have malls and stores and restaurants that you are familiar with in the states. (I have to admit, this news REALLY helped!) There is no Target or Chick-fil-a, but I know people in the states who don't live near those places either so I figure I can survive.

If you are like me you know nothing about Guam. Here is the official website for Guam. The question we have been asked the most is, where is it? The easiest answer is between Japan and Australia. More specific, to the east of the Philippines and to the north of Papau New Guinea. How big is it? It's tiny people. It's only 30 miles long and 4-12 miles wide. The weather? It is typically in the mid-70s at night and the mid-80s during the day. Every day. They also don't have a time change during the year. What are you going to do? We plan on going to the beach. A lot. And hopefully travel.


So you are probably wondering when we will move. We aren't exactly sure yet. Brandon has several weeks of training that he has to complete before we can move and we are still in the beginning stages of it all. But since it's overseas, and there is training that needs to be done, it will push our moving date back. But we aren't complaining. It just means more time with family!

So, we get back from the beach on a Friday afternoon and we unload everything from the truck and set it all in the room right inside the door. Nothing goes past that room. Why? Because we were going to load it all up in the van the next morning and head to the lake for a week! Saturday morning the kids had their last soccer game of the season. (already posted about that, whew!) We didn't have single thing in the house to eat, so we got dressed, went to Publix and bought doughnuts and milk. I know, terrible breakfast before a game, but we weren't going to stay home and I didn't care. We got to the lake and my sister was already there with her kids for the weekend. My kids LOVE their cousins. ALL their cousins. They shriek when they find out they get to see any of them. I love that. Considering the fact they have never lived in the same town as any of them, I love that they love their cousins so much.

Sophie always wears one of the amazing princess costumes that my mom has made for the girls. She got Anne Morgan to join in. They even said the fort that is out in the trees was a castle for Sophie. (Anne Morgan adores Sophie. She will do just about anything Sophie does, but she knows how to put her foot down. And it's quite hilarious when that happens!)

We have been dying to get back to the beach all year and my in-laws couldn't wait to go themselves, so we decided to go together. It was fabulous!! I always thought I was a lake person and not a beach person, but after living in Florida for three years, I don't mind the sand one little bit. I hate to say that I only have photos from my phone because though I packed my camera, I never even pulled it out. Sorry to those who love great pics, you will never see them on here. In case you haven't noticed, you are lucky to even get a post from me! (All 8 of you who read this.)

We loaded up and left on a Friday afternoon. The plan? To get to Lulu's in time for dinner. If you have never been to Lulu's I want to tell you that you are seriously missing out on the greatest restaurant of all time. They have the BEST friend shrimp you will ever put in your mouth and an entire acre (yes, it is an acre) of sand right next to the tables for the kids to play in while you wait and/or eat. Our waitress said they actually had a groups come in and complain because they didn't have paper and crayons for the kids to color with. She said she just turned around and looked at the massive pile of sand, buckets and shovels everywhere, and turned around and looked at them speechless. You want a meal AND adult conversation, but can't find a sitter? Go here. And let go of the fact your child will be covered in sand when you leave. Sorry, they have live music too, but that's mostly in the evening. We ate way too much friend food, the kids barely ate, and then we headed to buy groceries and then off to the condo. It was 10:00 when we finally went to bed.

The next morning we couldn't wait to head to the beach. We loaded up, packed our lunches and hung out for a couple hours. It was really windy and the waves were pretty rough, not to mention the tide that would pull you out there in a heartbeat, so after we had lunch (and the adults were exhausted) we headed back to the pool. Our condo was on the bottom floor, right by the pool. It was awesome!!!

Last week a friend of mine passed away. She was my best friend Erin's big sister. She felt like my big sister. She was the kind of person everyone loved because she loved everyone. I don't ever remember her getting angry or mad or acting like she was too busy for me or anyone else. She was the perfect example of a Godly wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend and stranger. She always had a smile on her face and made you feel like you were the most important person in the room.

Elliot was diagnosed with Stage 1 ovarian cancer back in September. Three weeks later it was Stage 4. She started chemo and saw numerous doctors. She smiled through the whole thing because she knew the whole time that God had His hands in all of it. For many months it looked like she was going to be just fine. She would have a few moments that looked tough, but would bounce back. Then about a month and a half ago things took a turn for the worse and never got better.

I've been trying to figure out how to even post about this because I can't just let it go. I can't not say anything about her. We may have lost touch over the years, but when we did see each other it was like we hadn't missed a day.

I remember spending the night with Erin and she would fall asleep before me so I would go into Elliot's room, climb in the bed with her and talk until it was way too late. I remember my brother passing away right before school started in 9th grade and she filled a void that I thought could never be filled (they had been in the same class since kindergarten). I remember finding out I had made the cheerleading squad (Erin did too) and running down the bleachers and jumping into Elliot's arms because we were so excited to get to cheer together the next year. I remember when she and her husband started dating. I remember going with her family to visit her at college. I remember her wedding day. I remember running into Erin and Elliot in Target randomly one day and finding out Elliot was going to have a baby. I remember going to her house for lunch when I was pregnant with my first child and seeing her for the first time as a wife and mom. I remember finding out she was going to have another baby, a little girl, and hoping she would be just as beautiful as her mommy. I remember seeing her at her nephew's birthday party, after she had started chemo,  being around her whole family for the first time in years and how happy everyone was and leaving with my own kids and breaking down because I missed all those great times we had growing up and knowing what could potentially happen to her. It was more than I could bear.

Elliot passed away a week ago today. I thought I had prepared myself for this kind of news. Things had been bad for a while. I'd suffered tragedy before. You still can't prepare for things like this. You can try, but it still hurts. I have cried off and on all week. On Thursday afternoon, Elliot's family had a Celebration Service for her. My mom and another best friend of mine went. We got there early. People were sitting in the choir loft and they had an overflow room for those who couldn't fit into the sanctuary. (The visitation the night before went on for 4 hours, and they still didn't get to visit with everyone that came, if that gives you any kind of hint as to how many lives she touched.) I held it together the best I could, but I want to just sob and not even care. I remember being her family and how children should never experience the pain of losing a loved one, whether a brother or a mommy. They had two of her best friend speak. Her dad spoke. I have no idea how he did it. Her pastor spoke.

I remember wishing that I could write all of everything that was said down so that I wouldn't forget it. But I couldn't think that clearly. But I found someone who did. And she did it beautifully. I asked for her permission to share it with you and she said sure. I beg you to read it. She also went to school with us. I did not know her nearly as well because we were in different grades, but knew of each other. Her blog will move you and challenge you. Here is her post about Elliot. She wrote several other posts about Elliot and I wish I could write like she does.

My two favorite things that were said about Elliot, by her friends that spoke were that Elliot was the perfect example of every one of the fruits of the Spirit. She most definitely was. My other favorite? Everyone needs to have an Elliot in their life. Yes they do.

Thank you Elliot for being exactly who God planned for you to be. Thank you for being my friend. I can't wait to see you again one day and to never have to say goodbye again!!

The kids played in their last soccer game a couple weekends ago. It was so miserably hot that the kids on both teams wanted to sit in the shade instead of play, so we were glad it was the last one. It has been a fun season having the 4 rascals on the same team and I told Burt he is getting extra points in Heaven for coaching all of them... again. It was fun to see Christopher and Nicholas get more competitive with each other at practice and during games. Sophie and Joshua, well, they did touch the ball and kick it. Most of the time it was from the sidelines when they had to throw/kick it in, but it was their first time playing and I think they both got a little shy once they were out there for all to see. I'm sure they will be more involved in the following seasons now that they have the "shock" out of their system. The older brothers were sort of the same way their first season. I didn't have a whole lot of photos from the season unfortunately, but mostly because we were busy either doing drinks/snacks (boy, those kids can eat!!) for whomever wasn't playing or yelling at the ones who were playing to go, go go!! But here are some pics from after the last game.