The List ... Raising Obedience

Green Smoothies ...
Boys, not a word until you try it!

This week was full of daily to do lists that often morphed moment by moment, increased rather than decreased as the day went on and could possibly overwhelm even the most organized, disciplined person!

"Letting go of every single thing, I lay each one down at your feet, Mighty Warrior, King of the fight, no matter what I face You're by my side"

This week was all about being flexible, multitasking, letting go of the details one would like to complete, trying new things and ... shopping!

Our muscles were sore, our Spirits were weary, half of us didn't want to do 'one more thing', half of us wanted to complete the never ending list and all of us wanted to sleep in and do nothing all day! Thursday, Joseph said "I'm not going there again tomorrow!" I challenged him to ask God ... Should he help at the base or should he stay home to rest ... If God thinks he needed rest for the day, then he could certainly stay home. This in turn challenged my heart with the same concept ... If God was asking me to help at the base 'one more day' than ... "Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to YOU!"  Friday we pulled ourselves out of bed instead of pulling the covers over our heads ... We are choosing to raise obedience in our Spirits, right?  God summoned, we obeyed and at the end of the day ... Joseph (Yup, he knew in his Spirit that God was telling him to help at the base) proudly announced, "Mom, we crossed off the whole "Hoover Boys To Do List" today!" As Saturday morning dawned, we awoke peacefully with the knowledge that for today, the work was done.  We were ready to host our first team in our new base! And then ... we took an afternoon nap as the rain peacefully fell on our tin roof!

Life at the Base ...
7 a.m. breakfast - 7 p.m. supper ... Cutting and hauling wood ... painting and painting some more ... electrical work, figuring out what goes where and "then, there was light!"... 24 hours without rain so I could wash and line dry 18 loads of curtains and bed linens ... building beds and more beds ... cleaning ... making beds, hanging curtains ... plumbing ... building a kitchen ... securing the perimeters ... cutting down and building up ... building shelves and tables ... moving, reorganizing and finding a new place for everything ... answering everyone's beck and call with the tools in hand ... multiple van loads moving earthly possessions from old base to new base ... Mama finally drove the van, I think Micah was more excited for the adventure than Mama! ... shopping for necessities and a few wants, probably my highlight of the week ... little by little, day by day this property was being transformed right before our eyes! The satisfaction of hard work as we swept the last floor, turned off the last light, closed and locked the last door ... It was time to celebrate with pizza, fried chicken and cupcakes!

You're a good, good Father ... Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights ...

 You have shown us Your favor unending!

Lunch time for this crew 

And then, there was light ...
transforming the dining room.

Thanking Father for this creative boy ...
he created a fun way to carry heavy loads 

"Mama, this is heavy, can you help me?" 

The task at hand ...
Thanking Father for Joseph's sweet Spirit
and infections, positive attitude this day!

Future electrician ... becoming a jack of all trades ...
Thanking Father for Micah ...
responsible and dedicated to get the job done!

Load # 2 ... with Micah as my GPS!

Stacks of curtains and linens ...
the other 1/2 was drying on the line

No, you can't have a new pet ...
No, he doesn't live at the base ...
No, Mama didn't take this picture!

Still time for fun and games ... Look Ma, no hands!

New bed and SO happy to switch 'levels' ... 

Thumbs up for PA pretzels, fresh cheese and Tostones ... 

Stacked boards from the tree that fell on our gate ...
"When life hands you lemons, make lemonade!"

Uhhh guys, Heredia plays tomorrow night!
True fans!

And one more time because I laugh every time I look at this pic!
"I just can't drink anything with lettuce in it!"
Pineapple, coconut, lime smoothies ... blended with lettuce!