Praise The Lord! That's all that comes to mind! We are 3 weeks-4 weeks into this homeless/camper living situation. We have only spent 1 night away in the hotel, I think we are doing pretty good:) Week 3 was off to a good start! I can tell that things were calming down, moods were settling & adjusting to this new season a bit easier. Kids are sounding more like my playful happy kids:). Hallelujah!! :) Over all I don't think this transition is horrible, I think it was just a shock at first to all of us as to how much was ripped away at once! But honestly we are enjoying being close & the craziness of all this. I really don't know how we are going to feel & what we're going to do when the kids are more then 7 feet from us;) Yes, the space will probably be nice, but it will be like, wow, where is so & so & man i can walk without having to step over someone or something ;)lol After much searching I finally found the kids school books, so I was a happy momma! Although I do believe they are a bit bummed lol but it's amazing how getting back to finishing school (a normal Routine) has helped get us back to the norm & feeling like we have a schedule! Its not like they have a lot of work to do either. They are finished with everything except math.
Although its been pretty hot outside, we have endured it & enjoyed playing with nature:) We have rigged things up to make it not so hot. Yes it is 100% complete redneck, but gotta do what ya gotta do! After having a week with the heat we had(and its only going to get hotter as summer comes) I think we have encountered our first ''miss'' of our old place-the pool! But shoot, thats little, we just have to be more creative:) Take advantage of when friends do ask us over:) Kids are having a blast with our make shift stuff & we are living life, so that's all that matters!!
It's Thursday & I've ruined 2 dinners so far this week. That is NOT normal for me haha but it's hard when you don't really have any dishes(yes mine are some where in the unorganized house in storage lol) or seasonings. Plus the more I try & cook, the more ants we seem to get(I'll explain that later). So we've mostly ended up eating out. I'm thinking tonight's dinner will be a success though :) BBQ chicken sandwiches made in the crock pot. I think if I could find more recipes for the crock pot, we could eat more at the camper. Just running out of ideas:) Regardless just feeling super content & happy! :) It's a for sure day by day process & ya just never know what adventure, struggle or victory the day is going to hold.
We are making this all work & enjoying the processes, well some days haha, we are thriving, we are succeeding. We are humbled & so grateful for this opportunity God has given us. We are so thankful for His mercy every day, for His grace & for New days!
I think one of the main things I have gotten burnt out on lately is the rude or ''not thinking'' comments we have gotten from some friends & mainly family from anything to this whole living situation to my pregnancy. Either people teasing & laugh at our situation(which ya gotta do sometimes) :) but sometimes lets be honest, its not always a laugh & you're aren't always in the mood to be teased about how you're living in a camper. Lately comments about how my pregnancy is a joke, the way I look is a joke. That I don't truly understand how hard & uncomfortable pregnancy is & can be because I don't get huge. That its easy, I just whoop, 9 months later pop out this baby. Wow, really?!? Yea I'll leave that alone :) haha
I can honestly say that I wouldn't want to go through life, joyous seasons or rough seasons with anyone other than God & Adam. Out of the ordinary seasons, challenges, can really show you your true family or true friends! Not going to lie that at times Adam & I have felt very alone in this process! And not saying there is anything wrong with that! I think God has wanted us more in touch with Him & more dependent on Him. We are fully trusting & relying on Him. But at times it has gotten lonely not really talking or seeing people.
Things have been different here lately & a little extra busy, crazy & out of the ordinary. Been busy trying to get settled, with sickness, or trying to pick things out for new house. Every time I turn around I feel like I'm disappointing someone, letting them down & just not being good enough. So thats been a little rough & has weighed on Adam & I a little. It makes me want to just isolate & put up a wall. I'm working hard at NOT doing that, but sometimes I'm just afraid to talk with anyone cause I'm afraid of the comments that are going to come out of their mouth.
It's the weekend...and guess what?? It's raining! Yippee lol what to do what to do:) Maybe if everyone is feeling good & the rains stops for a little bit, we can pick strawberries! :) We love picking all the different fruits!! :) Cherries are probably my favorite then strawberries, apples then blueberries :)
Last night was a little bit of a long night though of being up with Lofton from like 2-4. Ashton had the throw up virus Thursday night. He had his tournament game & was kind of playing off & acting quiet but he didn't say anything. He then walked out of the dugout & came over to me started to say my tummy hurts & he threw up all down my legs & all over the place. He was burning up! Well I guess game is over:) He threw up 5 more times before we got back to camper. It was a long night & then all day Friday he just laid around. Adam took the older 2 to Six Flags for homeschool day & I stayed home with the younger 3. It was a movie, chill day. I'm praying no one else gets what Ashton had! Last night Lofton seemed to have diarrhea a lot, not sure what that's about. Hopefully the worst is behind us & we are moving forward!
Well...that staying at just Ashton & low key didn't last long!:( We seemed in the all clear all day on Saturday. Everyone seemed great! Took the kids strawberry picking, had a blast! Come Saturday night in the middle of the night so I guess actually really EARY Sunday morning at like 2am, Houston starts throwing up. Man, learning another grateful moment...The older they get the easier it is when they have nights like this! Ashton was all nice & calm & threw up in cups all night....yea, Houston....not so much! I think he threw up from their back room floor all the way to our room & managed to get it on Loftons pack n play. :) it's all good, just a lot messier lol. So it's 4am by now & yes I'm writing stuff down cause he's already thrown up 3 more times, & nothing else to do in between throw ups:) Adam, myself, Houston & Lofton are all up. Yes at 3am. How could Lofton not get up with someone almost throwing up on their head;) & all the lights are on. Which leads me to laying on couch monitoring Houston, (how I got the throw up job, I don't know....I just might be ADDING to the amount of throw up ha) and Adam is laying in our bed trying to get Lofton back to sleep. What's the talley so far??? Throw up virus 2, Smiths 5...we still ahead :) really praying if its gonna knock us out, it does it fast! Not sure I can take a whole other week of no sleep!
Well guess that didn't take long...starting at 7am this morning Lofton started throwing up:( So now I've got Houston & Lofton on the couch under a bunch of towels & pots & bowls sitting next to them! They are just pitiful! Hate when my babies are sick! Adam is highly thinking of going to a hotel...it's been pouring all night & going to rain all day. Kids can't go outside which means we are all stuck inside & I'm trying to keep the sick ones & their mess away from everyone else, I have towels & buckets everywhere. :) Going through clothes & towels like crazy. :) guess we will for sure have to hook up to do some laundry tonight! Just when you're done cleaning up one mess, there is another ''mess'' to clean up. Right now we just toss all our trash out the door to avoid the rain. In the mean time of cleaning throw-up up, Lofton somehow managed to push on the door & fell all the way down the camper stairs & landed on his back. Fell head first so I run to the door & see blood gushing from his head! No words can express my thoughts & feelings! Dear Lord what else?!?! Adam & I have to hold him putting pressure on his head with him screaming for a while to stop the amount of blood coming out. Finally he just laid in my lap & it slowly was bleeding. Thankfully it doesn't look like he needs stitches, but poor boy has had it rough, throwing up, diarrhea, busted head! Thank you Jesus for His protection! It could have been so much worse. Well now we are stomach virus 3, Smiths 4. Taking lots of deep breaths :)
Breathing out I cant do this, I am weak, Breathing IN, Christ in me! :) He is strong! Through Him, I can do this! Over all, I cant & shouldnt complain! Week 3 1/2 is still going smoother then before(which I am grateful), just a few bumps in the road. Nothing we can't smooth out!
I will say I'm seriously soooooooo exhausted though! Words can't express how tired I am!!! I can't seem to keep my eyes open! What is wrong with me?!?! I seriously feel like someone slipped me sleeping pills when I wasn't looking. I need some energy for this next week ahead!! :)
Whelp, I have to say I'm thankful that the latest victim of the throw up virus didn't happen in the middle of the night last night. ;) So I think I might have actually gotten a few hours of sleep!
Poor Landon was the next to be hit by the virus:( I could tell it was coming too! I text Adam about 20mins before he started throwing up & said I think he's next...sure enough he started throwing up around noon! Seem as though they are all getting it about 12-24hrs apart. As soon as Landon started Juliana looks at me & says, ''oh no I'm next'' lol I just laughed and said well ya never know. It could end there or there's mommy & daddy. Then we all started laughing saying we didn't want daddy to get it cause he would act like he's dying & then if I got it no one would care or think twice cause I always am throwing up haha. Trying to make light of all this! Actually despite all that we have had to deal with & the circumstances I think we have some pretty good attitudes going on & handling things pretty good! We have our rough moments for sure(as I've written about) but I'm pretty proud of us for just rolling with the punches! :)
This morning right before the virus hit again, I got a text from a friend & it was just nice to know we have friends out there praying! And I'm not talking about saying they are praying like most people do, but actually praying! She wrote... ''I couldn't not imagine being in your shoes. I am really in aw of all you are walking through. All I really know is that you've closed on one house and waiting for the other and you mentioned living in the camper so I know you have got the world on your shoulders so Im praying Gods presence just invades you like never before and you feel a peace that passes all understanding coming from the holy spirit. I ask Lord Jesus to touch and heal all your family in Jesus name! Satan you have no authority over this Smith family and we pray against your workings and speak life, wellness, peace and rest over them all in the name of jesus!'' It was so refreshing & encouraging to hear those prayers! I am not doing anything, it is ALL through HIM! A lot of people say oh yea I'll be praying for you, whether they do or not I don't know, but when friends REALLY pray & pray over is you a whole other thing! To be honest I have really missed that in our life! Reaching out & laying hands on our families & friends & really praying! Having & letting the Holy Spirit just flow through & do His work! The friends of ours that Adam rents his shop from have been so so supportive & awesome! We all used to go to church together but we have moved on & so have they, but it's nice to still be friends. They have been so open & willing to have us stay in our camper at the shop, even though Adam rents it, they didn't have to let us live here. They have opened their business up for us to get water & they walk up every now & then to say hi:) Adam was sharing with them a little bit about all we have going on & they were asking how I was doing & Adam was just sharing about how I was sick with pregnancy but also how I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease & it's been rough. Immediately without hesitation the first thing they said was ''where is she? Lets lay hands on her & pray over her & get her her healing''. Now for some, like my family, that might sounds crazy or you may not believe in that. But to us, that's what it's all about! Being HIS hands & feet & letting HIM use us! That's what I have been longing for & missing, someone to just lay hands on me, pray & just believe! We have some friends that go to a church that has a Healing night of prayer. I can't wait to be able to go. Even after baby girl gets here, I don't want to be on medicine my whole life to treat this disease, I want healing!
Anyways, I know I went off in left field there. :) I'm just really thankful for the few friends God has placed in our life that's really willing to reach out, offer their home for us to take a bath in( not that I can get myself to do that lol, but it's nice that they offer), & willing to be in deep prayer for us! This season has had its bumps in the road, but its also had lots of good laughs & fun memories that we will remember forever! A season to show us just how strong we are & through Him, all we can accomplish! I feel so unworthy of anything else! How can I complain & just wish this season to end?!? This is life, I want to embrace the easy & rough parts of life & not just wish them to hurry & pass:) There are friends that I know of who are going through so much worse & more challenging & so this is nothing!!! I think about all these people who have suffered from bombs, shootings & tornados. Seriously, This is a walk in the park, minuet to all that! But I also have to remind myself that everyone's struggle & challenge is big & important in different ways! We all need support, we all need love & we most certainly all need prayer!! We must remain focus on Him! As long as we complain, we remain stuck in our problems. And I dont really think of our situation as a problem. But a thankful attitude brings deliverance and makes God smile! I want to teach my kids that life throws ya curve balls some times, things unexpected happen sometimes! You gotta keep moving forward with a thankful heart. Well at least give it your all & try to :) Trying not to feel guilty when I do struggle though & we do have a rough day! We are human! And sometimes you can only keep your head up for so long. We are allowed to fall. Because thankfully HE is always there to pick us up!
Which is why I found myself kind of bummed this week & needed to remind myself that it's all about His timing & He has a purpose & a plan! Adam talked with the realtor today to see how things were going with that houses' bank. Our closing date is set for June 6, but we have been hoping that they would be ready before then. Last week Adam found out I wasn't on the deed or title or something & asked to add me. No biggie our banker said! So I signed a few papers & it was done. Come to find out today that their bank was all ready to close, thankfully, but when they saw I was added that stopped the processes & they now have to redo a bunch of papers for the closing. Ahhhhh why?!?!? Lol We have been hoping it would happen early & now we are back where we started. Oh well, it's all good. Just more waiting, patiently for June 6th :)
We stopped by the house the other day, just to look around at all we needed to buy to fix it up. I think the kids enjoyed being there & reminding ourselves what we are waiting for:) Lofton ran in the house, turned around & gave us the biggest smile ever, then tuned around & took off running! It was the cutest thing!
Couldn't be more thankful for His grace & mercy & when we feel like we are falling short in every way with no strength to go on He carries us & provides the endurance! So thankful!! I know I might say that a lot, but it's so how I'm feeling!
Well back to the virus, Tuesday night at 1:30am I was hit with the nasty throw up virus:( UGHHH haven't I had enough throwing up the last 6 months?!? Haha Even though its still throwing up, it's so different. Of course yesterday when we had nothing going on & it was just Landon sick, Adam had no work, but today when I've been up all night & still sick today he has work:( lol go figure, a mommas work is never done:) Bummer, but its ok, kids have been great & so helpful!
Satan, keep throwing em at us & we'll keep defeating em! :)
Another little hiccup came when we woke up this morning. We found that our camper is being invaded by ants:/ The kids have some bite markets & are itching :/ They are everywhere & we dont know where they are coming from! So Adam had to spray this morning which means we had to leave. Wasn't exactly what I wanted to do after being up all night throwing up & still sick but he needed to handle it before he left for work. The Lord will carry me through this! He gives STRENGTH to the weary & increases the power of the weak! Isaiah 40:29 So the virus has gotten 5 of us, only 2 left! But We got this! It might knock us down but it won't take us out! We're stronger than this!
Well praise The Lord!!! Seems as though the virus stopped with only taking out 5 of us. Adam & Juliana were spared! I know they are pretty excited!
Well that spraying for ants helped some, but it didn't get rid of them! :( Before they were in main places like bathroom, on counters, floor, but now....we are finding them on our clothes & on our beds. Last night was rough! I didn't get any sleep! Found several ants in our bed &I just couldn't sleep. I feel bad, Adam is trying all He can to get rid of them. We have never had this issue before, so we are lost. I told him though, I'm trying to just push through, but this one is hard! Hard to sleep when you know ants are in your bed, in your kids bed & crawling all over your clothes. I itch all over, whether its in my head or not, we all do. It's hard to go make the kids breakfast & find it covered in ants...even in sealed things! Now it seems as though we can't keep food in camper unless its in the fridge. Which doesn't hold a lot. Not sure how I can go another month+ like this. But we will figure it out...just a bump in the road that needs smoothed out! Preferably sooner than later ;)
Well it's time to bring out the little kiddie pools & boy did the kids have a blast just running around & spraying each other. It was a super relaxing day. :) Just enjoyed the sunshine, the breeze, the laughter from my babies & the blasting of some music:)
Following the virus though, Lofton hasn't seemed to ''bounce back'' shall we say. My gut was it was his ears. Yesterday before we hit the weekend I took Lofton & Landon to the dr & sure enough he has an ear infection. It was nice to have the whole day with just the 2 of them! I love spending time with all my babies, but it's nice to get that one on one or 2 on 1 time with them. ❤ I cherish those times together! Adam was off with the other 3 buying stuff for the house. He surprised Landon & brought home this huge water slide for them to all play in. Yes it's way redneck as I say, but oh the joy & the laughs that flowed from them. Us Smiths know how to have a good time & make any living situation work:)
Not really sure that this week has had less bumps in the road, but the shift in attitude has been the major thing that has helped. I wouldn't say we had a horrible attitude before but I think we were all just in some shock & unsure how to handle life. Now we are just really trying to practice more self control, joy, peace, patience & really stay calm, not get aggravated when things aren't going the way we want or had planned or when our circumstances in life aren't really convenient. I want people to be able to say that we walked through this season with a humble, grateful, thankful heart! That even though it wasn't the easiest, we made the most of it & had a good attitude!
Not sure if the last month of being homeless & living in a camper has gone by extremely slow or extremely fast?!? :) It's had it's ups & downs, that is for sure!! But I can't complain! I know I've said it before but I'm just so proud of all we have handled & pushed through! We are a closer family & haven't allowed this to pull us apart but bring us closer together! I probably more than anyone is beyond excited to get a house again, just ready to cook & decorate & have some of the luxuries that we take for granted back, but at the same time, yes I'm going to miss this stage of life! Its easy to get along when you all have your own space & have your own room, but when 7 people can thrive & come out on top when living in tight quarters & having to share one TINY bathroom, 1 couch, kids are all in 1 room, that says something about how good our God is! How faithful He is! How He loves us enough to be our strength & pull us through this all together as 1! He has had a plan from the beginning & He's working it out! Not saying all this to rave on us, but lets be honest this would be a breaker for most people & for us it hasn't! I'm honored that God chose us to go this path & be on this journey! That He felt confident in us to rely on Him & trust Him to pull through! This isn't about how good we are or how strong we are, no, this is about HIM! All the glory goes to HIM!!! If He asked todo this all over again, I would have to say yes all over again! I might be crazy, but I'd rather be crazy & in His will than just crazy! :) We are SO super blessed!! Couldn't imagine having anyone other than my bestfriend❤ beside me the whole way! 1 month down, another month- month & half to go! #ready #excited #blessed #thankful
Always reminding myself & Totally Holding on to His promises!! He is faithful!!
I know who goes before me I know who stand behind, the God of angel armies is always by my side!!
