Friday, October 27, 2006
Our House
We haven't moved yet. The time is approaching quickly though.We've finished one dresser. It looks amazing yet the second dresser is shaping up to be exteremly difficult.
My husband and I have been taking some much needed "date nights" the past few fridays in a row. Words most definately can't express how much I love my husband as my beloved, but even more so I couldn't express to you how much I love his spiritual insight into my life and his leadership in our little family. I'm truly blessed. (I could never say that enough).
R.Jay and I have been continually discussing our future children. Beyond their names, beyond questions of personalities and who's eyes they'll have. Deeper than knowing the books of the bible by heard or them rehearsing Ephesians day and night, we're longing to see passion in our future children and any child that we come in contact with. It starts here. It starts with the passion I have (and need to have so much more). A deeper expression of being completely in love with Jesus Christ. I want my kids to "get it", and not for the first time at age 19. I want my children to understand the reality of this spiritual battle we face all the day long.... the reality of Holy Spirit activitiy in their lives... and the reality of discipline to bring holiness in their precious young lives. I want my children to be in love with Him. Really in love. So I'm preparing... my heart and theirs in prayer.
This is my heart as of late. This is my life.
Heather Dowling at 1:40 PM
Thursday, October 19, 2006
No internet access makes Heather a very frustrated girl. Not only am I not able to catch up on the worlds of my friends and family... I'm not able to update our checking account, or research fun home stuff for our upcoming projects and the big move. My access won't be until said big move either, yikes.I've started stripping our dressers this week. What a project! Although, the total $50 we'll spend on materials to give them a cherry finish and new handles is much better than spending hundreds on new dressers.
This Saturday I'll join Jackie on a day-trip to Lake George. It couldn't have come at a better time. Shopping, kiddos, and some great felloship with a dear friend is just what I need after three crazy busy weeks.
So there is my update. Hopefully I'll get to update before thanksgiving! :)
Heather Dowling at 1:01 PM
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Lists!
Things I'm thankful for:- Receiving a dining room hutch for the new house.
- Receiving a brand new boxspring and frame.
- Also receiving a beautiful victorian window bench .
- My carpets being freshly shampooed as of this morning.
- Baking with apples almost every day (we had our annual apple picking day last saturday).
- Lunch with a friend yesterday, but more importantly the fellowship and excitment of her new arrival in roughly three months!
Things I'm looking foward to:
- The new Target and Panera Bread coming into Watertown!!!
- My new "project" of stripping, staining, and reupholstering several items we now own (including said window bench).
- Moving into our new, and lets not forget bigger, house!
- Having a real bonafide garage.
- A new big refridgerator. I know that must sound silly....but our current refridgerator is the size of a small closet. You understand my excitment now, don't you?
Things I'm NOT looking foward to:
- October 31st. I hate seeing adorable children dressed up for the sake of evil.
- Having a kitchen which will resemble my kitchen in my first apartment in Potsdam. I can struggle with 5-6 months of kitchen insanity for the reward of a big beautiful kitchen, right?
- A house which will be torn apart during the holidays.
- My "six week" (ok, i know its been a whole lot more than that) check up with my last OB/GYN. I'm almost hoping if I put it off long enough I'll just get pregnant and then switch to the new mid-wife. Its a good plan, isn't it?
Heather Dowling at 11:51 AM
Sunday, October 08, 2006
real life
Here we are, back to real life.R.Jay is recovering from a week of amazing learning about science, life, and even himself. He has come home with a new outlook as to just why he signed up to be one of the few who rescue lives in a mine disaster, and loves his choice even more so. Opportunities to share the gospel and opportunities to grow and learn have become stories I'm still listening to even today.
I'm settling back into the life I forgot I had been living for a week. A house to keep up (Jill spoiled me quite a bit!), Sunday school lessons to plan, appointments to make, and the list of things to do before moving into a brand new house are keeping me busy upon my return. For those who know and love the Neville and Levendusky families I'll give a brief update on all their happenings.
Phil & Jill are doing great, of course, and loving the fact they're only moments from a big city. Phil is busy with ministry work and landscaping the beautiful 8 acres they now own. Jill keeps herself busy with two wonderful little girls and women's ministry at their new church. Ali & Aisy are just as awesome as you could imagine. Ali is such a little lady who always uses her manners(and likes to refer to me as "the family"!), while her sister captures you're attention with her constant goofy noises and the silliest ballerina dances you can imagine.
Heidi & Derek are as busy as you've ever known them. Grace & Joye are young women now, which is a bit boggling to my mind. Esther is the sweetest soul who likes to compliment you every ten minutes. Reese is just as smooshy and awesome as each of his sisters were as babies. In fact, he is JUST like his sisters were except in different color clothing. The Levendusky gene has not passed this little man one bit.
A week of fun shopping, yummy food, play times with kids and babies, and amazing midnight talks with two of my very favorite women of God couldn't have been more healing. I've walked away with a new determination and a new insight into becoming this woman that God desires me to be.
At the very beginning of my "mini-vacation" I knew my God was doing something incredible. My sister shared with me the story of the man who wrote "It Is Well With My Soul".
Horatio Spafford was his name . He had four young daughters. His four daughters took a trip across the Atlantic and lost their lives. As Spafford traveled to be with his grieving wife over the Atlantic, the very waters his girls breathed their last breath, he wrote the lyrics to the song we now sing all over the world. Listening to the song after understanding what brought about such trust and peace, the Holy Spirit began healing wounds I didn't even know were still open.
When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrow like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.
Heather Dowling at 5:42 PM
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Tomorrow will start a week away from my best-friend. R.Jay and I don't spend very much time apart (besides his mandatory work schedule) so instead of sitting home with extra time on my hands and a lonely spirit, I'm headed out on my mini-vacation.Tomorrow at 4:00am R.Jay will leave our house to drive the long trip to West Virginia for a week of mine rescue training at a great training center with hands on simulation classes. He'll have all sorts of fun with adrenaline pumping in daring rescues and I'll have all sorts of peace knowing it's not real and my husband is safe.
Tomorrow I'll drive to Syracuse to spend the day and night with my sister. Seeing new renovations on their adorable apartment and a big trip to Christmas Tree Shops will be some of the events to fill our day.
Tuesday morning I'll hop in my little car again and head to Rochester for four days to spoil little Neville girls and squeeze a new baby boy Levendusky while reveling in how grown-up his big sisters are becoming. Perhaps I'll even get to glean from some amazing women of God again! How much I've missed their insight, their hearts, and their encouragement! Talking with my husband I've realized how much different this meeting will my old friends will be. Four years ago I was an 18 year-old girl gleaning from women with painful experiences turned into glory for their Father. Today I'm a 22 year-old woman ready to pour out my own painful experiences to two women who know all too well my heartache and my dependency on my Father. It should be just great. Not to mention trips to Target and a mall that practically laughs at our excuse for a shopping mall.
So you won't find posts for awhile, but you can be sure I'll be turning a whole lot of missing my husband into a whole lot of fun with old friends and cute kids!
Heather Dowling at 9:31 PM