A few things lately

So it's been a long time since I have even opened my blog to even consider writing something. I was overseas for two weeks in Indonesia at the beginning of July through the 21st and ever since getting back my life has consisted of getting back into "normal" routine and and doing some major "simplifying" to our life! There is so much I learned while gone and without a doubt one of them being that I didn't want to come back here to the states where life is driven by accumulating more, having more "stuff", and keeping up with the latest trends and style and immediately get sucked back into it.

I want for my life and our family as 1 Timothy 6 talks about "godliness with contentment." I want our hearts to be filled with gratefulness, contentment, and joy towards the Lord in all that he has given us.

Here are just a few things happening in the Olinger life that I will share through pics! Oh how I love pictures!!

1. MY KIDS ARE GETTING SO BIG!! Here are some fun summer pics!

 

Yes, this picture above actually happened (I will add while mom was away) no bystanders however they were the only ones :)

The best family!!!

Reading to her brother!

Eating s'mores for the first time...mmmmmm

 

2. My awesome reunion at the airport when I'm finally getting to see my family after two weeks!!!

Embracing each other!

All together :)

Micaiah in absolute disbelief that it's actually me!

LOVE

3. The renovated homeschool room! School starts August 30th. Cant believe my little girl is going into Kindergarten!

 

4. Took care of the molded bathroom/shower and totally loving having a guest bathroom that is serving its purpose in life!

The kids don't seem to notice but they sure loved that bubble bath :)

5. The wonderful date that I was able to go on with my best friend after being away from him for so long. Our date consisted of: paullettes in harbor town, the cheesecake corner for dessert and coffee, and some much needed talk time that was so life giving and beneficial for us both. I wish I had pictures all throughout the date but only have ones before we left.

 

I adore him!

 

Hope this will be the start of me getting back into the groove of blogging. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend with your family & friends!

 

What a weekend!

Saturday morning we got up early to go have breakfast with some friends at Cafe Ecletic (so yummy) we had a back room allllllll to ourselves. It was nice considering we had 6 adults and SEVEN children four and under!! wow huh? They did awesome!

Then we headed downtown to the Farmers Market. Very cool place. Kids enjoyed a cold delicious smoothie and some live music :) last stop was a trolley ride. I believe we were the first timers of the bunch. We don't go downtown that often. It takes you all around downtown while the kids can sit on the bench and look out the window if they want. Micaiah and Addy did not like for me to call it a trolley (which is what it was) but a train. They had their minds set that they just rode a train :) lol!

We came home all pretty tired. Dad didn't make it very long till he ended up in the bed. It was a very peaceful and relaxing day (as Saturdays should be) I'm almost done finishing up the guest room that I have transformed into the new homeschool room that we will start using in August when Addy begins Kindergarten. Ahhhhhh! It's coming so soon. Finished up a few more things today on it. I am so thankful that we have this extra space to set apart just for school. I think that will help me A LOT to be more disciplined and organized.

Here are some pics of Saturday morning :D

To cafe eclectic we go!

At the Farmers Market loving on this sweet boy

Listening to some cool music

Friends:)

The wild ones of the bunch...addy's back there just a dancing!

The trolley ride (about 25 minutes) we took up just about the whole back half:)

And that was the end of our time together! They weren't to thrilled about getting this pic.

Saturday evening I had my first team meeting for a trip I am going on this July (actually just 25 days away) to Indonesia. So so very excited for this. I wish I could share more! Hopefully I can do another post in the future about Indonesia and how our family is becoming more and more involved in that area. It's a two week trip...which means two weeks away from my dear husband and kiddos! I will miss them so much! The meeting was excellent, and the team that is set up to go is wonderful. In the weeks ahead there is a lot to do but I am trying just to make a step and trust...make a step and trust.

Tonight we went to Levitt Shell which is at Overton Park off poplar. They were having a kids concert and we went with some friends. It was so much fun! Our kids had an absolute blast and the weather was perfecto!!

Our friends hainging out down by the stage. It looks like its only them but there were tons of little kids hovering all around.

 

WHERE'S MICAIAH??? Do you see him...

 

 

And that about sums up the end of our weekend :) off to bed now. This momma is wiped out.

 

Can't believe it's almost June!

 

wow I can't believe we are going into the month of June already!! Seriously where has the time gone?? This year is quickly moving by. I feel so incredibly blessed by the Father.

Here are just a few highlights over the past 5 months.....

We have moved down to #10 on the waiting list at the babies home in Uganda. (trusting in His purposes for the wait), turned 26 ;) moved my two brothers into our tiny guest room for a temporary stay, cut back on my coffee intake (one a day with little cream and no sugar), became first time gardeners, got a desperately needed new fence, watched two friends travel across country to add a new precious life to their family, seen Jared go through more injuries and pain than i would like in 5 months, watched the Lord provide financially for us in incredible ways, rejoiced with several friends with the news of pregnancy, started a new book "A Holy Ambition", got some much needed dental work done, working on memorizing Ephesians Ch. 1, fixed our oven after going a year without one (yes a year, and yes to fix the problem was only $144) and so much more.....

Moving forward there is a lot happening as well....

Jared Lord willing becoming an elder of our church, celebrating with my childhood best friend her marriage to her love :), taking a trip to the jungles of Indonesia (5 weeks away..OH BOY!), 6 years of marriage to my beloved, saying goodbye to a dear friend and family as they move away & forward with the plans the Lord has for them, going to dive head first into homeschooling, watch my two babies turn five and three :), finish the remodel of our guest bathroom, take a family trip to Pickwick, hopefully find a car that will seat our upcoming family of five, and be able to travel to bring our Isaiah home :)

What a gracious God we serve! A lot of the times I can get so discouraged that things aren't happening fast enough, or selfishly not how I want it to happen. As I think on these things I am so clearly reminded that..

His purposes are best even when nothing seems to make sense.

God owns everything and his arm is not to short to meet our needs.

To embrace my sanctification and not run for it.

This life is one of faith and trust in the one who is immovable, constant, and unchanging.

And finally life is so short and unpredictable so don't waste it, and live it to the glory of God.

Steph <3

 

Hello Spontaneous Date Night

I enjoy these kind of dates :) Any time with the man I adore and always want to be with is good by me. It's usually the simple unplanned evenings together that end up being so much fun and relaxing. I have thoroughly loved today and I am reminded of my valuable and joyful calling as "mom!" it feels great to be able to top the evening off like this. I have to give a shout out to my brothers even though they will never read this but they are at the house watching our crazy kiddos tonight and I greatly appreciate them being so willing to tackle such a great task :)

FYI: my two brothers are currently living with our family. And it was such a blessing today when I got home from church and they had cleaned and organized the whole kitchen and living room for my mothers day surprise, that I promise you was left in utter chaos before church! Thanks Stephen and Sean :):):)

Anyways, we are having a grand time and I thought I would do a short and sweet post while Jared finishes up with some questions for a grant application we are mailing in for the adoption!

My love

A late evening meal. A tomato, spinach, mozzarella pinnani at Starbucks. I do recommend it was yummy

Catching up on a few of our favorite shows :)

I'm not so sure about this pic and the face I'm making looks like I'm giving an evil glare. But hey Jared always says he likes the "real life in the moment" pics so here we are ;)

Thanks for tuning in! Hope you have had a wonderful Sunday!

Now I must prepare for tomorrow because Monday is going to sneak up on me way to fast.

 

Family Time!!!

Jared has had Monday and today off after a loooong weekend of work. Even though the weekend can be tough when he is gone and I hardly get to talk to him, the next few days after are always refreshing and so worth it.

This afternoon we went to a Mexican ice cream shop off summer and graham. It all homemade and they have all kind of varieties of ice cream and popsicles :) yum yum yum...it was DELICIOUS!!!! Then we went to this fun little park nearby...here are some pics of our time together :) I love my family so much and there just so cute

Love these next three pics of micaiah...

Getting his swing ready....

Almost..

And what do you think?? I don't know if that was a success or failure to him :) he's just so precious standing out there!!!

Addy facing her fear

And she did it!! After that she was doing it all by herself

Mom trying to climb the pole...that was as far as I got..I basically jumped on and couldn't pull myself up any further ;) lol

The slide was easier

Look at that big boy go!!!

And bye bye to the park. Thanks for all the fun!!!!