Weekly Roundup - 4/13/13

Stephen (my brother) and Lane (from my surprise visit to Charlotte, NC) 

My adorable nephew, Cruz, who would rather play with trucks than hunt for Easter eggs

My beautiful niece, Mallory, who is very invested in the Easter egg goodies

Steph and Mason discussing dinosaurs

Movie time (Katie, Selah, Mason, Kiera) - Selah's first time to have a friend sleep over

Selah, Kiera and Mason showing off their shirts from Grani and Gramps

Ross' face paint flower on Kiera's cheek

Ross and his little girl

Happily painting around the table - finally, a place for the kids to do crafts

under the staircase

Mason and Peter Garrigan walking to house from treehouse

photoshoot by the lake

Spring Break in Yellowstone

Our family had the chance to drive to West Yellowstone area and meet up with my close friend, Tara Russell, and her family. Tara and Jeff have friends who blessed us with their vacation home for a long weekend and we took them up on it! There was plenty of room inside for 4 adults and 5 children and even more room outside for an Easter egg hunt, snow showing, climbing mountains, runs and an "obstacle course for the kids".

Below are a few pictures from the weekend:

Tara reading to Kiera and Selah

Jeff, Tara, Lane, Ross

Kiera striking a pose

View from the car - a hillside of hundreds of elk

The kids getting ready for the easter egg hunt

Our first egg hunt in snow

Mason finding eggs (quite a change from sun dresses in Birmingham on Easter)

Ross reading to Lucy, Kiera, Selah and Mason

The many versions of monopoly (at one point we had 3 monopoly games going at once)

mohawk boy

Little Cabin in the Big Woods

Cheesy title, right? Well, it is definitely how I feel. Granted, I do have 2 eyes of a stove to cook on and a small indoor sink, but the cabin and big woods part is the same :-)

I've been wanting to get this story and pictures up a few weeks ago, but we didn't have internet at the cabin until a few days ago. You know how we had been praying for housing for a few months, but nothing seemed to work out - either because it was too far away or too expensive or too small (I feel like I'm goldilocks :-)

Well, a week before we had to be out of the dorm, Samantha Hudson called and said, I do know of one place that might work... So, we went to look at it. It was late at night and dark and the house was locked when we came by, so we used a flashlight to look in the windows and said, "it looks great!".  I went out of town a few days later and while I was out of town, Ross spoke with the owner and arranged for us to be let into the house and then he spent the weekend moving us out of the dorm and into our cabin. And to brag on my husband a bit, he didn't just move our stuff from the dorm to the cabin, he put it all away in the cabin too! So when I got home (after being in Atlanta for a friend's wedding), he and the kids were already settled into the cabin. It was a wonderful coming home present!!!

Since then, we turned around and went to Yellowstone with friends (Tara Russell and her family) for spring break. We were so blessed by Tara and Jeff's friends that let us stay in the home right outside Yellowstone and by Tara who planned, shopped for and cooked at the meals - yes, I was VERY spoiled!. Then we spent a few days getting kitchen things out of storage and now we are moved in and loving it!!! There are a few things that aren't ideal, like being 20 minutes from the base and the small kitchen, BUT we are so thankful for God's provision. For the 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms (Selah has her own room and now Kiera is on the top bunk and Mason is on the bottom bunk), for a kitchen, for a home, for the way God knew we would love to live in the woods (you can't see another house from here), for the views that we have from living on the top of the mountain, for the deer that run through our yard, for the treehouse and swing that were already here, for the way it is already furnished and we didn't have to move everything from storage to here and then turn around and move again when something on base opens up. Yes, this is temporary - until a base opens up, but until then we love our "Little Cabin in the Big Woods". It suits the Lackey family well.

Here are pictures of the cabin - inside and out, in no particular order:

Kiera and Mason's room

Selah's room

Kitchen Sink and Stovetop

Kitchen pantry and toaster OVEN

Our Cabin :-)

View driving down from cabin

View from front door cabin

View from our bed in the loft

View of cabin from front. This was less than a week ago when it snowed again :-)

Our bed in the loft

Prayer Requests - 4/10/13

Prayer Requests 4/10/13
1. Balance - There are so many things I want to do and so many people I want to get to know, but then I realize that my time with God or time with my kids is suffering. I need to learn how to balance my family, my God and my interests and leave room for margin - which is where all the fun happens, right?

2. Mason - He is getting ready to go to preschool on May 2. He is so excited and thinks he is ready. Please be praying that he would have an easy transition into school 3.5 hours a day for 5 days a week. I don't think it will be an issue because he is so excited about it, but still, a little prayer never hurt.

3. God - That I would make time with God a priority.

Thank you to all who are praying. Please send me your prayer requests too! (lane_lackey@yahoo.com)

Prayer Requests 3/20/13
1. This weekend. I'm going to Atlanta for a wedding, Ross is here with the kids and he is considering moving us this weekend while I am gone. While I think that would be great for me, I think Ross will need prayers and help to do this with just him and the kids :-) The weekend went so well! Ross and the kids had a great time AND while I was gone, Ross moved us out of the dorm room and into our new cabin in the woods! He was super husband that weekend for sure!!!

2. Housing - that this place we are moving into would work out well AND that a base house would open up quickly so we can move back to the base and have a more permanent home. We've been in the cabin a few weeks now (post with pictures coming soon!) and we LOVE it! I couldn't imagine a better place for us. It is the true Montana experience - An elk farm close, deer wandering by through the yard, a few rabbits that live close and the kids see each morning, trees all around without another house in sight. More about the house in the post with pictures. Please continue to pray that base housing will open soon. It will be much more convenient, though not near as scenic :-)

3. God - that I would make time with God a priority. Still need prayer.

4. Kiddos - that I would spend more intentional time with the kids. Now that Selah is in school most of the day and Kiera goes to preschool and then sometimes a playdate, I feel like I don't see them much. Also, that I would be consistent with them, I've been slack lately and it is only hurting me :-) I can't say this is getting better, but it is constantly on my heart and we are figuring out some patterns that work - reading at night, dinner as a family and Selah is planning a family night for us this weekend!

Thank you to all who are praying. Please send me your prayer requests too! (lane_lackey@yahoo.com)

A Visit From Papa and Mimi

This weekend we had a special visit from Mike and Mary Lou / Papa and Mimi (Ross' dad and stepmom). While they were here they rented a house that was big enough for all of us to stay in, so it was like we were on vacation too (except the school and work thing :-). Two days were spent skiing -  one at Blacktail Mountain (our local mountain) and one at Whitefish or "Big Mountain"(about 45 minutes away). Both days were super fun. At Blacktail, the kids skied with us, so they got to see Selah's skills on the blues, Kiera's skills on the greens (all the way down without any falling!!!) and Mason working the learning slope. Selah and Papa went off skiing together for a while, because Mimi and I were too tired to keep going :-)  Big Mountain was fun too, and it named that for a reason! You can go to the "summit" and ski down 3 different faces! I was so tired after that full day of skiing that I wasn't good for much of anything that evening.  The weather was great - it snowed all day and there was untracked powder at least 2-3 feet high back in the trees. That might sound nice to some of you - and it was for Ross - but it wasn't for me. I tried to follow Ross and just ended up having to dig myself out of feet of powder every minute or so :-) Bright side? I was super warm after all that digging!

Also while they were here, we toured Whitefish, Bigfork, Kalispell and Lakeside. They took a campus tour of the YWAM base, dined in the YWAM cafeteria :-), cooked us a super yummy Sunday night dinner, did a big puzzle and just enjoyed being together. Here are a few pictures from the weekend.

First morning at Glacier Perks Coffee - Kiera, Papa, Mimi and Mason

Mason holding one of the Hudson's bunnies

"Dapper Mason" - Papa helped him get dressed and combed his hair,  he knew he looked good!

Family picture

Mimi and Kiera snuggling one morning

Mason trying on boots at Murdoch's

The kids acting like bears with the big bear

Mason with his leash on about to go out for a test run with daddy

Ross at Big Mountain

Classic ski lift picture

Ross' icy beard

You can take dog sled rides and the dogs were out for promo. They were so sweet! Made me want to go for a ride.

So, I realize I didn't do a great job taking pictures while they were here, but you get the jist - skiing, coffee, snuggling - it was a great visit. We were all sad when it was time for them to go home.

Prayer Requests - 3/20/13

Prayer Requests 3/20/13
1. This weekend. I'm going to Atlanta for a wedding, Ross is here with the kids and he is considering moving us this weekend while I am gone. While I think that would be great for me, I think Ross will need prayers and help to do this with just him and the kids :-)

2. Housing - that this place we are moving into would work out well AND that a base house would open up quickly so we can move back to the base and have a more permanent home.

3. God - that I would make time with God a priority.

4. Kiddos - that I would spend more intentional time with the kids. Now that Selah is in school most of the day and Kiera goes to preschool and then sometimes a playdate, I feel like I don't see them much. Also, that I would be consistent with them, I've been slack lately and it is only hurting me :-)

Thank you to all who are praying. Please send me your prayer requests too! (lane_lackey@yahoo.com)

From 3/6/13
1. Housing - that a place would open up, wisdom in knowing what the right housing solution is for us as a family. We have a place to live!!! I'll post pictures next week after we move in, but for now I will say that it is a small 3 bedroom cabin about 20 minutes away from the base (bummer), but it is on 8 acres of land in the middle of the woods and at the top of a high hill - it should be an amazing place to spend the summer.

2. Potty Training - I just found out that Mason can't go to preschool until May (3 years old) AND potty trained. So, praying that by May, he will be fully potty trained!!! Also, that I will have patience through this process. This boy is potty trained!!! I'm still a little nervous when I take him out in public with his (Thomas the Train) underpants, but he hasn't had an accident in a week and he is doing so well! Yeah! 

3. Patience - for me :-)

• Patience with potty training Mason - YES!
• Patience living in a dorm - Only a few more days.
• Patience not getting to work at 100 Fold as much as I would like - not until May - So busy right now that it isn't an issue.

4. Anxiety - I can get completely overwhelmed and consumed with the little things and then I am ineffective with my kids, my friends and in my marriage. Please pray that God would show me how to deal with a list of things to do - that they wouldn't define me, they wouldn't consume me, they would simply be a guiding tool. - These prayers are working! A few days ago I felt the anxiety creeping in, but it didn't grab hold - YEAH! I keep thinking that things will settle down in a few more weeks, but knowing us, I don't believe that anymore :-)

Life As Usual / Prayer Requests

Hello Friends!
I don't have any new pictures, so I know the blog won't be as interesting today, but I just thought I'd write and say hello! Ski lessons this weekend went really well. Selah is skiing on her own, she just needs help with the lifts, Kiera made amazing progress by staying for her entire lesson and then skiing down the main slope and going on the lift with Ross multiple times. Mason even got in on the action and went down the main slope and lift a few times with daddy. It might be my turn this weekend, but I feel so limited when on my snowboard, that I'm not sure if I'll go with them or not.

We are still trucking along in the dorm room, but making the most of being on the campus with our friends, the cafeteria, 100 Fold and the gym super close.

I wanted to thank everyone who has been praying for us. We've felt the love :-) Also, we would really like to be praying specifics for you - would you send me a text or email with any prayer requests? God ties us all together as brothers and sisters in Christ and we feel that especially when we are praying for each other - understanding each others struggles and needs and celebrating as God faithfully answers.

Thank you for your prayers. I am so encouraged to already see how God is answering prayers, even when it feels like nothing is changing, this is a good exercise to be reminded that He is working, He is present, He is good. So good!

Prayer Request Update:
From 2/24/13
1. Housing - still a need. There are one or two places in Lakeside that are $200-300 more a month than we feel comfortable paying. There are places more in the price range that we want, but they are 25 minutes away from 100 Fold and the kids school... So, we need housing, but we also need wisdom in choosing a place.

2. Heath - Ross is healthy!!! YEAH!!!

3. Health - Mason's belly is better! Lots of Pedialyte and probiotics and his is so much better! Which means that potty training has officially started - AGAIN!

From 3/6/13
1. Housing - that a place would open up, wisdom in knowing what the right housing solution is for us as a family.

2. Potty Training - I just found out that Mason can't go to preschool until May (3 years old) AND potty trained. So, praying that by May, he will be fully potty trained!!! Also, that I will have patience through this process.

3. Patience - for me :-)

• Patience with potty training Mason
• Patience living in a dorm
• Patience not getting to work at 100 Fold as much as I would like - not until May

4. Anxiety - I can get completely overwhelmed and consumed with the little things and then I am ineffective with my kids, my friends and in my marriage. Please pray that God would show me how to deal with a list of things to do - that they wouldn't define me, they wouldn't consume me, they would simply be a guiding tool.