Rest

We have been "home" now for three months.  We spent our first two months in Alabama, living with my husband's parents.  It was a wonderful time of catching up with family and friends, and having much needed rest and counseling.  We also got to do some intensive health care through Progressive Medical Center in Atlanta.  Levi, Paul and I are on an intense detox, and we are all seeing good improvements.  Levi was diagnosed with disbiotic gut (an imbalance of good/bad bacteria in his gut.  The bad bacteria is eating up all his nutrients, which is why his growth has stalled out).  We're thankful for solid answers and a plan to get him back on track.  So thankful.  My health is also much better.  A recent blood test at Progressive showed absolutely no markers for Graves' disease! This is huge for us, and we are so thankful.  I was advised how to wean off my anti-thyroid medication, which I did. I've been off for 2-3 weeks now and am feeling really good.  Praise God, we are so thankful…

We have now been in Kansas for a month.  We really came home without much of a plan.  We're still fumbling a bit, but Paul has some direction at this point.  His goal is to build up a self employment business and begin working with my dad doing hearing conservation and testing.  It's a good opportunity, but it will likely take some time before it can fully support us.  In the meantime, Paul is looking for other work, and we are praying and trusting in God's provision.  Through our family, he has provided us with a car and a house, so we're doing just fine.  We'll be moving into a home my parents own this week, hopefully!  It's been overwhelming, trying to make all the decisions and choices and spending the money to re-start life here.  But we're making it.  We're almost there.

Our container from India will be on its way from Virginia to Kansas starting on Monday.  We are so looking forward to opening it and unpacking in our new home and seeing all our familiar things from India!

In the mean time, we are busy making the house a home.  We are painting a few rooms to make it our own.  Of course, the kids rooms got painted. I couldn't convince them not to want bright blue and pink, so that's what it is. It makes them happy. : )

The house has a great large family room open to the kitchen and dining with wood floors, and a bay window with lots of sunlight.  Bedrooms and baths are upstairs, and downstairs is a great room with a fireplace that walks out to the back yard.  This room will be our school/play room.  I have a big trip to IKEA to make to pull it all together, but it's going to be such a fun, happy room when it's all done.  Here's some before and after of what we've done already:

The carpet was pretty worn and needed replacing. 

The green wall color was alright, but definitely not happy for a school room!

Here is the view out to the backyard, with bathroom and laundry on the left. The wall color looks so different int here two pictures, this picture is more true to what it looked like in real life.

And after!  New carpet, and bright mint green walls! I've also got a new light coming that will look less like a poker table should be underneath it. : )  The school table will be on this side near the sunlight. 

This is the playroom side.  Big bookshelves, bright red rug, gold chairs for reading.  Maps and art.  Fun and life. 

I just love this room, and don't want to leave it. I love the color and how the carpet turned out!

And then there's this.  I saw this the first week we were home at Hobby Lobby.  I loved it, but couldn't bring myself to buy it then. I just had no idea where we would be, what our house would be like, if it would match.  I saw it again last week, and Paul convinced me to buy it.  This peacock reminds me of so much about life in India.  Obviously, the peacocks, the bright colors everywhere, henna, friends, tea.  It's not just a Hobby Lobby picture.  I love it, and it has become the inspiration for the living room.  But she's getting lonely.  :)  Hopefully she'll have company soon!

We are still thankful, relieved, and just glad to be home right now.  We are looking forward to settling into small town life and having some normalcy.  We have seen God provide in major ways for us, and the church all over has been so gracious, loving, and generous to us.  We have also been majorly supported by both our parents, which is humbling at this age in life. We are eager to work hard and get on our own two feet, but thankful for the support and help.  Thank you so much for your prayers for us.  We are on the mend, physically, and spiritually.