Good-bye Monterey, Hello Kailua!

I figured I need to get this blog posted before we have to move again. 

It is always sad to leave a place you have called home for 2 1/2 years, but Monterey was extra sad for us. This was where we brought all three kids home.  How many military families can say that? Our life changed so much while we were there and it will always hold a special place in our heart. We made such wonderful friends that truly loved and cared for us. 

We learned so much about God this summer... He truly is wonderful. He took care of the smallest details, He provides, and He has perfect timing.  But the best part is that He loves us through it all! 

Before we left we had to take these pictures...We passed this sign all the time. Abram loved to point out the "teeny tiny boat" and he would say it in such a cute voice, we had to take a picture with it. He loved that I let him sit up on the sign and touch the "teeny tiny boat." I love these pictures.

I had to take pictures of our three boys in front of their first home. It is the home we became a family in. So special. We loved this house! It was perfect for our family.

So here goes the craziness. Get ready...

March 24- pack out and keep all necessary items for a family of five to survive for 2 months.  I can't tell you how many lists I had going on.  Thankfully our suitcases could each weigh 70 pounds (not the usual 50) and each person (including Jack and Luke) could have 4 suitcases. Praise the Lord for military orders! 

April 7- Babies arrive

April 19- Babies come home from the hospital

April 28- Chris leaves for Hawaii

May 1- Gram, Abram, Jack, Luke and I fly to Hawaii.

May 29- Move into our house in Kailua.  From May 1-May 29 we were in a furnished condo.  

The Lord works out all the details. He took care of everything! We were in an empty home from March 24- April 29 and our church family provided us with EVERYTHING we needed. Amazing! It was so good to stay in our home and keep as much routine as we could for Abram.  Then they provided us with meals everyday from April 13-29. Again, AMAZING.  I am a firm believer in bringing meals. Never underestimate their importance. Even if its take out... I didn't have to make a grocery list, shop for groceries, cook or clean up for the entire month.  Such an amazing blessing. From their blessing, I have realized this is how I can help other families. Any time someone is going through a change or crisis, a meal is always needed! I will try to always do this for others.

AND... on March 24 we packed up our washer and dryer. Without being asked my wonderful friend, Heather, did our laundry for us until we left on May 1.  Do you know how much laundry newborn twins make?? Not to mention 3 adults and a preschooler! Sometimes she was doing a load every day for us. She would come pick it up, fold it, and most the times deliver it back to us.  HUGE! I will never forget that wonderful way she met our need. Just like the meals, she taught me to find someone's need and meet it.  She didn't wait for me to ask. She knew we would need clean clothes and she met that need. 

So on May 1 we headed out.  We had 10 checked bags, three car seats, a stroller and a pack and play. Not to mention carry ons, two adults, a preschooler, and two newborns. Once again my friend Heather and her husband, Bill, came to our rescue. Heather drove us in her suburban and Bill took our luggage in another friend's suburban. The logistics for this trip made me exhausted! But God provided for all of our needs! Thankfully it was only a five hour flight and no layovers. When we arrived in Hawaii our friend Matt loaded up all our luggage in his car (he said it was like playing Tetris) and Chris drove us in the van that came with our rented condo (see, God handled the details). 

We made it! Everyone was accounted for and ALL our luggage arrived! My mom and I felt extremely proud of ourselves!

Finally, after living out of suitcases for two months we moved into our house in Kailua. When we lived in Hawaii five years ago I taught in Kailua. I always told Chris if we ever move back thats where I want to live. It is such a fun and cute beach town.  Hawaii has tons of traffic, so if we don't want to leave, we don't have to. It has everything we need! We were thrilled to find our home here! It is perfect for us. God definitely provides. It has the most unique layout that is perfect for our family.  Tons of windows that we leave open all day (and night), a great backyard for Abram, and the homeowners are kind, Christian people.  Here's a few pictures...

Our house. The front windows are our dining room and the french doors on the left go into our guest room/office. I love the fanning tree behind our house. 

As soon as you open our door you see everything. We love the open floor plan.  This is our kitchen and dining room.

The first thing you see when you open our door. The room to the left is Abe's room and the door to the left of the bookshelf goes into the master bath, our room and twin's room. There are no hallways in our home. So interesting...

To the left when you open our door you see our living room.

Another view of our living room

Abram in his room... He loves his big boy bed.  He calls it his up and down bed.  I love it because we can hang his art work on his bed and big toys can be stored under it.

Another view of his room... he chose to decorate it with maps. He loves maps!

Luke and Jack's tiny room. It is perfect for them. It is just off of our master bedroom. 

So we are finally settled and getting used to our new routine and being a family of 5! If you ever want to come love on some babies or play with Abram, we love visitors! No really, we love company and you are welcome any time! And you don't have to hold babies all the time! :) Thank you for your prayers during this big transition! We definitely felt them.