Running Through the Rain

Today I returned a refrigerator.  A refrigerator that I dreamed about being in my new kitchen and seeing my daughters hand prints on.  But instead, I returned it before it got a chance to leave the store.  Today, the day we were suppose to pick up the Budget truck and pack it full with all the boxes sitting in my house, we found out that the buyers of our house were backing out.  Apparently, they found out they could not get the loan.  Why they waited until the day before to let us know is unexplainable.  Nevertheless, we are not getting to move.  Instead of unpacking boxes at our new house tomorrow, we will be unpacking boxes here.  Everyone says, “God has a plan,” and I believe that with all my heart.  But it still hurts.  This was the house where we would raise our children, play basketball in the driveway, fish in the pond, and grow old together.  Now, we wait to see his marvelous plan unfold.  We have seen other families go through this same difficulty and in one way or another, God soon revealed why to them.  We are just waiting for the why in our lives.  Thank you for all the prayers, thoughts, and kind words.  We can’t tell you how nice it is to know that there are still so many people that care.  And we will survive.  We have learned from past mistakes, and we will be stronger in future endeavors.  Until the time that I can get that new refrigerator in my new kitchen, I will take the old one, filled with bananas and carrots, with my sweat pea in her highchair and my hunk sitting at the counter. 

And by the way…if you happen to be looking for a house….I have just the one for you! 

Life in the Fast Lane....

So...here I sit.  Staring at a screen.  Doing something I always swore to myself that I wouldn't do...blogging.  I can remember being in college and saying that facebook 'thing' will never take off, and I'll never have a page....I caved.  I never thought I'd need a GPS in my car...but, yet again, I gave in.  I never thought I'd live in Oklahoma....however, here I sit.  Never dreamed I'd be training for a half marathon...man, I'm a push over.  Almost anything and everything I always said I'd never do...I did.  When I was younger, I swore I'd never go out with a boy that had a Ford, but my first 'date' in fourth grade was to see Ms. Doubtfire, and you guessed it...his mom drove a Ford.  It's amazing how so many things that you thought you'd never do can have such a big impact on your life when they finally become reality.  That's why I am finally committing to attempting a blog.

Before we get started, I'd like to share a few things about me.  I have been very blessed in my life.  I have an amazing God, who has placed my husband (who is the biggest and best surprise of my life) and I, in an extraordinary church to use our talents for him.  He has given us a beautiful five month old daughter, and family and friends that would lay down anything they were doing to help us.  Every blessing in my life is from him, and every struggle is to teach us more about him.  We serve a great God and everything we have stems from his forgiveness and grace.  Through these blessings, I have been placed in position to work for agriculture and the farmers that shaped our heritage.  And Chris, my hubby, is an agriculture teacher (for those of you that aren't familiar, I'm sure you'll be filled in later).  Life on our family farm shaped me into the person I am today, and taught me more about life and death, wealth and poverty, success and failure, than I ever needed to know.  I also love cooking, eating, driving, and long walks on the beach. :)

Before I close out my introductory blog, I'd like to give you an update on why our life is in the fast lane...On top of the craziness both of our jobs hold, we hopefully bought a house this week and will be moving by the end of the month.  Things around here are fast and furious.  We don't do anything slow.  All of our decisions happen quick.  Good or bad, that's the way our life is.  I'm inviting you to join me as I share a little bit of information about Running with the Carroll's.  From marathon training, to job duties, to raising a newborn, buying a new house, traveling to Kentucky, and trying to find time to love each other, we do the best we can, and hopefully you will enjoy hearing about our journey!  Time to run....