First Post

So I've been thinking a lot lately about what to say in my first post. There's always so much rattling around in my head that it's sometimes hard to sort it all out.
So maybe I just need to start with a basic "Here's what's going on" update.
We're currently still living with Jordan's parents which has many pros and cons, but we're super grateful for all of their help and support. We found out in January that we're expecting baby #3 (technically #4) in September! And while feeling very overwhelmed and a tad freaked about it, I'm also feeling excited and blessed. I love babies! :)
We traded our obnoxious car for a van that we LOVE and that will hold all of us, and I really feel like it was a God thing.

We're are beginning the process of seriously cracking down on our spending, trying to set up a stricter budget and really get some debts paid off. Our hope is to have one of our credit cards totally paid off before Christmas! YAY! 
We're praying hard and looking hard for a place of our own. My deepest desire is to find a place and be settled before AvaJoy starts school and before the baby comes this fall. So in faith I will be starting the process of sorting, selling, throwing out and packing up with the intention of moving whenever God opens the door.
I've been struggling a lot lately with feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, anxious, fearful and depressed. Probably a little bit of PPD, and new pregnancy hormones aren't helping any. I've also become very pessimistic, which isn't normally like me. I've found myself longing for peace and joy and simplicity on a huge level, and God has been speaking about contentment and trust. Amongst other things.
He showed me this book, "One thousand gifts" By Ann Voskamp....it's amazing! Heartrending...it's filled with heart and soul surgery words. As I've been reading it I've been weeping and praying. It's as if "I" could have written much of it. Her thoughts and words echo mine in many ways. It's all about learning to give thanks in all things, even the hard things... "Eucharisteo". And how in doing this it changes the atmosphere around us, brings us into the present where God is. It ushers in the miracles, peace, joy and contentment. Trust. By choosing every day to see the gifts that the Father lavishes on us, and how even the hard things are gifts that teach and mold and change us, She gained a greater understanding of how good God is, and how much He loves and provides. Which makes it so much easier to trust...which brings peace and joy. I'm not done with the book yet, (I plan to reread it again with a highlighter!)  but it's already rocking me. I've begun writing down my own list of  one thousand gifts. And I'm praying hard that this will transform my life and the lives of my family...that it will usher us into the more that I long for. I'm sure I'll end up talking about it more in another post. For now I'm not sure what else to say. 
These next two weeks are going to be busy, birthday party prep, meal planning, budget writing, 7th anniversary, my mom graduating with her masters, Jordan's birthday. There's always something. Always change. 
But for tonight. Rest.