Take Two Tuesday!

I hope I did this right, Trish! Let me know! :)

lisa. matt. margarita.

lisa. mmm. margarita.

case of the Mondays

why is it so difficult some days to muster up the motivation to even get dressed?

I'd like to think I've been productive today. I woke up. I had coffee. I walked the dogs.

Sisters.

Stacy Lynn Chesnutt was born on November 14 in Bogota, Colombia. She's my big sister and I have a hard time putting in to words how much I love her. The thought of her smile brings tears to my eyes. You see, she's the one person in this world that has been with me forever. She's the only one that experienced the orphanage, slept with me when I was lonely, played with me long before we had a family of our own and has known me longer than anyone else still in my life has.

One of our first photos - Bogota, Colombia

I praise God for my parents and the choice they made when they adopted us together. It's rare that a family adopts two children at the same time, let alone sisters!

Chesnutt family portrait

My sister and I celebrated 22 years of adoption on April 1st. It's unbelievable how far we've come. To think of what our lives would have been like had we not been chosen for adoption is a nearly an impossible thought. I rejoice in knowing my whole life is in God's hands and that he kept me and my big sister together :)

All grown up!

Stacy recently got engaged! I am thrilled to help her plan the wedding and even more thrilled she found the one she loves :)

Take time today to thank God for the gift of family. I especially want to praise God for the little ones that have been added to my friend's families... in no particular order; Lucy, Eli, Paisley, Joel, Daniel, Maizie, Eva, Lola, Stella and all the others I may have forgotten :)

getting better!

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for my mom.

I talked to her today and she reported the spots in her eye getting less noticeable!! She thinks they've lightened and is optimistic they could go away entirely!!!! She will visit her eye surgeon again tomorrow. I'll post an update once I know more.

Baaah we have a house!!!

It's true!!! Our tie breaker "M" and "L" house is THE one!!! Our offer was accepted this morning. I received a phone call from Wendy where she simply said, "Mrs. Bocan, congratulations on your new home."

I won't list the address here, you'll have to contact us and schedule your visit! But here's the detailed description listed on the website for the home.

"Great walkout split with lots of natural light located on block from elementary school. Custom kitchen with breakfast bar, walk-in pantry and stainless steel appliances. Sliders in dining room open leading to the backyard deck, perfect for summer barbeques. Nice size rooms with neutral paint, decorative alcoves, arched doorways and vaults. Recently finished lower level has gorgeous floor to ceiling cultured stone gas fireplace in the family room that's wired for surround sound and large enough for a game or pool table. French doors lead to the office/4th bedroom."

We give full credit to God for bringing us this home. We are so very thankful!! For those of you who have been dying to see some pictures, here they are!

Our beautiful new home!

The backyard... yes, the hot tub stays!

I love the archways and little alcoves!

The downstairs is already painted chocolate brown... insert angels singing here.

This will be where I spend most of my time...
The dining area
The master suite


The guest suite... aka, where our visitors will stay!

To schedule a visit, please contact Lisa :)

the kitchen counter said "M" and "L"

After looking at lots and lots and lots of homes, we contemplated leasing our bedroom, twin beds and all, in the Johnson house, but after much thought have decided we are still going to pursue a real house of our own.

Brief summary of the last few days:
Matt and I found two homes we liked. Our problem, I liked one and he liked the other. uff.

This was actually quite the dilemma so Wendy, aka amazing realtor, suggested keeping our eyes out for a "tie breaker home". Thankfully she kept her eyes out and found a new home that had come out on the market today! We met her to view the home and were amazed. It had everything we've been looking for!

It gets better... Matt asked me if I'd seen what was in the kitchen. I said no and proceeded to examine the kitchen for something out of the ordinary. Then I saw it. In the corner of the counter were two block letters. "M" and "L". I couldn't believe it! Matt and I have always described ourselves as "M and L" since we first met. It's also funny because my recent prayer in finding a home has been that God would make it very clear. I don't know that it could get much clearer :)

After touring the home, Matt and I agreed we wanted to write an offer! A few hours later, the paperwork is done and now we wait... we patiently wait. It's all potentially very exciting, but I'm not getting my hopes up too much. We've already lost two beautiful homes and it'd be a bummer to miss out on this one. But honestly, how can we doubt this is the home for us when an "M" and an "L" appear on the kitchen counter?!

I will post as soon as I know more. Praying for the future Bocan home!

blog background

You may have noticed I changed the background. Feedback?

praying for my mama.

For those of you who have never met my mom Cindy, she is the cutest thing ever. She loves to cook, watch home design shows, play with her Cockatiel Sunny, go on walks around the pond and is famous for her beef brisket, chocolate birthday cake and looking 10 years younger than she is! I love my mama.

Just a few days ago my mom noticed some black spots in her vision. She immediately went into the eye surgeon and post appointment told me this:

"I may or may not have a tear in my retina. My symptoms are a blood drop in the eye... as I look through my eye I have some floaters which look like spider legs and hazy black swirls that move around. I went to the eye surgeon last week and he couldn't see it (a tear) at that time but it's possible that it could happen at any time or not happen. I go back to him on the 24th for a re-check unless something major happens."

After hearing this about my mom I started to think how annoying it is when I get something on my contact and can't see clearly. But at least I can remove my contact! Many take their vision for granted, but it's truly an amazing gift. I can't imagine having to look through 'floaters which look like spider legs and hazy black swirls that move around'. My poor mama!

I ask for prayers that her eye would be healed. I pray that the spots go away and that a tear does not occur. I pray for wisdom for the doctors and that her symptoms would not worsen. Amen :)

Thank in advance for those that join me in praying!!!

Happy 5-month birthday babies!!!

Lil Lola- playful, loves chasing birds, can out eat daddy and loves to snuggle with mama!



Sweet Stella- smart just like her daddy, such a good listener, goes potty on command and loves playing with papa!

winter wonderland... in april.

I just got around to loading these pictures, but had to post them because not less than a week after moving to South Dakota we get 6'' of snow! I must admit it was beautiful.

My little cherry tomato was covered in white fluff.



View from our window- beautiful.


The little robin thought spring had sprung!

Trifle, trifle, trifle!

I had to share pictures of the dessert I made on Easter! It was a hit and looked oh so pretty.

Mmmm... trifle.



Oooh, it's so pretty!

prayer requests

As you all know we are still looking for a house and I am still looking for a job. This morning Matt reminded me that our stuff only stays in storage (payment free) for 60 days. It might seem like a long time, but in reality even if we found a house tomorrow, it could take up to a month to actually get into the house after closing. PLEASE pray some new homes come on the market after Easter! Crazy thing is we've almost exhausted our options up to this point!

Also, I am waiting on a phone call from a potential nannying position! I would love to nanny. Please pray I hear back from them and that the interview would go well!! :)

One final request. Matt has SO much on his plate right now. Work (he went in at 7am today, came home for a few hours and is closing tonight!), balancing our renters and their needs as they move into the San Antonio home, house hunting, taking care of finances, and so much more. I ask specifically for prayers that he would be able to relax and give all his worries to God.

Thanks. Lots of love from Sioux Falls!

offense.

I joined a bible study last week. My realtor and new BFF, Wendy, invited me! I arrived late as usual, oops. I was greeted by a very bubble blonde woman whose name escapes me at the moment (again, oops). She welcomed me in, poured me a cup of coffee and offered me some vanilla creamer, perfect. In the first three minutes of our time together I found out she was from TX, was also married to a Matt, their wedding date was 1 yr and 4 days apart from ours, and she had just moved to Sioux Falls! Goodness, talk about having a lot in common.

After we got our coffee we headed downstairs where I was greeted by a room full of friendly but somewhat awkward women. It's funny how uncomfortable women get in a room full of women they don't know. I was introduced to everyone, squeezed into a spot on the couch, and we started a round of get to know you introductions. I was amazed to hear everyone's stories. Upon first meeting someone you can assume certain things about them but it's not until you hear their whole story that you really understand who they are.

As we went around the circle I was more and more thankful to have been invited to the group. I heard stories of women who had been alcoholics, in abusive relationships, lived in over 32 states, had parents suffering from serious diseases, had been adopted. But most surprising to me was learning that the majority of the group had been divorced and remarried. To many this may not seem surprising, especially coming out of a group full of Christian women given the statistics saying over 50% of believers go through divorce.

It was difficult to hear the women's stories of betrayal and loss of their first marriage. I've studied marriage and the statistics related to it and I've known way too many close friends who struggled with marriage and are now on the road to divorce. It breaks my heart. My passion in life is marriage. The life long fulfillment of the vows made by two people on their wedding day, for better or for worse. Nothing brings me more joy than to meet a couple who has weathered the storms of marriage. It might be a couple married 5 years, it might be one married 55 years.

But the reality is I am surrounded by broken marriages. I've attended quite a few weddings now only to learn that in as short a time as 3 months, the honeymoon and wedding was over. So what is that makes staying married so hard? As someone who is still considered a newly wed, I truly believe staying married is a daily choice. We have to choose to love, choose to grow, choose to accept our spouse as they are. We have to forgive, we have to ask for forgiveness and we have to realize that marriage wasn't designed to make us happy, it was designed to make us holy. There will be conflict, there will be friction and if we can commit to pursuing our spouse for life, we will reap the amazing rewards that a lifelong marriage can't help but harvest.

I've been reading a book entitled The Bait of Satan by John Bevers. I'm not through the entire book ,but so far I think this book helps answer the question of why so many marriages never get to reap the harvest. It's not a marriage book at all. It mentions marriage in a short few paragraphs, but overall, the book addresses how we handle offenses in life. "You will encounter offense, and it's up to you how you're going to let it affect your relationship with God. Your response will determine your future." - John Bevere.

I've always grown up believing a husband and wife should be best friends. They should be willing to sacrifice everything for each other. They should fit perfectly. But all of that changed when I became a Christian. I no longer believed any one person should be my ultimate source of life but instead, God should be. I also believe that even a spouse can not fulfill my every need. Most importantly I learned that I could never fit perfectly with my husband until I was in a perfect union with God. Without God as my center, I would not find deep fulfillment in my marriage.

But what happens when we feel like we are truly seeking God yet we face offenses in life from the person whom God has given us to be our parter for life? To be offended by a stranger is easily overcome. To be offended by the person we love most in this world, is devastating. Marriage provides a scenario in which offenses come easily and often. " Are you compelled to tell your side of the story? Do you fight thoughts of suspicion or mistrust? Are you constantly rehearsing past hurts? Have you lost hope because of what someone else did to you?"- John Bevere.

I can relate to many of the questions listed above. If you can too, I strongly encourage you to read The Bait of Satan. I'd be interested to hear what you have to say. For me, it's been a real eye opener. Not only for my marriage but for my attitude and perception of my walk with God. In the last 3 days of reading this book I've been forced to look a little deeper into the person that I am, the easily offended one, and how my response really does determine my future.

I pray for my family, my friends, their marriages and their walks with God.

So... how is South Dakota?

Since so many have asked I thought I'd write an update on our lives in South Dakota.

After being here nearly two weeks, we agree on a number of things.

#1. We live with the nicest family ever. The Johnson's have so graciously invited us into their home and have even gone as far as saying they don't want us to rush into buying a house. We are welcome to stay as long as we need to. What a huge blessing that is! Especially because it doesn't look like we'll be buying a home anytime soon! More details on that shortly.

#2. We got to play in the snow! Just a few days ago South Dakota got 6 inches of beautiful fluffy white snow! We bundled up, I made a snowman (can you believe I actually forgot how to make a snowman???), matt and philip had a snowball fight and Annie took pictures! It was such a beautiful snowfall. Even better, it melted in two days! :)

#3. The people. Everyone we've come across here is so nice. I can hear the midwest accent again! Oh don'tchya know. Our realtor is amazing, the puppy groomer is the sweetest girl and Matt has some great employees at the store!

#4. I have only gotten lost a handfull of times! Sioux Falls doesn't have a complicated road system and most everything I need to get to is within 10 minutes! I love it! Matt has an 8 minute commute to work. It's amazing!

OK- so we are really liking Sioux Falls! The one thing we're not loving is the fact that I haven't found a job and we haven't found a house.

TWO SECOND HOUSING UPDATE:

We found a house, we fell in like with the house, we put in an offer, we found out the house had a high potential for flooding in the basement, we retracted our offer. So back to house hunting we go!

TWO SECOND JOB UPDATE:

Matt is enjoying his store... 14 employees!! Plus there's an Old Chicago and a Dairy Queen within walking distance! It's pretty close to heaven for him :)

As for me, I have applied online to many companies but so far I got nothing. Absolutely nothing. Boo.


So there you have it! Our new lives in South Dakota are going quite well. We pray I find a job and we find a house... one without flood issues! :)

Oh and Diane, the mom at the house, makes chocolate chip cookies every few days. LOVE IT!

matt. my hubby. loveR.

For the record I want everyone to know how AMAZING my husband is.

He started work the day after we got to Sioux Falls. He's also been working tirelessly with me searching for a house and taking care of our baby puppies!

I am so proud of Matt and his dedication to our family. He'll think I'm being all mushy by writing this but I couldn't help but tell the whole world how absolutely awesome I think he is!

Matthew- I love you and am so thankful for you!

we are going to live in a van down by the river...

ok we aren't really going to live in a van down by the river... yet.

but I thought I should let everyone know, because I know you've been on the edge of your seats waiting to find out...we did not get the house we put an offer on. sigh. and after all of those counter offers! argh.

but wait... there is good news! we've put another offer on another house! and get THIS. we find out in two hours whether or not they accepted our offer... or if they are up for a battle of counter offers. such an exciting life we lead!

stay tuned!