Farmland Park

Trip to Lancaster County

May 22

To update everyone things here are so much better! I feel as though 100 pounds have been lifted off my shoulders. We are now getting ready for our trip to Texas! As of today we have 16 days left and then the boys and I get to stay until July 5th. We are so ready and excited. There is finally green here and it is beautiful. A lot of rain but the temps have been in the mid 60's, so nice. I have learned the weather pattern here stays the same for weeks instead of days (like in Texas). I hope to see all of my Azle area friends real soon!

Starla

Keep 'em coming!

I want to thank each of you for your kind words and MANY prayers. I can feel them everyday. We are still under attack daily but since my last post I am not as affected. I am now more focused and confident in my faith and the reason why we are here. Satan will NOT win!!! Please continue to pray for our family as this battle is not over.

Aaron and I are doing very well, our marriage is growing stronger and closer everyday! The boys are adjusting well to the move and are really enjoying the time they get to see their dad. I enjoy the church here and feel I want to get more involved, not sure where yet, but I know God will point the way. If any of you want to know more about the church it is called Glad Tidings Christian Life Church. I know they have a website, but not sure what it is.

Can't wait to see all of my Texas people!! 40 more days!!!

Love to you all! Starla

Need Prayers

So most of you know that Aaron and I decided to move out here to PA because we really felt God pushing us here. And yes I mean pushing. This past week I really feel the Holy Spirit pointing out the many ways Satan is attacking us and I am begging you for your prayers. Of course, this just makes me more on fire for the Lord! I would like to list all that has happened because I feel specific prayer is needed.

Where to start...Since we moved here it has been the worst winter they have had in years. We have had to replace the refrigerator twice. The truck has broken down twice and at the current moment may have to have a new transmission. I went through the worst battle of depression I have ever been through. I have missed church for the last 3 weeks for different reasons I had no control over. We would have missed today if Jonathan had not offered to come pick us up. I am currently sitting in the house with NO power. Thank you technoloy for lap top battery life! It seems the more I pray the more I am attacked. I know the evil one will hate this blog post but do not care. I am sure there is more I should add to the list they are just not coming to me at the moment. Also, I am sure there are many typos but I am trying to get this posted before my battery dies.

I love you all and thank you in advance for your prayers!
Starla

Nothing Much

I am sorry it has been so long since my last post, but not much has happened here. Still cold, today's high was 40, and still snowing.

Riley seems to really enjoy school and seems to be doing well. I can tell his reading has improved since we moved. I guess because the class is so much smaller. Toby is getting so big. He is trying so hard to talk but mostly says the same sounds over and over. And Dakota has so much energy! I am ready for warm weather so he can play outside. I am to register him for school in the next few weeks. They let the upcomming kids have a half day at real school and let them ride on the bus to get them ready for next year. He will love it!

Aaron and I are doing great. His work schedule has allowed him to come home and spend time with us almost everyday. Sometimes it is only for a couple of hours but we take what we can get!

Well, that is about it. I hope all of you back in Texas are really enjoying the warmer weather! Miss you all!
Starla

Trip to Philadelphia

The house

A Whole Lot of Snow!!

As some of you have learned from facebook somewhere around 20 inches of snow fell between yesterday and last night! Here are some pictures!

Ready for March

Wow a lot has happened since my last post! Last weekend Aaron was off work and Riley had a 3 day weekend so we decided to go on a mini vacation. We loaded up the truck and took off to Philadelphia after school on Friday, and had a great time. We had no idea what to do so I found on the internet a City Pass that included tickets to a few of the things we would be interested in doing. We also met up with Aaron's friend David and his family. They live outside D.C. and came up for a museum and lunch Saturday. In all we went to The Please Touch Museum, the Big Bus Tour, The Philadelphia Zoo, Adventure Aquarium, National Constitution Center, and The Franklin Institute. I would recommend looking for a city pass if you are going to a big city and don't know where to start. We had a great time and found many places we would like to visit if ever the chance to return.

Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday were pretty normal but school was closed Friday because of snow. The news said Gillett got 9 inches of snow on Friday so we were stuck in the house on Saturday also. Aaron actually had to take the truck both days because of so much snow!

Today we were able to get out and went to church. It was once again a great service with amazing music! I truly felt the Holy Spirit in the room. What an amazing gift God is sharing with me. I also was introduced to several different families and hope to make some new friendships very soon.

Miss you all in Texas and will see you soon!!!!!

Mom's Week Here

This last week seems to have flown by! Tuesday we woke up and I took Riley to school with a two hour delay because of the amount of snow that fell over the night. On the way to school the roads had been plowed but the wind was really blowing and the snow was starting to build up. The whole way home from taking him I debated on turning around and going back and getting him because of the snow drifts on the side of the road. After about 3 hours I decided to go get him. Good thing I did because the snow drifts were half way across the road. That night on Aaron's way home he was pushed off the road and into the thick snow because of these snow drifts. The next morning I decided to keep Riley home from school and Aaron had to call someone with a tractor to come pull the Expedition back onto the road. Mom and I stayed home with the boys while Aaron had to go back to work.

Thursday morning the wind had stopped and the roads again were clear so Riley went to school and Mom and I decided to go into town and get some shopping done for the house. The nearest town is Elmira/Horseheads which is about the size of Weatherford. It has all the normal stores and a mall. We had some lunch out and then back to the house and pick-up Riley from school. That night Aaron took me out on a date and surprised me by taking me to the jewelry store to trade in my wedding band and get a new one. We then went to a movie and dinner. What a great evening!! Thank you so much Aaron!!!!

Friday after I took Riley to school I took Mom to eat in Towanda. Towanda is a quaint village on the banks of a river that looks like it came out of a picture. It is mostly two story Victorian style homes with cute little shops on the main street. Then we headed back to the house to drop Mom and the two little boys off so I could go to Riley's Valentine's Day party. Little did I know parents don't go to the party"s here. I was the only parent. Oh well, Riley was glad I was there and that is what matters.

Saturday we woke up got ready and headed back to Horseheads to do a little shopping and take Mom to eat lunch before we took Mom to the airport. As the morning went along Mom's flight was delayed a couple times because of mechanical problems. The flight was delayed so much that we were afraid she was going to miss her connecting flight in Philadelphia. When she went to check-in we decided it was better for her to wait a day instead of getting to DFW at 11:45 at night. So we get an extra night with her! Whoo hoooo!!!! While in town we decided to go to the pet store to get Riley a new pet and came home with a cute little white MOUSE!! (and a cage)

Today we are going to try a new church eat some lunch and once again take Mom to the airport. Hope you all have a blessed day! Miss and love you all!

Busy, busy

The last couple of days have actually been pretty busy. Sunday I spent the morning cleaning the house and finishing up the laundry before the boys and I left to pick-up Mom from the airport. Her flight came in around 3:00 pm and the boys were so excited to see her. We then grabbed a bite to eat and headed to the house pretty quick to make sure we were home before dark and the water on the roads started to freeze. Then we enjoyed time together while watching the Super Bowl.

Today I took Riley to school and was able to leave the other two here with Mom so I didn't have to get them out in the cold. When I returned we spent the day hanging pictures and arranging furniture until I had to leave to get Riley. The house looks so much better as I sit here tonight! I am so thankful that Mom is able to be here for a week to help me get the house together!

Miss you all in Texas!!!!

Feb 3

Let me tell you about my morning...Riley had school today so we got up and ready early not knowing what the roads would be like today. Everything went well and Riley was even a little early. Then on the way home I accidently went past our road and tried to turn around. "Tried" being the key word here. I managed to get my front tires stuck in the soft snow and my back tires on the icy road. Oops! After about 30 minutes of me trying to get us out I decided to call our landlord to see if he knew anyone with a tractor to get me (and Dakota and Toby) out of this mess. He called his wife and she called a few numbers. After waiting a few more minutes she called me back and said she had left a few messages but could not get hold of anyone. Oh man, what do I do now?! I then spent the next half hour again trying what I could to get that darn truck on the road! I finally got hold of Aaron and decided to get the boys out and we would just have to walk the rest of the way back to the house and come get the truck later. As I start to unload the boys I hear the magnificent sound of a TRACTOR!!!! One of the messages the landlord left was heard and I had someone coming to my rescue. His name is Jonathan and he is my new hero. He pulled me out and followed me home to plow the snow off of the drive. What an awesome person God sent to my rescue. When he was done he came in for a few minutes to give me his phone numbers (in case we needed his help in the future). But while he was inside we started talking about where things were like doctors, hospitals, churches, grocery stores, etc. He then invited us to church with him on Sunday. He said if Aaron is not able to go that he and his family would meet me so I would not have to go alone. I am really excited about this and hope this is the reason I was stuck in the first place.

Praying that we have our hearts open to what God has planned! Miss you all!

Our Big Move!!

To update everyone we arrived to our new home in PA late Monday night (the 25th) because of the cold weather. We were stuck at the hotel all day trying to get the moving truck to start. Finally had it towed and put into a big building and they had to use heaters to get it warm enough to start. When we got to the house it was so late we decided to just unload the mattresses and go to sleep. Aaron took off Tuesday and unpacked the whole truck mostly by himself. Poor Aaron. Since then we have unpacked most of the boxes and are getting our house to look less like a storage room and more like a home.

We have had snow fall almost everyday and I am thankful Aaron has chosen to drive the Expedition and let me drive the 4x4 truck. Aaron has been stuck almost everyday just trying to get down our road and into the driveway. I on the other hand, have not been stuck at all! Thank you four wheel drive! We did get to skype for the first time last night and were able to talk to and see Amy and the girls. What a blessing technology can be! I hope to post pics and in the near future and keep all of you updated as best I can. Love to you all!