Invitations matter!

September 6, 2021 | Stacy

As I picked Katriel up from Madeline’s house last Sunday (in NY), she understandably began to lament and ask why we couldn’t just stay in NY forever. I let her mourn for a moment, then said, “If we stayed in NY, you would not get to go to Izzy’s party next weekend.”

Her walk changed, her countenance changed, her voice changed. “Mom, I have to get her and Reid some presents.” We had a new direction. She remember that there were good things in our new home, too.

We’ve talked a lot about how now the kids will have two places of friends. It’s not easy (LORD knows this is NOT easy).

Take away – never underestimate the power of an invitation.

Jesus the Painter arrives again…

September 2, 2021 | Stacy

The first clue the painter would be coming soon was when paint cans appeared on my doors step.

Then Thursday morning at 8AM I got the call just as men were showing up to the door.

the den, kitchen, master bedroom and Johanna and Katriel’s bedroom are getting painted today!

Scenes from NY.

August 30, 2021 | Stacy

Stewart, Nigel, Tabitha, Johanna, Katriel and I went up to NY so Tab could have her orthodontist appointment and we could visit with friends. As Nan was drawing close to her closing date for her house, she planned to come back with us at this time. Stewart and Nigel drove her car down.

It was nice to see people.
It was hard to see people.
It was hard to be so up-close-and-personal to the tail end of Nan’s moving as we had barely recovered from the strains of our own.

Nonetheless – we got through it, tears and all.

We saw some friends and got to worship at PCC.

And before you knew it, we were on our way back to SC.

(It took so long to leave town, Nan and the girls and I had to stop at a hotel in VA.)

The quest for pizza…

August 26, 2021 | Stacy

We are trying hard to find a good answer to our pizza dilemma.
I miss the days of a Mark’s sheet pizza for $32.

We tried a place called Sidewall Pizza.
We had a free pizza for Stewart’s birthday, and half-off for Katriel’s half-birthday.

It was really good, but extremely expensive and not filling.

meat lovers

chicken and bleu cheese

five mushroom

It’s a mess out there

August 26, 2021 | Stacy

but he is making the most of the layout.

Love my boy.

Hope I learn to love my back yard.

Ok – here is something cool. Our back yard backs up to a cow pasture. The cows and calves can often be seen in the trees behind our fence. We get a good glimpse of them from some of the upstairs bedrooms. Way cool, right?

Another soccer player–Johanna

August 23, 2021 | Stacy

One of the things Johanna asked God for was a place to play soccer.
It was just one of those things – where a click leads to a connection and VOILA here we are. About 20 minutes west of us a local church has embraced their Upward Sports Ministry. They had such an outpouring of interest they were able to have more teams than ever before and spread practices over two nights. She is on Monday nights with her team – Courage. Half way through the night the director leads a devotion. This year they are doing devotions inspired from the book of James.

I am so grateful for God’s provision.

School started in SC last week, we started today per our tradition of starting the first Monday after Stewart’s birthday. Homeschooling is different here. More on that later.

Tiny New Friends

August 22, 2021 | Stacy

We have squatters. The delight Katriel to no end. She hasn’t caught one yet.

These were taken a week apart in different parts of the yard.

Not going to lie – I called Nigel down to look at the first guy to make sure it wasn’t an alligator.

Stewart is 21

August 20, 2021 | Stacy

First birthday in the new house fell on a Thursday.

Stewart has had birthdays camping and on cruise ships. Now he is the first to have a South Carolina birthday.

We had a simple dinner and an amazing Oreo cheesecake on his actual birthday.

Then on Friday night we had the Hoyts join us for dinner.

Marie was at work.

Soft Serve Sunday

August 15, 2021 | Stacy

There a few things the Butlers don’t do much of.

1) Slow down
2) Go out for ice cream
3) Explore local digs

So today we did all three.

We visited another church this morning. The sermon was really strong and the youth/family pastor was so helpful and warm, but the seats were super uncomfortable and the worship was a little different than we are used to. But it seemed authentic, so we will be praying about it.

We decided to try a soft serve place up the street from us. Every time we drove down Main Street from Simpsonville to Fountain Inn over the last month, we could see the long line of dedicated diners. Essentially, it’s basic soft serve with any wonderful concoction you can think of. It’s also safe for Stewart.