We are in.

Heather, Mark, Steve, Josh, Greg, Robin, Jen, Ryan, Jay, James, Mike, Josh, Chris, Nicki, Laura, Brandon...  It took an army but we are completely and totally moved in. This morning our buyers took over the old house. I did one last walk through and almost got misty eyes knowing it was my last time there, that-it wasn't ours anymore. 

At the new house There are boxes everywhere. One of the people helping us move said to us "this house more than fits your family."  So true. 

New house. New memories. New blessings mixed in with the old ones.

Let them all begin. 

Blessed

Last night Luke and I were sitting on the porch watching daddy mow and a deer came across our neighbors property into ours. As I snuggled (wrestled to hold him on the rocker) I thought of all the times we had sat right there, watching the sun start to set through those same trees... And I was thankful. While this whole process has been crazy and a whirlwind I am so thankful for the memories this sweet little starter home holds for us. We are moving to the "country" so there will probably be more deer, and the sun will always set in the evening, but right now I am thankful for the past 9 years and all they held for us at 860 Virginia road. 

Welcoming Edith joy.

I had the opportunity to take a quick trip to Alabama to meet my precious niece Edith this past weekend. It was great to get to see my family and the 4 McGees!  

Of course I took my camera, and was able to capture some pictures of this sweet moment, the first weeks of new life are so precious. 

And I am so thankful I got to spend a little time with my brothers, lindsey, and parents too. 

Tick tock.

My happy place is behind the camera. This week I was able to do a session for a friend whose son is leaving for the army in 2 weeks. She's been a wreck. The stress of his departure has been messing with her health and my heart hurts for the anxiety she is feeling as her first born is leaving the nest. 

Last night as I was finishing editing her photos I got misty eyed (what! I never cry!) thinking of how in just a handful of years I will be preparing Noah to leave.  Time passes by entirely too quickly. I can't believe my oldest will be 10 in January. So in the midst of my chaos of our daily life I am stopping and thanking God for the craziness. Because too soon it's quiet. 

And the season begins

This weekend we got together with all the Siak/cannon family members who will be participating in the fantasy football draft. It was a great time!  We ate a lot of food, laughed a lot, the guys talked a lot of smack about who will win, and spent quality time as one big family.  I  am glad matt has this to share with all his brothers (and dad and step dad). 

And on Saturday while all the guys and the kids went to ikea to "dream shop" for our new houses. It was Mary's first time!

It's time

The past few months have been some of the craziest of times for the Siak 5.  Back in may our home went on the market. We got a contract and were so excited!  We found an amazing home (our dream house) and put an offer on it. We had some red flags with our buyers, and after much worrying on my part, we watched our buyers pull out of the deal and were sent back to square one. Back on the market. That week I had listened to a sermon calling out worrying as a sin. My heart broke at my sinfulness - carrying all this worry for something God was handling. He knew the buyers would back out. He knew whether or not we would be able to stay in contract with the other house...  My efforts for controlling all the different situations were ridiculous. So I gave it to Him. All of it. And when I did do you know what happened?  Peace. Perfect peace entered our lives. I knew that Gods plan was greater than what I could see. And I resolved to let His plan unfold and to give Him the glory for anything that happened next. 

The weekend after our buyers backed out I was playing around on Facebook when I saw a posting for a 4 bedroom house in Marion. We would have had to have a new contract on our home by August 8 in order to stay in contract with our "dream home" and matt and I had pretty much resolved that there was something else in Marion we were supposed to have. (Even though in the back of my mind, I didn't want to let go of the hidden view house). So after seeing that house, messaging the owner, hearing back and discovering it was way out of our price range, a lightbulb went off in my head. Why hadn't I tried to put our house on Facebook?

I posted a picture with our price, basic info, and asked people to message me if they wanted more information. This was at 10;20 on a Saturday night. The next morning I got a message from a guy asking me to call him. They wanted to see the house that night. Seriously. That happened. 

They loved it. Two days later they put in an offer an we accepted it. We get to keep the hidden view house. 

Looking back. I am amazed. When you can tangibly see the hand of God working out details in your life. It's an incredible thing. These are great people. Who love Jesus and are in love with our little house too. Even this week. God has shown Himself through the small details (and serious amount of paperwork) that we have been working through. Lord willing, within the next 3 weeks we will be moving. Our kids will have their own rooms, we have more than enough space, and (hallelujah) more than one bathroom. 

So humbly I want to show you the blessing that God has given us. Our amazing, needs just some cosmetic upgrades, perfect, 5 bedroom 3 bath house. That will officially be ours in just a few weeks. 

The Siak Family Beach Trip!

In July we had the blessing to get to spend a week with a whole bunch of Siaks.  I mean a ton of them.  Our family, Matt's brothers, Papa Siak and Sandra, Tom and Trudy, Adam and Aaron (and their girlfriends), Greg and Sue and Chris.  It was a spectacular week.  I love Oak Island for its peacefulness.  There isn't anything that is too commercial and you pretty much just get to play in the sand, eat seafood, and relax.  We made some great memories.  My kids had so much fun with their Papa and Sandra and their Great Uncles.  These are just a few of the many pictures we took while there!

The Siak men

The Siak women

Papa and his brothers.

Cousins