the adventure when ruckels renovate: before pics

so i'm back...
life has changed...a lot, but let's just start with whats happening now...

we've moved here, there & everywhere. it's been since 2011 that we've owned a home but that's all changing. we are putting down some roots! we have a house folks!

we bought a foreclosure via the site hubzu. it was...a process to say the least. we didn't have the smoothest experience, but it also wasn't the worst according to horror stories we read. {i'll share more on that experience later.}

here's the deal: we've got matt & i, the 4 boys, my parents + 2 dogs to fit in a house. we have been searching for a property to buy since we moved to florida almost 3 years ago. but the timing, finances, and perfect house just weren't lining up, including getting beaten to an offer on the house we thought was gonna be the dream house. we expanded the search to include a small portion of the next town and there it was in all it's abandoned, run-down glory.

she fit the budget, so we went to take a gander & thats when we all went into varying forms of shock. there was excitement, awe, amazement...and mold. yep, you read it right, MOLD! in fact, almost an entire ceiling of a room was on the floor. the carpet and some of the rafters were growing mold. despite the mold, the house could be an amazingly perfect fit. literally it had all the things on our must-have list & a lot on the dream list as well. even the boys got their wishlist items which included: stairs & a pool.

we sat on it. we prayed about it. we did our research & read reviews. we stalked the auction site like y2k was about to happen. and then we did this weekly for a month before we finally won the auction & set the ball in motion to close. and close we did! we closed on the house december 29, 2014 & set straight to work!

don't worry! before all the work began, we snapped plenty of before pics. the ones below are just a general overview of each room of the house {from the appraisal}. i've got other pics to post as we go room by room.

now for your viewing pleasure, i present our house on Forest Rd...

the front view. i think the middle shot is her best side.

 the rear view. and for reference, yard on 1 side of MIL suite & pool on the other.

 top 2 pics are of the master/office combo. it's all one big room connected with wooden accordion doors. i know you're jealous, but stop. i'll send them your way when i take them out. 

middle right: that's side A of the beast of a fireplace

bottom row: side B of the beast. it's 2 fireplaces, not the see-through kind.

 and bathrooms. there are 6 of them. all have wallpaper.

 not one has a double sink...and only 2 currently have a sink at all. 

 here is where there was once a kitchen. 

top right: former garage turned utility room.

middle: mother-in-law living room...aka MOLD & bedroom

bottom: boys bedrooms upstairs

 top: these look like 2 rooms but really, is just one giant one split by a weird wall

middle right: florida room

here's a generalized floor plan to help get your bearings.

see! told ya she's perfect! never in my life did i think i would live in, let alone own, a house this large. but i will share all the God ways that made it happen in another post soon. 

for now, just be relieved that we know we now classify as "your-crazy-friends". 

but you know what i say...life is always adventure! come join in on the fun! 

{yes i will slowly be resurrecting this old blog...hopefully updating/beautifying it too}

fanning a flame deep within my soul

i've been gone...for a while now. {sorry.}

truthfully, i'd lost the vision for this little space here. or rather, maybe i was just fighting it to the death. trying in vain to hide from things so deeply rooted in my soul that it was just easier to shut down rather than to try to avoid it while writing. ya know, cause out of the heart the mouth speaks...or the fingers type.

but it's been welling up lately. it's caused a restlessness in my soul. and as my pastor said a few weeks ago, "the enemy uses restlessness as a means to kill, steal & destroy our souls." as i tried to squelch it, it surfaced in other areas. until it flat out hit me in the face a couple of days ago when i realized that all of my efforts had failed.

the Lord creates us all to work together as the body of Christ, each performing unique & equally necessary roles. and what you are created for, you can't escape. {sorry.} it eventually leaks out without you noticing. that's exactly what happened to me. the Lord began to whisper names of friends into my ears. i reached out to each person via a text, phone call, social media, etc. leaving each of those conversations feeling complete & encouraged. i immediately began to think that i was just lonely & longing for more intimate friendships. wrong! i realized that loneliness was just the mask the was covering my restless soul...truthfully, my soul that was longing to use the gifts that God had created it for. as i reflected on these conversations i realized that He had used me to speak life & truth into hearts. even though i didn't try to "use" my gifts, He sure as heck did!

exhortation..

speaking truth in love.

communicate. challenge. comfort. console. cheer on. counsel. community. conflict. choices that are God-honoring.

ya wanna know the funniest thing, i'm totally an introvert.
i'm an introvert & God has chosen to use me with a gift of communication. i mean seriously?! i have to stretch outside of myself & my cozy little comfort zone so many times in just pure obedience. like the "i'm tired & i don't want to but i'm gonna do it anyways" kinda obedience. but when i feel something pulling my heart away, i know i need to dig in even harder. because i choose Christ & His truth, in my life & the lives of those around me, over the believing in the lies until they just aren't enough any more...because in the end, they never are.

and another realization, yet totally a sign of God's intricate design at work, my love language is words of affirmation. that means i receive & show love best by speaking it! how incredibly awesome is that?! if you can't find a sense of purpose in something like that, your eyes might not be totally open.

ok back to my vision for this space...this place where i'm transparent about motherhood, being a pastor's wife {yes, matt's back in the ministry again}, raising boys, life with twins...i was afraid to be too "preachy. but i've come to realize & understand that part of my personality & giftings, is a personal & practical application of the TRUTH. i will still share all the parts of my life because as i've shared before, i know that the Lord has asked me to go before others in circumstances in order to be able to speak into their lives. because out of our trials, come our testimonies that touch hearts of others.

i also know that i have not been communicating His truth as loudly & clearly as i should. not every post will be a preaching, but i hope you will find some comfort {& laughs} in my mishaps. some companionship in knowing you aren't doing this crazy life alone. and definitely find me cheering you on, even if from afar. just know that there will be a little more Jesus showing in this place.

so here's the truth i'm leaving you with: read ephesians 4:1-16. it speaks truth of our gifts & how we are called to use them...all of us together.

   He handed out gifts above and below, filled heaven with his gifts, filled earth with his gifts. He handed out gifts of apostle, prophet, evangelist, and pastor-teacher to train Christ's followers in skilled servant work, working within Christ's body, the church, until we're all moving rhythmically and easily with each other, efficient and graceful in response to God's Son, fully mature adults, fully developed within and without, fully alive like Christ.

what has He gifted you with? and are you willing to use them? 

adventures in mommyhood: rediscovering things about myself

i'm definitely in a phase of life where

 i'm searching for & reevaluating a lot of things. 

i'm searching my heart & God's heart for me...for what He's calling me to do & who I am in Him. 

{i have drafts of posts that i've repeatedly tried to write for the last couple of months.}

and thus far, i've come up with these things:

my style as a mom of 4 active little boys. 

i'm no longer pregnant. i'm not longer breastfeeding babies. and i'm no longer just hanging out in my pj's every day just trying to survive. i turn 29 in a couple of weeks, so i need to remember to be age appropriate but still cute & stylish. and...i just moved a super humid climate. so what does my wardrobe look like now?

friends. 

i realize i keep saying that i don't have friends. that is INCORRECT. i DO have friends, a lot of them...all over the country. i realize that  i'm longing for friends here. someone to go out with: see a movie, grab dinner, or a shopping buddy. so far, my loving & willing husband has filled these rolls. but i cannot expect him to always do this or want to do this. but when you're at home or always have 4 little guys {literally} running around you in circles, how in the world do you meet people that want to be your friend?!

a little something i can call my own. 

not sure if you know this, but i live in a house with 5 other people who all happen to be male. yep, it's true. and for the most part i love doing the things that they love, yet part of me is yearning for more. i never thought i'd say this...but looking for something apart from them. something that just for me...yet within my very limited available resources of time & money.

a creative outlet of self expression. 

i love having a creative outlet & that looks different depending on the stage of life i'm in. i do not find myself artistic by any means but i have a good sense of design {what's pleasing to the eye}. confusing? well i mean, i can picture things in my head, but i can't always make things to appear as in my vision...does that make sense? in the past i've dabbled with doodling, photography, a little digital editing, home projects. so in short i like to re-edit or arrange not create from scratch. {you can follow me on instagram @kristiruckel}

rediscovering my what my strengths are & defining my passions.

i recently started to follow hailey at the tiny twig because she started a series about finding our passion in life. one of her posts was about discerning your strengths to help define your passion. i didn't take any tests this time, but from past tests & knowing my personality i'd say some of my bigger strengths are being relatable/relevant, adaptability & learning {or trying} something new.  now i'll be honest, my personality is one that is seemingly always trying to figure out what i'm passionate about. but in the end, i know it's young women...building relationship & through that being able to speak God's love into their life. i've come to understand that  i only know these things in part because i still am not in the place for the Lord to fully reveal his plan to me. but i will embrace these things as i know them & continue to always seek them out.

working on my weaknesses

ready for some truth?! i believe that we need all identify our personal weakness, otherwise, they can be an easy foothold to be used against us. i'm a slight introvert. meaning, instead of just running from one party to the next, i need some quiet to recharge before the next event. it also causes me to withdraw when things get overwhelming. these things are a constant battle, but one i know i can win with the right tools: a little quiet, a little bible time & some coffee. i've learned that i'm wanting some of the things above to help me overcome some of my weaknesses. and usually that means battling it out head on. 

so maybe this is my readjustment of my new year's goals. things for me to work & focus on.  i'll be writing on these areas of life in the near future. that means some what i wore & mommy style posts. hopefully some posts of playdates & things i'm doing to meet & develop relationship with new people. 

what about you...what are some things that you are searching for?

beach adventures: embracing routine

wow! it's been a crazy couple of weeks full of visitors, a getaway to the beach & even some sick buddies in the mix. and this morning as we fall back into our normal, our routine, i find myself at peace.  because as nice as vacation is, the lack of routine nearly breaks us all.

i can honestly say that i never thought i'd get to this place in life. i've always bucked schedules. i personally feel they're too restrictive. BUT i have found a place in my heart (& life) for routine. in fact, i've come to see that not only do my boys thrive on routine, but so do i. now i'm not talking about a daily schedule laid out by the minute. i'm more referring to the outline of a day, things to be expected...there will be meals, naps & picking {ben} up from school. i do think it was having twins that created this need in me...that and having 4 kids.

but it is still my goal in life to never be tied down to a schedule. although, i'm sure that will ebb & flow as {ben} enters kindergarten next fall & the others start preschool. i mean i can only be in denial of the inevitable for so long, but i'll enjoy it while it lasts.

but i guess that also means i have yet to figure out how to get regular posts up. still working on that new year's resolution. until then, i leave you with some shots of our little getaway at the beach house.

the adventure of making new friends

we are definitely in the hard part of this transition. we are feeling settled at home, but yet still don't have much outside of our home. and we are all yearning for it. craving it. ready to put in the effort of making & building new friendships.
but we are just taking one step at a time. making the effort & going through the process it takes to meet people, join a church, build relationships. and let's be honest, there's no easy way out or shortcut when it comes to these things. because it's not just about {matt} & i anymore...our boys need friends to play with and places to go as well. and i'll be honest, that makes me want to push harder. it breaks my heart that next friday is {gabe}s 3rd birthday & there aren't many friends to invite. he's asked for a party & cake & friends. i mean come one, how could i not?! especially when he says it in his sweet little lispy voice. so we'll be having a small party for him even though i have no idea what that looks like & it's a week away. typical me!

little gabers in his tent

in the last 2.5 months we've been here, we've pushed hard to establish ourselves. the light at the end of the tunnel is nearing. we've joined a small group & officially become members at our new church. {ben} is making friends at school, even though he's can't remember their names most days, he gets that from his dad. we've registered the big boys for a preschool soccer team thing through the church where {ben} is at school. and...it's birthday season for us. which means lots of parties. for the next 8 weeks starting next friday with {gabe} are 4 of our birthdays...plus easter & mother's day. and the first half of april we also have out of town visitors! 

and while i know this has been a dry season for friendships, it's been a great time for {matt} & i to reconnect. we've had the non-negotiable opportunity to truly become a marriage-centered family again. we've had a couple of date nights here & there. but our favorite new thing is loading up the kids & going for a bike ride. it's nice to be active, but it's not about physical exercise, it's about being able to focus & talk to one another. we give the boys a 'picnic' dinner, put them in the bike trailers & they sit quietly while we cruise around. and we just get to talk...like friends. and there are so many things about knowing that we are truly still friends that makes my heart leap & in turn fall in love with him more.







{matt} pulls the guys on the left
and i pull the ones on the right. still not convinced that i didn't get the heavier load.

5 steps to keeping up those adventurous resolutions

we're a few weeks into this new year...this new place...this new life of ours...

and i feel like i may just be settling on a few things that i'd like to see happen this year. 

you can call them resolutions. goals for the year. life changes. a list.

lets face it, in general, when it comes to seeing goals through, it's a difficult task. i personally start off strong & then get distracted & fade quickly. so there's a few things i've learned about myself to help me get things not just started, but seen strongly through to until it is finished. 

did you make a list of resolutions? 

what are you doing to make goals happen?

let me help ya out...here's what i'm doing:

1. consistency

i am definitely not a routine person by nature. confession: in fact, i dislike them & fear of becoming a slave to them. but this is one time i've learned to embrace them. if i don't have a set routine, whatever the goal maybe, i get distracted and end up not doing it one time...i'm done for. i'll make a feeble attempt at catching up but i end up feeling burned out & leaving it. undone. incomplete. hanging over my head taunting me. 

2. realistic

one thing on my list for 2012 is finding & settling on our style for our home. moving out of the hand-me-down, newly-married type furniture/decor and onto something that is us...all 6 of us. while the woman in me would love to have a living room straight out of a design magazine, it just isn't going to happen...for several reasons. the mom in me reminds me of money & practicality of it. i mean this is a house full of testosterone & climbing little boys. i do know that style is an evolving process. and while my mind races & makes decisions, finding that perfect item may take longer. which means that i may or may not accomplish this goal by the end of the year. and that is why my goal is to find...not decorate every inch of our living space. break it down to into smaller steps if need be. because who doesn't like to cross things off the to-do list?! 

3. encouragement/ reminders/ accountability

whether you have someone to help you or your sticking post-it notes all around your house, this is an essential part of of the process. i definitely have the mom-brain these days & nothing would get done EVER if i didn't have a reminder set. for instance, i have a scripture calendar on my sink that i see in the morning or evening and i have a reminder set on my phone to remind me to read my devotion. yes, i'm that bad that i need it in more than one place. if you like having people check in on you, share it with facebook or twitter & have them keep you accountable. 

4. keep your list where you can see it. 

make it your homescreen on your phone. hang it on your fridge. put it in your Bible or a book your reading. or again if you dare, post it online. my weekly meal menu sits out on the counter where i can see it. i've even got snacks listed. then i'm not trying to remember or make spontaneous decisions. 

5. pick one.

as the months pass & you find that you're becoming overwhelmed by keeping up with all the goals on your list, pick one to see through to the end. finish 1 goal by the end of the year. that is completely achievable...for anyone! sticking it through to the end helps build self-confidence. and who knows, maybe next year, you'll get 2 things done. 

you can do it! 

that being said...here's some things on my list for 2012.

finding/ settling on our home style *

make a meal at least 3 times a week *

go to bed at 11 *

make some new friends * 

schedule blogs regularly *

re-do blog design * 

i'll give some updates periodically on how i'm doing.

 i'd love to know how you're doing...or how i can help you!