End of Summer Family Vacation

Life has been a blur of one exciting event to the next lately. We started school, celebrated our 13th anniversary and  3 birthdays in our house as well as took part in a fun wedding of dear friends of ours.....then there's canning and Labor Day and youth camping and piano lessons and out of state family visiting for a week. All that since the 3rd week in August. no wonder I feel like life has been a little crazy.

But before it's just fuzz in my brain, I want to remember the very special 2 day vacation that our family took just before school started. We started out by heading to Boone, IA to the Kate Shelley Museum. Because I copied the wrong address down, we actually arrived at the old Moingona Depot first and got to walk the lovely, picturesque trail to the bridge. It was a perfect summer day and other than Annika getting a case of poison ivy later, we all had a grand time in the woods. It was hard to imagine Kate running through the storm in her heroic effort to save the midnight express and all 200 passengers on board. This has been a favorite story in our house for as long as I can remember so it was really special to finally get to see it in real life.

When we were finished there, we headed into town to eat lunch at Pizza Ranch. Then off to the museum. Museums can be boring, (yes, I said that b word and I'm a home school Mom, gasp!) but this museum really was interesting. Not only did it have Kate's actual lantern and a host of other interesting facts and items relating to Kate, it also housed a military museum. The entire upstairs of this old building was split into little sections. Each section had things from its era, starting with 1900-1910, and continuing on in 10 year segments all the way to the present. I felt a little old when I saw my segment of time, 1970-1980, and my children didn't  recognize all of  the 'ancient' items displayed there.

We headed out to see the highest railroad bridge in the world, the Kate Shelley railroad bridge, several miles out of town in the country. Then we were off to Omaha.....to our motel. Of course, the children wanted to go swimming immediately. Their kind father was all into that and hung out w/ them in the pool. I, on the other hand, am not crazy about water if I know I won't be getting any sun anyway. So I read my Bible, journaled, and started reading a good book, all while staying poolside. I felt naughty for not joining them, but Leon assured me that it was fine. I didn't argue. It was one of my favorite memories of the whole weekend. Relaxing.....

After showers, we all headed to Cracker Barrel in our pj's. Such fun!

When we got back, the girls were STILL hungry.:(( Seriously, let's not even go there!) So they ate fresh peaches in bed.

After a good night of rest, we were off to the zoo....

By day's end, we were so exhausted.
Here we are, waiting on the Imax to start...

And then we took our tired bodies home.....good memories, and a good last hurrah to summer!

We're Back!

Back in school, that is.

Back to schedules, and routine,
Back to spending every morning minute with my children.
Back to children who cry because they aren't perfect enough for themselves.
Children who cry 'cause Mom makes them do it more perfect-er, and they couldn't give a rip.
Children who are so competitive that they have to be best, first, fastest, and smartest.
Back to not getting housework done until afternoon or evening, or not at all.
Back to teaching teamwork and getting exercise while playing Andy Over, Kick the Can, Peek Around the Corner, Kick ball, Dodge Ball, Elimination, and Trees.
We're back to 4 year olds crying when they get out in the game,
11 year olds who supposedly forgot how to write cursive,
6 year olds who fall apart over even one red x,
and 10 year olds who can't study for all the noise.

We're back to watching children grow, and learn,
teaching the 4 almost 5 year old how to read,
watching the excitement in a child's eyes when they finally figured out their Math,
working together to get lunch on the table,
enjoying morning devotions and singing together,
memorizing Scripture,
talking about nouns, verbs, and adverbs,
teaching patience,
and how to speak words of life to your siblings.
We're back to cooked breakfast, morning chores, and all that done and cleaned up by 8:30.

I'm a lucky Mom, I am.

What If?

...I actually loved people unconditionally? Would I find them easier to love?

...I obeyed God every time w/o question? Would He speak to me more often?

...I acknowledged God's Presence in the hard times? Would I be stronger?

...I was honest in hurtful relationships? Would our struggles lessen?

...I spent one on one time with my children when they were struggling?
 Would their attitude change?

...I cried out to God when I'm exhausted instead of going for that iced coffee pick me up? Would I get energized?

..I seized opportunities when they were right before me? Would I live a richer life?

...I prayed more about tough stuff instead of trying to come up with a solution myself? Would I feel more rested about the issue?

...I encouraged people who crossed my path? Would I make a difference?

...I was simply faithful to be the wife, mom, and Mrs. Youth Pastor that God has called me to be?

...I prayed more every day? Would there be more answers?

...I spoke life into the city kids that visit our church? Could I make a difference?

...I just did what I could instead of dreaming of what I cannot do?

My Messy Life

We're in the middle of a re-model job in my kitchen....tearing out the old nasty carpet, and putting in new, beautiful, easy to wash, hardwood flooring. Can you tell I'm excited?

We moved to this farmhouse almost 7 years ago, and the first thing we said was, "Who would put carpet in the kitchen/dining room? It's got to go." That was 83 months ago.

Upon investigation, we discovered that the floor was very uneven. There used to be a set of stairs that separated my kitchen and dining room and when they were pulled out and placed elsewhere, the whole center of the floor went, you guessed it, down. So now we understand that carpet was by far the easiest solution to this project. When the center of the room is 2 1/2 inches lower than the edges of the room you have a bit of a problem. This would not be an easy fix.

Last winter, my hard-working man chopped up cement in the basement until he had two long trenches. He then poured fresh cement into the trenches until we had a very solid section of floor to work with. Then a friend of ours began jacking the floor. The house creaked and groaned, cracks began to appear and plaster crumbled, to the point that our friend and Leon decided it was time to stop. So while the floor still isn't quite level, it's much better than it was, and now we can proceed with the hardwood flooring that I've been dreaming of.

So all the appliances and bottom cupboards had to be moved out. They are resting calmly in my small-ish living room. A few cupboards and a long counter top had to be put into our spacious bedroom for lack of room elsewhere. The dishes from the cupboards went into my office along with the girl's kitchen set. The school room has been converted into a kitchen of sorts, where I can make anything I want as long as it only takes a microwave, electric skillet, or crockpot. And not all at once, because then we blow breakers left and right, and right and left. The only working fridge is in the mudroom so it requires running a flight of stairs to get my things from the fridge to my 'kitchen' upstairs. Meal prep is a riot. I've been getting great exercise.:)

Then out went the nasty old carpet....upon which our family of 6 has spilled a gallon of milk, a pint of salsa, a quart of grape juice....and the list goes on. Leon worked hard to remove it. It seemed to like us a lot more than we liked it, and was very hard to remove.

And then the fun began. The hardwood is going in....and I try to keep my eyes on the end result.

I am discovering that I like order even more than I realized. When my world is total chaos, I lose my ability to set goals and achieve them. I have a hard time getting motivated or delegating responsibility to my children. After all, nothing is in its proper place, so the normal fashion of doing a job now takes twice as long.

I couldn't help but spiritualize my problem. I tend to think like that sometimes. When life beats us down, it's so easy to let despair swallow us up. We feel defeat, and discouragement is right behind. The problem increases until we are in way worse shape than we would ever have dreamed possible. Oh, Satan has heyday at those times.

We must be pro-active and do battle against the attacks on us, our family, and those around us. We need to get in the Word and pour out our heart to God, who holds all we need in His hands.

I have always been passionate about good marriages. I always thought smugly perhaps, that we just had a pretty good marriage going on. But this year, we have felt attacks on our marriage like never before. We were never the fightin' kind.:) but we have disagreed on a lot of stuff the last while. and not just disagreed but "My way or the highway" kind of disagree.

One morning several weeks ago, as I was going about my tasks, I was feeling all sorry for myself and the way 'he' wasn't meeting my needs and being sensitive to me. and God really slapped me upside the head. I realized that first of all, Leon can not meet my needs and expectations; only God can. I knew all that....but needed the reminder. And then I thought about the fun Satan must be having trying to wreck us. I literally cried out to God for help, and prayed against the attacks on our marriage. Wow! why am I so slow?

All this to say, if you're in a mess, there is a way out! Don't give up, don't give in!

Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  Eph.6: 10-11

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.  Zeph. 3:17

And now, for some pictures of my mess:

 See the laundry on the couch? I was too lazy to fold it.

And the beauty in the mess:

Dorcas brought me a beautiful gladiola

 And here's the floor thus far!!!!!!!! isn't it lovely?!!!

 

Don't let your mess get you down.

Summer Days

Ah! Summertime! What's not to love about summer?

 

sharing brother's mp3 player

 playing with the rubber duckies leftover from Bible School

 kickball with the family

lots of this goes on every day!

 birthdays

 replacing the ceiling fan in the kitchen makeover process

 reading while rollerblading?!

 friends

 sleeping out in the tent (and eating too!)

                            

 

 football on the 4th with friends

 what Jacob and Jamison do for fun

 sparklers!

 fixing their 'machines'

 running in the rain

 After getting 6 inches of rain one morning, we had a small pool in the back yard. The children named it the Red Sea and spent a lot of time out there.

a date for the parents

(looks like he only smiles when he gets kissed)

And of course, I don't have pictures of the 2 new litters of kittens, the green bean snapping, the pea shelling, swimming, the parade, the fireworks, the beautiful yellow kitchen, the baby pigs, or weeding the garden.

And now I'm off to enjoy the next 39 days until school starts!

Letter To My Youngest Son

Dear Jamison,

 

We are so grateful to have you in our family! How can it be 10 years already?! Your big brother was 8 months old when we found out about you. We were a little overwhelmed with the thought of another baby. But you have been such a blessing! God knew exactly what He was doing when He sent you to our family.

 

When you were born, you were bald and neither Grandma wanted to claim you. But you were the sweetest baby ever. After the first several months, you nestled into a schedule and were so content and happy. Our lives were really crazy at first, with what seemed like 2 babies.

 

You were seeking adventure from the get go. At 6 months of age, in a week's time, you started crawling, sitting alone, and pulling yourself up beside furniture. Then you really got in trouble. One night in the middle of the night, we heard a tremendous crash. You had stood up in bed, pulled the doily off the dresser beside you, and crashed the lamp and large ceramic piggy bank in your bed. You were a bit bewildered but unhurt. You also pulled over a large floor lamp and narrowly missed cracking yourself in the head. You were walking at 10 months.

 

I'll never forget how you coaxed your big brother into that mud puddle! He was not accustomed to getting dirty but his little brother plowed right into that puddle and then Logan decided it's not so bad to give it a try.

 

You and Logan were inseparable. You were fiercely competitive and so even though you were smaller, you often came out on top.

 

You started school with an eagerness to learn, and you still love to learn. You especially love to read about amazing stuff, like stars and space and sea creatures. You can get completely lost in a book.

 

I love your kind heart when you play with your sisters or other kids a lot younger than you. That's why all those little boys love you so much. You are also very generous and you'd just as soon spend your money on other people as yourself.

 

God's got a big plan for you, Jamison, and I'm so glad I get to be along for the ride.

 

Love,

Mom

 

And now here we are, you just celebrated that big 10th birthday!

 Jamison with his two best friends, his brother, Logan and his friend ,Lucas

 His birthday present- picked out by his Dad!

Happy birthday, son. We love you!