The Good Life...May 2009

May was a very fun month...in addition to finishing up school, we enjoyed a trip to the Boise Zoo and seeing the tigers... experiencing a first carousel ride...

checking out the new lions

chillin'...

enjoying the new safari section...

whipping up some strawberry smoothies...

trying new foods every day...

A trip to the mountains to Tony and Amy's cabin on Memorial Day...

catching butterflies with daddy...

catching lizards after a long time of "hunting"...

playing with guns and enjoying peanut butter bars and brothers...

taking it all in...

walking with two great men , feeling loved...

relaxing with friends...

Tie-dying shirts...

Making music with friends...

And enjoying a few more fleeting months of babyhood.

Mother's Day 2009

Mother of 4 (plus 4 more equals 8)

Grandmother of 16 - and each one feels special, listened to, loved

By her beautiful example, this sweet lady is impacting the lives of her children and grandchildren.

By her gracious spirit, she is teaching us what it means to go through hard times and smile through them, knowing that God will walk with us.

We honor her this Mother's Day and every day.

She has cancer...but cancer does not have her!

Is life fair? From children's perspective...

The other day, Lauren had an assignment to write an editorial. She was having trouble thinking of something she was passionate about. One of the boys spoke up (this happens often during our school day) and asked her if she thought anything was unfair (We don't really use the word "unfair" in our home, but I let it pass this time). This sparked a discussion of what our children felt was "not fair" in their lives:

• parents getting to stay up as late as they wanted
• parents watching being on the computer as much as they wanted
• parents eating whenever they wanted
• parents not having to do schoolwork

Then I asked them what they got to do that parents do not get to do. This got them thinking and these were their responses:

• parents have to pay more money
• parents have to do lots of chores
• parents have to change diapers
• parents do not have time to do sports
• parents have to work while they play
• parents have to clean up Preston's messes :D

They all decided that being a kid was not so bad...it makes me think of the country song that talks about all the stages of a life:

"You're going to miss this...You're going to want this back...You're going to wish these days hadn't gone by so fast...These are some good times, so take a good look around...You may not know it now, but you're going to miss this."

This little moment of talking taught us all a lesson and makes me want to enjoy all these things that make up my days; not always pleasant, but God-given and here for a season.

Surprised by JOY

Life has been different lately. Consuming. A bit exhausting. So very busy. We have had to make the difficult decision to leave the house and property we loved and thought we would raise the kids on and rent a house for now. I have seen my mother suffer incredible pain as she is fighting cancer and recovering from surgery. We experienced a fire at our house a week before we moved and have since experienced all that goes with the repair and insurance. And, we have had sick kids (fever, coughs, aching) for over 2 weeks.
A friend said to me on Sunday," Well, it seems like you have had 4 of life's most stressful happenings in just a few weeks time."
My life is really quite wonderful, and compared to what others are going through, mine is nothing to even blink at. But, there have been a few challenges in my life as of late. And I find myself surprised by joy that I feel.
I don't know why I would be surprised...God's joy is not dependent upon earthly circumstances. I just have had a rather "peachy" life and I guess I thought that when I did go through hard times, I would feel "different" somehow...maybe that it would consume my every day.
I am so very thankful for the peace of God which reminds me constantly that GOD is the one in control. How freeing it is to release the control I never had! I am also very thankful for the people God puts in my life, not the least the 7 wonderful people I live with, to add sunshine and constant reminders of God's goodness and faithfulness. I am so glad to find out the the old songs and lessons I learned as a child are true...God does give joy in the middle of uncertainty in your life...and I don't think I will ever be surprised again. Just thankful.

(Pictures of the lovely house we are in now to follow soon!)

Trusting...

'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus"
Louisa M. R. Stead

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to take Him at His word;
Just to rest up on His promise;
Just to know "Thus saith the Lord."

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just to trust His cleansing blood;
Just in simple faith to plunge me,
Neath the healing, cleansing flood!

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
Just from sin and self to cease;
Just from Jesus simply taking
Life and rest and joy and peace.

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!

I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,
Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
And I know that Thou art with me,
Wilt be with me to the end.

Jesus, Jesus how I trust Him!
How I've proved Him o'er and o'er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust Him more!


With toddlers and babies in the house these days, I have been learning a lot about trust and how complicated we make it, as we grow older. My little ones never wonder if they will have food, clean diapers, and lots of love. Though they may not get what they ask or cry for, and may throw a "fit" about it, they seem to never question our love or care for them.
We have several uncertainties in our lives right now. This past week we found out that my sweet mother has cancer. We learned today that the cancer that they thought to be breast cancer is not the primary cancer, and tests will be given tomorrow in order to see if they can successfully find the source of the cancer. This doesn't limit God, however, and we are trusting in His perfect plan. I think one of the benefits of getting "older" is that I have seen God "proved" over and over. I know that "God is God and we are not", as Steven Curtis Chapman says.
My prayer is: "O, for grace to trust Him more"!

Husbands...

I heard this somewhere on the radio one day and it has "stuck" with me:

"If you want to feel especially thankful for your husband,
listen to a widow tell you about hers. "


Hold them and love them while you can!

My Bro...

Happy Birthday to my most wonderful brother! I always loved having a big brother, the stronger and wiser one.

• He always knows how to make me laugh (and I mean LAUGH!) and think...two very good things.



• He made my world feel like a safer place, just by being there.



• He showed kindness when I can just imagine irritation was his first reaction.



• He showed love and respect to his parents always, something I hope my boys do.



• He made a great choice in a wife - my best friend! :)

I have not been able to live around Tom since college days, but have observed his life as he is now a husband and father. He is a very tender, compassionate father and a very loving husband to Jenny. I'm not amazed at all by the man he has become...he has lived his whole life as he is living it today. I am so glad for the influence he is for my kids and only wish I could be near him more. I'm blessed to call him my brother!