So, life has been a bit busy...and as I try to figure out how to share any news we have had over the last two weeks I realize a few things: first of all, I can't quite remember it all...and secondly, I am quite sure it has been pretty standard!!! However, one of the highlights for our family was a two day get-away. We were able to head just 45 minutes away to a wonderful 'cabin' on a lake where we can just be the 5 of us. It is great...a beautiful cabin/house with everything one would need and even everything we don't need...our cell phones don't work out there and we LOVE that aspect!!! It is truly the one spot we can just be away. For me, it came at the perfect time as I had hit one of those points of mom exhaustion. While on our get-away, we were able to spend some time skating out on the ice, playing board games, snuggling in front of a fire, and just spending time together. It was wonderful...of course I didn't want to leave and I already look forward to our next get-away!! I praise God for our little place of refuge we can enjoy here on earth...until we get to our eternal refuge with Him in Heaven!!

Well, that is all for now...but I trust I will be sharing more regularly again...

My 3 sons!

I realized I needed to do something about getting some pictures on my blog. So, I did it... are these boys precious or what? I just had to share them with you, but of course I have to run and tend to the youngest of these three!! So...I hope to post something later! Have a great day!

DELIBERATE, part two

Okay...so today our ladies Bible study started up again at church. We are working through the Beth Moore study "Daniel: Lives of Integrity, Words of Prophecy". Let me just tell you that I am so very excited to do this. I LOVE Beth Moore studies because she causes you to get deep in the Word and this study is certainly going to push me DEEP...YEAH!!!
The thing that 'got' me today was this... as you recall, yesterday the Lord laid a word on my heart...DELIBERATE...a word that sums up how I want to live my life. Well, as I am sitting listening to Beth Moore's study she challenges us all in terms of our lives in this "Babylonian culture" that we live in (I can expound on that if anyone is wondering what that means). Anyway, about our choices, our daily activities...and how we need to be DELIBERATE in our walk on this earth. If you are not being deliberate you 'run the risk' of being slowly, but surely, sucked in to the culture...anyway!!! Can you believe she emphasized the need to live a DELIBERATE life...I have to say...I am a little nervous about what God wants to show me and how He wants to grow me in this study...It is OBVIOUS to me that God is really wanting to do a work in my life considering this idea of a DELIBERATE life. How exciting...that God, the Creator of this Universe, the ALMIGHTY, cares enough to emphasize and confirm to me through this morning's video, that He wants to work in me so that I can lead a DELIBERATE life for His glory!!
Anyway...since I just wrote y'all about my word of the year last night I had to come back and share today's happening with you.
Thanks for listening...

DELIBERATE

So a word came to me in the shower (as do many of my profound thoughts, because that is the one place where I can be completely uninterrupted for the most part)...anyway, the word is DELIBERATE!!!! That sums up what I believe God wants me to spend some time focusing on in this year of 2008. I want to be DELIBERATE in my life...deliberate in my time with God, deliberate in my communication with friends and family, deliberate in the choices I make, etc. I want to redeem the time that God is giving me. I know not the hour or day when God will call me home and my time here on earth should count, not just for something, but should count for HIM!!!
Anyway...this blog will be one way for me to be more deliberate with my friends and family. The problem is, I am not sure how interesting this blog will be for you all, but I will attempt to find some interesting pieces of our life to share with you!
Until next time!

The simple things

I thought I would share one of those precious mom moments. This is not anything grand and amazing in terms of advice or ideas, but sometimes it is nice just to hear some other ideas and what is working for others. So...if you care to hear, feel free to read on. For any mom who is reading this I know you can relate to having many work projects you would like to get done yet not having the block of time to really do the job. Well, one of those projects I have wanted to do is wash down many of the walls in our home. Little fingerprints and splashes of who knows what was beginning to become more obvious and I was desperate to get on task. So I decided that since the temp was too cold for us to go outside yesterday, I needed to do an activity that got our bodies in motion. So, I gave the boys two options...a Christmas card project or washing walls. They chose the walls...and so we got our bucket, our sponges and washed away. We got some serious work done, which I was thankful for. Yet the GREATEST thing gained from this activity was watching and hearing my boys work together on a project, with such pride and excitement. Nicholas was so proud of his work and how high he could reach and Luke just wanted to do what his big brother was doing. Then as I was scrubbing away at a wall, I just stopped to hear them laughing hysterically with each other. They were having such a good time and it was so precious.

Again, this is not anything amazing, but it was one of those moments where mom felt productive... both in her job as mom and in a specific project. Don't be afraid to get your little ones involved in your 'work'...what is great is that they don't view the work with the same 'ugh' that we may...it is a chance for them to be a help, to take pride in an activity, and to really enjoy time together.

I'll give it a couple of days and then I'll try for another wash the walls activity!!!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! For me, I rang in the New Year with a sick child and screaming 4 month old. But you know what...after my moments of "why do I have to spend my New Years Eve this way" I realized that it was just a reminder of a tremendous honor that I have. I have the opportunity to continue on in 2008, and get better, at the greatest job of my life. The job of wife and mom!!! And so...I will work hard, play hard, cry hard, and pray harder...that I would be the wife and mom that God wants me to be. I have other areas to work on as well...and I am excited for this time of year where we have an opportunity to focus in again on the things that are important. I look forward to sharing in this year of 2008 with you all!

SIBLINGS

I just want to take some time to reflect on three of the greatest relationships I have been blessed with...my relationship with my siblings. This Christmas was such an exciting time for me as I awaited my brothers (Josh and Dan) and my sister (Abi -now a married sister) to return home for some good family time. Though the time is never long enough it was a time that was truly special.
It was a time for my kids to enjoy their 'distant' family. Luke can't stop talking about how Uncle Josh showed him how to dance...Nicholas talks about 'relaxing on Uncle Dan's lap' one night...Gabriel laughs every time he thinks of Aunti Abi sneezing (well...I don't know if he really does, but he sure laughed when he would see/hear her sneeze). My goal this year is to do real work to build these relationships that are there between my kids and their aunt and uncle(s), even though they are far away.
For me...I had the thrill of creating a gift idea for my siblings that helped express my gratefulness for their impact in my life. And I think I did a good job (for my level of imagination). I decorated a wooden box and filled it with scraps of paper. On these scraps I had written specific memories from our childhood. After our annual adult Christmas dinner out we went back to mom and dad's. I gave them their gifts and then we spent the rest of the night talking, laughing, and crying about all that was in the boxes. It was TRULY special!
My parents did a great job and I know it had to be work. Not everyone I know speaks of their siblings in a positive way or with a relationship intact. I thank God SO very much that I have been blessed with three wonderful relationships that I pray will grow as we move on in our lives.
I love you Josh, Dan and Abi!