Happy Birthday, Dad!

Camping
mountains
cool streams

mosquitoes
jeeps
steak and eggs

lakes
boats
long conversations

love
God
my Dad

 

Simple Days

Today is a beuatiful day-the wind is a bit fierce but it is a sunny 64 degrees and I have been outside dead-heading my Petunia's.  Gardening is a bit of heaven for me in this world-I think this joy must come from our original design to be tenders and caretakers in the garden of Eden.  What a sad place the world became when Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  I can't imagine how they felt leaving the perfection of the garden and the complete love, security and friendship of God's prescence.  I know this still happens today in our hearts when we disobey and do not turn back in repentance.  I am learning so much about repentance and how it needs to be a daily and consistent part of our lives.

I have nothing planned to do today except gardening and a walk with the kiddos.  I am realizing that the days and years are passing me by so quickly and I don't want to miss out on the important things in life because I am too busy or I have scheduled too much during the week for the kids and I.  I love days like today when we are not expected anywhere and I have time to sit down and play on the floor ( and maybe finish a bit of laundry as well! )

I see family vacations and even small outings spending time together camping, or renting a cabin in the mountains for the weekend.  I really want these frequent, meaningful times that my children and David and I will look back on and cherish as wonderful memories.  I believe this is what God wants for us as well.  And in the midst of spending time together to share with them the wonderful truths about their Father in Heaven who loves them and who died for them.  To pass on the legacy that was given to us and to share this Good News with people in their lives and their children one day as well.

As Mother's Day approaches I am once again humbled and blessed that God has given me these little lives to take care of and nurture and teach about Himself-I'm glad He is there helping me every step of the way so that I can love, teach, train and discipline the way that He desires.
thankyou , Father!

In It and not Of It

I've decided that this temporary place we live in, you know earth, is not all its cracked up to be.  Sometimes during all my busyness I stop for a second and realize the home I have waiting for me in Heaven.  It's not supposed to be comfortable and wonderful down here because this is not where I belong and where my affections rest.  This is a good thought to have and dwell on…thankyou, Lord

And now back to the nitty gritty…..Hannah is doing well in her homeschooling again.  It was my fault that we had not been consistent in certain areas and she was forgetting things that she had once known.  I feel she is back on track now, though I am still a little nervous concerning the placement test that she will take shortly for her next school.  Speaking of, we had a meeting last week and met the other families who will also be a part of the school.  There are currently 13 families making up about 30 children from K-5th grade.  Because the classes are so small they will be combining grades for at least the first year.  I can't believe how excited I am for her!  A classical approach which is also reformed and university style.  Everything we could have wanted for her in a nice bundle.  I'm also glad for the extra time I will be able to spend on school with Ethan when Hannah is in class.

Have I mentioned that my Girl Scout Troop is falling apart?  Actually, splitting…I can't even believe it, but my leaders are having “irreconcilable differences” and some of the moms are siding one way or another-a decision we will all have to make eventually.  I am suprised and grieved over the rudeness, selfishness and pride that is coming forth over all of this.  David has reminded me that the reason we joined G.S. in the first place was so that we could be around people who don't believe as we do and show them God's love in Christ through our relationships.  Well, the time is here and I am praying for wisdom, patience, kindness in everything I say and do-I cannot do it without Him!

Catching up

Let's see…it's been quite awhile since I last wrote-Easter weekend.  We had a  wonderful time together at my church worshipping God and remembering and celebrating Christ's death and resurrection.  I love my church and feel that God is among us working through each person and each family to bring us to the place he wants us to be as his Body.  I am humbled by the wonderful  people who surround me, and sharpened and encouraged by their lives, friendships and love for their Heavenly Father.

Since I last wrote, my Dad had a wonderfully successful eye surgery-its amazing the skill, wisom and knowledge that God has given to fallen man that we can create, repair, and especially love.  I'm so excited for my Dad as he is able to experience true color, form and depth for the first time in many years, and that is just in one eye!

David and I have also been working on my garden over the past few weeks.  My Mom and step-Dad purchased a strawberry planter for me for my Bday coming up in July and David assembled it and I planted all 40 little Strawberry plants in the “appropriate” positions.  I'm especially excited to see the kids' reaction to the little plants as they mature and produce their sweet fruit (hopefully!).  David has also prepared a little piece of land in the back corner of the yard for my liking.  I have decided I will plant a little English Garden.  I have never done anything of the sort so I have been researching on line and have found too much info. for my little bit of space.  I think that I will take before and after pictures and hopefully the difference will be fantastic!

Jonah has been sick for the last day and a half-just a fever, so I think it might be his molars making their grand appearance!  I still feel so sorry for him and hope he feels better in the morning.  He's such a sweet, funny little boy.

My friend, the guitarist, has graciously offered to teach a few of us the guitar this Wed. night at her house.  I'm so excited since this will be my first official lesson.  I have been practicing faithfully and even purchased a book last week to learn some fundamentals that I am unable to teach myself.   Right now we have a scheduling conflict, so hopefully Aunty will be able to babysit! 

next time tune in for the latest news concerning Hannah's new school!

Christ the Lord is Risen Today!

 Christ The Lord is Risen Today

Christ the Lord is risen today, alleluia!
All creation join to say, alleluia!
Raise your joys and triumphs high, alleluia!
Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply, alleluia!

Love's redeeming work is done, alleluia!
Fought the fight, the battle won, alleluia!
Death in vain forbids Him rise, alleluia!
Christ has opened paradise, alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King, alleluia!
Where, o death, is now thy sting, alleluia!
Once He died our souls to save, alleluia!
Where thy victory, o grave, alleluia!

Soar we now where Christ has led, alleluia!
Following our exalted Head, alleluia!
Made like Him, like Him we rise, alleluia!
Ours the cross, the grave, the skies, alleluia!

Happy Easter!!

Happy Birthday, Sweet Girl!

Happy Birthday, sweet  little girl
you fill our lives with such joy!
My dear Hannah, I didn't realize how my Heavenly Father loves me 
until you came along and I looked into your pink, round face and knew
nothing could take away my love for you!
You already show such a kind and merciful heart,
open to your Father's leading and love.
We hope that your special day is as exciting and fun
and full of laughs as you hope it to be!
We love you!
Love, Mommy, Daddy, Ethan and Jonah

Family Fun

Well, we did it!  We went away on a mini-vacation and had a really good time !  You know how sometimes when you go away and then return home how you need another vacation from your vacation?!  Not this time!  We relaxed, walked, played, swam, looked at bears, picnicked beside mountain streams and had a wonderful time together as a family-(ok, so the putt-putt experience may only improve in a few years!)
Here are some of our pics:

Daddy and the Kids                                 
  
Hannah and I 

The Hobbits