Crazy Blissful Moments

Just one short year ago....... It was a beautiful fall day.... so so beautiful. The weather was perfect and warm. I started my day early, as most Sundays are for us. We were to church early to help Robert lead worship at Riverside. I remember savoring the way you always danced so delightfully within me during worship.... how it almost seemed as if you were praising in your own little way. We worshiped together, you and me, and I wanted to always hold on to that moment. I knew you were coming soon and that having you always so near to me was coming to a close. My heart wanted to meet you, to see your sweet face, to kiss on you, to snuggle you in my arms-- and still it wanted to keep you safe within me... to let you grow more, to savor more of the beauty of you developing within me. We came home from church and relaxed for a few hours. Your big brothers and sisters wanted to go to the park, so we ventured out on a walk to enjoy the beauty of the day. We walked to the park and ran...

This week I am so thankful to be home with my kids (ALL of them) and to be homeschooling. There is so much flexibility with our day, I really love it. I love that we don't have to get up early and rush. I love that everyone knows what is expected and works hard to do what needs to be done. I love that we have plenty of time for doing things we love to do together- that there is even LESS stress in our daily life. I love the amount of time I get to spend reading aloud to the kids and the fantastic variety of truly excellent literature we get to consume. I love that we can drink hot chocolate with the windows open while we fill our minds with knowledge and our hearts with God's word. I love the moments I get to spend discussing books with the older girls and teaching the younger ones to love reading as much as I do. I love that the boys get to be boys... robust and full of energy - full of creativity and life - and that no one here is making them sit still for 7 plus hours. ...

I can hardly believe I'm already over half way through my 30 day Facebook hiatus. There's so much I'm learning and enjoying about being present. I'm not gonna lie though-- there have been a few days when we've had special things going on that I BADLY wanted to share with my facebook friends. Instead, I persevered and really enjoyed sharing these fun times on a more personal level with those I love.  This past week was big and full of memorable moments.  Monday we celebrated our spunky Miss Zeah's 2nd birthday. We couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day or better people to share it with. The weather was perfect. Zeah is so blessed to have so many wonderful and loving people in her life to share in the joy of who she is. There is so much Zeah brings to our lives. She is full of energy, opinions, and incredibly thoughtful. She has no problem speaking her mind and loves to snuggle. She is every bit as stubborn and sweet as any 2 year ol...

Yesterday I got my first email from Facebook saying "Look what you've missed since you last logged in! You have 5 new messages and 6 new event invites" Thank you but no thank you. :) I'm quite enjoying my time without you. What is slightly disturbing to me is the amount of time I'm finding to do things I never have time for. It is entirely possible that all the "few minutes" I have spent daily checking up on Facebook actually add up to being a significant amount of time. Sometimes introspection really hurts. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily  entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy (!!)  set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such ...

My first day out from Facebook and I'm noticing that I think in status updates .... it's oddly funny to me. Several times today I have caught myself documenting funny things my kids have said or things I have thought about... on Facebook... in my head.  Somehow without Facebook, I am finding I have waaay more witty and funny material than ever. This leads me to believe that either 1: I haven't been paying enough attention to real life or 2: I am actually allowing my brain to breathe which is causing so much blood flow that my brain is simply overstimulated- resulting in all kinds of epiphanies.  It's probably a little of both. The scripture I have been meditating on today is from Philippians 2:3, 4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of others." The question I posed to myself today was this: Am I truly valuing others above m...

Yes, you heard me. I am taking a break. Not just any break, a break from social media. About a month ago, we got new phones-- we previously hadn't had cell phones for 5 years. We were happy that way, we loved the pace of life-- that we could go places and not be 'bothered' with the unimportant. We chose to return to the 21st century for many reasons... mostly for convenience sake. However, I gotta be honest. Since getting my new smart phone, (which can do so many neat things-- and is so helpful in organizing my chaotic life) I have found that I am consumed with this little thing called facebook. The facebook app was one of the very first things to go on my phone-- and I loved it. Until I realized how much time I was spending "checking up" on things. Holy moly. Its just so easy and quick and convenient and ..... seriously. It feels like a time sucking addiction. That's the long and short of it folks. This girl needs a break. In my bible time today I was r...

Its supposed to be kind of a nice break to be "laid up" for a few weeks. Only somehow it would be more fun if I was actually  just doing it for fun.  The only thing I have been able to do is snuggle kids, read, and just hang out - the dream life... I know. I'm trying to be thankful for this time... I really am. It would be remiss if I didn't mention my total utter frustration with my knee. I absolutely hate being unable to do things for myself, my kids, my husband. It makes me crabby. I want to be able to just jump up and grab the baby from her crib.... to be able to just clean up my kitchen myself instead of waiting for someone else to do it...... to help my husband with projects that need to get done.... to not have to convince little Z that its more fun to follow me to the couch to be held versus being picked up where  she's at. Its summer-time. I want to do fun things with my kids. Things that require walking- or standing- or kneeling- or crawling.... pret...

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us...... For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." --Romans 8:18, 24-25 God is so faithful. I cannot possibly say it enough. God is SO faithful . If there is any truth I have had so deeply ingrained in my heart since my mom's diagnosis in late 2004 it is this . We all speak to the faithfulness of God but how many of us truly believe and trust in that faithfulness when it matters most? This journey from start to where we are today has been one of the most beautiful displays of God's glory revealed in us I have ever experienced. The best part? The glory that is STILL being revealed in all of us and the story of great HOPE in a great God we get to share every day. I'm so thankful God is in the business of restoration. ...