January, I’m dreaming of spring . . .

Difficult is the word I would use to describe January.  Holidays are done.  Time to buckle down and get some school done.  Not to mention how bitterly cold it has been.  Several crisis events have happened.  High stress.  Hard decisions.  Its all there & it is no where near ending.  But I’ve seen God’s hand through it all.

I’m trying to be home more.  For me that is a battle.  So many responsibilities and so little time available.

Today I went to look at January pictures and was discouraged that there was only one on my camera.  Then I looked at my Photostream from my phone.  I am so thankful for my phone for many reasons but one of the biggest is that I can take photos even when I don’t have my camera.

          

Early in January Mom spent a few days with us. We had fun shopping for hats as her latest chemotherapy has caused her to loose her hair.  It is hard to believe that she is still fighting through pancreatic cancer.  She was diagnosed over 2 years ago.  So many difficult days but there is joy in the journey.  Even when the journey is all up hill.

Elizabeth’s Bible quizzing team, Squad, posed to get a group picture.  We’ve been trying for several months.  Not sure this is quite what I was after. LOL!  They are great kids and I’m thankful that we have gotten to coach them.

Ok in general I hate having my picture taken but I kinda like this one. Many of my clothes are too big these days.  I’m good with that as I’ve lost almost 20 pounds since April.  I’m slowly adding pieces as I retire the baggy ones.  Reasons I’m thankful.  #1 it’s a new outfit—all on clearance.  #2 my 17 YO daughter said I was wearing non-mom jeans(HA!) #3 I love this outfit.  Dressy but not.    Very comfortable & did I mention it was all on clearance? 

So after my difficult January it is good to look back and enjoy the gifts God gave  me in the midst of the storm as he always does.

Linking up at

     

A BIG move here!

We did it.  We moved.

There are really no words for how much we LOVE our new place.

So I’ll just give you some pictures!

Kitchen & eat in nook

POOL!

Garden bounty!  I’ve canned 7 gallons of tomatoes & there is much more to come!

More POOL time!

Kids bath!

Back of the house in the pasture with the dogs

This was the beginning of filling this room with boxes.  Its full & well I’m working my way through unpacking

Movie night on Labor Day in the new place!

I will share more as we unpack & do some of the fun things we have planned for the new place.  In the mean time PRAY that our previous home is LOVED by a new family soon!

Starting again

Its been almost a year since I posted.  No excuses just reasons.

No time as I’ve managed to accomplish a REAL school year for 2012-13.  We are close to finishing it all up and having a few weeks off for the summer.(PRAISE GOD!)

My mom has pancreatic cancer, lives with us & I am often away at doctor appointments.

My dad has a delusions and that has been taking up bits of time.

Blogging can take over my life and it is better to just live it some times.  But that said I know that I want to post more here.  Enjoy these random pictures from the past year.

You never are too old to play dress up

New puppy in the house—meet Bear

A new boy scout!

Still a kid—looking for Easter eggs!

Having fun coaching again

Michael & Rebekah announcing . . .

Something exciting in their future!

It’s all in your attitude

Today could be a  downer for me. Today I turn 40

(Prepare your self for lots of pictures—sorry!)

(18 years old)

(almost 19)

I’m not a teenager anymore(thank God!)

(24 years)

The 20s are a fond memory & the good old 30s are done………

(34 years)

Ever since I can remember when people ask my age they exclaim—NO way you aren’t that old.  I also get “there is NO way you have a kid that old.”  I like that I look younger than what my id says.

(37 years)

Today I am not going to be unhappy that I am 40.  I am choosing to be thankful for all the blessings that God has placed in my life. 

In fact I thought I would list some of those blessings.  These are in no particular order.

1. A husband who loves me and gives me more joy than I deserve.

2.  Adult son coming home “just because” he likes to hang out with his parents.

3.  My beautiful, loving children

4.  Flowers delivered unexpectedly!

5.  Parents who love me

6.  Connecting with my brother & sister recently

7.  Projects to keep my hands & mind busy

8.  Sunshine instead of rain—everyone knows how much I love the sun after days of winter gray.

9.  Being a stay-at-home mom

10.  Flowers blooming early this year!

11.  Forgiveness

12.  Daughters who cheer me on & laugh at my sillies

13.  Food in the frig, gas in the car, clothes on my back

14.  My iphone—seriously would go crazy with out it

15.  Dark curtains to keep the light out when I want to sleep in on my birthday(any day).

16.  Friends who forget I like to sleep in and text me at 7 am to wish me a happy 40th.

17.  Death by chocolate cake with peanut butter between the layers(aaaahhhh)

18.  Anticipation of a afternoon with my mom

19.  Sweet hugs from my youngest

20.  Grace

21.  A mother-in-law & father-in-law who have helped me to grow and treat me as one of their own.

22.  Friends who walk beside me, cry in sympathy, laugh for no reason, understand when there are no words left to say.

23.  Adventures

24.  My precious church family

25.  The Brush/Schweikert clan—we aren’t hillbillies really(if you don’t count some of them)

26.  Little girl giggles, big girl hugs

27.  Pepsi

28.  My hip—defective but functioning

29.  Comfortable place to lay my head at night

30.  Memories stuck down, decorated & sitting on a shelf for times when I need to remember.

31.  Lessons learned, paradigms shifted

32.  Abby’s companionship

33.  Peanut butter

34.  Plans for the future—gardens, vacations, trips

35.  21 years with my love

(39 years)

36.  Warm breezes of spring

37.  Energy to get up each day

38.  Little boy energy, big boy compassion

39.  Messes to clean, laundry to do, errands to run

40.  One more breath—means that I am still here with a purpose to live out as I make this journey

I love this saying from pinterest. 

Gratitude turns what we have into enough. 

Try making your list—I promise you won’t be sorry.

Unexpected phone call

Years ago(like 10) I had little people in my house.  The worst time of the day was 5 o’clock hour.  The kids were hungry & tired.  I was exhausted & ready to turn over the reins to Steve when he walked in the door.  But I had supper to prepare & have ready.

I liked to listen to Spirit FM, a Christian radio station, while I worked in the kitchen.  Michelle Odell was the deejay at that time.  I enjoyed her laughter and joyous outlook on life. 

Really I’m going some where with this—be patient.

My normal schedule on Tuesdays is to be in town running errands.  Yesterday I was home instead.  The kids have been staying with my mother-in-law so I can care for mom.  I won’t lie it has been a rough couple of days.  Survival kinds of days.

So when the phone rang yesterday I really wasn’t expecting the blessing that God had planned for me.  The sweet familiar voice I heard on the other end of the line was very familiar. 

The radio station was calling listeners, who support Spirit FM(which is AWESOME by the way), to chat & see if we had any prayer requests.  Did I mention that I am not normally home on Tuesday afternoon?

So I shared Michelle what our family has been going through because I knew she could relate.  Did I mention that when I was listening to her so many years ago she had learned that she had breast cancer?  Did I mention that I felt burdened to pray for her as she walked that journey?  You just never know how or when you might get to help someone or have that blessing come back around.

Michelle asked me a few things and then she sweetly prayed for my mom.  She reminded me that God is in control.  The only big “C” is the one who God sent to save us.  Christ is our great physician and he can do mighty things. 

Sometimes I think that we must go through the tough times, the really dark and desperate times, in order to know when God sends us encouragement.  In normal life we don’t always pay attention.

This is one of my favorite songs right now. . . . . I hope that you enjoy it.

What is important right now?

One thing I ask from the LORD,  this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent 
and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:4-5

What would you ask of God if you could just ask for one thing? 

That is such a hard question.

Events in my life lately have been prodding me to look at my life.  Really look hard.

We do not know the number of our days.  We can only be thankful for this minute, this hour that He’s granted us.

Between the doctor visits, multiple phone calls & texts, rearranging of schedules, desperate laundry loads I have been seeking what is most important.  I ask God to point me in that direction each morning as I start my day.  Here is what I’ve gravitated towards.

1.  Kiss my husband he might not be there tomorrow.

2.  Squeeze my children in tight hugs so they know I love them each day.  Even(especially) the big ones.

3.  Pray often.  Pray about everything.  Pray until you can’t stay awake.

4.  Forget the rest.  Do maintenance as you walk through the day.  Right now a to-do list is laughable.  Interruptions, sadness, naps all take priority over the rest.

I don’t dwell in the house of the Lord.  He dwells in me and allows me to gaze on His beauty and seek him each day.

My life is not beautiful right now.  It is a mess.  Fatigue and general inability to think has become my “normal.”

But I know He is beautiful and he is walking me through(okay carrying me) this season.  I don’t know the answer to the question.  More than half the time I don’t even know the question.

But I know he will keep me safe.  I can rest in him as I know he is holding me, molding me, shaping me as my family does the hard things that must be done.

I wouldn’t have chosen this adventure(nightmare) that we are on but I can choose where I turn for strength and wisdom.  I want to bring glory to him through my actions & words.

Thank you Lord for pointing me towards the most important things each day.

Inexpensive Getaway

Many years ago a group of girl friends would get together and scrapbook the pictures and memories of our families.

A couple of hours just wasn’t worth dragging everything out so our goal was to have an overnight crop.

We tried hotels—too expensive & no room to spread out

We tried homes—not far enough away & not enough room

Then 5 years ago we found the perfect solution.

We rented a church camp!  We run away on Friday & come home on Sunday.  We share the cost of the camp and everyone contributes to the food so the cost is kept to a minimum!  This past weekend was the biggest number we’ve had—23!!!

I love this group and I am so grateful for their involvement in my life.  There is so much history & friendship that tie us together.

 

We had a much needed time of laughter, teasing & talking.  They really took care of me this weekend.  

If you have a group of friends that you love & you like to get away.  I recommend renting a nearby church camp. 

The one we use has such a peace about it that it has become a sanctuary for several of us.

 

Pomme de Terre Lake

Oh I love doing nothing.  Not all the time because just sitting around does get old.  But if I have the opportunity to just grab my book, a glass of tea & sit in the sun for an hour by the water.  Oh yeah I am all over that. 

Especially at sunset

A lot of times we use our vacation to go & see this fabulous country that God has created or to see where history happened.  We originally planned to find a beach to visit this year but that plan fell through so instead we searched out some water closer to home.  Lake Pomme de Terre fit the bill & we found a great house on VRBO which is a great site by the way.

We were there 6 nights and I am pretty sure I didn’t do a lick of work while we were there.  Well okay I did do a couple loads of laundry so we had clothes.  But two load for 8 people for 6 days—well I am okay with that.  Here are the highlights!

Playing games

On the water

Fishing

more fishing

Playing in the water

more fishing

Learning new games

Time alone

Time together

We live in such a fast paced world that I cherish every moment where we can just hang out together, be thankful for each person & enjoy the time.  There is just nothing like it.