family + sun + water = good times

we drove straight south, for hours. away from the calendar, the schedules, the telephone ringing, appointments, chores, and work. the trip was uneventful, save one flat tire on the boat trailer and one forgotten cooler of food in the kitchen. the tire was changed quickly thanks to the spare and the tools that mark threw in at the last minute. and the food would be replaced at the walmart as we neared our destination. we turned off the highway and meandered into countryside and then woods. the woods got thicker until we reached paradise! the woods cleared into shimmering water...

a view of the resort from the water

S is up and skiing!


the captain

S and B hangin' on!

C at the helm

everyday gift: the hum of the boat, splashing water, sweet laughter

recent happenings...

so many things have been happening all at once during the month of may. it has sometimes been hard to coordinate them all. here are a few of the more important events...

our church was planning a baptism service and B wanted to be baptized. she picked up a packet that had all the information, a Bible study to complete and a form to fill out to help you verbalize your testimony. B was very serious about doing everything required exactly right. this lead her to be a little stressed and nervous. it did not help matters that we were very busy with so many other activities. as the date approached, i suggested that maybe we should just wait until the next time. but for B, this was just not an option. she reminded me of the story found in acts 8 about the ethiopian who believed when philip explained the scriptures to him. they came across a pool of water in the desert and he said, "Look, here is water. Why shouldn't I be baptized?" like the ethiopian, she wanted to be baptized right now! and why not? here is water!

we couldn't have the cake reception for her like we did when her brothers were baptized, our weekend was just too packed with events. but she said, "you know, it's not about cake!" thank you, dear B, for reminding me to focus on the important things.

B shared her testimony about her sunday school teacher (miss paula)
teaching the kids about salvation when she was 5.
later that day she prayed to ask Jesus into her heart.

she was baptized by john, the children's pastor at our church, who has such a heart for the kids.
God has used him in a such a wonderful way in our family, especially evident in the spiritual growth spurt we have seen in B. she has learned so much through the children's ministry and has a real hunger for the Word. God has given her such a loving, compassionate, and generous heart. we have seen her give sacrificially to missions and serve the women's ministry by helping care for the younger children during Bible study. i am praising God for her sweet faith in action.

3 John 1:4

I have not greater joy than to hear that my children are
walking in Truth


This month was also important to C as he reached a milestone, graduating from 8th grade. my boy is ready for high school! (not sure about his mother!) this past year has been a time of tremendous growth, yes, physically, but also in maturity. i have watched him take on a man's work, side by side with his dad. he has taken responsibility for his studies, working independently through the algebra text book ahead of the class. i have also seen him overcome some pitfalls. (i will have to stop before i get into trouble...he is not too happy about being the subject of my blog. ) but i will say, i am so proud of this young man. it is a joy to see God working in his life.

C receives his certificate of 8th grade graduation

Philippians 1:6

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

i must have turned my back one day, because when i looked again,

my boy had become a young man.

he has passed me up in height and is gaining on his dad!

clownin' around! :o)

everyday gift: celebrating achievements, growth, and God's grace

twirling ten!

HaPpY bIrThDaY!B, i am so thankful that God chose you to be a part of our family 10 years ago, you are such a blessing! i love the way you love life and do everything with such enthusiasm, from horseback riding, to jump roping, to reading, and crafting! i love the way you love with your whole heart. i love your laughter and joy. i guess i just love YOU!

everyday gift: twirling girl

got mud?

ah, yes. all signs of spring are welcome, even if it is mud.
and, boy, have we got MUD!

i can't wait to get that grass planted!

two pheasant roosters strolling along the treeline.
i took this picture from the deck, they are a little too far away for my camera.
but we were so excited to see them that i wanted to include this picture.

an interesting fungus amongus in the wet leaves.

the path through the trees opens up into a clearing. the boys are tossing a football around and i am trying hard to capture the moment in a photograph, but they are moving too fast.

time is moving too fast. i remember the day each of them was born as if it were yesterday. and now they are big, and confident, and exploring their worlds, and becoming more independent everyday.
*sigh* if only i really could capture these moments.

out for a little hike, trying to walk off the cabin fever we've had for the past few months and soak in the warmer temperatures. the breeze has the feel of spring. the birds can feel it, too, and they are announcing spring's arrival from the tree tops! we saw a dozen robins the other day and a blue bird. it is time to clean out the bird houses and make way for the new nests.

this is a ramp that the guys put up on a hill for sledding. now that the snow is gone we have discovered that it has become a busy little community!

underneath we found some little baby mice.
better way out here in the field than my kitchen!

everyday gift: a family walk after dinner

goin' to see a man about a horse

whenever my gran'dad wanted to do something as a surprise and his girls got too curious and started asking questions, he always teased them and told them he was "goin' to see a man about a horse." and that was the answer i always got growing up when i started getting too nosey. of course, it was never a horse...

but yesterday, B and her dad DID go see a man about a horse! a 14 hands, red dun quarter horse. and it looks like we will have an addition to our little farm in a few weeks after mark can secure the fences and B can think of a fitting name. she is flying high! with special thanks to her grandpa for making it happen!

everyday gift: a girl's dream come true

a few pictures

dad and mom

february 25, 2010

a dinner celebration after the wedding

yum! a shirley temple!

B with grammy

okay, guys. get serious...

that's better! (nice ipod earbud, C.)

more pictures from the photographer at the church to follow.

everyday gift: family times

celebrating a miracle

dear mom and dad,

last week we celebrated a miracle. God has healed what many said would be impossible. my prayer for you is that the past will truly be overcome and love and forgiveness will reign in your marriage. may this chapter of your lives be the happiest yet.

your marriage brought back so many thoughts and memories of our family. i have been thinking about all our family has been through over the years and i realized how much you both have taught me. through all the ups and downs i can see the hand of God providing, guiding, protecting, sustaining and teaching me. let me number the ways...

1) growing up i never really knew that at times things were financially tough. we always had enough to eat, clothes on our backs, and a house that mom lovingly turned into our home. i always felt secure and cared for. i watched dad work hard to provide for our family and i know now that you both sacrificed your own desires for us. (sorry that you never got that bass boat, dad!) it taught me that family was really what was important.

2) i learned from you that when hard times come you must lean on the Lord and on each other. Our family has weathered some very sad times and through them all i watched your faith, rock solid, relying first on the Lord and also the other to make it through. mom, i witnessed you take the heart break of losing your son and turn your eyes to heaven with praise on your lips. your example is one of the single most poignant demonstrations of faith that has touched my life.

3) you taught me unconditional love. and i tested it! (sorry about that!) when i came to you, having failed and disappointed you with my choices, you were there for me. it was your love and support that gave me confidence and courage. and through the Lord's grace, a time of difficulty was turned to blessing.

4) and when your marriage faced it darkest hours i learned that even the strongest marriages are vulnerable if left unattended. mark and i have talked about this lesson often, vowing to do what it takes to protect our marriage from such pit falls. we are striving to keep our relationship as a top priority, second only to our relationship with the Lord.

5) if i learned something from your troubled marriage, so much more so in your reconciliation! mom, God met your needs when you were alone. he comforted and sustained you. your attitude of love and forgiveness amazed all, even when righteous anger would have been acceptable. your prayers and your patience have won out.

where would our family be without the Lord? mired in bitterness, unforgiveness, and hopelessness? He has taught us to trust and rest in Him. through good times and bad we are in his hands. and we are family.

mom and dad, i love you and am so thankful for you.

family movie night

the basement of our new home is still a work in progress. it has walls and paint but not much more. no carpet, no ceiling, and hardly any furniture. the family room (ie: tv room) is downstairs which is really not a big deal considering that we rarely watch tv. but in the event that we have a movie to watch from netflix, it is somewhat of a squash for the 5 of us to sit on the one couch. but this weekend i found it a real blessing.

first, can i tell you that teens are a challenge? maybe you have parented teens and are thinking, "you're not telling me anything i didn't know!" haha. but lately i have found myself at odds with my teen and it can become quite emotional. well, we had one of those moments the other day and i was left feeling like the parenting failure. i know i handled it badly, even though i was confident i was right about the issue. i felt a wall growing up between us a result and i worried that i was losing touch with him. but a little time passed and tempers calmed and a little red envelope came in the mail. it was time for the family movie.

so down we clamor for the best position on the couch. we are watching "murder on the orient express". during the movie i feel my boy leaning on me...i know he can't really help it on that crowded couch. but still, the closeness and comfort of it are soothing to my hurting heart. and then he reaches out and holds my hand. just for a minute. do you know how long it has been since that hand reached out for mine? well, i can tell you the last time it was much much smaller. on the screen the orient express chugged through frozen ground and into a snow drift, while my heart was warmed by the touch of a hand that said, "i still love you."

everyday gift: the touch of a hand

giving thanks

i just don't know where to start when i consider all that i have to be thankful for. God is so good. and i am very mindful of the fact that it is easy for me to be thankful when i have a beautiful new home and do not worry about paying for the groceries, while others have lost jobs or are struggling in other ways. but i am even more thankful for the intangibles. these are things that can never be taken be taken from me, my salvation, God's love for me, an eternity in heaven when this life is through, my love for my family... it is for these things that i give thanks more than all else.

november was busy, but i will end this month with a few pictures: our anniversary, caleb and mark's birthdays, and thanksgiving, of course.

For I am convinced that neither death nor life,

neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future,

nor any powers, neither height nor depth,

nor anything else in all creation,

will be able to separate us from the love of God

that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:35

Let them give thanks to the Lord for

his unfailing love

and his wonderful deeds for men,

for he satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things.

Psalm 107:8-9

anniversary roses to celebrate 16 wonderful years together

thank you, mark. for an adventure filled life, i love you!

i am thankful for C, born on a snowy day

a few days after thanksgiving,

14 years ago!

B looks on as C opens a gift from her:

chocolate nesquick, his favorite!

look! a smile from mark!

a thanksgiving toast

mark carving the turkey

the kids are so blessed to be able to enjoy a thanksgiving with their grandparents.

a crazy game of 4-sided chess! i love the fun of a good game.

do you like the table?!

i am so thankful for family times like this.

everyday gift: a holiday to reflect on our many blessings

more about gourds

a few weekends ago we spent a lovely time at the gourd fest. who knew gourds could be so interesting that you could celebrate them so? well, if you have been reading my blog lately you know that B has become quite taken with gourds. she has her own gourd garden with birdhouse gourds ready to harvest soon. so when we heard about a local gourd festival, we knew we couldn't miss it!

B following her dad's instructions to have her picture taken with the biggest gourd she could find.

unbelievable variety!

a sweet kiss.

B and grandy share a common interest in gourds, so this was a special time for them.

B with grandy and grammy

the uncommon gourd was my favorite vendor booth.

incredible works of art. i especially liked the ones that mixed basketry and weaving with the gourds. i love artwork that uses natural beauty in the design. you can see more of this artist's work at her website.

dried gourds. we bought a few to play with over the winter while B's gourds dry in the barn. i think it will be fun for B and grandy to have a special project to work on together.

decorating gourd shakers

gourd bowling!

wonderful gourd arbors

the girls had fun walking through the gourd arbors

grandy with B, identifying gourds with the guide

across the fence was a beautiful view of the countryside with a train rumbling by.

i love the sound of a train whistle.

everyday gift: enjoying the gourd fest with grammy and grandy