A Time For Every Season....

It is amazing how a little girl and all her pink can change the dynamic of a family!

Interview with Drew at 4 ½ May 22, 2009 1. What is something mom always says to you? "No, yes, put your seat belt on, don’t hurt yourself" 2. What makes mom happy? Saying , “Yes Mam” 3. What makes mom sad? When I do a mean thing, not being a peacemaker. 4. How does your mom make you laugh? "When she tickles me" 5. What was your mom like as a child? "You rode a horse and played with daddy." 6. What is your mom's favorite thing to do? "Play with her coupons." 7 How tall is your mom? "Stand up mommy!" “Your this big” (holding hands out from side to side) 8. What is your favorite thing to do? Playing games, bouncing on trampoline, going to Grandma Patti’s house, going camping and playing with Josh 9. What does your mom do when you're not around? work 10.If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? being nice, fishing because you caught that fish the one time.... lets go fishing. 11. What is your mom really good at? working, hang...

This evening Drew and I spent a lot of time talking about Jesus. We watched a few seconds of footage from a movie so Drew could have a mild image of what our Lord when through on the cross. Drew just kept asking me over and over, "Mommy, why, why did Jesus have to die." So innocent a question, yet so complex an answer. Why did He die? There are so many reasons, yet the most powerful for me is that He willingly died so the debt of sin could be paid. That payment allowed me access to God - the perfect and Holy Creator who longs to have intimacy with all of us. God so longs to have intimacy with us that he sacrificed his own son for me... for us. What more could God possible do for mankind to reveal His love and passion for us? I can't think of anything more loving, anything more permanent , anything more necessary. Thank you Father for Your sacrifice, before the foundation of the world you created a plan to redeem sinful man. Your plan is permanent and stands before all ...

Drew is my sensitive child, as I type he is playing at my feet afraid of all the lightning and thunder outside. He just came over and said, "Mommy I'm afraid, will you pray for me?" After our prayer he said, "Thanks, now I'm not afraid!" Such a blessing this child of empathy is to our family. At preschool yesterday Drew's teacher commented that he is such a caring student. Evidently a child had to spend some time in their class today while his normal class went out to play (he had allergies and couldn't go out). The little boy cried and cried, the class wasn't sure what to make of this new student, but Drew in empathy, went up to him and gave him a hug. Drew told him not to cry and then asked him if they could read books together. Some days its hard being a mom, especially raising little men to be like Jesus. Teaching Drew to love others, share and be generous like Jesus comes with a lot of persecution. We've met so many children that love to...

Tonight I spent the better part of the evening doing all the things I'm not especially fond of... I'm missing you! Even though your away, your chores still wait to be done. So, tonight I relented and managed the mound of dishes in the sink, cleaned out the dog's ginormous water bowl, emptied the recycling, folded laundry, and cleaned up the kitchen - all while thinking and appreciating you. I'm missing you! I came home expecting you to be here, I wanted to share with you Drew's funny moment and Gabe's new dance. I am anxious to complete our Outliers book, and my thoughts aren't nearly as sane without you to filter them through. My prayers at night seem quiet and while I wait for sleep I subconsciously am waiting for you to close our day in prayer. I am blessed knowing your coming home to us! I'm blessed that your caring and praying for us even 2,000 miles away, hiding out in a burrow of snow, laughing and thinking and journaling. What a husband, servant ...

As I drove home from Drew's preschool today I started to drive over to my mom's, then I remember.... "Great Nana" isn't here. For 3 month's I've spent time getting to know a new Nana, one who doesn't act like I remember growing up, one who forgets what we did yesterday, but remembers 30 years ago. When she first arrived I committed to the Lord that I would serve her and love this new Nana, I would not get frustrated and I would cherish this time I'd been given. My Nana served me and cared for me when I was young and now it was my time to give back and to model to the boys what servant hood really looks like! Funny how serving the Lord will change your life and not necessarily those that are served! I learned much these months, mostly that this new Nana may be different, but her smile and quiet spirit softens us. The old Nana was always busy and had a million things to do, this new Nana enjoyed reading and quiet chats on the couch. I grew to love th...

Tonight I sit, alone, wondering, What would my life have been, Had grace not swooped down, Covered this heart of sin Changed me from within? One year ago tonight I sat, Alone, wondering, What will my life be like, With the blessing of two sons? A quiver full of young hearts Soon to become men, Will it change me? One year ago I didn't know, How one little life of joy, Could bless my heart, Change my life of structure, Through deep soul searching, Deep pressures, Only God knows the growing, wrestling, praying, stirring within my soul. You, my son challenged my faith, You put pressure where I needed to grow, Growing from 3 to 4 was more than painful, That pain, more than just birth pains, Forced lives to change, Forced habits to change, Forced my mind to change, Forced holiness to sprout from within. Thank you Lord for grace and life , the grace only you can give, the life only you can create, the love of raising this child, Brings me to my knees. May I Shepherd this little heart, Ma...

Today's List looks like this: Laundry Dishes Vacuum floors Make beds Prepare Breakfast, lunch, & dinner Clean linen closet Finish Bible Posts The important things aren't on the list: Cuddle with little boys Play flubber with Drew Read kids tons of books, ask probing question, remember funny answers Work on a few lines from the Catechism's Sing songs with Drew, dance & be silly Relax & pray while watering the garden Pray for my husband as he takes a long exam and then works till 11:00pm Encourage Gabe at his crawling endeavors Take the neighbors cookies Blessed each person who I come into contact with I tend to finish my to do list before remembering the important things aren't listed. Life has a way of always providing ample things to keep me occupied .... Lord may I choose to do those things which are far more important and kingdom focused that those that serve myself and my agenda.

We Love You Daddy! Happy Fathers Day 2008 Here are a few things that Drew loves about his daddy: Daddy plays Lego's with me He works at Home Depot and brings home hammers to fix the TV He has lots of fun tools, Drew's favorite tool is Daddy's little piece of wood Daddy works hard Daddy reads me books and tickles me I love it when Daddy throws pillows at my head, but only when I don't get hurt Daddy wears pink shirts Daddy swings me high! Daddy makes all things for God's glory (slight paraphrase, Drew actually said Daddy makes all things for his glory, he meant a capital H right?) When I asked Gabe he just drooled!

Tonight as I was doing laundry I had to laugh at the things boys put in their pockets, I found the following in just 1 load: Two nuts - missing bolts A plastic rocket (have I mentioned Drew's into rockets?) The dog who sits in the rocket Two plastic some-thing-or-others A button A piece of garbage Like father, like son! Drew is growing into the shoes of his Daddy. They: walk alike (scary!), sleep alike, have very similar mannerisms, dress alike, both feet smell alike by the end of the day, both love playing in the garage, both extroverts, both find it fun to converse with perfect strangers, and finally - everyone in our neighborhood know both their names and hasn't a clue who I am! Drew is so fortunate to have a generous and godly model to call his "Daddy."

My wedding photo hangs proudly in our home. With a mere glance it takes me back to that perfect January day. My wedding day was euphoric, it symbolized a forever covenant I made before God to: love, honor, and serve my husband. To me that picture represents one perfect moment in my imperfect life. Moses created a similar ceremony for the Jewish nation, a time of rejoicing at the alter, built for the Lord (vs. 7) in thanksgiving for His faithfulness. Moses praises the nation and declares, “This day you have become a people for the Lord your God. (vs. 9)” Their time of rejoicing is bittersweet, for they are again reminded of their tendency to serve idols and turn away from the Lord. Twelve curses are placed before Israel as a reminder of their wandering hearts. A photograph can represent a perfect moment, but not perfection. We are all walking examples of sin and its consequences. Praise the Lord that it didn’t end with us being broken and cursed in our sin! We all carry the scars that r...

On Sunday I was running around trying to get the boys ready for church. Drew decided to spend 15 minutes trying to go to the bathroom and it messed up my schedule. As we were running out the door I noticed that Drew didn't have any shoes on his feet; in haste and with a not so nice comment to Drew, ran upstairs to find his shoes. When I returned to put on his shoes Drew looked at me and said "Mommy, are you happy in your heart?" I wish I could say I repented but it took the drive to church before I calmed down. Sweet Drew, he was so quiet all the way to church, then when I asked him to forgive me for my bad attitude he said "sure mommy!" You could almost see the relief on his face when he saw that I wasn't upset anymore. What would I do without my two little blessings to teach me valuable lessons?

To my One and Only, Five years ago today we said "I do," can you believe how short the years have come and gone? 1 year ago we were cruising the Caribbean immersed in each others arms, contemplating adding another arrow to our quiver. Here we are, my love, half a decade of experiences and memories, two beautiful children who carry our name, and the love... the love has only grown! You are my only, my everything, my perfecter My strong arm that hold me afloat when life tries to drag me under, the one whose eyes of determination I look into each night, You are the one I can't live without, the one I share my dreams with and share my heart, Your face of joy lightens my heart and brings me joy, Your optimism pulls me along this path we share together, encourages me, Your the one who believes I can do anything and loves me no matter the outcome. My love, when I think about what really matters in life I thank the Lord for sending you to me that March day. Your smile, your sel...