Refresh Button

God's timing is perfect.  

My great friend Renee visited a few weeks ago.  I marvel at the precision of God's plan and the perfect ways He meets our needs despite our ability to perceive this (have I mentioned this before?).  Certain moments help to reset our hearts and minds.  Every once and a while I get it... Renee's visit was one of those gifts.  

Psalm 23:3 "... he restores my soul"

Renee is that friend who spurs me on, to embrace the 

challenge... she inspires me to move forward.

  

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper 

time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9

"A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul..."  Proverbs 13:19

Love you friend!

Today's Simple Pleasures...

A satisfying hot shower for sore worked muscles.

Checking items off the list of Things To Do.

A phone call to Jen in the morning and one from Kate in the afternoon. 

Lunch date with a new friend.

Evening at home alone with son Ethan:

* Chose Your Own Adventure reading

* a game of Blokus 

* watching the sun go down 

* listening to the sounds of the evening - did we hear the same things?

* exchanging back massages

 * quality time

Starbucks strawberry passion tea from my sweetheart.

Relaxing jazz music.

I'm ready to call it a day... it's been a good one!

Decision

It was the first week of school and Bill and Zach were horsing around in the pool at the end of the day.  I sat and witnessed their wrestling match, giggling at them in their attempt to overpower one another, as if to obtain supremacy (the male race is such a mystery to me... weird, really).  Any way, after the match was over, Zach brought up the topic of baptism.  He informed us that he wanted to join the rest of our family at the beach for a proclamation of his faith.  

What joy!  Bill and I have wanted to do this for some time, and invited the children to also consider it for themselves when they were ready.  We were thrilled that each of them shared the desire to make a public statement of their faith.  

I am pleased to announce, last Sunday all five of us were baptized in the Pacific Ocean, along with thirty five others from our church.  

August 23, 2009... 

For all the world to know... praise God!  

Rain!!

It's raining!  

Praise God!  It's been nearly eight months without it - no kidding!  I sat outside under our loggia this morning enjoying my berries and granola along with the sweet smell and sound of the rain. What a departure... to long for the rain.  As I discussed the weekend weather with our friend Paul yesterday, he pointed something out... "You're sounding like a Californian", he said.    

Don't know that I'll ever fully convert, but it is nice to appreciate something from the old life in the new.  

Petitions

I wear jeans with holes in them.  Remarkably, I bought them that way.  

Yes, I know some of you may be concerned about the fashion trend it appears I've fallen prey to. Rest assured.  As I look back, I have always worn holy jeans, and well before they were all-the-rage.  I remember a time in my life when I literally wore through the knees of my favorite pair. I was a new mom, and madly in love with one blue-eyed baby boy.  Those blissful days were spent on the floor, playing and chasing that little guy around the house... on my knees.  

Hard to imagine fifteen years have passed since then.  That little boy now towers over me, does all my heavy lifting and keeps me up to date technologically.

And I'm still on my knees...    

5 * 7 * 10

Back at it again... the first day of school for our gang.  Summer seems to have been a blink.  With longer breaks throughout the year, the hiatus is more like a long holiday rather than the lazy summer our Midwest upbringing has us used to.   This year we're doing tenth, seventh and fifth grade (this was the only shot I managed to get in the hustle out the door)... and how did I get here?!  The thought occurred to me this morning that not many years from now, the first day of school will be nothing more than a grouping of precious memories.  That sobering reality has me jumping in more than ever to try and embrace the time we have together as a family. The quick pace of life has me focused on what sweet moments today holds.  

 

Permission to Come Aboard, Captain?

A little game this couple played multiple times 

while keeping cool 4th of July week.    

Halle took in all of Uncle Matt's crazy fun...

The two of them are not likely to forget the waves 

they made together on the high seas.

A Word Aptly Spoken

On a bumper sticker this afternoon:

Change is inevitable... Struggle is an option

Just for me.  

This quote, that is. 

It has me back to the contemplation mode.  

And this is a good thing.  

The absence of posting here might very well say enough.  

I'm coming around again after some months of unveiled grief, 

some unlikely surprises and the crazy curve balls of life.

Another process likely to produce growth.

I'm pretty sure of it.

The Wonder of Boys