Where did the summer go?

The kids are getting ready to go back to school Wednesday. What?!? This Wednesday? You're kidding me. Summer is already over?!?

It's true. Summer vacation officially ends on August 12th. It seems like just yesterday we were taking exams (Mom), preparing for TCAPS (kids), and doing this:

Now summer is almost over. But one thing I always love about this time of year is the beginning of the harvest season. And that reminds me of God's promise in our lives and ministry.

At our house this:

turned into this:

And today in an effort to find an affordable outside activity for the kids we did this:

Blueberry picking! It's a favorite around here! The kids are even plotting to go back in the morning with Dad. So my freezer is filling up. I'm considering getting out the canner. I'm wondering if I should make some preserves too. Decisions, decisions.

But most importantly I'm thrilled to realize one thing.

SCHOOL STARTS NEXT WEEK! HALLELUJAH!

Getting Away

Our schedule has been crazy for the last few weeks. There has been so much going on with the church and family that we haven't been able to take a moment to just breathe.

So we took off to visit some friends and just take a day away from it all.

We did absolutely nothing but just relax. This included going to the park to feed the geese. Unfortunately my camera battery died. But I did manage to get these three pics of the kids wading in the water.

I only wish I could share the moment of peace that we found by simply being with our family and friends. We fed the geese. One took a slice of bread out of Robbie's hand while he hid it behind his back. We waded in the creek. We skipped stones across the water.

If only we could all find these times of peace and relaxation in our lives.

Then we each need to accept these times as part of God's plan for restoration in our lives.

Such a simple thought, but so profound.

As I wind down this short post, I want to leave you with a simple prayer with which God has burdened my heart:

Father,

Today as I rush to fulfill all my responsibilities,

As I jump to meet the needs of others,

As I attempt to keep pace with those around me,

As I strive to live a life worthy of You,

Surround me with Your peace.

Please remind me that the restoration I so need

Is found:

in my son's mischevious grin,

in the uncontrollable giggles of my girls,

in the nature I am surrounded with,

in my heart as I dwell on You.

Amen

Easter 2009

It had been awhile since my last post. It has been midterm time and I've been busy trying to keep up. Here are a couple of pics of the kids from yesterday.

And for you knitterly peeps....Yes, I did knit Nichola's white shrug. It is the Matinee Shrug from Two Old Bags. I used a lighter worsted than called for and Size 7 needles. This gave me the right size for my 9 year old. Of course in these pictures she has it on crooked. The left sleeve is not longer than the right...I promise.

Of course I had a deadline for Easter morning and finished it minutes before we needed to leave for church. I didn't get to block it but I kinda like the look with her dress.

Looky what I got!

I just participated in my first ever swap and I think I'm hooked. I joined the grad school write-a-long and knitting swap group on ravelry. I just received my package and I love it! The dark chocolate is Choxie and I am super blessed because I am the only one in my family who likes it. I can never have enough cards to send out or highlighters. I especially love the ones with the post-it flags.

I want so badly to cast on a project with this yarn...any project but alas I can't. The purpose of this group is to encourage each other to complete our writing projects among our various classes and programs.

So until later this week....to this yarn I must say adieu!

He Went To Jared!!!!

I have been wanting a silver right hand ring for some time now. Dave bought me one for Valentine's day but it didn't fit and we couldn't get it re-sized so....

He decided that we were going to go to Knoxville so we could look at larger jewelry stores. The local stores we have just have a limited selection and they are not very kid friendly.

When we got to Knoxville we were trying to avoid the mall so despite Dave's absolute aversion to the Jared commercial we stopped in there. The staff was so nice. They even had a playroom for the kid complete with video games, a climbing gym, television, and coloring books. The manager came to us and offered to take the kids to the playroom. He never once gave us the sense that the kids were in the way but merely courtesy to assist us. The sales associate that helped us was not pushy. She allowed us to browse to our hearts content and never once looked at us with disdain because we were a small sale. She even went through the stock under the counters and pulled out all the silver rings in my size for me to look at.

One thing I thought was really neat was the way they gift wrapped the ring even though I was with him. If he had gone on his own and brought it to me, first I would have seen a bag like this.

Then I would have pulled out this matching gift box:

Then I would have pulled out the ring box:

Then finally I would get to open the ring box:





Then of course I would wear the ring and show it off to every one who paused to listen to my repeated imitation of a television commercial:

HE WENT TO JARED!

The ring is perfect. I can wear it with casual as well as dress

Now that I have shared with you my obsession for attractively wrapped packages, I will let you ponder on the good taste that my husband has. Even though I was shopping with him, the purchase was ultimately his choice. I was merely a mannequin to try on the rings.

Although.....the sales associate did let me know that I can come in and make a wish list to make his shopping easier, but I think I rather like my husband picking out things for me too.

.

VICTORIOUS

Last Tuesday night was the science fair at the kids' school. All three participated. Robbie was required as part of his science grade and even had to present his project to his class. This of course involved Mom and Dad and even Ms. Robin to bring him the video games and accessories needed for his presentation.

Here are a few pics of doing the experiment at Aunt Marcie and Uncle Tom's house. (We needed more volunteers!)

And here is the finished project board.

Nichola did her project just for extra credit.

And here is Nichola posing next to her finished board.

The school brought in judges from outside the school district including one gentleman from a national committe of science fairs. I didn't even know that they had such a thing. In a school with just a few students over 400, there were 262 submissions for the science fair. So the school supplied the display boards and asked that everyone put the required info on them for display in the gym.

Caitlin did a project just for fun. Her teacher asked for her to do one, but Caitlin had already decided she wanted to do one.

Her's was called Straw Wars and while not the purpose of the project it did show just exactly how big the mouths are in our family.

But guess what. The one who did it all just for fun....

SHE WON FIRST PLACE IN HER CATEGORY AND AGE GROUP!




Dave and I are so proud of all three of the kids and all their hard work.

Noah, the Ark, the Dove, and my Life

Isn't it great how God uses the things we go through in order to allow us to become what HE had always intentioned. Yesterday morning Dave made a statement during the opening of his sermon that put this all in perspective to me.

"Noah couldn't have been used by God if he had not obeyed what God told him to do."

After all we have been through spiritually, emotionally, financially, and physically in the past six months it is such a joy to watch my husband in the pulpit. The anointing that God has placed on his life in so much more apparent to me than it had been for months. I know he has recently said similar things about me, but I see it more in observing him obeying what God told him to do. For the first time in 3 years I am able to sit in the sanctuary and listen to his sermons week after week. As he began his sermon with such a simple statement about Noah's obedience to God I was struck with how much it applies to us. It has been difficult to stay in place and wait for God's timing. We have been broken in such a way that now we see God moving in our church and community the way we have been praying for it to happen. The day to day struggle of rebuilding the congregation are stressful, but the miracles and testimonies are worth it all.

I tried to discreetly take a short video clip of Dave's sermon yesterday, specifically so his parents could see. I realized after I loaded it to the computer that I am unable to rotate the frame like I can with photos from the same camera. I'm going to post it below, but be forewarned it is sideways. I'll try to make sure I don't turn the camera from now on...but he's sooooo TALL!

Oh and by the way his sermon was on the dove (the title of this post).