Amidst the Mess

Aren't you amazed anyones home could actually look like this? And no I was not allowing my kids to play under this very unstable mess, somehow they got past me and were in the middle of cleaning up when we snapped this picture.

You can imagine what the other rooms looked like, if this is what happened to Petra's!

We recieved our homeschooling curriculum in the middle of our unpacking and the boys were not hindered from looking through some of the new books right away. We are excited to begin this new adventure together on monday. We are a little nervous (thats me) but we are going to do fine (that's them)!

A few new things we are enjoying....

1) Being close to family has been the best thing about living here. We have actually been able to enjoy Will's family after a long separation and it has been such a blessing for the kids and us.

2) Being CLOSE to everything! Now I know we never think about living in the country when you are doing it, but MAN is it nice to actually have a gas station right around the corner and be close, oh so close, to the grocery store! I really do love living near to things!

3) Not going to Walmart. Now don't get me wrong I love wally world just as much as the next guy, but man is it nice not to go there for weeks! I don't even have a hankering to go there!

4) Just being back in the east is very relaxing. We learned so much and grew so much in the midwest, but it is such a deep burden off of us to be back here and away from all the difficulties. I know that hard times can come anywhere but it is nice to be back to a familiar place.

5) Watching my kids just enjoying life. They are playing and reading and pretending, like never before and it is so much fun to watch! They are so excited to begin 1st grade and preschool. I am ready to have even more family things to do together. It will be fun discovering more from this world together!

A Great Family Summer

As summer quickly comes to a close we are remembering all the fun times we had. Going through the west from the midwest military vehicles museum to Donner pass and ending in Chico ( the Sierra Nevada Brewing capital!). We also have gotten to spend some good times with wills family in richmond and also DC. We even got the kids handcuffed! It's cool having a police officer for an Aunt!! We all had a good time this summer and have been thankful to spend some of that time with our amazing family! We are so thankful for them!

Update

Drinking: the old stand-by Diet Dr. Pepper

Recovering: I NEVER want to move again, which probably means I will! :P

Reading: Well....I bought a kindle and LOVE it! I am reading a plethora of things right now, only down side is that there are so many free classics and such that I have a hard time not trying to read everything aat once!

Studying: 2 Corinthians, since Will has been telling me these last two months that it has a similar paradigm of ministry to what we have personally experienced which is actually pretty astute. Here's a sample:

"4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God."

"4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 8 We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; 10 always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. "

"6:11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13 In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also."


"7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God. 2 Make room in your hearts for us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you, for I said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy."

"7:10 For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death."

Linking: http://www.sonlight.com/ We are starting homeschooling with Silas, in 1st grade this year and Kace in his second year of Pre-school. Using this material. We hope to have a wonderful and education year....reading! I hope they will enjoy books as much as William and I do!

Watching: Flight of Dragons with the kids amidst our mountain of boxes, i suppose you could say I needed a break!

Listening: to the kids talk about the dragons on the film, Will comment on the theology of the movie, and myself argue that we can enjoy fantasy as an entertainment without consenting to it's reality! We are crazy! Like I have said often!

Some of the Faces I Love

As a Family

We went to california again this year, not for a wedding but for a memorial for the life of my father. It was a sad time in one sense, bu in another it was a great time to get together with our own family and also my sisters and their families. My mom and dad were there too. We also visited the oregon trail seeing ruts, scotts bluff and also chimney rock. It was a good time for our family to refresh after one of the toughest years we have had. God is looking after us and truly has shown us that grace does grow best in winter!

Silas is Six

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Ben and My Boys

My boys and a statue of Ben Franklin in Kansas city over the weekend. Silas insisted he was a president and I explained that "No, he was never a president." "Why not?!" My son demanded. "Ummmm....." Does anyone know why Ben Franklin was never a President?

Here, O Lord, Our Supplication

Hear, O Lord, our supplication;
Let our souls on Thee repose!
Be our refuge, our salvation,
’Mid ten thousand threatening foes.

Lord, Thy saints have many troubles,
In their path lies many a snare:
But before Thy breath like bubbles,
Melt they soon in idle air.

Cunning are the foe’s devices,
Bitter are his words of gall;
Sin on every side entices;
Lord, conduct us safe through all.

Be our foes by Thee confounded,
Let the world Thy goodness see,
While, by might and love surrounded,
We rejoice, and trust in Thee.

Henry F. Lyte

A Crazy Family!

Daddy got a turkey on his first day out! They boys where very impressed!

This was like the fifth one we took and by that time I was like "take this silly photo."

 Happy Mother's day!

brothers who love each other, or love to choke each other. Just kidding, they were posing and couldn't contain their excitement!

Love these faces!! They are so sweet!

Petra is getting big! She and Gresham enjoy their snacks and Petra loves being a big girl!

Saddle Club

Running Scared