Snow Day(s)

Remember how I said, "I'm back!"....well, then it started snowing on Sunday, and I've pretty much been in here ever since. Two trips to Safeway, and that's it. Seattle has gotten record snowfall this week, and we've been the laughing stock of the country for our lack of "snow prowess", but, oh well.....here's a picture out my front door:

We're having a blast sleeing down our big hills and eating all sorts of junk food....catch ya on the flip side!

xoxo

Couldn't Resist

This is my little brother's blog, that I've talked about before. I'm in total "Christmas-is-coming-and-I-still-have-lots-of-stuff-to-do" mode. Hence not a lot of posts lately...that may just be the case until after Christmas....heck, New Years.

But, I had to show you some of these pics, and link you to his site. He's done such an amazing job!! Here's his link, and a few pics!

I love this one, because don't we all remember boys leaning up against the lockers, talking to us like this? Swoon!

This is just adorable!

Ok, back to work. Hugs to you all!! Merry (prep for) Christmas!! Ho ho ho!

Sidebar

Have to tell you about my boy, a sad story, then a funny story.

This is the sweetest boy that's ever existed.

Sad story: His left thumb was smashed in a door by an unnamed 5 year old that lives at this house, last night, while rough-housing.

He's a lefty. Hmmm...after he finished screaming/crying, got over the pain, and was breathing deeply, as directed by me, he had me email his teacher and basketball coach to inform them of his injury, and get him out of all work for today.

Funny story: I used to have a dialysis patient named Olive. Yes, I used to be a dialysis RN. Every time I went to put her needles in for her treatments, she would say, "Sonofa, Sonofa, Sonofa...." never saying "b-i-t-c-h". It would always make me laugh.

Jackson reminded me of Olive last night, as he was crying, carrying on, and generally milking this thumb smashing experience for all it was worth.

I love my boy.

As you were.

The Problem with Me is Me.

You’ve heard the expression, “Pushing a worm”? That’s how the holidays feel sometimes to me. As the mom, or the executive of this operation, sometimes I feel like I’m the only one that cares if that darn Gingerbread House ever gets decorated and plopped on top of the fridge.  Well, a few years ago, I finally wised up, and actually had a con.ver.sa.tion. with the hubs, aka the other executive of this operation. Lo and behold, things started going a lot better. Oh wait. Did I mention that my conversation was through lots of tears, and “you always” and “you nevers” and “why can’t yous”. Shoot. I guess I didn’t mention that. Ok, so then it went better. I was mainly referring to how he always didn’t help me shop for Christmas presents or how he never planned/shopped/made Christmas dinner, or how he can’t pick up wrapping paper off the floor. As I’m sure you can all relate to, this display didn’t go over too well at first. It was bad, then it got worse, then it got good. That was 2007-ish. Then 2008 came by, and we had to have this teeth-gnashing conversation all over again. Can you feel me?  

Why, oh why, do we do this to ourselves as moms? No, I’m asking. Why? Why can’t we (preaching to myself) let some things go, lean into the planning, start early, and be grateful? This is my new tradition. I’m doing all the “Mom-Holiday-Work” in November, without complaining, then planning all the fun stuff with the kids in December, after the work has been accomplished. I am not going to complain (another word comes to mind here, other than complain, starts with a B—keepin’ it real) to my husband about all the things he doesn’t do, but instead affirm the things he is doing. Like, providing for our family, and faithfully going to work. He supports me at night in helping with the kids, and even thinks it’s great that I have fun things with friends every once in a while. I truly believe that some of the conflict that we, as moms, have over getting it all done, comes from US. Shall I say that again? Lots of our interpersonal conflict and angst stems from US. Let some things go. Prioritize what definitely has to be done, do those things early, and the rest is fun stuff. The kids will be more relaxed. Daddy will be happier, and mommy will be able to enjoy and remember the traditions that you’ve worked so hard to cram down everyone’s throats, er develop lovingly over time.

Obedience

"The only part of God we understand is the part we've obeyed". Oswald Chambers

You know when you know something is true, but you don't know why? This statement is true. It makes me feel nauseous, so that's how I know its true. Not a scientific method, albeit, but usually pretty good gauge for me.

I'm chewing on this, among other things. We all know that God is infinite and that there's no way to  know Him fully, as we are human and He is divine. However, what are the pieces of God that I do know...you know, like Oprah's "Things I Know For Sure" segment in her magazine....the pieces of God I know for sure are:

1. He's bigger than I think He is.
2. I'm smaller than I think I am.
3. I'm more blessed than I think I am.
4. I was saved from more than I thought I needed.
5. His love for me far exceeds what I ever deserved.
6. He wants to shape and guide me, and leaning into that will be more beneficial than I can imagine.
7. Knowing more of Him is only possible if I truly understand the gospel...He came to save and redeem this world. He has already won. We are in a place of victory, not fighting for it.
8. Loving others more than I feel like I can do in my own strength, is a true representation of the gospel.
9. I'm happiest and the most grateful when I'm giving of myself to others.
10. My focus everyday is to find where God's grace is showing up: to myself and others, and pointing this out to my children, in order to perpetuate a new generation that sees God's grace.

Just thought I could start a conversation about obedience, and why its easier said than done....that's all. :)

xo

Ahhhh! She's craaaa-zay!

Full disclosure: My husband's gone until Sunday. So, I've decided to do some naughty things.

1. Redesign my blog.
2. Let my dogs sleep in our my room.

He's at our church's Men's Retreat, I'm sure, being totally energized to come home and deal with the above naughtiness, but here's where we are.

I hope you like the fresher, newer, brighter look here at Haven. I know its fall/winter here in the great white north, and the look should be dreary and glum, but I resist the tide, and went bright! Have a fab weekend full of tom-foolery, like me!

Oooh! Also, I was featured today on one of my favorite blogs. Check it out here!

My Dad

Today is my dad's 65th (shhhh!) Birthday. He's awesome. This picture was taken outside my parent's house, right before we left for the church to go to my brother's wedding in December of 2003. So, it was a while ago. I just like this picture. This is how my dad is emblazoned in my brain. He has a cool buzzed haircut now, but this is what he looked like the whole time I was living at home.

My dad is gentle, quiet, but loud when necessary. He is kind, loving, and still tells me how nice I look when I come downstairs, ready for church. I've been told I'm like my dad, and as I age, I can see ways that I am like him; however the things I just mentioned (gentle, kind, and loving) are all traits that I'm working on perfecting in myself. My dad has been/is a picture of my Heavenly Father for me...gentle, kind, and loud when necessary.

I hope you have a wonderfully wonderful birthday, Dad! I love you!!

Update on a Post: Farm Pictures

So, a few weeks ago, I showed you all the family farm we visited, while in VA this summer, here. I wanted to show what my awesome brother did with those pictures I took. This proves that editing is about 75% of what makes a great picture!! I will show the befores, then the afters:

Check out Gavin's site here

9/11

I can't just let this date go by without saying something about this event. I think if you're in your 30s or 40s, this event in history was your "Pearl Harbor" or "JFK shooting". It was so disturbing and devastating sitting in my house, on my couch, on Tues, September 11th, watching people experience so much destruction and heartache. I think the perception is that you could have only experienced this event if you were IN the cities that were affected, and that "us" out here on the West Coast weren't fazed by this event. This could not be further from the truth.

I will never forget where I was, what I was doing, and who I was with when I first heard the words, "Turn on the TV, the twin towers were just hit with an airplane...". I had a 6 day old baby, and questioned what the world was going to look like for her future.

I know that this was an act of man, and it did not escape God's knowledge. God is good....all the time, even amidst things like this. However, things like this still rattle all of the safe places we have in our hearts, and take time to heal. I will be praying for those people that still are searching for healing after these long ten years, as we remember this event today, as well as God's continued protection over this great country.

Big Girl turns T-E-N!!!

How is this possible? She is so tall, beautiful, and smart. I feel as though I had nothing to do with this. It just happened. Over the course of ten years. What have we been doing? She will only be here for eight more years, unless we can talk her into more. That's the plan....yes, we're going to work that plan.

Summer 2011, doing what she always does: helps out by watching some of the younger kids, and never complains about it.

This is going to be a little "Peyton Retrospective"....why? Because I want to. This was taken in June of 2002. She was only 9 months old. What were we thinking?

2003

First day of Kindergarten. 2006

Getting bigger. Spring of 2008 (first grade) She was goalie because she's the "I" in Team! Still is. Funny....

Third grade 2010. Look at baby-Charlie!

She has a good start to FIFTH grade going, already this year. We love this girl so much, and she is so beautiful because she has Jesus in her heart. We just are enjoying sitting back and watching what she and HE do together in this life. Happy Birthday, Peyton!!

First Day and the End of an Era

What are the words that come to mind when you think back on the first day(s) of school?

Excited. Nervous. Curious. Tired. Anticipation. Pencils. Homework. Schedule.

As a mom, I've been looking forward and dreading this day for 10 years. The day that all of my children will head off to school, the same school, at the same time. Its a perfect storm. It will only last for 2 years, before my eldest will head off to Junior High, which is a completely different animal. Here they are, lined up, dutifully, on the front porch:

And, then because I'm their mother, this is what the next picture has to look like:

Every one had a fantastic day, and we're grateful to God for allowing them to get settled into their new school. A good life lesson for, Peyton espeically, is that worrying about something for 9 months isn't a way to live, especially when it was going to be just fine, all along.

A good life lesson for this mommy is that there's no need to feel guilty for not being sad your baby's leaving home when you know she's ready to leave. I left school today feeling like I should be teary, but really I was gleeful that we'd passed onto the next phase. The school phase. My mom said that there's no guilt in mothering when you're doing the best possible thing for your child. Avery is ready to go to school, and our family is ready to leave the baby phase, and move forward to school. It was going to be just fine, all along.

How was everyone's first day at your house?!

In Between

I love sharing all my design-y, mother-y stuff with all of you, but honestly, I find myself at an "in between" time, in my life. I love having this blog to share all my random thoughts, whether it be my struggles during my in between or my messy kitchen sink. You all may know my love for this blog Chatting At the Sky

She had this amazing post a few weeks ago, and I thought I'd share it to explain my "in between-ness":

Art does that. Sometimes it follows after you so hard and so loud that you look around to see how everyone else is reacting to this most obvious explosion of creativity happening right here in this room. It is bright and tangible and full. But other times, it speaks of future, not yet things to come. It whispers for us to prepare so that it isn’t so surprising when the story shows up one day, demanding you to tell it or to live it, ready or not. The Spirit of the living, loving God speaks into our lives and offers us shadows of things to come, blurry and unclear. But no less real. And so when you hear the whispers, One day, there will be fiction. Children. Teaching. Speaking. Love. Writing … don’t ignore them. It doesn’t mean that things will turn out exactly as you think. They won’t. But I do believe God fully provides for us in the present while at the same time, faintly hints about the future. And sometimes, as He moves in us and around us in the moments of our day, He nudges us in whispers and desire towards something He has for us later.

God is nudging me toward something that, as I sit here today, I know I am fully unable to do on my own. However, as Emily says, "God fully provides for us in the present, while at the same time, faintly hinting about the future". I know this to be true in my own life. It is exciting, and for this eternal impatient one, it is maddening to not fully know how long this "in between-ness" will last. What is it that I'm being equipped to do? I feel I have vague hints at it, but I'm too excited about it to even propose a guess to the One Most High. I will be patient.

Photo Challenge 2011

I think I've mentioned my super fun, summer class called "The Artist's Way", that I've been taking, right? Yes, I have. So, for an activity a few weeks ago, we were all challenged to walk the property we were being hosted on, for 15 minutes, and take pictures. We all took about 20-25 pictures. The teacher was able to use the SD cards out of our cameras to show the class. How fun to compare the same landscape of pictures, to see what each person focused on. Here are a few of mine. Hope you enjoy.

These were taken at a small lake north of Seattle, called Martha Lake. The main house was recently built, but the smaller wood/stone cabin is original to the property (old, not sure the age), and is now the family's place of prayer. So serene and beautiful. It helped that we were there around 8p (dusk), so the pictures turned out well due to the light. These are totally unedited, so with a little help of editing they could be something special.

I would encourage you to do this with your family. You can use anything from a camera phone to a professional camera. It was so fun to just take a few minutes, and see what each person captured.

Summer is good and the living is easy....

It's Monday morning, and this is what the damage of the weekend has done....brace yourself. Its not pretty.

Dishes piled high in the sink. Bread, open, left out to dry? Really, people?

Fall in full swing (mentally), so mommy's desk looks like school/MOPS/bill/hairbows(?) threw up. Ugh!

Dogs wandering, wondering who loves them...me!

Children leave food partially eaten. "Oh, no thank you, mother, I'm quite full. Thank you for the delightful meal"....that's what I read here. Don't you?

Children eating in the best chair in the house. That's how she rolls.

Well, this party's about to come to a screeching halt. Live it up, kids!! Is that the school bus I hear??

xoxo