A few Pics from FL

We are spending 6 amazing days sans kids in FL. This trip is partly due to our sabbatical and partly a delayed big trip for our 10th anniversary last year. It is definitely the longest we have been away without the kiddos. And though I miss them every day it is a treat to be footloose and fancy free!





Things I love:
Warm weather in Nov!
Extended time alone with hubby and God.
Amazing friends who keep our Things making this trip possible.
Yummy, yummy,yummy food!
Good times "playing" tennis with good friends. I haven't laughed that hard in a long time!

Halloween Pics

I love living in a small town. And I love our awesome children's museum. This year they hosted a Halloween carnival complete with games, tickets to be redeemed for prizes, face painting and ice cream. The kids had a blast. We arrived after the major crowds so the lines weren't too long. Every had a good time!




Carving pumpkins at the very last minute! I wish I could have gotten a pic of the squirrel inside T1'a jack-o-lantern happily munching away yesterday!

Thing 2 is an off the charts ENFP, everything in his life is a party. Despite my best efforts I gave into his constant petitioning for a party. When he started inventing games for it before I had even agreed to one I knew I was in for it. Luckily I got away with just inviting one favorite neighborhood playmate and her folks over for a short dinner before trick-or-treating. And bc the Eye-Ball-Race and Spin the Gourd games were included along with a few Halloween shaped jello molds T2 was satisfied.


This year we tried something new. We went to campus to do trick-or-treating in the dorms. The college gals all thought the Things were "SO CUTE" and they made a haul in a short amount of time! I liked seeing the students, being inside where it was warm and eating a few chocolate candies along the way (just to keep up my stamina, of course! There are a lot of stairs in dorms!).

Seeking

“What does it mean for me as a stay-at-home-mom to ‘seek first the kingdom of God?’” I asked hubby this question not too many weeks ago. Matt. 6:31 is one of those reoccurring verses in my life during this sabbatical season. It popped up again in my devotional this morning and I was brought back to this basic question, How do I seek Him first in all that I do? More importantly, How am I not seeking Him first and what do I need to do to change that? Certainly not worrying about everyday things like food and clothing is a good place to start, as Jesus suggests in that passage (Matt.6:31-34).
I wonder if learning to seek His kingdom first and see all the hours of my day through His eyes is one key to inner renewal. Ringa writes that the challenge in serving without being depleted is, “…not only to learn to pace ourselves, to set limits,…it is a matter of creatively using time for ourselves…(for)inner renewal…gaining new directions and insights, lest we constantly make the same mistakes and fail to establish patterns that facilitate growth” (#54).
As we talked through our sabbatical with a counselor last week she encouraged us to nail down and do the things that keep our tanks full and healthy. She suggested that if we learn nothing else during this season but how to better self-care during regular life then we have accomplished much. AHA, so that is what this season is all about! Finally a tangible goal I can focus on! 

“Phase Two of our Sabbatical…already?!"

Jeff recently informed me that we are technically out of our "Rest" period and entering into the second phase. I felt a little panicked by this revelation. I don't feel rested yet; perhaps our early bird toddler has something to do with that!
Early this morning I reflected on my promise verse for our sabbatical, "Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength…" (Is. 40:28-31). I paused to ask myself, Am I hoping in the Lord? Or am I hoping in my sabbatical? I found myself wondering yesterday how I will handle it if our sabbatical ends before I feel ready. As I think back to my attitude lately regarding our sabbatical I see I have misplaced my hope.
This morning I realized that I've had my eyes on the calendar instead of on the Lord. I've looked to our sabbatical in itself to restore me and not the Restorer. In reality we could have the longest sabbatical in the history of mankind and still walk away empty. Or we could have the shortest sabbatical on the planet and return entirely renewed. It all depends on what we look to for our hope and renewal, self-help books and a set amount of time, or the Lord. I sense Him gently leading me through this unknown territory as only He can. Truly He faithfully guides me (Ps. 23).
Our sabbatical isn't entirely about renewal though. In an earlier post I mentioned a great devotional, "Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen," by Charles Ringa. This morning he challenged me to not give up after reaping the "first fruits" of our sabbatical but to reach "deeper changes still." (#48). He explains that the disciplines of stillness should help renew us but it shouldn't end there.
When others ask me about our sabbatical I tend to tell them how I feel empty and really need this time of refreshment. Today's entry reminded me that the end goal goes beyond renewal and drawing closer to God. Our sabbatical should also equip us to "serve more generously and purposefully. If (I) forget to maintain this important purpose, the fruit that springs from our inner life will be unripe. It will not only be tasteless for others, but it will have a sour and bitter taste in our own mouths."
Should this time renew me, draw me closer to God and refocus my vision for ministry? Absolutely! But if I stop there I will produce bitter fruit. Ringa directs his readers to 1 Cor.13 reminding us that if we leave out love, no matter how well we train ourselves in our craft, we will only irritate others with our noisy clanging.
Please keep praying for us to keep our hope in the Lord, be renewed, and be better equipped on the other side of this sabbatical to love others well. Thanks! J And please feel free to share with us how we can be praying for you as you come to mind.

Fun Fall Fotos

We took a last minute trip to WI last week. A true perk of being on sabbatical to be able to drop everything and go just bc we can. Normally this time of year we would already be traveling quite a bit to regional meetings and fall conf. so it was a real treat to enjoy time with family and watch the leaves all show off a bit. Speaking of leaves the things had a great time heaping up piles to destroy. Trees are in short supply in our neck of the woods, and especially on our newer lot. The only casualty of their leaf fun being Thing 2's flip flops lost somewhere in that yard. You can see below that it wouldn't be hard to do. Oh well, it is almost tennis shoe weather anyways!

Fall Fun at Grandma and Grandpa's





Getting a bit crafty at home. It is too early to carve the pumpkins but no one said you can't put chocolate eyeballs in them - that is if you can keep from eating them all!



Having fun with the glass insulators my MIL gave me. Thanks for sharing!


Thing 1 called me out into the yard yesterday to show me he can throw a spiral now (well, some of the time). Look out Aaron Rogers! I'd be okay if he doesn't pursue his love of football though, it looks like getting sacked really hurts!

Cool Scripture Memory Websites

Have you heard of MemVerse? It is a pretty handy tool for scripture memory. I admit I'm not as faithful to it as I'd like, but when I get a chance to use my computer without three little boys lining up for their turn I do like to use it to review. The makers came out with a new memory game just for kids - but I have to say it is fun for adults too! Check it out here:


Play Verse Hero - John 15:5-8 (NIV)

My guys are a little young for it but it won't be long before they will be begging me to use the computer and I'll be pointing them to this website before they play their other games. :)

5x7 Folded Card

Birthday Colors Blue Birthday Card

Browse our selection of modern graduation announcements.

View the entire collection of cards.

Butterflies, Koopa's and Pre-K

The last couple of weeks have been full of many different things. Thing 2 started Pre-K three afternoons a week and would love to move right onto college if I'd let him! He is very social and is always very anxious to get into the mix of things outside of home. He didn't even turn around and wave goodbye to hubby on his first day of school...ok then, confident and self assured, check! Yet still able to keep himself from jumping off the furniture - uncheck! Note the broken arm, the result of flying a bit too high off the couch two weeks ago. Thankfully he is a fast healer and just got his splint off yesterday.


The Things have also been busy catching butterflies and caterpillars, frogs and toads in our backyard. It is pretty fun raising them in a little bit of country. Eating copious amounts of raspberries and soaking up the last warm days of fall has also consumed their time.
Why, yes, Thing 2 does have a duct taped spiky box on his back...when he sees a box he sees his next project. This was his Koopa outfit that he made almost entirely by himself. (yay for independent projects!). It is amazing how many weapons and costumes can be made out of cardboard and duct tape. I had no idea!



Thing 3 is learning about a few important things in life - but just warming up to the idea really. Nothing major is underway in those departments.



After nearly 11 years of marriage and one month on sabbatical Hubby was finally able to finish off our bed frame that he started when we were engaged. It is absolutely beautiful and makes me want to sleep even more than chasing 3 boys does! Not sure if that is a good side effect but I'm not complaining.




A friend offered us some tickets to a football game and we had a great time! The Things mostly scurried around putting the cushions on the bleachers up and down but we did get to watch some of the game! It was not too cold yet to enjoy and fun to just be out as a family. Though admittedly after half-time I'd had my fill of squirrely boys and longed for that nice warm bed, so hubby got to take in the second half with his friends without us. All parties were happy with this arrangement.




Last week we were very blessed by some very good friends to go to CO last week without our kiddos. I'm somewhat proud (or should I be embarrassed) to say that it took a tribe to replace me for 3 1/2 days but it was really quite easy to line up all the volunteers to keep Things in order while we were away. Hubby and I attended an intense 3 day workshop assessing our giftings, values and personality types. We left having processed a lot individually and together and with a clearer picture of what we bring to the table and how to best apply it in our ministry. Thanks again to all the brave souls - esp. the two who stayed the nights with our boys - we couldn't have done it without you! And we hope all that time with our precious Things doesn't delay too much any parenting plans of your own! :)

Dinosaurs and Hypotheses

Thing 1 starts first grade last week! Sigh, sniff, sigh...that was me. "It's MY FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL!"...that was him when I woke him up.

His teacher is super great! We scored two years in a row now with wonderful teachers! Which is making it hard for me to build my case that he should stay home all day with me...more sighing.

He get's his own desk - no more round tables. Very exciting!


It was hard to be sad with that face beaming up at me!



I asked him if he liked his teacher. "Yes."
I dug further, "What do you like about her?"
Pause. Silence. "Umm, I don't have any observations about her yet!"

Okay then. Last week he correctly used the word "hypothesis" so I was curious.
"Where did you learn the words 'hypothesis' and 'observation'?"
"From Dinosaur Train."
Proof that letting your kids watch a little TV can really be educational!

In Search of my Sense of Humor

We are back from our trek out west with my folks and everyone had a GREAT time! Thanks again Mom and Dad! I considered leaving town the last week of August the "christening" of our sabbatical as this would never be possible in a "normal" school year.

The house my folks rented for us was perfect including a great big porch overlooking the pastures and mountains. It lived up to it's name of "ranch" in the smallest sense by having live cattle and horses for the boys to feed. They spent hours picking grass to feed the horses and we spent hours watching the owners chase one obstinate little calf that kept escaping back into the pasture. We named him "Houdini", the rancher had a few other names for him that I can't post here.

I spent many early mornings on that porch watching the sun peak up over the hills and enjoying time in the Word. God used that time to give me a bit more insight into what a sabbatical is all about (I think!). Below are a few verses I came across that I want to pray often for this season and I'd love it if you would pray them for us as well when we come to mind.
"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

I'm reading through a new devotional that I honestly can't remember if our supervisors gave us or if it came from our sabbatical training - it was all a blur, but to WHOMEVER - THANKS SO MUCH. It is GREAT! "Dare to Journey with Henri Nouwen," by Charles Ringa, shares many great quotes from one of my favorite authors along with some key thoughts on times of solitude. I'll share just one with you now - and maybe more to come...
"In our much doing we lose perspective, lose our energy, and more importantly, lose our creativity and sense of humor..." (To an ENFP losing my sense of humor seems close to a death sentence! Say it isn't so?!!!) Ringa explains that solitude, "is not simply a withdrawal from the world in order to be renewed and refreshed. It is also finding a new center of inner quietness and certitude from which we act in the midst of a busy and demanding world." Then we can can "again enter our world with purposeful engagement and joyful detachment."

My hope for this season is that by putting myself in a place where I have nothing to do but listen (outside of normal home-life of course) I can then again re-enter ministry with more "purposeful engagement" and be better equipped to serve Him.

Here are a few photos from our time in the Black Hills:

The Train Ride was a highlight for everyone - esp. the boys!





Gold Panning with Grandpa

Life Stages of the "Average" Boy

We are finally home from our CO and NM tour and it has only taken me an entire week to somewhat get our lives put back in order. Well, as much order as is possible with a 2-yr-old trailing behind undoing all you have just done.
Hubby has one last trip to the Dells to wrap things up there and then we will officially start our sabbatical on the 15th. Can I hear a "whoot! whoot!" (or whatever the cool thing to say is these days).
Lately I have been thinking about stages and seasons of life. For your own entertainment here are a few along with a cute pic of Thing 3 in Grandma Graf's kitchen:

After having three of my own boys to observe up close I have divided and labeled their stages into my own categories.
0-12 months - Eat-Sleep-Poop-Drool Stage
12-18 months- Hunter and Gatherer Stage (as named by hubby)- when they see how many matchbox cars, etc. they can carry at once and keep from any other little people within the vicinity.
18-24 months - Seek and Destroy (self explanatory) Actually given my older boys' (and husband's) affinity for watching things fall down and blow up I'm pretty sure this stage lasts a lifetime.
24-36 months - All the Ability and NONE of the Common-Sense Stage. Case in point just the other day Thing 3 took a screw driver, walked over to an outlet and tried to insert it! Arghhhhh! Just trying to keep him alive is taking up most of my time!
Mixed in there somewhere and beyond are the lovely "Why?" stage and the "Watch Me!" stage that continue on for many fun filled years to come! :)