Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Back to HOMEschool Prayer

 This morning I hastily wrote out a prayer in my rush to squeeze in a little time alone with God before we started our first day of school. Our day is done and we are all still talking to each other so I'd say God answered!

Abba, thank you for a new day. Please fill me with your love, the most important ingredient as we start school today. Help me to be fully present, love well and enjoy our time of discovery and adventure together. I know there will be some groaning and maybe even whining; I'll try not to do it too much. :) And if I hear it from others, help me not take it personally. Thank you for the privilege and resources to teach from home and spend our days learning together. Amen.

You won't have to guess which poses my kids chose and I went along with. All part of being a boy-mom (which I love!)! 

                                                                Socially distanced and ready to roll! 
going a little crazy with the masks. 


Thing 2 says "The whole year is going down the toilet." We shall see!




Thing 1 actually starts his hybrid online program next week - but he joined us for Bible and Current Events this morning. 

How is it possible my BABY is starting MIDDLE SCHOOL!???!!

Zoey is a bit worried to start middle school and requested her own therapy dog.



Thursday, May 14, 2020




Below is a reflection from the past year I spent on sabbatical along with a little attempt at art in hopes it might encourage someone else. I was in a weary place but am so happy to be living much more free and unfettered now!

“Free and unfettered…careless in the care of God.” (Matt. 6:26) When I read these words I see a winding cement path lined by tall grasses and wildflowers. It is tucked between rows of backyard fences, a place to wander open spaces in the middle of suburban sprawl. Down a hill I find a stream under shady trees. It is really only city rain water, but it slows to run over rocks creating a soothing bubbling sanctuary. 

In the past year I walked that path many times with an empty soul and heavy tread. I so wanted to be free and unfettered, careless in the care of God, but how did I get there? Fully spent, I plead these words back to Him, asking Him to show me the way. 

I love that He chose something so common that, no matter where we live on this planet, we would have this feathered reminder. Look! See! Listen! Whenever you hear a bird trill or see a robin hop branch to branch, let your mind go back to my promise. This is the life I want for you. Free. Unfettered. Living under my care. 

O soul are you weary and troubled? Look at Me. Remember my LOVE. I’ve got this. Exhale. Let go. Be free.

I wander back up the path, gathering wildflowers as I go. A small bouquet grows in my hand and a little more shalom fills my soul. It takes many walks, many paths and many other new rhythms to find my way to that unfettered life. It is not a life without cares, it is living knowing He does.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

Remembering - Thing 2's Birth-Day

We recently celebrated Thing 2's 14th birthday. 






I did a little reminiscing in my journal:

Fourteen years ago today I thought I had one more day to be pregnant, shop for a new baby outfit to take to the hospital, go out for a Thai dinner date with your dad and get induced the next day. But you had other plans. Instead I waddled through contractions at the mall while buying said outfit. Your grandma looked on with worried glances fearing I'd have you right there in the children's play area.

Later when the contractions didn't stop I told your dad we better skip the Thai food and head to the hospital. I made him drive thru Arby's on the way (my previous labor lasted 30 hours and I wanted a final meal). Once we got there your dad sat quietly in the corner of our room eating his fries while the nurse gave him dirty looks. He outed me telling her I ate mine in the car! Sure enough that was all enough commotion to stop my contractions but given the choice to induce then or the next day at some unknown hour, I chose then!

Three hours later (TWENTY SEVEN hour quicker than your big brother) you came into the world. I looked at your big soon-to be brown eyes, and fuzzy blond head,  held you close and sang you your special song. When they put you in my arms you taught me how the heart miraculously expands in an instant, making room to love one more.

Coming in a pound heavier and an inch longer than your brother,  that outfit was too small. But the stocking cap I bought did fit. Your dad proudly exclaimed you were the ONLY baby in the nursery with a monkey hat.

The pediatrician came to see you and his first comment was about your big hands and feet - I thought that was a funny thing to say when you look at newborns every day. But I figured that meant you were going to be tall, growing into your paws like a puppy. And as you already tower over me that prediction was correct!

From the moment you could crawl right at 6 months, you have always been on the go with your eye on the next adventure. My only goal is to keep you alive and out of trouble. I was disappointed you skipped the sitting up and staying in one place stage. You've stretched me with your abilities to climb too high, swallow things you shouldn't (batteries!) and your love of all creatures (even snakes!!!).Two sons in under two years, our quiver was rapidly filling up.

Oh how I love being a mom. Each new day brings new adventures with three boys that are all too quickly becoming men. We love you!

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Watercolor

Sent off my first commissioned piece today. About a year ago I took my first class purely for something new and creative to do in a time when I felt very EMPTY. (I also bought a $100 piano but that is a post for another day.) Anyways, this has become more and more of a thing I turn to for refreshment and fun. And to my great surprise someone other than my husband and mom wanted a copy of this. She is a friend, but still, it sort of counts, right?!

Monday, February 24, 2020

Funny Things

We have a pet mouse named Rufus. He is stuffed and goes on a lot of trips with Jeff. But that is a story for another post. Our oldest, Thing 1, is 15 1/2 (gasp) and likes to place Rufus places for us to find him. And then we hide him back and forth. Not long ago I found Rufus had gotten into some candy.


And then I found our new vacuum had been upgraded with EYES! Thing 2 got creative.


And Zoey had her 7th birthday on Valentine's Day (bc when your kids want to know their dog's bday and she is a mutt off of Craig's list, why not make it on Valentines?). Thing 3 asked how long dogs live. So we asked Alexa "who" informed us an average dog lives about 15 years. T3 replied - "I'd say Zoey is pretty average." :) :) :) He still doesn't understand why I giggle at the things he says. Someday.



Monday, February 17, 2020

Signs of the Times



Sometimes I can't resist a little humor with my signage. 



When Thing 3 (age 10)  saw this he said, "I'm going to make a sign about all the snarky signs you make mom!"  Ohhh, that boy makes me laugh!



Or going a little #mandalorianmom






Saturday, February 15, 2020

My Husband said I Should Title This - I HIT THE JACKPOT

Twenty years ago I sat across from this cute younger man at Muddy Waters coffee shop. I asked for a small hot chocolate and he ordered me a medium. We played Battleship and I wholloped him and he didn't seem to mind. Towards the end of our time together he told me he liked me. I told him I needed to think about it. I wondered, Do I really like him or do I just like that he likes me? As we left I headed out the door one direction and he another. He says when I looked back he knew right then She likes me, she just doesn't know it yet.

Now he likes to tell people he was clueless and persistent (I would take a month to email him back). I would add a tad overconfident; I found out after we were engaged he thought I only checked my email once a month. The hot cocoa told me he is generous, the game showed me his is confident, and the persistence paid off.

Fast forward twenty years and he is still spoiling me, pursuing me and always willing to keep learning and figuring things out together. We've been in counseling for about 6 months(?) of my sabbatical and even though I say it is for us he mostly listens while I talk and cry and unburden my heart. But he shows up and is willing to learn the secrets to a healthier marriage and life right alongside me.

He wasn't the first guy I had dated, but I plan on him being the last. And we are still having so much fun together! 20 years ago was hot chocolate, today it was a snowy hike in the woods followed by a flight of pancakes at Snooze. I can't wait to see what 20 more years brings. Happy Like-A-Versary, hon!



Saturday, August 17, 2019

First Day of School Pics 2019-2020 - Yes, those are Handcuffs.

These boys are growing way too fast and it is hard for my heart to keep up.

Thing 1 started high school! He has the flown the homeschooling coop and is doing a hybrid program where he attends 4 half days a week. He is looking forward to electives in backpacking and beekeeping! (hmmm, I wonder if a hive would fit back by our chicken coop).

How is it possible my "baby" is in 5th grade? I think I should have held him back.

And our resident middle schooler is looking forward to TRACKS with his best friend  (an outside-in-the-woods school one day a week). 

We had a GREAT first day together just the three of us - and the noisy parakeet, co-dependent dog, dwarf hamster and chickens. We enjoyed a big breakfast and Bible time all together as a family, rode bikes and climbed trees for PE, and then got down to business with some seat work.

Homeschooling tip --- handcuffs help.
Kidding!!!! (mostly)



Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Pantry Mini-Makeover

Our bifold doors could not hold up any longer to two teen and one tween boy! I'm pretty sure they would have to be made out of titaniam to survive that much usage. Plus the pantry is located in such a small hallway so that if any door was left open no one could walk through. Super annoying! So when they broke AGAIN recently I decided to try a teen friendly doors off design. 

banished by-fold door

before

after - ta-da!



I'm watching them as closly as our dog on a squirrel to make sure things stay in their proper places. Only time will tell how long this system lasts - but I'm already wondering if there is a no-door fridge out there somewhere that would support our house of boys....hmmm.

Wednesday, May 29, 2019

3 Pics of Life with Boys 🤔🙄😳

When you ask your teen to save the box top. 🤔

When your teen randomly buys a stuffed kitty at a garage sale and then doesn’t know what to do with it. 🙄

When a boy goes to get a snack in the middle of a nerf battle???🤪

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

I Blinked

I blinked and these three turned 15, 13 and 10! How did that happen?! We had so much fun celebrating each of them - my spring babies.

Thing 1 had a bunch of guys over for football and battlefront and lots of pizza!


Thing 3 celebrated with cheesecake and lasertag with a couple good buddies.



Thing 2 had his bday on spring break in AZ and requested this shirt!

But before we left we managed to surprise him with a Narplings party!



Sunday, April 14, 2019

On Grief this Easter Season


The tears came pouring out again unexpectedly as I searched through an old pile of frames in the basement. My dear friend all smiles surrounded by her four young children and husband stops my search. This time I don't even try to push grief away. I cry as if it were 10 days, not 10 years since death snatched her away with no warning. Clicking doggy paws pause at the stop of the stairs and in a moment my hand is full of black fur as she leans against me.

I ask God for the thousandth time why she had to go. The heavy ache in my heart reminds me of His Words to Adam and Eve, "What have you done?"  Did they hear the heart twisting pain in His question? Did they see the sorrow wasn't about the broken rule but what it meant for them? For Him? For all creation from that day forth? Death had entered into perfection and tainted it all. Every relationship, every plant, every animal - all of creation was now undone.

God knew. And He saw it all - all the hatred and sickness and sorrow and horror from generation to generation- all at once. And He saw the cross as He watched their slumped backs turn away from the garden for the last time. He knew He would get us back and He knew all it would cost Him.

How we all long for The Day when grief is finally out-run! There will be no more death to seperate us.

 I will see her smiling face again.

Older posts on Grief
This Side of Heaven   Jesus Wept   Life and Shoulds   In the Storm  Picking Up the Stitches  

Finding A Healthy Whole  Perfectly Perfect     Record of Faithfulness:Remembering Jo 


Thursday, April 11, 2019

A few recent snapshots from life with Boys #iloveraisingboys

Thing 3's breakfast EVERY morning at the hotel on our recent vacation.


Thing 2 rock climbing with a broken arm.

Thing 1 being silly with me in Zion.

Rock sliding/running. 

What happens when I ask Thing 1 to take the coffee cake out of the oven while I dry my hair.

Whenever she is left alone for 5 mins with her older brothers...something like this always happens.