Monday, February 27, 2012

Order out of Chaos

Isn't this how God works too? My heart has been feeling kind of like Leah's closet lately. There are places for things, but they aren't adequate-
 there's a shelf for joy, and a hook on which to hang forgiveness, mercy and grace offered to others, there are baskets somewhere in there for lessons in humility and submission, and even a place somewhere for using my gifts for his glory.
 The only problem is, I have been having trouble finding those things when I need or want them, they are buried under a lot of other stuff. Stuff that doesn't belong-pride, anger, selfishness, and even doubt and fear make their way into my closet (heart). So God has been building a nice neat row of shelves in my heart. He started with his Word---lots of it-saturation-immersion--- and it's starting to take form. This is the hard part, cutting, drilling holes, sawdust everywhere. It's messy. He has been showing me the message of his Word-the message from the beginning to now-it's the same message. This combined with more focused prayer-the shelves are being hung-
 And I'm just starting to be able to put some things on these shelves so that I can see them and access them right when they are needed. Forgiveness is sitting right next to mercy, joy actually takes up a whole shelf on it's own and is surrounded by gratefulness. I'm working on throwing out the things that don't belong. I really should just take them to the dump :)
 This order is a work in progress in my heart, but it is so encouraging to know that God promised to bring order out of chaos when he restores all things to himself, the way he designed it to be. First the natural body and then the spiritual. 1 Cor. 15:53-57 ...but thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.


Friday, February 24, 2012

Ice Skating Party


Family birthdays around here are always lots of fun! Granni chose for us all to go to a skating rink for hers-
Eric hasn't been in several years, but he picked it up again very easily.
Leah started out VERY timidly-she wouldn't let Dennis let go of her skating walker for a second. She eventually let mom do it with her, and before we knew it, she was flying around the rink in the security of her green walker.

Scowls turned to smiles

The rink was very crowded with kids (it was family skate), so when one of our little ones had to go to the bathroom, an adult was left in charge of guarding the walker. Dennis and Bay are having a race I think.
Uncle Andy started a game of ice rink tag...always fun to sneak up on the unsuspecting.
Afterward we gathered for a nice family dinner, presents, cake and all 3 kids (who are now all taking lessons) gave Granni her own private piano recital.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

It's been a crazy winter!

Like most people in the eastern US, our winter has been quite unusual as far as temperatures are concerned.  The wood stove is roaring one day, and then we have to let it die the next, because we are chased out of our 80 degree house! Though I do not like warm temperatures in the winter, and prefer dreary, snowy, gray days, we have tried to make the most of the days as they are given to us.
 An especially warm weekday trip to play frisbee golf...
 Dennis taking advantage of a warm day off work!

 And then just to prove that it is winter, but really only to tease, a smattering of snow just a couple of times. This particular snow, the kids went out and played in it as if there were 2 feet on the ground! 

 I have been able to take advantage of the time indoors to organize parts of the home that have been neglected lately. This hallway in particular houses several small bookshelves. They were literally over-run with books and piles. I added a warm lamp and some linens and the end of the hallway looks so much more inviting now!
And on a completely different note...Bay and Leah participated in our local homeschool science fair in January. Leah did a display about her favorite subject, "Cats". She had a great time and did a fabulous job researching each of the wild cats, taking notes, and organizing/decorating her display poster. 
Bay did a display about the "Life Cycle of a Star". This also was his idea as anything involving space interests him. The concepts that he was trying to display were certainly at times quite complex, and he really only hit on the basics as far as the life of a star goes, but it was a great learning experience for him. I think the thing that he learned most was the importance of knowing your material and practicing beforehand....over and over and over! 

Tuesday, February 07, 2012

Eric turns 13

 Eric turned 13 in January...officially
but he's been acting like he turned 13 quite some time ago! We have enjoyed seeing the many ways he has matured emotionally, physically and spiritually and academically over the past year.
Since this was a special year/number, Dennis took Eric and a friend snowboarding for a day as his present.
 Eric commented that this was the best present he could ever ask for
 We still had a small family celebration on his actual day...with special dinner (lasagna and red velvet cake for dessert)
 Uncle Andy was here to celebrate too!
And to celebrate and remember how big  our #1 boy is really getting, a few pictures from his past...
One of Eric's earliest and fondest memories from his childhood was when he was 3 and after an extended period of rain, I let him go out and play in the giant mud puddle that was our back yard. 
When he turned 4 we had a really fun pirate party-games of walking the plank, treasure hunt-I had a lot of fun planning elaborate parties back then! 
He started out on skis...here he is at age 7. He switched to snowboard I think when he was 10.

Eric at age 8
Skip a few years to 2011- Eric the 12 year old. What a difference just a year has made-he grew 4 inches over the past year!
 Eric at 13...almost