First of Fall Update

I am refusing to change my facebook profile pic for another week. I am getting the itch to light my fall candles and start looking for the beautiful leaves to turn but everytime I look at the pic of the kids in the pool I just can't quite bring myself to change it. Fall will be plenty long. Just wanted to toss an update out there now that the first few weeks of school are under our belt. Trinity has been wonderfully optimistic about this year. In fifth grade they get to have a "store" every other Friday. Trinity must have spent all of Friday afternoon going through her room finding stuff to sell, so I began to look through my things and found some extra gift bags and a few little bottles of lotion that were gifted to me that I hadn't gotten around to using. She was SO happy and said "thanks for supporting me, mom". I just about emptied my bathroom drawers and threw every bottle of girly stuff I had at her I was so happy! Makeup? Take it all! oh fifth graders don't wear much? Sell it for the moms! Here, take this floss, all kids need to floss. .. etc. Folks, Trinity has always been dramatic and highly emotional. She "feels" things so deeply and one of her top complaints (rational or not) is that I don't support her in her dreams. (yes, those were the exact words she used when I wouldn't turn off my evening program so that she could netflix workouts so that she would be in shape to be the next American Ninja Warrior). So the fact that she articulated that exact thing, "you're supporting me"; my heart went to the moon and back. Our relationship is really growing by leaps and bounds. There are ALWAYS challenges but I take them on in JESUS' name. lol Blake has struggled a little more with second grade. The work has stepped up and his easily distracted nature plus his slightly lazy ways with schoolwork are really throwing him for a loop. I am hoping he just needs to adjust his attitude and his outlook and the year will really start to rock and roll for him because he is usually very well behaved in class and quick on the uptake of the math etc. Isaac is IN LOVE with preschool. I think he is going to just fly this year. We have received the call that he is set up to begin his Speech therapy weekly. Because of his Autism diagnoses there is a grant that will cover the weeks of therapy that my insurance won't. He begins swimming lessons today. It's just too much for me how big he is. I went to CBS on Wednesday for the first time EVER without a child with me in about nine years. Of course I immediately pictured myself having another. Okay, I know you can't have a baby EVERY time a child goes to school but. . .
our fourth child (okay, dog) James has begun his puppy classes. He is SUCH a good boy but such a maniac in playtime! Hoping training will get those last puppy behavioral issues worked out. BTW his homework chart was sent home with him. #1 was Praise your puppy 25x times a day / I don't even do that with my OWN CHILDREN. Now what do you think my next thought was? I guess I had better start praising my kids 25x a day.  If I can do it for a dog, I can do it for them. Geesh. All things considered it has been a good start to the year. I went to the Beth Moore simulcast on Sat. and made some connections as well as reconnected with my mentor Stephanie. We really allowed some truth to seep into our hearts that day, I'm so thankful for Beth Moore. As manic as her teaching can be she never fails to inspire me to action. Of course she talked about women needing to share joy and the necessity of friends. This is something I have already been well aware of and struggling with so encouragement was very timely. Trying to just take it a day at a time. Remembering I don't have to be perfect, just LOVING.

Real Church Community

If each one of us took responsibility for the well-being of a handful of folks at whatever church body we attend I think we could solve most of the church's ills. Really. What if you notice the elderly folks of the body and made an effort to stop and begin to get to know just ONE of them post-service?Maybe they need help with errands or would love a cup of coffee and a visit. What if you invite a family to share a meal, BREAK BREAD, find out needs, interests? Maybe you would make "do this thing called life together" sort of FRIENDS. If you take a RISK, give up some TIME, offer what you have to give, surely you will see the benefit. It will adjust your perspective and get you one step closer to the heart and mind of Christ. This is close to my heart because this is what I need. I am the person hoping you will approach me and offer to meet for coffee. I am the person hoping my family will make a deep connection with a few other families, that my children will have "bosom buddies" and a safe place to grow and mature. I am that woman seeking an environment that helps my husband and I keep Christ at the center of our family. You may not realize this because I always have a smile. I serve in leadership positions in the church. My faith has long been mine, but I am HUNGRY for COMMUNITY. I am reaching out for LIFE TOGETHER Christianity.

This has lately been impressed on me by the Spirit: that what I seek I must be willing to offer. I have had to be very careful not to make my family the end-all be-all of my life. Sometimes when it is just so HARD to reach out and be rejected again, or go to bible study or church and be up front only to have no one to talk to during the week, (oh yes there are always a few of you, and Thank you! It's not like I'm totally alone, but many of you know exactly what I mean) I want to just hole up in my home, my schedule, my comfortable life. Aren't there enough stresses just in that? Certainly. Jesus, however asks for my life first; before I give it to my family, I must give it to HIM. That means I press on towards a goal of REACHING OUT, being HIS hands and feet, doing HIS work, sharing HIS story. I may still be LONELY for a season if only to learn that HE is enough. I may feel broken if only to learn I can't FIX it all myself. I may feel scared by the thought of RADICAL love or INTENTIONAL sacrifice but it's there I learn that HE equips me for every work. This is the miracle of Christ in me, of Christ in the church. Let's be more like Christ. Let's serve. Let's love. Let's support. Start BREAKING BREAD with strangers. If you are where I am, you have unmet needs. Don't we all? So give it a try, pray for how you might reach just a FEW people in your church body. How might you offer the very things you seek?

First Day of School 2014

Sending Trinity and Blake off to school was easy this year. Sending Isaac off was pretty easy too. . .in some ways. He was so excited to go to school with the big kids and it's only for a few hours but it is definitely opposite to what I have done with the older two and he is my BABY. So, yeah that part was hard. I have gone back and forth emotionally on whether or not pre-school was the right choice for him. Some people would laugh at that but there are others who understand my desire to have him home with me. I am hoping this feeling of peace I have about the decision is from the Lord. I think Isaac will thrive in the school environment and funnily enough, I am still picturing him at home with me next year. Here are some pics of their big day. 

                

                                               

Trinity: We have had our share of struggles this past year. Fourth grade was a challenge beyond both our expectations. You had good days and bad days but through all of it you persevered. I am just so proud of you for taking on Fifth grade with such optimism.  My prayer is that this year you continue to learn ways to cope with your anxiety, that you remember all the people ready to support you, and that you remember you are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made. Take things slow and communicate your needs. This year is going to be a good one.

                 

Blake: Sometimes you struggle with distractions but you are a bright boy that is well behaved in the classroom, and everyone likes you. My prayer for you this year is that you work hard, that you continue on your journey of learning respect and honoring others above yourself, and that you let your light shine and don't follow the sometimes not so excellent examples of those around you. 

              

                                     

Isaac: they made me do it. lol  My prayer for you is that pre-school will set you on the path of development you are meant to be on. I pray that you grow tremendously with the help of your teachers and therapists and that you meet every potential I see in you. Terrible Three's are no joke and you are in the phase of "I do it" for EVERYTHING. Somehow I still go to sleep thinking you are utterly delightful. 

seasons

I've been in a long season of reading and not writing. I love reading but I miss writing. Wondering if its time for the seasons to change. Inspiration find me soon. Here I am.