Just a little something...

I know it's been a long time. I will update at some point, but for right now here's a glimpse of some of our cuties...

Still waiting

Just a quick update...  Our issues have had no movement towards resolution, so we have to continuously rely on scripture and the promises of God as we look towards our future.  It is very difficult to be in our position, because we don't have a lot of privacy and so we can't really be open about some things. But, if you can please continue to pray for us, and especially for wisdom for Nate and I, we would really appreciate it. We love you and I will update on here once school finally starts and my projects are done.

We're still here!

Well, mostly still here, anyway. I will catch up on here- someday. Not today. Today I just need to ask for your prayers. It's been a stressful week with illness, trying to play catch up from being gone so much in the past month, and some personal matters. It looks like we won't be able to decrease the stress either- there's sure to be more coming! :) I'm trying to simplify where I can so that we don't lose focus of our ultimate goal... to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Thank you for praying for all of us. We need a lot of wisdom right now and we appreciate all the prayers we can get. I'll update on here more specifically in a while. For right now, just understand that we are very busy this week and camping next week- so we'll see some of you soon! :)

Multitude Mondays

What a special thing it is to reflect and count these blessings; to have a song of praise in my heart (and usually my mouth!) as God's unfailing goodness is evidenced over and over again...
165. sore muscles after excercising.

166. having a buddy to exercise with!!! (a big one for me)

167. seeing Bekah Boo scooting herself across the floor backwards, then slapping the hardwood with excitement at the distance she's traveled.

168. for reconnecting with aunts, uncles, cousins that I thought I might never see again.

169. my sweet girls playing together as the sun sets in the warm summer evening.

170. all beef hotdogs on Natie's new gas grill.

171. Stevie saying "I like that- he's a good guy!" about the lightning bug that landed on his shorts (which became best buds with him for about 5 minutes).

172. camping reservations made= goal in sight!

173. county fairs: watching the horse show, admiring the tractors... nothing could be better on a July day!


Stop by Ann's site to make your own list of thanks...

Multitude Mondays

So many things to thank our great King for today...

152. a full pantry that needs to be organized (again).

153. chubby baby toes.

154. the pop up camper, which we practiced setting up today without problem... and the dreams of the great times to come in there.

155. my little boy pulling an old red wagon around the yard.

156. lemonade on hot days.

157. My biggest one today...  we survived the tornado that whipped through here last week. It caused a lot of damage to Warsaw, but we're fine and our home is okay, so we feel blessed- and so glad that a basement was on our priority list for a house!!!!

158. dirty dishes piled high after a busy weekend- and for the time to clean them today.

159. three older daughters playing together very sweetly in the front yard.

160. walks in the neighborhood at sunset... and Little Man yelling "lightning bug!" every five seconds.

161. helping others to see the light of Christ in a darkened world.

162. fellowship meals where hearts and bellies get filled.

163. too many sugar snap peas and snow peas.

164. a freezer for those peas.



Stop by Ann's site to make your own list of thanks...

A visit up to Traverse City

Nate preached up in Michigan again last weekend. We took the opportunity to go up and introduce Bekah to his grandparents and go by GG's house for a quick visit and to pick up his parent's pop up camper (we hope to use it in August). It was great to see Grandpa Paul and Grandma Virginia, and Grandma Mary and Uncle Craig, too! It was a busy, crazy time (isn't it always?), but it was fun. Lauren (a friend from church) joined us on our trip, and she even enjoyed herself! :) Ha ha! We stayed at the Hendrien's but everyone was gone down to Arkansas except Bill and Will. We had so much fun anyways... we visited with all of Will's animals several times (he even took them into his sheep pen while we were packing... so exciting for them! And we had a great time at the fellowship meal after church at one of the church families' houses. I appreciate visiting with them because they are so laid back about having company over. I have a hard time with that, and so do many women. Thankfully, I'm in a position where people just stop by our house quite frequently- so I've had to get used to just letting myself relax and not stressing out too much about it if someone sees the stack of mail that's waiting to be sorted or the train tracks are laid out across the living room floor.

Multitude Mondays

"The heart of the believer is Christ's garden... We often worry and trouble ourselves, like Martha, with much serving, so that we have not the room for Christ that Mary had, and do not sit at His feet as we should. The Lord grant the sweet showers of His grace to water His garden every day."  Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening

Lord, grant us the ability to sit at your feet as we change diapers, wipe noses, and wash dishes and floors...  Thank you for this and more...

141. Toy Story 3 at the drive in last night with the most perfect summer sunset and weather.

142. the cool breeze blowing after the thunderstorms rolled through this morning.

143. the wedding ceremony that Nate performed on Saturday- Christ honoring and full of love. This was the first couple that Nate has married that courted and had a ton of guidance from their parents. The difference in their relationship is remarkable. I hope that we are preparing our children that well for marriage (in at least 12 years or so!).

144. seeing Bekah Boo whip her head around when Nate calls "Peaches?" (his new nickname for her).
145. Erin's half-dollar sized eyes when we got to the drive in last night (the last time she was there she was 2, so she didn't remember it at all).

146. Stephen saying yes... "yesh, Momma- I do it!"

147. finishing the wallpaper in the kitchen.

148. working on four different projects bit by bit until they get finished. Thank you Lord for the interrruptions and teaching me patience when my stubborn heart just wants to be done.

149. ceiling fans on hot summer days.

150. the oriole feeder that the girls bought Nate for Father's Day. They bought it a few weeks ago and were able to keep it a secret!!!

151. for the best father my children could ever have.

Stop by Ann's site to make your own list...