3/29/2009
Please pray...
for baby Stellan. I wrote about his birth here. He has been in the PICU for a few days and is losing blood flow to his extremities now. Please pray for his little heart to be healed and for his life to be spared. Click here to read MckMama's blog updates.
3/24/2009
Movers come tomorrow...
We have been busy bees.
I read this post over at Without Wax today.
As I watched all of the people file past the best violinist in the whole world, I thought of myself very quickly. I am incredibly guilty of rushing around (epsecially these days) and forgetting to take in the beauty of the moment. I needed this reminder today. Instead of pushing through the to-do list, we went outside and played basketball. I could have used that time to do a million other more pressing things. But today - for once - I heeded the still small voice that told me to stop and hear the music.
The original Washington Post article can be found here.
I read this post over at Without Wax today.
As I watched all of the people file past the best violinist in the whole world, I thought of myself very quickly. I am incredibly guilty of rushing around (epsecially these days) and forgetting to take in the beauty of the moment. I needed this reminder today. Instead of pushing through the to-do list, we went outside and played basketball. I could have used that time to do a million other more pressing things. But today - for once - I heeded the still small voice that told me to stop and hear the music.
The original Washington Post article can be found here.
3/19/2009
3/18/2009
Every Season
I'm not sure that I have a favorite season. I try to appreciate each of them on their own merits and apply those truths to my life. I have experienced each of life's seasons at least once, and I know that I will see each of them again. Perhaps that's why I try to enjoy them while they last.
I've learned that one season cannot happen without the others. Each serves a specific purpose in life and growth, and usually flows seamlessly to the next. I have found as nature draws to the end of a season, I'm usually more than ready to move on the next one. Toward the end of Spring, I am missing my kids and looking forward to the adventure of Summer. At the end of Summer, I’m ready for the coolness of Autumn. With Autumn’s end comes the promise of celebration during the Winter holidays. And of course, the end of Winter ushers in the promise of new life in Spring. God does the same with my life seasons.
As I near the close of my season in Louisiana, spring has begun. It is fitting, I think. I wonder what the Lord has for me in Kansas. What new ministry will He give to me? Or will He breathe life into one that I have neglected or overlooked?
We have lived in 9 places in 9 years of marriage. “Bloom where you’re planted” has become our mantra. The path we have chosen has seared the seasonality of life onto our hearts and minds. This time will be different from the others in many ways.
We’re Army now.
We’ve never lived this far from family, or the ocean.
We’ve never managed a twelve month deployment in a combat zone.
We’ve never had a safe room in our home to shield us from tornados.
We’ve never experienced a real winter.
We’ve never seen that part of our country.
We’ve never had two kids in school.
We’ve never done ministry in the military quite like this.
We’ve never been so poised to receive the blessings that God has for us in our new home.
So, welcome Spring!
Lord, I look forward to all that You have to offer in this new season of our life.
There is a time for everything, and a season for everything under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
Spring Peach Blossoms in Flint Hills, KS (for the record, I didn't take this picture)
3/13/2009
12 days...
...until the movers come.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting Hubs and the rest of our family. It was a lot of ground to cover in 10 days, but well worth it.
During the week we were in Florida, three different prayer requests of ours were answered!
#1 - We got a house on post!!! And it's available upon our arrival!!! WOOHOO!!! (I'm excited about that one.)
#2 - Gator will be able to join his new classmates to finish out their Kindergarten year together before moving on to 1st grade with them. I'm so thankful that the teacher and principal are willing to work with us on this. I think it will make 1st grade so much easier!
#3 - We have a family to rent our home. We've been working on this for a while. The best part is that we know they're good peeps - it's our youth minister and his family!
The things I have managed to accomplish:
#1 - All pictures are in their appropriate photo albums, and we are caught up to the current month of March 2009. I'm not sure this has ever happened before now.
#2 - Cleaned out the shed, the guest room and the attic (almost). I soooooo need to have a garage sale, but that will have to wait. I wonder if they have garage sales in Kansas.
#3 - My house is a wreck right now and I am NOT happy about it. Gator and Bull are enjoying all of their old toys newly discovered after a hiatus in the attic (see #2).
#4 - Turning 31. I had the privilege of hosting my last guests (my parents, my sister and my niece) in this house over last weekend to help me celebrate.
Other things that are miscellaneous in nature, but still worth mentioning:
#1 - Hubs and I will have a nephew at the end of the summer (his sister is pregnant)!
#2 - Hubs and I will have another niece/nephew around Labor Day (my sister is pregnant)!
#3 - I LOVE being an aunt! And now I get two more to dote on!
#4 - Bull hit his head on the corner of the table last night. I had a flashback of this and totally flipped out for a few minutes. He's fine now. Whew!
#5 - I interviewed Gator the other night in hopes of getting a whole blog post out of it. Notsomuch. BUT when I asked him what my job was, he said "taking care of us." Awwww. He also said that when nobody's around I like to clean, my favorite place to go is Wal-Mart, and something we do together is take stuff down from the attic (see #2 in previous list). Apparently I need a life.
#6 - This is a fun site! You can take a quick quiz and find out your design style.
Here are my results (which shouldn't surprise a single person who has seen my house):
60% Traditional Country: Even if your backyard isn't acres of farmland and you don't actually have a cow out in the barn, your house sure brings you back to a time when that was the case for many. You love spaces that feel casual and lived in. Furniture is practical and comfortable, and yet at the same time its very stylish. The best part of country style is how much it highlights collection and found objects. Antiques here, garage sale finds there and Aunt Milly's hand-me-downs throughout. Unique items that used to serve very practical purposes are now on display, and their history seems to permeate the home. Each space in the home seems to invite friends and family to come in and stay a while. There is a true sense of home felt throughout.
40% Classic: What's old is new again! The beauty of Classic style is how well it takes all of the beautiful forms, colors and textures of the past and reinvents them in a way that feels both fresh and inspired. The style itself is a mix of European influences and French, English and Italian antiques and replicas are often used together. Furniture is well proportioned and comfortable and the rooms give off an air of sophistication and grace. Oil paintings depicting still-life or nature scenes and emphasizing symmetry of pairs helps maintain the traditional nature of the room. Windows are often covered with opulent fabric shades and/or drapery.
Traditional rooms give off an air of history that seems to say "I was here long before you, and will remain long after you've gone." And yet, even with this level of sophistication, the rooms are soft and inviting.
OK ... that's all for now. Such a random post. Congrats for making it through!
We thoroughly enjoyed our time visiting Hubs and the rest of our family. It was a lot of ground to cover in 10 days, but well worth it.
During the week we were in Florida, three different prayer requests of ours were answered!
#1 - We got a house on post!!! And it's available upon our arrival!!! WOOHOO!!! (I'm excited about that one.)
#2 - Gator will be able to join his new classmates to finish out their Kindergarten year together before moving on to 1st grade with them. I'm so thankful that the teacher and principal are willing to work with us on this. I think it will make 1st grade so much easier!
#3 - We have a family to rent our home. We've been working on this for a while. The best part is that we know they're good peeps - it's our youth minister and his family!
The things I have managed to accomplish:
#1 - All pictures are in their appropriate photo albums, and we are caught up to the current month of March 2009. I'm not sure this has ever happened before now.
#2 - Cleaned out the shed, the guest room and the attic (almost). I soooooo need to have a garage sale, but that will have to wait. I wonder if they have garage sales in Kansas.
#3 - My house is a wreck right now and I am NOT happy about it. Gator and Bull are enjoying all of their old toys newly discovered after a hiatus in the attic (see #2).
#4 - Turning 31. I had the privilege of hosting my last guests (my parents, my sister and my niece) in this house over last weekend to help me celebrate.
Other things that are miscellaneous in nature, but still worth mentioning:
#1 - Hubs and I will have a nephew at the end of the summer (his sister is pregnant)!
#2 - Hubs and I will have another niece/nephew around Labor Day (my sister is pregnant)!
#3 - I LOVE being an aunt! And now I get two more to dote on!
#4 - Bull hit his head on the corner of the table last night. I had a flashback of this and totally flipped out for a few minutes. He's fine now. Whew!
#5 - I interviewed Gator the other night in hopes of getting a whole blog post out of it. Notsomuch. BUT when I asked him what my job was, he said "taking care of us." Awwww. He also said that when nobody's around I like to clean, my favorite place to go is Wal-Mart, and something we do together is take stuff down from the attic (see #2 in previous list). Apparently I need a life.
#6 - This is a fun site! You can take a quick quiz and find out your design style.
Here are my results (which shouldn't surprise a single person who has seen my house):
60% Traditional Country: Even if your backyard isn't acres of farmland and you don't actually have a cow out in the barn, your house sure brings you back to a time when that was the case for many. You love spaces that feel casual and lived in. Furniture is practical and comfortable, and yet at the same time its very stylish. The best part of country style is how much it highlights collection and found objects. Antiques here, garage sale finds there and Aunt Milly's hand-me-downs throughout. Unique items that used to serve very practical purposes are now on display, and their history seems to permeate the home. Each space in the home seems to invite friends and family to come in and stay a while. There is a true sense of home felt throughout.
40% Classic: What's old is new again! The beauty of Classic style is how well it takes all of the beautiful forms, colors and textures of the past and reinvents them in a way that feels both fresh and inspired. The style itself is a mix of European influences and French, English and Italian antiques and replicas are often used together. Furniture is well proportioned and comfortable and the rooms give off an air of sophistication and grace. Oil paintings depicting still-life or nature scenes and emphasizing symmetry of pairs helps maintain the traditional nature of the room. Windows are often covered with opulent fabric shades and/or drapery.
Traditional rooms give off an air of history that seems to say "I was here long before you, and will remain long after you've gone." And yet, even with this level of sophistication, the rooms are soft and inviting.
OK ... that's all for now. Such a random post. Congrats for making it through!
3/01/2009
22 days...
...until the movers come.
I was just telling Hubs that I am stressing out right now. There are so many things to do, loose ends to tie up, appointments to coordinate, etc. I was really getting overwhelmed. I remember "shooing" my children away this afternoon in order to complete some tasks.
During my nightly ritual of checking email and blogs, I ran across this post by Mckmama, and did a quick priority check. Even though my babies no longer get rocked to sleep, they do ask for my attention in other areas. I pray they will always know that no household chore ever held a higher priority than they simply because I paid attention to their small requests.
Song for a Fifth Child (Ruth Hulburt Hamilton)
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
empty the dust pan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
I was just telling Hubs that I am stressing out right now. There are so many things to do, loose ends to tie up, appointments to coordinate, etc. I was really getting overwhelmed. I remember "shooing" my children away this afternoon in order to complete some tasks.
During my nightly ritual of checking email and blogs, I ran across this post by Mckmama, and did a quick priority check. Even though my babies no longer get rocked to sleep, they do ask for my attention in other areas. I pray they will always know that no household chore ever held a higher priority than they simply because I paid attention to their small requests.
Song for a Fifth Child (Ruth Hulburt Hamilton)
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
empty the dust pan, poison the moth,
hang out the washing and butter the bread,
sew on a button and make up a bed.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh I've grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due
(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).
The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew,
and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo.
But I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?
(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo)
The cleaning and scrubbing will wait til tomorrow,
for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.
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