Friday, February 26, 2010

Spring is coming


The sun is bright and warm today, allowing for the windows to be open. Oh, how I love the warm, fresh air as it floods this home. Our ears are filled with the sweet song of a Lark, all reminding me that Spring is only weeks away. How can Spring only be a couple of weeks away? Snow will be gracing our world in the coming days and that news is causing us to stop and enjoy today just a little bit more... to smell the fresh air, to enjoy the puddles, to sit on the steps and just talk for a minute and to stop and listen to our friend's song for just a little longer.

The heavens declare the glory of God...
Psalm 19:1

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Cleaning My Sink


I stumbled upon this the other day and just had to try it. To clean your sink, all you need to do is pour some salt on it and then use half a lemon to scrub. I tried it for fun, but was surprised at how well it did... and oh, how I loved the smell.


Monday, February 22, 2010

Our Weekend Wanderings

The last several days found us enjoying the beauty of the mountains with some friends from Church. We relaxed, went sledding, played games, enjoyed good conversation and the boys were able to go swimming in the snow at the local hot springs. Fun, sweet memories...

There were 16 kiddos there, all nine and under, from four different families. :)
Our kiddos had so much fun being with their friends.
:::





sledding...sledding...sledding...
:::





this little girl was not able to go sledding but she was able to enjoy some fun walks with Daddy
:::



the beauty of snow falling... it is just so absolutely peaceful...
:::





Tuesday, February 16, 2010

It's a beautiful day and the kids are out in the backyard... it's brisk but the sun is bright and warm. These days seem to beckon us outside, especially when we know that snow is coming. It seems there is a long list of things to be done inside, yet I long to join my kiddos outside today. To enter their world, to see their creations, to walk and to pray.



The boys are in the midst of "building" a town and right now they are working on the power lines. I love seeing their creativity and their imagination fly... Oh, Lord let it never stop.



The girls swing and squeal in delight. They play house. They walk with Mommy. And, how my heart cries out in prayer.

Here I am walking, my heart wanting to explode with prayers... prayers for those I love. Lord, show me how to pray. The only thing that seems to be able to escape my lips is a prayer for more of Him in our lives... Yes, Lord just more of You. That's all we want. That's all we need. So, I just cry out for more of Him.


As the pastor's wife, I have often told youngsters a story of the boy who stood on the shore and waved to a ship at sea. A man beside him said, 'Don't be silly. The steamer will not change its course because you wave.' But the ship turned, came to shore and picked up the boy. From the bridge he shouted, 'Sir, I'm not a fool. The captain is my father!'

We also know that he who steers the universe on its course is our Father and that he hears our prayers.



It's time to wander back inside... quiet time has snuck up on us, a baby needs fed, emails and phone calls need to be made and chores need finished... and as I climb the steps, my heart cries, Lord, teach me to pray... teach me to pray without ceasing... teach me to fall down.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Thinking back

This was originally posted in August of 2008 and we have since added a new little one into our family so I thought I'd add to this...
.....................................................................................................

When we were expecting our first born we found ourselves eagerly anticipating the day we would hopefully find out if a little boy or a little girl was entering our new family. We would spend hours at night pouring over our baby name book, talking about and playing with different names we liked. The day finally arrived and as I was on the bed with the warm jelly on my stomach the ultrasound tech asked if we wanted to know what we were having. Yes was our eager reply and she quickly replied Its a boy. That night as we lay in bed, we knew his little name. A name that was very special to us. A name that would carry much and would bless. We kept his name a secret until he was born, until he was first introduced to the man that he was named after. Not only was he being named after someone whom we loved, we loved the meaning of his name.

John Alvin
gift of God ... friend of all
***


Our second child was on their way and this time it was a surprise. We poured over boy and girl names. Praying... desiring to speak life into this little one. We were so excited to be welcoming another little one into our family and loved the anticipation of a surprise... it was better then Christmas morning yet somehow, we knew what the name would be if this was to be a little boy and found ourselves perplexed on a little girls name. Even as we drove to the hospital that early morning we had our list of girl names and our one boy name. And then our second son was born...

Benjamin Aubrey
strong, mighty in spirit ... noble
***

Another precious child was joining our lives, our family. We were so excited and decided to keep this little one a surprise as well. For some reason, during this pregnancy person after person kept informing us that we would statistically have another little boy. We would love to have another little boy but a girl... a little girl... As hard as it was for us to find a little girls name when we were pregnant with Benjamin, we gravitated towards little girls names this time. Brent was the one who brought up the idea of this name if it was to be a girl - not only would we be speaking life to her, she would be reminding us, pricking our heart every time her name was uttered.

Faith Elizabeth
firm believer... oath of God
***

We knew that we were going to have another little one but we were still caught by surprise with this new little one growing inside. We were excited and loved that someone new was joining our growing family but we were busy and life was changing quickly. We found ourselves moving before she was born and somehow it just seemed easier to find out what we were having. Do we need to save the baby boy clothes or the baby girl clothes? The ultrasound technician was quite confident in his skills and quickly showed us that a little girl would be joining us. We had many girl names that we loved yet we kept being pulled back to this name. The meaning... how could we step away from this one? The other names just seemed... they just seemed to lack depth when we compared it to this one. This is the name, this has to be her name.

Olivia Grace
peace, she walks with God ... patient, full of grace
***



A new little girl was to be joining our family... another precious girl... how good God was to bless us with this. Each little person in our family was thrilled that another little one would be joining our family. In fact, they would often ask if we could have 12 kids altogether. We loved seeing the joy that they were experiencing as we were getting ready to have another little girl join us... these were such sweet days. We have always been a little slow in making that final decision on names and this time was no different. Names that we had pondered in the past came up, new names that we found were put onto the list, all names though were talked about and prayed about. what name would be perfect for this new one growing within? And then we found it... a name not even on the list, coupled with a name we had loved since the beginning of this journey. Yes, yes, that is to be her name.

Alaina Brooke
cheerful, effective witness ... peaceful
***


The names of our children. As I pray over these precious children, I often pray the meaning of their names over them. May they not only be found as a gift, mighty in spirit, a firm believer, walking with God, an effective wittness but may they stir up these gifts in each other.

Friday, February 12, 2010

...My little girl in her pink cast...
Faith got her cast put on this past Monday and we go back next week to have another set of x-rays done. We are praying that it is healing as it should so that we are able to avoid the need for pins.



...the boys with their bow and arrows...



...this little man loves his sister an awful lot...



...Nana and John-John playing Tic Tac Toe at our Valentine's Day Party...

Monday, February 8, 2010

My Day...

I don't do this very often but always love reading when my Mom or friends share their day and thought I'd join in today.




FOR TODAY... February 8th

Outside my window... clouds fill the sky and there is fresh snow on the ground... the earth is quiet and still.

I am thinking... it's a new day and a new week... Oh Father, fill us with Your wisdom.

I am thankful for... a wonderful husband and the love he pours out on us, the laughter from little one's playing, the joy of learning together, the taste of fresh bread, the smell of freshly fallen snow...

From the learning room... today will be a quiet day full of reading... we'll also bring school upstairs while helping to make sure our little girl is comfortable.

From the kitchen... I'd like to try to make yogurt later this week.

I am hoping... and praying (!!!) that we have a home of peace and joy.

I am hearing... it is q
uiet here... children are still sleeping...

Around the house... today we focus on laundry... it's always amazing how much laundry is created in this home.

One of my favorite things... the strength of a husband. :)

A few plans for the rest of the week: a doctor appointment for my little girl... school and chores... a valentine's day party with my sister and her girls... church...

Here is picture thought I am sharing..
.

one of Alaina's favorite places to be...


Go here to see other Daybooks

Sunday, February 7, 2010

The difference of a minute

We were having a fun afternoon and the kiddos were playing a little horse with Daddy. One minute they were having fun and laughter was filling the air... the next minute a little girl was crying and a trip to the Urgent Care was being made.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Little funnies from our home....

Benjamin began talking to his Daddy about wanting a black horse and Daddy let him know that black horses are very expensive.

...Later that day...
Benjamin finds Daddy. "It's okay Dad. I don't need a black horse. We can just get a brown horse."

:::

"I love being four. It's really fun!"
From our sweet Faith

:::
((Recording these so we don't soon forget))

:::

Our days have found us enjoying a nice little rhythm. I treasure these days. They are simple yet full. School and chores. Training and encouraging. Relying on His wisdom, His grace, each and every minute. Life. Our beautiful, sweet life.