Cousinland.

I think my boys are in cousin heaven. Better than Candyland! They even got to skype the rest pf their cousins in OH...all 5 of them (and #6 or #12 if you count the total, not just ones in OH) is working on making his grand appearance. 6 kids and Andrew gone and big trips to be prepped and packed for has finally caught up with me. I am homesick for Andrew. Please pray for our continued health. If no one gets sick this will be our first deployment/major separation that we have not dealt with major illnesses. We are so thankful that we have been spared so far. Thank you for praying for us.

Please pray for my in-laws. Paul, Missy and Sreve have Pneumonia, Sandi has a bronchial infection, and Isai is stuck out of country because the government has lost his paperwork and he is worried sick about Missy and the baby and not being able to take care of them. And I am about to dump my kids on them for a week+.

A little distracted..

Last night I made a run to the store. I had a lot on my mind, but I was proud of myself for remembering I wanted to pick up a pair of plaid shorts. They had some on sale, and I tried them on to see what size fit. There was one pair left in the color and size I needed, and while I had a fleeting thought that they weren't my Favorite, they would suit my needs. This morning after biking I was getting ready to go with Abby to the VBS finale. I put on my new shorts and looked in the mirror only to discover that one leg was significantly longer than the other. One and one half inches. I joked with Abby that she did something to them (you can ask her why), and was seriously amazed that I had managed to overlook that detail. I decided to put in new hems that matched, and they aren't too bad for a cheap pair of shorts. I need more sleep. Good night!

My boys.

Guess what we ate for dinner?

Purple Day at VBS

Seth starts by giving the camera his death stare.








I finally make him laugh, but miss the shot.


Gavin has lost interest in cooperating with the camera.





The death stare is back, Gavin...quit picking your nose.


Seth goes for a new funny face.


Ok, stick out your tongues.


Crazy cousins.

Overwhelmed

This year I set big goals for myself. Important necessary things. Taking care of my home and family better. Redeveloping my spiritual discipline. Taking charge of my physical health and building strength and reserves so I don't spend another year sick. Learning to homeschool.

Slowly and surely I am building strength, building reserves, learning, growing, being humiliated and humbled...

I expect too much and overestimate what I can accomplish and am hard on myself when I don't meet my own expectations.

Surrender. Letting God have his way in my life. Getting a phone call of encouragement at the point of breakdown (thank you, friends, who have held me up, encouraged and supported me...you are my Ebeneezers-stones of help that God is using to build a new foundation in my life), prayers, unusual wake up calls to bike or spend some quiet time with Jesus. This journey is overwhelming me... And yet, I am not overwhelmed. Despite my best efforts to sabotage my own life I am being sustained and moving towards the goals He has for me.

It is a joy to learn to delight myself in the Lord all over again. To learn to be interdependent with His people again. To discover that God is making something beautiful out of the shards of my life.

Girls.

Maggie with her new pacifier.


Hannah.





Audrey.