Movin' Movin' Movin'

Just one week after rolling out of Iowa, I have to say I'm both satisfied with being able to unpack most of our boxes and also frustrated by the visual chaos of stuff everywhere.  I was thinking tonight that the whole house looks like a bomb went off and an explosion of stuff fell over every square inch of our home.  Of course, I am so thankful for all that we have, but organizing and putting away everything can take so much time and energy.  So, I've been reminding myself that big tasks (like relocating your whole family and home) take time, need time.  I was reminded of something I wanted to make (someday) and hang in the kitchen...

Dirty Dishes
Thank heaven for dirty dishes.
They have a tale to tell,
While other folks go hungry,
We're eating very well.
With home and health and happiness,
We shouldn't want to fuss,
By this stack of evidence,
God is very good to us.

Balance.  Perspective...  I've been trying to have the right perspective and to balance what I think "needs to be done" around the house with what my family really needs.  Yes, chaos in our environment and schedule can take its toll on everyone in the family.  See, we are starting to settle in and are really liking Wisconsin, but have yet to establish any kind of routine.  While that can be different, and frustrating, it's also good sometimes to have to prioritize and then just roll with it.

Enjoy the little things in life...
for one day you'll look back
and realize they were the big things.

That's another "gem" I've saved on my Pinterest board of quotes ;) I've realized though that sometimes you need a little chaos to shake up your ideas for the big picture and help you to focus more clearly on the little things.

So, we laugh at the fact that our 26 foot "semi" couldn't fit everything, and we needed another trailer for the garage stuff.  So, we acknowledge the help we needed, and we are thankful for all the help our family and friends so lovingly provided.  So, I throw up my hands and say I did what I could for today when after hours of organizing the office the magnetic board of supplies falls off the wall spilling everything all over the floor again.  So, we remember to keep it all in perspective and keep a sense of humor.  So, I remember with a smile that "mommy come play with me" and memories of Superheros and Transformers are more important than trying to be Supermom.

So, I say thank you God for love, a sense of humor, rest, family, and peace in my heart.

Season of Change

We loved that blue house.  Asher doesn’t remember the bungalow in Newton, Iowa.  The blue house is where he had his first birthday.  It’s where we celebrated.  It’s the only home Ezra ever knew.  It’s where I raised my babies, and where we made memories.  The blue house was our family’s home, and it was home to my daycare.  We were happy that God brought us back to our childhood home of Waverly, Iowa, to raise our own children…  But a seed was planted, and the winds of change started blowing last Fall. 

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot… (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2) 

This Winter we leaned into God.  At first, the change was slow…  I wanted to have more time and energy for my guys.  I needed to take better care of myself.  For a variety of reasons, it was time to let go of the blue house.  We started looking at opportunities for work and options for housing.  God kept working in our hearts and working out the details of everyday life.  As the song “Always” says:

Oh, my God, He will not delay. 

My refuge and strength always. 

I will not fear, His promise is true.

My God will come through always, always.

He didn’t delay.  He showed up daily… The day after we received an offer to buy the blue house, we heard of a short-term rental.  We made plans to transition to our “in-between” house.  At the yellow house, our car was crushed by a tree one windy night.  Within a week, we had found another car.  When I had worries, when some of “life’s little details” where not so little, I remembered:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)           

Then some things were moving quickly and others seemed to move too slowly.  When our rental was sold four weeks after we moved in, we weren’t sure where we would go in the Spring.  We knew two paths lay before us, but it wasn’t clear yet which direction we would take.  So, we explored both options until it was clear.  It was hard not knowing where, when, how.  Yet another reminder of the ongoing lesson I’m learning about the desire to maintain control myself.  I’ve heard it said that “Change is inevitable.  Growth is optional.”  God kept working in our hearts and working out the long-term details.  I remembered a favorite song by Maire Brennan about how God will work things out in His perfect time:

Believe me
I'm not afraid
Teach me
To learn your ways
Carry me
Under your wings
In your perfect time

Now things are moving quickly.  We found a house.  Any problems that came up have been worked out.  Our family has been so wonderfully supportive.  Asher will not finish out school here, but he will have April and May to meet friends at his new school.  He will be there just in time to start soccer and join some fun Scouts activities.  Both the boys are excited about our new adventure.  I have to admit I had some worries about how they would react to the news of a move away from family, but I was happily surprised by their enthusiasm and inspired by some of their perspectives.  Of course, once past the chaos and uncertainly, looking in hind-sight after decisions are clear and final, it seems obvious now how everything was falling into place.  I lean on God’s promises:

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I’m going to miss that blue house and our beautiful garden… but a house is just a house.  We are on the cusp of Spring, and we will dig in the Wisconsin dirt and plant a new garden there.  I’m going to miss family stopping by, calling to say “come on over,” or embracing us on Sunday mornings… but we are rooted in God and our family.  Family is a part of who you are, and family is always in your heart.  The road is not long, and we will cross the invisible line that divides states often. 

Our adventure may be taking us farther down the road a bit… but, while our address has changed, our home and our family remains the same.

Having someplace to go is home.  Having someone to love is family.  Having both is a blessing.

Faithful Promises

fam·i·ly  noun /ˈfam(ə)lē/

1  : a group of individuals living under one roof and usually under one head (household)

2  a : a group of persons of common ancestry (clan)

    b : a people or group of peoples regarded as deriving from a common stock (race)

3  a : a group of people united by certain convictions or a common affiliation (fellowship)

In our life, family looks like so many things: our marriage and children, my parents, our siblings and their families (nieces and nephews and in-laws’ families), aunts and uncles, cousins and their families, my grandmother, best friends and their families that have adopted us as their own, old family friends, church families, neighbors, coworkers, friends that we see often, friends we wish we had more time to see, friends who you call after months and feel like you spoke just yesterday…

When we started our life as man and wife, we had a marriage mission statement to love our family.  We promised to put God first, to be true to each other, to love and cherish our children, and to focus on our extended family.  It’s all important, but it was the order that was paramount.  Prioritizing when you are in the midst of living life can be a challenge… but, if you are proactive by making God paramount, if He is superior, then His promises are all you really need.

We are on an adventure and, sometimes in the midst of life’s chaos, I need a reminder that there is more… Eternal perspective. 

Often, the Spirit moves me through songs.  I’ve had a lot to think about today:

Troubles surround me, chaos abounding
My soul will rest in You
I will not fear the war, I will not fear the storm
My help is on the way, my help is on the way
Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord

“Always” by Kristian Stanfill

I will keep my eyes fixed on His perspective.  Peace comes in resting in His promises. 

I won’t keep searching for answers

That aren’t here to find

All I know is I’m not home yet

This is not where I belong

Take this world and give me Jesus

“Where I Belong” by Building 429

At the cross You beckon me
You draw me gently to my knees, and I am
Lost for words, so lost in love,
I’m sweetly broken, wholly surrendered
What a priceless gift, undeserved life
Have I been given
Through Christ crucified
You’ve called me out of death
You’ve called me into life
And I was under Your wrath
Now through the cross I’m reconciled
In awe of the cross I must confess
How wondrous Your redeeming love and
How great is Your faithfulness
“Sweetly Broken” by Jeremy Riddle

I will remember God’s love.  He gave us Jesus.  He had and has a plan.  I will rest in Him.

Today we said farewell, for now, to our church family.  I’m still processing the message, thinking of where I put my focus and how I walk in faith.  I will continue to cherish the hugs and fellowship.  It made my heart happy to see my husband so caught up in worship, playing his guitar and using his gifts.  And I smiled hearing my two boys singing their favorite song along with our church body…

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The song, “10,000 Reasons,” by Matt Redmond continues:

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

As Easter approaches, I will continue to sing “Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name. Lord, I'll worship Your holy name.”  As we drive to a new state and transition to a new house, I will walk in faith knowing that I will continue to be transformed.  I will fellowship with new friends and hold all my family close in my heart.  I will try to keep an eternal perspective.  I will celebrate Easter remembering God’s definition of family…

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:5-6)

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. (Romans 8:16)

I will cherish that promise!

Spring 2011

Time to start updating the BLOG again... It's been too long and there's too much to share!

We've been blessed with some weekend mini-vacations. In April we visited Dodge Nature Center, MOA rides, and St. Paul sites...








Of course, Ezra turned 2 years old!




Family time and traditions at Easter...






Visits this Spring from family. Teresa's kids are growing fast...




And Julie was in town (up from Down South) so grandma got to see all her kids together..


Then off to DesMoines in May. The kids were excited about treats and police on horseback at the Farmer's Market and to go inside the Iowa capitol building...



But most excited to go to the water park and pizza place with games (spending time with old friends)...






May also brought nice weather and outside fun...



And, of course, Asher's last day of PreK...

Now he's off to Kindergarten this fall (and very excited!).

In June we switched to summer schedules at the daycare. So we have all our "regulars" on Wednesdays and some special friends coming other days. Asher is excited to have his best buddy in town every couple weeks and Ezra has a friend that just started coming every couple weeks too. We also enjoyed seeing Katelyn's dance performance, both cousins play T-ball, the 1st parade of the summer, and time out on the boat...







Another first was camping with our friends...





Our next weekend trip will be to St. Louis, so more pics to come!

4 years old!

Asher turned 4 years old! Our birthday morning tradition is presents and a special muffin for breakfast. This year Asher decided instead of just 1 candle, he should have four. We had a great morning.





Over lunch, Asher was thrilled with the surprise of grandpa stopping over. He took grandpa up to his room right away to see his new "big and wood castle" and the people who live in it because brother got him "a princess with a crown and flowers and a prince with a hat with a feather in it who ride in a carriage!" Grandma called in the morning to tell Asher "Happy Birthday" and she came over her lunch to read him a story and tuck Asher in for nap time. He had a great day!