The Great Outdoors

Today was another great day to just go outside and play so thats what we did. It was so relaxing and fun that almost two hours passed by before I realized it.













I traced myself and Rach with chalk on this huge piece of cardboard. Noah would not lay down to be traced himself. He just wanted to help us color.

Isaac ate and then enjoyed a nice, long nap.

Rach & Noah love to play with these little berries that they pick out of the monkey grass. We discuss how the berries are just for the birds and squirrels to eat, and we can only play with them. Hopefully none ended up in their tummies.

Did Abraham & Sarah have a sad spoon?

It was such a pretty, cool day today that the kids and I played outside for almost an hour after getting home from Bible Study. Rach rode her tricycle in the driveway while Noah pushed his little car around, and they both occasionally stopped to draw with sidewalk chalk. I sat in a chair in the shade watching them while I fed Isaac and started to wonder if the parents in the Bible ever had afternoons like this. I find it interesting that God didn't record for us what our spiritual fathers were like as toddlers or as parents really for that matter. I wondered if Sarah ever sat under a tree and watched Isaac run around throwing leaves at Ishmael. Actually, thats probably a bad example. Or if Leah ever fed Levi while watching Reuben & Simeon run around the well. Things like that had to happen because even the sons of Israel were three at some point. I wondered what those mothers thought about as they watched their children play...if they ever imagined what their sons and daughters would grow to become. I think I'll chat with them about that in Heaven someday.

"the end of an era"

Nate & Hannah leave for Philly a week from tomorrow. To wish them well, a bunch of friends and family got together this past Friday night at Dave's Pizza. It was a surprise party and true to form, the guests of honor were about 30 minutes late. I guess technically they can't be considered "late" since they didn't know that we all were waiting for them. Can you be late to a function if you aren't aware that it is happening? Anyway, it was a good time, and I'm so glad that we did it. Walking back to the car afterwards, the reality of their move hit me for the first time when Rachel said that she was sad b/c Gabe & Abigail were moving away, and I cried.

Wanted: Time to sit

We are in the middle of a crazy busy week and a half. Note to self: Always coordinate schedule with husband. This Wednesday will be the 10th night in a row that we have had some something to do. Aside from the children's birth days, I don't know when I have been more tired. This can not be healthy. It's all been good things, but you know what they say about too much of a good thing. Yep, it's so true.

AU v. Southern Miss

So this was an incredibly fun GameDay! We had a bunch of folks over to the house for the game from our awesome church family. I hope we can have more Philly Game Days this season...it was so much fun! We love y'all!

Freshman Firsts

I came up with this idea for a blog topic as I was feeding Isaac at 315 this morning. Its interesting the thoughts you think in the middle of the night. Anyway, I don't know if its the start of college football or the fact that I've been in touch with a bunch of folks from college via Facebook, but recently I've been reminiscing about my years at Mississippi State and Auburn. Here are some of the things that are forever ingrained in my memory ~
*That first night in the dorm room, realizing that this really is real, that my parents and hometown are 4 hours away, and I'm about to start college.
*That first class, being blown away by the number of people in the classroom and wondering what in the world to do with my syllabus.
*Buying my first text book and thinking that there must be some misprint on the price sticker.
*The first home football game, hearing those LOUD cowbells, seeing that some folks actually dress in their Sunday best and being introduced to the "party cup."
*The first roadtrip with my roommate, thinking how great it is that I can just leave town without asking my parents' permission.
*The first trip to the grocery store, not having a clue how to feed myself.
*The first date, hoping he's not really a psycho and kicking myself for saying yes to basically a complete stranger who just happened to look cute walking to class on the drill field.

Crown...Week One

Jared and I are doing the Crown financial ministries course with a small group from Philly. I'm just about to finish the first week's homework, and I'm already having trouble. Already...in the first week...not good. The part that's giving me issues is defining my life's purpose. Thats a tough one, isn't it? Especially for the first week? Most of the studies that I've been involved with tend to give you at least a week or two to get warmed up before busting you with one of those "WOW" questions. It's kind of sad, but I've never really thought much about my life's purpose. Oh I could give you the broad-brushed, Shorter catechism answer: to glorify God. But as far as what that specifically looks like in the narrow scope of my life, I don't know. Jared (and my parents) can tell you that I tend to not think too far ahead. This tendency causes issues when it comes to my decision-making. Anyway, there must be a lot of folks who struggle with answering this question b/c Crown gives several leading questions to help answer the big picture question of "why are you here?" What matters most to you? What are your passions? Those I can answer easily ~ my children, being a mom. I have had this dream for about a year now of running an orphanage. Jared shares that desire, but how would we even get started down that path and when could we feasibly do something like that? Oh well, maybe I'm just dreaming or maybe we could find some direction through this Crown study. We'll see....