Blessings abound

Here are some of the many blessings I have made note of in my gratitude journal lately. A gratitude journal is something that I had heard of for years and years, but finally started doing after reading Ann Voskamp's powerful, amazing book One Thousand Gifts. If you haven't read it, you should! And also, she has a new book out called The Broken Way. I have a copy of it on my nightstand, but life has been crazy and I haven't had a chance to read it yet. I am looking forward to it though, and know it will be wonderful. So, here go a few of my recent blessings (complete with photographic evidence of some of them). Enjoy!

5912. baby snuggles with Clay
5915. our pediatrician -- I love her!
5918. family trip to the apple orchard
5920. a complete God thing. an answer to a prayer we hadn't even thought to pray :: a tutor for one of our kids who is struggling in school
5922. glorious weather
5925. clothes on the line
5933. volunteering at school
5937. bonfire and dessert with friends
5944. friends who are like family
5950. a supportive, encouraging husband
5951. a girls weekend
5955. sunrise over the lake
5956. loon calls on the lake in the morning
5959. singing words of truth ::

Your love never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on me.
On and on and on and on it goes
It overwhelms and satisfies my soul
I never ever have to be afraid
This one thing remains!

5960. deep, hard laughter with friends (I nearly needed my inhaler!)
5961. yard work done and ready for winter
5963. knowing friends are praying for me
5964. a bright moon in a dark sky
5965. family walk to the park in the dark -- looking at the moon and the stars and swinging and playing catch and climbing and enjoying time together
5972. walking the kids to school each morning
5975. an eagle overhead -- the majesty!

amazing for a November in MN

walking to school with these 3 is my favorite

sunrises are my favorite

amazing friends on an amazing fall day

Multitude Monday, a day late

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post which is part of a series started years ago on Ann's wonderful, amazing blog that is a favorite of mine. If you've never checked it out, do yourself a favor and click on over. She's an amazing, gifted writer and an inspiration (not to mention a mother of 6)!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2883. Lydia's smile
2884. reflecting on another year and all that it held :: ALL IS GRACE!
2885. New Year's with the Newman family
2886. friends who listen to your whining and complaining and still love you
2887. 24 hours shared with dear, dear friends
2888. double stuf oreos with peanut butter :: my favorite!
2889. Buffalo with my mom and Sara
2890. a few new orders
2891. fun surprise blessing in the mail :: letter stating that a nearly $1000 repair that we did to our van in 2011 (not covered under warranty) will be reimbursed by Chevy due to some manufacturing defect that they've discovered. Praise God! (now to find that receipt from the service!)
2892.  provision right when you need it
2893. mom's oncology appointment scheduled :: finally the results we've been waiting for and a plan from here on out
2894. excitement of this week for our church
2895. a great swim meet for the kids
2896. the look on Joe's face when he saw his 4 BLUE ribbons!
2897. a special "cast bag" on loan from a friend so that Rebekah can shower without help (well, except for getting said cast bag on and off -- she needs help for that)
2898. more crafting
2899. getting back into the swing of running
2900. another beautiful morning sky
2901. 5 years of Elijah. Praise God. I remember that day so well.
2902. Sara's dancing
2903. looking through all the pictures we took over Christmas

this one is SPOT ON in capturing their personalities

Anna's new shorter (and straighter) hair

4 generations of girls

Happy January! May you realize all the blessings the Lord brings your way in 2013 and take the time to make note of them.

multitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post which is part of a series started years ago on Ann's wonderful, amazing blog that is a favorite of mine. If you've never checked it out, do yourself a favor and click on over. She's an amazing, gifted writer and an inspiration (not to mention a mother of 6)!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2778. hope
2779. wrinkly baby foreheads peeking over shoulders :: I can hardly stand it!
2780. how the grain of wood looks after soaking up a bit of stain :: so beautiful
2781. the great energy in church on Sunday
2782. answered prayer
2783. Evelyn home again, after spending the week in the hospital
2784. seeing Clarence back at church on Sunday
2785. tear-inducing laughter with friends
2786. determination and dedication
2787. light at the end of the tunnel
2788. my hard-working, dedicated husband and his amazing {God-given} leadership skills
2789. encouragement and affirmation from others
2790. game night with girlfriends. Boxers or Briefs :: such and fun and funny game!
2791. a great 6.23K with Kirb and the 3 big kids. great way to start off a Saturday. {Jacob finished WAY quicker than I expected him to and Kirb -- who doesn't run and hasn't been training  and running for a year and was wearing JEANS for crying out loud! -- was ahead of me nearly the whole race, although I beat him in the end. My bitterness and jealousy get a bit of a break due to the fact that he is still ache-y 2 days later, whereas I feel just fine, and have since I stepped out of the shower. So extra proud of my boys! The girls had a great time too, and Lydia has declared her desire to run lots more 5Ks with me.}

2792. new, updated pictures of Melvin in the mailbox
2793. Sara Groves. Live!
2794. waking up to our first dusting of snow

Alrighty, that's it's for this week. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

mutltitude monday

Here's my continuing Multitude Monday post, which all started a while back, right here on Ann's wonderful, amazing blog that is a favorite of mine. If you've never checked it out, do yourself a favor and click on over. She's an amazing, gifted writer and an inspiration!

"One Thousand Gifts"::

2580. fresh sheets dried on the line
2581. a glorious late-summer day
2582. running with Joe
2583. safety when I got rear-ended {I was pretty shaken up, but neither me nor the vehicle were injured -- although I can't say as much for the car the guy who hit me was driving}
2584. the Sunday morning bird choir
2585. now these 3 remain :: faith, hope and love. but the greatest of these is love.
2586. hope!
2587. prayer
2588. climbing into bed at the end of the day
2589. shared tears
2590. successful transition to a big girl bed for Sara :: I'm AMAZED at how smoothly it went!
2591. re-arranging, cleaning and de-cluttering the girls' room
2592. a good sale on toilet paper right when I needed it!
2593. finished projects :: after months and months of having an idea in your head, it's nice to see it come to fruition
2594. my really, really, really hard-working husband
2595. perfect weather
2596. friends
2597. the fact that my husband loves me -- a fact I am especially thankful for during the times when I'm not very loveable {which, believe it or not, is quite often!}
2598. old pictures

Alrighty, that's it's for now. Tune in next Monday for the next installment.

I ran away

For weary mothers outnumbered by children.

To be played by squeaky, nails-on-the-chalkboard beginning violinists

A Lament

A Psalm of Shana

I could not take it one more second.

Will they never get to sleep?

With no shoes and no bra – in my jammies – I left

Straight out the door, without thought.

Walked down the road in the dark;

In the dark of night.

I cried out to the Lord, “I don’t even know what to say.

I can’t do it anymore. They are making me crazy.

I am quite possibly already crazy!”

I returned home and sat in a lawn chair

It was dark.

It was quiet and still.

I was cold.

Not ready, yet, to go back in,

I got in the van, reclined the seat and covered up with a size 6/7 raincoat I found strewn on the van floor.

It was surprisingly warm and comforting.

Finally someone came looking for me.

It was late.

I went inside, brushed my teeth and headed for bed.

The baby cried.

I ignored her.

I want to sleep.

When I lay down in my bed, one is there.

When I try the couch, one is there.

Oh when will they stay in their own beds?

How long, oh Lord, until they sleep through the night?

Sleep finally comes.

I wake and see an adorable, dirty, peaceful, sleeping face ringed with curls and remember the depth of my love.

Thankful that Your faithfulness is new with each morning.

Today is full to bursting. So much to juggle!
Lord, have mercy!
But then, really! harmonicas at 6:38?
Do they not understand some are still asleep and need to stay that way?

Let me remember the Mother's Day of just days ago,
Full of love and (relative) peace and blessings.
Return to me those children, oh Lord.
Return to me those children.

answered prayer!

My brother, Luke, and his wife, Jenn, are expecting their 2nd little kiddo in August {very close to Haddon's 2nd birthday . . . I'm wondering if history will repeat itself and their 2 oldest might share the same birthday like ours do. Only time will tell!}. We found out the good news at Christmas and have been thrilled and excited ever since. A couple weeks ago Jenn had an ultrasound with some vague, slightly abnormal {and thus, worrisome} findings. First of all, they found out that they are having another boy, but that quickly became not the main focus of the ultrasound. It seems the little guy had more room than would seem normal inside his skull and they wanted her to have a level 2 ultrasound at the hospital to get a better view and find out what was going on. Needless to say, the wait time in between ultrasounds was an anxious time, filled with lots of prayer, some worry and tears and eventually peace. We prayed often for peace and calm for them during the waiting and also for normal results for the little man at the next ultrasound. Well, their 2nd ultrasound was yesterday and it looks like he is a healthy, normal {if that's possible considering the genetics he comes from!} little man! Praise God!

Here's a picture of the handsome fella::

If you want to see another handful of ultrasound pictures, or read more of the story, you can visit their blog here. We are praising God that the anxiousness and lack of answers of the last couple weeks is at an end and that little man Carlson II is doing well and developing on track. I just wanted to share our joy with you guys too. We can't wait to meet this little guy this summer {and his slightly younger cousin a couple months later!!}. I can hardly wait. Babies . . . oh how I love 'em!

Lunch time prayer

Joe prays the best prayers, so I thought I'd try to capture one on video today at lunch . . . pretty great stuff from a kid who is still wearing his pj's in the middle of the day! You'll be happy to know that shortly after lunch he changed out of his pj's and in to swim trunks {it's in the teens and there's lots of snow here!}. Silly boy!

You can hear {and see -- it's entertaining how he plays with a car the whole time. Eyes wide open and hands not the least bit folded} his prayer here :: enjoy {and maybe have a few kleenex handy just in case!}

Lessons from the Labyrinth

I was SO blessed by the retreat that I attended this weekend. It was completely wonderful and just what I needed (except it ended about 3 weeks too soon . . . what's with the "weekend retreat" anyway? I want, like, a whole month!!)

Great women, wonderful teaching, some down time, wonderful friends {one of whom was even willing to share her Dr. Pepper}, a beautiful setting, meaningful small group time, a craft project, new friends, rooming with my momma . . . the list goes on. Every single aspect of the weekend was great! We did a retreat-series by Beth Moore entitled Loving Well, which was wonderful and gave insight into how best to love the many different people that are a part of our lives with a focus on how to love those that are difficult to love. It was wonderful!

I read a book, probably last summer, that sparked my curiousity about labyrinths. Kristen Heitzmann is an author that I really enjoy, so when I saw that my library had a new book of hers, I checked it out. The main character in the book is a landscape architect who specializes in designing labyrinths. I had heard the word labyrinth before and had a very vague idea of what a labyrinth was, {but, as it turns out, I had it kind of wrong} but after reading this book I was very intrigued by them. Well, wouldn't you know it . . . the retreat center we were at has a labyrinth! I was so excited!

Here is a picture (from the retreat center's website) of the labyrinth.
Although I brought my camera along on the retreat and carried it in my pocket nearly the whole weekend, I was having such a great time that I forgot to take pictures . . . I didn't even take 1! {I'm a little mad at myself for that . . . so I guess there was one less-than-perfect part to the weekend. No pictures to help me remember}.

The labyrinth didn't look this great over the weekend, since stuff is still kinda dead-ish. It was more brown than green, but I would love to spend a little time in it when it looks like this . . . I had such a wonderful experience with the labyrinth when it wasn't quite so pretty, I can only imagine how much better it would be if it was this beautiful! So, what is a labyrinth exactly?, you might wonder. Here is a really short, basic description for ya that specifically describes the labyrinth at the retreat center:

Based on the tiled floor of the Chartres Cathedral in France just south of Paris, the Koinonia Labyrinth is a tool for meditation, prayer, and spiritual awareness that has become highly favored by persons wishing to transcend the distractions of their lives…seekers of awareness, wisdom, forgiveness, peace, and grace.

It is not a maze with dead-ends and false trails, but is a single path to, and then from, a center. At the center is a bench for resting before walking out of the Labyrinth to resume whatever it was you were doing or thinking before you began your meditation walk.

That particular description sounds a little weird and new-agey to me, but so be it. If you want a more detailed description with lots of pictures and tons to read, check out labyrinth on Wikipedia here. The main point being that it's not a maze or a puzzle. There are no dead ends and you can't do it wrong. It's just a winding path that leads you to the center and then back out again.

While walking the labyrinth I felt like a I really learned a lot. As soon as I was done, I found a pen and some paper and tried to capture all that I had learned about life by walking through the labyrinth. So, without further ado, here are my "Lessons from the Labyrinth":

Lesson #1: This is it? . . . Yup, this is it!: Upon first approaching the labyrinth I was really pretty disappointed to be honest. It was mostly brown and pretty much dead; it was not as big as I expected (I had heard it was the largest labyrinth in the state) and really wasn't much to look at. Could I really spend 45 mintues walking around on this relatively small piece of earth? (the caretaker had told of that a reflective, prayerful walk of the entire labyrinth took about 45 minutes). Turns out this was it and it was what it was! It was my job to make the most out of it . . . as is often the case with life

Lesson #2: Keep going, you'll get there: I kept thinking that I was just about to the center of the labyrinth, but then the path would curve around again and I would be heading away from what I thought my destination was . . . I was convinced, on more than one occassion, that I must have taken a wrong turn somehow and was going to find myself exiting the labyrinth having never made it to the middle. But I kept going and, sure enough, I made it to the middle.

Lesson #3: Sometimes there are lots and lots and lots of turns . . . one right after another: If you look at the picture of the labyrinth you can kind of imagine how it goes: you walk along the path, not quite in circles {although the basic shape of the labyrinth is a circle}, but taking turns and curves to arrive at the middle before following the same path in reverse to make your way out again. Just like in life, the labyrinth often took a turn when you least expected one . . . or right after you'd just finished taking a 180 degree turn moments before . . . it felt like you were covering the same ground over and over. The interesting thing, though, was that you weren't. No matter how repetitive it seemed, you were always on a new part of the path . . . even when it seemed like you had returned to a place where you had just been. Anyone else who can relate to that in their life?

Lesson #4: You think you're almost there, but then you're not: Like I said in #2, you often think you have "arrived" only to realize just a little farther down the path that you have not. In fact, you are heading, again, away from your intended destination.

Lesson #5: It takes longer than you expect: Isn't that just the way? You think to yourself, "this shouldn't take too long" or "this shouldn't be too hard" only to find that it does . . . and it is! Such was the case with the labyrinth too!

Lesson #6: A winding path mowed into the grass can make you cry: Ok, I know many of you won't be surprised by my saying this . . . I mean really, we're talking about me here. I cry at everything! But I was amazed by how emotional it was, just walking through this winding path mowed into a field. What's the big deal about that? I'm not sure what it was exactly, but man was it an emotional experience. It really moved me and got to me deep inside! I wasn't even crying about situations in my life or in the life of others (although it was a very prayerful walk and I was thinking about lots of things that could easily make me cry). I don't have any words to adequately explain it, but I wasn't crying about any particular situations or struggles or people or hurts . . . simply being in the labyrinth and walking its path brought me to tears!

Lesson #7: You will get there: Sometimes you feel like giving up. You think you've taken too many wrong turns (or even just one!) and you'll never make it. It just doesn't seem to be coming together the way you imagined it would. Stick with it. You will get there!

Lesson #8: It's worth it!: When you reach the middle you are thrilled . . . you made it . . . you did it . . . you can rest and reflect now. How great is that?

Lesson #9: Keep your eyes on what is right in front of you, put one foot in front of the other and for Pete's sake just stay on the path: Yup, you can do it! It is worth it! It's not a trick! Trust the path and you'll make it . . . trust the designer of the labyrinth; He knows what He's doing. You won't be let down.

"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3.13-14)
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your path." (Proverbs 3.5-6)
"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand." (Psalm 16.11)
"And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him . . . to shine on those living in darkness . . . to guide our feet into the path of peace." (Luke 1.76 and following)

Lesson #10: Beware of dry hay: Because I really felt like having a #10 would round out the list nicely and because the stalk of dry grass or hay of some sort that I picked along the way gave me a nasty sliver that still hurts and has not completely worked itself out of my thumb, I thought I would include this life lesson as well: beware of innocent-seeming stuff.

I hope you have gained a little insight of your own from my time in the labyrinth. I have decided that I want one in my backyard! How great would that be? A great place to unwind, clear my mind, pray . . . maybe someday! For now maybe I'll just need to find myself in South Haven, MN every once in a while and see if I can pop in for a little time in the labyrinth.

P.S. In case you are curious, Kirb and the kiddos did just fine without me. Since Kirb is really the better parent in this family, that shouldn't be too surprising. I was thrilled to get home and see my family on Sunday afternoon. They are wonderful!!

What's that all about?

I was talking with a couple of my girls the other day {"Hi friends!"} and we were discussing something that I just can't get out of my mind. Ever since then it has been bugging me . . . which I guess is good because then I am more aware of it and can be more focused and intentional about doing something to change it.

So, we were talking about our kids and parenting and how tough it is. I said that if anyone else treated my kids the way I sometimes do I would be mortified. And I would never dream of treating anyone elses kids the way I sometimes treat my own. Now, I completely love and adore my children, so what in the world is that all about?

It would seem, though, that to a certain extent it is a timeless and universal problem. Even Paul had similar struggles:

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do -- this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Romans 7.14-20, emphasis mine!)

I find it a little funny how Paul worded this. All those "to do I do not do" . . . sounds almost silly when you read it, but I think most of us are thankful that he put words to his struggles {with some help from the Lord!} so that we can be encouraged by them. I know I am! Also, it popped into my head that that's a whole lot of "I do's" for a man who never got married!! :)

Thankfully that same guy also was able to say:

I can do everything through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4.13)

What an encouragement that is . . . those words were written by the same guy. He struggled, but yet he knew that with the Lord he could do everything! Lord, I need some of that strength; thanks so much for your willingness and ability to give it!

I'm so thankful that I have the Lord to help me through this, but it's still SUPER hard and most days I mess it up. Arrrggghhh! Anybody know where I coming from on this one? It is so good to have people who you can struggles though things with. True friends who will listen and not judge, but at the same time challenge you to be better and not just let you gripe. . . I'm so thankful for my wonderful friends!

Please pray!

I got up this morning before any of the kiddos (they start spring break today, so I hope everyone will be sleeping in for quite a while more!) and came down to get a little work done to find a terribly tragic email from my very good friend Carol, who lives in Colorado . . . she also grew up in our house . . . we bought it from her parents. There were 2 emails actually, written less than an hour apart, late last night/early this morning!

Anyway, the first email asked for prayer. Carol's friend, Shelley, was hospitalized yesterday with influenza B and was very, very sick and was not doing well. The second email said that just a few minutes after sending the first email Carol had gotten a call that Shelley had died. Shelley has a husband {Scott} and 4 kids who range in age from 2 to 10 . . . wow, that hits close to home! I did not know Shelley or ever meet her, but I just started crying and praying as I read through Carol's email.

Please, if you have a minute and care to join me in prayer for this family, I would appreciate it. The children went to bed last night knowing their mom was in the hospital, but when they wake up this morning . . . I can't even begin to imagine how you tell your children that their mom, who they were just with yesterday and who they need so much, is dead. I just can hardly even think about it. Please pray for them. I know many of you will and I appreciate it so much, even though I don't know her or her family . . . but I do know Carol and how deeply she loves her friends and can't imagine how much she must be hurting too!

The week in review . . .

WOW! I can't believe it's Friday afternoon . . . and at the same time I feel like this week has been at least 2 weeks long.

Let's review, shall we? I'll go backwards and see how well my memory is working.

Today Jacob is home from school sick. A big bummer . . . his class went on a field trip today and he was sad to miss it. He came home from school yesterday not feeling too hot . . . actually that's all wrong, he was feeling quite hot! He laid down and almost instantly fell asleep. He got up for a while in the evening and watched a movie with the family and then went back to bed and slept all night. He woke up in the middle of the night and I checked on him and took his temp . . . 102, poor bud. So today he read for an hour or so this morning, had lunch and then took a nap (unheard of, he must really be sick). He seems pretty perky now and isn't feeling too warm, though I haven't taken his temp again. Joey loves having him here to play with, though, so it's been an ok day anyway. Wait, I took a little blogging break and now he is napping again and feels pretty toasty. He's got some more Advil in him and is snoozing!

Kirby is a workshop speaker at the Set Apart Women's Conference this weekend. He had 3 groups today and will have another 3 tomorrow. I know he'll do a great job! I forget the exact title of his workshop, but it's something about faith and finances. Maybe next year they'll ask him to be the keynote speaker . . . :)

On night this week . . . I don't remember which one . . . I woke up about 2 when Anna was fussin' and you'll never guess who was laying next to me! . . . Ready? It was my husband! This is amazing because the usual answer would be Joe, but he was still in his own bed! Amazing, I tell you! Being the light sleeper that Joe is, though, he woke up when Kirb was leaving for work about 5:15 . . . actually, he doesn't go to work at that hour, he goes to the Y. He tries to get there when they open at 5:30 and get his workout for the day in before getting to work by about 7ish. So, Kirbs' leaving woke Joe up, so he came and joined me then. But, basically we were Joe-less all night. Maybe it will even happen again once or twice before he goes off to college kindergarten. Actually, in the cold Minnesota winter it doesn't even bother me too much. He's like sleeping with a little space heater . . . it's kinda nice!

Yesterday {Anna and} I went with a couple of my friends to check out a new little shop on Grand Ave. We had a fun morning together! Anna was a great trooper and I think she had a little fun shoppin' with the girls too!

Speaking of the banana-boo, she's walking up a storm these days. She still crawls is she's going for speed and is in a hurry, but she is more than capable of walking all the way across the room and can even recover from being knocked around a little by a stray sibling who isn't watching where they are going. Here she is walking along and then stopping to ponder a little something . . . she is quite an intellectual, you see!


My good friend, Shawna, had pretty major surgery on Wednesday so I've been busy praying for and thinking about her this week. She had some cysts on her ovaries that they suspected might be cancerous and were otherwise giving her TONS of trouble and pain. Well, praise God! there was no cancer. There was, however, "one of the worst cases" of endometriosis that her OB had ever seen. The surgeon said it was amazing that she could even walk. The pain should have been debilitating. So, she has a major incision to heal from, but in a month or two she should be as good as new. What a relief, an answer to prayer and a reason to celebrate! Here we are together with our sweet babies just a couple months ago:

On Wednesday morning my dad left for Connecticut for about a month . . . he decided on Tuesday that he wanted to go. That's so like him! Anyway, we were thankful that he arrived safely yesterday after spending lots of hours in his little car with no heat. Thankfully he had his bike (of course!) and his tools to keep him company on the trip. He will be doing some work on a barn that my uncle, Den, is building!

The birthday excitement is in the air around here, no doubt. Now that it's March things start to ramp up since all 5 of our kids have their birthdays in about a 10-week span of time . . . beginning on March 23rd when we have 2 birthdays (Jacob & Rebekah!) and ending with LJ's birthday on June 6th. There are plans being made constantly . . . we'll see how many of them come to fruition and how many are more dreams than reality. There are wish lists that need constant editing and re-thinking. Oh, the excitement!!

Then there was the "technical difficulty" that sucked up most of my Monday, but that's in a whole different post!

I went to the library the other day (surprise!) and it just makes me sad. Only a couple more weeks and my library will close for a year! Yikes, I'm not quite sure what I'll do. I mean, they'll have a temporary location and all, but it's not as close to our house and I just feel like crabbing about it a little. Our library (within walking distance from our house where I am at least twice most weeks!) is the busiest library in the whole state of Minnesota and is planning an expansion project. Really people . . . don't you have a library by your house too? I don't quite get it! But, as I say, I lived without my Target for a year and survived, I can survive this too I imagine! So, here's to bigger and better libraries in 2010! I'll be there as many times as I can between now and the end of the month, but it's already not the same place. Shelves are missing and it looks different . . . emptier. And one of the very sweet librarian there just died. She also happens to be the sister of Jacob's {4th grade} teacher. So, I'm sad for more than one reason when I go there these final weeks.

I hope your week was good and I hope this one to come holds a little more normalcy, at least for me!

A family celebration & some deep thoughts

Yesterday my sweet nephew, Haddon, was dedicated (in case you aren't up on baby dedication it's kind of in the same spirit as infant baptism in many churches . . . just without the water. The parents dedicate their child to the Lord and dedicated themselves to raising him (or her) to know and love the Lord and do their best to be godly parents.) I had never been to my brother and sister-in-law's church so it was great to see where they worship and be able to better picture them at church and with their congregation! It was a great service and we were so glad to be there! Haddon had quite the fan club there cheering him on and encouraging and supporting his great parents . . . 9 members of the Carlson family ( since there's 7 of us it's adds up fast, plus my parents were there . . . they wouldn't miss it for the world!), 7 members of the Erickson family (Jenn's family) and 8 of Jenn & Luke's closest friends. Afterward we had a celebration at a nearby restaurant. Good food and great times together. Haddon, we love you so much and are thrilled to know that you will be raised in a godly home!

Here are a couple pictures of the cute family and some of the thoughts behind dedication that I appreciated! (note: the pictures aren't great! The lighting wasn't the best . . . they meet in an elementary school gym . . . and we were far away. Plus, Joe spilled apple juice on my camera the other day and it's acting a little funny!)



The sermon brought up some things that had been stirring in my mind already for a little while. We were taught from I Corinthians 13 and although I didn't hear all of the sermon (I was on Joe patrol since the nursery was only for kids under 3, and he's not used to sitting with us in church) I did catch part of it that stuck with me. "Love is patient." The word used in this passage for patient is a word that means patience with people as opposed to patience with circumstances. I think I'd heard this before, but it struck me yesterday because it hit close to home due to some things I had been thinking about lately. I completely understand how patience with people and patience with circumstances are very different things . . . if only our language had different words for them too!

So, this is where it resonated with me: one of our kiddos (who will remain nameless!) usually wakes up pretty grumpy. She (that narrows it down for you) stomps around, slams doors, grunts, screams, cries and generally carries on for quite a while each morning . . . she wants to sleep longer, her clothes don't fit right, she doesn't want to finish her homework, her hair is too poofy (that may have given it away . . . oops!), the jeans she does want to wear are dirty, she doesn't want to practice her piano, her sister didn't pick up her crap in their shared room, she ran out of time and didn't get any breakfast and on and on it goes. It drives me crazy!!!! I talk to her constantly about changing her attitude, trying to not be so grumpy, etc. It's like I'm stuck in movie "Groundhog Day." Literally, we go through the same stuff almost every morning! Almost always, later in the day she will come up to me (sometimes as soon as before she goes to school, but often in the evening sometime or right before bed) and say, in complete sincerity, "Mom, I'm sorry for the way I acted." Every time I tell her that I forgive her and give her a hug . . . but sometimes I also continue the "better attitude" lecture from the morning and get a little grumpy myself trying to get through to her that if she really is sorry she should change her behavior. WOW! So much like my relationship with God. I do the same gross stuff over and over and sincerely am sorry about it later. But, his love is patient . . . patient with people . . . and he loves and forgives me each time without the lecture. I try to learn from that and follow His example, but it's tough!! I feel like if she really was sorry for being a grump that she would do better next time. But she's a child . . . and she really is sorry; I can tell. That's how God thinks of me, I imagine. I am thankful for his boundless love and forgiveness. So, I will keep trying to work on forgiving and wiping the slate clean each and every time . . . and pray for more peaceful mornings!

she's out!

well, i just got a short little caringbridge update, here it is:

Evelyn is successfully out of surgery. The surgeon said that everything went well. She'll sleep through the night with a breathing tube to keep her blood pressure low.

Pam (Ing's sister)

so, that's what i know. i haven't had a chance to talk to ing yet . . . i'm sure she has a million other things on her mind. praise God all went well! thanks so much for all your prayers, i'll let you all know when i have more info!

what's new?

well, we're hangin' in there around here. it's sleeting and nasty outside, yuck . . . but here are a few new things in our lives:

we're praying for ev and her surgery in the morning. if you think of it we would appreciate all your prayers as well. "the prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective" you know!! (it says so right there in james 5:16). and this one is especially meaningful today: "above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (proverbs 4:23) we're looking ahead to hearing a good report tomorrow and seeing her back in full evelyn-form soon! (if you know her at all then you know that "full evelyn-form" is quite a thing to behold :)) we love you ev!!!

we're all a little under the weather, but not totally sick. kirb came home early today and is taking a nap . . . as are joe and anna who also aren't feelin' 100%. hopefully it won't get any worse and they'll be back up and at 'em soon. also, we're hopin' no one else catches it (especially the MOM!)

the blessings just keep comin': you might remember the miracle washing machine. just today we got a free refrigerator. believe it or not, we have a thing for getting free appliances (we got a free dishwasher in 2007 that was also a huge blessing . . . but that was pre-blog). my grandma and her sister bought a townhouse together recently and the previous owners had done a kitchen remodel and got new appliances (sounds familiar . . . much like the washing machine story). anyway, turns out 2 women in their 80's don't have much use for an extra frige in the basement so they said we could have it. it also turns out an extra frige in the basement DOES come in handy for a family of 7!!! i washed all the shelves and drawers and bins and stuff this morning and hopefully soon it will make it's way into our kitchen and the old one will move to it's new home in the laundry room. if we can get the water piped over to that part of the kitchen we might even be blessed with an ice-maker . . . will wonders never cease?

calling all pray-ers

one week from today, at almost this EXACT time, rebekah's best friend, evelyn, will be having open heart surgery. ev and rebekah met in preschool and have been the best of friends every since. long story short: evelyn was born with a heart defect and had 4 open heart surgeries her first 3 years of life. she got a transplant in february of 2004 (open heart surgery #5) and is now getting ready for sugery #6 next monday morning (11.10.08) at 7 am. here is what her mom wrote about the surgery (i'll just use her explanation since my medical knowledge is not so vast!):

"Basically, Evelyn has a piece of muscle tissue just below the aortic valve that is causing her heart to pump inefficiently. Her pressures below that part of her heart are exceedingly high because she has to force blood past the tissue and then through the valve. This is a problem that her surgeon fixes 10-11 times a year and he said, "It was a matter of time that we'd see it in a transplanted heart." Of course, Evelyn will be the first to have it fixed in a transplanted pediatric patient. Her doctors are certain this is the best plan for her and have researched the options since discovering the problem in August.

The surgery is scheduled for Monday, November 10th at 7:00 am. She will have her pre-op appointment this Tuesday. We'll find out more as far as the surgery itself and expectations for recovery. When we met with her surgeon, he said, "Let's do it Monday, and we'll get her home for the weekend." We'll see...Evelyn plans to tell her classmates that she'll be gone next week. I asked her how she'd like to handle it and she said, "I'll just ask Mrs. Huffer for a few minutes before our morning meeting Monday." Evelyn is not fearful of this, but she knows other people may be worried about her. We told her that people pray for those having surgery and give them hugs, gifts, etc. We ask that you respect her eight year old perspective, though, and the work we've done to make certain she has positive feelings about the hospital. She knows she's had five other surgeries, and she is having this one to make her heart work better.

We thank you -- in advance -- for your support."

so there you have it. rebekah does not seem too concerned yet and is excited for the chance to visit evelyn in the hospital. the girls (it just so happens that lydia's best friend is ev's sister frances, which works out nicely for us) spent almost all weekend together. they were here on saturday and at their house on sunday. they had a great time together! these are a few pictures i took on saturday. ev & rebekah are quite a pair, as you can see!!!

please pray for evelyn, for her older brother, hugh, and younger sister, frances, her parents ing & dennis, the surgery, the doctors and all that stuff!! it's a big deal, but she's a trooper and we trust all will go well. thanks so much for joining us in praying for this great family. if you want you can also visit evelyn's caringbridge site. there is a link on the left hand side of my blog, or the address is http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/evelynmaeveryan. we appreciate your prayers so much!!