weekend & such

I think I'm officially out of things to write.  That makes me sad.  I go in spurts of having some sort of block, and then inspiration strikes and I'll post a lot.

So, in the chance that this might bore you, I apologize.  Sometimes life is that way...and trust me, I am very blessed to be able to say that life right now is uneventful.

We had some friends over Friday night.  I invited them over under the pretense of watching the Opening Ceremonies, but darned if we didn't watch a single second.  Not that I mind.  We congregated in the kitchen over tacos and Skipbo.  It was a lot of fun.  Our friends David and Sunny came over, along with a new couple we've gotten to know lately, Matt and Bryna.  Their kids are all around Jonah's and Noah's ages, so it was fun for everyone.

Saturday I read.  Imagine that.  Almost all day, except for the breaks I took to do laundry, eat and clean up the kitchen.  Heaven!  I finished my thirteenth book of the Summer.

Saturday night we took the kids to my mom's and stepdad's house and we went to a couple's shower.  Todd's best friend, Bob, is getting married in October to the sweetest girl, Kensie.  It was fun, but we had to leave early.  We didn't eat dinner until after eight, and I didn't want to stay past nine.  It was still fun.

Today we went to church.  I cried in First Kids' church...today was the fifth grader's last day up there with us.  I know I've said this before, but I am so honored to go to a church that loves our kids so much.  Beth and Craig Bracewell, our leaders in First Kids' church really love each and every kid, and they form these amazing bonds with them over the years.  So does our kids' pastor, Austin and his sweet wife, Amy.  Anyway, today as Beth and Craig said goodbye to the fifth graders, they were also commissioning them for middle school.  They were both extremely choked up...and needless to say, so was I.  You know I don't let anyone cry alone in my presence.

So, it was an emotional day.

Before I even walked in church this morning, I had already cried once over Matt Redman's "10,000 Reasons".  Now, every time I think of that song, I cry.  That is the song that was playing when Trey Erwin met his Maker.  At the end of the song, he let go of his earthly body and gained his perfect one in Heaven.  I cannot listen to this song anymore without bawling my eyes out.  Even before that I knew that was the song that was playing in his room before he passed away, the lyrics to this song just get me.  Every single time.  We have thousands (millions!) of reasons to praise our Heavenly Father.  He alone is worthy.

Tonight we had dinner with our precious neighbors and dearest friends.  Their nephews have been out of town all week, so we were so glad to welcome them back home tonight.  My boys (and we) missed them.  We got all caught up with each other again, since it's been over a week since we've really seen them.  Moments like that are awesome...I love that dear couple more than I can even express, and we are extremely blessed to have them in our lives.

I'm leaving you with the lyrics and video to "10,000 Reasons".  I hope you enjoy.  Love to all.

"10,000 Reasons (Bless The Lord)"

[Chorus]
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 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

[Chorus]
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

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

[Chorus]
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

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

[Chorus x2]
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

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name 

random

Yesterday all the boys and I went to our dentist and had our teeth cleaned.  None of us had cavities (YAY!), but I need to schedule an orthodontist appointment for Jonah.  He needs a palate-expander.  :-(

I read so much this weekend it's not even funny.  I finished three books.  Well, the third one, I finished yesterday morning before our appointment.

I am so excited about tonight...my sister and I have a "date" to watch the season finale of The Bachelorette. She's also spending the night.

My best friend and I finally got to see each other!  It's been way too long.  We had dinner Friday night, then perused the aisles of Target afterwards.  I bought the movie Dear John.  And came home and watched it.  Then proceeded to (not) fall asleep until three a.m.  (Todd was working.)

I have no idea what we're having for dinner tonight.  I do know that I need to go buy the fixings for it, though.  I'm craving taco soup, though...not sure if anyone else is, but it sounds yummy to me!

Graham and Drew keep sleeping until eleven.  Two weeks from now is going to be a rude awakening...for all of us, I'm afraid.

Jonah and Noah are sad because their best little buddies (Myles and Zander) are out of town until Sunday.  I'm sure Katie and Travis are glad for the break, but little guys are sad.

Well.  I need a refill on my coffee.

Love to all!

#1105

I was shocked to wake up this morning to the devastating news of the shooting in the Aurora, Colorado movie theater.  My niece works in Aurora, and lives with my sister Debi and her family in Denver.  That is a little close to home.  I cannot imagine what these poor families are going through this morning...my heart goes out to them, and my prayers are with them. 

It's sad that we live in this kind of world today.  It's sad that flying is such a hassle, that our kids know what metal detectors are and that we might think twice before stepping into the doors of another movie theater. 

Just yesterday I had a conversation with my kids about the importance of being aware of their surroundings.  I had just read about an alleged kidnapping attempt in Cordova, a town that is about thirty minutes away from The Ville.

It's just the kind of world that we live in today.  I don't know about you, but in the midst of all the news of tragedy and crime, I need some reassurance. 

This morning in my quiet time (and time of catching up on my Chronological Bible reading plan), I came across a passage in Isaiah that gave me just that: reassurance. 

"He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is key to this treasure."  Isaiah 33:6

He will be our sure foundation...though our days might be unsteady, He will be steady.
He will be our salvation, our wisdom, our knowledge...though we might be unsure.
He will be our treasure...and knowing Him and serving Him is the key.

Are you in need of comfort this morning?  I hope His word brings peace to you.  I know it does to me.

Love to all. 

God is good...

(...all the time!  All the time, God is good!)

I always say those words back whenever I read the phrase, "God is good".  He is, though, right?

Even in death...He is good to quickly take those home who might be suffering.  (Trey Erwin and my Uncle Wayne, who died on the same day last week and whose funerals were at the exact same time on Saturday, but in very different locations.)

Even when Todd's Grandma Rena suddenly passes away Monday night/early Tuesday morning...He is so good to have never let her suffer with a physical illness (though she had Alzheimer's disease, nothing else was physically wrong). 

Even when our air goes out.  For the second week in a row.  (Last week it was the upstairs unit, this week it's the downstairs unit.)  Thank the good Lord that we have Total Protect...a large appliance insurance.  And thank the good Lord that as I type this it's only 74 degrees outside!  Just last week it was in the lower one-hundred's. 

He is so good and faithful to watch over our affairs.  Every little detail, He knows and He takes care of. 

I refuse to let our circumstances get me down...instead, I choose to focus on the blessings God turns them into.

How do you look at life?

Love to all. 

Grandma Rena

Although she had Alzheimer's disease, this lady was physically healthy when she laid her head down to sleep last night.  Who knew the next time she opened her eyes, she'd be looking at her Jesus face to face?

What a way to go...very quietly, very peacefully.  

It's answer to prayer and a huge blessing to my mom-in-love that she never had to be sick, or in the hospital.  And now she is reunited with her husband and her son.  

I cannot wait for the day when I enter Heaven and get to see all the loved ones who've gone on before me.  

I am so thankful that I am assured that I have a place there with them.  Do you know where you're going when you die?  

I challenge you to remedy that if you don't.  

Love to all. 

tidbits

Last night when I went to bed, I left Jonah downstairs with Todd.  Jonah had requested that they watched "Locked Up Abroad".  So Todd changed the channel and they settled in to watch.  About twenty minutes after I had gone upstairs, Jonah came upstairs.  He told me the show had gotten a little too scary for him to be watching it at night.  Then (and this is the cute part I wanted to share) he told me that he prayed all the time that God would let him have good dreams at night.  But sometimes that prayer didn't work and he ended up having nightmares.  So he started praying that God would give him good dreams and good nightmares.  :-)

As I'm writing this (I've started and stopped lots and lots of times), Noah told me he wants to be the person in Petco who trains dogs.  Ever since he was little bitty, he has loved all animals.  I believe that kids are given certain gifts, and I've discovered all of my boys'...one of Noah's is his way with animals.  :-)  My sweet boy is so precious.

I was in a bad mood last night.  I don't really know why.  I was cleaning the kitchen after dinner and was wondering why in the world I had a mood change all of a sudden.  I think it was Evil Knievel's fault...at least, that's what I'm going to blame it on.  He had two accidents yesterday...and the second one was out of pure defiance.  Grrrr.  It's really hard remembering that he is still a puppy.  Anyway, as I was putting leftovers in the fridge, I saw this Bible verse I have written on an index card:

"Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."  Proverbs 15:4

I am so thankful I saw that.  (That's the whole point of them being posted on my fridge...they're there for all of us to see.)  It reminded me that my bad mood was not anybody's fault...so instead of me making everyone around me miserable, I just didn't say a lot.  Todd did later tell me that he prefers me to be cheerful.  ;-) 

I saw a little thing from Graham last night that made my heart melt.  As the big brother in the house, he's often not very nice to his siblings.  But last night he came into my room to tell me what Jonah had said about "Locked Up Abroad".  He was laughing, and he told me that what Jonah had said was funny.  I encouraged him, as the older brother, to assure Jonah that he had nothing to be afraid of.  Jonah just told me that he did.  I love it when they're nice to each other.

Drew, God love his little heart, is hilarious.  I don't even think he means to be.  I just think that he's ditzy.  In a good way of course.  He has some endearing little qualities that I love.  The way he is quick to ask if I need help, the way he hugs me and offers to give me lots of kisses all over my face, the way he is always so sweet to Jonah and Noah and their friends...I'm just naming a few.  He is quite the entertainer around here...and he keeps us laughing. 

I'm thankful for each of these boys that God has given me.  I pray that their childhood is amazing, and I pray that someday when they have kids, that their memories are good and filled with laughter.  I know that I will forever treasure these times that God has given me with them. 

Love to all. 

Monday & Such

Happy Monday!  I've had a really great, productive day.  For those of you who might not know much about me, I love productivity!  It's right up there with Godliness to me.  (Yes, I am kidding, but not about the productivity part.)

I told all the boys yesterday that today was going to be a day for cleaning the upstairs and the downstairs.  And putting away all the piles of laundry.  :-)  And their sweet little selves did a lot of work to help me.  They completely cleaned the upstairs...including their bathroom (and for some reason, the only word I can think of when I describe that little space of horrors, is GRODY).

While they were upstairs, I worked on laundry and the downstairs.  I wasn't planning on mopping today because of all the rain in the forecast (rain+dogs=big, fat mess), but when I saw all the dusty paw prints, I decided I couldn't stand to stare at those.  Graham offered to do it for me.  I happily obliged. 

I love helpful kids.  The more helpful and gentlemanly they are, the better husband they'll make someday.

My sweet Graham also offered to grocery shop with me.  I told him how much I appreciate him always willing to come with either me or Todd and help us.  I don't know if it's to "help" so much as it is to just be alone with us.  Either way, we are both thankful for any alone time with any of our boys, and we'll take whatever we can get. 

I'm back home now (obviously).  My house is clean, candles are burning, groceries have been bought and put away, my menu for the week is planned and all is well with my world. 

I feel like I can relax for the rest of the day.  Especially because dinner is simple tonight, with a pretty quick clean up. 

How has your day been so far?  I am praying for all of you who read this.  Love to all!