Bursting With Pride

Don't you just love moments like this?! And you can tell that he is sooo proud of himself!













My big boy has now graduated from Kindergarten and considers himself a 1st grader. His favorite part about it...."next year I get to be at school ALL day and not have rest time at home!"

We're so proud of him! He has become so good at reading and his cursive writing is better than some highschoolers I've seen!





Emma at the head of the table, of course, at their end of the year "tea party"! Boy did I hear stories about this one from her teacher! Always the "mom" or "teacher, she had to learn to give up control! She did get the opportunity to be "teacher" for part of the day at one point this year and was upset because it wasn't for the WHOLE day:) I was also told that she was always making up a song about everything...no surprise here! Just yesterday a classmate said the word, "butt" and was told that wasn't ok, and Miss Emma proceeded to sing a little song, "you're not supposed to say butt, you're not supposed to say butt" etc. etc. And chapel days were her favorite, because she would say when she saw someone singing on stage, "someday I want to be up there singing!" Oh Emma!


Emma and her beloved Mrs. Adams.

Night of the Living Worms

On a less serious note...I witnessed one of the crazier things I have seen last night. Here in Central Oregon, it doesn't rain a whole lot, except for the occasional thunder storm. May is usually our "rainy season", if you can even call it that. But THIS May we've seen more than our fair share of it. For the past week it has been raining off and on and while this may not seem unusual for those that live in the "valley" (as we like to call it over here), this is not the norm for here. So... about last night, all I can figure is they decided enough was enough. The creepy crawlies of the night decided to abandon their natural abodes for a more exposed one. Looking out our front window last night I noticed movement where usually none is to be found, and on closer inspection discovered every boy's wonderland. A sea of worms! It was ridiculous!!!! I tiptoed around the 9-10 inch long critters down to the street where they were all migrating to and found the streets literally "crawling" with them, glistening in the streetlights. OK. OK. Bad pun, I know. So, tell me, is that not weird? Probably not as weird as the goofball who was standing in flip flops in the street at 11 o'clock at night taking pictures!! Hey, it was either that or collect them and go fishing! (Now that would have been weird!) Since the picture didn't turn out well, you'll just need to visualize the night crawlers inching their way along (actually they are freakishly fast!).


Amazingly those hundreds upon hundreds of worms had magically disappeared when I got up this morning. Hmmmm...:)

a blog by a different name

So, a few days ago I changed my blog name. I had started it with a pretty generic name, knowing in time something would come to me that would truly describe the theme and feel of our lives. And it came to me. I don't want to spend my life just scraping by and crawling from crisis to crisis. This has never been my desire. And how can it be with the Lord by our sides! Our life is about worship. What will we choose to worship in this life on earth? Our lifestyles, ourselves, our money, our jobs, our friends, pastors, godly men and women...pointless and sinful. Not to mention that if these things are the objects of our worship, than our happiness will be determined and measured by those circumstances and how successful they seem. Every day should be lived as a living sacrifice for the One who ultimately sacrificed for us. A daily act of worship. Worship is not just about sitting in church singing our praise songs. While this is certainly a part of our worship (singing praises to our Lord), we can and must worship Him even in the things that seem like everyday duties. How are we worshiping and honoring Him in our jobs, our finances, our relationships, how we treated our kids today. This is something that God has certainly been bringing to both Billy and my attention lately. A hard lesson to learn, especially when it comes with discipline, but one well worth the pain. We want to spend our time on earth finding the joy, because it's there, everywhere. Even in the things that seem so crappy. (Eloquent, I know!) Because joy is not about the circumstances, but about the peace, the love, the lessons that we squeeze from them. It's not about simply waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.

Mama's Precious Gifts

My children and my husband are better than any material Mother's Day gifts I could have received. While my gift was INCREDIBLY sweet, the hands that put it together are more precious to me than all the treasures of this world. And the intense joy that was on the givers' faces would have been enough by itself...



After receiving this wonderful surprise we headed off to church, where we heard yet again a great talk on marriage. And I recieved yet another creation..."Mother's Day Sand Castle":)

We grabbed lunch with my parents. And then...I had to run into Target and my husband says, "Hey. Take your time, no need to rush. I'm good out here with the kids." Now this may not seem like much to you, but this is HUGE! Hangin' out in the car with 3 kids (it's nap time too) while mama "takes her time" in Target is not my husbands idea of fun. But he knew that it meant so much to me, even if I was just running in to make a return and get baby food...I know, we're wierd, but seriously I NEVER get to take my time in a store!

Then to top off the day, my two big men washed my car inside and out! ahhh...I'll get to enjoy it crumb free for about...2 days:)

In the words of my Emma, "Happy Mother's Day...and a Happy New Year!"

LOVE IT!

Lincoln is ONE!

So, he's officially 1 today! Still in shock over that one. But we had a little celebration with family on Saturday and I'll let the pictures do the talking.

So freaking cute, I can't stand it sometimes!!!! ....why do they have to grow up so fast?

B.B.F

Scenario: Billy's in the back yard this evening with a couple of friends having some "guy" time. I'm in the house with the kids trying to keep them from bugging daddy.

Will: How come I can't go outside with daddy?

Mama: Well, this is daddy time right now.

Will: But why can't I go say "hi"? (he's a great discusser, also known as, arguer, these days)

Mama: Sometimes daddy just needs to spend time with his friends, buddy.

Will: But I'm his friend.

How sweet is that. Best Buds Forever.

Thawing out....finally?

Hurry and take the picture Mom!

A swingin' fool!

I LOVE him!

New Blogger Alert

So, FYI this is my first attempt at blogging. So I'm pre-apologizing if by reading this blog you're induced to sleep (Yawn). Mostly it's for friends and family to keep them up to date on the happenings of our fam AND it's for me...just a good outlet for me as a stay-at-home mom. So read it (or not). Enjoy it (or not:)). Comment (or not). And if you find yourself passed out at your computer of boredom...well, in all fairness, I warned you.

Confidence

I will give you thanks with all my heart;

I will sing praises to You before the gods.

I will bow down toward Your holy temple

And give thanks to Your name

for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;

For You have magnified Your

word according to all Your name.

On the day I called, You answered me;

You made me bold with strength in my soul.

Psalms 138:1-3