The canoe

Uncle Donnie owned a canoe... a beautiful wooden canoe.  Years ago, he rescued it from a neighbor's front yard, and a couple weeks ago, he passed it on to us. It needs a fair bit of work, but since our boys are budding outdoorsmen, Chris and I thought they might be up for the challenge!

The wooden behemoth is currently living in the workshop

where it waits for the bitter cold days of winter to chase the boys indoors.
And who knows? Perhaps by summer it'll be water-worthy! 

And because my youngest can't resist a silly face for the camera... these pics.

And my youngest with a few of her own :)

Yep, she's fitting in just fine!

The waning days of summer

Three days ago, my eldest son boarded a plane for Colorado. The night before had been filled with packing & organizing & re-packing & chatting about the week to come, so when the clock blared loud at 3:15 a.m. (who flies out at 5:30 anyway??!), his demeanor was tinged with both excitement and exhaustion, anticipation and... hope.

Several hours later, he landed in Colorado Springs with a few of his fellow teammates, and from there they made the short jaunt to the Olympic Training Center where they're working hard this week, training for a dream.

Parenting truly is bittersweet.  On the one hand, children are supposed to grow up! God designed them that way, after all, and I wouldn't have it any other way. But when I watched my oldest babe stroll out the door-- suitcase in hand, adventure on face-- the tumult churned anew. Because the big girl in me was jumping up and down, cheering for all to hear... here comes my boy, and I am so, SO proud. But deep down inside, where no one but the Lord could see, a terrible ache spread slow... because my son is growing up.  All too quickly... growing up.

Thankfully, we live in the modern era.  Praise God for cell phones-- he called!-- and we talked long, and oh, how I rejoice in the gifts of the Lord!!

As we await his return, we pack and play and run and swim-- anxious for summer's last hoorah.  Back to the beach we go (as soon as we pick up our sure-to-be weary traveler from the airport), back to the glorious expanse... where earth meets sky, and the heavens truly declare His glory!

There are days when I wish summer would linger forever-- days on the sand, days that move slow.  But then I remember the beauty of seasonal change-- my favorite being next in line-- and I breathe deep the provision of the Father.

Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8

Cereal boxes and hope

Cereal boxes.

Hope.

Yep, I know what you're thinking~ oh, no... now she's really gone off the deep end!

But I promise you, I haven't. This is really, really cool. And potentially life-changing. I promise.

And it all starts with cereal. And our precious little ones. And their full bellies. And our desire to make a difference.

You see, in Haiti, children are orphaned every single day because their mothers cannot feed them. Because their fathers cannot provide for them. Because life in an orphanage is their ONLY chance for survival. Their only chance...

Can you imagine? Can you imagine releasing your son, your daughter to be raised by

another, simply because you didn't have the means to do so yourself... can you imagine?

I, for one, cannot. And that's why I'm so, so thankful for folks at Compassion International and World Vision who allow us-- we Americans so overwhelmingly rich as compared to the rest of the world-- to step in and bless out of our abundance. Well, here's another wonderful option... and EASY option... if you really want to make a difference. Consider it a Christmas gift to a hurting family, hundreds of miles away.

Here's the deal: when your family reaches the end of its next box of Lucky Charms, don't shred that cardboard. Don't squash it and cram it in to your recycling bin. Just flatten it and set it aside until you save another. And another. And another. And then, when you have a big box packed full of flattened, empty cereal boxes, drop it in the mail. And then pray. Give thanks. Count *your* blessings. And trust the Lord to do the rest.

Because when those cereal boxes reach Haiti, they'll be put to good use. Men and women, as part of the Apparent Project, will use those boxes-- believe it or not-- to make jewelry. Beautiful jewelry. Jewelry that provides enough money for them to raise their own children... in their own homes... with dignity and love and hope.

Simple.

Painless.

And a significant opportunity to change a life.

One cereal box at a time.

Will you join me??

"Then the King will say to those on His right,

'Come, you who are blessed by my Father;

take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in,

I needed clothes and you clothed me,

I was sick and you looked after me,

I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

Then the righteous will answer Him,

'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you,

or thirsty and give you something to drink?

When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,

or needing clothes and clothe you?

When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

The King will reply,

'Truly I tell you,

whatever you did for the least of these

brothers and sisters of mine,

you did for Me.' "

Matthew 25: 34-40

** If anyone who lives in my neck of the woods would like to participate,

I'd be happy to mail your boxes with mine...

just let me know :)

*** For whatever it's worth... I'm also saving other boxes--

ones from our Ritz Crackers, our Triscuits, our Graham Crackers--

that sort of thing.

I figure~ they're colorful, and they're no smaller than a Grape Nuts (cereal) box,

so hopefully they'll be acceptable, as well.

These days I'm struggling...

Struggling to find that groove again... that pre-holiday routine that actually allowed us to get

our school work done in a timely manner.

Struggling to get my Christmas decorations out of the attic when everything in me screams that it. is. not. time. to. decorate. for Christmas. It's only July after all... isn't it??

Struggling to accept the fact that fall has gone (for all intents & purposes) and the brutal, bone-chilling days of winter are upon us. I soooooo want the 70s (degrees, I mean :) back!

Struggling to keep up with Mt. Laundry... when will some brilliant scientist invent self-washing clothes??

Struggling to keep *healthy* meals on the table when Ramen noodles are such an easy & painless choice :)

Struggling to study my way through evil dictatorships, a Nazi regime, and unending brutality, misery, and suffering. Why, O Lord, why??

Struggling to rejoice in all things... even in *my* (relatively pitiful... as compared to those in the note above) sufferings.

Struggling in the day to day battle of less-of-me and more-of-Him... struggling to die to self.

Struggling to see the good instead of nitpicking on the not-so-pretty; struggling to offer grace at all times~

Struggling to filter the good from the best.

The eternal from the transient.

The holy from the rest.

Struggling.

And yet still... still my God reigns. Still He loves. Still He holds and helps and offers Hope and Light and Grace, even though so incredibly undeserving am I. Still He nudges me on, pressing me towards the Goal, one itty-bitty baby step at a time.

Yes, these past few days have been tough. But the Good News... His love conquers all. And in Him, there's peace. Perfect peace.

I think it's time I stake my claim!

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings,

because we know that suffering produces perseverance,

perseverance, character,

and character, hope.

And hope does not put us to shame,

because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,

who has been given to us."

Romans 5: 3-5

And for my fellow music lovers... one of my favorites. It's ministered greatly to me these past few days~ enjoy!

Hiding words

It's funny. One year ago I wrote this post after making a decision, a commitment, a choice... to do what's best for me and my house... to hide His Word in my heart, over and over and over again.

So now, after one whole year, I offer my progress report:

I failed.

Miserably.

I started strong, but then... well... deadlines, obligations, play dates, meal plans, swim lessons, exhaustion, exhaustion, exhaustion. I'm certain I could offer every excuse in the book. And not a single one of them would be a lie. But I won't. Because there really is no excuse.

If I had really made it a priority, it would have happened. I would have made the time. I would have made the time. I would have made the time. Period. Just like I do for all the other things that really must get done.

Like my co-op lessons. I would never show up for class unprepared; in fact, I shudder at the thought of it. So why on earth do I choose to show up each morning with the task at hand-- to raise my littles in the nurture and admonition of the Lord-- with a heart that could hold so. much. more. Why do I make time in my day for 20th century historians and presidents and economists... for their words... but not for those of the King of the kings. Are their words more important than His very own? Are accounts of sinful foibles and deceits and exploits more critical than Truth and Light and Bread?

May it never be.

So I think that now, on the almost one-year anniversary of my pledge, I'll try again. This time, however, I'm gonna recruit my little ones to join me. We'll start with a favorite,

"I have hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against Thee."

Psalm 119:11

And then I think we'll tack on verses 9 and 10:

"How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word.

I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands."

And from there, I'll let the boys choose a selection or two as they wish, and then I'll fill in the rest. We'll surely add a few of Big Man's AWANA verses to the bunch, and together, we'll hide His Word in our hearts.

Together. Accountable. Responsible. Obedient.

And this time, by His grace, I'll (nay, we'll!) succeed.

Don't forget!

Yep. It'll be a late night... but I'll be up... with snacks and goodies and all...

just waiting to see how things turn out.

And in the meantime, I'll be praying here for His mighty hand...

for His divine intervention...

for His perfect will.

Please don't forget to play your part!

A true champion

For anyone needing a little inspiration... or perhaps just a little reminder--

that our lives are purposeful, that we don't go unnoticed,

that He calls us to LOVE,

and as a result,

speak volumes to those in need.

Watch and be blessed~

Thank you, Jennefer, for passing this story along~

Happy Independence Day!

"Now the Lord is the Spirit,

and where the Spirit of the Lord is,

there is freedom."

2 Corinthians 3:17

A most wonderful gift

At 12:45 a.m., my cell phone rang. Regular contractions. Real labor. Time to go.

Swiftly, I grabbed my two littlest babes from their beds and loaded them in to the van. We'd have to leave the mountain before the hot air balloon ride later that day... before their two oldest brothers floated through the sky with Grandmom & Pops.

As we raced up the highway, I prayed. They slept. Peacefully. Soundly. Until 3 a.m. when we reached the hospital parking lot. Big Man awoke, and with a tired, squeaky voice he asked, "Mom, how will the baby be born?"

"Well, God has a very special way for helping babies come out of their mama's tummies."

"You mean, with His arms?"

Yes, Big Man. With His everlasting arms.

*******************

This morning, the Giver of all good gifts, gave yet one more...

Life.

New life.

An infant babe. A wonderfully beautiful infant babe.

With a tiny cry and cheeks the size of basketballs, my nephew--

my beautiful 10-pound linebacker of a nephew--

made his grand debut. At 9:31 he emerged, and it. was. awesome.

Marvelous. Incredible. Awe-inspiring. Miraculous.

A perfect gift~

Our God is so good.

The leaf bug

Yesterday the kids and I braved the heat and decided to try something new (well, not new, per se... just something we haven't done in quite some time)-- we went to the backyard to play. (I know... we're crazy like that :) Anyhoo-- we don't often spend much time in the yard during the summer months because the heat & humidity are simply unbearable out there, so if we're not at the pool, we're inside.

Well, yesterday,we were feeling especially adventurous (and I needed to get my little people outside-- on the double-- before they killed each other inside :) so, out we went. Immediately, Bub and Big Man decided to climb a tree, Noh-man and I opted to tend to the drooping azaleas in the garden, and Lolli contented herself on the John Deer tricycle, thrilled to sit a few inches higher off the ground (and out of Mosby's raceway) for a moment or two .

Thankful for peace restored, I enjoyed the task of caring for my very parched flower beds when suddenly, excited screams from the far end of the yard filled the air. Bub had discovered a leaf bug-- a lovely, very mature (almost 2 inches long), bright kelly green leaf bug-- and he was tickled pink. I turned in time to see him gaze in wonder as it fluttered to the ground, and then I watched as he followed it to its landing spot, anxious to watch its every move. Big Man, Noh, and I raced over for a peek at this marvel and were equally pleased-- we just don't see those winged beauties every day around here.

For a few brief minutes, we all just sat there, watching that little guy crawl through the grass, until I-- the most extreme animal lover this side of the Mississippi-- suggested that we shush him along, fearful that he might meet an untimely death at the feet of Lollipop or Mosby, our ever rambunctious pup. So we did. We scooted him along, tiny hop by tiny hop, towards the safety of a large boxwood. After several hops, he finally tired of our badgering and took to flight.

And it was a beautiful thing... his delicate green wings spread wide as he flittered over the grass. And there we all stood, transfixed. In awe. Amazed.

Until a hungry brown house finch zoomed up from behind, snatched him in her beak... his green legs dangling... and hurried away for a mid-morning snack.

I kid you not.

Screams of horror penetrated the silence.

Distraught little-boy bodies crumpled to the earth in sadness and utter disgust.

And I just stood there in disbelief...

It was like National Geographic, right there in our very own back yard.

... so much for my good intentions.

That all may see...

... how great is our God!!

Today, Stellan is going home!!!  

Oh, let me say that again because it feels so very good... today, Stellan is going home!!  He's responding well to his current meds, his heart has not flipped back into SVT, the doctors are confident he's ready to leave, and-- by golly-- he and his mama are ready to fly the coop! Discharged yesterday from the Boston Children's Hospital, the two of them spent the night in a neighboring hotel, and this morning, they'll catch their flight back to the "rainy tundra," back to the arms of their family... Stellan is going home!  Hallellujah... praise you LORD!

"I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;

I will glorify your name forever. 

For great is your love toward [him];

You have delivered [him] from the depths of the grave."

Psalm 86:12-13

      

An update on Stellan

For the past several weeks, the boys and I have been praying for a tough little guy named Stellan.  He's been fighting for his life for four weeks now, first in the Minneapolis Children's Hospital, and now in Boston with a new team of specialists.  He's had great days and he's had some not-s0-great ones (to say the least), yet he continues to fight... to God be the glory!  If you have any interest in following his story, check out his mom's blog (she updates it very regularly), or to learn just a tiny bit about his condition, feel free to read my original post here.

So, here's the skinny... tomorrow Stellan will be undergoing a very difficult surgery (= an ablation)-- a surgery that, up to this point, his doctors have avoided because it's extremely risky in one so small (and young).  Now, however, they have decided they must travel down that road after all-- it's their only (or best) option-- and his parents are in full agreement.  In preparation for this procedure, the specialists started weaning him off some of his iv meds this past weekend, and thankfully, his body handled it very well.  

How. in. the. world. are. they-- his parents-- surviving???   I simply cannot imagine.  We are so blessed with healthy children and with so many other creature comforts.  Viewing Stellan's struggles from the sidelines sure puts my monetary afflictions into perspective. 

How is his mother still sane??  What about his dad, who's home with their other children half-way across the country-- how's he surviving??  How do they sleep at night?  How do they make it through these terribly dark days, and how do they rise again each morning, only to press forward one more time?

  Grace.  

God's marvelous grace...

His riches at Christ's expense. His unmerited favor, lavished on us~

"Each time He said, 'My grace is all you need.  My power works best in weakness.'  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That's why I take pleasure in weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Amen!  We serve a mighty God!  And as my eldest likes to remind me, "He is mighty to save!"  So please, if you feel so compelled to pray for this little guy or for his family or for his doctors or for anyone else who might be attached to his care, please do so.  After reading Jennifer's blog (that's his mom), I feel certain she covets any and all prayers lifted towards heaven on behalf of her son.

"Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble,

I will deliver him and honor him.

With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."

Psalm 91:14-16

Praying for Stellan

The boys and I have been checking in on Stellan several times a day for the past few days, anxious to read an encouraging word... hopeful for healing.  So far, he's had his ups and he's had his downs, but nothing permanent.  The doctors are still working... and we're still praying!  In all of this, though, there is some really good news to which we all must cling-- GOD is still on His throne, and He's not finished with this little boy yet; otherwise He would have already called him home.  Clearly the LORD is still working in this situation... and so we'll wait. and we'll trust. and we'll pray.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."

Psalm 5:3

"Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

Psalm 27:14

"We wait in hope for the LORD; he is our help and our shield."

Psalm 33:20

"I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O LORD my God."

Psalm 38:15

"I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope.  My soul waits for the LORD more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning.  O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with him is full redemption."

Psalm 130:5-7

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."

Micah 7:7

******************

In the meantime, the boys "wrote" Stellan's name on our front sidewalk (and we sent a snapshot to his mom :) because they wanted to share their support-- they wanted his family to know that we are praying for their sweet babe.  Every day.  Over and over and over again.  All of us.  And thankfully, so are hundreds of others...  

When you have a spare second, hop on over to Stellan's name gallery (you can check it out here), and prepare to be amazed.  His name is being spread all over the world, from Canada to Baghdad to Haiti to London... it really is amazing!  The body of believers-- lifting this precious boy's name to heaven-- is incredible!  And inspiring.  And awesome.  Truly.  The outpouring of support, in fact, for this tiny babe, leaves me just about speechless...

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen." 

Ephesians 3:20-21

Our Red Envelopes

The boys took great pride in addressing our stack or red envelopes (thank you, Les & H., for your help!) as part of the Red Envelope Project, and this morning, we passed them all off to our local postmaster.  1600 Pennsylvania Avenue... here they come!  And fortunately... thankfully... we're not the only ones sending some in that direction. Hundreds (or more likely--thousands) have dropped red envelopes in to their mailboxes.  I wonder how many will ultimately reach the White House??  

Just to give you an idea-- at the above website, you can enter your name and the quantity you personally mailed, and the grand total will be automatically updated.  As of this writing, 1,137,133 envelopes have been pledged... 1,137,133!!  That's a ton of red headed to Washington D.C.!   Of course, only the LORD knows if any of these envelopes will ever reach the President.  Whether or not he ever olds one in his hands though, I'm sure he'll receive the message.  

 

So... it's not too late to join in-- just drop one or two or fifty red envelopes in the mail, and then pray... pray that the voices of the innocent will be heard in our nation's capital.

"Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to die;

save them as they stagger to their death."

Proverbs 24:11

Stellan

"O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to [his] relief."

Psalm 143:1

This morning my heart is burdened for a little boy I've never met.  His name is Stellan.

A few days ago, I stumbled across his mother's blog and there I sat for some time, reading his life story... learning about his condition.  Today I'm posting here, asking that any and all of you who might feel so inclined, will lift his name towards heaven... to the God of the universe, the Great Physician, the Mighty Healer... our Abba Father. 

Stellan is only 5 months old.  He survived a terrible heart condition while in utero, but now it's back and he's fighting for his life.  The doctors are unable to control his elevated heart rate, and after days of fighting, his tiny heart is getting tired.  And blood is not reaching his extremities.  As a mother of 4 healthy children, I simply cannot imagine...

People from all over the world-- literally-- are praying.  Jennifer, his mother, has started a Stellan name gallery where she's collected photos from people around the globe.  Stellan's name has been written in the sands of Senegal and on a sign in front of the Eiffel Tower; the above button has been flashed across the screen in Times Square, and his name has been posted on the side of a military aircraft.  The stream of photos is long but it's oh-so-cool... to think that that many people are praying for a 5 month old boy! 

So today, in your quiet moments, please pray for this little guy.  The LORD hears our prayers, and whether or not He decides to heal Stellan as we'd all like to see... well, that's up to Him. Hopefully He will, but there's a chance that complete healing here on earth may not be part of His ultimate plan.  And while I cannot fathom the pain that comes with losing a child, it's clear (from reading Jennifer's blog) that she and her family fully trust the One who formed this little life.  They fully believe that He's not only holding that tiny body in His hands, but that He's also working for good... because He loves their boy even more than they do.  

So please... pray for Stellan.  

And if you're interested-- the above button will take you to his mother's blog where you can learn more about this little man and his fight for life.

The Red Envelope Project

On March 31st, I'll be mailing a bundle of red envelopes to the President of the United States, and here's why: 

He does not value life.  Every year, untold millions are killed under the banner of "choice" and he-- President Obama-- sees nothing wrong with it.  In fact, he condones the brutal slayings of the unborn.  Voluntary Population Planning... that's what he calls it.  It's despicable.  Horrific.  Barbaric.  Wrong.  

So on March 31st I'll be joining in a peaceful protest, and if you're interested in learning more about the Red Envelope Project or in participating, here's how:

1.  Buy red envelopes or postcards (as many as you'd like) at any Kinkos or party supply store.
2.  Mail them to the White House on the 31st of this month.  On the front of each, write this address:    

                       President Barack Obama                                                                                                                                            The White House                                                                                                                                                      1600 Pennsylvania Avenue                                                                                                                                          Washington D.C.  20500

3.  On the back of each, write the following message:    

  

   "This envelope/postcard represents one child who died because of an abortion. 

 It is empty because the life that was taken is now unable to offer anything to the world.  Responsibility begins with conception."

     

The President may never receive these envelopes, but who knows?  Perhaps he will.  And hopefully, 50 million of them will make their way to the White House-- one for every child who's died (in the United States) from an abortion. 

And hopefully... hopefully... the LORD will change the President's heart... that's my prayer.

"For You formed my inward parts; 

You wove me in my mother's womb. 

 I will give thanks to You, 

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

 Wonderful are Your works, 

and my soul knows it very well."

Psalm 139:13-14

 

Rupert

Aahhh, the wonders of modern veterinary medicine...

Meet Rupert, a tiny Muntjac fawn, delivered by Caesarean-section after his mother was hit by a car. Born three weeks early, he's proving to be quite a fighter! Check out his amazing story here .