Extraordinary Life

• 2 Comments

•

Last week we went to Canada. I might eventually write about the actual trip, but I really just want to post scenery pictures. 🙂 It was so pretty! I was hoping it would be, and it didn't disappoint.

The best thing is, none of these spots but one were places that we went to specifically to take pictures. These were literally just pull-off-to-the-side-of-the-road or quick-open-the-window-as-we-drive-by places. So much beautiful landscape, just begging to be seen, and see it we did. ...continue reading →

•

Nine years ago today, Eric picked me up for prayer meeting, but we didn't walk over to church. Instead, we got in his pickup and drove to the same spot where he'd asked me out, and he got down on one knee, and he finally asked the question I'd been waiting for him to ask for so long.

And the answer of course was yes.

Picture from our engagement photo shoot.

...continue reading →

•

Pay biz bills, my to-do list says.

Someday, that will mean sitting down with a cup of coffee, a roll of stamps, and a book of checks.

But it is not this day.

Today, I let Emmett stay up a little extra because he’s playing nicely with his brothers, and I flip through the bills that came in the mail, pulling some out to pay right away, putting others in a stack to pay next week.

I stand at the counter, pen in hand. The boys are completely silent, all three of them. I know they’re playing Baby Robin though and assume it’s nighttime and that all the little birds are sleeping.

I pay a little something to Alec’s school and write a check for the one pressing “came in the mail” bill. Chaos breaks out in the back bedroom. I go get Emmett and put him to bed. ...continue reading →

•

I am not looking forward to sending my boys back to school this fall.

It wasn't till last week though that I realized I haven't even been making the most of the time I do have with them.

The time right now.

I'm with them all day every day, but the amount of time I spend actually doing anything with them is pretty small. Eric is so good at setting aside time specifically for them. Me, not so much.

Emmett's nap time comes around, and with it my chance to get some computer work done, and I hear myself shooing this boy or that away so I can "get stuff done" while Emmett is sleeping.

And I decided to change that, while I still have them home over nap time. Why would I wish for more time with my boys and then push them away when I have a chance for some one-on-two time with them?

If you want to make a change, just tell your kids. They'll keep you accountable. ...continue reading →

•

One of my favorite things so far this summer break has been being able to do Bible Time with my boys again. We had largely gotten away from doing it with any regularity while school was in session. That school run in the morning just derailed the nice little time slot right after breakfast when we were used to doing it, and I never found another time that worked quite as well.

Now that school is out though, that nice little time slot is back, and so is our singing, verse-practicing, and story-reading.

On Friday morning every single boy helped sing “Jesus Loves Me.” Even Emmett sang, and there was nary a poopy chicken invoked. (See my post before last if you're confused--he's been known to throw a "poopy chicken" in wherever he thinks it fits.)

The big boys repeated after me the verses we’ve been trying to learn. I had read these verses in my own reading quite a while ago and ended up printing them off on a poster to put in the boys' room. They've been hanging there for months, maybe even a year, but the boys haven't really learned yet what they say.

“As for you, my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you.” (1 Chronicles 28:9, NKJV)

I took a few liberties with the verse on the poster, omitting the name of “my son” (Solomon) and not including the last part of the verse (“But if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever”), but when I read it in Chronicles so long ago, I just knew I wanted it to be on my boys’ wall, as a reminder for both them and me.

It’s about time they know what it says. 🙂 ...continue reading →