Back again ..

Wednesday we head to the hospital so #1 son can have a sedation MRI. The surgeon wants to check the tumor site to make sure nothing is growing back or forming anywhere else in his brain.

It's been 2 years since we spent 2 weeks in the hospital and J had 2 surgeries .. and we are SO grateful for son's healing, but when we have to go back for the MRIs  .. those two weeks of memories just comes flowing back to the forefront of my mind.

I will NEVER forget what God did - the healing, the providing, the talks, the disbelief, the shock, the snow and ice, the doctors, the other families, the hospital bills, the LOVE shown by members of our church and community - the MIRACLE!

No matter what words we heard, the tests performed, the medicine incorrectly given, the extra nights in ICU, the heart murmur - God WAS there and He will be with us tomorrow as well.

Even when it doesn't feel like God is there - no doubt, He is. He will always be there ... no matter what the situation, the problem, the people, the doubt, the disbelief, the words, the darkness - HE IS WITH US - HE IS WITH YOU.

What Jesus did ....

Besides Christmas, Easter is one of the most glorious days in my Christian life. I LOVE Christmas and adore Easter, but as I age, have begun to appreciate even more what God did for me and for YOU. When I sit back and think that Jesus was born to die. He died for me. He took my sin. He hung on a cross. FOR ME. I shutter inside just thinking about it.

The life God gives us is not a dress rehersal .. this is it. Jesus was born for a purpose, he died for a purpose. So we could live forever WITH God. But while I am on earth, I want to fulfill my purpose, do the job God wants me to do, be the woman, wife and mom He wants me to be. Fulfill my purpose. Living out my thank you to Jesus for loving me enough to do what he did.

If you don't know Jesus, have questions, want to know more, do not want to be judged because you don't know where to go, what to do - you can start here.  http://needhim.org/

God Bless you - I pray that you can come to know Him and what He did for me and YES even for you!

2012 ....

As many other people you know have shared, I can't believe another year has come and gone. My father used to say, "be careful, if you blink, you will miss something". I totally agree. 2011 was the year to get through. We made it through the year, but I can't tell you much about it except we were busy and it seemed the like the "wheel" would never slow down. There was ALWAYS something to do, ALWAYS somewhere to be, ALWAYS something marked on the calendar .. 2012 will be no different, but this year I intend to be intentional about what I am doing, spending time with my family and making memories and treasuring every .. single .. day.

The kids are older and the memories of toddlers and preschoolers are fading in my memory, but I want to capture each moment, each smile, each disappointment, each tear and learn from them, help the learn from these situations and have more teachable moments. More time with God, more time for God, more time doing what He's intended for us to do.. all of us .. the whole family.

Praying for Kate MaCrae

When I started blogging I think it was 3 years ago, I blogged for my inlaws so they could watch their grandchildren grow up and be a part of their lives some 700 miles away.

Then I started reading blogs and being introduced to blogs .. and met this beautiful little girl .. and my whole family started praying for her.

Won't you join us?

prayingforkate.com

test, test ...

I haven't been able to post any drafts .... can you see this one?

Gotta get back to blogging...

too much is passing me by ... I need to start writing and posting pictures again ... how in the world did my son go from 6 to 14 1/2? AND ... I need to get the 1200 photos on my memory card OFF!

Let's see.... I am gonna try twice per week ... starting very sloooowllly!

Twas the Night before school started .....

I don't even know where to start. I have been looking forward to the start of school ALL summer, but then last week a HUGE cloud of dread came over me.

Could it be that I am not looking forward to the pick up line? Homework? Asking for letters from school out of the bottom of the backpacks? Papers? Creating lunch menus (Lunch is 3.10 this year ... so we will be making lunches at least 3 times per week)Being alone with my 4yr old?

Vacation 2011Day One, The drive

As usual we did not leave when we said, but we were completely packed the night before we were scheduled to leave....which in of itself was a HUGE accomplishment. It probably also helped that we have had the suitcases out and ready to fill since July 4th. :)

For once we decided to ENJOY the rest and enjoy the 12hr ride, so we decided to leave a day late. That way no driver would be too tired or get too tired only 2 hours after driving.

D loaded up the car and kept saying, "did we pack everything?" I said yes, a million times and was so glad we didn't pack every single item of clothing we owned. I am not sure what the difference is between this summer & last, but alas everybody had something to wear & toothbrushes were packed, so in the end, that's all that matters.

After washing the last of the breakfast dishes and mopping the kitchen floor (I love to come home to clean kitchen), we got in the car and headed off for vacation. 15 minutes into the trip, I said, hum, did I turn off the oven? You know where this is going right? Yes, we turned around to go back and check. Good thing we did .. the oven was off, but my favorite dress and hubby's shorts had NOT made it into the suitcase! That would have been a disaster!

Armed with our outfits I tiptoed back through the kitchen and hopped in the car. Off we zoomed. BUT WAIT, did the garage go all the way down? Yes, we turned around. Yes, down. GO now!

As we drove off for the third time, daddy noticed a light was out on the house and yes, we turned around AGAIN so daddy could repair the light.

Ok, now are we ready to go?

We made it safely down the road; then after an hour had to stop for a break. After that is really was smooth sailing.

Snow or Should say ICE Day

I am so thankful for a mandatory break in my schedule.

We have 3 inches of ice and some very restless boys on my hand.

They are bored, they are hungry, they want to play video games, they want to do whatever they want to do ALL DAY LONG and you know what .. they just might get their way.

It has been a busy two weeks and I must say I am glad God let it snow and sleet a little bit so we could stay home, relax, and REST!

Hubby's home too, so it is especially nice. I let the boys go outside this morning and I think they were out there for maybe 5 minutes. I knew that would happen. Weathermen say it is a whopping 18 degrees and will be a good 2 by tonight. I don't I have ever seen temps that low in my life ... on tv .. yes, right in front of me .. NO ...

This day is also building memories for the boys. I remember my days out of school. They were fun and filled with food. As long as we don't have to venture out .. we are good.

Praying for another one of these lazy days again tomorrow. :)

Cold & Rainy

Even though it is cold and rainy, it has been the best day ever. First service at church (What kind of Christian are you?), a little grocery shopping for the week and back home to change into Sunday afternoon laying around clothes. :)

It's cold and rainy here and all I want to is cook and bake. I am talking comfort food and scrumptious dessert.

So, I decided to cook spaghetti/zucchini, great northern beans/spiral ham, homemade chicken soup, peanut butter cookies and oatmeal chocolate chip & cranberry cookies. Make my meal planning this week REAL easy.
(By the way, I just got an email about electronic cigarettes... huh?)

I disgress ... anyway .. I have been having a ball in my kitchen with all the meals and the aromas and watching my boys watch football w/ their daddy. (Love that man)

I am soaking up this laaaaazy day because these days are few and far between. There seems to be something on the calendar every, single, day and I want a break. I want to get off the roller coaster and today is that day.

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24