bedtime

Bedtime... sometimes bedtime is fun and a good bonding time. We read a book or play a short game, we brush teeth, sing a song, kiss, hug and pray. Tonight though bedtime started off a lot different than that. It has been a tough afternoon. Some days the kids are just grumpy and don't want to say or do anything nice to anyone. Those are difficult days in our small house. I don't know why some days are like that, while others seem to go so smoothly and everyone plays and works together nicely. Similarly, neither do I understand why some mornings I feel at peace, ready to walk with the Lord and tackle the day ahead with joy, and other days I would rather just go back to bed.
So after being alone tonight (David is at work- his first night of his new job with an evening work schedule) with cranky kids, I was worn out and frustrated. I said "good night" to Keenan and started to walk out the door, trying to leave without the usual bedtime routine. But he asked me to sing to him. I sat there for a minute trying to decide what song to sing, and a song from youth group days that has encouraged me along my journey came to mind. So I sang "God will make a way, where there seems to be no way; He works in ways, we cannot see..." And as I sang it, I claimed the truth of it for my family. God will make a way for me. He will make a way for His will in my life, in my kids' lives, in this crazy world in which we live. God will make a way.
Then it was on to child #2. I got Micah all tucked in and like usual asked "Do you want to pick the song or shall I?" He wanted to choose and picked "I love you, Micah." I don't know if you know this little ditty. I am not even sure where I learned it, but all of my kids love it. It goes like this: " I love you ___________(fill in the name), oh yes I do. I love you ________ and I'll be true. When you're not with me, I'm blue, who who. Oh, _________ I love you!" As I sang, I thought about how much he loves me to sing that simple and somewhat silly song to him. He loves for me to sing about him and to sing about how much I love him. And I thought about Jesus telling his disciples to be like the little children to enter the kingdom of heaven. Then he thanked God for Silas (it blesses me so much how much they all, especially the boys, love him), and for the cats (we only have one since we moved), and a few other things. Again, the simplicity touched my heart and lifted the frustration of the day.
So bedtime started so difficult, full of the frustrations of the day, but turned out a blessing that helped me readjust my vision. I saw Jesus and His love and power, and that makes all the difference in the world. Maybe tomorrow,by God's grace, I'll be able to keep that focus all day no matter what the circumstances may be.

video experiment

I am trying out a new camera that Dad is letting me borrow. Silas was laughing like crazy at Keenan at breakfast this morning so I tried a video of it. It didn't play very well on Windows Media Player, so I don't know how well it will work here. It has a clicking sound that we are hoping to get fixed. Anyway, this is mostly for Grandma and Papa in Oregon. I figure a bad video is better than not seeing the kids at all! Love to you!

more vacation pics

These are pictures from our good friends the Leitner's house. We had so much fun with them! Again, there are more pictures on facebook.

vacation

The kids and I had a great time on our recent trip to SC. We traveled quite a bit, visiting friends and family. God gave me lots of grace and patience for the 5 kiddos for 10 days of traveling. I will post a few pictures here of our journeys. If you want to see more you can find them on my photo album on facebook. (never thought I'd say that, but it is a good way to post pictures)
Thanks to mom and dad, Granny, the Leitners, the Chigbus, and the Keevers for making our vacation so fun!

Picking Strawberries

A couple of weeks ago (sorry, I'm a little slow lately) we went to a local farm to pick strawberries. Everyone had a great time and we are enjoying the fresh strawberry jam, too!

Treasure

What is my treasure? What is that thing that I will give it all for, spend my life storing up and seeking? I have great kids and I love my husband. I enjoy life and I like to drink coffee and eat ice cream. But none of those things, as special as some of them are, should be my treasure. I was reading in the Bible a few days ago about our treasure. I found these verses tucked away in Psalm 119. "The law of your mouth is better to me than thousands of coins of gold and silver."(v 72) "I rejoice at your word as one who finds great treasure." (v 162) Do I view God's word this way? I grew up with several Bibles on the shelves at home, hearing its stories weekly in church. I haven't always viewed God's word as my treasure, but in the last several years, God has opened my eyes to its riches! Verse 50 in Psalm 119 says "Your word has given me life." Jesus said "The words that I speak to you are spirit and they are life." Nothing else I could seek, no other treasure that I could run after will give me life! His Word is a deep well of truth. His Word is a light to our path. It is light when all around us is darkness. And it is the very character of God that makes his words so priceless. SO really, He is the treasure! Jesus tells a parable about a man who found a treasure. He sold everything he had and bought the field that contained the treasure. I have decided, and have to reaffirm that decision often, that I will give it all for the treasure of Jesus and His Word. He gave his all for me, thinking me a special treasure. How else will I respond?