school!

Well, the Trimble crew has a boy in public school! We have a great kindergarten program in this county and we have a very energetic little boy, who when coupled with his little brother gets into too much mischief or too much wrestling when I am doing school work with the girls. So we decided after much thought and prayer to put Keenan in Kindergarten! He started last Thursday and really enjoys it! He is so cute! I enjoy having a few quiet minutes in the mornings with just him (and sometimes Silas). He even likes riding the bus... to school, not home from school :) He says its too hot on the bus in the afternoons. We like that he is only at school for 3 hours. Adjusting to the schedule so strictly is a little bit of a stretch for me. I am used to being able to roll with whatever may be happening that day. Our homeschool schedule is somewhat flexible. But public school doesn't care that the baby was up all night, or that church went really late the night before, or that friends are coming from out of town for just one day. The bus still comes at 7 am sharp, Monday through Friday. I know that many, many others have surrendered themselves to the public school schedule for years of their lives. I just don't like someone else telling me exactly when and where I have to be so often. Anyway, we are doing well with it and looking forward to a fun year, both at kindergarten and with the girls at home!

Camp and Camping

Last week we took the girls to a camp in Ohio. Some good friends of ours were helping to lead it and we wanted the girls to experience summer camp, with an eternal purpose! So they spent three days worshiping God, praying, learning to use dance and other forms of art for God's glory, playing games, staying up late, etc... They had so much fun! Both said they came home knowing that they had really, wholeheartedly worshiped God! That was worth every penny we paid for it! I cannot post their pictures because they had a disposable camera. Sorry.
While the girls were at camp, David and I took the boys camping nearby. We also had a great time. The boys loved playing in the dirt, hammering sticks with a rubber mallet, hiking in the woods, exploring, roasting marshmallows and other outside activities. Silas was so filthy by the last day, but he loves to be outside so he didn't mind! I bathed him a tiny sink before we left :) Enjoy the pictures of the boys roasting marshmallows, Silas with a whole marshmallow in his mouth, and the boys at the lake near our campsite.

comments

For those of you who care to comment, I think I figured out how to make it easier to do so. Grandma T., try it and let me know if it really is easier.

Hard Pressed by not Crushed!

Well, for those of you who read the Aug 1 blog "Overwhelmed" here is the update. God was so good to me as I cried out to Him for his eyes and his heart for my kids. As usually happens when I take my eyes off of me and my circumstances and fix them on Jesus, my perspective is corrected and put into clearer focus. I had a fabulous day following that blog and though the days that have followed have not all been easy, my outlook and attitude (perspective!!! I love that word) is better. I keep seeking the Lord and his joy and grace for each day. I was very encouraged as I reread Scriptures like " We are had pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair... Therefore we do not lose heart..." 2 Corinthians 4:7-18 Paul knew how I was feeling! He had experienced it. Not with his kids, but his other daily circumstances. And my life is no less important to God than his, though it is less "famous." One of our favorite singers at IHOP (International House of Prayer) in Kansas City sings this line, "If I don't give up, I win!" Endurance and staying faithful to the end is a theme all through Scripture. So even when I am struggling and God seems so far away, I'm not going to give up. I will keep seeking the Awesome God who made me and loves me! I will keep singing to Him and waiting on him, putting my hope in God alone. See Psalm 33!! It's one of my favs!
Melissa

He's Walking!!

Today, Silas just started walking. It seemed sudden to us because he didn't really do just one or two steps first. Rachel was holding his hand leading in down the hall, she let go, but he kept walking. He took at least 5 steps before plopping down. Just to make sure it wasn't a fluke, we tried it again, this time with the camera. And sure enough he did it again for us and then again for Daddy. So here you go... footage of baby Silas, who is quickly growing out of "babyhood," walking!

boys just gotta run and jump

Here is some video footage of the boys having fun a few days ago. Just a reminder that the videos I post are not really great quality, but for grandparents, they will do. One day I will have a better camera, but for now I am thankful for the one I have! Thanks mom and dad!
p.s. there were two videos but I could only get one to download. I need to learn a new format or something for my videos. If you are computer savvy and have suggestions, please let me know.

OVERWHELMED!!

WARNING: THIS IS RAW, PERSONAL INFORMATION. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.
David is not here to talk to so I am using this blog to process some of my thoughts. The last few weeks have been difficult days for me, especially at home. Jesus, please meet with me as I type and help me to work out some of these issues. Honestly, I am having a hard time enjoying my children. What are the difficulties? Bickering, a baby who has turned so whiny all of a sudden, boys who want to beat up each other all day long, not listening to instructions, self-centeredness and the inability or unwillingness to consider others... I could go on, but really I think I just feel two things: one is a sense of being overwhelmed by day to day struggles and the second is a genuine burden for the spiritual and emotional maturation of my children. Now my problem is what do I do now? What do I do with these feelings? How do I handle them correctly so that I grow to know God in a deeper way and that my children do, too. How do I teach my children things like overlooking a (minor) offense, patience with a grumpy baby (even when I am tiring of it too), thinking of someone else's feelings or desires, being calm when necessary, self control when they are angry, etc...? Not to mention picking up after oneself, not picking one's nose, closing the door when going outside, following directions as soon as they are given, etc... I am getting bogged down in the muck of parenthood. I am not laughing and enjoying being a mommy. Tonight I played a card game with the girls after I finally got all the boys in bed. It was so good to laugh with them. I told them that our laughter was good medicine for me. But the majority of my day is so different. How do I enjoy them when one minute my three year old is calling someone "poopy bottom," my five year old gets angry and hits him, the 10 year old gets mad at the 5 year old and starts saying all manner of ugly things. Then a few minutes later, the baby is whining at my feet or pulling the CDs off the shelf he knows he isn't supposed to touch and "accidently" the 8 year old pushes the 5 year old off the bed and now he's screaming in his anger at his mistreatment. And on it goes all day! It hasn't always been like this I don't think. What has changed or why do I feel the weight of parenting so heavily now?
Is is a discipline problem? Is it some sort of spiritual attack? Is it deep heart issues with me or with my children? Probably it is some of all of it.
Last night after a hard day, I just put some worship music on and prayed and worshiped God. And it was wonderful! Today, I am writing this blog. I feel like crying and screaming all at the same time. I do feel like God gives me strength enough for each day, but I don't like always feeling like I am running on fumes. fumes of joy, fumes of patience, fumes of energy and strength... I want to be victorious. I want Jesus to be king in my home. I want my children to love God and his ways. I want to abide in Christ. I want to live in freedom and joy and the power of the Holy Spirit. I want more than I am experiencing right now!
One thing I know. God had put me in this place at this time and it is He who is my help! I call on Him and wait for his hand of mercy and deliverance. I am not giving up the fight. If I don't give up, I win!
Here's my plan. Worship and pray now! Communion with God is my strength, my joy, my fuel! Tomorrow, I think I'll turn off my computer, use paper plates, sing lots of fun kids songs, get outside and enjoy my kids. And I'll start our day with worship and prayer and God's Living Word! I'll "trust in the Lord with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding!"
It was nice to write openly. I feel a little lighter after expressing my frustrations. I hope none of you are offended or have the wrong idea about me or my family! I love what I do and my kids are great. We are all just a work in progress and that gets messy sometimes. God is faithful! I'll write again soon so I don't leave you hanging.
Just thought of this verse, God speaking: "when you pass through the waters, I will be with you and the waves will not overwhelm you." From Isaiah 43. Thank you Lord for your promises.