Busy Week

I've been playing with the kiddos at the pool, at the cottage, and paying for it with a mild sunburn. Luckily it was a light one and fading fast.

Tomorrow starts the neighborhood garage sale.

Someday I'll sleep again.

Day at the Zoo

Took the fam to the zoo this weekend with my brother and his fam. It was a lot of fun and the kids did really well. It rained on and off part of the time we were there, sometimes while the rain was shining. It was a little cold... but it was fun. Here's a peek at the day.

Looking for Inspiration

It's so easy to get in the rut of cooking/eating what you know. I'm looking for inspiration. What do you love to eat?

Sweet Smile

My in-laws took my kids to their cottage yesterday to stay overnight. Huge treat for the kids, and us! Andy and I got to go out for dinner (brief date thanks to school running late). It's been a long time since we've had time to ourselves. Forgot what it was like.

On the way back this morning, little man fell asleep in the car, woke up when I took him out, and promptly fell back asleep on the couch. I looked over a minute ago to find him smiling in his sleep. Must be a good dream.

I rarely get to enjoy this peaceful side of my boys anymore, usually just in constant motion. Thanks God for this little reminder of how precious this time is.

Happy Birthday Baby

I just wanted to take a moment wish my husband a happy birthday. For his birthday he's getting up before the crack of dawn to head to school and run 5 miles. It's one of the last hurdles in the police academy PT program. Happy birthday to you.

He's worked so hard and come so far... I can't believe there is just a little over 3 weeks left in the program. With working out and the school's program he's lost 5" off his waist in the last year. Realistically, we both know that won't all stay off, but he's looking pretty buff about now.

Andy's worked hard, studied hard, and made a lot of sacrifices. He's gone from barely making it to acing the last couple of tests. Wish my boys could understand the depth of what he's doing. It's a great role model for them.

It's been a saga and struggle, and at times I've been frustrated with the process. But it's getting easier to see God working in it all.

So happy birthday to the love my life. It's been 9 1/2 years and I'm happier now that I was then. I'm more in love with him now than I was then. He's definitely improving with age.

WAR Party

I was a bit of a tease last week with my WAR party comment and then go busy and didn't update. No I did not lead a group to pillage the next town over. Waht I did was host a party for Women At Risk, Intl. I don't host ANY kind of at home parties, but for this group, I made an exception to that standard.

It's an incredible organization that I've come to know about that is doing some amazing work around the world. They work to help rescue women who are trafficked, oppressed, abused, or help those who are at risk. But they don't stop there. They help these women learn a trade (jewelry making, sewing, baking, etc) so they can not only be safe, but can support themselves/their family with a marketable and honorable job.

I had a party featuring their jewelry (mostly from Thailand) for sale and also to help educate other women about the risks around them and around the world. There is SO MUCH that I was not aware of that was happening in our own back yard. I'm pretty naive to so much of the risk and oppression that is out there. And this is just the start of me finding ways to help other women around the world.

I'll leave you with a few pictures from the night while I lounge around in my orange pajama pants that I bought (with a fun matching shoulder bag/tote) at the party. Talk about feel good shopping. If you aren't familiar with the organization, I highly recommend them.

What's a party without food. Here's the black raspberry cobbler I made.

Along with the grilled pineapple and pineapple cream cheese dip.

My house was covered with beautiful, exotic, creative masterpieces.

I did laps between the kitchen, dining room and living room.

So hard to decide. Great night with friends and family. If you are interested, I'll be having another party hopefully in September.

You know you need to go grocery shopping when...

...you serve your kids ramen for lunch and the only thing you can find all the ingredients to make is tuna noodle skillet. We were out of everything!

So I restocked tonight and hit some great deals. Let me share for a moment because I'm so excited...

• 5 boxes of cereal, box of pop tarts (haven't bought those in YEARS), and a backpack for $7.80
• Pantene shampoo, conditioner, 2 hairsprays, Rubbermaid water bottle, sand bucket/shovel for $6.35

Can I just say I rocked the sales and coupons tonight. Then I bought a compact flourescent lightbulb for $10 and it took the wind out of my sail. For a light bulb? Seriously? They claim to last 8-9 years. We are starting to replace at under 2 years. The rest better last a bit longer.

Excited about my WAR party tomorrow night. I'll share more later.

Catching Up

So it's been a while since I've posted any pictures. Here are a few recent pictures that make me smile and/or laugh.

Berry picking ended up being wildflower picking as well. They picked some for themselves and some for the neighbor girl as well.

My little berry fiend. This could be the answer to "where did all those berries go that I just picked?" You don't want to see what the shirt looked like.

This just makes me laugh.

Fishing with cousins on the 4th of July

Kayaking with Dad and picking flowers for Mom

Trying to keep this boy alive. After several "scares" I was all about precautions in the lake. If I had an inflatable ring I probably would have put that on him too. The kid has no fear.

Little bit tired after a long day in the water and fireworks.

Both boys completely passed out on the way home from the cottage.

On a Beautiful Day

On a beautiful day like this I should be outside enjoying it. Reality is that I feel miserable and have hardly left the couch and my bed today. I hardly slept all last night - think I have bronchitis setting in and coughed all night long.

So today, I missed out on gorgeous weather and a day with my family. I did get caught up on a TV series I haven't seen because of cutting back our satellite package. Oh well. At least it's the weekend and my husband was home to take the kiddos. If I didn't feel so crummy it would almost be a vacation.

Coughing

I'm so tired of this dry cough. Hardly slept last night and I'm not looking forward to tonight.

I had a reason for being so tired today... still it was a good day, but man, somethings even coffee can't help. Better get to bed and start the coughing and tossing and turning.

Things I've Been Contemplating

I've been mulling through some things lately, trying to take it all in, process, evaluate it's impact and truth. Why is it that life is hard? Why do things end up so complex? Is this what life is meant to be?

Nope, this isn't what God intended. He told Adam and Eve they had freedom, with one exception. They couldn't enjoy the majority, but desired what they couldn't have. The rest is history from there. I do the same thing. I have freedom to enjoy so much in life, but what do I do? I cling to what I don't have and all that I want. I miss out on all the good around me for the sake of something I think I want.

Isnt' that what mistakes and sin cost us? A lack of contentment, robbing us of joy and hope. Making life more complicated.

God offers us salvation pure and simple... Jesus took my penalty, as a free gift of grace, I can accept Him in faith as my Savior. I am forgiven, loved, adopted and set free. I'm given strength, hope, joy, and the opportunity to share these things.

But where does it get complicated? When I start replacing the nature of the gift and thinking I somehow need to "earn" love. If I'm good enough, do the right things, act just right, etc... If grace was earned it would no longer be grace (Romans 11:6). If I could earn it, then Jesus' sacrifice wasn't needed. God made it simple - believe and receive (Romans 10:9-13). Humanity complicates it and lives life thinking that if there is enough good to out weigh the bad, that God will accept me. The complication is really a lie in disguise. I'll never be good enough. It's a losing battle.

My relationships are complicated when I attempt to "get something" out of them, make sure it's reciprical enough, keep score. That isn't what was intended. Comfort and ease comes when there is commitment. Sin and selfishness complicates.

So what have I learned? I need to stop making things so complicated. God never meant it to be so. Besides, there are enough people in this world that are going to make things complicated for me, I really don't need to add to it.

Freedom in simplicity. Something I'm struggling to learn this summer.

Things I'm Enjoying

Focusing on the enjoyable things in my life right now.

• Huge neck hugs from a 2-year-old
• My gardens are growing
• Fresh strawberries and blackberries
• A quiet moment - everyone is sleeping
  
• Listening to Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, etc
• Deepening faith
• Great friends and family
• Someone at the insurance company who was helpful
• Checking things off the to-do list
• Husband washed dishes tonight
• Cooler weather at the greenhouse
• Cuddling with my boys watching movies on rainy days
• Strawberry pie
• The sunshine (I know it will come back)
• Frugal Family Feasts
• Sleeping in a little bit
• The smell of my favorite candle
• Chris Tomlin
• My husband is 2/3 the way through school