Rediscover the Simple.

It was Super Bowl Sunday.  The game hadn't yet begun and the sun was shining!  That's right!  The sun was shining on the west coast!!  So, out we went to enjoy the beauty.  We sat on the front porch soaking in the rays and began to observe the beauty around us.  Grass was growing, the sky was blue, the wind non-existent and there at our feet was a black tube.  Come to find out it was the sewage cleanout.  So, in curiosity, Seth opened it up and looked inside, and asked his dad about all that flows through the tube (which is exactly what one would guess). We then began talking about different races we could have with toilet paper, rubber duckies, etc.to see whose would make it to the street first.  It continued in this manner for a while.

With laughter bubbling, the sun beating down and actually warming our skin, I realized how much I love the little things in life.  There is so much to distract in this life, but I love that we can set aside all distractions and enjoy something so simple.  Gross, possibly, but it wasn't really about the sewage, it was about the time together, the creativity that flowed from something so basic, and the joy that reigned.  Since then, I have found myself thinking back to that day and giggling.  We can be so weird, but it is those times of weirdness that I treasure, those times that are remembered because they are out of the ordinary.

So, this is my challenge to you, rediscover the simple, and see what creativity, laughter, and relationship flows out of it.  I think you may be surprised.

Happy Birthday, Seth!

My husband just celebrated his 34th birthday.  We didn't have any big plans, simply a picnic and a hike, which were disrupted by the weather.  And so, at 4:00 Seth said, "Let's round 'em up!  I know what I want to do."  Off we went.  We landed at the mall where Seth walked us in to Starbucks and purchased a peppermint, white hot chocolate for me, and a java chip frapacinno for him, telling the girls their treat was to come.  We then sauntered over to Gymboree where we were greeted by the saleslady and asked if there was anything we needed.  Seth shared that he would like to purchase one outfit for each of his daughters.  Long flowing skirts which could be worn while running through a field of wildflowers were purchased.  He then took us to the Olive Garden where we enjoyed an amazing dinner complete with bread sticks, soup, salad, pasta yumminess, and a scrumptious dessert!  It was a wonderful birthday for us all! :)

Our girls were blessed beyond words and wore their new outfits for the next two days, removing them, only to be washed, so they could be worn again on Sunday.  What struck me most were the words Adalie shared the following day, "Momma, I don't want to receive gifts for my birthday, I want to give them away."

I immediately ran into the bedroom and shared this with Seth saying, "Well done, honey!  Because of your example our daughters were not only blessed, but taught such an important lesson from the Word of God, "It is better to give, then to receive.  Well done!"

Happy New Year!

A New Year Indeed!!  We squeaked out of 2011 and were overjoyed when 2012 came blazing in fresh and new.  Have you felt it?  Do you sense a newness this year?

With two months almost gone, I realize that this year is a treasure.  God is up to new things!

Already, I've seen Him moving in our business, bringing alongside an amazing board who has helped our business develop to a place where we now see movement and productivity, bringing a man to partner with Seth who is like-minded, loves to communicate as much as Seth does and who is working hard at fundraising for our company, and creativity flowing in abundance!  I've seen Him moving in my own life as I am growing and becoming more and more the woman He's created me to be.  I'm watching our children mature in the love of the Lord.  Our friendships are deepening, and God is strengthening us all.

This is an amazing year, God is on the move, and I am excited!  Happy New Year!!

Learning to Parent

It is amazing to me how each stage of our children's lives brings with it a need to learn how to parent all over again.  Adalie is entering into a stage that is more grown-up than ever before.  This may seem obvious to all, but to a mama who still sees her as my little girl, it is a bit challenging to believe.  Adalie is in the 4th grade and is 9 years old, and was just invited to her first "Big Girl" function.  The church is taking all of the 4th and 5th graders out for food, games and frozen yogurt.

When she first shared this with me, I instantly went to the place of, "My little girl is growing up.  I'm not ready for this."  And then as I saw her response of not wanting to go and seeing fear and uncertainty, I instantly felt a need to push her to go.  I saw myself in her eyes at that moment and I didn't like it, and I didn't want to foster it.

One night, as we were discussing this, I felt at a loss.  "Do I encourage her to go even though she is afraid?  Am I suppose to be loving and understanding and let her stay in her insecurity?"  I was praying intensely as we talked, and still felt uncertain of how to handle the situation.  My own past and insecurities clouding my ability to parent in the moment.

And then entered my man!  When confronted with the issue he simply stated, "Adalie, have you asked Jesus whether you should go or not?"

The morning dawned brightly, as Adalie awoke from her sleep, and joined me downstairs on the couch.  We cuddled up, and everything in me wanted to ask, "So, what did Jesus say?!?"  But within a few moments she shared, "Mommy, I want to go to J12 Jam."  I asked why and she stated Jesus told her she needed to be brave, and then gave her a picture of her running, laughing, and having a good time.  From that day on she has been excited to go, and is at the event as I type.

I was so proud of my daughter in that moment.  She sought the Lord and found peace and joy in His answer. And in her maturity to seek the Lord, I saw her as the young lady she is becoming.

In this new stage of life, where little girls become young ladies, I choose to ask the Lord for wisdom and to trust that He is holding my babes in His hands.

Retreating with my Man

Thursday was sunny, and so to the beach we ran!

There is something wonderful about getting away with my man!  We just returned from the Couple's Conference in Seaside, OR. and what I love is the joy that we feel in eachothers company.

We were able to spend this weekend together because of the blessing of a family who had already registered and then were not able to make it.  They called and asked if we could take their place.  Another family rented a house and told us there was an extra room if we would like it.  The Lord so beautifully provided the way.

Cannon Beach beautiful!

And the weekend was amazing!  We had times to be alone and times to play with friends, time to rest, and time to minister late into the night, time to laugh and time to get serious.  It was wonderfully refreshing.

The greatest message I took from the conference was the intentionality we need to have in our relationship with the Lord and in our marriages.  If we want to see growth in either, we need to be intentional to foster relationship, to find ways to grow and to bless, to encourage and to love.  A lot of what was shared was very basic, but I was hit with how important it is to hear those reminders.  Sometimes simply brushing up on the basics can bring renewed life to a marriage.

The basic necessity we saw need for growth in was dating!  And so, Saturday afternoon, Seth and I dated.  We found a table right by the fire (I love fires), ate a yummy lunch, and talked about how to make dating a priority in our marriage.  As I mentioned at the beginning of this blog, I love getting away with my man, and this weekend not only allowed for that, but also encouraged more of it, and an intentional plan was made to spend time with him, and only him, weekly.   (Hee, hee!  That makes me giddy.)

This weekend was a success!

Our weekend ended here! Yum!!

With our friends the Starks,

us, 

the Mattos's,

and the Sellstrom's, all coming off a great weekend of togetherness.

Date Night

Love, love, love them!!  Date nights.  A time to get away with my man.  No worries about school, home, or food.  Simply being and enjoying each other.  Yes, even dressing up all pretty!  This night was extra special because it was spent with our good friends.  

The night began with a wild race from the soccer field to the Stark's home, to quickly change, drop off the babes, a few snapped photos, and we were off.  We drove to Indian Summer where we entered into a beautifully decorated room for what appeared to be a wedding.  The night's theme, "Till Murder do us part."  We were embarking on a night of sleuthing, detective work, and careful observation.

After Act 1 the questions were swirling, "Who dunnit? What was the murder weapon?  Was it the brooch or the drink? and Weren't those appetizers delightful?"

Act 2 brought with it more questions, a few answers, a yummy salad, soft roll, and a few stolen kisses from my man.

Act 3 completely confused some, threw out many pre-conceived ideas, and then the guesses began.  I felt it was the mother-of-the-groom, but couldn't remember a key element.  Katy gave me the information, and with her info, my sleuthing sheet was complete.  Dinner was served, London Broil, red potatoes, and vegetables. Yum.

Act 4 began.  Quickly, the murderer was exposed.  The true love was revealed.  And all lived happily ever after.  The prizes were called out and my sheet was chosen!  Katy and I had solved the case!  Our prize, a gift certificate to Mercato's, a delightful, Italian Restaurant, in beautiful, downtown Olympia.

What huge diamonds!  Party favors are the best.

A few more kisses, party favors collected (for the babes) and our night came to a close.  It was a beautiful, girly, all-dressed up, sort of evening.  Me and my man, and our friends.

Donuts and other Special Treats

"Mommy, I want to buy donuts for the family with money out of my piggy bank," Adalie shared joyously one cool, Fall day.  "I want to bless our family."  And bless us she did!  We drove to Heavenly Donuts, pink, piggy bank in hand, and we were all able to choose the most amazing donut we could find.  We then took them home and ate them, while we cuddled on the couch, and watched a movie.

I am confident this is God's heart for us.  He desires to bless us.  He desires to treat us.  Donuts are definitely not a necessity, but every once in a while they can be a special treat that puts a smile on our face. :) God wants to do that for us as well.  He wants to put a smile on our face.

This week I had to find sitters for three separate evenings.  This is something that I don't particularly enjoy doing and find it difficult to say the least.  God knew this about my week and He desired to bless me.  So, Monday I received a call from one of our Anthem students asking if she could watch our kids for small group on Friday.  Wow!  Of course!  Big Smile!  Tuesday, a friend called and asked if she could watch our kids for the class Seth and I are taking on Thursday.  This time tears came to my eyes, along with a smile.  Wednesday, we had other friends offer to watch the girls on Saturday for our Murder Mystery Dinner Theater we were attending.

God knew what was needed this week, and instead of saying, "Figure it out," He said, "I want to bless you.  Your sitters are taken care of."

We serve an amazing God who gives special treats to His children, and this week they came in the form of three beautiful people offering a beautiful gift.