Profundity? Nah.

I feel like I am really lacking in any original profound thought these days.  I go to bed early --so I can get up early --so I can do my Bible study early --so I can go to the gym early --so I can work a little before the kids wake up.  Then I homeschool for a few hours. Help the boys with piano practice. Then I work for several more.  It's becoming a routine.  Not much time for play.  If you've heard me complain about feeling like I'm working too much, I think it is a legit feeling.  The last 2 billing cycles prove that out.  But today it dawned on me that perhaps God is preparing me for something, in some way.

By having more hours of work than I really feel comfortable with in each day, it is forcing me to implement more self-discipline.  And routine is actually a new normal in my household.  Homeschooling can be very very structured or very very loose or (if you do it right) somewhere in between.  Since Eric died, I feel like we were on the loose end of things.  So this daily routine is probably a good thing for the boys.  Aldan has even picked up on some better habits too.  He is making it a point to get to bed at a decent hour and be awake when most people are awake.  He works swing-shift, so I get that he needs to wind down.  Today he got up and mowed the grass without being asked.  THANK you!

I am also really loving waking up uber-early (between 4-5am) and spending those first few minutes talking with God.  And I am lucky to have one friend who also rises early.  We often text or talk before I head out to the gym and all of this leads to a good start to my day.  I have also recently been told I am anemic.  I've been trying to exercise more regularly and get more iron in my diet.  I haven't had much free time to read or to write.  But I have some great books on the nightstand...the anticipation is building.

The busyness of the weekdays has also made me more deliberate about finding a weekend release.  Something fun to look forward to.  I guess you could call this conscious living.  On purpose living.  And that is why I will strive NOT to complain about the extra work anymore.  I want to be thankful and joyful in it.  I am very blessed to be able to work from home, flexible hours, and part-time.  No reason to complain there!

I Thess 5:18 "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of the God in Christ Jesus for you."

Some quirks

I am generally and specifically disturbed by visual clutter.  My brain just refuses to operate when my environment is in chaos.  You could say I am a tidy person.  Now I wouldn't go so far as to call it OCD.  Cleanliness is not as critical (sorry) as getting rid of clutter.  But oftentimes, I wake up and get to the kitchen and it looks like this:

Please notice, this is MOSTLY toys that have made their way onto the kitchen counter.  Some dishes.  And yes, a snake.  This whole vision makes me batty!  Fortunately, the boys are very cooperative with this.  I asked them to help me clean up.  They did.  AND they totally cleaned up their room and rearranged it too!  Love it!

Ahhhhhh.  I can breathe now.

Trimming the Tree

Little boys have been asking (read: begging) me to get a tree since the day after Thanksgiving.  Now I know there are some brave and decorative souls who like to put up their Christmas trees on Thanksgiving...I'm just not that girl.  Thankfully, I still have little people that enjoy decorating.  Today we picked out a tree and hauled it home (precut, from the Kiwanis lot at Sebo's).  Still, a struggle for me, really.  But we won't go into the negative and tear-jerking details of that.  Let's stick to the joy of the season, shall we?

a few lighted ceramic houses in the entryway

yes, it's over 6 feet tall, a Douglas Fir

Keaton is soooo happy!

Cole relaxes after a job well done

Eric painted the "Immanuel" sign with the kids when we lived at the lake house one year.  I don't think I was home that day; probably working.  Thanks to Keaton and Cole, our home is all ready for Christmas!  (Except for the gifts...which I am sure will be pointed out to me soon enough.)

Our Thanksgiving

This year we drove over to Eastern Washington to our friends' house for Thanksgiving.  It was a delightful time.  Especially fun for me to see Aldan so engaging (they have teenage daughters to entertain...) and the younger boys love their dog, their snow, and their Wii. Thankful for the Poehners!

Yay!  There is snow!!

Girls and Aldan played some card games

The boys playing Wii sports....

With Aldan now working two part-time jobs, we don't really have a lot of opportunities to socialize with him.  He was totally in his element on this trip.  He could definitely pull off a gig as a comedian.  No doubt.  So glad he was able to join us.

Christmas Pancakes

Per Keaton's request this morning, pancakes in shapes for Christmas season.

For Keaton- a tree.
For Cole - a gingerbread man.
For Mom - a Texas.

Planes and Pies

Today our internet was down for most of the day. Boys were really upset because they couldn't work on school (NOT!) I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to finish up some payrolls before the holiday. But it all worked out as internet connectivity was restored mid-afternoon. In the meantime, we made some world record paper airplanes...and some yummy looking pies for Thanksgiving.

Pumpkin

Coconut Cream

Get out the Tracks

Last night I headed up to my room about 8pm.  I was reading and working on my Bible study lesson.  The boys headed downstairs with a bucket of wooden tracks.  They haven't played with these wooden trains in a LONG time, but all the sudden they were into it.

"Scrap Yard"

Helipad

loading area

Tidmouth Sheds

a farm nearby the tracks

the clock tower

About 9:15pm, I called them up to bed.  They were so excited about the tracks!  They'd been busily creating for over an hour.  Content. Cooperative. They wanted me to come down and check it out.  But (call me a lazy mom) I was too warm and cozy in my bed by then.  Keaton said, "That's okay, you stay there.  I'll take pictures and show you!"  So he grabbed my phone and took these photos.   (And to think I have actually considered getting rid of these tracks due to lack of interest...)

 When the boys were really small, Eric would lay in the floor with them and create elaborate tracks (just like these) and they all had so much fun together.  I was pretty impressed with their creativity and very proud they spent this time using their imaginations (rather than electronics.)

Before September Closes...

Where in the world did September go?

I have just been super busy.  More than I like to be.  And well, I think I overcommitted.  But it was all for a good cause!  And I also believe it was stuff God wanted me to do.

Two weekends ago I was able to drive to Central Washington to watch one of my friends play in a tennis tournament (his team won!) and to have lunch with some dear friends of Eric's.  I drove 4 hours there, stayed 5-6 hours and then drove 4 hours back, by myself.  BUT, that gave me time to talk to God about my testimony in preparation for the women's retreat (this past weekend), and practice the worship songs we would be singing at the retreat.  Was just a refreshing time, not worrying about the kids, simply being with my friends, and it was sunny.  Aldan kept the boys.

So yes!  We hosted a women's retreat at church this past weekend.  Friday and Saturday.  A team of 2 other ladies and myself have been practicing worship songs and led the worship for the group of  50-60 ladies throughout the weekend.  I was also asked to present my testimony.  Pulling all of that together was a challenge.  It is emotional bringing up the past.  Plus I tend to be a better writer than speaker, a better background vocal than lead, a better behind-the-scenes administration type rather than up front and center, so this is just all so far OUTSIDE MY COMFORT ZONE!  Sometimes the hardest things are the right things to do... By God's grace and the Holy Spirit, I just spoke from my heart (even though I had diligently written out 5 pages of notes).  And the worship time worked out wonderfully as well.  Everyone was blessed by the entire weekend.  All of the speakers' testimonies blended together beautifully, as only God could do it.  Together we were able to provide insight and hope for all in attendance.  Lots of tears and laughter, fellowship and making new friends.

And bless my children's hearts...they know one of my love languages is "acts of service".  When I arrived home at night from the retreat, the house was tidy and all the toys were picked up.  Keaton left me a little note on the chair: "To Mom (love) Keaton"  

Now we are back in the saddle, so to speak.  School.  Work.  Life.   My friends in Yakima gave us a rock tumbler.  So we also have a little project in progress....

this is Cole's favorite rock

After a couple more rounds in the tumbler, I will hopefully be able to present a group of highly polished gems.  Stay tuned!

In the Blink of an Eye

Here's a glimpse into our life this week. Eric made a pie....


Keaton and Cole played cars and when it warmed up a bit, Keaton blew bubbles on the deck...




On Saturday, Keaton got a hankering to go swimming. It was 40 degrees at the time, and cloudy. Julia and Mom tried desperately to disuade him. No such luck. The moment he walked outside with only his swimtrunks on, he turned around and said to me (shivering), "Mom, do you want a jacket?" In Keatonese, that means, "You were right, Mom, it's cold out here!"


Cole got in on the action too...briefly.



So, what about the lessons learned? (Besides how ridiculous it is to go swimming in the lake when it's 40 degrees out?) Our preacher has been giving messages from the book of Job.
While I still hold to my promise to keep this blog positive, I must say that we can relate to Job somewhat in this season of our lives. What I specifically picked up today was the truth that needs to be burned onto my heart -- to live is Christ, to die is gain. We have a job to do on this earth, and that is to glorify God so that others might be saved. Being perpetually bummed out about one (petty) thing or another is really not productive.
CLICK HERE FOR link to our preacher's sermons.
It's so easy for me to get bogged down in the minutia of day-to-day living. Taking stock of the blessings we have has been a great experiment. We are raising kids. It's time-consuming. Well, it's all-consuming. It takes all the energy you have. My parents know it. But they neglected to tell me about it. I guess that means (kind of like childbirth and labor) that despite all the hardships, parenting is worth it. You forget about all that turmoil and angst, at least once you have grandkids. Of course, I'm betting our parents are still concerned for us and praying for us just like they always have. If we haven't said it lately, THANKS!

This coming week, I will TRY to get pictures of the teenagers. They are quite elusive when I pull out the camera.