Visiting...

 

(road trip knitting, it's the best kind)

 

 

(a sleeping baby :)  )

 

(time to put your feet up)

 

Just a few quiet moments from a road trip to see our family in Massachusetts a couple of weeks ago.

I will try to share some more pictures. I am just having trouble moving them from my phone to the computer. It was a really nice visit with Josh's sister and her family while they were out from Illinois. It has been 4 years and 2 kids for each of us since we last got to spend time face to face.  I feel so blessed with the family I married into. The time we spend together is great and meaningful and sadly to little. We hope to go out to see them in the next few years or so. We are dying to take a big road trip again. 



Just a little Joy

 

 Hi! I know it has been a whiiiillle... but we shall not dwell in the missed past. Today, is where we are and Today is where I want to be.

 

I have not been here for so long because I have been struggling with balance.

The balance in every day life and the balance of what bits of it I want to share here.

I think I finally found it.

I want to be real here in what I share with you and I do not want to gloss over the every day "junk" that can clutter up our lives. I have decided that I want to use this space as place for me to keep track of the Joys in my life. A place for me to look back when I am in a moment of "junk" and remind myself that it will pass and there will be Joy again.

 

(Trace on his 8th birthday)

(Dallas on his 10th birthday)

 

(Misty one of our furry kids)

 



(Judah at about 9months old sorry for the blur)

 



(sharing Trace's b-day cake)

 



(Trace and Aliza all ready for fancy day at school)

 



(Oh how they love that little brother)

 



(oh I have no words)

 



(Aslan standing in front of the paly kitchen I got to make him for his 3rd b-day)

 



(Dagnae enjoying national Doughnut day)

 



(new hair cut!)

 



(Cathrine (Cat for short) our other furry baby)

 



 (Aunt Doris Judah and I last week at a cousin's graduation party)

 

So there they are just a few joys from the last couple of  months. And that is how I want to start off.

Joy to you too!

 

9

 

Planting seeds of hope...part one

My absence has been too long. Where we are residing sadly does not provide me with the ability to share our daily lives in web world. But staying with my dear in-laws for a few days I thought I would stop by my little quiet corner of the web. 

Many things have happened in my daily life since my last visit here. There are the usual things of home and mothering, and well with a few added joys and struggles, you have my life!

So to start with a joy, we found out back in late November that we are be blessed with an other little bundle, and yes for those who may have lost count this makes SEVEN. We are all very excitedly awaiting this newest little souls arrival.  With five very active and creative boys, and just one equally active little lady, we are all hoping and praying scales to be tipped more on the side of quiet and dainty little lady type of life. We for sure would find joy in welcoming of a little man, but it would be fun to have a little change.

Another joy is the possibility of  being in our own house some time this summer. I am praying we can get in there before the newest ones face shines upon us, but I know by now that I am not the one in control. And I know that my loving Creator knows my hearts desires and knows what is best for me and my growing clan.

This is only a couple of our many joys. I hope some time to be able to share more.

I do wish for the chance to have shared more here. I feel it has been good in some ways though, to not have the distraction of recording things here. There are most definitely memories I am fine letting go of.

So as for the struggles, I will say no more then there were/are struggles.  God has and still is, protecting my family. And teaching us things we need to learn. We all love each other more then I ever thought possible.

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;  and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

~Romans 5:1-5

I not had the chance to plant any tangible seeds this year, but that does not mean I not daily watching things grow. Like the above verse says, one thing leads to another. Tribulations with the hand of God bloom into hope. And hope will not disappoint me...

Happy Christmas...to All...and to All a Good Night!

 

Hello to All my dear Friends out there in the blog world!

I am happy to finally have a moment to share with you the joy in these days of mine.

Our Holy-day season has been full of suprises and lots of visiting with family.

I hope you all too have had a very Joyfilled Season!

Much Love to and yours!



...adventure?...

...so I sit here thinking...in this gloomy New Hampshire weather.  And I think how much this weather and my life have in common.  Gray sunless skyies, hidden hope of something unknown yet to come.  Rain when all I want is to play,  the undesired change of plans. 

...so I sit here watching my six wonderful little adventure companions... I see them play in the rain that I was wishing away, they are my hope that I can continue on this unknown path.  I see them run to me and say "come and play".

...So I shall run to them and say thank you for being my lovely rays of sunshine in these cloudy days of mine...

...So I say YES to this Grand Adventure which is MY LIFE...

this moment

This is my Moment.  Inspired by Soule Mama

I love you Mom!

Glory...but not for me...

(St Paul, on developing patience) By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.

 Life Art: Glory...
                 It is not for my glory that I do what I do or say what I say.  I am here not of my own doing.
I live and breath to the Glory of the only one who gives each breath.  What I say and do can be a reflection of Him, but only if I am gazing on that which I most want to be.

Master is a term that indicates a consummate level of skill, proficiency, superiority or power...

                  He is the master ( in the truest scenes of the word).  And what do you do with a master?
You are at their side asking every question you can.  Learning their trade, craft, knowledge, wisdom. 

But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master. (St Paul)

                 Sin (and living for myself) is no longer my master.  Living in the dark unseen places brought only dull, lifeless and shadowy scenery.
                 I have a new grace filled and glorious  Master.  Now, dwelling in the bright colorful life God has for me; OH the Art I have to gaze upon.  This art is worth learning. This art is worth sharing and giving in abundance to all who share, even one moment of this journey with me.
                
                   It seems to me that a master (in years past) sought out who they would teach.  They would see potential in an other, for learning what they (the master) had to share.  What happened to this practice?  The master, seeing a part of himself or what he is passionate about in the heart of another. Thankfully God has not left this practice in the dust...
                  

                     I really like something said by Aslan to Jill in the silver chair " ...you would not be calling to me if I had not been calling to you first..."

            Thank you my dear gentle master for calling to me.  And thank you for sharing your life giving art and perfecting it in me...only for your glory do I live
                                                        ...forever your creation in waiting
                  

                  
              
           

Quiet Moment

Life Art... Grace...

We are again coming to the point were we do not know where we will be sleeping! Next week we move from the place we have called home for a few short months.
We have really enjoyed this space. And feel blessed by friendships we have made while being here. 

Josh and I always have a hard time when it gets to this point ( dejavoo?..."I've seen that tree before").   Each repeat of these similar scenarios we learn something new of our selves, of our kids, and how much we still have to learn about life and growing to be the family we really want to be. 


Grace:
disposition to or an act or instance of kindness, courtesy
a characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement

The of Grace
God is always gently showing me amidst these scenarios where the art of grace needs to be used.  Grace is the one thing that I so truly desire to decorate my life...yet it is the hardest Life Art to create!  Like any art it must be practiced.  I really try but I am not very good at consistency.  I will not blame my situation, as I have done in the past. But I will use my situation to perfect the art that I so dearly wish to decorate my "walls" with.

The wife, mother, daughter and friend I am growing to be is Grace-filled...

May every step I take lead me closer to Grace...