Spring Break to Mexico

Day one.

I have been worried about my health for the trip since I've had this bronchitis and sinus junk for 5weeks.  I feel about 90percent.  Got mostly packed Thursday night then after a but more than half day at work Friday, took care of last minute stuff then rested, went to the gum and Chipotle with the boys and got to bed around 10:15.  

Slep well and woke up at 7 ish this morning.  Got ready without waking anyone and left for Leavenworth abou 8:30.

Got to Leavenworth and knew the best part of the day would be greeting my excited Mama.  She was at her computer.  

We giggled as we realized that we matched!  

Left for the airport about 10:30.

Had time to stop for a quick burger in Platter City.

  Long wait at the airport.  Long day of travel.  Still feeling sinus icky.  No problems with our flights and able to bypass customs with mom in a wheelchair.

Arrived at our resort.  We always are so tired and overwhelmed and hungry that it is impossible to feel positive so you just have to unpack and go to bed.  It was even harder for me to feel positive in that my pull out bed is horrible!  It squeaks and has springs poking up everywhere.  To top it off I was freezing!  I got up several time to mess with the air conditioner and then pulled the bedding over and slept on the couch.  Not ideal but doable.

Childhoods

The other day I was thinking about all the wonderful opportunities that our kids had growing up and the special people in their lives who helped them become the amazing people they've become.

Eight grandparents!

One home their whole lives

In home childcare

A daddy who was able to be with them every other day full time

St Lukes Lutheran Preschool

Eugene Field Elementary, such a special place

Mary Stamey, Principal

First grade Betty Rae Wallace, such a fabulous woman of God!

Bible Story Club

Lina guebert, Lisa Pankratz, Tony Haddock, Joe Gelroth, Roger Gibson, terry Healy, Susanna Parker, marti Meek...these are just some of the high quality teachers my kids benefitted from.

Amazing art teachers

Multi age classrooms

The opera at Theodore Roosevelt

The orchestra and band

The Gold Orchestra!  Playing outside each year at dr. Littrel's, rock springs ranch, Dallas, New York and Carnegie Hall!

King Solomon Bible Camp

Sunday school teachers and Westview

The Hulberts, our loving, giving neighbors

Tim Dayton, Jim , Courtney Markle, soccer coaches and Melegares Cross Country, and don't forget Dad!  

Bethel College, USC, UW.

I am unbelievably grateful.  This isn't an exhaustive list, just the things that popped out when I thought about this the other day.  

The Kids Are Home!

Hannah and Kent arrived Wednesday night from Wyoming!  They got here about 9:30.  Kent brought his huskie, Sierra, so we let the dogs hang out and get used to each other while we chatted.  

Scott and I worked Thursday so sometime after we got home, Kent and Hannah and I went to the gym for spin class.  There weren't enough bikes and I had to sit in the instructor chair!  It was embarrassing but I survived.  When we got home, I made Khmer fried rice. We played games and laughed and laughed.

Friday we ran some errands, got Hannah some running shoes, I booked my trip to Mexico over Spring Break (with my Mama!).  When Scott got home, we took the dogs for a hike on a trail I hadn't been on at the Top of The World.  It was awesome!  The weather was amazing!

Leah and David then arrived!  All three of my kids!  Five!  We ate at Chipotle, of course.  Loved it!

When we came home, we played a new game that Leah and Joel made for us for Christmas!  It is called Chalkaholic and involves everyone drawing random things based on categories at the same time on a chalkboard.  It was a bunch of fun.  Lots of laughter.

Today the girls and I went shopping at the mall.  We then went to Rock Star and Rogers and I found a jacket and some boots that I've been wanting for a fraction of the cost.  And cheap sunglasses for my trip!  Hannah and Kent went to the kstate basketball game and Leah and David, Joel and I ate Jimmie Johns and watched the game at home.  

Tonight we have Josh Burmeister over and we played some fun games he brought and made pizzas and ate.  The kids have now dragged Rock Band out of the attic and are playing it!

I love having my kids home!  David and Kent join right in the laughter and fun and ridiculousness that is us.  We are waiting for Scott to get home from his soccer tournament.

And yesterday, Scott was offered and accepted the position as Director of Emergency Management for Geary County School district!  A perfect job for him!  He is so qualified for it and will enjoy the challenge!  I'm so happy for him!

God is so good!  

Doing The Christian Thing

I admit, I have trouble doing the Christian thing.  Sometimes when going through the motions at church or listening to klove,  I have doubts.  What if this is all something we've made up?  

But then every day when I spend time with God, He becomes very real to me.  He reminds me of all the things He's done for me and ways He's answered my prayers that can't be explained any other way.  I know deep inside myself that He's real.  

I have a hard time exploding this to others.  I have a hard time just telling others about why they should accept Him and it sounds so trite.  He means so much to me in such a personal way that I can't really put into words for others.  So I just pray for people who don't know Him like I do.  I pray that He shows Himself to them like He has to me.  His promises are real.  

My verse today is Exodus 19:4 You yourselves have seen what I did in Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles wings and brought you to myself. 

 He has carried me so many times.  He brought me to Himself.  He works in me and through me every day.  He works miracles in my life and in the lives of others around me.  He accepts me and loves me even though He knows things about me that no one else knows.  He keeps His promises, promises to give me strength and hope and courage and joy.  

It isn't anything to do with going through the Christian things like going to church or listening to Christian music.  It's a personal relationship with a very real God.  

Christmas 2014

Christmas Eve day, yesterday, we drove to Topeka to pick up Julie, then on to Aberdeen to visit Dad.  We had brunch in the dining room then geek a nap and watched Family Feud with Dad then drove home.  Leah and David arrived shortly after.  We ate pizza and cheesecake and played Pandemic.

This morning unlike many Christmas mornings, we took our time getting up and around.  Leah and Julie and I had coffee and orange Danish, a family tradition and took our showers.  We got the boys up and opened presents, practical gifts this year.  Leah and David got a crock pot and socks.  Joel got a watch, a tile to help him find his wallet, copies of his car keys and a magnetic box for his keys.  Scott got an electric toothbrush.  The dogs got new collars.

The rest of the day was spent playing games, resting, preparing a feast, and relaxing, oh, and eating, a Christmas must.  

I made some new recipes for Christmas dinner and they turned out ok.  Smoked brisket, twice baked mashed potatoes, spinach, apple and cranberry salad with creamy poppyseed dressing, crescent rolls, and cherry crunch dessert.  

Christmas This Year

Our Bible study group is studying counter cultural Christmas, in other words, the true meaning of Christmas.   Then we've had sermons about it. And I even got an email with this picture which I posted on Facebook.

 Our culture has made Christmas about hurrying to buy a bunch of presents and decorate and wrap gifts and bake and eat and stress out.  I used to do it all.  I've always felt something was missing.  

When you look back over the special Christmasses you've had, it really isn't about any of those things.  For me, it's been about worship.  And fun, relaxing times with the family.  

So this year, I'm trying to do only those things I feel led to do.  I want to let people know how special they are to me.  I want to slow down and see what God wants me to see.  I want to spend time with people.  I want to spend time thinking about Christmas, the birth of our savior.  God came here to be with us, to let us know we are special and that He loves us so much.  He came to make a way for us to be with Him forever.  I want to rediscover the true meaning of Christmas.

I Love Saturdays

Saturdays are so great!  I get extra sleep, quality and quantity coffee time with God, then I make my to do list and grocery lists.   By Saturday night the fridge and cupboards are full, the house is clean, laundry is done, I've had a nap, time with Adelle, reading time, and then I get to crawl into clean sheets ready for church tomorrow!