The Intentional Life

This week I spent a few days walking down memory lane. Only, it wasn't my memories that I was reminiscing. Hannah and I had the privilege of helping my mom and her twin sister sort through over 80 years of lives well lived.  Back in December, my grandparents made the difficult move from the place they called home for the last 15 years to a small room big enough to hold two twin beds, two comfortable chairs, and a couple dressers.  The most important parts of their life came with them when they moved. Each other. My grandpa and grandma have been together for over 60 years and have been an awesome example of love to their kids (6 of them), grand kids (22? of them), and great grand kids (way too many to count). I loved helping my mom and aunt sort through clothes (found Grandma's wedding dress!) and several different drawers and closets that contained many memories from so many years (both for me and my mom and aunt).  For me, my greatest memories involve cups wi...

15 years ago today a slightly awkward 9th grade boy asked a VERY awkward 9th grade girl if she would go out with him. The girl said "yes!" There were some ups and downs, and some people doubted we would make it but... Here we are 15 years later - working on 10 years of marriage, raising 3 rambunctious children, doing this crazy work of house-parenting teenagers. Living life together.  Trying our best to glorify God through it all. If I could do it all over again..... Paul, I would still pick you.

Bring me joy, bring me peace Bring the chance to be free Bring me anything that brings You glory And I know there'll be days When this life brings me pain But if that's what it takes to praise You Jesus, bring the rain Mercy Me "Bring the Rain" About 3 1/2 years ago I was driving home and singing this song along with the radio.  As I was singing it I thought a little deeper about the words I was singing and asked myself, "am I really asking God to bring the rain? Bring some tough times into my life so that I have a reason to praise him through the difficulty?  Am I really willing to take on something hard so that I can find God's glory in it? " I decided right then and there that, yes, I was ready for that, and even said it out loud. OK, sometimes it seems God takes awhile to answer prayers and other times, well, the answer comes right away. Five minutes later I walked into our house where Paul told me he lost his job that day. That began o...

OK, I really just want to go back in time for just a moment and smell that sweet newborn smell and snuggle that soft skin.  Sigh.  Then I'll be back, I promise.  Two.  Years.  Old.  Seems like she was just born and here we are two years later.  The Grandma's came over and treated us with their presence (and lunch!)  Thank you, Mom(s)!  I made red velvet cupcakes and we sang 'Happy Birthday.'  Maddie managed to wait until we were done singing before blowing out her candles.  Madeline, we love you, and are so glad you are a part of our party of 5.  You are in continuous motion, running everywhere, and love to explore every little part of your world.  You are always ready to give hugs and kisses and are sensitive to your siblings when they are sad.  You have quite the vocabulary for your age and make us laugh daily (and shake our heads sometimes, too) with the antics that your pull.  You already have a memory v...

Paul and I escaped reality for a week. Well, not quite, we were doing four days of training for Gateway.  But being 11 hours away from all our other responsibilities?  It sure felt like we had escaped. I feel like it was good in more ways than one.  I really enjoyed the training that we went through.  I really enjoyed eating out and having someone else make my bed for me.  I enjoyed the quietness of the evenings, being spent however you want.  Those of you who are houseparents as well...you know how big of a deal THAT one is!  And, although I dearly missed our kids....it was nice to have a break from that as well. The first few days were the feeling of 'Ahhh...freedom!'  I didn't have to say phrases like:  "what did i just tell you?" or "stop pulling your sister's hair." or  "crayons are not for eating." or  "stop dumping milk on your head."  and countless other phrases that we utter as parents that we never imagined w...

Kinda feeling it this evening. Not sure what has brought it on.  Whether it's because I'm fighting a cold.  Or because I didn't sleep all that well last night.  Not sure. But sometimes I think God is trying to speak to me in those melancholy times.  I think sometimes I am discontent and not even aware of it. Does that make any sense? I hope it does to someone, because then I wouldn't be alone in this. At any rate, what better way to pull out of melancholy (or discontent) than to count blessings, right? A short picture list (in no particular order...because this is the order I found them in and downloaded them from their folders...and can't switch them around because I am computer illiterate...)   My beautiful children  My wonderful, loving, forgiving, perfect-for-me husband Peace in Jesus Christ Co-laborers in this work that make this life just a bit more sun-shiny Family that loves us and accepts us just the way we are Sister...

I like New Year's day. And Mondays. And mornings. They all have one thing in common for me. Clean slate.  The start of a new year.  The start of a new week.  The start of a new day. I used to do new year resolutions, but, you see, I am not very disciplined (something I have *ahem* resolved to change...) and trying to do something different in a new year, well, doesn't last very long.  I would try really hard for oh, say the first week or so, and then the wheels would fall of the wagon.  Well, the next year wouldn't come around for another 340 days so I would shelve those resolutions for another year.  But weeks, and days, come around a bit more often.  So I have found myself making resolutions for myself for a week, or day, at a time. This week I am going to get my closet organized. This week I will get that card written and mailed. Today I will try a new recipe. Today I will spend more quality time with my kids. Today I will not ...