My heart is full.  There are some fun, exciting things happening in our church and we get to be a part of them.  Even me, a mom of young kids.  It makes me so happy.

We found a tumbling class for Caden to join at the rec center, pending there are still spaces available.  I have a sense he’ll eat it up.

We’re working on writing letters with Cade and you’ll never meet a boy more excited to start PreK in the fall.  We live right by the neighborhood school and it can be torture on a kid to watch all your neighborhood buddies go somewhere “cool” while you have to hang with mom.  I’m looking forward to this new adventure of parenting and life for him.  I’m also interested to see how starting school will change neighborhood investment – hopefully for the deeper and better.

Our small group is starting a partnership with a local nursing home.  Our kids are even welcome to come with and make relationships.  I’m thinking this could be right up our alley.  And I’m praying we can join God where He’s at work in people’s lives there.

We’re planning a fun trip to California this summer to visit Dan’s brother & his wife who moved out there.  The plan is to make it as frugal as possible while still enjoying ourselves and the sights.  Our rhythm seems to be big, long trips one summer and local, smaller-scale trips the next.  Seems to work well for us.  We’ll see how the kids do.  But we don’t want their ages to hold us back from traveling and investing in family & friends.  I’ve heard some good advice about how vacations can be a vital part of family bonding through the years.  We want to share adventures, laughs and time away from the usual routine with our boys.

Wow.  When you write it all out it seems like a lot.  But it has all come one thing at a time to us with such peace from Him.  He’s helping me open my hands to some fears and showing me small glimpses of how we can handle things with His help.  My biggest concern in any new opportunity is my availability to my family and current relationships.  But God has worked these new avenues out in such a way that they overlap with my family and friendships.  Nothing could make me happier.  Or feel more authentic.

He is so, so good to us.

A new lady has been coming to Fall Avoidance and I just like her.  She’s just likeable.

Today she told me she’d been married 62 years when her husband lost the battle of pancreatic cancer.  After only 3 days.  That was four years ago, and she said she’s still not over how fast it took him.

They had a little heating and cooling business with which she helped.  She did the bookkeeping.  She told me her main complaint was when her man would bring all the bills to her the night before they were due.

Know what she said?  “If I could do that for him tomorrow, though, I wouldn’t complain a bit.”

Don’t they just kill you, too?

Today was kind of a long day.  It wasn’t hard or busy.  And the boys were pretty good.  It was just long.

Not much going on so we spent as much time as we could outside.  I got called to sub a class, so that was a nice break in the middle of the day.

But the rest was just…long.

Then Dan got home.  Every time I see him drive up in the evening, I get a little giddy and have some butterflies.  Don’t make fun of me.

We ate dinner and I watched as the nightly ritual of WWF commenced.  Caleb has been crawling around trying to get in the action lately.  So cute.  They have to make adjustments so as not to hurt him, but neither seem to mind.

Dan’s my hero.  For so many reasons.  I just love the way he loves on his family.  He’s squared his broad shoulders and born up under the burden of lots during the last several years.  He’s allowed it to only make him stronger and more sincere.  Two very good traits.

Just now he asked Caden if he wanted to run to the store with him.  Caden goes, “No thanks, I want to stay here with my family.”

I’m just twitter-pated with my guys right now.  Wanted to share 🙂

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Money Saving Mom, you rock!

In this article, she gave a really great checklist for blogging content.

There are several things I know I need to work on, particularly the “Perfectionist” and “Be Careful” pointers.  Man, do I struggle with this.  She pointed out how once you post something you can’t take it back.  And I’m terrible about hitting publish and later thinking of why I didn’t mean it that way or shouldn’t have said it this way, etc.

I’d like to think it’s because I have no intention of harming anyone.  I really hope I’m not kidding myself on that.  I even edited yesterday’s post after reading her article because, while I meant no harm, it is a sensitive topic and needs to be treated sensitively.  She reminded bloggers to, “Always assume everyone in the whole world may read what you write.”

I think that’ll be a great sifter of content for me before I hit publish.  I don’t ever mean for anything on here to be super secretive, but I also don’t always think through the multiple angles from which my content could be taken and adjust accordingly.  I don’t think “stream of consciousness” is always helpful for readers.

On the other hand, one of her points is to be Confident.  I’m working on continually finding my voice and not apologizing for having one.

So there you have it.  Blogging Lessons.  Have a nice sun-trying-to-peek-through day!

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One of my favorite spunky ladies at the gym passed away last week.  Her man was getting bad so they moved near family over a year ago so she could get some help with him.  Then she died on Friday.  They say the caregiver can sometimes go first.  I understand her husband hardly knows anyone these days, but I’m sure he misses her.

I know she loved Jesus.  We talked about it a few times.  Once when I spurted out a worry she shot back with, “Today has enough trouble of its own.”  I was put in my place.

It’s got me thinking.  Her good friend was the one who told me this morning.  She said every time they talked she would tell her how much she missed everybody here.  Her friends at the gym & her church.  She really had a great community.

Death does funny things to me.  I know with all my heart she wouldn’t trade where she is right now with where we are right now.  Heaven has to be magnificent.

But I keep thinking about her man.  And how much I hate goodbyes.  But hoping he was able to understand and say one to her.

We worship El Olam, the Everlasting God (Gen21:33).  The God of Eternity.  He has set eternity in our hearts (Ecc3:11).  We know we weren’t meant for goodbyes.  We are eternal in His image.  That makes them all the harder in the temporary.

Thank You, God, one day we won’t say anymore goodbyes.  And take care of her husband.  Be his Caregiver and Best Friend right now.

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/637/

Ahh.  I love the stillness of nap time.  Yesterday I tried to have Caden skip his nap, but while I did some dishes he fell asleep on the living room floor.  So that didn’t work out.

We had a wildly successful trip to the library yesterday which included a big find: Iron Man: The Ultimate Guide.  It’s a giant book explaining…well… Iron Man.  Caden and Dan both love it.

This morning a friend gave us a bag of clothes for Caden, including some swim trunks.  The very thing I had needed to keep an eye out for at garage sales!  I love it when God does that.  And when friends are generous.

My sissy and her hubs are coming this weekend!  I’m excited for them to be here.

Three of us talked this morning about things like swim lessons and T-Ball.  Is that how you spell it?  T-Ball?  Anyway, I just couldn’t believe we’re getting to that stage.  I have all kinds of theories about why I don’t want our kids involved in too many activities.  But watching families a few years ahead of us juggle multiple kids through even one activity each looks busy.  I really want our kids’ hearts to be at home.  But I also want them to be challenged, learn skills, discipline, and especially teamwork.  And of course have fun and make friends.  I’m all about the fun and friends.  We’ll hammer it out as we go with God.  We have lots of people around us with wisdom to share, too.

Oh, another thing: Caden’s last day of school is Friday and we’re signed up to bring CapriSun.  And they’re on sale this week.  I think God cares about things like that, don’t you?  I believe He is able to do huge miracles.  I’m asking Him for some regularly for people in my life.  But sometimes the most stunning thing He does for me is show me how intimately acquainted He is with my daily life.  When I don’t even think to ask, He blesses me.  Some lessons are about stewardship and some are about daily bread.  I hope I have my eyes open to both.

Have a great day!

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“In a futile attempt to erase our past, we deprive the community of our healing gift. If we conceal our wounds out of fear and shame, our inner darkness can neither be illuminated nor become a light for others.”


– Brennan Manning, Abba’s Child: The Cry of the Heart for Intimate Belonging


Do you have a recurring lie that you’re tempted to believe over and over?  Especially in times of stress or disappointment or struggle?


I do.  The enemy likes to whisper, “They’re gonna leave…and it’ll be all your fault.”



When this is your lie, and you choose to live out of that lie in your behavior, being transparent takes a back seat.  Performing becomes uppermost.  “Getting over” your “issue” immediately takes precedence.  After all, what if taking your time through your struggle causes people to get sick of you?  And if you don’t show your best qualities, what on earth will people stick around for?


Yes, I know.  That’s not how it works.  We’re drawn to people who are open and transparent.  We connect with the honesty and struggle in others.


Besides, it seems to me that the things I know about or am passionate for have come from my worst failures.  


So how do we share our issues without wallowing or enabling sin in each other?  And how do we let our “mess become our message” without forgetting where we came from?  (1cor1:26-31)


Our pastor talked about the difference between confidence and arrogance.  Confidence is latin for ‘with faith’ (con fide).  Confidence is faith; arrogance is sin. 


I deeply desire to be transparent on here without glorifying sin.  I want to continue documenting the whole idea of a journey into simplicity of heart that I am in no way pretending I’ve mastered.  And if I do it in some kind of arrogant, condescending way, heaven help me.  He would have every right to…I don’t know…do something!


But in confidence, I want to dig deeper.  I want to learn and grow.  I want to be challenged out of my greed.  I want to be inspired that the things I struggle with wanting are not nearly as beautiful as Him.  Or His purposes.  I want to see clearly – again – that putting those things as primary importance is idolatry.  Or as our pastor said a week ago, “Jesus is after your heart; and when He gets that, He’ll get everything else.”




So where were we?  Ah, yes.  Overseas.  What a gift.


When we returned to America, I felt what a covetous spirit was.  I had missed some conveniences surrounding the birth of our son and now felt entitled to them.  And that, my friends, is ugly when given leeway.


I remember one instance in particular when I bemoaned to my friend, “Everyone else has a house!  Why can’t we just have one, too?”


Now I know that’s not true.  And a house isn’t a right.  And 3 years into our rental house, I can see at least some of the reasons why we haven’t bought our own.  Who knows about the future.  But we feel called to this house for now at least, so despite any vacillating this way or that we’ve done in the last few months, this house is right where we’ll be.


Moving in here was such a joy.  Even though I’d had (too many) moments of being an ungrateful child, our Father still blessed us with such as sweet little home.  The kitchen was even pale yellow (my favorite color)!  There was already one of those little pot hanger thingys that I think are cute.  It was open and sunny and on a corner lot.  The garage was big enough to put our excess junk in when we required storage.  And a garden had already been marked off with a border.  Fun!


We were learning what Foster calls, “both the goodness and the limitation of material things.  The material world is good, but it is a limited good – limited in the sense that we cannot make a life out of it.  To deny the goodness of the created order is to be an ascetic.  To deny the limitation of the created order is to be a materialist.” (pg.11)


We were enjoying some blessings to which we knew we had no right.  They were just blessings from His gracious hand.  I’m sure you know what I mean.  He is a good Father.  As Foster says, “It is like God to want to give us good things.”


But he continues with some wise words we’ve been learning as well: “The connection between obedience and blessing is genuinely significant, and the significance is not primarily in the notion of being rewarded for doing what is right.  That has its place, but it is a minor place, almost a childish place.  The deeper reality in obedience is the kind of spirit it works into us.  It is a spirit that crucifies greed and covetousness.  It is a spirit of compassion and outreach.  It is a spirit of sensitivity and trust.  Once this inner disposition has taken over our personality, material blessings cannot hurt us, for they will be used for right purposes.  We will recognize material goods to be not for us alone, but for the good of all.”


But that, my friends, is a subject matter for another post!

Fun weekend.  Well, starting Thursday.

Playdate-turn-dinner with friends Thursday evening.

My first ever cutie-pie foam flower art project for Mother’s Day from Caden at Mom’s Day Out Friday.

A cookout with the families who live on either side of us Friday evening.

Cleaning house combined with a solo shopping trip Saturday morning.

Baby dedication at church Saturday evening with friends.  (We love you so much Caleb!)

Awesome cookout with said friends who love on our boys afterward – which included the best-looking cake I’ve seen in a long time…thank you M.

Flowers from my guys this morning.

A church date with just my big boy, as little bit had some sniffles and we opted to keep him home with Dan.

The best grilled steak pitas for lunch.

Boys splashing in the water outside while Dan finished planting the garden.

Watching my big boy eat celery, carrots, brocoli (with ranch), string cheese & an orange for his snack – and love it.

Before you give me any props for how healthy that is, please know he had some Twizzlers after and snuck one too many drinks from my Sonic Dr Pepper in between veggies.  He’s very balanced. 🙂

Neighborhood kids currently spraying each other with the hose in the back yard.

Then up next: a family walk in this nice, getting-hot weather.  Which will include my steal-of-a-garage-sale-deal baby backpack carrier.  Woo hoo!

Have a great evening!

https://www.intentionalkingdomliving.com/640/

I think one of the dangers in blogging is you begin to believe that your own opinion is super important.  (Also, as one of my facebook friends would say, ‘Your inner dialogue starts to sound more and more like a blog post.’  Hee hee.  So true.)

Self-importance = yuck.

But as my new section of the holy scriptures points out, the answer isn’t hiding.

Oh, balance.  You tricky little concept.

“Let me tell you who you are here.  You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth.  If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness?  You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world.  God is not a secret to be kept.  We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill.  If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you?  I’m putting you on a light stand.  Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine!  Keep open house; be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:13-16 The Message

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