vbs

I like having a four year old.  It's fun to do big kid things, like VBS.  Our church doesn't have VBS, yet, so I found a program at a different church.  He was excited to go and meet new friends.  I love how fast kids make friends.  Here is a picture from "Crazy hair day"

Today was pajama day.  Shep and I had bible study this morning and I let him wear his pajamas, so he could feel like he was apart of things.  We've enjoyed our time together, but I know he wishes he could have gone, too.  Sometimes, it's hard to be the little brother.

Tonight was a special family night, so the parents could see all the kid's were learning.  Conner was so proud to show us his class area, where he eats snacks, plays games, etc.  They sang all their little songs.

There were even some bounce houses and sno cones!

                                                        Why, here's a pretty little lady.

                                                        She likes to stick her tongue out.





twister anyone?

The boys have thoroughly enjoyed all this house sitting and discovering new toys.  We played Twister for the first time and they loved it. Falling over was their favorite part and the game ended in a wrestling match, but hey, that's little boys for ya.



Another fun game.

Conner loves to do puzzles and he is obsessed with learning the 50 states, so what could be better than a United States puzzle.

He did this all by himself.  He has learned the position of the different states from maps and from a kid's puzzle.  I was pretty impressed!

I always loved learning about the states and looking at maps.  It's fun to see your kid's interested in things you love!  The boys have definitely both inherited our love of travel and going new places.  Glad they like adventure. 

Today, after being out a little bit, I said, "Boys, it's time to go home!"  Shep said, "What home are we going to today?" I've been glad to see how well they have adjusted to our crazy summer of moving around. They've enjoyed it and helped me to enjoy it, too.

grateful

Grateful for the peace I have that God is working in our situation, even though I can't see it.  Grateful for this opportunity to trust Him.  Grateful for what he's doing, most importantly, in our hearts.  He's teaching us patience, trust, humility, perseverance, and thankfulness, just to name a few things.

For those of you who are praying, we still have no answers yet.  Our situation is pretty much the same. We're living out of suitcases and waiting to see what God's doing.  No job yet.  As hard as it's been not having our own home, so grateful for all the beautiful places we've called home the past few weeks. We're continuing to explore many different job options right now.  Thanks for all the prayers, friends!

This has been my prayer, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." Romans 15:13

the good God has in mind

I've been reading another excellent book called Respectable Sins by Jerry Bridges. Here are a few things that have encouraged me and I hope that they encourage you!

This first passage is expounding on the very familiar passage of Romans 8:28, but in a little different light that I had thought about it before.

"Just as our physical muscles will not grow in strength without exercise, so our spiritual life will not grow apart from circumstances that challenge us...If we easily become anxious (that's me!), there will be ample opportunities to deal with the sin of anxiety.  God does not tempt us to sin, but He does bring or allow circumstances to come into our lives that give us opportunity to put to death the particular subtle sins that are characteristic of our individual lives.  It is obvious that we can deal with the activity of our subtle sins only as the circumstances we encounter expose them."

"...the truth I want us to see now is that God is in control of every circumstance and every even in our lives, and He uses them, often in some mysterious way, to change us more into the likeness of Christ."

"Romans 8:28 is a text many of us go to for encouragement in tough times. 'We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.' However, while that passage is indeed one of all-around encouragement to us, Paul is actually talking about our spiritual transformation. The 'good' of verse 28 is explained in verse 29 to be the conformity to the image of God's son This means, then, that the Holy Spirit is at work in use through our circumstances to make us more like Christ."

I think prior to reading this I had thought of this verse in a much more temporal light. The "good" being  actually the outcome of a situation. Does that make sense? God does redeem difficult situations and will make something beautiful from them, but the good he ultimately has in mind in this verse is my sanctification. He's working all of my life's situations for that good end.

Choosing Gratitude

Over the past week I've been reading Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.  I've been reminded that gratitude IS a choice and it's often the hard choice.  My default is whine rather than to worship.  I wanted to share a few quotes that encouraged and convicted me.

This first one is from the forward:

"And so I've been giving thanks for most of my paralyzed life. Not only giving thanks 'in everything, ' as one part of the bible tells us, but 'always giving thanks to God the Father for everything' as another part commands.  Most of us are able to thank God for His grace, comfort and sustaining power in a trial, but we don't thank Him for the problem, just finding Him in it. But many decades in a wheelchair have taught me to not segregate my Savior from the suffering he allows, as though a broken neck- or in your case, a broken ankle, heart or home- merely 'happens' and then God shows up after the fact to wrestle something good out of it. No, the God of the bible is bigger than that. Much bigger." -Joni Eareckson Tada

Instigators of Ingratitude
1. Unrealistic expectations
2. Forgetfulness
3. Entitlement
4. Comparison
5. Blindness to God's grace

Gratitude unleashes the freedom to live content in the moment, rather than being anxious about the future or regretting the past. - Ellen Vaughn

"Arguable the most affluent, materially blessed people in the history of the world, we have become angry, bitter, proud, and ungrateful. We have gotten this false sense of entitlement and the entirely unbiblical idea that God owes us ease and luxury...God loves you, His promises are sure, and your heavenly destiny is settled forever if you've trusted Christ Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  But some of the holy work we need to have done in us and through us can only come through the valley of shadow and suffereing. Are you going to be resistant to that? Or are you going to be clay in His hands, knowing that He is intent on shaping you into the image of Christ and wants to use your life for something far bigger than your own comfort, convenience, and pleasure? He wants your life to be part of a grand, eternal redemptive picture that portrays the wonder of His saving grace." Nancy Leigh DeMoss

It is so, so easy for me to slip into ingratitude and complaining.  My want to be content in the day.  I want to be thankful for God's provision today, instead of worrying about what's going to happen two weeks from now.  I want to thank Him for this time that is stretching me.  I want to think Him for the opportunity He is giving me to trust Him.  I want to trust that He is accomplishing something far bigger in our situation right now than I can imagine.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways, my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55: 8-9

Smoky Mountains

Went swimming at the Smoky Mountain National Park this afternoon.  Think we'll head back over again tomorrow and do some tubing.

Zack helping Shep get over to the big rocks.

Conner and Shep with Uncle Eli (age 10)

As you can see, Conner is just itching to get into the water.  Once again, he was inspired by Swiss Family Robinson and was determined to slide down the "water fall"

None of us had swimming shoes, so it was tricky to get around.  The rocks under the water were covered in moss and incredibly slippery.  He jumped right in.

It was cold!

He quickly drifted away and went down some small rapids.  He loved it and would have done it again, if we had let him.

Shep quite accidentally went down the rapids himself.

He didn't cry, but you can see he was quite surprised.  The water was very shallow, so it didn't get in his face.  I tried to cheer him on and make a big deal about how fun it was, so he ended up being quite proud of himself.

Looking for rock prizes.

Nothing beats throwing rocks into the water.

When we got back to the cabin, they swam some more in the pool.  I bet they'll sleep good tonight! I know I will:)

firsts

Good morning from the Smoky Mountains or as Conner says, "We're in the backwoods of Tennessee." My little Davy Crocketts have enjoyed cabin life.  Hoping to do some hiking and creek playing the next couple days.

Experiencing several "firsts" this trip.  The boys are sleeping in bunk beds for the first time, taking turns who gets to sleep on top each night.  Here are a few pictures from their first night in bunk beds.  They were just a little bit excited.  Why, there is Charlie the snake sleeping with Shep. 

Conner was pretending to be Fritz in his tree house bed.

When I went in to check on them Shep had his pistol under his pillow and Charlie was wrapped around his arm.  Never knew rubber snakes were nice to snuggle in bed with at night.  The boys are sharing a room with Uncle Si and Uncle Eli.  It's been a first for me this trip, not to have all my kiddos sleeping with me.  It's nice (and also strange!) that they are big enough to sleep on their own with the big boys.

Yesterday was sister's first time to swim. She loved it and sure looked cute in her little swim suit.

Sister all tired out from swimming.

How bout some Super Why! on the big screen.  This is definitely a first.

Do you see the letter j??

Wonder if they will mind going back to our tiny old tv back home?