Peek-A-Boo

Just over 7 short months ago I was fishing with my mom & dad, my sister, and my sweet little man Mason at the pond near our home at the Windy M. It was harvest. The days were long. The little life inside me was moving constantly. Time seemed to be flying by and yet, there were days when things just stood completely still. We were busy packing & sorting & cleaning. The house your brother learned to walk in, the stairs he learned to climb, the yard that buzzed with birds & bees, the fences and corrals that kept the animals safe & secure... all of those things that made our life "ours," was life that you wouldn't know. The miles of dry land wheat, the long, dusty driveway, the red kitchen windows, the mudroom filled with baby calves, the barn, the pond, the enormous lilac bush... each of those things were part of life before you.

You, my sweet - 2nd born boy, were born into a family on the move. We needed you to be "easy." We needed you to be content. We needed you to be calm & peaceful. And you were. You were, and still are, all of those things and more.

I stare at you sleeping and wonder about the life you will know. Will you be like your brother? Will the emergency room adventures start at an early age? Will you constantly be "on the move?" Will your idea of a good time include tractors & cows? Will you love Cowboy Small and Goldbug in the Richard Scarry books? The life that Mason knew for his first 2 1/2 years of life is not the life we have now. The cows are miles away. The stairs are not quite so steep, the view is a little different, but our love is still the same.

You are our sunshine. You are the calm in the storm. Your little hands wave, your face lights up as soon as your brother enters the room, your smile is contagious, you're definitely a "mama's boy"... and you are just plain HAPPY!

Mack... we are so blessed to have your calm spirit, your sparkling eyes, your 2-teeth grin, and your little laugh.

We are blessed because of you.

A Few More Good Things

Table: $299
Chairs: $19.99/chair
Easel: $19.99
Sideboard: $199

(that has a leaf that fits neatly inside... expands to seat 6-8)

(that has a chalkboard on the other side & a white board behind the paper)

(that is developing a very cute little personality... look for a video later this week)

(with my favorite OSU professor and chairman of the Herm. School Board)

more IKEA to come...

IKEA

Seriously one of the greatest places on earth.

I Inventive. Interesting. Inspiring. Imaginative. Invigorating. Immense.

K Keen. Key. Knack. Knowledgeable. Kudos.

E Engaging. Enhancing. Electrifying. Economical. Effective. Extraordinary.

A Attractive. Assorted. Artistic. Appeasing. Amazing. Ample. Affordable.

Here are just a couple of my "great" finds:

... still putting the rest together.

I want...

to see beauty in everything.

to take the road less traveled.

to feel alive in the midst of a storm.

to practice patience each and every day.

Finally...

we're home.

After hours of driving approx. 40-48 mph, we're home.

and... just in case you get stuck in a crazy winter storm... here is some helpful information:

having the back end of your pick-up filled with furniture from IKEA is a great way to keep yourself on the road. (About 1000 extra pounds) ... who needs traction tires anyway?!

... and... there is no school tomorrow.

Headed to the RESORT tonight!

Peace.

Looking out the window...

Trying to get going this morning...

Pray for us as we venture out into the unknown.

Stranded.

Watch out...

Here we (Stacy, Ronda & Becky) come!!!

Oh my, oh my, oh my!!!

What do you think I'll come home with??

40 Things...

God Wants You To Remember!!

1. He is always with you.


2. He has made you His own.


3. He will give you rest.


4. He will comfort you.


5. He will give you confidence.


6. He has set you free!


7. He will take your worries.


8. He will answer you.


9. He loves you.


10. He will give you eternal life.


11. He will strengthen you.


12. He will bless you.


13. He is for you.


14. He will not fail you.


15. He believes in you.


16. He will provide for you.


17. He will protect you.


18. He will deliver you.


19. He has forgiven you.


20. He frees you from sin.


21. He will fulfill you.


22. He offers you grace.


23. He will guide you.


24. He will heal your body and heart.


25. He has created a place in Heaven for you.


26. He will send the Holy Spirit.


27. He will send hope.


28. He has given you an identity in Christ.


29. He died out of love for you.


30. He will follow through with His work in you.


31. He has given you a place in God’s family.


32. He has given you a powerful spirit.


33. He will keep you safe.


34. He offers salvation.


35. He values you.


36. He will reward you.


37. He is committed to you.


38. He listens to you.


39. He has a plan for you.


40. He is smiling because of you!!
    

Happy Birthday Tanya Joy...

Thank you for being a faithful reader of this journal of our life.
Thank you for your years of friendship... probably close to 30.
Thank you for your love & genuine interest in us.
Thank you for your heart.

My dear friend - may you BE HAPPY, HAVE FUN, and CELEBRATE today!!

Blessings on your 4oth birthday & your year to come!!

We Love You!

When It's Cold Outside.

My hands, feet & nose feel like icicles.

I dread going to bus duty.

The short walk from my car to the entrance of the grocery store, the school, my mailbox... pretty much anywhere... is painful.

I'm so very thankful I'm not a cow... and especially not a new baby calf.

Even when the sky is beautiful & bright & a brilliant shade of blue with sunlight streaming down, the cold just zaps me.


Hmmmm....


I wonder how much it would cost to move the cows/calves to Hawaii?


Well, since I don't see that as a realistic dream of any sort... I guess I'll give you a glimpse of what I do to stay warm...

• I cuddle with my boys(all 3 of them)in our down sleeping bags.
  


• I visit with Mason as we drive to & from the ranch each day about cows & calves, tractors, going potty on the toilet, & the snow.
  


• I read (and just finished) a GREAT book called Uprising.
  


• I drink about 3 cups of hot chocolate a day.
  


• I wear my favorite scarves wrapped tightly around my neck.
  


• I happily push the button that warms the seat in my car.
  


• I snuggle into the red flannel sheets I bought at Costco.
  


• I begin the quest of reading the book of Proverbs.
  


• I order "Tortilla Soup" from El Cazador for lunch 2 days in a row.
  


• I sit in front of our fireplace and not watching TV, just listening and thinking.
  


• I wear layers of shirts and vests.
  
  
• I watch my baby boy sleep peacefully.

and... out of all the things I've been doing to keep myself warm, reading the book of Proverbs is the one that has been like a heat lamp.

Yep... that's right, a lamp. I honestly hadn't thought of it like a lamp until I flipped open my Max Lucado Devotional Bible to the introduction of the book of Proverbs.

And, once again, Max seems to have hit the nail on the head:

Proverbs is a collection of lamps.

Not spotlights that blind. Not bonfires that blaze. But lamps. Lamps that do for your heart what the lamps in your house do for your eyes. They chase away darkness. (and in my world - COLD)

"These commands are like a lamp," wrote Solomon. "This teaching is like a light. And the correction that comes from them will help you have life." (6:23)

Reading Proverbs turns on the lamps in dark corners of life.

Corners such as: Foolishness. Wisdom. Pride. Humility. Fear. Insecurity. Wealth. Mercy. Lust. Diligence. Laziness. Prudence. Anger. Flattery. Gossip. Violence.

Having trouble with an enemy? Turn on the lamp of patience:
A gentle answer will calm a person's anger, but an unkind answer will cause more anger. (15:1)

Having trouble with greed? Flip the switch of prudence:
It is better to be poor and respect the Lord than to be wealthy and have much trouble. (15:6)

Anxious about tomorrow? Sit under the light of trust:
Depend on the Lord in whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (16:3)

See what I mean? Time spent with Proverbs makes a heart wise. It's a practical guide for getting along with others. Whereas Psalms tells you how to get along with God, Proverbs tells you how to get along with people. Whereas Psalms is a book for Sunday, Proverbs is a book for Monday.

Why don't you flip on a few lights and see for yourself?

Thank you Max.

Your words have reminded me to not only flip on a few lights, but have taken me to the words that were written so long ago.
Those words that remind me, encourage me, hold me accountable.

Those words that warm my soul... especially when it's cold outside.

The Newspaper.

Did you know that our Papa George is the publisher/editor of the local paper?

Well, he is.

...and we are faithful readers!

Keep up the good writing Papa!!

Not everyone gets to wake up to this:

Snow.
9 babies.
2 sets of twins. (1 dead)

and this inside our "palace":

Take 1 and Take 2:

and then the battery went dead...

Life.

Exciting and NEW each and every day!!