{learners} for life.

I wasn't the only one {learning} this week.

or concentrating.

or studying.

or questioning.

or wondering.

or investigating.

or living life the best I know how.

Stand Tall.

I'm learning a few things right now.

♥ from my students.

♥ from my children.

♥ from my husband.

♥ from my friends.

♥ from my old journals.

9 years ago I was reading like crazy. I was the {scale house} girl for a grass seed company just up the road from where I live now, and I had a lot of time to read. It was one of the biggest {growing} seasons of my life, and as I look back at my journal from August of 2000, I'm in awe.

In awe of how God truly transforms our lives when we let him.

In awe of how the verses I was truly applying to my everyday struggles still apply today.

In awe of the {greatness} of this wonderful Lord I choose to serve.

Fresh Faith.

Prayer.

The Mystery of God's Will.

3 books that directed my thoughts and actions during the summer of 2000.

3 books that brought my {faith} alive during the summer of 2000.

3 books that I need to read again in the winter of 2009.

................................................................

What are you reading right now?

If you had to describe your faith in a few simple words, could you?

Is God pulling you from the land of familiar?

Is the land of comfortable getting a little uncomfortable?

Are you growing?

Are you praying? {truly praying}

.......................................................

From Prayer

We pant through an endless series of activities with scattered minds and noisy hearts. We feel strained, hurried, breathless. Thoughts dart in and out of our minds with no rhyme or reason. Seldom we focus on a single thing for long. Everything and anything interrupts our sense of concentration. We are a distracted people. ** Unceasing Prayer ** has a way of speaking peace to the chaos ... but we must want it, want it with a consuming passion.

........................................................

I've had a great week. Full of good things. And as I sit here this Saturday morning, I know that Joshua 23:11 is alive and well in my life.

{Be very careful to love the Lord your God.}

Our gaze must always be upon Him because He is the One who will perform everything.

.........................................................

Stand Tall friends.

Stand Tall.

.........................................................

•• trying a new way of uploading photos ••

Do you like it better {bigger} on the page ... or {smaller} on the page -> click to get {bigger}??

Inquiring minds would like to know :)

Still Dreaming.

{written last night 1.27.09}

Things are quiet.

Toys are everywhere.

The only sound I hear is the {clanking} of the metal clasp of Ian’s insulated coveralls in the dryer.

I’m tired.

I taught some new things at school today, but not all of my learners were ready to learn.

I disciplined my son for disobedience tonight … several times, and his strong will fought back. Hard.

I’m tired.

Ian and I have been seeking God together {more than we ever have} during the past month or two … and wow … we’re blessed, we’re thankful, we’re finally at peace.

… but we are tired.

When the opportunity to buy a place near our old home was placed in front of us, we thought for sure we were ready. We met with the current owners, we filled out stacks of paperwork, we looked at our budget, met with the bank, and we waited.

The finance papers came back two weeks ago, and life suddenly came to a halt. The payments were going to be huge, even with a large down-payment, it still didn't seem {right}.

Wasn’t this our dream? Wasn’t it supposed to happen easily. Why, oh why did it just not seem at all possible? How can it not be right?

We prayed, we talked.

Others prayed.

And as reality stared us in the face, God also offered peace and understanding. The peace and understanding that only He can give.

It was hard to say no.

It was hard to realize that this dream we had of having something of our own wasn’t {isn’t} going to happen right now.

We’re tired.

… but we are at peace.

We know we’ve made the right decision by saying no to one of our many dreams.

We also know that the plans He has for us … {plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us hope and a future} are greater than anything we've ever dreamed.

While one dream is gone, we KNOW that there are others {many others} on the way!!

and if you don't' believe me when I say how blessed, loved, and hopeful we are ...

I know a little {spit-fire} named Mack ... who would LOVE to tell you all about it!

Joy.

Joy.

the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying

a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight

the expression or display of glad feeling

a state of happiness

To see a whole lot more beautiful, joy-filled faces ...

check out I ♥ faces!

Another couple of reasons ...

I'm thankful I'm not a cow.

or a calf.

or my husband.

♥ {but I sure do love them} ♥

It's much easier in my world...

just to be the one that takes the pictures & documents this life we live.

{from inside the pickup}

and once in a while ...

I even roll down the window.

{just to see if I can see my breath}

Black & White Snow Angels.

seriously.

do kids come any cuter than this?

maybe I'm a bit bias.

nope.

they're just plain C.U.T.E.

How we roll.

It's snowing here today ... and I'm actually enjoying it a little.

It's pretty & it's winter & it's here. Whether I like it or not.

We got home from Walla Walla early this morning - about 12:01 to be exact.

And it's been {GO} ever since.

After just a bit of shut-eye we have welcomed life today.

New babies, more snow, ushering at church, driving {sliding} home, moving cows, fixing soup in the crock-pot, making a cake {just because we like cake} and now ... a little down time.

What does {GO} look like in your world?

Today - ours looked a little like this:

So ... I guess I'm stuck taking pictures of myself.

Lookin' Around Today ...

Esther

There is this woman.

This woman who looks life right in the eye.

She's gutsy.

She's beautiful.

She's courageous.

She's bold.

And maybe - if you're watching her close enough you might just see her blink ... but I doubt it.

I've started reading the book of Esther again. Yep. You read it right ... again.

You see, there is thing about Esther than intrigues me.

She was placed in a situation where demonstrating her faith in the midst of uncertainty was crucial for her survival.

And although Esther was faced with completely different challenges than me, I know in my heart & soul that Esther and I were meant to meet. {more than once}

We've become aquainted {sort of} ... in this land of uncertainty and unfamiliar ... because you see, when you {dream} ... really, really dream ... you leave the land of familiar behind. That comfort of knowing all the details that we as humans just HAVE to know ... the details of every little thing about our life that really we have no control over. Those aren't really ours to worry about.

Hmmmm.

.....................................................

from God Guides Your Tomorrow

God is economical. He doesn't waste training or experience. He knows what we are doing, what we are learning, and how He is going to use all of that five, ten, twenty years from now.
It's easy to be disappointed when we have prepared for "the plan of God for my life" only to have door shut in our faces.
That's because we were busy focusing on the plan when God was focusing on the preparation.
When the signals are blurred and you are uncertain, keep on praying, getting Christian counsel, but don't stop what you are doing. Trust Him to steer you if you are on the wrong course. But don't stop.
God knows how to move you when the time comes for you to be moved. He knows what is happening to you and what should be happening for you.
In other words, trust God to be God.
There isn't anything He doesn't know.

............................................................................

I'm sure Esther had her doubts.

I'm certain she wanted to know how and when everything in her life was going to work out.

She was human.

She was real.

Her faith, her courage, her boldness ... they were being tested.

The book of Esther isn't in the Bible just because.

Her story isn't very long, but it is powerful.

And the most amazing thing to me of all ... in the book of Esther, God's name isn't mentioned once.

Max Lucado sums it up best:

Quite the lady this Esther. You have to admire her courage.
You have to love her story. But there is one thing that is
tough to figure. God's name never appears in the entire book.
His actions do. His thoughts do. His plan does.
His fingerprints are on every page. But His name never appears.

Could it be that God is more concerned about getting the job done than getting credit?

.......................................................

God is at work. Each and every day. In your life & in mine.

But living in the land of comfortable, certain, and smooth sailing doesn't mean He's there.

Esther and I are going on an adventure during the next several weeks. Some friends are joining us too. I'm excited. Excited to see how God is going to use this woman of long ago to change and direct our lives today. Esther stepped out in faith. I am too.

Even if it is uncomfortable.

........................................................

Thank you for your prayers, emails and phone calls. I KNOW we are surrounded by love and I also know that as we make decisions and look toward the future - we are not alone.

What comfort it is to know that.

Peace.

An evening at home {last week}

... spent with friends, building blocks & laughter.

Life doesn't get much better.

{5}

Dylan ~ Are you really {5} today?

Really??

Well, we heard you were, and we wanted you to know that the world is definitely a {funnier} & {happier} place because of YOU!

May your next trip around the sun be as bright an amazing as ever little buddy!

Attempting to {Publish Post}

I've tried to post something for two days now ... and I got nothin'.

Not that there hasn't been plenty going on in our little world, but every time I sit down to type, I just sit here.

I sit here and stare at my 2009 motto taped to my computer screen.

Are you living your dream? Or just living your life?


I look at the pictures on my magnetic board.

A picture of the garden I so horribly wish was producing something of color right now.
A picture of the waves crashing against the sand at Pacific City.
A picture of Mack's little feet and toes.
A picture of my amazing husband staring back at me.
A picture of Mason face that has only his eyelashes in focus.
A picture of me with a camera around my neck.


I read words that my biggest fans wrote about me.

Creative, faithful, loyal, thoughtful, true-blue, inspiring, blessing, rich, passionate, giving, on the move, wise, animated, beautiful, mentor, real, artistic, joy-filled, trustworthy, ambitious, positive, compassionate, role model, energetic, talented, people person, real.live.woman., deep, delightful.
Some days it's easier to believe that great {stuff} than others.


I look out the window and see the neighbors cows roaming through the pasture.


I stare at my hands and fingers, urging them to write something. anything.

But there has been nothin'.

Sometimes ... it's just easier to look back. It's easier to put life in reverse and try to do things a little differently. It's easier to say {we should have done this} or {we could have done that}. If only life were that simple.

Looking forward. Facing facts. Looking at what's {real} ... reality ... it is challenging.

We're being challenged right now emotionally and physically ... and spiritually. There are some decisions we have to make in the near future, and as we look at our life & what lies ahead ... we need your prayers.

We need wisdom. We need peace. We need communication. We need love.

Our hope is in Him.

And even when it appears we're looking down, we're really looking up. We are. And we're praising the God that is MIGHTY TO SAVE!

Oh No, GOTTA GO!

Voice.
Enthusiasm.
Joy.
Laughter.
Excitement.
Love.

Give it a try the next time you share a favorite book.

Enjoy it. Laugh at it. Change your expression & voice.

Truly {love} it, and just watch what happens.

** My niece Ava & my Uncle Terry are {Birthday Buddies} on March 12 ... only 57 years apart ... and both have a love for good books and for life! **

.....................................................................

If you don't own Oh No, GOTTA GO! by Susan Middleton Elya ... get yourself a copy soon!