casting toward the future.

Dear Mason,

It's your last day of first grade today.

You and your dad left at 5:15 this morning for a trip to the zoo with your entire school.

I'm picturing your dad on a school bus with you for 6 hours today and grinning from ear to ear.

I know it's going to be a "best day ever" in the life of you.

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

First grade over.

A lot of life ahead.

And many, many casts to come.

Patience, persistence, and a whole lot of "try" ... that's what you're made of son!

I'm proud of you, and am cheering you on as you cast on and catch hold of every adventure that lies ahead.

Loving you from the tip of your head, to the tips of your toes & back,

Mom

With God, every day matters, every person counts.  And that includes you. {max lucado}

Dear Beth,

I've tried to write this post three or four times now, and every time I'm just "speechless" ... which is an adjective that rarely describes me.  Your teaching, your passion and your love for Jesus has always inspired me, but now having seen you LIVE, I have a whole new appreciation for your role as a "teacher." 

I'm a second grade teacher, and usually have an audience of 25.  I do really well in front of 7 and 8 year olds.  Really well.  And then you put me in front of my peers, and well, let's just say - I do my best. 
There is an occasional opportunity to speak in front of 400 announcing an upcoming event or calling out a name ... but still, that is nothing compared to what I witnessed first hand last weekend.

Me & Jess

God is alive and breathing through you & through your ministry. When you can take one word and turn it into a life-changing weekend conference, I can only stand in awe. In awe because as you knelt  down on the stage as our "leader" you also said a few words I will never forget.

A leader should be on their knees - even on their face! Leaders aren't higher than anyone else, they're face to the floor (without big heads or egos) in humbleness to what God can & will accomplish through their obedience.

me, Jess & Kim

I'm changed.  I may have the same five thousand freckles, the short hair & crazy big eyes, but I'm changed.  Changed because of Jesus and his ever-present presence in my life.  Changed by my willingness to see the things that hinder me most and throw them off.  Changed by living your message of  Hebrews 12 - each and every day.  Changed through the Word of God.

Your worship team rocked the house. Rocked it!  And as we sang some of my favorite songs in a room filled with Jesus loving people, I couldn't help but sing at the top of my lungs.   In fact, during my lunch today I had Travis "blasting" through my Promethean board speakers.  Together - you and them ... well, let's just say God has created something amazing by placing you all on the same stage.  Seriously.

I'll never read or speak Hebrews 12 in the same way ever again, and I pray that the race I'm running speaks truth to the words written in that chapter.   Thanks just doesn't seem to cut it - but that's all I've got.  A whole lot of thanks for your inspiration, your message, your humor, your passion, and your love for Jesus.

Looking forward to your next visit to the Pacific Northwest - or to the return of Christ - which ever comes first,

Lindsay 

P.S.  I am Living Proof.

Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.   Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

our boys.

Dear Ian,

Our boys are growing up so very fast.  It seems as though just yesterday we were thinking about getting married - and now ... almost 10 years later, we have these two beautiful boys watching and learning how to live life through us.  (goodness, that's a bit scary)

You and I, we're teaching them how important it is to live simply, expect little, and give much.  We don't have the latest and the greatest of anything, but we do have a lot.

Our boys don't have video games or computers, but they do have an enormous amount of toy tractors, cattle trucks and machinery.  They are living life well.  We should never doubt that - not even for a second. 

They like to go to McDonald's for milkshakes on our way home & they love it when you take them to the mini-mart for a pack of gum.  They tell me they love me many times a day.  They like to read books, play UNO, watch Deadliest Catch, and mow the yard. They are best friends & want to be just like you when they grow up.

May we always treasure the two most important gifts in our lives ... our boys.

Loving you through this parenting of {boys} adventure,

Lindsay

the last one ... (for this year)

Dear Mason,

I'm not a runner - but you sure are!   Last week, I watched you in the relay, the 100, and then in the 400, and my heart swelled with pride.  Pride, because you're fast, you're dedicated, and you don't quit.  Even when it makes your throat burn and your heart pump harder than anything else, you fight back the tears and push.  Learning how to pace yourself is something we'll continue to work on - and I say we, because I don't pace myself very well either.  It's all or nothin' for you and me a lot of the time  ... and that's not always the best way to meet our goals.  Someday we'll learn ... and at least we can learn together.

Thank you for giving everything you do your absolute best!!  I'm so very proud to be your mom.

Looking forward to watching you run and jump for many years to come,

Mom

a whole lot.

Dear blog followers,

There has been a whole lot going on in our world right now.  I have wished for 10 extra minutes each day the past two weeks, and somehow I can never find more than the 1440 minutes God allocated for each given day.  Go figure.

We've been wearing gloves, sunscreen and patched pants alot lately.  Mack even announced that gloves are quite "handy" the other day.  I love that boy of mine - so smart isn't he?!

Mason's been learning a lot about generators, flat tires, and cattle trucks too.  I know that he knows more than I do about most everything ranch/cow related.  Not too bad for a 7 year old.

Ian's been loading and hauling and unloading pairs for weeks it seems.  It's made laundry interesting and given him a bruise or two ... but he's not complaining.  The grass is growing and the sun is out - and cows are making a living.

I've been kind of like a tumbleweed lately.  Pokey and worn out, but still managing to be beautiful in my own way.  I'm certain that my boys, my husband, my students, and my student teacher would appreciate if I'd lose the pokiness and the worn out bit ... and figure out the trick to just being beautiful.  I'll let you know if something magical begins to happen.  Anything is possible with God.

Fences are being built, fixed and walked through daily ... but again, we're not complaining.  The cows are making their own living right now.  (insert loud cheer)

So, blog followers, please know that I have very good intentions of writing letters every single day, and I am writing a lot of letters by hand right now, but for some reason God is only allowing me 1440 minutes and that just hasn't been quite enough to get anything posted here.  Who would have guessed that I needed to sleep once in a while?!

Anyway -10 minutes of that 1440 today were spent well -writing this note to you.

With admiration for your dedication and support of us here at Bales & Tales,

Lindsay

slippin' and slidin'.

Dear Slip-n-Slide,

You've been with us for a few years now, and I can't even begin to explain how grateful I am for your simple, yet fun way of creating a whole lot of goodness on a hot day.  Now if only I was brave enough ... and agile enough, to try it myself at age 35.  Maybe I'll put it on the list of things to accomplish at 36.  Or maybe not.  Either way, I still like you.  Your sprinkles and sliding magic are two things my boys certainly love and these pictures are proof.

May you continue to be used well & often in the lives of us.

One of your biggest fans,

Lindsay