Just Some Catching Up

So here's a little update on what we've been up to lately...

We took a hike this weekend. I captured a few great moments in between all the "it's too hot!" and "when are we going home?" I take responsibility. Usually the kids are great hikers but Hubby let me sleep in and we got a late start. Lesson learned.

This little guy had his first dentist appointment. Before he got in the chair he was crying like crazy. I was trying to hold the baby and comfort him all while having flashes of how awful this was going to be and how we'd probably be asked to never come back. 

But he sucked it up and did great. What a trooper. The only embarrassing part was when he told the dentist he doesn't brush his teeth. Really?! Thanks kid.

I helped lead worship Sunday at church. It's seriously one of my favorite things on the planet. I'm so humbled that God allows me to serve in that way. This week I had a little helper while I was preparing. She's the cutest.

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Just a little proof that I'm following through on one of my "we encourage" posts. The kids and I are almost done with The Magician's Nephew and we are loving this time together.

I am obsessed with LOST. I know, I'm only about 6 years behind. This show is freaking me out! There have been many nights of staying up until 2am because I just have to know what happens next.

I'm definitely team Jack although he is annoying me lately. And I really really hate Ben. I know it's a strong word but it's how I feel. Obviously I'm way too invested. Luckily I have Hannah. She is always up late and let's me text her with my ridiculous questions. Thanks fancy Hannah!

Hope you are having a great Monday.

Oh Hey...

come visit me at one of my favorite blogs today.

I did a little post for Danielle's "faithisms" series.

14 years

Last week Hubby and I celebrated our 14th anniversary.

We commemorated with out usual high 5 first thing in the morning.

One more year under the belt.

We decided to just spend a simple day at the beach. I don't think I've been to the beach without the kids...well, since I've had kids.Hellloooo?!

I think it might be my favorite anniversary ever.

This is what we did...

We sat and relaxed.
For 6 hours.
Can I get an Amen?!
I read, we both napped and we talked.
God was so faithful to give us a day to refresh ourselves.
I do have to work with Hubby a little on the relaxing portion. I am what I would call a "relaxation expert". Hubby, not so much. He did admit to me at one point he was thinking about the sprinklers at home he needed to fix.
But all in all I was very proud of his effort.

When we were done at the beach we walked to the pier and ate at my favorite little place.

The food here is seriously unbelievable. It's tiny inside. We love to sit at the bar and watch the chefs cook.

I always get the same thing. 

Shrimp scampi. I'm thinking about it now. I'm dying.

It was truly a glorious day friends.

Thank you Hubby, for a perfect day.

Thank you for 14 years of friendship.

Thank you for loving me even when I am acting unlovable.

Thank you for leading our family, for showing our children a man who loves the Lord and loves people.

Thank you for your compassion.

Thank you for knowing when I have reached my limit.

Thank you for providing for us.

Thank you for making me laugh every day.

I am the luckiest girl I know.

xoxo

"we encourage" The Art of Self- Discipline

Practice doesn't always happen cheerfully around these parts.

Sports, piano, penmanship...

Self-discipline is not easy. I have often found myself struggling to help my children understand why practice and perseverance is so important. Why it is critical to their character.

I doesn't help matters that this is an issue I struggled with growing up. And if I'm being completely honest, I still struggle with it.

 When I was young I often quit activities as soon as they became too difficult. As soon as I was aware they were going to take up more of my time. I would I have to push myself, I would have to persevere, I quit.

This is something I have prayed about often. And while the Lord has helped me make great progress, it is still a character flaw I have to fight against.

When I saw some of "me" in my kids I wanted to do whatever I could to change it. That included getting mad, being disappointed, handing out consequences and offering rewards.

I didn't like the laziness. Still don't.

I finally discovered the best method of helping my children with this part of their character  is to simply walk along side of them. 

Being burdened with this doesn't help anyone. I simple need to help them the best way I can, in love. Help them find their passions. Be present for them in the struggle and let them fail.

Most importantly, rejoice with them in their victories.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Colossians 3:23-24

The Word gives me all the direction I need to guide my children, and myself, through this.

Discussions of this verse have helped a lot.

This weekend I was reading "The Final Summit" by Andy Andrews. He writes an amazing few pages about self-discipline. It may be my favorite part of the book so of course I had to share it. In this section of the book King David is discussing self-discipline with Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Joan of Arc and a few others. 

Have you read this book? Because I realize that sounds a little crazy.

Anyway, here is what King David says regarding self-discipline...

"It takes self-discipline to practice, because practice is rarely exciting. But I understood the principle at an early age. Exerting self-discipline is merely a process by which you remember what you really want. You see, I did not want to practice. What I really wanted was to be proficient with the sling. Therefore, I learned to discipline myself to practice on targets - rocks and trees- for hours every day.

What do you really want? That is the question that fuels a person to a strong discipline that can only be administered to himself by himself. And success in any endeavor where self-discipline in involved boils down to this question: can you make yourself do something you don't particularly want to do in order to get a result you would like to have?"

This is the best explanation I have ever found. And I'm sure I will have an opportunity to use it soon enough.

For my kids, it might be piano or penmanship. For me, it may be waking up early for quiet time with the Lord or making sure I exercise.

But whatever I do, I will strive to do it with all my heart...for the Lord.

"we encourage" - That Good Idea

Do you do what I do? 

I hear a great idea and I think to myself, "what a great idea!". 

And many times that is where it ends.

So today I plan on changing that.

Over the past week two women I love dearly gave me two wonderful ideas and I plan to implement them.

Last weekend I spent time with this lovely. I admire her more than I can say. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know.

Leslie told me about the "book club" she does with her kids {who are the same age as my 2 oldest}.
She sets aside time during the week to read aloud to them. I have been having them read quietly during the day but I love this idea. What a great way to spend time together! I know her kids are going to have wonderful memories of that time spent with her.
It will be a bit challenging because I will need to find something to keep my little ones busy but I'll figure something out.
So I plan to start "book club" this week.
And I think we will start with this...

                                                                            Source: christianbook.com via Jami on Pinterest

Thanks Leslie!

After a great weekend I was blessed to vacation with my friend Tracy.
She also happens to be an amazing  christian author and speaker. I love her.
A bunch of us ladies were talking and Tracy shared with us how she remembers to pray for her children's future spouses.
This is something I know is important and something I don't do nearly enough.
She explained how she has one vase for each of her children. When she has pennies, from the laundry or where ever else, she puts them in her son's vase and prays for his future wife and their marriage. The pennies are being saved for his rehearsal dinner.

                                                                               Source: google.com via Jami on Pinterest

Silver coins get saved for her daughter. When she adds them into the vase she prays for her daughter's future husband. These coins will one day help pay for her wedding.
What a gift she is giving them.
What a gift she gave me by sharing this.

I am constantly amazed by the women the Lord has put into my life. I am eternally grateful for their wisdom, creativity and heart to serve the Lord.

Ok friends, take that good idea you recently found and make it happen. I know you'll be blessed by it.

God Bless the U.S.

Hey strangers! I've missed you. We just got home from spending a week in the Sacramento Delta.

A great time was had by all.

There were 9 families, In case you're counting, that's 18 adults and 23 kids. 

And yes, we are crazy. But it was so fun.

Here is a little taste of our 4th.

The families in charge of dinner on the 4th brought these great patriotic cookies for the kids to decorate. I had a perfect picture of the cookies but in all the excitement I must have accidentally deleted it. I hate it when that happens.
Moving on...
There was lots of swimming, tubing and wake boarding. Not by me of course, I prefer to sit in the boat and enjoy the sun. But my kids were obsessed with tubing and the older 2 did try to wake board.

There was a lot of popsicle eating. 

My friends decorated the outside of their cabin with these adorable lanterns. We had  perfect weather the entire time and I threw in a picture of a little July 4th booty just for fun {and it is the cutest booty I ever did see}.

We are so grateful to live in the most wonderful country on Earth. 

 And we were blessed to spend our country's birthday with some of our favorite people.

Lord, I pray you continue to bless this nation. Help us continue to be a force for good in the world and to turn back to you for guidance.

Amen.

"we encourage" - Moments From Haiti

Today is for the most part a "pictures only" post.

I wanted to share some of the photos from Hubby's trip to the Dominican Republic and Haiti.

I don't have stories to go with them because they aren't my stories to tell.

Maybe one day I can coax Hubby to write a little something about his experience.

Until then, here are some moments that tugged at my heart.