An Honor to Serve

Our family was blessed beyond measure today. We were able to go and help serve with the Matthew 25 mission at the Puyallup Four Square Church this morning with Isabella's Ballet Company. Greg and I have been wanting to get our kids involved in more service projects and were elated to get an email about an upcoming opportunity. The kids weren't sure what to think at first. Jordan didn't really appreciate having to get up early this morning but he and I were able to have a great conversation about the cost of serving sometimes. Greg and I got to talk with all of our kids about this morning not being about us at all. This was an opportunity for them to completely be immersed in an opportunity to serve others and make it all about showing the love of Jesus to them by meeting their needs. Once we arrived at the church, there was no stopping our kids. They jumped right in and my heart just melted. Isabella was determined to get to help actually make the sandwiches and not just bag the lunches so she went right up to a lady and got involved. She was not the fastest sandwich maker in the assembly line but I know those sandwiches were made with the most love. Jordan and Mikayla jumped in wherever they were needed too. Then it was time to pray over the lunches and head out delivering them to people in need.

I wish I had the words for some of what we experienced today but you'll just have to know that it was God blessing our efforts and there just aren't adequate words. There were children and adults that captured our hearts. There were people who were hungry for not only our lunches but the love of their savior. The time was truely filled with moments ordained by God. It was the lady who just wanted someone to talk to and share her week with. It was the man who didn't think to ask for prayer for himself but immediately asked us to pray for his sick friend. It was the newborn baby that peacefully slept while his five year old sister squeeled with laughter and joy as we gave her some lunch and a new bear. Over and over God shattered my idea of what the day would hold and proved that he was bigger than my imagination! It was being in a circle of 20 people united in prayer and feeling the wind of God sweep over and impress upon us that he was there with us. It was an honor to be a part of their ministry today. It was an honor to serve beside my husband. And, it was an honor to serve with my three children.

Pumpkin Patch 2010

Our kids absolutely love going to the pumpkin patch every year. We lucked out again this year with amazing weather and beautiful sunshine. I wasn't able to go this year, but Greg and the kids had a blast. We just might have to go one more time before October is over :)

Earnhardt Cousins

It's never complete until Uncle Matt runs them through the patch in a wheelbarrow!

My little horse whisperer

Unknown Departure

Edith VanLuyn

My Grandmother

Today was my grandmother's last day here on earth. She is home with her Lord and free forever. She was loved by everyone who knew her, especially her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Death is not an easy thing to grasp. It is never easy to say goodbye and when we don't see it coming it can be even harder to accept. We are angry because control is stripped out of our hands, although it was never there to begin with. We are sad that we didn't get to say goodbye. We have joy and relief because our loved one is not in any pain or suffering anymore.

I am a picture taker! I love to capture moments in time. Today I am so thankful that I do. A picture can bring back a moment or an emotion that we haven't remembered in awhile. I had joy today looking through those snapshots of my grandmother with all of us. She loved spending time with her family, especially the great grandkids, and they loved her to pieces. We are going to miss her but we are thankful for every moment that we had with her.

We love you grandma.

Till we see you again someday........

Training Wheel Departure

Isabella is officially riding a two wheeler big girl bike as of today! She picked it up in about 20 minutes. Starting is a bit shakey and she is still getting use to it but she did great! She was riding up and down the street with no problems at all.

I found myself feeling a bit nostalgic as I thought back to the days when Jordan and Mikayla both learned to ride their two wheelers. Isabella was our last one to progress to the "big girl bike". Watching the excitement on her face as she told me what she had just done was priceless. One more way that we have inched our way forward on the path of growing up. Oh how I love watching my children grow and learn and achieve new things.

Updates

Well, it's been awhile since I found myself just wanting to do a download. It's 11:15 p.m. and I can't turn off my brain so I think I'll just type a few things. We'll call them "Updates".

My sister moved to Tennessee recently and I miss her....a lot :( I need to visit her soon.

I just got to go to my kids' teacher conferences earlier this week. Mikayla is doing great. She is in the 5th grade this year and her teacher is an amazing fit so far. She is learning a lot and engaging well. She is already exceeding her first trimester goals and I am so proud of her. She is doing exceptionally well in reading (as usual) but I think the monetary incentive is helping her overachieve in this area. Jordan is doing great too. He is in the 3rd grade this year. How often do you go to your son's conference and hear his teacher say, "He's one of my top students. No behavior problems. He is a delight in my class". WHEW! Isabella is so in love with school this year. She adores her teacher and loves all the interactions. She is definitely my social butterfly. She likes to get done first no matter what the assignment is, so we are working on quality of work not just the thrill of always being done first.


The sun this week has been amazing. I love the crispness of fall. I love the changing colors on the trees. I love the leaves all over the ground. I love decorating and going to the pumpkin patch with the kids.

Ministry and Service are two words that I have questioned over the last few months. Where should I be this year? What should I be doing? Am I getting fed or just feeding others? Am I in check? Am I useful? Do others see me as an asset or a liability? Why can't we just do the thing we love to do and that's it?

I have mixed feelings when it comes to AWANA. Don't ask.
My mom came over today. She is teaching me how to bake and cook some of her specialties. Like a passing down the traditions sort of thing. I LOVE IT! I love the time with her, I love learning how to make yummy food from scratch, and I love that she loves me. Today was chocolate creme pies. YUM!

I need to buy a laptop but just can not bring myself to slap down all that money for another computer.

I am shocked by how many fire codes were broken at a public entity's event today!

Knowledge is Power but the responsibility that comes with it can really bite sometimes.
Halloween is not my thing so I say let's just skip to Thanksgiving and Christmas :)