LIFE...EARNHARDT STYLE

God is Present and at work!

2012-01-26T08:38:00.000-08:00

On sunday, I shared with the Ignite Jr. High about God's Power and how to stay plugged into it. P=Pray in all circumstances, O=Obey God's Word, W=Worship Him, E=Expect Him to show up in mind blowing ways, and R=Remain in Him every day not just on sundays.

Well, one of my student's family has been having a particularly rough patch lately. They are hanging in there and trusting God through all their circumstances. But that hasn't knocked this particular 11 year old down! Just this week, she embraced the courage to invite one of her school friends to youth group on wednesday night. The kid has never been to church. He decided to go with her.......and had a BLAST! He can't wait to go again and couldn't stop talking about it all the way home.

Why do we doubt it? Why are we so afraid to step out and step up to what God puts in front of us? Maybe it's a friendship or a moment to share our faith or a situation where truth needs to be said in love. Maybe it's a supportive word or a coffee date or a service project that we just don't think we have time for. Maybe it's taking a stand for what's right or a committment to invest as much in our relationship with Christ as we invest in... (fill in the blank for whatever your thing is).

Someone reminded me recently that regardless of our circumstances, God is constantly being good. But we forget. We forget that there is this ALL POWERFUL God that wants to be working through what we think is a meager and insignificant existence sometimes.

I have plenty of moments when I feel insignificant and sorry for myself. But, for each minute you think you have nothing to give, you lose sixty seconds of giving. For every hour you feel sorry for yourself, you lose sixty minutes to comfort another. For every day you wait to get going in the ministry to which God has called you, you lose twenty-four hours to bless the world.

I am challenged by one 11 year old this week to put feet to my faith and action to my words. I want to tap completely into the POWER that is waiting for me to embrace. I want to use my imperfect self to encourage and embrace those around me. I want to be humble in every success and failure by always pointing to the One that saved my life.

Catch up in Fast Forward!

2012-01-01T18:15:00.001-08:00

Today is Jan 1, 2012. Since I haven't blogged in over 4 months here's a short review.

In September, the kids started school. Mikayla is in the 6th grade this year, Jordan is in the 4th and Isabella is in the 2nd. All are doing a great job and thriving in their studies.

I also went back to school. We were overjoyed to find out early in August that I had been accepted to Pacific Lutheran University's School of Nursing. Being a Lute has been a wonderful experience so far! And I'm already done with my first semester. Only 2 1/2 more years left~

October and November were full of opportunities to help out in the kids classes at school. I am so thankful that they actually want me around them and their friends. Greg and I have also continued serving as the Ignite Jr High Leaders at our church. We are so blessed by the students and their families. We did some serve projects in October, Uturns are always a blast, and we did some caroling in December.

Our family got to enjoy some great camping trips in September and Greg has been trying to convince me to go as recently as last week. That man LOVES to camp!

December has once again been a wonderful month of holiday traditions, old and new.

This year was the first year we got to go to Journey to Bethlehem. Well, we were all supposed to go and then Jordan got sick. So, it ended up being a daddy/daughter date. They absolutely LOVED it and we can't wait to go all together next year.

The Christmas Tea is something that Mikayla and I have done together for 4 years now. Isabella will FINALLY be old enough to join us next year and she can't wait to be a part of the tradition. It was wonderful as always.

Grandma was in the Singing Christmas Tree this year so that became a new tradition for us as well.

Gingerbread Houses is another favorite for our three kiddos. This year we could tell they are definitely getting older as they really put some thought into those houses!

Ever since the kids were born, Greg has read Twas the Night Before Christmas to them on Christmas Eve right before bed. He loves it and so do they.

And of course, Christmas morning! Jordan's big thing this year was LEGO Rock Band for the Wii. The boy was overjoyed. In fact, all three were as they screamed for over a minute when the gift was opened. Mikayla got her electric scooter that she was hoping for. And Isabella loved her Squinky playhouse.

YEP! Right up and down the hallway she went! There was no waiting for the rain to stop!!

So, that brings us to today. NEW YEARS DAY~2012! Pictures, and taking short trips down memory lane, can be fun. But, they are merely snapshots of moments that existed amidst many others. Some good and some challenging! God has met with me at the peak of the mountain at times, and at others, he has reached out to gently pull me up again. I have seen and experienced losses of great magnitude in my life and others during 2011. I have wittnessed God's hand at work in the honest conversations of real people. I have let tears fall and held the hand of the frail. I have been reminded often that I am a work in progress.

My God is Faithful. Life is precious. I am but a servant of the Most High King. God has shown his favor over me. I am married to the most AMAZING man I've ever known and I love him with all my heart. I have been blessed with three INCREDIBLE children whom I also love with all my heart. I have breath today and for that, I am thankful.

Happy New Year!

The River Walk

2011-08-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

There is this really cool trail that leads along the Puyallup River. We have lived here for a long time and I had never gone down to the river. That all changed tonight. Greg and I took a walk on the trail and finally made it down to the river. There were people fishing, kids playing, super soft sand to sink your toes into, and nice people all around that didn't mind talking about the fish they were catching.

For me though, the best part was being with Greg. He is still the man that makes my heart flutter. When he grabs my hand and pulls me into himself......well, I just melt. He's strong and protective. He's dark and handsome. He's gentle and kind. He treats me like a QUEEN which is nice too. He loves to serve me and he makes it so easy for me to serve him. Thank you God for the man that you chose for me.

What, 35 already?

2011-08-26T08:08:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where does the time go? My birthday comes around every year just like everyone else. But, I think this one snuck up on me a bit. I turned 35 this year. Now, I don't think that's super old or anything. But where has all the time gone? I remember being 20 and getting married like it was yesterday!

What I can say, is that the last 15 years have been especially good to me. I got married to the man that God had handpicked for me, I have been blessed with three wonderful children, and I have learned a lot about myself and others. I've definitely been stretched and grown a lot, but I'm thankful for those moments and challenges.

My birthday this year was one of thankfullness. Not because I was given some elaborate gift but because my perspective is a little different this year. Whether it was miracle babies born into our family recently, or the gift of education, or just the love of friends and family......there is much to be thankful for.

So, as I celebrate my birthday this year, I want those of you reading this to know that I am also thankful for you. I go over my blog list often and just pray for my friends and the lives that they are living. I think about some of you who are walking through those tough moments that challenge us throughout our lives and I pray for God to grant you peace.

Here's to us. To a year of great things and fun memories. A year of incredible moments to grow us. A year of fitting our lives into God's plans instead of trying to fit God into ours!

Zoo Break

2011-08-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

The kids love getting involved in the reading programs that the library and various book stores do during the summer. They real all the time so it's just a bonus that they get things for doing it. This year, the library gave out free passes to the zoo with free pizza coupons. So, it was off to the zoo. It was a really fun day and very hot! We hadn't been there in about a year so everything felt new again. The show in the amphitheatre was quite different again this year and new the snow leapoard cubs were too cute!

GO LUTES!

2011-08-08T22:45:00.000-07:00

It's official. I have been accepted into the School of Nursing at Pacific Lutheran University. We are excited to be a Lute family. The kids are looking forward to displaying their gold and black at the sporting events this year!

It's Inevitable~

2011-08-08T22:08:00.000-07:00

It's been four months since I've written. Change Happens. It's inevitable. Sometimes we embrace it and bask in the excitement. Other times we fight it till it finally wins and we're left mourning the differences.

Change has been prevalent in my life over the last year. There have been ups and downs, excitement and mourning. There have been things I had to let go of. There have been things that I have recently gotten to embrace. There will be more change in the years to come as my children grow and our lives develop even more.

I always imagined that once I had an "on track" relationship with God that it would stay constant. But alas, that too has continued to change. There are times of intense closeness and others of wandering. God is always there, I just sometimes get distracted from His presence.

I want to be someone who embraces change because I can't stop it. Trust me, there have been times that I've tried. God has reminded me again that I am a work in progress. That means that He's not finished. There is still more life story to write on my pages.

I sat today in my rocking chair and just looked out my window. It was quiet. I laid on my trampoline tonight and just watched the clouds pass across a beautiful blue sky. It was peaceful. My soul is satisfied. Not because I have everything or because there is nothing challenging, but because God is good and He is with me.

Tears that matter

2011-04-07T11:05:00.000-07:00

We all shed tears. Today I received news that I have been placed on the waitlist for PLU's nursing program. It was hard to hear. But, I immediately struggled with how to react.

I had just been told that Japan had experienced another big earthquake this morning and they were warning about another tsunami. I had been praying over some friends that would spend this morning in their MOPS time saying goodbye and remembering their Mentor Mom who had come to be like family to them and whose loss has left a gaping hole. I received an email last night about a friend of mine in ministry whose house caught on fire yesterday and they lost everything. So, I felt like I couldn't shed a tear over just some news about being waitlisted.

In the grand scheme of things it just doesn't seem important. I cracked up about my "waiting" post a few days ago because now, I could potentially not know anything for sure till next February.

Well, instead of making this post all about me, I will just say He gives and He takes away. But He's still at work all around us. Not everything is tragic. I also received an email today regarding one of my jr highers who has had some swelling on her brain. She spent quite a bit of time at Mary Bridge and we've been praying intensely for her. Today, we have found out that they have a diagnosis, it is not the terminal things that were feared, and she should make a full recovery in time. PRAISE GOD from whom all blessings flow.

Now don't think I am some crazy rock star of a Christian. It is so incredibly hard to keep myself from sinking into my couch today, closing the blinds, and eating all the junk food I can get my hands on. It literally has become a minute by minute kind of day. But, these are the moments when we have to decide if we are going to live out our faith or just talk a good game. I choose to struggle through and live it out!

If anyone reading this is just having one of those days or there is something that you might be shedding a tear over, don't think like me. God cares about every single tear that you are shedding. He will be there to catch them and I pray His comfort and grace meets you exactly where you are.

The Waiting Game.....

2011-04-03T18:21:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm still waiting. Still waiting to hear from PLU to find out if I have been accepted into their prestigious nursing program. It has not been easy. I'm also waiting to finally lose those last 10 pounds. It has NOT been easy. I find myself saying "I can't wait to graduate in June" and be done with the first half of this exciting journey. But the truth is I can wait. There are a lot of things that we wait for in life. I'm getting that all too important reminder these days that it isn't easy to wait.

This last week was one of loss again. A dear Saint that has encouraged me often went home to be with the Lord. She is not waiting anymore. She has arrived. Another friend got married recently after many years of waiting. Her dream is finally realized and the wait was definitely worth it.

I was pondering this today, and started to wonder what God must feel when he is waiting on me. Waiting for me to open the Bible and get a fresh word from Him. Waiting for me to stop missing the small things because I'm waiting for the big things. God is good. He is patient. I'm thankful He waits for me.

So as I wait this week and wonder what will be next, I will choose to live in the moment. I will remain faithful to the little things and pray that God strengthens me to handle the big ones.

Emotions

2011-02-04T09:50:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, emotions run high. It all gets jumbled up and we start sinking. Then, we stop just long enough to have one second of clarity and we look up. Different people look up and trust in different things to get them going again. I will trust in YOU alone God, for you are the maker of my path. You are the one who has my life in your hands. You are the one who will give me the strength to move on. In you I delight and in you I will place my trust.

However, running till your legs practically fall off, shopping, and desserts all help too :)

Blessed by Surprise

2011-01-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Greg and I have been truely blessed recently by the addition of about 75 people to our family. Yep, that's right. 75 jr high students have become a very important part of our world.

It's funny how sometimes God brings things along that we DID NOT see coming. Greg and I had no intentions of getting back into youth work but God had other plans. It's been a whirlwind of a month. We've kicked it back into hyperdrive real quick. These kids have a way of bringing back a certain amount of "youth" back into your life.

Today was the first sunday with our whole group together. We had about 60 students and it was an incredible hour of being challenged by each other and God's word. We started some fun stuff today too. Our competition today for our teams was a Minute to Win It game called "Face the Cookie". They did great! The energy in the room was electric. Getting together that many kids and seeing them on fire for God and interrested in learning and discovering more is like nothing else!

We will be unveiling some really fun stuff this month and I can't wait :) Here's a couple of pics from our slightly funner moments this morning! Thank you God for the blessing and honor of leading your children.

Fantasy Lights 2010

2010-12-21T21:52:00.000-08:00

WOW! Greg and I took the kids and my mom to the Fantasy Lights in Spanaway Park tonight for the first time. It was really fun. Of course, the evening had to start with some hot chocolate, chocolate milk with whip cream and coffee at Starbucks. The kids were on pins and needles from the first lights they saw. They couldn't get enough of it. Greg and I were really impressed with the quality of the display and my mom thought it was just magical. The kids immediately announced to us as we drove into the entrance that this would definitely be a yearly event from now on. What a fun evening of memories.

Neighbor Nummies

2010-12-21T21:33:00.000-08:00

Winter Break officially started yesterday. We are so excited to get some down time. Yesterday we went to the library and then chilled with some movie time. Today, we got together with our neighbors to decorate sugar cookies. It was so much fun. The kids did great. Then the mommies got to give it a go. There was good food and lots of laughter. The kids had a wii tournament during the second half of the festivities and there was a lot of excitement as they tried to conquer a couple of games. We are so blessed to have such wonderful neighbors.

Finished products

Mommy tried to make a Mickey and Minnie Snow couple.

Decorating Divas and Dudes

2010-12-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

We absolutely love to decorate sugar cookies around this time of year. This year we have discovered the art of decorating the tree sugar cookies with m&m's. It's super colorful and the kids like to sneak m&m's every other turn. Tomorrow is an ornament exchange for our Earnhardt side of the family so it gave us yet another opportunity to spend the evening prepping cookies while watching The Santa Clause movies. A wonderful quiet and sugary way to spend the evening with our kids.

Trimming the Tree

2010-12-11T22:14:00.000-08:00

Not a whole lot of pics of the kiddos trimming the tree this year. They are getting so good at just handling things on their own that Greg and I just sit there and forget to even take pics. It is just so much fun giving them their new ornaments each year and then watching them take all the past years ornaments out and remember each one. It is one of my favorite times of the year. This year was no different. It was magical and the moments went by far too quickly. Unfortunately, we are having quite a time finding an ornament for Mikayla this year so no pic of her with a new one yet.

Cooking Cousins

2010-12-11T21:55:00.001-08:00

Oh my how the time flies. The kids don't just want to eat the food at Thanksgiving anymore. Now they like to have a hand in cooking it! This year, we got to go over to Matt and Denise's house and spend the day with them. This meant that we got to prep Thanksgiving dinner together. It was so much fun. Mikayla was so excited to get to make dinner rolls with Uncle Matt. It is her absolute favorite thing to eat during the holidays. It was adorable watching the cousins all help each other out and make DELICIOUS rolls. We ate real good this year!

Winter Wonderland

2010-11-23T18:45:00.000-08:00

Well, we finally got it. That stuff that they always say we might see but almost never really do unless you travel up into the mountains! We got SNOW! And a ton of it. We even made the national news this morning. I love the first snow. It's so quiet and peaceful. Greg and I sipped peppermint tea this morning as we watched the sun come up. It was perfect. Then the kids got up and the "little bit louder" fun began. Oh yeah, we have a great sledding hill at their school which just happens to be in walking distance. So off we headed with our snowboards and sleds in hand. It was a fantastic sunny day of fun. The kids did awesome. Jordan perfected his snowboarding. I actually made it down the bunny hill without falling off the snowboard which was impressive. We were whipping down the hill at mock speed and didn't have any major wipeouts!

This week is also Thanksgiving. I have so much to be thankful for. Here's a short list: my health, my wonderful husband, my beautiful children, my parents, my extended family, my close friends, my acquaintances, Greg's job, snow days, food to eat, a bed to sleep in, a home to call my own, and a God who adores me and sent his son to save me. I'm sure I could go on forever but I'll just say.....may I never forget how much I have or what the Lord has done for me.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. God bless you all.

Costumes and Candy

2010-11-02T20:04:00.001-07:00

Halloween is NOT my favorite holiday. Honestly, it could go away and I wouldn't even care. But, my kids definitely have a fun time dressing up and eating all that candy. I get to sit on the porch and meet new neighbors and their cute kids as I hand out candy. This year our kids went with a 60's Hip Hop Girl, a ladybug, and the karate kid. I still can't believe how much candy they ended up with. I was so glad the rain held off till 8 pm. It was perfect weather.

An Honor to Serve

2010-10-23T16:30:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-17T18:42:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

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 :)

A Request

2010-09-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Isabella and I were on our way to drop her off at Ballet on tuesday. From the back of the van I hear, "Mommy, am I going to get to perform just like Juliana (her cousin) on stage and everything?" Me, "Yes babe." Silence for a moment and then I hear, "O.K. But no flash photography during the performance mom. That would mess me up."

What six year old speaks with words like "flash photography"?

Not exactly what I had planned...

2010-09-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

I'm a planner. I like things to have a certain order to them. I like things to run smoothly and according to said plans. I had a plan two years ago. I would go back to school, get my pre-reqs out of the way in a year and a half and then start the nursing program on schedule in January of 2011. My family and I committed and followed through. However, I found out this week that I was competing for one of thirty available slots in the nursing program I applied to against 176 other people. The short story (so as not to bore you all with the details) is that I was not chosen as one of those thirty. I did very well and scored high but there were 40 others who scored higher than I.

The grief that ensued was overwhelming. A lot of questions flooded me over the 7 hours that followed the news. Why would you (God) give me a passion and a plan and visibly have your hand in it if only to see it not completed? Why did I feel you telling me to hope for this future only to see it seem to crumble around me? Why does it hurt so badly when it is just one rejection? Where are you right now? What are you wanting from me?

None of those questions were wrong. But thankfully, none of them lasted for long either. God is so good. My God is the giver of every good and perfect gift. My God has began a good work in me and will be faithful to complete it. Sure, there were reminders for me in it all. Like, this life is not about me and my plans. And, although it sometimes sucks to only be able to see the step that I am on and not the whole picture, I rest in knowing that God has a plan. His ways are perfect and eventually I will look back and see just how he was delivering me.

I have already taken the next steps that I need to take to move forward. God is not through with me yet. It hurts, but in a good way. He is refining me. I don't rejoice in the fact that this program did not choose me, but I do rejoice in the fact that my joy does not reside in my circumstances. My joy is in the One who still saves today. My Savior is alive and he has conquered the very enemy who seeks to destroy me.

Comfort comes in many different forms when we are met with opposition to what it is that we desire. A song that seems to tell our story without ever having experienced it. A dad that comes and sits with you while you cry crockadile tears and your nose runs all over his nice work shirt. A mom who supports in her own "special way" that gives you no choice but to smile. A husband who is a companion through and through but also knows when to love from a distance. A sister, who despite thousands of miles away, is able to embrace you emotionally and assist you in talking through the disappointment. Friends who help hold up your weary arms and who don't necessarily need to say anything at all. Their prayers are exactly what you need. And then there is a word from the Lord.

"On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers."
2 Cor 1:10-11

"I know that the hand of my Lord is powerful."
Joshua 4:24

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?"
Ps 56:3-4

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
Ps 62:1-2

When I remember this time in my life and the ups and downs that it brought, when I remember the difficulty and the cost of following what I knew to be my calling, when I look back and survey what it took to accomplish this........I will look back and rejoice that even now my God is with me. He is with me now and will be with me forever. I will praise you because all you are is good.

Mountain Top Experiences

2010-08-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

Our family went on vacation this last week. (that post to follow soon) There was one particular morning where I got up early and went for a run. When I was finished I decided to go and peer out over the surrounding mountains and view. As I stood there and tried to take in the vast beauty of it all, I was reminded how creative and amazing my God is. The wind seemed to swirl around me as I closed my eyes and listened to a worship song on my ipod. It was as if the wind was kissing my cheeks and then whisping away to find someone else to embrace. God was with me and it was an amazing time to just be still and enjoy all He has to offer in those moments.

I find myself encouraged and embraced by the Lord. However, I also find myself challenged. I LOVE those mountain top experiences and thank God that He allows us to have them every once in awhile. But, learning to carry those moments and encourage those around me can be more challenging. In all honesty, I'm selfish. I don't always want to put others first (as much as I hate to admit it). God granted me the serenity that I so desperately wanted this weekend. He is always in the process of granting me nuggets of wisdom. And I pray that I will always want to do better at trying to encourage others the way that He encourages me.

Dance Camp

2010-08-16T09:59:00.000-07:00

Dance Camp this summer was a super success. Isabella loved every single second of it. She learned so much. She is excited to continue her training this year. She can't wait till next Spring when she gets to perform for all her family. Great form Isabella.
Right on cue with the teacher already!

New friends and slushies.
Isabella with two of her ballet instructors.
They are amazing and she is blessed to be a part of thier program.

UH OH!!

2010-08-03T20:04:00.000-07:00

Once again, we have thrown caution to the wind and have fallen to the suggestion of a friend. Thank you to Austin for sharing this wonderful idea of jumping on our trampoline with water balloons. WE HAD FUN!!

Bella Dancerella

2010-08-03T17:36:00.000-07:00

It is time! Isabella has been patiently waiting for her chance to begin dance classes. She started dance camp this week. She is just beside herself excited. She is being introduced to ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop this week. We'll see which style she decides to stick with this year. She loves them all so far and I have a feeling it will be a very hard choice for her. Isn't she just TOO CUTE!! :)

Another Year Goes By

2010-08-02T18:49:00.001-07:00

It happened on July 28, 2008. Timothy James Currey was born. His life was far shorter than any of us wanted. He was able to spend 2 hours and 50 minutes in the arms of his parents and siblings.

Any of us who were priviledged to know of him were touched by him. God has used his beautiful life and death in the lives of so many. We don't understand or like how God chooses to do things sometimes. That's o.k.! But, we give Him the glory and rest in His sovereignty.

Our family was honored to spend Timothy's birthday with his family this year. They released ladybugs in his honor. It was so special and those moments are etched in my mind and heart forever.

Friendly Connections

2010-07-28T21:21:00.000-07:00

Mikayla is in a new sunday school class at church. She has been hoping to get to know a few of the kids better. We got to have the Caplan family over today and she and Ashley got to know each other better.

It was an imediate connection and the start of a beautiful friendship. The whole Caplan family was such a delight. The boys all had fun together too. Isaiah, their 14 year old, was such a gentleman. Erin Michelle is such a great mom. I was already getting to know her, but today I found that she is like a breath of fresh air. We got to really talk today about all kinds of things (which was awesome since there were 8 kids running around from 3 to 14 years of age)! We laughed and ate, talked and took pictures. It was so easy and natural to talk to her that before I knew it I was looking at my watch and it was 4:40 p.m. They arrived at 10:45 a.m.!! What an incredible day :)

Thank you God for new friendships. Thank you for the gift of friendship and help me to never take it for granted.

These are a few of my favorite summer things...

2010-07-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

Coffee dates with friends

The excitement on my kids faces the week of VBS

Pool Playdates

Snowcones

Our summer has continued to move forward in fun and exciting ways. We have gotten to do a lot of our favorites while experiencing some new fun too. I can't believe this summer is half way over already. The kids and I are enjoying every moment together. I am such a blessed mom.

FUN and YUM!

2010-07-10T22:16:00.000-07:00

Greg and I got to go on a date night tonight. But this was out of the ordinary tonight. Greg preplanned where we were going to dinner and wouldn't tell me. (I love romantic gestures and he knows it!) He drove us to Lake Taps and took me to a new restaurant called Al Lago. It was amazing from start to finish. We had a beautiful view overlooking the lake. The food was unbelievably perfect. No prepackaged food here that you stuff in the microwave and throw sauce over. No sir! This was made to order from scratch. The food was so succulent and cooked absolutely perfect. My mouth was exploding with flavor and texture and yumminess!!!!

Then he took me to a movie. It's the new Tom Cruise one. It was very enjoyable. There were two individuals who sat beside us and literally made us jump every time they started laughing. They were SO LOUD!!! Greg and I just had to look at each other and laugh at them more than the movie. We definitely enjoyed ourselves.
Thank you for such a memorable and romantic night tonight Greg. I love you with all my heart. I am so glad that every day with you feels like a brand new one that I can't wait to face along side of you.

STRIKE! SPARE! SPLIT!

2010-07-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

Boy did we have a great first day of our four day holiday weekend today. Greg really wanted to take the kids bowling. Now, you have to know that I'm not crazy about bowling. But I thought I would go and take pics. Turns out I'm not that bad with bumpers!! By the second game I didn't even need the bumpers. There were strikes and spares to go around. I even beat Greg. Neither of us can figure that one out! But I have to admit that I enjoyed the family time more than the bowling.

The kids had such a great time. They were laughing and high fiving. Jordan even stopped to do a little dance for us out on the slick floor. It was quite comical. It's a nice place with screens that have cartoons that tell you when you get a split or strike, etc. They loved watching the little short clips whenever we got them. There were sweet moments and victory type moments. They even had this cart like thing that the kids could use to roll the ball down if they got tired. What a great bonding experience.

Slumber Party Madness!

2010-06-12T13:27:00.000-07:00

Mikayla was sure months ago that she wanted to have a slumber party for her birthday this year. I timidly agreed (I need sleep at night) but limited the number of guests to four friends thinking that was a small number. I can not believe the amount of noise that five 10 year olds can make! The movie was so funny, the desserts were scrumptious, the craft was tricky but turned out great, the midnight hunt for candy was so wonderful under the blanket of stars, the dancing competitions were hillarious (with the help of the wii), and sleep......well.....5 hours and 15 minutes is good right? The morning brought yummy breakfast, trampoline time, the making of a fort, swing time, and lots of dirt!

What a ride :) All in all, Mikayla and her friends had a blast and that is what I hoped for. Happy Birthday Mikayla. I love you!

Mikayla and Red!

2010-06-11T06:56:00.000-07:00

What a fun night of celebrating Mikayla's 10th birthday as a family. Of course, she wanted to go to Red Robin for dinner. The kids absolutely love that place. Red Robin was actually there so that was a nice surprise (although she hesitated a bit as to whether or not it was still cool ) We saw some friends there from church so that was fun too. After dinner she got to go and pick out her new rollerblades from papa so she was pretty excited about that!

She is growing up. There's no denying the fact that we have moved on to that next stage in life. There aren't really toys that much anymore. Now there are sports equipment, electronics, and wii games. There isn't a cutsie theme requested anymore, just "movies, sleepovers, and DQ with my friends mom". It's o.k. though. I love it. I love growing with my kids and experiencing who they are becoming.

FEET

2010-05-16T20:08:00.000-07:00

Feet are not something I would tell you are very pretty. However, I was drawn to take a picture of our feet yesterday after some fun sprinkler time. There is just something about those little toes that just makes me go "Aaaahhhhh". Anyway, a really fun day of relaxing with the kids yesterday afternoon. They quite enjoyed getting out the sprinkler and trying it from underneath the trampoline! I'm sure it is against every safety rule in the manual but our kids sure had a blast.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-09T19:10:00.000-07:00

What an incredible day today. Time is something that is extremely precious to me right now. I was incredibly blessed to spend that wonderful time today enjoying my children and my mother. There were so many fun and yummy things today it's more than I could write about. The quick wrap up is: Special Treatments, Good Food, Lots of Fun in the Sun, Family, Chillin', and even an injury! It's amazing what a little love and bandaids can do. I even think it's the same hand as last year, poor Jordan. I'll cherish all the memories in my heart and let the pictures tell the story.

Puzzle Pieces

2010-04-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

Isabella and I got to do two 100 piece puzzles yesterday. She was so excited to accomplish them. But there were times when it seemed like the pieces just weren't going to fit anywhere. Then, there were other times that it seemed like we had the right piece. It was the right colors and shapes. The outline was just like it should be, the shades were perfect. BUT, it just didn't go there.

Isn't it funny how that is sometimes how life is? I was talking to someone a couple of days ago who had been investing into a piece of her life that seemed to be the piece she was looking for. However, for some reason, it just wouldn't fit. Something was off. We tried to figure out exactly what it was, but there wasn't a real answer. For right now, it just wasn't a good fit.

I am someone who likes things to fit neatly. I like them to easily go into their spot without a lot of pushing and force. I like them to fall into place and then stay there. No chance of having to do that piece over again! Do you like my fantasy?

Puzzles are fun. I very much enjoy them. But it takes a lot of patience to put a puzzle together. There are times you have picked up the exact piece that you need but you just aren't sure where it connects at that time. Come to find out that once a few more pieces are in place, that piece comes back into view and you know exactly where it goes.

I need to have the same patience with my life as I do with puzzles. God knows right where those pieces fit. He knows exactly what my puzzle will look like when I am finished.

Surprise!

2010-04-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

Our family got an early surprise visit from the Easter Bunny tonight at dinner. I'm not kidding! This rabbit just hopped right into the back yard and hung out during dinner. The kids were exstatic! They couldn't believe it. Jordan (our family clown these days) says, "He's eating the grass. I wonder if he's gonna poop out our Easter gifts?" NICE!!

Do This in Remembrance of Me

2010-04-03T16:57:00.000-07:00

Last night our family went to our church's Good Friday service. It was wonderfully done and very respectful. Greg and I decided that we would attend it with all of our kids. During the service, they offered communion. Mikayla and Jordan have both accepted Jesus into their hearts but have never had the opportunity to participate in communion. They both kind of looked at me and asked if this was something they got to do. We talked about what it meant and what the cracker and the juice represented. It was so sweet. They ingested every word that came out of my mouth. Then they walked forward, got thier bread and cup, and sat down. They asked if they should eat it or wait. I told them they could eat and drink it when they wanted. I encouraged them to bow their heads and just say thank you to God for the sacrifice that Jesus made to save them from their sins.

I watched as they both bowed their heads and closed their eyes. I tried to concentrate on participating myself but my heart was overflowing as I heard my daughter whisper "amen".

There are moments that we remember. Moments that make us laugh. Moments that remind us of when we were their age. Moments that cause us to count to 10....twice. But last night, I had a moment that I will treasure for all my days.

Now, don't think they are so grown up yet. As they finished and I turned to take their little cups, I was just in time to witness my 7 year old son furiously sticking his tongue as far into that little cup as he could get it so as not to miss one tiny little drop of grape juice. This also made me smile. I let him finish and then put the cups away.

When we were leaving last night, they asked us all to leave in silence. It was dramatic and really brought home the magnitude of those moments. I pray that God gives you moments this weekend to laugh and play with your kids. I pray that He grants you moments where you are silent and in awe of His sacrifice. I pray that you are blessed tomorrow morning when you wake up rejoicing that we serve a RISEN SAVIOR.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Dinner Rolls

2010-04-03T16:41:00.000-07:00

I got to make my mom's homemade rolls from scratch today for the 1st time. My mom makes the best homemade rolls ever. They come out so light and fluffy. The butter just glosses the tops and you CAN NOT have just one!! I've been wanting to give them a try for awhile so I decided to make them for Easter.

I love my heritage and want to continue passing down pieces of it. Even things as simple as making rolls. She shared her secrets with me and my house smells really good :) Now for those of you who are really good at cooking you just smile because you are so good at this stuff. But for me, these are real accomplishments! Just check out my menu for tomorrow's Easter Brunch.....

Spiral Ham, Twice Baked Potatoes, Corn, Dinner Rolls, and Blackberry Cobbler w/vanilla ice cream for dessert. Some sparkling cider to wash it all down and WHALAH!!! Wish me luck.

A Birth in the Earnhardt Home

2010-03-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

Nope. I can't hide a pregnancy that well and it wasn't me!!! We bought a couple of new fish on Saturday afternoon and it turns out one of them was extremely pregnant! Luckily we decided to invest in a birthing tank thing that you put in your tank so the babies don't get eaten (like last time). Well, Oreo had her babies last night. Unfortunately mom didn't make it. But, there are many many fishies that did. Hopefully they will grow and get stronger. Some of the fishy embryos weren't even fully developed so you can see them in their egg state and some kind of half developed. It is like a great big science lab. The kids are so excited. We'll see how many of them survive. Ya'll be thinkin' about whether or not you'd like a new Dalmation Molly fish! We won't be able to keep them all if they all survive.

Celebrations

2010-03-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes a good celebration is all a girl needs! I got to go out and celebrate Karen's Birthday and the fact that a crazy quarter in school was over. It was so wonderful to just laugh and laugh and laugh.

Karen so excited about her gift. "I love it.....What is it? A music thingy or a thing that counts my steps?"

"I can't hear anything?" To which I responded, "I know it works, I loaded the music and tried it at home. Here give it to me."

"I can't hear anything?"

Laughter ensued for a good 5 minutes while we eventually got the thing to play again. Good times!!

Things that matter....

2010-03-10T20:28:00.001-08:00

I am a perfectionist. There, I said it. I got an 89% on a Chem test and it rocked my world tonight. It was a super hard test and one that the professor did not completely prepare us for. I hated getting it back and having to accept the reality of my score. It will drop me out of my 4.0 status in this class and there probably is not enough left of the quarter to reclaim it. However, I came home tonight to my three children and my husband and all the disappointment disappeared. It wasn't by my strength. God alone gave me perspective.... immediate perspective about what my life is about. It's not about perfect scores coming out of college. (Although that would be really nice!)

It's about greeting my children and my husband and being excited with them about the bike ride that they all took together tonight. It's about intently listening as they relive their exciting tale of fast hills and skidding turns. It's about celebrating with a nine year old who is so proud of herself for going down the BIG hill with no brakes.

Hearing them tell me how much they love snuggling with me before they go to sleep is the perfection that I am thankful for. I did my best and I'm forgetting the rest. (Well, I'm not dwelling on it anyway which is really good progress for me.) Hopefully I'll be able to keep this perspective through the next four finals!

Rumplestiltkin

2010-03-06T21:15:00.001-08:00

O.K. So for those of you who knew me way back when....I use to be pretty dramatic. I loved being in plays when I was younger. I grew up being in musicals in school and church and was even Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz my senior year, one of my favorite school memories. Well, it looks like my first born has acquired my love for the dramatic arts.

Mikayla was in her first play production this weekend. She was a villager in the play Rumplestiltkin. The Missoula Children's Theatre was in town and put on the play. She had to try out and loved every minute of it from start to finish. She had such a blast. She had a couple of lines and a solo in one of the songs. They had two performances.

Grandma and Grandpa got to come to the one last night. My mom and I just kept looking at each other and smiling. Then this morning was the second performance. Uncle Matt got to come with Jacob and Juliana as well as Aunt Catherine with Jason, Noah, and Lauren. It was so nice to be able to share it with so much family. We are all so proud of her! Great job Mikayla!

Isabella's doing great!

2010-03-03T11:44:00.000-08:00

Isabella got to meet with her Academy Advisor, Mr. Eric, today. I should have brought my camera with me but the images are burned into my memory! She got up early, got dressed, and insisted on making a St. Patrick's Day craft for him. She read books to him, showed him some math pages that she recently completed, told him ALL about halloween last year (random I know), and counted to 100 for him, by ones and tens and then tens backward! Even I hadn't heard that yet.

It has been a (good) challenge to homeschool her this year. With my schooling ongoing, it has been such a blessing to have her enrolled in the virtual academy with advisors and teachers that comment on her work progress and such. It has kept me on track and committed to her experience this year.

I am so proud of Isabella and the progress she is making. I don't even really push, but she loves to learn. (As long as you don't ask her to color for homework pages. The girl does not like that!) I am so thankful for the gift of my daughter. She is a smiling light to my every day!

~He Loves Me~

2010-03-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

Greg and I celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on 3/1. I wanted to write this two days ago but you know how that goes. We have been so blessed in our marriage. I remember the Pastor that counseled us saying, "You think you love him now, but really, that love will grow and you will learn that there are so many levels to your love. You will love him more every day and the depth of what that love means will blow you away."

I have never known a statement to be more true. I did love Greg with all my heart even then. But as we have grown and shared our lives over the last 13 years I have learned a new appreciation for what that love really means.

There are days when I can't see past my imperfections. Days when the reflection in the mirror is less than desirable to me. But Greg sees nothing but beauty.

There are moments when I am less than fair. Greg takes those moments and blesses me with his ability to put me first.

There are times when we don't see eye to eye on things. These are the moments that Greg patiently "discusses" things with me until we have come to an understanding with each other.

There are times when I like to be the Princess. (Yes, even be watied on hand and foot) You probably don't believe me, but Greg does it! He is always doing those little things that he doesn't have to, but wants to, because he knows I love it!

Then there are those times when life throws me a curve ball. Times when I am weak and fragile. Those are the times when Greg tenderly holds me and weeps with me. Those are the times when my husband protects me as much as he can from the outside world. Those are the times when my husband prays for and with me.

This one I hate to admit. But, there are times when I am distracted from the life that God has placed in front of me. There are times when my vision is skewed by something in front of me. These are the times when Greg holds me accountable. He steers me gently around those obstacles and helps me see clearly again. (with God's help of course)

What a companion that God has blessed me with. God knew what He was doing far before I did. He chose for me the only man that could survive me and love me all at the same time.

Thank you Greg for choosing me. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for growing with me and never giving up. Thank you for everything that you are and will become in the future. I do love you more today than ever before and I know that love will only continue to grow deeper and more meaningful with every day that we are given.

I love you. Happy Anniversary.

I-Tunes

2010-02-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

So, I am not the most savvy girl when it comes to updated technology. I have an ipod but have never engaged in the world of I-tunes or downloading. I heard a song recently that I really liked and wanted it for my runs. So I bit the bullet and set up an account today. Only it wasn't that easy. You see, I had no idea that once you download I-Tunes (which I already had on my computer but wasn't aware it was the same thing) I thought you stay on their website to start buying music. So, I have seen absolutely everything there is, including every tutorial known to man on the ipod, on the I-Tunes website. Finally, after much frustration and not understanding how half of the natural born world does this on a daily basis, I finally decided that the only other thing it might be is to go and open my I-Tunes and hope that you can order directly from there. BINGO!! That was it. They never once say to close the browser and open your own I-Tunes window to start downloading music. Maybe it's a given but for those out there like me who follow the directions to a "T", it would be nice if they spelled that out. I'm just sayin'!

Now, I know you are all dying to know what song was so good that I was willing to go through all this. It's "Wild At Heart" by Gloriana. A great running song. Good beat! I will admit, it was nice to pay 1.29 for a song that I wanted than 16.00 for a whole CD. Now I'll be a pro!

Scream

2010-02-21T14:01:00.000-08:00

Do you ever have those days when you could just scream? You know, the ones where you just want to grab a pillow and start screaming into it. I don't like being vulnerable. I don't like it at all. It is no fun to open up yourself and step out on a ledge. I did that recently with someone about something that was going on in my heart and they just don't get it. So, I will take a deep LONG breath, grab my pillow, and let out one good scream. I will not let dissappointment over run me today.

Now, don't feel sorry for me. This is not a ploy to get a bunch of "oh poor you" responses or "I'm here, call mes". This is just a venting moment. I will run to the Throne and not the phone.

Aunt Jill's Birthday

2010-02-20T20:42:00.000-08:00

The kids were so excited to go to Vacouver, WA today. We started out early so that we could take them to Country Cousins in Centrailia for breakfast. Greg and I have some fond memories in that place and we were excited to build some more with the kids. Jordan was SO EXCITED when he finally got his cinnamon roll. It's all he's thought about for the last couple of days. I haven't been to that outlet mall in many years and they have really spruced it up. The Gymboree there is AWESOME! We got in a little shopping today too. Can't wait to get a trip in down there with the girls soon (hint hint).

We got to see Aunt Jill (Greg's sister) and her family. Our kids had not seen their cousins in over 5 years. It was like no time had passed at all other than everyone was all grown up! Matt and Denise were already in the Portland area for the weekend so they got to be there too. What a blast. The boys loved playing hoops with each other, the girls were infatuated with the dogs, and lunch and dessert were awesome!! The picture time was especially great because of this pyramid shot. Let's just say there was a definite comfort zone that was stretched today :) Of course we had to sing Happy Birthday to her since her actual birthday is tomorrow. I made everyone sing it again because her two dogs joined in and I just had to get it on video. Then on the way home, I was looking through the pictures and saw a blurry one that I couldn't quite make out so I deleted it. Guess what....YEP...it was the hillarious dogs barking happy birthday. I am so bummed that I did that. Oh well, the memory will last a life time.

What I Missed....

2010-02-16T22:44:00.001-08:00

So, you just got back from Haiti where you slept on concrete for a week covered by a little tent outside. Your neck and back are sore. What do you do two days after you get back? Go see a Chiropractor? Go get a massage? Now, think like my sister Chrissy for a moment........

You get on a trampoline of course!!

While my sister was gone I missed her crazy self. She has a way of making the day a little funner. The kids were so excited to see her today. She had not yet had the opportunity to get on the trampoline so we conquered that sucker today. She has moves peeps! It was a fantastic way to get out and enjoy having her back again. LOVE YOU SIS!

For a special little ditty, make sure to check out the short video at the end.

GET READY CAUSE HERE WE GO!

OH YEAH BABY!

ALLY-OOP

LOOK AT ME MOM

ME TOO BELLE

HOW HIGH CAN MOM JUMP US TODAY?

TIME FOR CRACK THE EGG

JUMP TILL YOU CAN'T JUMP ANY MORE!

MIKAYLA'S FIRST FLIP

Pretty in Pink

2010-02-16T12:15:00.000-08:00

Isabella and I are absolutely lovin' the sun today!! Science is one of her subjects in homeschooling this year and I have to say....it is much easier to get her excited about growing flowers and Spring when we can be out in it. Hope you are all enjoying the weather today.

Chrissy is Back

2010-02-15T18:46:00.000-08:00

Christina arrived home safely last night. She is exhausted and overwhelmed by all that she wittnessed. God is good and she is already planning to go back. Thank you for your prayers and please continue to pray for the people and children in Haiti.

Happy President's Day

2010-02-15T18:25:00.000-08:00

Well, now that I am a student again, I find that the holidays definitely are more meaningful to me. It's a DAY OFF PEOPLE! So today I decided to reward myself for all the hard work. The kids and I got to head out to Kent and hang with Karen and her kids. Oh my goodness. What a fun day! It started out quiet over peppermint tea. Then it got increasingly funnier as the hours ticked by. We laughed and laughed and truely felt like we got to relax. The weather was perfect and the kids made lunch. Thank you so much Karen for being such a great reward today!

You have no idea how many times I scratched today!!

You have no idea how many times Karen consecutively hit the 8 ball into a pocket that she did not call.

The kids loved cooking again.

Crazy Jumpers!

Time for ping pong!

Fun in the Sun. Movin' the party outside!

Valentine's Day at the Park

2010-02-15T18:17:00.000-08:00

I got to spend the afternoon yesterday with my four valentines. Greg is of course my sweetheart. I use to only want time with him on valentines day but the kids are really growing up and we are finding that we enjoy spending time with them just as much these days.

This Little Light of Mine

2010-02-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

I lit my candles this morning in my kitchen. I was amazed at how much light was given off by just one little flame. My sister is in Haiti right now working to help the people in the farthest out regions get help. It is dangerous and the destruction is more than words can describe. However, I thought of her this morning as I lit one candle. She said something to me before she left. She told me that she knew there was only so much one person could do to help. She knew that there were hundreds of thousands suffering and that she might only help a few. Then she said something that has resonated with me since. "But Stephanie, I can't let the idea of sommething so big keep me from doing something so small. I need to be faithful and let God use me in the smallest way He chooses." Of course, she said it so much more eloquently than I ever could write because God has granted her that gift but you get the picture.

PEOPLE.... we are not all called to Haiti. And we are not all called to the outermost ends of the earth. BUT.... we are called to serve. Don't be fooled by how much light is given off by one flame. It is tremendous. Serve where God has placed you today. Be a teacher or a boss or a friend or a mom or a neighbor or a wife or a missionary. Let's let God work the miracles and just show up ready and willing to do what He calls us to do.

Please continue to pray for my sister and their team in Haiti. Pray for their safety and the difficulty of seeing so much pain and suffering. Pray for them to continue to reach out to the people and be able to show them that God loves them.

Superbowl 2010

2010-02-07T21:35:00.001-08:00

Nope. The Colts were not victorious. It's a bummer. BUT....we did have a blast today. Maybe next year. Congrats to all you Saint's Fans. They played a great game!

Valentines and Soft Goodbyes

2010-02-05T19:19:00.000-08:00

Isabella and I had a very good time today making valentines. She got to make one for Grandma that she was very proud of. Lots of craft supplies came out and glue is always a fun thing!!

Then after a relaxing and pretty low key day, our family headed off to Grandma and Grandpa's house tonight for dinner to say goodbye to my baby sister, Christina. She is leaving for Haiti tonight. (If you would like details about how she got to this point and what God is doing in her life through it, visit her blog "The Climb" on the side of my page.) After a delicious meal, she asked me to french braid her hair and I felt like we were in the 8th and 11th grade again. It was one of those moments that you realize just how much time has already passed in your lifetime. We packed the vehicle and then our family stood in a circle in my parent's living room and prayed for her and her trip. It was a moment that I cherish.

And of course, how do you entertain a bunch of cousins that are so excited to see each other and just had ice cream cake??? You blow up a few balloons and send them outside. It worked!!

She's just like me...

2010-01-30T14:39:00.000-08:00

My youngest daughter, Isabella, is just like me. That statement in and of itself is a pretty scary one. But, she really is. She has a mind of her own, is very energetic, loves music (and bustin' a groove), and loves being a mommy. Now, she is only a mommy to her dolls at this point, but she really loves them. She throws baby parties all the time, bathes them, and reads the bible to them a lot. I hope Isabella always knows how much I truely love her. Which is only a fraction of how much God loves her. She is such a joy to me!

Girlfriends

2010-01-30T14:33:00.001-08:00

Not listed as a warning....

2010-01-30T14:26:00.001-08:00

Everything you buy these days comes with a warning label of some kind. We just got a trampoline for Christmas and it came with LOTS of warning labels and safety things. However, no where in any of that stuff was it listed that once you put it up there will be neighbor's kids at your door at least once a day.

Pencils are for writing

2010-01-30T14:22:00.001-08:00

NOT for sticking in your nose! Unless you are a 7 year old boy named Jordan.

Hmmmmmmm.......

Yesssssss.......

Is that a keeper?

2010-01-23T13:21:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I get to read these cute little blurbs on other people's blogs that are just so cute. They are just short little things that remind us of the innocence of our kids.

I was grocery shopping with Isabella yesterday morning. We were waiting in line for our turn when she looked up at me and asked, "Mommy, when I'm bigger, will my name always be Isabella?" I smiled and said, "Yes". She replied, "Even when I'm a mommy?" And I said, "Yes. Your name will always be Isabella." She paused slightly and then said, "Well, o.k." I absolutely love the random questions from my five year old.

Little Victories

2010-01-23T13:07:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot going on around here lately. The kids have been really enjoying time outside (loving this exceptionally warm winter we're having), school is in full swing, the kids' school projects are in full swing, we're tying up loose ends for the Comedy and Dessert thing next weekend, exercise is neverending, and God has been placing some real specific things in the lives of others that friends have needed much intercession for.

I am so thankful that God has granted me so many wonderful things. That is what I'm supposed to say, right? Praise is something that God has really impressed upon me to keep in the front of my mind and on my lips. I have to be honest......I had a couple of moments today where that was not the case. But, God has been showing me that the victory isn't in doing and reacting and feeling the right way every time. The victory is in recognizing that I need God to help me through those brief moments and turn my focus completely on Him.

Yes, I am so thankful for ALL the wonderful things in my life. I pray God gives me focus every day to keep Him first and let His praises be continually on my lips!

"SIGH"

2010-01-17T13:30:00.001-08:00

A beautiful morning of worship + some warm chocolate chip cookies after lunch (made with Ghirradeli chocolate) + the best husband in the world = Aaahhhhh.

The kids are enjoying some movie time and Greg has now left for a bike ride to who knows where so I thought I would just update the blog for a moment before returning to the studying for the tests and quizzes this week.

Thank you to everyone who has been praying for us. The schedule during the week is busy but we are feeling like God is granting us the ability to manage our schedules and still be a family unit.

Hoping that all of you get to rest today and start tomorrow refreshed.

What a Year

2009-12-28T21:19:00.000-08:00

As 2009 winds down, I thought I would take a moment to reflect. There has been a lot going on this year in our neck of the woods. I won't spend too much time recapping everything. (For that just go back and read old blogs throughout the year.) But, I will open up a little about how God has chosen to grow me this year.

My eyes have been opened to a great many things this year. Things that I maybe knew in my head but didn't necessarily know in my heart. God is so good. That He chooses to be sooooooo patient with me, I will never understand. I am glad that He continues to refine me although there are times that I definitely have grown weary.

God is in control! There is no doubt in my mind. I saw friends lose their babies this year, communities lose their officers, churches misplace their trust, and my own faith put to the test. There are times I have had to take a strong stand for what I believe to be the Truth. There are times I have had to walk away and trust that God will move hearts. There are times when I have been hurt and run to my heavenly father for comfort. There have been incredible times of growth and life lived with my husband and our children. There has been times of evaluation as to why I do the things that I do, why I serve, or where my humility is lacking. There have been times of peace and times of turmoil. God has shown me where I can be improving. He has challenged me to know Him better. He has invited me to know more about who He is completely. Not just the God who I run to when I need something or I want to say thankyou. God is challenging me to really understand what it means to be in true AWE of Him. To not fully understand Him and still be envealoped by what I can grasp.

I don't know how 2010 will go. I don't get to see ahead and prepare for those really tough times. But I do know that God is in control. I know that He will guide me and use me if I am willing to be available to Him. I just get to wake up tomorrow and live it to its fullest.

So, as you end the year of 2009 and celebrate with friends and family, remember to pray. Pray that God will bless 2010. Pray that you will become more and more available to what His will for you is. Pray that as He grows you and shows you things, you WILL respond.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. Some choose to cover their eyes and although they can't see where they are going they think they are more comfortable because the light is not so bright. Some turn their back to the light and either decide to retrace their steps and relive past experiences or they decide to walk backward and they miss everything that is placed in front of them. Some people put on sunglasses and accept the light but dim it so that it is comfortable and non threatening. They see the truth in part but never really experience the Glory of the Light. And then there are those who embrace the brightness of the light and trust that the author of that light will guide them even though they can't see the next step. They get to experience all that the light has to offer and they rest in that. I want to be a person who embraces the light in 2010 to the fullest!

Way to much fun!!!!

2009-12-28T16:31:00.001-08:00

The trampoline got put up today. It is such a blast!

Daddy and Jordan checkin' out the final details

The kids so happy to finally be on it

Mikayla loves to get bounced by Jordan

Jordan is quickly becoming the man of many tricks!

Isabella loves the "Drop and Pose"

Mikayla's splits in the air

This girl likes to get some air underneath her~!

So does the momma~!

I'm sure not the last time I'll be on my behind on this thing

That's enough for today. It's cold out here!!

For the record: The netting is supposed to be tied down and we will do it tomorrow. So for all you safety nuts that will read this and make comments, no worries!! We just had to get some jump time in tonight.

Mikayla's Musings at Christmas

2009-12-25T10:41:00.000-08:00

Mikayla wrote this and read it to us today. It was so unique and sweet I just had to put it up! Enjoy. Sorry about the sideways issue. I always forget that videos have to be upright!

An early gift

2009-12-24T13:22:00.001-08:00

Who needs a visit from Santa?

The gift of friendship is priceless.

A Christmas Vacation

2009-12-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

We took a vacation to SunRiver Resort in Oregon and just got back yesterday. It was so wonderful and relaxing. The resort was amazing. We got to catch up with an Aunt and cousin that Greg and I have not seen in 8 years. There was so much snow on Mt. Bachelor. The kids were definitely in their happy place. Although it is definitely cold there too! The sun was very accomodating. Here's some fun facts and pics from our week.

Fact 1: Jordan realized that you can't breathe really well if you stick a wet rag over your face at night while trying to go to sleep. Oh the things a 7 year old comes up with.

Fact 2: Scrabble is an addictive game and funniest when you are really tired and have had a high fiber kind of day.

Fact 3: You really can lose a couple pounds and stay on track with your workouts when vacationing!

Fact 4: It takes a LOT of cement, I mean icing, to stick those gingerbread houses together so they don't fall apart!

Fact 5: Snow is AWESOME!! Snowboarding and Sledding....even better.

Fact 6: I am completely in awe of a God that chose to create such a beautiful world and bless us with such amazing scenery.

One Minute of Praise

2009-12-23T00:08:00.000-08:00

One of my friends gave me a book for Christmas called One Minute of Praise. I just started gtting into it but let me tell you, it is amazing. We all have "things" in our lives. At Christmas, it is easy for those things to weigh us down. There are people who are hurting, people who feel wronged, and those that are just trying to survive. There are those who want to carry the burdens of thier friends and just don't know what to do or how to help.

This beautiful book that I am reading had this to say: "No matter the circumstances, never lose sight of the victories. Remind yourself of the many times that God has proven Himself faithful and praise Him that His mercies are new every morning."

So tonight, I will go into His presence and I will lift up those who I know are hurting and need their Savior. But I will also thank God for the small victories that I know He is providing every day.

Memory Makers

2009-12-15T08:42:00.000-08:00

The holidays are such a fun time to make special memories with the family. Last Saturday Mikayla and I got to go to a very special Christmas Tea at our friend's church. It was absolutely delightful seeing friends and being immersed in celebrating how wonderful life is because of the gift of a baby born to save us so long ago.

(I wish my scanner was working because the photos that we had taken turned out beautifully but alas it is not. Oh well.)

Afterward, our family just got to "hang out" with Greg's brother and his family. It was so great! Not only are they our family but we like them too! I am so blessed to have a sister-in-law as one of my close friends. I love it when we just get together and take it as it comes. It's so relaxing. We did go down to the lake and take some fun pictures too. I loved how they turned out.

Then on Sunday we were treated to all kinds of Christmas blessings. The first was during our church service. We got to see the Christmas story told to ballet by a company called Paradosi. It was amazing and really special to watch. There was such a gentleness and honor that was given throughout. Isabella loved it and has not stopped asking when I am going to sign her up for dance. Then it was Old Cannery time. We love going to the Old Cannery during the holidays. They are all about community and make it so much fun for the kids. We got to take a horse drawn carriage ride (and it snowed for us), ride the Santa Train outside (where it snowed on us some more), go inside to warm up with hot cocoa, slushies, and popcorn treats, and then get pictures taken with Santa. And finally, the girls got to go with their grandma and grandpa to their church on Sunday night to watch the children's program. What the girls didn't know was that it was the play, "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever". Mikayla and Isabella had a blast and came home yelling SHAZAM to everything. The smiles and enthusiasm filled my heart to overflowing. Not to mention getting to hang out with Grandma and Grandpa which is always awesome!

God is so good. There were years when our family was far away at Christmas and although those years were good, they were so very different. I am thankful for the gift of family. But, I am so much more thankful for the gift of a Saviour. I pray that you and yours are getting to enjoy each other this holiday season. But more, I pray that God is falling fresh over you and making His presence known in those moments of stillness.

Compassion

2009-12-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

Compassion is a word that I would say that I know. I would tell you that I show compassion to others willingly. However, I had an awakening this morning about what it feels like to be alone. (And it's not even what the sermon was about this morning) But I'm fully aware that God was teaching me something far different today.

First thing you have to know is that my husband is my best friend. He is my other half. He truly is the better part of me. We do so much together and honestly love being together whenever we can. Greg was not feeling well this weekend. He has had a cold all week and has just been feeling down and out. So he decided to stay home from church this morning. I was busy getting the girls and I to church. Then I helped with worship in first service so I didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary. Then 2nd service started and I had to find a seat for ONE. It felt strange. Like something was missing. Isabella sang in service with the children so there was a brief distraction and then back to the reality that Greg wasn't there beside me. I refocused and worshiped. Then the defining moment came in my morning. After service got over, I grabbed my stuff and started to put on my gloves and almost started to cry. There was no one there to talk with. There was no one there to laugh with or understand how my week has been. There was a feeling of being alone. Is this what it feels like? I thought of all those whose husbands are overseas right now. I thought of those who have lost loved ones or don't live close enough to see them. I thought of those who have had loved ones in the past but for whatever reasons don't have them anymore. And God immediately flooded my heart with compassion.

It's Christmas. A time of year when lonliness can overtake you. It is easy to be so focused on me and mine that I fail to see those around me. We are so blessed to be by both our families again. I am thankful for that gift. But God is reminding me to open my eyes and truely embrace those friends and family around me that are just trying to survive this Christmas. Those that are hurting and those that just need a friend.

So I have a challenge to all of you out there. Keep your eyes and your ears open to those around you this Christmas. Show compassion and God's love. Remember that it's tough to feel alone right now and the smallest smile or the short embrace of a friend can make all the difference. You never know how God will bless!

A Great Date!

2009-12-04T16:31:00.001-08:00

This week has been a doozy for studying and taking big tests in school for me. Isabella has been so patient and kind waiting for this week to get over. And today was our celebration that we made it. I don't remember the last time just she and I got to go out together. We started it out with hair cuts. Then we went out to lunch at Olive Garden. She was such a little lady and was very polite to the waitress. She even asked for extra cheese on her macaroni and cheese (you know, the kind they grate at the table) and when she had enough she held up her hand politely and said, "That will do, thank you". Who is this 5 year old hanging out with anyway?

I am so thankful for my sweet Isabella. She is such a joy to me. Her energy for living every moment to the fullest is contagious. I don't know where she gets that dramatic flare from though!! I pray that God continues to grow me as a mom so that I can do my best to prepare her to be what God has created for her to be.

Pre Hair Cuts

We love Trudy! And, we love that her house is 2 doors down!

Post Hair cuts

Isabella just had to snap some pictures during lunch. She actually posed me for this one. I was crackin' up.

Isabella and I at Olive Garden

Here we go!

2009-12-04T16:15:00.001-08:00

We love setting up the christmas tree and getting out all the ornaments. I think it's my favorite part of Thanksgiving weekend. The kids got super excited as they saw ornaments from their Papa and Nora from last Christmas and ones that they remember making. And then there is the fun of getting to hang all their own special ornaments that they pick out each year. There is so much of a story that an ornament can tell. I think that's why I enjoy them so much. It was a fun weekend of memories and fluffing the tree.

Where's the beef?

2009-12-02T11:48:00.000-08:00

Greg and I are trying to learn how to eat better and more consistently. Protein is a big deal with the P90X program because of the extreme workouts for the muscles. (In a balanced diet, not by itself) Well, I've remembered how expensive it can be to buy a lot of meat.

SO....I was pretty excited to see the BOGO sale on meat at Albertsons this week. And boy did it pay off today. I bought all of this....

for a grand total of $52.29. Now that sounds like a lot but the total for all that meat and yogurt should have been $100.29. That is huge savings in my grocery bill and obviously that's a whole lot of meals. 2 pork chops pkg (6/pkg), 4 pork roasts (2 lg roasts/pkg), 6 ground turkey meat, and 2 sirloin steak pkg (2 big steaks/pkg), a couple of avacados and 9 yogurts @ .39 each with the coupon in the add. Very successful shopping trip today!

Happy Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T06:47:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic Thanksgiving yesterday. There was food, fun, and family. Here's just a brief recap.

So much good food!

Time to eat!

Isabella and Lauren performing for us.

Our little princesses.
Snuggles with Grandma.
Aunt Chrissy and Isabella who later did a hillarious rendition of Jingle Bells for us.
Our whole family
Stephanie is again the undefeated Bakugan Brawl Champ!

Impromptu pillow fight!
Whoa Grandpa, there's a kid back there!
Trying to get a family picture for the Christmas Card. Nope!
Generations of Thankfullness. One of my favorite moments yesterday was a pleasant surprise. My grandmother is a simple woman who loves her family. At the end of the movie, Santa Buddies, there is a part where the music to Silent Night is played. All of a sudden, I heard my grandmother singing along to the tune and it was the sweetest thing I have ever heard. There is something about the simpleness of the holidays (that is lost all too often) that reminds me of the important things. Thanks Grandma.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

Thanksgiving Preparations....

2009-11-25T19:05:00.000-08:00

The coffee is flowing freely, the pumpkin muffins are almost done, the twice baked potatoes are in the works, and the husband keeps doing the dishes! Who doesn't love Thanksgiving?

Finally!

2009-11-25T18:24:00.001-08:00

Greg is on vacation this week and instead of going out of town we have decided to do some fun day trip type stuff. Today was all about the Mouse (unfortunately, not Mickey like our relatives). The kids love going to Chuck E Cheese. We usually go every other year for Halloween. This year it was supposed to be our Chuck E Cheese year but due to some circumstances it didn't happen. Sooooooo, today was the day. The kids finally got to go to Chuck E Cheese and were so excited we couldn't get a word in. Talk about "are we there yet"! I lost count of how many times we were asked that after about 8.

There was so much fun to be had by kids and dads alike! Greg got his play time in as well. There was no slowing the kids down. It was like 2 hours of whirlwind. There were sweet sibling moments and laughter the whole time. I am so thankful for my family.

Watch out Jordan!!

Mikayla taking a ride with her little brother.

Jordan teaching Isabella how to ride the quad. Too cute!

Hi 5's as the good times roll on the rocking horse.
(Yes, they are supposed to be seated)

That is one happy couple! I love this guy!

Silly Faces and Pizza. Does life get any better?

Isabella and Mommy

Silly Ducks. Ended up eating a token but the kind staff gave it back, plus 7 more. They were very generous.

Tricky Egg game. Isabella was brave and tried it.

She loved the sea doo. We might have to get one someday!

Jordan must remember this one from when he was younger because he just had to ride it. Yes, that's all it did. Just back and forth in the chair.

Isabella very excited to score on her brother at the Air Hockey table.

Our little princess.

Dad's turn. That guy can shoot!

Their favorite by far. The simulated rollercoaster.

UP, UP, UP, UP.....

Jordan is loving the way down.

All three in hysterics at the end. Good times.

It's X time!!

2009-11-22T20:43:00.001-08:00

Greg and I have officially ordered the P90X work out system and we are ready for the challenge. Unless it involves picking anything up off the ground today! Let me explain.

Greg and I have been wondering about this program for a while now. We have some friends that own it and were gracious to lend it to us this weekend so we could try it out (thanks Alyssa)! We did a workout on saturday morning and then got up today and did another one. We were already sore but expected to be as this is a very high intensity work out system. Well, needless to say that after two straight days of a crash course in P90X, there is nothing getting picked up off the floor today. Our inner thighs and legs are HURTING! I think I've stood more today just because it's easier than having to get back up off the couch or out of a chair.

But it's a good kind of hurt. Or will be when the Aleve kicks in tonight. So, wish us luck on our 90 day journey. I will NOT be posting before pics. But hopefully, great progress will be made in the next 90 days and after pics will be soon to follow.

On a little more personal note, I can't wait to do this with my husband. We have not worked out together since we were first married. We are like a couple of giddy kids after the last couple of days. Sure, we don't quite move the way we did 3 years ago and sure, those kicks aren't quite so pretty but man are we enjoying time spent with each other. OH, and you should see our kids right now. They are pumped about getting healthy (although they already are). They were trying to beat each other's best times on the chin up bar this afternoon and Greg told Mikayla that he'll give her $10 when she can do 10 pull ups. I wonder what her goal is going to be??? And Isabella is doing some arm exercises tonight like the instructor. "You raise your arm like this....Like you're starting a lawn mower" (said as she raises 2 lb weights and does about 10 reps). Very very cute. And then there is Jordan, who spider man walks up the wall to get to the chin up bar so that he can hang for a crazy long time and just swing like a monkey. Our family time just got a lot funnier folks!

Here Fishy Fishy....

2009-11-13T15:49:00.001-08:00

Well, we had an exciting week for our pet fish this week. I wish I would have thought to grab the camera. Mikayla happened to be looking at the fish tank on Tuesday afternoon and realized that there were little baby fish swimming around. Upon further inspection, it became apparent that we were getting to wittness the many many live births of our fishies. We were so excited. There were about 30 of them in the tank when all was said and done. Super cool. I had been warned by a friend that sometimes the mommy will eat the babies. Mikayla wondered what we should do, and I, being the fish expert that I am not, said that there was no way she would eat them all. I was wrong. By morning there were about 4 left and by the mid afternoon there was not one baby fish to be found.

What in the world? Why would she eat all her babies. Of course, my kids are very realistic about pets and that they die occassionally (especially fish) so it wasn't too traumatic but we did decide that the next time we are fortunate enough to have baby fishies, we will definitely get them in their own tank till they are big enough to fend for themselves.

Happy Veteran's Day (a little early)

2009-11-07T20:43:00.001-08:00

Jordan has been learning this song to sing in the assembly this week for the Veterans. They do a fantastic job of recognizing the people in our lives that fight for our right to be free. Jordan loves the song and couldn't wait to sing it for me. Enjoy!

Hot Cross Buns

2009-11-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

Mikayla is loving her recorder. She has her brother and sister backing her up now. Oh the talent these three have!!

All it took was a change in ME!

2009-11-06T08:28:00.000-08:00

This week has been a week of awakening (again) in the Earnhardt home. Unfortunately, the volume and tone of our conversations, especially those between my children, had been becoming louder and more disrespectful in our home. I just couldn't understand why this change had come so abruptly (or at least it felt abrupt). Then, last Sunday, I was challenged. The gentleman who will be leading out sunday school class for the next 8 weeks or so started his topic by giving us a picture of a pyramid. The base was our relationship with God. The next level was our relationship with our spouse. The next, our relationship with our kids (immediately red flags went up here in my head). Next, their relationship with each other. And finally, their relationship with thier friends.

I could write a book about all the ways things have changed this week. But all that to say that it just took a change in ME. It took me remembering that God is my first true love. It took me remembering that the order of how things work only truely works if God is first. My marriage is amazing but it is even better when I am giving God the first part of my day. My children are wonderful. But I am a better equiped mom for them when I am purposeful to approach the throne of grace and ask God to lead me every day to raise them up according to His will.

My children learn their behaviors from what they see in the home. They had begun yelling at each other a lot and disrespecting each other a lot. So, this week, I have turned my attention back to me. I have had to check and double check my responses to them. I have made sure that every moment is a teaching moment again instead of a "how can we get through this moment as quickly and painlessly as possible".

Greg and I knew that we had to get back into God's word WITH our kids. That was the part on the pyramid that was missing. Our children's relationship with God. But we were quick to realize that this piece had been missing for a while and it needed to be put back into the puzzle. One night imparticular, we were tired and after reading the bible story and devotional our kids sat there waiting. Greg was going to pray. Our kids stopped him and reminded him that they still wanted to read the story from the actual bible. "You know dad, the scripture verses." My heart leaped for joy. Not because I wasn't tired too, but because my children want to be in God's word. All it took was Greg and I remembering what our family's focus needs to be.

Although, I am humbled in admitting that things have been a little out of focus around here, I thank God for His unfailing mercy to wait patiently for me. I thank God that He is pursuing Greg and I and our kids. I pray that as every day comes and goes, I will stay focused and committed to the challenges of raising my children. Please pray for me that God will continue to refine me and make me aware of the areas in my life that I need to keep working on!

My Little Indian

2009-11-02T15:58:00.001-08:00

Today was Jordan's first big presentation in school. He did his report on "The Indian in the Cupboard". He had a great time creating his mask and did a great job today presenting. I'm so proud of him!

Happy Trick or Treating Everyone

2009-11-01T14:00:00.001-08:00

The kids had a blast last night trick or treating. Daddy took them ALLLL around the neighborhood while mommy got comfy on the porch and handed out candy (and studied for a bone practical next week!). Mikayla was a gypsie indian princess, Jordan was Bumblebee the Transformer, and Isabella was a 50's poodle girl.

When they got back it was a bit chilly so we went inside. The kids enjoyed handing out candy and then Daddy swiped a popular treat. The older two were determined to get it and they tried their best. I can't believe the shot I got of Jordan's crazy leap off the stairs.

Can you believe the amount of candy that we ended up with???? CRAZY! I think we'll be donating some of it to the kids teachers this week for rewards!

It's time for Sugar Cookies

2009-11-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. The sugar cookies are in great supply as the kids begin showing all of their creative talents in decorating. The pumpkin cookies were fun. Although, half of all the sprinkles that are put on the cookies are on the paper towels by the time the cookie is eaten.

Bounce House fun

2009-11-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

We had so much fun at some friends' birthday parties on Halloween morning. They were at the bounce house in Sumner and man did the kids have fun. Oh wait, did I say the kids had fun....well Greg and I might have had a little fun too.

Yes, Yes, Yes

2009-10-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

My husband is the BEST EVER!! He actually took apart the treadmill and fixed it last night. No joke! He fixed the thing and got it put back together and completely working before I got home from school. He is amazing. I am so excited that I didn't have to buy a new one.

My second big YES for today is that Mikayla actually got to go to school today. She has been home struck with the sickies all week. She is back in school today and I am so glad that she is finally doing a lot better again.

My third big YES for today is that God is good. He has saved me and He loves me unconditionally. He is for me and no one can ultimately stand against me. He is my Savior and my Friend. He is the Alpha and the Omega and I know he will be my End. I have the Peace of a Comforter and occassional nuggets of wisdom from my Creator. He is my Sustainer and he will always be my Joy. I am completely in love with Him and I pray that He continues to show his favor and mercy over me. I am His and He is mine! What promises His Word holds for all who believe and recieve.

Have a great day!

It's a sad day...

2009-10-29T13:17:00.000-07:00

My poor poor treadmill. The poor thing decided to stop working after 36 long minutes of running this morning. I have had this treadmill since Jordan was about 5 months old. (So about 7 years) It's like a friend of the family. The kids have done some pretty neat up side down tricks on it over the years. I remember Jordan getting on it when he was 11 months old and walking on it (he was my early walker). It has put up with some serious fits from me and has been there with me through a lot of ups and downs (weight wise that is). Greg is going to do his best tonight to try and figure it out. (mainly because I don't want to have to spend the money on a new one.) SIGH.........

Who knew?

2009-10-28T13:41:00.000-07:00

Who knew that movies and the webkins would grow to be so liked by me this week. Unfortunately, Mikayla has contracted some "bug" that has knocked her out. She is on day 4 of fevers. I am definitely one of those moms that really tries to control tv/video/webkin time. I do appreciate the value of imagination and playing with inatimate objects. But, when one is sick and has a lot of fevers, I have to say that I love our dvd player.

So far today, we've had the Spiderwick Chronicles for Mikayla and now Barbie Diamond Castle for Isabella (although all three seem to be enjoying it). Check back with me tomorrow and I'll let you know how many we end up watching today!

Date Night with Family

2009-10-23T22:52:00.000-07:00

It just doesn't happen often enough. A great date with siblings and their spouses. We had the priviledge of hangin' out with Greg's brother and his wife tonight. We went out to dinner and then got to go to Starbucks and play games for a couple of hours. Their company is so wonderful. We laughed and laughed. There were a couple of times where Matt would say something profound, like "These were made in Nicaragua by many midgets" speaking of a blueberry scone of course and I would lose it laughing. Now, don't be offended, you had to be there. But it was really funny. Matt is so good for that. I always get great delight watching Greg and his brother hang out. The two of them are amazing and Denise and I are two very blessed women. Speaking of Denise, she is one special lady herself. Thank you to you both for such a great date night and time to relax and have fun. Love you guys.

Teacher Conferences

2009-10-21T14:42:00.000-07:00

Today was Jordan and Mikayla's teacher conferences. When we arrived Jordan's teacher was finishing up with the student's family that was before us. So we waited in the hallway. Jordan's walk to read teacher, Mr. Heagle, came out and I got to talk one on one with him for a bit. Then it was time to meet with Jordan's teacher. Mrs. Whitehead is wonderful. She is kind and soft spoken. It turns out Jordan is doing a fantastic job. He has become quite the little "techy". Whenever there is a problem with the computers in Jordan's classroom his teacher asks him to go and take a look and 99% of the time he is able to fix it and get it working again for the students. He is the go to kid for class and I couldn't be more proud of him. This just thrilled my socks off. We chose to go ahead and homeschool Jordan for Kindergarten because his birthdate was just past the cut off date (by days). Everyone warned me that it could end up not being a good thing emotionally. So today was a checkpoint for us to see how things are going. I am happy that he is thriving.

Then it was Mikayla's turn. Her teacher unfortunately was running about 30 minutes behind. He had looked at the wrong day and didn't have any of the student's stuff ready for today. So, it didn't quite go as I had thought it would. It was more a fly by the seat of your pants kind of conference. Not bad, just different than I had expected. Mikayla is my helper bee. She loves to help others. She is definitely a first born which is shining through in her desire to be in charge and keep people in line! Oh, the joys of being nine.

Both kids are doing great. I am so pleased with them. There are things that they are doing well, things that they can focus on, and ways that they are growing by leaps and bounds.

Test Scores are in

2009-10-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

Well, last night was the big reveal for my latest big test scores. I studied so hard for these but when I left on Thursday night I wondered just how I might have done. I am relieved to say that it went well.

It was a very good lesson in waiting this weekend. Waiting is very hard. I wanted to know what I got right after I had taken it. I am possibly not so aware of how many times God asks me to wait on Him. To wait for that timing, or to wait and be silent while He works something out. I am thankful for a God that waits for me when I am less than punctual about responding to Him.

For those of you who are wondering, it was a 94%. So now, on to today. There are no tests looming tonight or tomorrow so today is all about playing with my kids and I think making homemade playdough is on the agenda today!! Should be messy. Just what the mommy ordered!

Simple Mondays

2009-10-19T08:43:00.000-07:00

FOR TODAY...October 19th

Outside my window... Gray couldy skies that invite me to make a hot cup of Peppermint tea today.

I am thinking... "How blessed I am to have a washer and dryer that works"

I am thankful for... a husband who fixes lunch after church so that his wife can get a run in the sun.

I am wearing... Running clothes

I am remembering... how much my grandmother loved Jesus

I am going... to give Isabella a bath this morning

I am reading... The Return of the Indian with Jordan

I am hoping... for a good return on my test and success on the new ones this week

On my mind... trying to decide if I will get the tetnus shot this week like I should

Noticing that... the grass is not growing anymore!

Pondering these words... It is what it is

From the kitchen... Grilled Salmon tonight with some baked baby red potatoes and salad

Around the house.... A lot of clothes that need to be taken to the goodwill (if I ever get them bagged up!)

One of my favorite things this time of year... Corn Stalks decorating the front of the house

From my picture journal.. Isabella in the pile of leaves off of our tree yesterday

So Very Hard

2009-10-16T21:08:00.001-07:00

You just don't know how hard it is for me to write this tonight. I am on a women's ministry team and we set up tonight for a brunch that we will be doing in the morning. I will be a host of a game show and we got to practice tonight during set up. Everything went wrong. I lost my note cards with all the questions on them, there was a power surge that blew out the projector, and the interruptions just kept on coming.

I don't FEEL like doing this tomorrow. I don't know what to expect or even if the projector will be working so that we can do it. After all that craziness, I came home and my kids just weren't listening. They ended up having mommy explode at them about disobedience and then go to bed.

So where do I go from here? Where do I pick up from? Obedience.....don't I struggle with that a lot where my walk with God is concerned? But he doesn't explode on me. He patiently waits for me to return to Him and he lovingly embraces me every time that I do. He also doesn't tell me to be obedient because I FEEL like it. He expects me to be obedient because I love Him.

"It is what it is" is a saying that I have seen on a lot of stuff lately. But really, it is what it is. I have a friend that was just talking to me about circumstances this week. I had this cute saying on my blog a few days ago about not letting your circumstances define you and how you FEEL. Then she said that she was challenged in her devotionals to be content in whatever circumstances she was faced with. She followed that up by sharing how it's really about the heart and not the circumstances at all.

Well, I am not going to dwell on my circumstances. I am not going to sweat the details. I am going to trust God to work it all out and bless all the effort that is being put forth. I hope that I don't ever stop trying to be better. I hope that I always strive to do my best. But I also hope to continue to be molded into a person that can accept what is going on around me and make the best out of it at all times.

Yes....I will be kissing my babies again before I go to bed tonight and I do thank God that they won't remember every time their mom failed. And yes....I will be there tomorrow with a renewed sense of the love that I have for these women and why I do it to begin with. And yes.....I would love your prayers. Not for me, but for the women whom God is preparing for such a time as this tomorrow morning.

Thanks.

Moving...?

2009-10-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

Whew! It is official. Greg's boss, for the first time in 4 years, is just here to say Hi and do a check in with everyone. It looks like we are going to break our record of no more than two years in a house for us! It's been less but we've not yet made it to three in any one house in 13 years. YIKES! No moving for us. Sorry Erin. Although, for the record, Greg was just planning on Matt hooking him up at McKinstry if need be.

Circumstances

2009-10-13T08:16:00.000-07:00

Are you interpreting God's love by your circumstances lately instead of interpreting your circumstances by His love? When we are tempted to question whether or not God cares, we are reminded that, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God does care!

Simple Mondays

2009-10-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

I saw this on one of my friend's blogs today and thought it was nice so I decided to do it too.

FOR TODAY...October 12th

Outside my window... A rose bush that is blooming again in October

I am thinking... "I should be doing homework right now"

I am thankful for... God's forgiveness

I am wearing... jeans, red comfy socks, a shirt with christmas penguins on it (yes, it's time to break out those fun clothes) and a fall looking jacket that is really warm.

I am remembering... how the ribosomes are used for protein synthesis in the cells

I am going... grocery shopping at some point today or tomorrow

I am reading... a lot of children's books lately with Isabella

I am hoping... that this sore throat and congestion doesn't turn really bad this week

On my mind... wondering why Greg's boss is really coming into town tomorrow.....the last three times we've been relocated!

Noticing that... it's really cold this morning

Pondering these words... Mikayla said last night, "Mom, you could have chosen to do homework on the computer tonight but you chose to come and do bible study with me instead. I love you."

From the kitchen... Tater Tot Cassarole tonight

Around the house.... lots of crafts from this weekend

One of my favorite things this time of year... Hot Peppermint Tea

From my picture journal.. the kids with grandpa on Halloween last year