overwhelmed.

this can sum up the past 7 weeks accurately. eric turned 40 on October 8th and I was busy planning a pirate bash to honor him. normal life continued on the home front; trips to colorado for appointments, regular meetings, etc. in laramie.  eric's party was a huge hit on the 9th, thankfully!

chaos would begin the morning of the 10th. 

it all began when I caught a bug off of nash's pjs at 330am. this bug was the answer that doctors and allergists couldn't explain. we'd been hauling nash to doctors for over 4 months trying to find out why his skin was hived and so rash covered. this bug, one i'd never seen before happened to be a bed bug. YES, a bed bug. there were hundreds in his room. there were several in sister's bed too. 

overwhelmed.

we were grateful we now knew what was ailing our boy, but oh my; how bed bugs wreak havoc on your home! after an immediate clearing of the 3 bedrooms, an exterminator, propane and space heaters, a gigantic mess throughout the house, and two weeks of waiting we received a clean inspection. eric thankfully is knowledgable and was able to heat the rooms to 130 degrees in order to kill the eggs and any living adults. we had to say goodbye to some memorabilia along the way.

overwhelmed. 

that same day we received the clean inspection we also received word that my brother-in-law jeremy would be admitted to PVH on the oncology ward. he has leukemia. wow. there aren't words…

our energy immediately became dispersed as to how we could help my sister and her family out. this involved caring for our niece and nephew when need be. the kids and I would begin taking trips between burns and laramie frequently. 

overwhelmed. 

november 12th my twin brother was to be married. this was his second wedding, shannon's first. eric was also being honored for becoming a master mechanic in vegas. johnson controls was flying us to vegas for three days to take part in this celebration. it happened to fall on the 11, 12 and 13th of november. we were to miss my brother's wedding. leaving the kids was huge. originally they were to be left with my sister. she was now residing at the hospital full time. my mother was willing to keep the kids. my heart was heavy. 

overwhelmed. 

in the midst of all of this…God was ever present. friends provided us with food to help as our home was total chaos during the bed bug cleanup. our lives were covered in prayers from so many. the peace of Christ continued to pour out over us during each and every moment that my heart was overwhelmed.  friends came to our home, loved on us and our kids, no judgement. this was huge! God's hand continues to be ever present. we know full well that jeremy sits at His right hand already. Christ has ALREADY conquered the grave. He is the author of this piece, we simply traverse while here on earth. 

overwhelmed.

by the love of those in our community. the grace shown. the love given. the continued covering of my family in prayer. the constant ask from those around us if there's anything they can do beyond what they've already done. God's constant grace. His ever present authority and sovereignty. what a blessed life I live. 

overwhelmed.

Christ loves me unconditionally, faithfully, wholly. 

I am overwhelmed! 

Thank you to each of you for loving us wholly, for being such a beautiful glimpse of Jesus! We are incredibly grateful for your involvement in our lives!

Our Sweet School Time

This sweet boy... this almost 3 years old boy...this soak it all in boy...

He's MINE and I'm so grateful!

We began our official launch of preschool this Fall. Last year we enjoyed many school like activities, but this year we're beginning to have a somewhat normal preschool routine in our home. He thinks it's great that he gets to go to school, even though it simply means pulling out our school table, chair and supplies. It's such a delight to watch him take it all in and desire to learn and grow each day! I love that I get to be his teacher! What a gift it is to be home with him each and every day! 

We have been enjoying many activities lately. The weather is changing and we both LOVE watching the leaves fall from the trees as we embrace wonderful Fall! 

sorting bugs in muffin tins

building towers using Lego Duplos and practicing patterning and quantifying

playing parking lot to work on # recognition

coloring a pumpkin from our garden

drawing a story and telling mama about it

Boys!

The river was going to be for dipping toes. It became their oasis. With each step they chose to explore a bit further. It was a fabulous outing with dear friends and truly a glimpse of three boys embracing boyhood!

Summer in Laramie is beautiful!

Living this beautiful life, one day at a time.

Time passes.
We are always going.
It may be an outing;
The library.
The grocery store.
The park, a friend's house, church.
Time continues.
Each day passes.
Savour.
Breathe deep.
Take each one.
A gift.
Remember.
Embrace.
For time continues.
It is precious.
Valuable.
Timeless.

He grows.
Changes.
I am humbled.
To be his mama.

His

Hello. Not many faithful followers, but I need to blog. I need to write. I need to grow. This is for those who will one day share my story. My fervent prayer is that it will be worth telling, worth learning from. Life is rich. It is unexpected. It is vibrant. Life takes many roads and we get to pursue those paths as chosen. This is good. I'm often challenged by the freedoms we're given. I sometimes wish I would choose to savour deeply ALL of these moments. The exciting. The mundane. The sad. The joyful. Life is good. I'm SO fortunate and oh so blessed! God continues to stir. To move. To speak. I continue to sometimes listen. Sometimes respond. I speak far too much! My heart's desire is to be HIS. His alone. This causes tension in the depths. It causes an aching sometimes unbearable. Why do I choose to fight this beautiful dance He chooses to offer? He is holy. I am not. He is pure. I am not. He is faithful. I am not. Today I choose Him. Not me, but Him. I will fall. I'll choose to get up again and follow. His leading is far beyond me and today I rejoice in that! He is God! I am His!

lent

i'm learning. i'm grateful. it's sometimes hard, but oh so worth it!

i have been eagerly anticipating each new lent reading. it's amazing the things that i thought i understood about Christ to which i truly didn't have any insight.

lent means springtime -- a joyous season.

that's my heart's desire; to live joyfully.

i'm challenged by this because so often i'm selfish in too many ways.

to understand just a teensy bit more about Christ's suffering while reading and practicing the act of forgiveness i'm finding growth -- this new springtime in my own life.  i love that!

to grow and be challenged.  may my God continue to lead me down this road.  i want to grow, i want to understand my loving Savior that much more so that i may be able to share Him with ALL that i meet.

today i'm grateful for this season -- a season of dying to self and placing others before me.

i will choose to sing...pray...expect little...find beauty all around me and drink in how BIG and LOVING and KIND and FORGIVING my God is!

be blessed today friends!

life

I love blogging.
I simply wish I had more time for it.

I'm not sure where time goes.  I imagine it's all the 'other' things I choose to fill it with.  Playing time with my boy seems to fill most of my everyday.  I'm so thankful for that!

Today we were able to take daddy to coffee.  Those are the moments I desire to soak up and not ever underestimate its value in our lives.  I love that I'm home and can take daddy to coffee and am not worried about how dinner, bath time and bedtime will happen after a crazy day.

This life -- all that it is filled with, causes me to pause and appreciate...

It's good!  I'm grateful and oh so blessed!

Happy Wednesday!

My boy has begun to love posing for his mama.  This of course makes my heart melt and YES I oblige his every desire for a pose here and there!  He's fabulous!