Help Is On The Way- by TobyMac

There is no question that this past year has been a challenge at best, and a life-changing devastating loss at worst. TobyMac offers a reminder that God is still at work, even when all seems lost. This has become my new anthem. Give it a listen...or 6, and see if you don't start to feel a little bit better about everything that going on in the world at large, and your world at home. 

TobyMac

 

I wrote “Help is on the Way (maybe midnight)” after a season in the valley of sad songs. With a broken heart after losing my firstborn son and stepping almost immediately into quarantine everything was dark. I woke up one day and turned to the Psalms. I read that “God is rolling up His sleeves”. What beautiful imagery. This picture turned me from having hope to yelling it from the rooftops. The God of all creation is rolling up His sleeves on our behalf. What a promise. We are not forgotten, not at all. That very morning I started writing;

“It may be midnight or mid day,

never early, never late

He’s gon’ stand by what he claims,

I’ve lived enough left to say…

help is on the way”.

TobyMac

still brings it.

#HesNeverLate

#HelpIsOnTheWay

How Does God View Our Sin?

 Ope. I done went straight from preachin’ to meddlin’.

#StompedOnMyOwnToes

#ThatllPreach

#PreachingToTheChoir

Take a Leap of Faith

 

This old photo, paired with the age old wisdom of the Bible, is still relevant in 2021. Amen 


PS. When I posted this on FB, all the mamas were aghast at this photo of Dastroyah doing something so dangerous, and I chuckled to myself a little about what it is like to be a mama of all adrenaline-junkie boys. I'm never bored, that's for sure. 

It's the Little Things: Day 36

 I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's Haircut Night at the Man Crew House, which means 3 handsome boys all have new haircuts, which makes this mama very happy indeed.
• In related hair-cutting news, I love that special time every few weeks when the boys are required to sit still and talk to me for a few minutes while I cut their hair. It's a time when they share their life in a way they don't often slow down long enough to do otherwise. This week, Dastroyah told me about how God was speaking to him this week and how he was taking some actions to follow the word from God. Now, THAT makes a mama smile. 
• It's starting a new TV series via the Netflix DVD option that I think Dan and I will both enjoy. (Now to get the next disc here in a hurry, glad the warehouse is close.)
• It's being well rested enough these days to make a habit of getting up early before work and not only enjoying some quiet all to myself, but getting a few things accomplished so I can enjoy the evenings with the family. 
• It's dreaming about what to do with the few dollars that will be left over from our tax refund after we do the responsible things. *grins*
• It's a handsome hubby who shows up with dinner in hand so I can take the evening off of kitchen duty after a month of Pantry Challenge.
• It's looking forward to the return of our beloved Community Group, which has been on extended hiatus since the holidays.
• It's a son who is complaining less about his new chore load. (Future wife of his, you're welcome for a man that knows how to do all.the.things. around the house.)

What's on YOUR little things list?

Pantry Challenge Wrap Up

The Pantry Challenge 2018 is officially over, even though we might continue it informally for a few more days. We made it, guys! I'm so proud of all of us! We ate a few things that didn't 'match' or were outside our normal meals, but no one went hungry, no one went through the drive thru lane and no one had to eat things they hate. Those are all things I can live with :)

Goals Update: Final Numbers

Our goals:
1. Get the cold storage to the bare minimum so I can defrost it and clean it well.
~Somehow, my fridge freezer and the deep freeze are still PLENTY full. How is that possible? Perhaps I was using more of the fridge and pantry shelves for this challenge. Also, a friend gifted us a large turkey breast roast and a medium sized ham. The turkey fed us for a week in various forms and the ham went in the freezer, so not only did I not pull anything out of the freezer that week, but I actually put something IN. And when I made pizza dough, I made a double batch and put half in the freezer...Old habits die hard.

2. Use up whatever is hiding in the back of the pantry shelves. I’ve had helpers recently with putting away food (YAY!) but they just shove, not organize it by type. (Oops)
~I did pretty well with this, specifically with the baking goods and canned veggies. Rock on!

3. Reduce our food budget for the month by at least half. (I normally budget $600 when we are all home) Specific Goal: spend under $250 by only purchasing dairy and a little produce.
~We rocked this goal as well! We spent $143 this month, not counting the $60 my mother bought us as a thank you for Hercules fixing her van. So a total savings of $457. Even if we did count that money that's still a savings of $397. That's what I call awesome! I hit the store twice late in the month for milk, butter and fresh veggies, and that's it. That's a number I can live with to feed 4+ people for a month, especially since this month Hercules just happens to be unemployed so saving money is more important than ever.
4. Eat at home. We’ve developed quite a bad habit of eating out more often than our budget can truly handle and that ends today. I am aiming for one family meal out this month. Everyone else eats at home or packs a lunch.
~Another goal accomplished. Aside from the 2 times I ate out (mostly to get OUT of the office) while I was at work, we ate AT HOME for every single meal this month. No drive thru, no pizza ordered, no I'm-in-a-hurry convenience meals. And our pocketbooks and our waistlines are thanking us for our efforts.
5. Remember that I bake fantastic bread and it’s better for us and way cheaper than store bought bread.
~You GUYS! I don't toot my own horn that often, but I make such good bread!! We've enjoyed grilled cheese on regular sandwich bread, pizza on freshly made whole wheat yeast dough, we've had beer bread to dip into our soups, and french toast made out of homemade bread...oh my gravy do I love to make bread!
 

Chicken Pot Pie ~ala~ Pantry Challenge Goodness

Mixing up Pizza Dough

Simple Pantry Challenge Lunch

Over all, I'm calling this challenge a victory! We ate at home, we used it up, we scraped the bottom of the jars and barrels, we got creative about what goes together and what doesn't, we enjoyed more meals around the table than in months past, we put what we had to good use and we remembered to be grateful for it. The only part that we didn't do was empty out the fridge freezer and deep freeze, and I'm calling that a miracle instead of a failure. It was like the Bible story in 2Kings 4 about the oil that never ran out. Praise the Lord.  

Tamales from the freezer, refried beans from the pantry and Mexican rice made from the pantry shelves with a few substitutions. In a word, DELICIOSO!

PS. One extra bonus about this Pantry Challenge month is that is ties in so nicely with one of  my goals for the year, which is to Eat to Live, instead of Live-to-Eat. While there was quite a bit of focusing on food this month, it wasn't so I could be a gourmet foodie. It was to save money and use up what we already had, and so contenting myself with simple meals, especially at lunch time was just the push I needed to start that goal off strong for the year. Most of my lunches for the month consisted of a baked potato or rice or a slice of buttered bread with some fruit or veg. Good stuff!

It's the Little Things: Day 26

  I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

•  It's sneaking into your bedroom to kiss your sleeping husband goodbye for the day, only to find him awake, and propped up in bed reading his Bible. Glorious. 
• It's new games brought by Jodi for Game Night sharing. Quirkle and Dragonwood are both quite good. Jodi and I were also laughing over Speak Out today, so perhaps it will soon find it's way to the gaming tables.
• There were other things, but these were the best parts, for sure.

What's on YOUR little things list today?

2018 Word and Goals for the Year

  I know I'm a bit late to the party, as it's well into January already, but I wanted to share my word/motto for the year and some goals I will be working throughout the year. But first, a quick recap of 2017 goals/word.

  It took me a while to determine whether I was done using the word ENOUGH, as it's been my word for a few years now. I finally decided that with 2017 fully in the rear view mirror, I was ready for a new word and new goals. I retired my #PlateSpinner hashtag in June of 2017 by retiring from the B-Bunch House after 5 years and starting a new job at LFAL. I fully embraced my new hashtag of #NoLongerAPlateSpinner just a few weeks ago by bidding my snack bar lady work trade job at Gym Magic a fond farewell and reclaiming my Saturday mornings after 8 fun-filled years. So, I'm calling 2017 a win on goals, since my only true goal of last year was to retire the plate spinner tag.


     Moving on! Hello and welcome 2018. The word I've chosen for this year is "Progress". My motto is more of the same by choosing "Progress, not Perfection" to print in my planner and on my heart all year long. I've spent too many years either in one camp or the other...exacting perfection (or beating myself up for lack thereof) or a lackadaisical Meh, close-enough-is-good-enough attitude. Neither actually work for me, or lead to a healthy balance in my life, so I think Progress is a better fit. I can give myself grace on the days where it all goes to the dogs, and encourage myself to do better when I'm not giving things enough effort to make it come together.
     As for my specific goals, I've tried to just be reasonable with myself this year. We are in a season of change. Dan is currently unemployed. I don't make enough to support us. That is stressful and requires a good portion of our attention until that resolves one way or another. PattyCakes just turned 19 and will probably move out within this year, leaving us with just one child left at home, a situation we've NEVER encountered before as even when we were young parents with only one actual child, I was nannying for 2 littles and caring for my young nephew many MANY hours a week. I've never parented ONE child before, let alone a child who has FULLY embraced his 12 and a half-ness like this one does. It's not going to a dull or boring year, that's for sure. And that's ok, I just need remember that as I attempt to be real about how many/how specific of goals I can work on while I live this life I love so much.

     So, for the nitty gritty:

Spiritual:

• Make a new habit of praying WITH Dan as often as he is willing. 
• Read the Bible every day.
• Make a prayer list and pray more often and more specifically.

 Health:

• Instead of specific numbers/servings/grams, etc. I am adopting a eat-to-live attitude instead of my usual live-to-eat policy. I'm trying to pack simple healthy lunches each day, get more veggies in than in the past, and make sure I get my water every day. By end of year, I want to be able to hike Dripping Springs, A Mountain and Aguirre Springs. That's it.

Books: 

• Read 52 books (or approximately one per week) hopefully along these lines
  
  • 6 marriage 
  • 2 financial
  • 10 novels
  • 1 magazine subscription
  • 2 gov't
  • 3 history
  • 10 read-alouds with DT
  • 2 book club choices
  • 1 spanish
  • 10 Christian Living
  • 10 books that I had on my list from last year

Family:

• Start eating together at the table at least twice a week
• Get away together for at least one long weekend and 4-one day trips
• DE-CLUTTER the whole house. I mean it. For reals.

Cultural/Social:

• Attend one cultural/social activity per month that's inexpensive or free~ Game Night does not count, no matter how much we love it
• Attend 1-2 BIG events this year (Newsies, Lion King, TobyMac, etc)
• Participate in #NoPantsApril2018 and #100HappyDays 

Personal: 

• Wear Make Up 1-2 times per week
• Slowly upgrade my wardrobe with an emphasis on high quality classics with a few trendy pieces thrown in for fun (Limit t-shirts with writing on them)
• Plan meals and cook 4 times per week, plus pack healthy lunches for DT and I at work

Financial:

• Get back on track once Dan gets a new job and stay current on the bills
• Save 50% of my monthly earnings to start and grow our emergency savings
• Tithe more generously (not just to the church, but to our community)
• Pay off Dan's Honda
• Put up a clothesline, repair the breakfast nook roof/ceiling, install raised garden beds in the back yard, get a coop and 4-6 chickens, and plant dwarf fruit trees along the rear fence line. (probably only 1-2 two of these will happen this year and that's OK) 

I know that despite my trying to be "reasonable" with my goal setting, I've set some pretty challenging goals. And that's not a bad thing. I will try to update once a month to see how I'm progressing.

Feel free to share your goals so I can cheer you on this year as well! ~K~

It's the Little Things: Days 20 & 21

   I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's a weekend that was both restful and productive. 
• It's Dan and PattyCakes enjoying taking part in the Cars and Coffee event together.
• It's Nathan recovering from a nasty bout of stomach flu and being well enough to spend most of the weekend at The Man Crew House, hanging out and laughing with Pat.
• It's a motivating sermon about a renewed enthusiasm for the things of the Lord.
• It's Pat and Dan attending the Men's Prayer Breakfast together on Saturday morning and both coming away with encouragement in their personal walks with the Lord.
• It's a weekend full of puppy snuggles and hilarity thanks to Dastroyah's puppy named Datsun, but whom we call Potato. (Our large dog Chavi is quite terrified of the little potato on short stubby legs, which is HI-larious!)
• It's a safe trip there and back from Abq for Dastroyah and his little men, who competed fiercely and brought home many medals. 
• It's cleaned out closets and a trunk full of things to donate. 
• It's sleeping in on a Saturday morning...goodness I'm enjoying my Saturdays not working at the gym, even though I miss my little friends.
• It's being invited to a girly paper crafting party and the prospect of making time for crafts part of my real life again, instead of dreaming of SOME-day. 
• It's knowing that 2 sets of "happy mail" from friends are heading my way.
• It's the way the Lord provides for our needs during this bout of unemployment. Friends giving us a large roast, Mom taking us out to lunch and then grocery shopping to thank Dan for working on her van...just to name a few.
  
  We are blessed, my friends.
  All of us.
  Even when it doesn't feel like it.
  Look around, you'll find more ways you are blessed than you can count. 

 

What's on YOUR little things list today?

It's the Little Things: Day 17

  I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's a day FULL of running-running-running and doing-doing-doing, followed by a sweet snuggle with a sleepy Hercules in a quiet and calm living room at the end of the day
• It's having an urgent need met without a request even being made
• It's a call from a friend just to ask how you're doing
• It's the return of Sister-Girl Night...I love me some girl chatter!
• It's listening to humorous stories of a freezing cold car ride the boys and Dan took to Alamo to pick up a newly repaired engine for Dastroyah's latest project vehicle. The amount that these men love each other takes my breath away.
• It's a call from a dear one that tells you "It's NOT cancer!!" (totally not a small thing, but SO worth sharing!)
• It's having time to help a loved one through some difficult paperwork (#PlaterSpinner life, I DON'T miss you)
• It's stumbling across the perfect gift for my PattyCake's 19th birthday tomorrow.
• It's a mom who reads the sales flyer so she can cheerfully announce that all the ingredients for a special someone's birthday dinner are on sale at this particular store, while she tucks a few dollars into your purse because she knows we are doing a month-long pantry challenge.
  
  
  You guys! While this year is trying desperately to get off on the wrong foot (hello Mama K down for a week sick and unemployment for Hercules) It just can't gain any ground with all these amazing and wonderful blessings happening all around us...and sometimes, in spite of us. God is so good and has blessed with so many beautiful, generous, encouraging, praying, uplifting friends. I can't even. I am, in a word, humbled.

What's on YOUR little things list today?

It's The Little Things: Day 14

 I want to focus on the good things this year.
All the things people get right.
All the times that everything works out just perfectly after we assumed disaster had already struck.
All the times that the right word was spoken at the right moment.
So, let's celebrate those little moments together, shall we?

• It's a lovely Sunday sermon about New Generosity. 
• It's getting the living room set back to rights after weeks of Christmas mayhem and Game Night jumbles.
• It's finding a show that Hercules and I both appreciate.
• It's getting back to regular bedtimes. (Kristy LOVES schedule)
• It's possibilities of even more work for Dan, who likes to stay busy.
• It's a #PantryChallenge meal lurking in the freezer and pantry, waiting to fill the bellies of all the handsome. 

#100HappyDays: Day 35

Day 35 of #100HappyDays
Watching the sunrise and listening to The BIGS (plus two) laugh together this morning with Dan as we wrapped up our VERY quick camping trip.
Breathtaking!
#100DaysOfSummer
#TheManCrew — feeling happy in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

#100HappyDays: Day 33

Day 33 of #100HappyDays
Fireworks at the dirt track is a family tradition since we moved to NM years ago. As I sat surrounded by so many of our tribe, all with smiling faces upturned for the excitement of the fireworks, I peeked around at all these amazing people whom I call mine, either by blood or by choice, and my heart overflowed and leaked out of my eyes. Along with our 5, we added Nathan and Johnny, plus our annual companions, Jodi and her boys.
That moment was only captured by my mind's eye, not the camera lens. Let's just suffice it to say there was much laughter, much jostling, much giggling, more food and drinks than you can shake a stick at and well...there may have been a few shenanigans. Oops.
In the absence of photos, I offer this gem. A lovely reminder that while man created fireworks, God created the originals that light up the sky.
#100DaysOfSummer
#TheManCrew
#Creator — feeling happy at Southern New Mexico Speedway.

#100HappyDays: Day 32

Day 32 of #100HappyDays
All this talk of freedom with Independence Day coming up has me thinking about where true freedom originates. In case you're wondering, it's not from a powerful military, our Constitution, or from living inside the borders of the greatest country ever.
Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus...and save us from ourselves.

#100DaysOfSummer
#Freedom — feeling happy at The Man Crew House

And Just Like That... {Week 18 Update}

Dan is gone.


This is hard. Hard to do on my own. Hard to process. Hard to handle. Hard to keep my head above water some days. But it's a season of growth/change and I'm trying to embrace it. I'm learning more than ever that I must take care of me so I can continue to care for others. I am learning that it's OK to put off housework and even schoolwork occasionally in the name of a much needed visit from a friend for some chatter, some tea and some prayer to keep me fighting the good fight. I've learned/remembered that I like pretty nails. I've also remembered that proper sleep habits are essential to keeping myself emotionally on an even keel. (still working on this one) Healthful eating also helps, but at the end of the day, here is my version of reality.


Dan has been gone 18 weeks. (Say that over again to yourself, really slowly and let it sink in)
Eighteen weeks.
126 days. 
3024 hours. 
181,440 minutes. And every single one of those minutes felt like a short eternity.
Now that you know I'm the most pathetic woman alive, let me tell you what else you should know about me.
That I CAN do this. That God is holding my hand and leading me down this path. And that the very same God that is holding my hand and giving me strength is also holding Dan's. We are all together on this journey. Hopefully someday, we'll be able to look back at this time that feels like a big fat mess right now as a period of immense growth. Not only in our journey as a married couple, but as individuals growing closer to our God. God is so good. He's protecting us (sometimes even from ourselves) as we jumble and stumble and bumble our way through this world. Separately for now, but soon enough back together again. May he continue to weave our hearts together in the combined pursuit of His glory.


Not as lonely as I thought in NM,
       ~Kristy~

More Great Big BLESSINGS- June 2013

OK, now that the excitement if over about that last thing ;) we can move on to others. Few are just a few BIG highlights from the past few months. ~Dan has been unemployed for 3 months. 3 months is a LONG time to be without work, especially for someone who likes to be busy as much as Dan does. However,  in the mean time, he's had time to entertain guests that he would have barely seen if he was working his normal job. He's done many projects around the house. He's been around to hang out with the boys. He's been able to help many friends with projects large and small. He's had the time to properly research and track down the 'just right' used car to add to the Man Crew's parking garage. He's had time to workout with Tyler at Planet Fitness nearly everyday and while that hasn't translated into weight loss yet like he'd hope, I won't even hazard a guess at how much he can bench press these days. His arms are HUGE! He's had time to sleep in from time to time and enjoy not living at breakneck speed for a while. It's been such a blessing in many ways, however, the need for money to live is a thing that doesn't go away, so we've been diligently praying for either his 'regular' job to get ready to have him back, or for something new to come along. And it has. Friday Dan was called by the local union office and offered a welding job (which he loves) for Fed Ex. He starts Monday. The money is good, the travel shouldn't be too bad once he finds the best way there to avoid traffic, and they are working long hours at this point which means we will have to say "We can't afford that" a few times less a month. :) Praise GOD!

Hercules, Hercules, Hercules!

~Kristy has a new job. Well, not that new since I've been at it for about 2 months now, but it came at JUST the right time. Imagine that :) It has been filling some monetary gaps left by Dan's unemployment, it allows me to still home-school, and it's for some people we are blessed to call friends. I am nannying 50+ hours a week. However, since 2 of the 3 are in full time school, I've only got the little one most of the time (except that now it's summer) The kids all get along quite well and the parents are wonderful, Godly people.

~We bought a car! With the van having 220,000 miles on it, and Dan and I needing to go in opposite directions for work these days, it was time to add another vehicle to the fleet. Plus, David will be driving soon (Ahhh, don't even want to think about that!) Dan did a great job of researching cars and then putting in the time to go from car lot to car lot, test driving and asking questions until just the right car presented itself. It's a little beauty. 2005 Honda Accord that gets 35mpg. AND it has A/C, something that the van is sorely lacking. Dan has spent hundreds of hours tweaking this and that, adding a pin stripe, carpeting the trunk so his tools won't bang up the trunk box, installing a spoiler to the back (which was a great father son activity for Dan and Patrick) adding extra interior lights and washing it over and over. :) And over. It is nice to not need to schedule every little trip around waiting for the person with the car to get home. Again, it's been a God thing since Dan was off of work while we purchased this car, and we were still able to do it. 

 

~David and Pat just got back from their first time at youth camp. To sum up, David said this, "Mom, that is the best thing you've ever 'made' me do." :) Yes, it took quite a bit of encouraging on my part to get them to sign up, but then they were committed. They've washed cars, done paid chores, got some unwanted shots, washed more cars, and sacrificed many smaller treats for the opportunity to go. They are fresh back and still have the 'glow' of camp about them. Good stuff! They made new friends, spent time digging in God's word, laughed, sang, prayed and played with kids from around the state, and remembered how much they love my cooking after all. ;)

~Derek and I spent a quiet week at home without the BIGS around. Dan was busy this week, so we had the days to ourselves. He spent afternoons at summer camp at Aunt Jodi's tutoring company and had a blast. He was thrilled. He didn't have to share the TV or video games, no one shooed his little friends away so they could have the trampoline and no one else was needing my attention. I think it was good for him. Plus, it was a brief but surreal peek into my future. In just a few short years, the BIGS are going to the GROWN and it will be just Hercules, DT and me. I got several things done from my running to do list that have been lingering for far too long. I got back to blogging. I slept in. I laughed myself silly with DT. I visited friends. I spent a few hours at the library...3 times! This week, I did ONE load in the dishwasher, I took the trash out ONE time, and I only did THREE loads of laundry. I realized that the BIGS leave messes everywhere since I didn't have to pick up socks, dirty dishes or Magic Cards, or go looking for my computer at all this week. And every time I opened the fridge, there was still food in it. Bwuahahah! Feeding 2 teenage boys and a man named Hercules is a full time job all by itself, in case any of you don't know.

~All of that to say that God has been miraculously meeting our needs (and a good portion of our wants) this spring and early summer. And we want to say thank you and share joy with you, our dear friends. Thanks for stopping by.
    Blessings, ~K~

PS. OIY, the formatting on this one will just NOT cooperate. Please overlook the poor text mess of this one and just enjoy the joy. :)

Great Big BLESSINGS~ June 2013

We love this HOUSE!

Most of you are aware that my parents 'snow-bird' here in the southwest with us to avoid the long Chicago winters, and for companionship, and to help my Mom with my Dad now that this health is declining. We stumbled onto the perfect house for sharing a little over a year ago. 1 master bedroom suite downstairs with a bathroom that fits my parents particular physical needs. (Walk in shower for Dad's lack of mobility these days and a jacuzzi tub for Mom's sore back) 4 bedrooms and a full bath upstairs for the MeYeRs. Perfect for entertaining since the house has an open floor plan, high ceilings and came with a pool table. However, it has been on the market for several months since the current owners had transferred out of town for work. we had fretted and worried that it would sell and we would be forced to move yet again. 5 moves in less than 6 years will do that to a person. *winks* Well, it sold this week. Big fat SOLD sign in the front yard. So, I just want to say,

Yes, you read that right. We were offered a real estate contract that meant no down payment, no closing costs, no mortgage company looking at our sad financial background, or taking note of the fact that Dan was in fact, unemployed while we purchased a house. Doesn't God work in mysterious ways? I can't even begin to say how amazed I am at the hand of God. Add in that I don't have to move again (possibly ever) and I am one happy girl!

Pretty Pretty

We are always so grateful for 'real rain' here in the desert. You know, not the kind that pours down for 2 minutes and is dried up in 5. But a REAL thunderstorm, complete with pouring rain, lightning, thunder and in this case, enough to flood the street so the boys could sail a toy boat down the side of the road. Better even than that, a lovely rainbow to remind us of God's goodness. Wow, just wow.

So Long Summer...and Good Riddance!

My word, it's been a L-O-N-G summer, hasn't it? At our house, it seemed like something bad, upsetting, horrific or traumatizing happened every week. Ugh...make that double ugh! It made me want to sing the little ditty my friend Meredith used to sing, which was adapted and tweaked from Sound of Music...."so long, farewell, good riddance and goodbye!!" So often I wanted to wish away this summer. I just wanted it to be over as quickly as possible so that we could move on to more pleasant things and just forget about the things that we so painful and challenging to us. But the more I thought about it, the more I prayed about it and pondered the issues facing us, the more I was reminded that growth doesn't come in the 'easy' times, when everything is going smoothly, life is simple and times are good. Growth comes when you have no one to depend on but God and each other, when times are tough, money is TIGHT and the car breaks down on the way to work. So, I chose to trust. Sounds simple and easy, doesn't it? I wish I could say that trusting comes easy, but it almost never does. Sometimes you just have to WILL yourself to believe that things are eventually going to be better, or easier or simpler. Or that even if they aren't, God will get you through it. That's the really hard part, is saying, "OK, Lord...you and me are in this until the end. Even if it never gets easier. Even if it never gets better. Even if this is the best that life has to offer me. I'll still trust you to take care of me." Wow, that's HARD! However, I found that if I could find the TINIEST thing to be grateful for on the worst days, then things started to look up. As I look over this long, difficult summer, I can see the hand of the Lord guiding us so easily now. Why is it so hard to see when we are in the midst of it? So...instead of focusing on the negative, I choose to look for the positive. And here are just a few of the highlights of the summer.

• Dad and Mom have been able to come for 2 extended visits...in one summer!


• Dolli and Ryan have also been able to come visit twice this summer...and even intend to come back this fall with John after he returns home from his deployment.


• We moved to a smaller, cheaper house in our first, well thought out, intentional financially wise decision...EVER! We even got a great deal on the rent since the house had/has some cosmetic issues that Dan is fixing right up. Praise God for a handy, hunky hubby!


• We added a room to said house for practically nothing since Dan got many of the materials from a remodelling job he was doing at work. That's my kind of recycling...less waste, less money spent, less trash in the dump...it's good!


• David and Patrick made the leap across the chasm that separates the adults from the kids for the first time this summer. You know, the first time you realize that you can have a serious conversation with them and they can respond intelligently, ask appropriate questions and you don't have to worry about them making a ridiculous unrelated remark, laughing about something that's not funny or changing the subject in the middle of an important conversation. That totally blew my mind! The chat ranged from evolution, to why Dan and I weren't intending to have more children, to autism and other special needs, to astronomy, family values and what the Bible says about several other topics. It was a special night indeed!


• When money was really tight this summer, 'magically' someone would invite us for dinner that week, or clean out their freezer and bring us food. Hmmm.....what a coincidence. I think NOT


• We have a gorgeous view of the mountains from the back of our house and many is the night that you will find us sitting out there, watching the reflection of the sunset on the mountains, sipping iced tea and just chatting together.


• We FINALLY found a church here. We, of course, had to find it that hard way, but that's our style. It's an Assembly of God church (yes, I heard the horrified gasp) and although they teach some things we don't believe, they are a Bible preaching, God fearing church and we've made some friends there already. Just more reason to discuss the Bible and what WE believe with the boys if they hear something they aren't sure about.


• All of the boys have started/are continuing a recreational activity...and all through the lovely world of bartering! David has decided to compete with his gymnastics team this winter, so I work at the gym on Saturdays to earn his PRICEY lessons. Pat is FINALLY in his precious martial arts class and in return for the price of his lessons, I drive the carpool both ways, every time so that his friend Ebone can take classes, too. Derek just started a TumbleBugs class on Saturdays that are 'paid' for by a weekly trip to Sam's Club to stock the concession stand. I {heart} bartering and trading for services!!


• One of my favorite "coinky-dinks" from this summer just happened last weekend. Most of you don't know this, but Dan got laid off last Thursday and we weren't really sure when he was going to be called back...probably a few weeks or more, so we really just said, 'Lord, you know that Dan needs to be working as soon as possible, so....do Your thing!' The very next day a good friend handed us $400 saying that we've been feeding him and his family for a LONG time and it was time they gave back. What a blessing!! Wait, it gets better : ) 2 days later, an old work buddy of Dan's called and said, "I'm running a job up in Washington and I need you and your welding skills. Can you be here by tomorrow night? Good money, room and board paid for...just get yourself up here. " Would you believe that the amount of money we were given on Friday paid for the ticket on Sunday with just a few cents to spare?? Who said God doesn't provide?

All of that to say that while our summer was HOT, sticky, offensive to our pride, HOT, sometimes stinky and often stressful, irritating to our sense of propriety, HOT, filled with moving, painful losses and quite a bit of heartache, did I mention HOT....maybe it wasn't a complete loss after all. If it brings us closer to the Lord and brings him glory, then I say....bring it on. So long summer...come back soon!

~K~

That's it, I quit, I lost my Happy Place, Where's the Line in the Sand, The Homesickness Flood, and other such Nonsense! And, the GLORY ROLLS!

Oh my, what a time we've had in the past few weeks....major emotional, mental, and physical upheaval, the tossing of every foundation we had in place and the starting over....I'll get to each one at a time...please bear with me on this one folks. Let's start with..

***I lost my Happy Place...Most of you know that we recently moved..as in a month ago although it feels longer. What most of you DON'T know is that I hate moving. And not like I hate getting a hangnail because it's a minor inconvenience...as in I HATE moving more than just about anything else in the world..As is it throws me totally out of whack for MONTHS, as is it flips all of my security switches (I'm such a GIRL) takes my hard strived for balance between structure and flexibility and throws it out the window, totally wrecks whatever shred of a truce Pat and I had over the never ending quest for power and puts us WAY back at square one. As in, it's time to put dinner on the table and I can't find what I need to get it there. I keep realizing things are missing, but I can't find them. Then Dan is bringing in things that he is finding, but since I THOUGHT everything was in the house already, I am having trouble making room for them...ACK! I STILL have boxes sitting here and there, in almost every room....sigh** I had all the boxes unpacked, but then we had to search the storage room for the missing bunny and I found 28 boxes that belonged in the house...but no bunny...found it in the pump house, chased it all over tarnation, re caught it, and it died the next day, but that's another story.

***I QUIT!! Mom, take a deep breath, I didn't quit my job! But, some days I would like to! It looks so pretty on paper...I work in the evenings so we never have to use a sitter...great, right?? But what it doesn't account for is Thursday evenings when Dan is walking in the door as I'm walking out...after he's been working in Hurley since Monday and I haven't seen him in 4 days, or days like last week, when I missed 'Shua's homecoming because I was working...grrr! Plus, the varied schedule is starting to really get on my nerves...some days I work 5 days and some I only work 1...and most weeks, it varies between 2 and 4....just pick a schedule and stay with it!

***THAT'S IT! I am irritated some days by the way my house looks on a daily basis...it looks like several small hurricanes live here...of course there ARE several hurricanes that live here...but that bugs me, too. I KNOW I've trained my kids better than to just throw everything on the floor, but that's what they've been doing recently. I'm irritated by the way my kids look, act and talk. I KNOW I taught my kids to be more respectful than they have been acting lately, but they are not behaving that way. I KNOW I taught my kids to bathe regularly, but some days I wonder when the last time they washed anything...LOL! Some days as I clean up the dinner mess, wash the dishes and wrangle the kids all by myself, I wonder why I thought that raising kids and having a clean house were possible synonymously and WHY it's sooo hard to accomplish BOTH at the same time.

***WHERE'S THE LINE IN THE SAND?? Do you ever wonder where your personal responsibility leaves off and other people's picks up? I have been really struggling with this issue lately. If someone comes to my house, brings their OWN alcohol, drinks it and then wants to leave when I feel they are not capable...where is the line between MY responsibility as a friend, a sober person and a fellow adult to say..."NO" and where is their line of responsibility to know how much is enough and speak for their own safety?? I'm really struggling! Another question....While I know that I can't force people to live according to my own moral standards...where is that line?? I can't minister to people if I never meet people that are different from us, (morally, ethically and religious preferences) but why does it seem that the people that they see once a week have more influence than us parents that work with them 24/7?? SO not fair...LOL~

***THE HOMESICKNESS FLOOD I have sooooo much to be grateful for here in the sunny land of NM, so why do I long for 'home in IL"?? I can list all the things that are great about here...probably alphabetically, but why is it that I still get pangs of homesickness that actually take my breath away?? I know one of the main things that I miss about IL is our wonderful home church...where Christian women abound that aren't afraid to ask me how my walk with the Lord is going, where they dropped by from time to time since we are a one car family and I don't get out much, and where our church was small enough that if you missed a week or so, people were calling, stopping by or sending a note of encouragement. I miss that! I miss my lost boys...coming by for a home baked treat, some motherly affection (or a lecture) and keeping me company when I spend 24/7 with the ankle biter crowd. I miss going grocery shopping with my best bud in the middle of the night when she got off of work, hunting a great kids clothes bargain when on our semi-annual ladies shopping trip, hanging with Kelly and her kids when they dropped by. I miss Mom stopping by for coffee in the AM on her way to work...WAH! I am such a big baby!!

***OTHER SUCH NONSENSE...so tired of feeling like the weight of the entire house is on my shoulders....baking, cooking and all the dishes, that'd be my responsibility. Cleaning, planning, laundry...yep, that'd be me, too. Homeschooling, child rearing and hospitality committee,....yep, there I go again. Keeping up with the family at home, too...even keeping up with the birthday cards and such for BOTH sides of the family, once again, that's all me. All the bill paying, coupon clipping, pet caring, and entertainment...that's all me, too! Sometimes it just feels like a lot. Not that I'm not capable...just tired. That part was just me whining...try to ignore it...LOL! Most days I feel honored to be able to care for the family God blessed us with, keep up with all the activities, and still have time to think a rational thought (at least one a day) but once it a while it not only catches up with me...but proceeds to run me over as well...ha ha ha!

***TOP 10 LIST OF THINGS THAT ARE GREAT! Now that I've done all this pondering, whining and rambling...let's get to the good stuff! I have MUCH to be glad about, rejoice over and be grateful for and so to remind myself truly how blessed we are...here's a top 10 list

1. Dan is a great hubby, a super dad, a hard worker, a fantastic provider and a helpful sounding board when I need advice, or just a listening ear

2. I have 4 beautiful, healthy GLORIOUS boys to raise, play with, fuss over and love amazingly.

3. Jodi and her boys have wandered over here to the land of enchantment and seem pretty happy.

4. I have gainful employment that doesn't cut into family time, cause us to hire a sitter or buy another car, meaning the money I make is actually ours to use.

5. To that end, we are slowly, but surely getting out of debt and ONE DAY might actually be able to save a bit of money to retire on...we'll see about that one

6. We have made some friends that have taught us a few things, allowed us to be who we are and enjoyed us to boot...we love them sooooo much.

7. We are soooooo enjoying our new house (despite above statements about it being messy) and the boys are SOOOOOOOO enjoying a huge yard to scamper about in, race around in, and drive the dune buggy around in...or if you're Tyler, flip it over in!) There is plenty of space to cook for our ever increasing family, plenty of room to get around the table, or on game night...around 2 tables as we serve 18-20 people, plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms and a huge playroom to bounce around it when the sun us too hot to be outside. A fire pit to gather around on cool summer evenings and watch the tumble weeds burn hot and bright, ...it's really just wonderful!

8. 'Shua has arrived safe and sound, much to this mother's delight and has settled right back into his place in the family.

9. Dan and I are still enjoying our fresh new start and are growing closer each day...to each other and to the Lord.

10. God is here...not that this newsflash astounds me, but sometimes when I feel especially lonely, overwhelmed, moody or just plain morose about being here (see above posts...LOL) it feels soooo good to know that wherever we have been, wherever we are or are going to be someday, God IS there, has BEEN there and will CONTINUE TO BE there. God never fails His children! Can I get an amen?? : )

AND last, but not least....***THE GLORY ROLLS! Get ready to clap your hands, click your heels and whistle for the Lord's provision! AS most of your know, 'Shua came here looking for work....and it's been provided! Dan has been saying that his company is NOT hiring anyone and hasn't bee for a while now (in fact, they have been wonderful in keeping Dan employed even when the work was slow) but that he would take 'Shua to the union office and help him get set up to find a job. Well ''COINCIDENTALLY" (winks) on last Thursday, Dan's supervisor mentioned needing to hire a few apprentices....what a bizarre happenstance!! So Dan mentioned 'Shua and before the end of the day...the boy had a job! not even in town yet and he's employed!! Is God's provision astounding or WHAT?!? I just cheered and clapped and carried on....yeah GOD! SO, all's well that ends well, right??

All of that to say, yes, some days are hard, but God always provides the answer, Dan is a rock star hubby and our hectic life suits me just fine!! Thanks for reading my novel of epic proportions and little consequence!

Blessings to all,

Kristy