A moment.

Yesterday at church, before we took communion, our Pastor encouraged us to jot down five things we were thankful for.  Quickly, I rifled through my purse to snag a pen and began writing.  When you live in a free country with the abundance we have, there are always more than five items to list, but we only had a few moments and the suggestion of five was a realistic goal. One thought that came to mind was "moments".  In life, all through the day, the hours, the minutes, the seconds, there are those times when we want to freeze everything and let it be etch into our memory.  It may be the smallest detail or the biggest deal ever, but we grab it and try to seal it in.  That's why I love my camera.  Ofcourse, not every moment can be captured in a photograph, a giggle, a mispronounced word, someone saying "I love you", those are cherished in the heart and mind.  But for many, I grab my camera, aim and hope it will help me remember "the moment":

It's not much really, but when I woke up the other morning, came downstairs and looked out my front door (something I do every single morning!) I couldn't help but be captivated by the way the light was shining through the trees.  It just caught my attention, it was just a moment.

Hunting and those lovely love languages.

Oh, you've heard of them, those five love languages. Kinda like a personality test for your bent on love. The book by Gary Chapman has been around for many years and just like those personality tests it's fun to see who you are. Ofcourse, I tend to be quite uncomplicated, I didn't even need to read the description to bead in on mine and Randy's love languages.

Acts of Service.

Who me? Am I really that simple? Really?

Um, yes.

A little work on the house, some errands run for me, watching the kids so I can grocery shop in peace, even straightening up a room is apparently all I need to feel content and loved.

Randy? Physical touch, with quality time taking a close second. When we were dating, I remember he always wanted to hold my hand (fingers intertwined) or have me sit right next to him in his little Ford Ranger. In fact, I would shift gears so he could keep his arm around me while we drove! Now if that doesn't shout physical touch, I not sure what does. We always were together, going to the movies, playing card games with my family or cuddling on the couch, that was our qt.

So how does this help in real life? Let me give you an example.....

Right now we are approaching a very busy time for Randy.....hunting season is getting under way. Stick with me here, "early season" isn't even until the end of September, but for my "type A" man, preparations start way before that. Plowing fields, planting crops, setting up game cameras, deciding on stand placement, etc all need to be worked out before the season opens.  This can be a super stressful time for both of us, but, understanding eachothers love languages can come in handy.

Randy knows that I am most happy when he helps me out around the house (mostly maintenance and some remodeling) or at least supports the work I would like to do.  Remember, I'm an acts of service girl, I like getting projects going, seeing things fulfilled.  Now, he can either ignore those needs and convince himself he's worked hard all year for this time and deserves every moment of enjoyment while I take care of things around the house or he can plan ahead, discuss what we are trying to accomplish and devise a plan of action while scheduling his time for all the hunting his heart can handle.

That was a serious run-on sentence, I know.

Okay, turn the tables.  I know Randy looks forward to the quality time he puts in at the farm and in the stands hunting. These few weeks are what he anticipates and works for all year.  I also know he misses the kids and I the entire time he is gone and always looks forward to getting back home and being with us, loving lots of hugs and kisses on his return.  Now, if we have worked out a plan to make sure I don't feel overwhelmed while he is gone (leaving me at {mostly}peace), then I will have a greater desire to reciprocate my love when he comes home.  Instead of feeling resentful, I will embrace him for thinking of me and loving me, even when he is away.  Rather than give him the cold shoulder, I can feel content being close to him after he gets home.  His love language asks that I shower him with affection and naturally he will return that to me by making sure my to-do list get done. 

Ofcourse,  these aren't pre-conditions.  Life happens and perfectly made plans can unravel.  If he doesn't meet all of my needs or I don't meet his, we can't withhold love.  Marriage is about commitment and striving to give more than you take.  You can't make demands of your spouse simply because your love language "entitles" you to it. That would be just plain silly.  But, if you work at understanding one another  and how you "operate", it can ease tension, lessen bitterness, and build a stronger bond between you and your spouse. 

On my heart.

"My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles."

Psalm 34:4-6 NIV(emphasis mine)

We serve an amazing God. Not just some "pie in the sky" god, the GOD. The God who created the universe and created us in His image. The same God who sent his Son to die for every single one of us on the cross.

Listening to Hillsong United (Aftermath) last night this song caught my attention, it's title is "Take Heart". Here are a few of the lyrics:

So take heart. Let His love lead us through the night. Hold on to hope. And take courage again.
....He wears the scars of our freedom. In His name. All our fears are swept away. He never fails. All our troubles. And all our tears. God our hope. He has overcome. All our failure. And all our fear. God our love. He has overcome. All our heartache. And all our pain. God our Healer. He has overcome. All our burdens. All our shame. God our freedom.
He has overcome.

(These are only a portion of the lyrics, if you get a chance pick up the cd or download it off itunes, you will not be disappointed.)

Jesus is all of these things and more. But most of all, He wants a relationship with you. Not just to give you a list of rules and regulations, but to love you. Yes, it requires a change in your heart and it will require you to lay down your "rights" and desires. But His are so much better, so much more fulfilling, so perfectly made for you. Get to know Him.

"But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do. But thank God you've started listening to a new master, one whose commands set you free to live openly in His freedom!"

Romans 6:17-18(The Message)

My Mountains.

There are few things on earth more beautiful than the mountains. When you are away from them for a while, you forget there magnitude, their glory, their call to come explore. My brother-in-law, Aaron, has said he doesn't know what he would do if he didn't live near some mountains. "How would I know which way I was going if the mountains weren't there to guide me?"

I woke early the morning before we left and watched the sun rise above the mountains behind the home I was raised in. All of those years as a child, I don't think I ever noticed a sunrise. Of course, I was still sleeping. But us kids would get up as soon as the sun's rays pierced our bedroom windows.



We always headed to the mountains. In part to procrastinate the impending school work mom had for us, but mostly to explore and create. We carved trails hiking up that mountain, made gum trees and forged a lifelong bond with one another. We laughed, rarely argued (we saved that for inside), and let that fresh mountain air fill our lungs for as long as we could hold mom off.

The sunsets I remember. When their beauty was breathtaking (which was often), you could look out the front window and see dad just standing there. Taking it all in. Enjoying the amazing moment that was created for, what seemed like, just us.




In my heart, though, are those treasured, early morning moments spent playing outside. Digging massive caverns in the mountainside for our fortress. Fully equipped with bathroom and all. Dad may never know where all of his tools are, but one day, some great archeologist may find them and rejoice with his link to the past. History. That's what we made on those mornings.




I often tell people, I never lived in the city until I was married and moved away. The city is convenient in ways, with grocery stores and shopping centers only moments away. But mountain living runs through my veins and deep in my roots. I will forever treasure my time with them.



My precious memories are a mere glimpse at the beauty of what is to come beyond this life. Thank you, Lord, for the sneak peek.

The girls' room, before & after.

With Grams and Gramps making the big move to San Diego, some items of furniture had to be shifted from mom and dad's. Ofcourse, I was more than happy to partake in any of that shifting as anything of theirs or my parents would be a step up from my hodgepodge collection. Ashlynn and Addie received my mom's bedroom set from when she was a girl. It's a beautiful French Provincial set and Ashlynn had a blast picking out colors.

Here is what it looked like before:





And After:







Obviously, these wild colors are not classic French Provincial creams, but we are talking about an 8 year old, though I will be the first to admit my personal love of color. But maybe one day, when we are older, we'll sand it down and get the creaminess back.

Maybe.

A few things.

Some things I want to remember that are happening around here:

• Ryder playing around the house singing the theme song for Scooby-Doo at the top of his lungs.
• Ashlynn singing what she refers to as her "rockin' music" as she plays Polly Pockets or while drawing in her sketch book.
• Gage thanking me all the time for simple little things like, "You puttin' the dishes 'way momma? Thanks for that, thanks for that momma!"
  
• Addie learning to walk. She is slowly moving into the more walking than crawling stage, it will be missed....
  

We have started school and things are getting busy......which I suppose is no different than the usual! Ryder and Gage were both in need of haircuts, I'll put some pictures up tomorrow, have a fun day!!

Tucked in....

After saying prayers, Ryder leaned over to Ashlynn and with a big kiss says, "You are my good sister, Ashlynn. I LOVE you!"

"You are my good brother, Ryder. I LOVE you too!!" More hugs and kisses.

This is what it's all about.

50 things I love...

I stole this from Jenn, thanks for the idea!

1. Chocolate chip cookies
2. Love songs
3. Quiet time
4. Reader's Digest
5. No car payments
6. Grocery shopping
7. Ripe peaches
8. Walking
9. Swinging
10. Coloring
11. Watching a movie w/ Ran
12. Watching my kids play together
13. Reading my families blogs
14. Talking on the phone
15. Sewing
16. Making up patterns
17. Improvising
18. Golfing
19. Ryder
20. Ashlynn
21. Gage
22. Randy
23. A clean house
24. Something I need is on sale
25. My past
26. My present
27. My future
28. Good sermons
29. Teaching Ashlynn
30. Funny things the kids say
31. Pictures
32. Time to read a good book
33. Hearing my kids sing to Jesus
34. Having my picture taken
35. Riding bikes
36. Going to the movies
37. Visiting my family
38. My mom & dad
39. Fishing w/ Ran
40. Swimming
41. Washing my hair only 2x a week
42. Dreaming
43. Field Trips
44. New clothes
45. Finishing a project
46. Ran's hugs & kisses
47. my mother-in law & father-in-law
48. Catching a bigger fish than Ran
49. Trying new things
50. My life