Van vs. Wind - Part 2

Recently our van door had a battle with the wind and it really looked like the wind won. However, I am happy to report that the van came back and won the battle. Of course the van had some help from the insurance company and a friend from church.

Today David went pick-up the van. Our friend repaired the door AND repaired a couple of broken door handles, fixed a window that we couldn't roll down because if we did it wouldn't roll back up. He also completely and I mean completely detailed the car, including dying the carpet and cleaning the van inside and out. The van is beautiful (well as beautiful as a van with 209,000 miles on it can be). If you have ever ridden in our van you know this is truly a feat.

And the cost was less than the insurance estimate. So this evening I went out and splurged and bought a cushy, squishy steering wheel cover. I've been looking at this cover for almost a year but was too cheap to buy it. It's amazing what a difference a $12.00 steering wheel cover makes.

My take away from this whole experience is "God cares about the details of our life". And, "He uses His people to help others". So, go the extra mile today and bless the socks off someone!! Make someone's day!!!!

Oh and on a humorous note...on the way home from picking up the van my husband was about two minutes in front of a significant storm that included hail. He made it home with no hail damage, WHEW!!

son-shine on a sunny day!!

One of Elijah's assignments for school is to write in his story folder. He actually dictates the story and I write it. Otherwise it might take us four hours. I liked his story for today. It made me smile. There has been absolutely no editing in this story. It is written just as he told it.

"Once upon a time there was a little boy. The little boy forgot to help clean the house with everyone. He got distracted because he had a favorite ball. He played with it. His mom told him to stop playing with his favorite ball and his room was very messy. So his mom told him to clean his whole room by himself. He cleaned up his whole room by using his feet. It was very, very hard. But he did it. "

The End

Van vs. Wind

Two Sundays ago we had a lovely morning in church and got in the van to come home. It was such a beautiful day..... an all is right with the world day!! We drove home, parked the van and went to open the door. All of a sudden the wind gusted and pulled the door out of my hands. I thought the door was going to fly through the yard and land in the woods behind our house.

The door was still intact, but it wouldn't close at all. And of course all six of us had somewhere to be in 30 minutes. And the door just wouldn't close. Needless to say we didn't all make it to the party since our other vehicle seats four people.

You will notice the door is closed in the picture. Our awesome neighbor, Jimmy, came over while we were gone that evening and fixed it. We're not really sure what he did. We're not really sure we WANT to know what he did. But we have the best neighbors on the planet!!!

What I remember most about that day is my girls sitting in the car and laughing hysterically. For some reason they thought it was funny. And quite frankly I did too. It felt like I was living in a cartoon world. Although David's memory of that day might be different.

One of my favorite TV shows growing up was Little House on the Prairie. Their pa always said "alls well that ends well". to be continued....

Glimpses of Glory!!

Yesterday the phrase "glimpses of glory" kept running through my mind. So many times I live frustrated by the difficulties of life. It's easy to do. Daily frustrations seem to pile up. And yet God opens the window to heaven on a daily basis. When we see "glimpses of glory" the frustrations, difficulties, trials fade away. That was what was on my brain yesterday morning.

Last night my kids ran inside to get me and tell me to come outside quickly. Usually that means someone has blood gushing from some part of their body. Or, someone has done something they shouldn't have done. So I ran outside.

And I ran right smack into a glimpse of glory!! The sky looked like it had exploded. It was spectacular!! It was one of those moments where you think your heart is going to explode into a million pieces. And to make it even more amazing my kids ran to get me because they wanted to share it with me...and my heart explodes with joy even more!!

So I am on a treasure hunt today.....looking for a glimpses of glory!!

"For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

I'm Ready!!!

In my January 4th post, I made the following statement...

I'm excited about 2011.

I'm ready for what's next, the next rushing stream that requires risk.

I'm ready to cross the tightrope.

I'm ready to see what God has in store.

I'm ready to take the hand of Jesus and follow where He leads.

Little did I know at that time what the future would hold. Just a couple of weeks after that post I began to talk with Habitat for Hope about becoming a part of their team. Habitat for Hope is a local non-profit organization that is a committed group of volunteers and staff who work to form community around families who have traveled to the mid-south to receive medical care for their children. The ministry of Habitat for Hope touched my heart from the moment I first heard Mylissa share her story at a local womens group last spring.

Through a seemingly random course of events (read that with a bit of a sarcastic tone) I became aware that Habitat for Hope was looking for someone to coordinate volunteers. Those who know me well know I love helping people see a need and working together to meet that need. I love it when people understand that God made them just the way they are and He wants to use them for His glory as they serve others....love, love, love it. At the time I was also reading this book which tied in perfectly to this seemingly random course of events. The truth is that there are so many things that worked together to bring me to where I am today.

Today I am crossing the rushing stream. As of today it's out there for the whole world to know that I am committed to the mission and ministry of Habitat for Hope. I am committed to use my experiences, skills, abilities and talents to serve others. I am committed to build relationships with patient families and find ways to serve them. I am committed to build relationships with volunteers. Volunteers are vital to the ministry of Habitat for Hope.

You may be wondering why this is a bit scary. It's a bit scary because all staff at Habitat for Hope raise their own support. Each staff person serves as a missionary to a specific population of people. No, it's not Africa, but it is a Christian ministry whose primary goal is to work as the hands and feet of Jesus for families who are facing the serious or long-term illness of a child.

I'm ready!!!

Are you ready? Would you consider joining me in this adventure? Would you consider becoming a prayer partner? Would you consider becoming a financial partner? Would you consider becoming a volunteer for Habitat for Hope? My prayer is that you would join me in this journey seeking to follow Jesus wherever He leads!!!

Please email me at diane@habitatforhope.org if you would like more information.

Scariest Dream Ever!!

This morning Little E whose 3+3 crawled into our bed at 5:00 am. As he crawled in, he told me he had the scariest dream ever. He didn't want to go into details. Who can blame him for not wanting to re-live the scariest dream ever?

I lay there for a few moments and let my sweet little boy fall back into a deep sleep. I tried to go back to sleep (which is impossible because I naturally wake up at 5:00 am on a daily basis. I know, I know that is sick and wrong!!). In those moments I was thankful that my little boy sought us for comfort. As soon as he was in our presence he settled down and fell fast asleep despite having the scariest dream ever.

It struck me that God must be pleased when we, his children, come to him. He wants to comfort us when we are scared. He wants to soothe our frazzled nerves with His presence. He wants to celebrate with us when we are happy. He wants to listen to us when we are mad. He wants us to hang out with Him because He loves us.

Happy New Year!!

Here's a picture of my kids crossing a tightrope across a stream on a recent hike. I will refrain from posting the picture of me crossing...trust me it wasn't so pretty.

When I went across this tightrope, it was VERY shaky. My balance left alot to be desired. The kids thought my screaming and the shaking of the tightrope was hysterical!! I seriously thought they might all pee in their pants because they were laughing so hard.

Why do I share this story on this blog after months of silence? As I reflect on this past year, I feel like I have been walking on a tightrope. God has put me in some new situations. God has put me in some tough situations. I have had to simply put one foot in front of another. It's been a little shaky from time to time. I have felt like I was going to fall. And yet with the help of Jesus, I've made it through 2010.

After my kids went across this tightrope...the crazy thing is that they kept wanting to cross again and again. It was fun to them. THEY ARE NUTS!!

And yet in my life....I'm excited about 2011. I'm ready for what's next, the next rushing stream that requires risk. I'm ready to cross the tightrope. I'm ready for the adventure. I'm ready to see what God has in store.

I'm ready to take the hand of Jesus and follow where He leads!!!

LOST!!

What happened to the past three months? How in the world can it be three months since I posted on my blog. Really it feels like yesterday. The saying is "time flies when you are having fun". I must be having a blast.

School starts on Monday....we've actually been doing school around here for two weeks. Now that we are settling back into a routine, maybe I will start blogging again. Or, maybe not. The reality of having a high school student living in my home is slapping me in the face. A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT!!!!

Forget the past three months passing quickly...the past decade and a half is a blur. I'm thankful for the friendships we've made. I'm thankful for these four wonderful kids who crack me up and drive me crazy. I'm thankful for my steady man whose living his dream. I'm thankful that God continues to teach me and grow me even when I am not sure whether I am coming or going!!

April Posts Complete!!!

Pictures from April are now posted!!!

I realize that it is much easier to do the 365 project on a daily basis rather than by the month. Sometimes life is not ideal and we get behind, but the important thing is to get in there and do the work....even if it takes a while.

It really would be much easier to quit!! Hopefully my kids can learn from my mistakes so that procrastination will not be their close companion for life!!

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Hannah's end of year Symphony performance!!

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Clara modeling her bathing suit (tags and all) that she got for her birthday. Elijah wanted to put his bathing suit on. The problem is that we may never let Clara leave the house in her bathing suit!!!!!

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Happy Birthday Clara!! To celebrate Clara's birthday we went to Pei Wei...one of our absolute favorite places to eat!! It was a lovely lunch!!

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Clara loves to take pictures...here's a few of my favorites.

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Coffee is how I have been surviving the busyness of April 2010!!!

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Sonic...a rare treat!!

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We went to the soccer field to do math. We learned about measurement. It was a perfect school day for our active five-year old!!

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Okay...so I couldn't just pick one of these. Hannah is really a normal teenager. These pics display just a few of her faces.

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Today was a special day for Noah. He received his yellow belt in Karate. He loves karate!! We are thankful to my aunt and my parents for helping fund Noah's favorite activity!!

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My boys sure do love hanging out together!!

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While my friend was on her honeymoon, her sweet daughter Emma came to stay with us overnight.