Speedy Summer

Okay, here it is in a review.  Not that really anyone but myself cares, but I know I'll forget my entire life if I don't write it down. 

After the Forth of July the kids had another week off of freedom before swimming lessons start.  Everyday at the pool for 45 minutes for two weeks straight, you wouldn't think that would be too big of a deal, but for some reason, having to be at specific place at a specific time is hard for me.  Good thing I don't work outside the home, and I can drop Jack off at school in my P.J.'s while the other two eat their breakfast in the car. 

Ella's Birthday was just before and we had fun celebrating at the pool.  That girl LOVES the pool.  I have to watch her so closely.  I'm afraid she'll drown herself, she loves the feeling of the water around her neck, nose, and face.  Strange for a kid that age, and very anxiety producing to watch.  But I let her go as best I can, for the most part, the boys just have to make sure they are taking care of themselves because I can't turn my back on her.

August was full of trips to Grandma and Grandpa's as me and Lewis finished a painting project on the house and took some time for ourselves in the Cities.  The kids came back and we geared up for school season to begin again.  See?  Where does the time go?  We romanticize the long summer days, being lazy by the pool, sipping lemonade, and then just as fast as you saw that vision, its gone. 

The thought that the season makes me sad, but the thought of schedule makes me sane.  Goodbye summer, Hello Sanity!

Summer Independence

So I guess summer got busy again.  A lot has happened between now and then.  I'll try to recap as best I can. 

We had a great 4th of July weekend planned.  We were going to just "chill" at my moms, watch the kids in the pool, barbecue, and enjoy an evening fire pit.  We had a few nights planned in a cabin by Lewis and Clark lake to have some good quality family time.  But as it is with life, plans change.  My grandpa Andy passed away June 30, and his funeral was July 5th.  We were still able to enjoy the few nights at the cabin.  The boys LOVE fire, they spent hours scouring the shore for drift wood and corn husks that had washed up and dried out.  We didn't even have to buy fire wood.  Boys are natural hunter/gatherers.  We even had a chance to catch up with our old friends Justin and Virginia Meyer and there brood of four. 

But our "chill" time at my parents house, wasn't quite that.  We did find a few moments to enjoy each other, but much of the other time was filled with planning, and extended family.  I can't say it wasn't a good thing.  We were able to go out to "the farm", all of my uncles, aunts, cousins, and their kids for root beer floats and a concoction of every one's fireworks.  It had to be the best Independence day I can ever remember from childhood until now.  There were plenty of children around to keep each other company, and we were all together.  That just doesn't happen when you have over 30 first cousins, not to mention their parents and kids.

Holding my daughter in one arm, the other hand filled with ice cream and root beer and the sky filled with colored fire, I knew this would be a memory I'd hold dear for all my life.  The moment did not escape me.  I looked to my left and to my right and knew I was surrounded by people who cared for me, if for no other reason but because I was family.

We said goodbye to my grandfather the next morning with waves of tears and roars of laughter.  There is a lot of emotion when remembering a life lived so long and so vigorous. 

Lewis, the kids, and I headed out to Gavin's point dam a little later that afternoon.  I thought we might have to drive over in shifts.  That van was full to the brim.  Jack had to take a small uphill climb to get to his seat in the back.  I always forget how much stuff you need when staying overnight in a cabin.  See why we don't tent camp?  We have no room for the tent!  So, thats my excuse anyway.

The boys LOVE fire and spent the majority of the time scouring the lake shore for drift wood and corn stocks for burning.  We didn't even have to buy fire wood.  The next day we hiked up smutty bear trail.  Ella was all girl and kept crying and begging us to carry her because it was 'cary".  Which in Ellaese is "scary."  So, as most dad's go, Lewis caved and ended up carrying her until she had to have mom. 

One of our family friends, who currently pastor in California, were able to spend the second night in their own cabin just two down from us.  They have 3 boys and a girl so our kids were busy and we were able to converse around the fire as the kids found things to burn. 

Phew, fun is exhausting and vacation with children is an adventure.  If you want a relaxing vacation, don't bring your kids, or stock plenty of movies, video games, and duct tape.  We had a fabulous Forth and we plan on cabining again next year....somewhere.

The Queen Sized Giant

³⁵ The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God—Luke 1:35

I want to be overshadowed, overwhelmed, overtaken with the Spirit of God, just as Mary was.  Oswald Chambers puts it "What was true of the Virgin Mary in the history of the Son of God’s birth on earth is true of every saint. God’s Son is born into me through the direct act of God; then I as His child must exercise the right of a child— the right of always being face to face with my Father through prayer."
Will I allow my spirit the pleasure to be in my Father's house, to be about my father's business, to be face to face with my Father through prayer?  Or will I deny my Father His child and allow my flesh to crowd my time, confuse my mind, and control my life? 

they found Him in the temple . . . . And He said to them, ’. . . “Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house?” —Luke 2:46, 49 (emphasis added)

Jesus was dumbfounded that his parents didn't know where He would be.  It seems as though it wasn't a second thought to Him.  He felt the pull from His Father and He went searching, in His Father's house.  Am I as willing to drop my agenda when the Lord begins to pull me, or do I put Him on hold until its convenient, or until I ask permission from others?  Whose permission to you need but the Lords?

The Lord has been drawing me to search Him out in the early mornings, but I have put him on snooze.  By the time I do get up, the house is awake and the day is full and I find myself distracted.  My Pastor, Mark Swee, spoke recently about the giants that stand in our way of God's promised land.  He spoke of a giant named Og, and quoted Deut 3:11, which gave the dimensions of his bed.  He went on to say, "the only thing between Israel and the promised land was a king sized bed."  Well, in my case its a queen sized bed, but I got the hint. 

Its easy to let life crowd us, confuse us, and control us, but we must fight the impulse of our flesh to ask others, or to put too much human common sense into things.  I suppose it would have been nice for Jesus to tell His parents where He was going, but the point is, that Jesus was about His Father's buisness, He was face to face in prayer with His Father and so heavily lead by the Spirit of God that at the same very instance He felt the Lord leading, He was already going.