summer's end

Yes, I am still talking about summer. It just doesn't seem like its over here in the Northwest!
..... except for the fact that we've started school, the days are getting shorter,
and it's getting harder and harder to find a sunny spot in the backyard.
We 've had a GLORIOUS stretch of no rain. In fact some unnamed members in our
home are saying they miss the rain. I'm on the fence.
I will be happy when it returns, but I am LOVING these sunny, crystal, clear-sky, days.
This has been soooo much better than last year. Such a boost for me.

These are the last pictures taken in the country this summer, before our new school year began.
We went to Num Num and Papa's,
picked green beans and blueberries,
played ladder ball (which was SO fun),
colored with side-walk chalk,
roasted marshmallows by the camp fire,
slept in a tent in the back yard,
played dressy-up,
took long country jogs,
and ate fresh-caught northwest crabs!!

It was fabulous.

Drew wrote everyone's name around the campfire. 

I think it looked SO cool!! 

The start of our school year has been ok. 

Not great, but ok. The first week, especially, was a rough re-entry. 

I'm once again challenged with my lack of self-discipline, and my

utter dependance on the mercy and grace of God, to

help me homeschool our 5 kids. 

So often, I second-guess our decision. 

A couple of weeks back during worship, we prayed a corporate confession of sin

from The Valley of Vision. It really resounded in my heart, and in a way

summed up how I so often feel. It is my prayer for this school year.

My confession. My heart's cry:

O my Savior, help me.

I am slow to learn, prone to forget

and weak to climb.

I am in the foothills

when I should be on the heights.

I am pained by my graceless heart,

my prayerless days,

my poverty of love,

my sloth in the heavenly race,

my sullied conscience,

my wasted hours and

my unspent opportunities.

Make it my highest joy to study You,

meditate on You,

gaze on You,

sit, like Mary, at Your feet,

lean, like John, on Your breast,

appeal, like Peter, to Your love, 

count, like Paul, all things dung.

I believe, help my unbelief. Amen 

Praise the Lord. There is good news. 

I have the hope of the Gospel to cling to!! 

"Since then we have a great high priest

who has passed through the heavens,

Jesus, the Son of God,

let us hold fast our confession.

 For we do not have a high priest

who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,

but one who in every respect

has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us then with confidence

draw near to the throne of grace,

that we may receive mercy and find 

grace to help in time of need."

Hebrews 4:14-16

As the summer ends, the seasons change, and

my own schedule changes, I can enter into 

MY new season with great confidence! 

When I am weak, He is strong. 

Hallelujah. 

a sweet visit

Our San Diego family was here this past month..... this means LOTS of pictures.

So be warned, this post is Looong. I'm feeling the pressure of time. School's starting, summer's ending. 

I've loved using this blog as a way to keep my far away family connected with our life,

and I don't want to get behind. So bear with me :) These are the sweet, sweet highlights of 

our time together. The weather could not have been more perfect. So clear and sunny,

but compared to San Diego, it was a cool relief for them, I do believe. 

We did not have car space to cart everyone around, so we sort of went out in shifts. 

This was actually perfect for the little ones. Baby Beck could take his naps at home,

and I think that Chase and Whitney were pretty much in heaven with just playing together. 

The adults all got some little "dates" with their nieces and nephews. Heidi took the older two girls to the mall, John took the boys out to eat and to the sports store, and I walked the two little girls up to the coffee shop. Heidi and I had a number of long walks together, and John was out front playing basketball with the boys a LOT! Reading, making meals together, and fellowship was what a lot of the week consisted of. Of course, we had fondue one night. 

A tradition established in San Diego! 

John and Heidi got away to Snoqualmie Falls for a day,  and we all got to love on little Beck and Chase. Saturday, we all went down to a beautiful new park (for us) in the Queen Anne area of town. It had a gorgeous view of the city, and would you believe "the mountain" was actually visible!! 

SO, here are my favorite pictures of our time together. Enjoy!!

:: tea-time for two ::

:: the sweet little Becker ::

:: don't you love his tattoo? ::

:: my goodness, he's cute ::

:: Drew time ::

:: Ellie time ::

:: Abby time :: 

:: Toby time ::

:: some of my FAVORITE pictures EVER::

Last May, on our San Diego trip, I posted lots of pictures of the kids and their new cousin Beck. WELL, if you haven't noticed, there are lots of kids in our family, and I can't keep straight who I've taken pictures of, and who I haven't. 

Toby was SO upset because I had not taken a picture of him and Beck.

HENCE..... LOTS of pictures of Toby and Beck :)

(Although, I have just now realized I didn't get any of Whit and Beck... I can't win.) 

:: Abby loved the Baby Bjorn :: 

:: our view from the Queen Anne park ::

:: a very special family! ::

:: O, he loves his mommy ::

:: slide racing at the park ::

:: the two littlest artists :: 

:: Abby picked flowers for mamma :: 

:: I think she's tired of my picture taking ::

:: But, we didn't get tired of holding baby Beck! ::

:: Sunday's photo shoot ::

(see post below for more of that!)

:: Sunday races by the water ::

(can you tell my kids think the only thing their Uncle wants to do in life, is to play with them?)

:: the two little mommies ::

:: Yoga exercising ::

:: the flower child ::

~ hang loose, ya'll!! ~

Thanks for bearing with me..... loved, loved, loved this sweet time together. 

God is good. 

{this moment}

:: pictures with cousins ::

family camping and Drew's birthday!

So, this post is wAy overdue.... as all of my posts lately seem to be! 

We've now got a twelve year old boy in the house. One more year and we'll have two teens! Wow. 

Drew was so sweet with his birthday requests this year. They were sooo nice and simple. 

Just my style. We gave him a couple of different options and he also came up with a few. 

One, was camping!! Last year we went camping in July over Toby's birthday. 

And providentially, this year, two of our dear family friends invited us to go on Drew's birthday! 

We decided to try this new place with them, and it turns out, we really enjoyed the beauty

of Lake Kachess. However, upon arriving at the camp-ground, we realized

that there was a "no camp-fire" rule. SUCH a bummer. We made the most of our time though,

and soaked up the fellowship (although next year, we think we should go LONGER than one night,

.... I'm pretty sure I said the same thing last year!)

We brought the pooch. She got incredibly dirty, so of course the kids

dragged her into the water, which by the way, was sooo cold. I couldn't believe they

all got in! It was really hot though, and the water sure was a sweet relief. 

We love our crocks.... can you tell? 

The only downside to a lake is the mosquitos. Abby came home with about 50 bites. YIKES!
That girl must have some sweet blood. 

Between the three families, there were 12 kids .... (mind you, they are all pastor's kids :) 

Since we couldn't meet around a camp-fire, we just convened at the 

camp site in the middle. At least we had camp-stoves! 

The men occupied the kids after dinner with races....

Most participated ...... though some simply cheered :) 

If you're wondering why the men are last, the daddies gave the kids a big head start! 

Some went fishing as the sun was setting..... so pretty. 

And this taken just a few minutes later! 

The next morning we woke up to Drew's birthday....

and the kids were back in the lake as quick as we would let them! 

Minnow searching occupied some, 

and others were simply crazy people! 

We headed home about noon to finish the birthday celebration. 

We had made Drew wait SUPER LONG to open his gifts from the family. It was so painful :)
I think some of his favorites were Lord of the Rings legos and the promise of a
Newsboys concert with his daddy. He was one happy boy. 

We dropped the three younger kids off for a "play date" with some friends from church,

and headed out to meet Drew's second birthday request.......

to see the movie "Spider Man" with his sister Ellie, me, and the pastor. 

I will say, I loved the movie! ....and I was skeptical because I liked the old Spider Man. 

I think I enjoyed it even more! Everyone agreed..... it was fabulous.

Then to Red Robin. (We think this MUST be a family favorite, 

as this is where our kids always choose to go!!)

I'm amazed at how different the kids look after just ONE year.
If you are interested in walking down Drew's memory lane, click here!
Happy 12th Birthday Drew!!
May the year ahead be full of growth in
wisdom and knowledge of the Lord.

Heavenly Father, 
Continue Your good work in Drew. 
Shape him and mold him into a young man after Your heart. 
Prepare him for what the future holds..... to be a godly leader, in and out of the home.  
May he learn to be a steadfast protector and empathetic friend. 
Help him to choose his friends wisely (.... and speaking of friends, would
you bring new ones into his life this year?). Give me the grace
to love him tenderly and compassionately. Show me what I need to know concerning Drew
 ..... and what You don't show me, I trust You to take care of! 
Thank You for the HUGE part that he plays in our life as a family. It certainly
would not be the same without him, and we are so thankful for him!  
In Jesus name, Amen