Kick It...Hit It

Face painting for the last game...the girls loved it!

Now that the season is over, the parents have to decide which league to join next year. 

When did kids sports become so expensive?  I thought this was all about fun not status.

Right after Reagan's last soccer game we hustled over to the ball diamond for some crazy 2nd grade softball.

I have amazing video of Reagan's "homerun" but can't seem to post it here.

Reagan loves sports, loves competition and loves to win.  I do believe one day her life verse will be found in 1 Corinthians.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.  I Cor 9:24

Being Mom

“Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.”


Mildred B. Vermont

A Not So SMALL Group

What a crew!  Every Wednesday night for the last year we have gathered to "do life together."  Our hope was to learn a little more about God and grow through studying His Word.  Some weeks we did that while others we just ate good food and laughed or cried together.  We've had loved ones pass away, the miracle of birth, loss of jobs, buildings burn down, movie nights, prison terms (ok, not really), junk TV nights, service projects and so much more.  Through each step we have supported each other physically and in prayer.  I love these people and feel so blessed to have been a part of their lives.

Making smores is one of our favorite spring, summer and fall activities.

By the end of the night the chocolate was gone but we had plenty of graham crackers left, I now know why. 

A Tall Order

Do everything without complaining or arguing, 
Phillippians 2:14

Ouch, who does Paul think we are?  What a tall order! 

Today Pastor Mark gave us the same challenge...for 35 days.  So I guess, if I can make it 21 days, it should be a habit.  We'll see what happens tomorrow.  So far I have made it almost 12 hours.  Whew!  The whole church received an orange rubberband to wear on their wrist as a reminder.  It has proven to be a great reminder for our 3 daughters as well.  I'm sure they will keep us honest and on task.


I'm still reading 40 Days.  I will admit to being a few days behind where I should be.  I'd like to think that I'm letting it sink in.  :)

First of Forty

Today I dove into Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life.  I'm asking for your help in accountability.  I will tell you right now that I do not anticipate completing all 40 chapters in 40 days.  Yes they are short chapters but sometimes 10 minutes of prayer and quiet time is all I can do...the book may get squeezed out.

So today I learned "it's not about me."  No kidding!  I've been a mom for over 11 yrs.  Some where along that path I picked that not so subtle message up.  :)

I have been told by a couple people that this is a terrible book and scripture is twisted to say what Warren wanted it to say.  Let's be honest, don't you hear pastors so that many Sunday mornings?  Infact, on Easter Sunday I heard the pastor who is so critical of this book read scripture and then say, "let me paraphrase that."  That's his big beef with the "Message."  Hey buddy here's a secret, the Message is a paraphrase, it doesn't pretend to be a version of the bible. 

Ok, I can step down from my soap box.  :)

If you haven't read this book or if you want to go through it again, I would love to have your company.  Challenge me.  Help me grow.  Hold me accountable.

Plan to check back with me in a couple of days.  I hope to post a few times a week about my study.  Feel free to leave comments.

Blessings to you and yours!!!!

Friends

I have heard some say, "you guys are always having people over or going somewhere." It is true, we love the social life with good friends which almost always includes more children than adults.  Last night again we were out numbered but didn't mind a bit.  Hanging out in the back yard for 4 hours and didn't a have a single problem with the kiddos...now that is a successful gathing of 4 families.

Raabes.Kirgans.Boumans.Loziers

Oh how we are going to miss the Kirgans! 

Living in the Dream (house)

Chris and I had the pleasure to help out some good friends this week by moving into their beautiful home to babysit their 2 boys, 2 dogs and home.  An added bennefit was being around to get the house ready to show when potential buyers came by BEFORE the house even went on the market.  Hope it looked ok.

 

This picture does not even do this kitchen justice. 

If my friends weren't moving I would seriously consider hiring Courtney to give our kitchen and bathrooms a facelift.  He did all the work and it is fantastic!!  Even heated tile floors in the bathroom.

entry way

No pictures of the master bathroom but our entire family enjoyed our time in there.  Olivia discovered the tv in there this morning, she got a real kick out of brushing her teeth and watching cartoons.

It doesn't matter where we are, my kids can find fun and entertainment.

Tonight after we got home I sat down with the girls to tell them how proud I am of them.  Living in someone else's house and totally changing our schedules was tough.  They had very little mom and dad time and no friends over to play plus waking an hour earlier.  Emma, Reagan and Olivia were champions!  What a great girls Chris and I have.  No sooner than I had verbally built them up they started to argue about who had to brush their teeth first and why it isn't fair that...

Oh My Gosh!!  The "vacation" is over, we are back to real life.  :)

Our friends are moving so the house will be available in a few weeks.  If only I could afford a housekeeper I would love to live in this house.  Ok, I can't afford the house either...not even the taxes but I'll blame it on the housekeeping.  ha ha

So blessed...I can't contain it.  God has been so good.  Thank you Lord for the daily abundance!

Left Behind

Most certainly it's easier to leave than to be left behind.  In 1997 we left Nebraska after being married for only 6 mos and headed for the desert of Arizona.  The departure was not difficult, we were young and excited about our new life together in the Southwest.  About seven years later we returned to Nebraska as a family of four.  We left many friends in the desert and it was painful but life went on.  We kept in touch with a few close friends, all the while meeting amazing (and some not so amazing) people.  Then 2 years ago we made another move back to Omaha NE.  Slowly we are meeting good friends again, it takes time.  It hasn't been easy to leave friends like...well you know who you are but we have also been blessed with new people to "do life" with.  This week I find myself on the flip side of this story.  Instead of being the one to leave, I am being left behind.  It hurts!  It stinks! 

Since November I have prayed for God to do a work in the lives of my friends the Kirgans.  Doesn't it stink when God does just what you ask him to do?  ha  They are moving away and it hurts.  So what's the sliver lining?  The past year we have done life with the Kirgans.  Shared good and bad times.  We have laughed, cried, ate good food, prayed together and look forward to Disney World together.

I see God's hand all over this move so I will rejoice.  Just don't forget the little people left in Nebraska.