Quote of the Day

Eric: "How do stay at home mom's keep their minds from turning to mush?"

Bring Hope in Suffering

(picture has nothing to do with the quote... just a cute pic of our tent loving boys)

Where there is pain

Let there be grace

Where there is suffering

Bring serenity

For those afraid

Help them be brave

Where there is misery

Bring expectancy

And surely we can change

Surely we can change, Something

David Crowder

Working on the fall reader has had me thinking a lot about the pain and suffering others experience and how I isolate myself from even empathizing with them 99% of the time. I want to change that somehow. Still praying about what it looks like completely, but I've got some thoughts in mind. More to come. Also, I'm going to try and post something every day for a while. We'll see how that goes. :) Praying tonight that I can learn not to fear suffering- in myself or in others.

Finally a new post

Coloring has become Isaiah's favorite activity lately. We've run out of space to display his work. Its contagious too. All 3 of them color for at least half an hour every day. That's post-trampoline sweaty head he has.

Zay and Lij are pretending to sleep with Micah at Josh and Rachel's house. Doesn't Micah look thrilled?

Our friend Dave is reading a comic book to the boys. Since he's sailed all over the place and they were reading about pirates, he could explain all kinds of cool things like what "keel hauling" is.

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OK, so I know its been forever, but we've been in transition so to speak- in lots of ways. Here are the hightlights.

- Eric and I went to Florida for a week alone (no kiddos) and had the best time renewing our friendship and realizing again all of the reasons we not only love each other, but we really like each other. That has nothing to do with the changes about to take place, but it was a much needed break after a nose-to-the-grindstone year. The boys had a great time with nana and papa too.

- I was hired for an 8th grade teaching position this fall at a middle school in Lexington. I've spent a week in training and I think I'm really going to like the school. It does mean leaving my spouse and family job which I have loved dearly, but my job change was necessary for the overall peace of our family in the coming year.

- All 3 boys are going to school this fall- something they're all excited and/or nervous about, but this change does allow my return to full-time work without too much remorse. My school schedule is very similar to theirs and Eric's, so we'll all get nice long breaks off together.

- We bought a little car so that I can commute to work and Eric will still have the van for the boys. His schedule works out so that we'll only need babysitting about 5 hours a week. He can be home with them before and after school most days.

So, that's where we're at. We entertained lots of other scenarios, but we're finally committed to this plan for the year. The summer has been great so far. Long days at home with the kids- swimming at the Y, playing on the trampoline, riding bikes, enjoying fresh veggies from the Community Supported Ag farm cooperative. It's been good. I should be able to post more often again now. More pictures coming soon too.