last year on this day

So today it snowed.
The end of March, and it snowed.

This week it was both fun and depressing to remember where we were this time last year.

I need a tan.
I need a pedicure.
I need a haircut.
I need to be skinnier like I was last spring.
ahhhhh, to only be back there!

His goodness

"Trust in the Lord and do good; so you will live in the land, and enjoy security. Take delight in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for him."

(Psalm 37:3-5, 7)

Patience is hard.  But patience is what is being required more of me right now than possibly ever before in my life.

How do you respond when things aren't happening the way you think they should? Or when life brings disappointments?  It's so easy to get caught up in anxiety, worries, and sadness.  I will be honest and admit I have spent MANY hours, and probably some full days, throwing myself a pity-party lately because I'm not able to control things around me.  In the end, I get no where.  But despite my big temper-tantrum sessions, I'm thankful that God has been trying to get my attention.  And I choose to believe that he will take whatever measures he feels neccessary to do that.  

(enjoy the pictures that have nothing to do with my post)

God is teaching me some big lessons right now. And re-working some of the ways of thinking and understanding that I've had about him for much of my life.  I am coming to a new realization at this point in my life, that the root of many of my problems is my distorted view of God.  I'm thankful for these lessons - because it wasn't till recently that I really even realized I didn't know God as he truly is.  My past plays a huge part in this.  And I will not blame anyone but myself and my own understanding.  For years, to me, being a Christian was more about a set of rules and do's and don'ts, than it was about a God who unconditionally and unimaginably loved me and wanted all the best for me.  For these reasons, I had come to intuitively believe that God is always down on me.  To be completely honest, I've probably viewed God more like a menacing policeman or an angry parent than a loving and gracious father who takes pleasure in my happiness.  PIVOTAL MOMENT.

When things in my life are going bad - I catch myself wondering what I've done to deserve it?  What is he waiting for me to do better?  Maybe I should clean up my act.  Maybe I should be in God's Word more.  Maybe I should get rid of some of my bad habits and sinful attitudes.  But yet, I also wouldn't say that I feel like all the great things in my life that I have are because I have deserved them.  Because that's absurd, of course I don't deserve them.  Altogether - my way of thinking was not coming together, there were some major holes!!!

What I was missing is that in all reality there is NOTHING I can do to deserve God's blessings. I am full of sin.  And I had to be saved by his own son's blood to even have a purpose and hope for my life.  My heart, mind, actions and words can be awful, awful, awful.  And yet - God has chosen to bless me and my family in so many ways.  I am completely undeserving.  He has ALWAYS been faithful.  So when things aren't going my way - how I can doubt his faithfulness?  Why would he stop now?  God is good.  Anything other than good is not in his nature.

God's goodness...something I've never truly understood, or even taken time to learn about.  I act like I understand it sometimes.  I've used the words "God is so good".  My head knows that God is good.  I've seen examples of it. But my heart hasn't fully chosen to believe it.  I haven't allowed myself to completely trust God. 

God is good.  I'm trying to learn what that means.  And so far God is showing me some AMAZING new lessons...

God is good. He has good plans for me and he is on my side.  His purpose is not to ignore or crush my desires, but to fulfill them far beyond what I could imagine.  This is exactly what I need - THIS is what wipes out much of my old perceptions of God. Even though I am full of sin, even though I need to be in his Word more, and change so many of my habits and attitudes, even though I mess up all the time and don't follow the rules like I should  - he doesn't hold grudges and he doesn't sit in heaven looking down on me with crossed arms.  He is not the cosmic policeman waiting to point out all my offenses. 

God is good.  God has always been and will always be faithful to reveal himself to me even if I don't recognize it.  It's so easy to fall into the trap of taking for granted the order and beauty of the world we live in.  I often ignore the beauty in nature and the changing seasons, and life in general, as evidence of his goodness.  But then a hurricane hits New Orleans, or a tornado takes out an entire community, or an earthquake and tsunami hit Japan.  I can't think of a better reminder that allows us to realize God's amazing constancy in spite of a fallen and dysfuntional world.  These disasters are horrific and it feels like they happen all too often.  When in all reality, it's scary to think about how often they could happen without his constant provision. 

God is good.  And when I choose to focus on the relatively few difficult circumstances of my life, I tend to forget his repeated, loving acts of deliverance that occur so regularly.  I have had a warped view of God.  And I will never recognize God's goodness as long as I am convinced he has other intentions than my welfare. 

"God isn't good because he does good things for us.  And God isn't good because of something in us.  God is good because of something in him.  He can be nothing else.  Both God and his choices remain good even when they may not feel or look particularly good to you." 

-Chip Ingram,  God: As He Longs For You to See Him

God's good plans don't always look like my good plans.  I may think I know what's good.  But he really knows what's good.  He is an eternal God with an eternal plan.  And he doesn't always choose to work things out on this side of heaven, nor work things out to my own understanding.  This is where trust comes in.  I have to choose to trust that his plans are the best plans for me, even when they are not the plans I have for myself or my family.  Which brings me to the beginning. 

I can choose to be consumed and depressed when things in my life aren't so great, and aren't going the way I think they should.  But if I have an accurate view of God, and I understand that he's all-knowing, all-seeing, all-powerful and thoroughly good, then I know that he is FOR ME.  And when difficulties in life arise, instead of choosing to be uptight and anxious, being stressed, depressed or throwing tantrums, I want to strive for peace that surpasses understanding.

A good chunk of what I'm learning has come from this book by Chip Ingram. A friend loaned it to me, and it came at the PERFECT time.  I am so anxious for each chapter and the opportunity to focus on the different aspects of God's character, in order to know him more. 

"He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

Romans 8:32

Jess Mac shared this song a few days ago on her blog.  You can read her encouraging post here.
I listened and cried.  And then couldn't stop listening to it.



In all reality, the situations in my life right now are nothing compared to what they could be. But I am thankful that God is using this time to teach me some lessons - so that I can be prepared later.

In this season of waiting...God is renewing my mind giving me peace like never before.

hockey night

Dave's cousin Terry has season tickets to Wichita Thunder Games.

And he's so nice to get us tickets each year to a game.

 This year the kids remembered about having gone last year - so they were excited to for the game, and Thunder Dog!

 Not only does Terry have season tickets - but his seats are first row seats, AT THE GLASS!!  Right behind the goalie.  You can't set your drinks on that red ledge, or it will get knocked off when the players ram into the glass.

 The kids had gotten some Valentine's money from Aunt Barb, and they chose to use it at the concession stand.  Are these kids ours or what!?!? 

 The only problem about sitting so close it that your chances of catching the frisbees and t-shirts that get thrown into the stands are pretty slim.  But thanks to a nice teenage boy several rows up - Taylor ended up with a frisbee!

 And what's hockey without a fight?  I looked up and the only reason I knew a fight was going on was because of the gear laying around on the ice.

a little NCAA fun

I promise.  I had nothing very little to do with this.

We've always noticed the mascots on people's curbs as we take walks.

And they always get excited when they see a Powercat.

"I see K-State!" they say.

But this time they decided to take it a little further.

So, since we're right smack into March Madness,

and last night the Cats had their first win of the tourney,

and later today the other team will play,

Taylor and Mason had some pictures to share with you.

I will watch the game tonight, only if I don't have to hear that chant.

a little bit random

WOW - thanks to everyone that has voted for Mason!!!  We were definitely in the runnings until just recently - some new photos have gotten 100 and 200 votes - holy moly!!  But I'm thinking one last rally of votes - maybe we can get in the top 5!  It's been so fun to see all of you casting your votes!  And I've been shocked that out of all of his votes - about HALF of you I don't even know!  How awesome!  You don't even know our little man, and you're still voting for him.  THANK YOU!!! 

If you haven't voted - will you go vote now, PLEASE???  See the previous post for instructions.  I think we're gonna need every last vote we can get.  And hopefully we don't lose by ONE - otherwise, my ONE non-facebook friend is gonna feel really really bad that she wasn't able to cast her vote.  :-)  But I'm pumped, because Laura has now added 2nd and 3rd place prizes!!!

Here's the picture I submitted for you to vote for...

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In other news. 

The weather is was is again beautiful.  The kids have been outside A LOT.  And it's really fun to have neighbor friends who can come to our back fence and be lifted and passed from one parent to another to play in our backyard.  Or the other way around.

Like I said before...a gate is going to be a necessity if we end up staying here.  But for now, we're either jumping or climbing the fence, using the neighbor's backyard to pass through when he's not home, or walking a few houses down and around. 

After some good weather days, then it got cold again, and them some rain and thunder, and sleet.  And this week it will be in the 70s.  Maybe that's why we are having another round of this dumb sickness - all these crazy weather changes.

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Things have been kind of slow around here.  We've gotten another round of this cold/respiratory yuckiness.  Mason's doing breathing treatments again. Dave's been slow at work until this week finally. My calendar isn't near as full as it usually is.  Which is nice in one way.  But do you ever feel like you get MORE accomplished when you're busy?  I do.  When my life is slow, I get kind of lazy.  When my life is more fast-paced, I seem to get a lot done and momentum keeps me going.  But with all that said - I have this feeling that God is giving me this time of "rest" for a reason.  So I am trying to be purposeful with it.

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Did you know there is suppossed to be another BIG snow storm??? I've heard this 3 times now.  All from people who follow the Farmer's Almanac.  I guess sometime at the end of March.  So don't put your winter gear away yet!

I do love winter, but I was getting excited to look out and see this...

and not this....

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Cleaning the house to get ready for an open house is much easier with 2 little helpers.

This is Dave and I's bedroom.   It's really the only room in our house that we never did anything to after moving in 5 years ago.  Mostly because the colors worked.  I don't like the border, but it didn't clash either.  We haven't gotten new bedding since our wedding when we got a neutral duvet cover.  I've never had shams or little pillows to make the bed pretty or anything.  Normally our bedroom door is closed when company is here.  BUT, I do believe that if we don't end up selling our house and we stay put - THIS room will be getting a makeover ASAP!!!  It's about time.

We may be knowing very soon if we are staying or leaving!!

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Enjoy your week - and don't forget to go vote for Mason if you haven't!

VOTE FOR MASON!!!

I entered a really funny picture of him in a CUTEST KID CONTEST and we need your help winning!!

We aren't trying to win just to say he's the cutest kid.

We're trying to win a photo session with the A.M.A.Z.I.N.G

Laura with Elephant Juice Photography!

Laura is from Winfield, and I knew her in high school.

But we've really become friends since we found each other's blogs.

She is so talented and for several years I have wanted to go back "home" to Winfield for a photo shoot.  So this is it!!

So I'm counting on my blog followers to help us out!

Here's what you need to do (you have to have a facebook account):

Go to the Elephant Juice Photography Facebook page and click that you "LIKE" it!!  (you have to make yourself a fan of her page before you can vote for Mason - and because she's so fabulous, you will WANT to be a fan!!)

Then find the contest album that she has posted with all the kids' pictures.  Find Mason - he's the silliest looking one!  And to vote for him you have to click "LIKE" on his picture.

Oh, and I check my stats - so I know how many of you check my blog from day to day - so please, please, please, pretty please go vote for our little guy!

I'll keep you posted if we win!  We just have to make the final 5 - then the winner is drawn at random.

Be prepared to laugh out loud at his picture. I still can't believe I caught such an expression on camera.  I'm pretty sure Taylor, Mason and I laughed for 5 minutes straight when I had it up on my computer!  I hope it makes you smile.

Okay, so go vote NOW!

(pretty please :-)

a little early

We decided to try Taylor on her bike without training wheels the other day.  I'm not really sure why.

We were having a conversation about them, and she mentioned that she wanted to give it a shot.

So we did.  She's always been our daring and adventrurous one.

 After Mason's new bike - this bike looks ridiculously small!

Daddy tried to explain that she'd have to balance and steer straight.

 And he assured her he wouldn't let go.

She was all over the road.

 She really had no clue.  She wasn't able to keep the bike from leaning, Dave basically held her up.

But it was a fun try.  There were smiles and laughs the entire time!

I'm guessing that may not always be.

So the training wheels are back on.  We were way early on this attempt.

Which is okay by me.  No need to rush this growing up thing.

If anything, she got a good physics lesson.

OPEN HOUSE - SUNDAY!!!

It's ALMOST SPRING!!!!  That's when people buy houses right???

So we're having another open house.  And although I realize that my blog readers probably aren't the most likely market of people to be advertising the sale of our house to- I'm trying to hit ALL avenues!!  You know people I don't know.  You know people in the area.  And you may not be from this area at all, but maybe you know someone that would love to move to the lovely town of Newton.  Surely, right?

So I'm just letting you know.  Just in case.  Just in case ONE of you are the ones that know just that right buyer that God has in mind for us.  Send them our way! 

Here's a link to our FSBO listing

and our blog for a slideshow of pictures

www.609rollinghillsdr.blogspot.com

are you watching idol?

I didn't think I'd like American Idol this season, and debated watching it. But I'm actually loving it!

I'm sad that Hollywood week is over. It's my favorite!  Sometimes during the actual performances, I spend more time fast forwarding through songs I'm not really liking, and just listening to the judges responses.

I thought I'd share my favorites, in particular order...

Paul McDonald

Lauren Alaina

Casey Abrams

 Scotty McCreery - I'm throwing out a guess that he'll get a contract in the country music industry no matter how far he goes in the show!

I definitely won't fast forward through these performances.

So who are your favorites?

turning three

I always wonder how thoroughly confused our kids are when we celebrate their birthdays over a course of a few days.  By the time his actual birthday came, I think he was a little birthday'd out.  But we still had a fun day!

We started at Drubers, because Daddy always likes to have a donut cake made for the kids.  This was the first time Dave's been working in town and been able to join us.

I took this next set of pictures to capture this memory.

Our little temperamental guy, we never know what to expect from him.

When Dave brought the cake to the table, he just stared.

And drank his milk.

 We sang "Happy Birthday" and he continued to drink his milk.  His expression never changed.

We waited for him to blow the candles out but he continued to drink his milk.

 So he agreed to having Taylor blow them out and took a very brief break from the milk to watch her.

 It was brief I tell ya.  I think it was his method of "comfort" or something to hide behind when attention was on him.  He wasn't interested in eating it either.  Just interested in the milk.

 After about 20 minutes, he finally decided to eat some. I thought I'd let him eat in peace instead of snapping a picture of him.

 For lunch we met some friends at Burger King.  We only pick this place because of the playground.

And how dare they have the playground closed for repairs.  No exceptions.

So we got to entertain 7 children for just lunch instead.

And there may or may not have been some sprinting in circles around the restaurant and some crawling on the floors, and eating cupcake off the floor, and crying, and yelling, and a big huge mess.

 We definitely entertained all the elderly couples that were in there for lunch.

In fact, at one time I looked up and saw that almost every elderly person in the place (which that's all that was there), were staring at our group of children.

I'm going to choose to believe they were finding them very delightful and their laughter and smiles just made their days!

Group picture attempt #1...Levi was only interested in Mason's head.

Group picture attempt #2 - thanks for joining us Tripp!

 

It was a little bit of a chaotic lunch.  But I think Mason enjoyed it!

Until we sang Happy Birthday to him.