Simply Thriving

It’s Halloween and you know what that means: all sorts of hype and excitement, candy, decorations, opinions, histories, fears and beliefs. I have read so many articles this past week, some of which passionately list all of the evils of the day and some of which vehemently defend it. The day is like an onion. There are so many layers and meanings and motives and I’ll be the first to say that I have not researched it as much as I should. But, there is one thing that I do know: Today was NOT Satan’s day! Today is the day that the Lord has made. It's the Lord's day! Whether you closed your doors or opened them, whether you went out our stayed in, whether you went to a church function, dressed yourself or your kids up or went to bed early is between you and God, but whatever you did, remember: Today is God’s day! A day to rejoice in the fact that death has been swallowed up in victory! Here is the passage that best represented my perspective toward all of the “death” t...

This morning the kids made caramel apples for their friends at playgroup and this afternoon they finally got to sample their creations. Were they ever excited about it! And, my goodness, I had forgotten how much of a mess they are! Just like life: A sweet, sticky mess.   It’s complicated and messy, full of emotions and misunderstandings and joys. It’s friendship and crazy amounts of grace given and received.  It’s ideals and truth and knowing when you are the one in the wrong and when to just let something go. In the same way that the kids have to get caramel ALL OVER their faces and fingers in order to enjoy their treat, we can’t experience the joy of love, friendship and faith without the messy of everyday life. After all, that’s what heaven is about  ! In the meantime, we just have to grab that apple and take a giant, sticky bite!   

It’s been a weepy few days. I’m not really sure why. Yesterday, I cried so much that I almost made myself laugh at the sheer volume of it. Even little Chloe was looking at me compassionately (if that’s possible). As far as I know, nothing was really wrong; there was just much remembering and general wistfulness happening. A friend had put up a beautiful post in memory of her lost baby, but even before that I caught myself clinging to Chloe and praying for friends who have lost their sweet babies and wondering how I would survive if I lost mine. Sometimes the love I have for my kids is so great that it’s almost debilitating. If I let myself think about all that could go wrong, my heart is constricting and I’m crying like there is no tomorrow! This morning, my heart still felt very tender (and I have to be especially careful on days like today, because I know how easy it is for me to go to a dark place if I don’t guard my thoughts). I basically was just praying, “Help! I can feel “i...

Do you remember what it was like to be five years old and have a sleepover? I have vague memories of whispering in bed, hoping that mom wouldn't hear, and yet somehow she always did. It’s weird being on the other end now. Being an adult and hearing your five year old and her friend whispering together. Weird and pretty cool. It was pretty cool too, until 2:45am, when those same sweet girls decided to wake me up to check if it was time to play yet. And again, over and over until 5:30am when they had woken up the baby and I finally gave up and said, “Yes, go play, but there will be a consequence for this.” At the time, they were so excited to get up and play that a consequence seemed like no big deal. But, a few hours later, when the rest of the house was awake and the girls realized that their “all-day-play date” was now canceled, the tears began to flow. And not just for them. Now their litter brothers couldn't have a play date either and neither could we Mama’s. Sud...

I don’t have much to say today but that we are enjoying this peaceful,beautiful fall day. The kids have been doing a TON of coloring and are excited to have a friend sleeping over tonight.   I thought I would simply jot down a few gifts based off of Ann Voskamp’s Joy dare template. Today’s “prompt” is Gifts Enjoying: 1.) A lengthy (with only one interruption) shower during nap time. 2.) During my shower, I used the last of the shampoo that my sister forgot/left here from her visit this summer. Every time I walk into the bathroom, I see it and smile, thinking of her. 3.) Pumpkin, Apple and Sugar plum candles that Em and Daddy surprised me with when they went shopping. 4.) Emily and Aiden chatting with each other while doing crafts. So sweet. 5.) Jeans fitting looser than they did three weeks ago! Yay! 6.) Phone conversations with friends. There are so many more now that I’m on FB less. 7.) Plans for the weekend. Always exciting. 8.) Our last Sunday at Fort...

It’s that time again (almost). It’s (almost) the most wonderful time of the year…..CHRISTMAS!!! Maybe it’s because the forecast is calling for snow on Sunday and the Christmas catalogues have already started arriving in the mail or perhaps it’s because November is just a few days away and I’ve barely begun tackling my shopping list, but whatever the reason, I’m full swing into the Christmas spirit (I know you are groaning and sighing at this, but indulge me). I want this year to be special! Last year our funds were really low and yet, instead of that causing me to want to “make up for it” this year, it helped me to realize just how happy you can be when the gifts are gone. As a result, this year we are going to keep it simple and try to participate in a LOT more ministry minded and Christ-centered activities. The kids are already pumped to do shoe boxes. I know that it’ll be a challenge, choosing gifts that they would love and giving them away, but I think it’s such a beau...

It’s 11:30. The kids come upstairs to find out what we are having for lunch. When I say, “KD and hot dogs”, two kids bounce up and down, excited at the menu, while the third’s shoulders slump as he skulks across the room and whines, “KD again? I don’t want KD again!! ”. Fast forward to later in the day. It’s time to clean up the basement. As it’s a pretty big job, there is a reward for those who help out.  Two kids start picking up toys and racing to see who can get their piles picked up the fastest while the third mopes around asking what the reward will be and crying about how much he doesn’t want to clean up. When reward time comes and his treat is smaller (according to how much he helped out) it’s full blown melt down time. At supper, he doesn't get the cup that he wants and ends up in his room over the scene that he makes. At bedtime, his brother is wearing what are all of a sudden his favorite pajamas. At prayer time, he wants to go first and so refuses to ...

Two days ago our computer cord went on the fritz and so I've been forced to take a “technology fast”.  I’m actually quite excited about it. I had been thinking some time about taking a couple weeks “off” and now I get three! My plan is to write up some thoughts for the day and Josh (who is such an amazing husband to do this) will type them up and post them on his lunch break. And so, thoughts from day one: Today was a good day, weird to be so "un-connected", but good. It was the sort of day when I chase life around with my camera, cuddle the kids a bunch and listen to some great music (Today’s choice was a new Christmas CD. Judge me all you like! After being flat on my back, sick for a week, Christmas music seemed like just the thing.) One thing about being “unplugged” is that I found a ton of extra time to think, so I found myself thinking and praying about something that has been on my heart for a while. Self-esteem. This thanksgiving, at Josh’s paren...

Today was a heavy-hearted day. A day when our brother and sister in Christ laid their sweet baby, Selah’s, body to rest in the ground; a day when tears flow freely and prayers even more so.   A day for remembering. For those of us who have loved and lost, days like today stir up the memories and the ache that are not so far below the surface in our hearts. Perhaps it was your own precious baby, lost before term, like mine that you miss and wonder at what might have been. Maybe you were blessed to hold your little one in your arms and yet ache to have them in there just one more time. Maybe your best friend died in a car crash in high school or your loved one passed away before she could see you walk down the aisle or hold your first baby. Perhaps it isn’t a loved one that you have lost, but rather your health or your home or your security. For all of us there is a future that cannot be and our hearts break for the lack of it. And what has be pressing on my heavy heart ...