{ 10 Months Old }

Today Oliver is 10 months old. He's a growly, prowling, busy little guy. He's determined to climb and find his way into any spot he sets his mind on, no matter how tight. The other day, I turned around to find this!

I know, I know, it breaks every rule in the book, but that's what happens when Grandma and Grandpa are visiting :)

He has the most adorable growl going on right now. He does it quietly, but it's unmistakable. Everyone told me boys growl, well sure enough! Tim is spending lots of time crawling around on the floor with him, trying to hear it. It cracks me up! He's such a fun dad.

Tim and I both want to go get him when he wakes up now. He has the most melt-your-heart smile waiting and those darling chubby little arms stretched out. He's also saying "Ma-Ma". Ohhh! Precious!

Happy 10 months old little man. You are one precious boy.

{ Quiet Enough for Blessings to Be Heard }

Sometimes there is real blessing in slowing down so much that I am able to hear and see all the blessings in my everyday. There have been a lot of these opportunities over the past several months. Tim and I decided to eliminate "going out" like we used to do. We have been surprised that we don't miss restaurants one bit. The result has been a lot of sweet "at-home dates" and special times spent as a family.

~After dinner walks in our neighborhood and a stop at the park to swing. Sheer glee and contagious giggles from our little O.

~Dessert on our porch, just the two of us. Good conversation. A lot of counting blessings.

~Holding hands in the moonlight and walking around our property. Realizing how blessed we are and that the struggle is worth the cost.

~Dressing up, wine and cheese on our porch, enjoying the cool evenings and the beautiful flower beds. Victrola in the background and dancing.

~A full and busy weekend with grandparents and our small-town annual festival. Good music, lots of yummy food, good conversation, and spoiling.

~Enjoying our outdoor fireplace. Sometimes hot cocoa.

~A bowl of ice cream at the end of the day. Reconnecting. Readjusting our perspective and praying to trust, to accept.

It is a precious thing to us to see how we have grown through our struggle. It is equally humbling to see how far we have to go. I pray I remember these everyday blessings and cherish the quiet.

{ Being Willing to Let Go }

My previous post about peace is still the desire of my heart as this new week begins. Challenges are still mounted against us and Tim and I are seeking our Lord together a lot more earnestly these days, to find Him FOR US as He promises.

In a month, Tim's job will be re-bid or it will not be re-contracted and will go away all together. Right now we simply don't know and we've been fighting fear. We've been on our knees a lot admitting our lack of faith, humbly confessing it and asking for it to be renewed. Faith comes back each time, but it's a daily struggle because fear so readily creeps back in. It's so hard not to worry about the future, but as John 14:27 says, our hearts must not be allowed to be afraid.

The blessing of this challenging time is that we are growing closer together as a couple and we are growing closer to God as individuals. There is comfort in knowing that we are doing our part as stewards of what God has entrusted us with. We have cut out and paired down our budget as much as possible. We have maintained our commitment to not using debt, but with car trouble and our baby on the way, we wonder if we can do it. But, we are assured that we have done our part. Now we wait to see if God is going to choose to provide for our present needs or if He will choose to move us on to something totally new. We are praying for willing and obedient hearts to let go of the things God has given us right now, if it is for our best.

{ Peace: Not As the World Gives }

Peace.
It's been on my mind a lot lately.
In the midst of challenges from a lot of different directions, I've been taking it a little more seriously.
What does it really look like when a Christian is successfully living in peace?

I was reminded of this verse:

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Not as the world gives. What is the difference?

I think the difference is in where I go to look for peace. Worldly peace seems to require the absence of discomfort, pain, uncertainty. If the unpleasantness of life doesn't completely go away, then at least I must try to lessen pain by a) staying busy or b) by entertaining my brain so I don't feel the pain so much.

Heavenly peace then, must be present in the midst of discomfort, pain, and uncertainty. It is confidence, trust, faith that in the midst of what comes at me in life, God is in control.

In the verse before this, I think there is a key to successfully living in peace that I can't forget if I want to have it.

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you." v. 26

Non-Worldly Peace: Actively remembering and seeking for God has said, what He has promised. Waiting on Him for answers and for help. Not being afraid of pain, uncertainty, and discomfort. Not being surprised when it happens.

Worldy Peace: Actively looking for ways to ignore and lessen the pain of life.

"and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

{ Priest Lake 2011 }

I am a camping enthusiast. I grew up camping, and for the most part, it defined vacations for my family. Summer just really isn't complete for me unless I get out in the woods and rough it at least once. It's been several years since I've had the opportunity to go, so this year I was very excited because we planned a joint camp out with my parents.

Every camping enthusiast, however, has at least one "unforgettable" story. Well, this camp out turned out to be ours. It wasn't the company or the food... both of those were exceptional! It was the weather... and the fact that Oliver had a high fever until the day we came home. It is a mystery to us that he got two teeth and then had the symptoms. The night before we left, he woke up with a fever. My parents had spent the night so we could get an early start. None of us got too much sleep that night. About 4 am I was ordered to bed by my husband and he and Grandma took over on Oliver duty. We woke up to a light drizzle, but didn't let it deter us. We packed everything up and headed out, five minutes ahead of our goal, which we found pretty impressive!

Over the next couple of days, the weather cleared up at intervals and we all made the best of it that we could.

Highlights included:

Lots of sweet snuggling with Oliver for everyone
Oliver slept beautifully in that fresh air
The opportunity for both couples to go on a little outing together, while we took turns watching Oliver at camp
Yummy food
Quality family time

My dad and Tim took the canoe my dad built out for the first time. He finished it several years ago and had it in the water a dozen times before it crashed. He almost gave up on repairing it, but we spurred him on and now it is back! I took a turn with Tim as well and had a good time.

{ Such a little trooper, in spite of not feeling well }

{ These pictures came out fuzzy, but they're still so sweet. Matching hats on Grandpa and Oliver! }

{ The second night, as I was cooking dinner, the rain started POURING! I was cooking at the picnic table with no cover, so the guys carried the stove (still on) up to the van, under the tailgate, where I proceeded to finish. Grandma and Oliver were hunkered down in the tent, where, as you can see, everything had been hurriedly thrown to avoid being drenched. My mom and I ate dinner in there while the guys ate in the van. Once the rain finally let up some, my dad came for a visit to the tent. He and Oliver had a grand old time playing peek a boo! }

Enjoying the blaze after the rainstorm. Because there were so many trees around us, even though it wasn't raining, it still felt like it because the trees would drip for over an hour. Sigh.....

{ Drying his shoes over the fire }

{ Little explorer }

{ This pretty much sums things up: everyone taking a turn drying something out, including Grandma drying Oliver! }

I will definitely go camping again. The difficulties of this experience will fade in my memory eventually, I'm sure. A camper would sure be nice, though.............

{ All Boy }

Yesterday was a good day to be Oliver! He discovered dirt for the first time and it was love at first sight.

Tim came home for lunch and worked a little more on his latest project: more raised flower beds. He started these before we got married. They were (are) my wedding present. The plan is to go around the entire front of our house. It's a major project, but what is finished so far is just wonderful.

While Tim worked, Oliver and I sat out in the yard to keep him company. It didn't take him long to crawl over to the dirt... and then into it.

Growing up with one sister and no brothers, this world of boys is all new to me, but it is SUCH a joy to watch him explore his world.

After he had had enough of the dirt, he was off to explore the machinery!

{ 4th of July Weekend... and Beyond }

The 4th of July weekend was a fun, lazy family time. We went to an annual small-town parade in the morning. Nothing says America to me like a parade on the 4th of July. It was Oliver's first parade, and it looks like he had a great time :)

{ Here is small-town America for you! And yes..... that hat went with us everywhere we went....}

Tim took the rest of the week off for a "stay-cation" and we worked on house projects. Here is what I did today:

{ I wish I could say this was my original idea, but it's not :) I found the idea over here. Sure glad I did! }

And look what is FINISHED as of yesterday!!! We love it and are so happy to be using it everyday! Remember when?