What next God?

So, I know God moved us here for a reason and I am so thankful He did..... but, now what? I have no idea what I am supposed to be doing. Do I stay a hermit and focus on my family (which I'm actually enjoying), do I get involved at church, do I start a bible study, do I volunteer somewhere with the kids. I really feel like this season of my life is supposed to deticated to raising my family but is that it? Don't get me wrong ... I know it is a lot to raise a family but it seems like I should be doing something else .... or am I supposed to just BE! Is it just society saying 'there needs to be more' or is it God! It seems to be the never ending question for stay-at-home moms..... where do I put my time? Starting in a new place is kinda nice. I was excited that I have no committments, no obligations, no friends (besides you all of course) but it seems like at some point I have to join in the race again ..... but I don't want to! I like not having anything on my schedule. I like having the freedom to come and go as we please but is that where God wants me? Am I taking the easy road by not getting involved outside my home or am I just where God wants me .... What next God?

whatcha doin' Tessy?

Oh my sweet little baby.... so cute, so innocent....oh how quickly they get into mischief! My friend, Heather and I were cleaning up dishes after dinner tonight and we looked over to find Tess havin' a ball taking out all the wipes. Hey, at least they were Heather's wipes she was wasting (sorry Heather) and I actually remembered to take a few pictures!

I really heard Him!

Yesterday I was taking a walk with Tessie down by our lake just enjoying the quiet and peace. As I was praying and just sharing my praise with God I began asking God to be more vocal in my life. I know He is always there but I am often moving to fast to hear Him or not really listening when He speaks. As I was asking this ... it dawned on me... as I quieted my own thoughts and just listened... all I could hear was God.... not a booming voice from heaven.... but a gentle breeze through the tall grass, the call of the osprey overhead and the gentle lapping of the water at the shore. I so often ask for God's presence but then keep talking and thinking. All this time, God is saying just be still and listen...I am all around you. There is a saying in our neck of the woods "Idaho quiet". Its true that there is a particular quiet here. Just the sound of nature. Just the sound of God.... but how easy it is to still miss it... He is right there... right here... wherever we are! We just need to quiet ourselves enough to hear!

Did you know Fall is an actual season?

So Fall actually exists in other (non-California) places, shocker huh? I so love Fall but really have never experienced it in its full. September has arrived and brought with it some rain, cooler weather and changing leaves! something else has arrives with it ... preparation for winter! One of our neighbors told us there are really two seasons up here... winter and preparing for winter! So, to try to "do as the locals" (oh wait, we are the locals now .... eeeek!) we are preparing for winter!

Parker hunting for our winter meat! (just kidding although he probably could bag us some good meat! I can't believe how good a shot he has!)

Choppin' wood!

My first time canning (I feel so domestic).... We picked about 60lbs of peaches (oh, they were so good) and canned a good amount of them. We also made jam (peach, blueberry, rassberry & blackberry, all picked from a local farm), fruit leather, cobbler and froze some puree (Tess is in heaven) Sydney had so much fun. My mom had canned a lot when I was little but hadn't canned for many years so it was a good learning curve but we had a great time ... well up untill the last of the jars.... at that point we just wanted to get it done!

So, next we winterize the house and shop ..... sounds like a lot of work but it really just adds to the adventure ... Chris might have a different thought on that!

I feel so blessed to be able to live the life that I have always wanted. I love spending my day in my home, doing things that are basic and simple but so fullfilling. I pray that I always look at this life as a blessing, even when we are up to our eyeballs in snow!

Whew!!!

What a whirlwind this last few months have been. Chris' parents came up for a visit and we took a trip to Glacier. It was so great to see them and we had a wonderful time on vacation. The kids so miss their Oma and Opa, it wa sso good to see them together again. Glacier was beautiful, we stayed in a very cute cabin just outside the park. We lounged by the lake, went fishing, went to a bear exhibit (very cool) and the girls even had afternoon tea at a nearby tea house (you know me and tea parties!)

We had a few days at home with Oma and Opa to show them our everyday life and all the places we go. It was so hard to say good-bye at the airport (we all had tears as we got back to the car). We are so thankful they came up to visit.

After vacation, I had a few days to get laundry done and get repacked to go to Vegas with my friend Heather for a trade show. Tessy went with me and she did great! It was a busy week but very productive.

Parker is on a fishing trip with my dad on the St. Joe river. He calls everyday to "check on us" he is becoming such a big boy. Aside from the teenager attitude (ugh!) he is so much fun!

more to come soon!

These aren't my shoes!

Many of you know that I recently went through a life changing experience with my dear friend Heather as she delivered her precious baby Sawyer, who had died just a few short days before delivery. I have been quite surprised at the emotions and new perspective this day has etched into my being. The other weekend Heather and I were spending a day in town (the guys took the kids blueberry picking.... thanks guys!) I had previously seen Heather in other situations of dealing with others responses to her and the death of Sawyer and would try to look past her response and really "feel" what she was going through. As we were in town there was a time that Heather was pushing Tessa in the stroller and I noticed others oohing over Tess. I thought to myself ..... maybe for that moment Heather was pretending that it was Sawyer that they were oohing over .... or maybe she was feeling that it just sucks.... it was supposed to be Sawyer that she was pushing in a stroller. A few moments later a mom with a new baby boy was in the same store as us and I felt my heart breaking as I stopped myself from my normal congratulations to the new mom. It has been such a blessing to walk this journey with Heather and I have learned so much on the way. As I try to walk with Heather each day where she is at it makes realize how much we all need someone to walk in our shoes. Maybe it isn't someone who has suffered a tragedy like the death of a child but whose shoes could you walk in ..... maybe instead of being frustrated at you very energetic child ..... slip into their shoes for a day, its hard to hold still..... instead of nagging at your spouse for that thing they havn't done .... slip into their shoes and see what they have done... instead of judging that mom on welfare .... slip into her shoes and feel her helplessness. Who ever it is, I guarantee if you put their shoes on, it will enlighten you with a whole new understanding.
I have to admitt Heather's shoes are very uncomfortable and although quite ugly form the outside, I am told that they will be lined with a beautiful silk some day. If I had the opportunity I would burn them for her, but I know that if I did that, then she would never get to feel the beautiful silk lining that God has in store for her someday .... so in the mean time.... I have decided that I will do my best to try them on every so often to see what they feel like just enough so I can help my friend... just long enough for her to get to that silk lining.
So, who's shoes will you try on? No really .... post what you learned from slipping into someone else's shoes.