Every Woman Needs a Little Adventure

Ok girls, for all of you who have read Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. We as women need a little adventure, we need to be needed, and we need to feel a part of a bigger picture. So, today when Chris asked me if I would help him split some wood I thought no problem ..... but I had no idea how fullfilling this would be. First of all my very sexy husband is so strong and good at these kind of things (always good to see your husband at his prime).... bonus one..... and he truly needed me, no one else could have done what I did for him and he could not have done it without me ..... bonus two ...... and together we split enough wood to keep our children warm this winter..... bonus three.... I'm loving this adventure. I'm exhausted and sore but so happy!


If you haven't read Captivating I highly recommend it, it truly changed my life (this is the only book I can say that about) It is a great book to do with a small group of women and they even have study material you can get. Men, if you really want to know your wife ..... read this book!

Ok, bonus number four..... Sydney just looked out the window at Chris stacking the wood and said "oh look mommy, daddy is doing so good. He really is our hero" then she proceeded to the kitchen to get a muffin to take out to him that she baked this morning! She is becoming such a beautiful little housewife!

"Mommy, what is Sex?"

So the other day I walked into Parker's room to put away some of Tessy's laundry and Parker was on his bed reading his Bible (he's been doing that a lot lately... yeah!) As I was opening Tessy's drawer, Parker hit me with the big question "Mommy, what is sex?" Eeek, wasn't ready for that one. So I asked him why he was asking, then he read from his bible Hebrew 13:4. At that very moment I almost began to cry ... not because my son was old enough to ask about sex ... not because I didn't know what to say .... but because my husband and I have a made a choice. A choice to read our bibles at times that our kids can see us.... a choice to homeschool so that we are the biggest influence in their day ... a choice to teach our children the importance of a respectful and pure relationship between a husband and wife. A choice that has honored God and given me a beautiful moment to share with my first born. My son is asking me about a very beautiful and wonderful gift from God beacuse he read about it in his Bible not because little "Billy" on the playground said his big sister does it. This is how God intended it to be. Thank you, God, for this gift in Parker and for this moment to share with him!

Finally Home!

Hello Everyone! We're finally home (we actually arrived last Tuesday) It is so beautiful ..... tons of snow! Chris is working for someone from our church doing snow removal (you boys in California better start working out .... can you say ... "upper body workout") We don't have internet connection at home right now (didn't get the line burried before snow fall and apparently the line was no match for the plow)
I'll update more latter... miss you all but so happy to be home

A Nice Relazing Cozy Day .....eeeek!

Its such a wonderfully warm and cozy feeling to be nestled in your home (or in-laws home) when its raining outside. We had plans today but decided to cancel them and just have a down day. So there we were all relaxed when it happened ....... I was making lunch when Tess disapeared into the bedroom .... I thought there was nothing she could get into but didn't realize some boxes had been put on the floor that had a bag of fake snow...... oh Tess..... so with her little toothy grin (and her very stinky diaper, ugh) smiling up at me I started cleaning up the mess.... no problem .... then my dear 5 year old decides to come and show me her masterpiece ......

So apparently the make-up Oma has for her is not kids make-up and also apparently hot pink lipstick is not intended to be put on the entire face and hair.... it stains!

So Tessa now has a clean diaper.... the snow has been cleaned up and Sydney is still soaking in the tub but it looks like she'll have pink eyebrows and roots for a few days ..... yeah, Christmas pictures!!!!!!!! oh ... shoot I forgot lunch was on the stove....oops!

Wearing Hiking Socks

So, last night I had a wonderful dinner at Mu with some of my girlfriends here in California. We had a great time (as usual) It felt so great to be with them and catching up on thier lives. I found myself though at times feeling a bit out of place .... not with my friends, I will always feel at home with them but with something in me. Coming "home" to California has been bitter-sweet. It feels so great to be with the people who know me best. The friends whos shoulders I cried on when we losed yet another pregnancy.... the friends who rejoiced with me when we welcomed a new baby ..... the friends who laughed with me .... and cried with me through every defining moment thus far! I love these friends and it is so strange to think of life without them phsically by me side. but ... this place ... doesn't feel like home anymore. I love Idaho.... I love our new place .... I love the life this new place is giving us and the relationship it is giving me with my family and my Creator. But I hate the ache ... the ache for the sisterhood I have in my friends here. I know it will take time to establish new relationships. So, as I came home from dinner last night I felt a bit torn. I love my new home but miss my old home. I sat down on my bed and took off my boots (not snow or rain boots but cute California boots) and it hit me ..... I was wearing hiking socks under my cute California boots and I realized that I can find comfort in both lives. I don't have to decide between the two lives, they can blend together. I don't have to leave my life here to have my life there. There are plenty of things I want to change but the things I want to keep ... my friendships, will remain. So, I'll keep wearing my cute california booots and my hiking socks.

We're off to California!

Yeah!!! Tomorrow we fly to California and we are so excited. Chris has already been there for a week and we are desperately missing him! We can't wait to see Oma& Opa (Chris' parents), my brother and sister-in-law(and her very pregnant tummy!), Chris's sister and brother-in-law, our grandparents and of course all our friends! So keep us in your prayers tomorrow as I fly with the kids (only one plane change) and for our time with our family and friends! You all can reach us at Chris parents house while we are there. We'll be flying back to Idaho on Dec. 9!
Can't wait to see everyone in California!

Fishin' the Salmon River

So the guys went fishin and had a blast! Last week, Chris, my dad, Trent Ledeboer and Josh Smith went to the Salmon River (central Idaho) to go steelhead fishing! Apparently steelhead are really fun to catch (kinda like ocean fishing but in a River) The scenery was beautiful, the weather freezing (literally) and the fishing ...... Great!!!!! The guys caught more than any other group they ran into on their adventure! It all comes down to the perfect fishing hole and they found just the one ... so they got up every morning before the sun to "claim thier hole" before any other fishermen had a chance .... boys will be boys!

11 lbs, 31" Steelhead (caught by Chris)

29" Steelhead (caught by Trent)

Unfortunately, they didn't get a good photo of this one, they were too excited!

This is a 35" , 15 lb Wild Steelhead (caught by Josh) This fish was returned to the beautiful river to be caught again another day! (wild steelhead must be released)

So the guys had a great trip and we have a freezer full of beautiful steelhead!