So Excited!

Quick! Look outside! Does anyone see any pigs flying around out there?!... 'cause my big brother actually just took my advice and started a blog!!

Truthfully, this isn't the first time he's tried out some of my ideas... I'm just super excited cause this is the best idea I've had that he's gone for. Welcome to blog-world Dan! Can hardly wait to see all your future posts and learn from all your wisdom!

Now I just have to convince my sister to start. How 'bout it Suz?

Name Change Pending

I'm thinking of changing the name of this blog to "Stuff Sam Says".
Here's the latest:

At the dinner table Sam enthusiastically interupts what was probably a pretty disjointed conversation anyway... "I just need to tell Jesus something! Dear Jesus, can we have a car with no roof on it? Amen"
Me: What did He say?
Sam: Well... He said "Uhh... Yeah... That's a great idea!"

And then just this evening:
Sam: Mom, I like your golden ring. Did you buy it?
Me: No, Daddy gave it to me.
Sam: What a nice guy!

Recent Conversations From the Crazy House

Yesterday at the dinner table:

Me: Sam when you have Grandkids are they gonna call you Grandpa or Papa?

Sam: Mom! I wanna be a super hero, not a Grandpa!

And Today:

Sam: Mom! I just spit water out my nose in the bathroom! Isn't that so cool?!

Me: Not really.

Sam: Well, actually, it is Mom.


Sometimes I feel like all I blog about is Sam and I feel a little bad about it, but I know that Maarti's day is coming too as she is talking more and more. Right now one of her most frequent phrases is "Sammy did it." Little sisters just know...

One Last Week of Summer

We just got back from our summer holidays. I have to admit it was a little bitter-sweet knowing that our opportunities to take holidays during the school year are all too quickly coming to an end. BUT... it did help to look at the rainy forecast for home and realize that we had managed to get one more week out of summer!

Jeremy's parents and brother joined us for some of the time and we spent our days in the boat, on the beach, in the pool, biking, visiting winerys and orchards, visiting friends and eating ice cream. We also spent a lot of time playing "Hide and Seek". It really is amazing how long kids can enjoy that game in a hotel room that only has three places to hide!

And what would a holiday be without a good book? Jeremy's Mom finished this book on day two of our holidays and then passed it to me. I had been wanting to read this book so ditched the book I had brought and laughed and cried my way through this one. Loved it! Mary Beth Chapman is a woman I can relate to. She talked about getting married and realizing that she had married Tigger... and she was Eeyore. I get that!! Their story has much sadness in it, but also much hope.

Anyway, now were home and back to routine. I'm so thankful for this little family of mine and for all the memories of last week!

A Shift in Thinking

I have never been one to have a lot of school pride. I liked my school, but I know that there are lots of great schools out there so why argue that mine was the best? I will say one thing though... Prairie does put out the best magazine! Servant magazine is the only thing that comes in our house and gets read cover to cover.

The last issue had an amazing article about retired missionary, Helen Roseveare. She recalled a particularily horrific experience she had while serving in Africa and how God spoke to her in the midst of it. Two things really stood out to me:

1. "AmI Worthy?"
At one point she questioned "Was it worth it? Eleven years of my life poured out in selfless service for the African people and now this?" God's tender response to her was "My daughter, the question is not 'is it worth it?' The question is 'Am I worthy?' Am I, the Lord Jesus who gave His life for you, worthy for you to make this kind of sacrifice for me?"

2. "Can you thank Me?"
In the midst of a terrifying attack by rebels Helen sensed God whisper "Can you thank Me?" her immediate response was "No" as she felt it was too much to bear and then she realized God was really asking "Can you thank Me for trusting you with this situation?" She went on to say "Amazing. God trusting me? It was as though He said: 'Yes, I could have prevented this. But I have a purpose. You cannot understand now, but are you willing to be a part of My purpose?"

I have been pondering these thoughts for the last few days. I love how just a slight shift in thinking can cause a person to look at a situation from the other side. Perspective really is a powerful thing.

Contemplating Passion

Sam: My knees are telling me I shouldn't go to bed. What are your knees telling you Dad?

Jeremy: My knees are telling me you better get in bed or there will be consequences!

Sam: Actually, I think your knees are telling you that you want to go skiing.

I'm not sure when knees started talking around here, but I did find it interesting that at four Sam already has one of Jeremy's passions figured out. It made me wonder what the kids would say about my passion and what I'd like them to see in my life. What I'd like them to see is a person who is in love with Jesus and living in a reality that is bigger than anything that I could have dreamed for myself. I believe that God has a destiny for everyone, but we at times are so hung up in our insecurities and fears and unbelief that we don't step into it. This is one of those things I'm passionate about, but like Jeremy's skiing, I want my kids to recognize it because I live it, not just because I talk about it.