Why I love blogging ...

I love to write. As mentioned in my very first blog, I have kept a journal since the young age of 8. So, naturally I love blogging because I love to write. But blogging has become much more for me. With kids running around and a household to manage there isn't a lot of time to pick up the phone and chat with friends. But, I can log onto my computer and see what all of my friends are up to, and they can comment on my happenings and I on theirs and poof! We are connected! I love the sharing that occurs within the blogging world. From recipes to toddler troubles, we seem to cover all of it. Blogging is my daily adult conversation, which as we know, is very important when you have little ones running around and Dora songs stuck in your head. So, here's to blogging (hold up whatever glass is near you -- be it a 12pm Martini or a sticky-rimmed sippy cup). Cheers! Cheers!

Unicorns

Lost

Yeah! We finished watching the 2007 season of Lost. Last summer Ryan had downloaded the 2006 season onto his computer and we got hooked. So we decided to do the same thing this summer. We had a couple of marathon nights ... watching more than 2 episodes in a row and going to bed way past the time that our old-parent bodies allow. And last night we finished off the season by watching 4 episodes in a row! It, of course, ended in a cliffhanger, but that was to be expected. We are even tempted to watch the first episode when it airs in January 2008. But Grey's Anatomy and Desperate Housewives will be going strong by then, so we will probably just have to wait. What would we do without T.V.? I know, I know, we would all be fine, but it's still fun to keep up on all of these fictional characters with fun and interesting fictional lives.

More happy thoughts...

While I was waiting for my dentist appointment this morning I read something interesting about our happiness. The author of the article I was reading commented that the state of happiness lasts longer when we share our happy events with others. At first I was like, huh? And then all of my blogging friends came into mind ... I think we share a lot of joy within the blogging world. When funny things happen, we jot them down as best we can and click "publish post," and make others smile, and no doubt, ourselves too. So keep passing along the joy : )

Laughter

Laughter heals. I am sure somebody has made that statement before. And if not, I am going to make it here. This past week we have been through a rollercoaster of emotions. Our church is in somewhat of a broken state. But God is prevailing. A week ago we were all crying. Yesterday at church we laughed -- a lot! It felt good to laugh. The pain and lasting effects of regretted actions are still there, but through laughter and God's amazing grace the healing process has begun. What an amazing God we serve who created humans to have the ability to feel such pain and such joy all within days of each other.

Hume Lake

I love being up here at Hume Lake. Maybe it's all the beautiful pine trees and that wonderful pine tree smell. Maybe it's the fact that I don't have to cook or clean for the week. Maybe it's seeing 1000+ students standing during chapel, raising their hand to God in praise. Maybe it's late night talks with Sage ....

Sage: Mommy, how is daddy duck doing (back home) ?
Mom: Good, I think.
Sage: Mommy, how is mommy duck doing with Jesus? (she died a while back)
Mom (smiling in the dark): Good, I think.
Sage: I just love Jesus Mom. I love to talk to him ... to tell Him stories ...

Maybe I love Hume Lake because it's a chance to relax and see and hear God everywhere and marvel at His amazing grace. Or maybe I love being at Hume Lake because the kids go to bed so late that we get to sleep in!! I guess it's all of the above. Needless to say, we are having a wonderful time up here.

Pictures

I know there is a reason we moms and dads take so many pictures. It is to capture the moments we don't want to forget, and sadly, I have probably forgotten so many already. I have recently been uploading our pictures onto Flickr so if my computer crashes at least they will be "somewhere" in cyberspace. As I was uploading some old pictures I couldn't help but smile at some of them ....

Darren & Aspen, July 2007 (Aspen 18 mos old)

Darren & Sage, March 2005 (Sage 9 months)

Day 7 & Tired (but doing good)

Ryan has been gone a week from tomorrow and we have been keeping busy but now I am just tired. I got back from L.A. today and the girls and I declared it a Movie Night. We put blankets and pillows on the floor, I made popcorn and we watched Nemo (minus the scary parts). This morning I was toting Aspen around on my hip and I asked, "Where did Aspen go?" I think mommy needs to get some Zzzzz. But all is well. I just need a night of good sleep : )

Goodbye Thumper

My mom in-law has to put her horse Thumper to sleep today. He is 30 years old and has lived a full life. And we know that and yet death is so final and so hard to accept. Sage says that Thumper is going to be with Jesus. We said our goodbyes the other day. Thumper is the first horse that Sage touched (as an infant) and then rode as a toddler. We are sorry for this loss.