Day 23 Another Snow day

My kids do not like the snow! I have only been out with them a few times and they hate being out there, it is cold and not fun they say. We have'nt even made a snowman yet! We did go sledding on some small hills by our house though. I am not going to make them go when I am cold myself. It appears that it will be around awhile so we will not rush out to enjoy it quite yet. I hope though that we do get afew more pictures in, as it is just such a beautiful backdrop!! Today we will be making peppermint milkshakes and making popcorn balls! I am looking forward to another day of cuddling inside and admiring the snow from the windows!

Day 22

Count down is getting closer! I can not believe how fast time is flying....
So today the boys and I got some time with Jason on his day off. We cleaned up the house from our days of laziness and sickness, so it was nice to have all the extra hands (that actually helped too!) so we got the job done in good amount of time. Since Jason drives the subaru to work and he was home we were able to get out of the house. We went up to the YMCA for some intense workout time as well as pool time with the kids. Afterwards we went to the mall to do some quick errands and then to Applebees for their evening happy hour. Our kids love going there and the prices can't be beat! It was a fun time all together!!

Day 21

We were going to have our big Magin family gathering today with all of Jason's relatives and then in the evening get together with my family for my dad's birthday but we were snowed in and sick! Most of the morning was spent sleeping in. About noon the boys and I decided it was time to shake it off and spend some time in the snow. Jason slept most of the day so we just let him be, since he has been queezy as well. We took off for a walk in this winter wonderland. Once we got out there the rain came down and we got wet quick so we took covering at the Empire's Palace in town. The boys enjoy their prawn dishes and it gave us a break. Once we were done the snow was coming down and the night had fallen. So with sleds in hand and tummys full we took the long walk back home. I of course used our natural lighting to the best of my abilities and got some good shots of us enjoying this cold but beautiful snowy weather.

Day 20 Stomach Flu

Our house has officially recieved an early Christmas Present of the Stomach Flu! I think 80% of my friends have also recieved this unwanted gift so I was not suprised when it hit us. It comes so suddenly with no warning at all. Friday night I was getting the boys to bed when Mattie sat up and said I have to go to the bathroom! As he raced down the hall I could hear a sound that was both familiar and unwanted. Jayden went to bed while Mattie cleaned his stomach out, then Jayden got up once Mattie was down and did the same. This morning when we awoke Jason and I were both feeling queezy and the entire family had no appeteite left. We decided to postpone our Magin Family Christmas gathering with this onset of sickness and the impending winter blizzard.
What a fond way to spend day number 20 as we count down to Christmas!!

baby its cold outside-Day 19

Snow is everywhere. I have decided that we will be having a white Christmas this year!! We spent the day making gingerbread houses (Party with Mrs. Brewer's class was canceled due to the weather). The boys were disappointed but quickly got over it by the time they saw all the candy! They are able to create their own creations this year with minimal help from Mommy. Which is both nice and sad.... I made my own creation as well! We had a good time sledding with the neighbor kids, decorating sugar cookies and watching christmas movies....

Day 16

SNOW DAY! School was canceled and so we headed over to the Knopik's for some fun! Kree was awesome on the spontanious invite and we were able to make sugar cookies and sip on hot drinks while the kids sled on the snow covered hills. We were glad to find snow since the main part of Orting was pretty much snowless! Great to also have such good friends to spend a winter afternoon with as well.

on the 13th day of Christmas we went to the library. We got some Christmas craft, cook and story books to enjoy for the holidays. The boys got a Dr. Suess book with a recipie for a wreath made with cornflakes and then we decorated it with red and green m&ms. Afterwards we went to the Millers, where it ended the night with the first snow!! What a fun and memorable way to spend your 13th day before Christmas!! Love this new tradition of the 25 days of the Bekkens

12th Day of Christmas

Today was donate toys from our toy room to the needy. We packed everything up in a paperbag and took it to the Goodwill Pickup spot in town. I am not sure if that qualifies for the needy but it will have to work with my busy schedule. My sister Holly came up to visit us and we ended up having fun making Christmas cookies with the boys before heading off to do some shopping at Gottschalks in Lakewood. We then rushed back so I could go to my YMCA Christmas party and the boys went with the Millers to see the Kung Fu Panda movie at their school. We all had a great 12th day of Christmas. What a busy week of parties!! I am not complaining though, cause I am a party girl!! =)

Day 2

Day 2-
We worked on our second day of Christmas link...making christmas cards. I worked on addressing cards and got 25 done so far! Jayden made a special snowflake card for Mrs. Brewer while Matti made one or Teacher Tracy and two for AWANA leaders!

Holiday Links

Friends if you are looking for something fun and easy to keep you organized this Christmas Season just keep reading. I stole a great idea from a girlfriend of mine (thanks Renae!). We all know how to make red and green construction paper links for the christmas tree. Well here is the twist, make 25 of them and write events on each one. Every day tear off the link and do the activity. Kids enjoy the countdown and mommy likes a fun calendar of ideas!

1. Make the link!

2. Create special Christmas cards for teachers

3. Give christmas cards to AWANA Leaders

4. Christmas Movie and popcorn

5. Iceskating in Seattle with Friends

6. MOPS Orting Parade

7. Christmas Performance at Sumner Pres. Church

8. Get in Pjs, get some cocoa and drive around neighborhood to look at christmas lights

9. All MOPS playdate

10. Gather loose change around house and go see the bell ringer!

11. Give gifts/cards to Cascade Christian Friends

12. Donate toys from house to needy families

13. Go to library and get Christmas books to read

14. Christmas Play at Reunion Church

15. Make coffee filter snowflakes

16. Wear red or green

17. Make christmas cookies for the Neighbors with Aunt Megan

18. Scrooge the Musical

19. Gingerbread house making party with friends from Mrs. Brewer's Class

20. Make peppermint milkshakes

21. Magin Family get together Brunch and Papa's Birthday party

22. Visit Grandma Kitty in Seattle

23. Make Popcorn balls with sugar sprinkles

24. Special Christmas eve candle light service at Bethany

25. Christmas Day!! (Read Luke 2:1-20)

Hope these ideas inspire your family to join in the festivities of this wonderful holiday season!!

God's Hand of Provision

This morning I was able to see God's hand at work. I am a strong believer in the body of Christ working together as His Body. I have seen this time and time again and today there was another example of this.....

A mother of a student at our school came in to talk to our bookkeeper about tuition for her child to attend school next year. Her husband lost his job in September right after they paid off the tuition they would owe for the 08-09 school year. She was in tears explaining the hardships they have faced with finances and the thought of having to pull their child out of Cascade Christian. She said she didn't know if we could do anything for her but felt God prompt her to come in and share her concerns. The bookkeeper took her to another room so they could talk further about options for their family and to offer an understanding ear.

A few minutes after they stepped out of the room a man called on the phone. I spoke to him for awhile about his desire to give back to the school as an Alumni from 99. He really wants to bless a family that is struggling with tuition needs this Christmas! He just wanted to follow God's promptings!
His hand is in deed at work!!

Bittersweet

Jason has been in corrections for about 2 years now and most of that time has been at Purdy Prison, across the bridge. He is always interviewing internally for a new position or different shifts. Back in August he put a bid in for a shift change giving him Sundays and Mondays off instead of Wednesday and Thursday off. We have been in prayer about this change since it has been a long time since he has had a weekend day off. This schedule will work great for our family! Well....Jason got a call yesterday saying he got the bid! We were elated until we realized it goes into effect immediately. This means that he no longer has Thanksgiving eve or day off, which we already made plans for. He also will not be home on Christmas Eve or Day (except the morning. We were so excited that his days off fall on all the holidays this winter and now this happens. He also will be ending his AWANA commitement as the TNT leader.
After talking and praying about it Jason decided to try to seek out the approval of getting into the position starting at the new year or when they get someone else to take his old shift. He found out today that it will not be considered, he needs to start immediately. Ugh!!
I am so frustrated. Mad and upset really. We have been having some great family time, and already planned many events for the Holidays this year with Jason included. Now I am back to being the single parent on these days. I really am having a hard time with this.....

Election Day

Election Day Coverage...breaking news Free Ice cream at Ben & Jerry's in Lake Tapps, Wa! Get out and Vote campaign!
My best friend Suzanne and I headed out after voting to share in this ice cream pleasure with some of our boys. It was a noisy but enjoyable car ride as we headed up to Lake Tapps for some free and delicious treats! Mandy, the GPS lead the way so we did not need to be concerned about keeping an eye on road signs everyone enjoyed the time of chatting and hanging out together. The ice cream was so good, I got a carton of the Phish food for Jason to enjoy (didn't want him to feel left out!) plus it is hard to find that flavor in the stores now.
We enjoyed chatting with our kids about the voting process going on today and finding out that our two kindergartners voted for their presidential choices in class that morning!
They had to select a "O" for Obama (or as Nathan said Obamaka!) and a "M" for McCain. The kids seemed to enjoy all the discussion inbetween their normal roudy boy activities in the backseat! =)
Overall it was a great day at MOPS (see the MOPS blog site for more info http://ortingmops.com/) and we now have a new presidental elect in office that is recordbreaking. Whatever the next four year has in store it will go down in my book as a memorable election day!

Soocer Time

Mattie is driven. Driven to succeed and driven to be active. He loves being in the midst of all the action. He is very passionate about the sport of soccer and I was eager to enroll him into a good class this year. Last year was a horrible experience with the Orting Community parks soccer team we were on. I was leary to consider going back this year.
My friend, Kree is coaching the kids this year and most of the kids are in the co-op preschool class with Mattie. He knows his coach and his team mates! This has been the best experience for all of us. Kree is amazing, she is so encouraging to the kids. You can tell she loves coaching them and being out with them to share in their joys and frustrations. She is patiently teaching them not to touch the ball with their hands but guide it with their foot. My son is one that needs to learn that vital lesson in soccer.
She is also teaching the parents lessons as well as we get out and help her at the pratice times! =) I am so glad that Mattie has this opportunity.

Fall is here

I love the fall. The colors are so beautiful, the air is crisp and the holidays are upon us. Some people hate the change in weather but I always welcome it. I can not imagine living in a world of constant sun or constant cold. I enjoy the variety that the change of season brings. I also encourage the change that the seasons represent, a new season of life. I am in a new season as I have only one child left in the preschool stage of life. I enjoy the fact that getting loaded up in the car is a pretty quick process, the boys can even buckle themselves in! Dinner does not involve sippy cups or bibs instead we all get the same silverware, plates and food. Bedtime is still dreaded just cause they hate going to bed and then once they do they want to giggle or wrestle all night long.
The change that school brings has been an adjustment. Dropping off and picking up Jayden and Mattie in different locations can be challenging. Today I even left Jayden at school about 20 minutes longer cause of a pickup misunderstanding with Jason! I have enjoyed the time I get at home, with the boys and friends this fall. Cutting back my work hours has been such a blessing and one that I do not take lightly. We only have this stage of life now, I want to enjoy every minute of the time!

Loving my girl time

I really enjoy mops for one very selfish reason, I get my girl time. Being in a house of boys has made me realize how much I need the girls. I love laughing and chatting with so many amazing and wonderful women. It is an additional blessing that they are also all mommies. We just "get eachother" cause we have all been in the same life boat. God has given me an amazing gift in our Orting Mops Group and I am loving every minute!!

The Race Begins

I jumped out of bed at 7:30 am with kids still snoring next to me (yes, Mattie still sneaks into bed with us) and got in the shower. My mind was racing with the events of the morning. We had a jam packed, fun filled morning ahead of us for our first MOPS meeting of the 08-09 year! My phone rang while in the shower and was a call from my boss, I immediately called her as I rummaged through my closet debating what item to put on my body. The concern for the call through me for a loop as it was both unexpected and disheartening. I ended up taking some extra minutes on the call that through the rest of my morning off a bit causing me to arrive about 8:50 instead of 8:30 am (so glad I live close by).

I love the adrenaline rush of a crowd of people gathering for an event. It really gives me a buzz, so I did not need a cup of coffee this morning. I was geared up and ready to go by the time I walked in the doors. I got the last of the pacifier's hung under chairs for a portion of our game that morning (thanks to Joe LOPEZ) helped with the breakfast parfait bar, answered questions about the morning or hospitality related issues and did a run through of some of the skits with moms. We have so many new moms this year as well as a great number of those returning from last year as well. After greeting my good friend Trina who brought in the completed trail mix welcome bags I set out to greet as many moms as possible. I was amazed at how many names came natural to me (the name tags help!).

I was glad to see my hubby come through the doors as I begged and pleaded for the extra help this morning for my good friend Christi who is our MOPPET coordinator. We really needed more hands and at the last minute had some helpers that were unable to come. Christi was amazing as she worked with the big room of preschool age children! I am praying that we get more support for this group as it is detrimental to our MOPS ministry.

The session began with announcements and getting to know your table discussion time. We then moved into a skit introducing the steering team to the entire MOPS group. Everyone did great remembering their lines and seemed to go well. I talked a little about the fact that everyone in the room shares the common bond of motherhood. The ride then began with the adventures of pregancy. Trina was our model for the preganancy skit and did awesome of course!

"Trina Munsch is modeling our New Mom look. I’m sure you can all recognize this one, she is pregnant and is about to have her first “perfect baby”. Notice how she has a backpack full of books and magazines. She has read them all and has no fear of the future for she knows exactly what to expect from jr. at every stage of his life and the proper way to handle each situation. And by the way if you are having in problems at all with your 3rd child she will be more than happy to meet with you after the show and counsel you on how to best handle it.
Baby diapers were purchased at Costco and should last a few months at least. She has learned what not to do from all the moms she knows and will raise her baby much better than those moms have cause her baby will be different. She has also purchased, washed, folded, and put away into labeled drawers all the clothes baby will need until he is a year old. Trina exits catwalk saying “Remember, see me afterwards & I can answer all your questions.”
Mommy volunteers then had to eat a sample of ice cream, one having relish bits inside it and our brave table leader Maureen got stuck with it! She was such a trooper!

We then moved into the next stage of motherhood-having a new baby! Merri Jaynes was our model for this stage of life:
"Merri Janes is modeling our Midnight-2am-4am Feeding, new baby mom (models shuffles in slowly wearing slippers, pajamas, robe, hat w/ light on it, carrying a worn paperback. She drags her feet and falls asleep then awakes occasionally as she walks. She ends by sitting with baby and bottle in a chair in front of the room). Notice the haggard look on her face from days of less sleep that she would have never believed a person could survive on. She is easily recognizable by the glassy faraway look in her eyes (when she can keep her eyes open.) Don’t be offended if she falls asleep in the middle of conversation. She tries to use her time wisely as you can tell be the headlamp she is using to read while feeding so that those hours aren’t wasted. In fact she has memorized the three lines in her book that she reads every night before falling asleep. Merri yawns and exits."

Mommy volunteers then had to dig through bird seed for little gold pins and Bree rocked finding 4 pins in 3.5 minutes! Awesome girl!!

We then moved to the stage of mothering that includes household responsibilities
"Here is Heidi Creighton who is our “ keeping up with the mounding housework with no problem” mommy (Heidi in with laundry basket and swifter wet jet as well as phone on her ear) is such a multi-tasker. There is no task to small for this super mom! She can fold 5 loads of laundry while watching an entire episode of Oprah, run a load of dishes from lunch and follows the toy trail made by her toddler. Once the guest have all gone home this mama may hit the wall hard. But no need to worry cause when dad comes home he will be there to help or at least watch the evening news! (Heidi C. slowly drags her laundry out with her….)

We then have a mommy volunteer from each table come up to the front and get blindfolded, then they have to rummage through a pile of shoes from each mom in the room and match them up-mom with shoe. It was a battle from the beginning with Alicia! Her competitive streak came out! What a fun time!!

Last stage we addressed was the preschool mommy. This is the stage I am in and completely understand. It is crazy all the time but so worth every minute!!
"Look out. Here she comes. It’s Heide M. our Preschool mommy. (Heide enters as if getting out of her car at a near sprint wearing slippers and carrying her late movie rental and mail). She is sporting our Taxi Mom look. As she wizzes by, you may be able to catch a glimpse of those adorable slippers (quickly shows off slippers). She spends most of her time in her car, so why not be comfortable. A normal day could consist of dropping off her daughter at preschool stopping by the post office and grocery store before stopping for her morning espresso. She then stops by to get daughter from preschool before dashing off to dance class and then dropping off that movie that was due 2 days ago (holds up movie as she exits out)."

We then have the volunteer mommies get their blindfolds out and search for toys that are scattered all over the floor. It was quite a wild events with our prego mommies Corrine and Trina grabbing at eachothers toy bags!

What a great time of remembering or looking forward to each stage of MOPS mommyhood. I am really quite thrilled with this years theme and the start of our year and know we will have even more fun instore! Living it and Loving it!!

Marriage

I watched a show that was pretty lame (good opening I know!) called Forces of Nature with Ben Aflick and Saundra Bullock. It was about this guy that was trying to get to his wedding but their was "forces of nature' and a girl keeping him away. Along the way he saught out or "found" advise on marriage. He came to a point where he decided to stop the marriage on the day of the wedding during a huricane while the girl he was dumping his finace for waited. He ended up realizing he wanted to get married and he choose his fiance. He realized that there is no glassbubble of love protecting you from the world that is out there. A world that thrives on being with the one your with, go with your gut and live in the moment. He realized he had to choose to protect the relationship and fight for it.

" Bridge, ya know, I mean, what I always thought was that there was this one, one perfect person for everybody in the world, you know, and when you found that person, uh, the rest of the world just kinda magically faded away and... and you know, the two of you would just be inside this kind of protective bubble. But there is no bubble, or if there is, we have to make it. I just think life is more than a series of moments, you know, it's... it's... we can make choices and we can choose to protect the people we love and that's what makes us who we are, and those are the real miracles! "

I too have come to this understand though it was after marriage. I have come to an understanding that love is so much more than the roses peddles on a bed, sharing eachother's sentences and giving eskimo kisses. It is more than dreaming of a life together that involves peace and harmony 24/7. It is more than having a date at a moment's notice. Marriage is to have someone that suppports you no matter what. They hold you up when you feel like there is no ground to walk on. They are there with you in the emergency room not understanding what is happening to you but holding your hand. They are with you when you want to throw in the towel and you doubt your every move and value of your life.

"Marriage hath in it less of beauty but more of safety, than the single life; it hath more care, but less danger, it is more merry, and more sad; it is fuller of sorrows, and fuller of joys; it lies under more burdens, but it is supported by all the strengths of love and charity, and those burdens are delightful."

God has taught me so much of love in my spiritual life by married life. I have seen love unconditionally and fully many times. Though I make this all sound so easy it is the hardest but most fulfilling thing I have ever done. I truly do love my man =)

MOPS is on the horizon!!

This year our theme is "Adventures in Motherhood". Ever since I stumbled across this information in the hospital during my stay with Mattie at Harborview I have been excited for the 2008-2009 year. I have had a renewed and appreciated view of motherhood just by tacking the term "Adventure" on there.
The roller coaster is a great picture of the highs and lows we experience each stage of motherhood. I have already had many highs this year as an example like watching my son Mattie ride his bike without training wheels, learning all his alphabet and getting himself dressed each morning as well as when Jayden learned to ride his bike without training wheels and starting Kindergarten as well as how to read.

I have also had some lows this year in motherhood when Mattie burned 10% of his body when a pan of hot water scalded his little body or when my son Jayden was directly hit by another car right after his tonsil surgery.
These highs and lows are all part of the ride we are all on in life. Sometime the ride may make us want to throw up and scream to get off while other times we chant for more! You can never be prepared for the ride even with advise from those already on it. The reason is the ride may be similar but God made us each for our own ride. I am on a ride that is through the early years of elementary school and the later years of preschool. I really enjoy this stage as my boys still love on me and think I am better than chocolate but independent enough to start spreading their tiny little wings. I love watching them explore and come to understand life. I have enjoyed the fact that I am with them more than not this year! I have also come to the point in the ride where I realize how quick the adventure really is. There may be a lot of hype and while you are on it, it may seem that some parts last forever but whatever ride you are on it will come to an end. It may be an end of a stage in the ride like my stage of my boys being babies and toddlers and onto a new stage of the ride but whatever stage you are on, enjoy it!

I have learned to praise God through every circumstance-the good, the bad and the ugly! He is there holding my hand and I can take each ride for what it is. A ride to remember...... the adventures in motherhood!

The Accident

We have had a long year..... with my husband facing medical concerns, family affairs, My son Matthew getting burned and now my son Jayden (who is recovering from tonsil surgery last week) and husband were in a car accident.I am praising God that my boys are alive and well. They were checked out of ER with pain meds for the aches and pains in their bodies. Jayden has a swolen black eye to recover from and Jason's back is stiff.
I was in my own car in front of them so I heard the crash. Looking in my rearview mirror I saw Jason's car spinning about a 180 degree turn. I pulled over and ran up to Jayden's side of the car where the hit occured. His face was pushed up against the glass and he was wimpering. Jason pulled him out and I am telling you it was a miricle he was able to walk!! The police and medical teams arrived soon after and put both the boys in neck braces and back boards because of the extent of damage done to the vehicle. Jayden was sitting right where the other car struck. Jason started complaining about his back and being able to breathe cause his chest felt tight. I followed in my own car to General Hospital/Mary Bridge in Tacoma. It took us all night but they both checked out well. God is Good to protect my men, I on the other hand have a heart attack coming!! =)
My good friend, Rene sent me this powerful and encouraging message to help me see the light in my frustration:"I feel like all of my friends that are trying to really follow the Lord are under some pretty serious spiritual attacks, and I wanted to encourage you and remind you that if you weren't a threat, satan wouldn't care to touch you. So, as hard as this stuff is to go through, be encouraged to know that you're a threat to satan. You're an awesome person, God's an awesome God. I love you and I continue to keep you in my prayers... "Thanks for praying for us and I will update you with more information as it comes. Again I am so thankful for such supportive and wonderful friends!!Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008, 12:52 PM (UTC -4)

The Accident

We have had a long year..... with my husband facing medical concerns, family affairs, My son Matthew getting burned and now my son Jayden (who is recovering from tonsil surgery last week) and husband were in a car accident.I am praising God that my boys are alive and well. They were checked out of ER with pain meds for the aches and pains in their bodies. Jayden has a swolen black eye to recover from and Jason's back is stiff.
I was in my own car in front of them so I heard the crash. Looking in my rearview mirror I saw Jason's car spinning about a 180 degree turn. I pulled over and ran up to Jayden's side of the car where the hit occured. His face was pushed up against the glass and he was wimpering. Jason pulled him out and I am telling you it was a miricle he was able to walk!! The police and medical teams arrived soon after and put both the boys in neck braces and back boards because of the extent of damage done to the vehicle. Jayden was sitting right where the other car struck. Jason started complaining about his back and being able to breathe cause his chest felt tight. I followed in my own car to General Hospital/Mary Bridge in Tacoma. It took us all night but they both checked out well. God is Good to protect my men, I on the other hand have a heart attack coming!! =)
My good friend, Rene sent me this powerful and encouraging message to help me see the light in my frustration:"I feel like all of my friends that are trying to really follow the Lord are under some pretty serious spiritual attacks, and I wanted to encourage you and remind you that if you weren't a threat, satan wouldn't care to touch you. So, as hard as this stuff is to go through, be encouraged to know that you're a threat to satan. You're an awesome person, God's an awesome God. I love you and I continue to keep you in my prayers... "Thanks for praying for us and I will update you with more information as it comes. Again I am so thankful for such supportive and wonderful friends!!Posted on Friday, July 11, 2008, 12:52 PM (UTC -4)

Curious Mattie

The morning of 4th of July started out with a BANG! Mattie was out in the living room and brought back a prescription drug bottle to me while I was doing my hair in the bathroom. Jason checked the bottle which was sealed shut (Mattie has opened "Child safety" lids since he was 2 years old) and asked Mattie if he took one. Mattie smiled and said "no" so I asked him again and he said "yes". So then we asked him a few times, to see if he stuck with the "yes" answer to which he did. Jason got on the phone with the poison control who told him to use epicac to vomit up anything in his stomach. So Jason took Mattie with him to the store to buy the epicac. He explained to Mattie that it would make him vomit and get sick, he may not go to the party with his friends cause he might get really sick. Mattie still said he took the medicine, so Jason gave it to him. About 20 minutes passed and out it all came (Smelly as it was) and continued on for about 20 more minutes. Before long it was coming out of both directions! He overall seemed good once everything was out and I hope he learned a lesson.I have learned the love and logic method of parenting is the way Mattie beats. He is so very curious and our job as parents is to guide him through these decisions and pray for God to watch over our little mischievious son....Posted on Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 12:54 AM (UTC -4)

Wedding Day bliss

I had such a fun time yesterday as I celebrated with my friend, Tiffany on her wedding day. I love getting all dressed up and feeling like a girl for a day. I found myself with tears streaming down when we got to the slide show part of the wedding. There was a picture of Will (the groom) that reminded me of my boy, Mattie playing and as I saw that and the rest of the photos of Will growing up before my eyes to the point where he and Tiffany were entering marriage it made me so very emotional. Time flies by in the blink of an eye. Already I see my boys and go where did the time go? They are no longer learning to walk, saying their first words or drinking from a bottle. They are becoming little men, learning manners, to read, sharing in housework chores and having relationships with friends and teachers.
I am praying about my work schedule next year so that I can have more time to enjoy the life that is going to be gone in the blink of an eye. Before long I will be watching my own sons wedding slide show and I hope I will be able to see between the tears....

Let it rain....

I kept glancing out the window in hopes of seeing the sun peak out from those dark rain clouds but to no avail. On the way to work this morning I used the opportunity to teach the boys about the benefits of rain for our community: the grass is greener, the lakes get fuller and the plants get stronger. It got me thinking positively for the morning but as the day drug on it was hard to stay so optomistic!
I feel like this is how I have been feeling about life recently, trying hard to be optomistic. I have always felt the hand of God lead us into different open doors and also seen God allow us to experience the frustration of doors closing (Sometimes slaming!). Recently I have been asking God to show me the door for the fall. Jayden is going into Kindergarten in September and it brings a whole with it a whole new world of Elementary school. I know that through my trust in God He will lead the way, as he always has.