like gold

My day has been hurried and chock full of back to back events.

It has gone smoothly and found unexpected inconveniences but,

I have yet to say it was a bad day or

that there are things that can't be overcome.

In the middle of it all,

I sat down and I read this and instantly,

I was high on God's utmost goodness and mercy.

Job 23:10

First Annual SYA Cardinal Classic Memorial Day Tournament

We traveled to Centreville this weekend to play in the
First Annual SYA Cardinal Classic Memorial Day Tournament.

The first game, they tied 1-1.

Nerves caught them off-guard and the field wasn't what they were used to.

It was small, the grass was short and the ball bounced and rolled with such speed.

 They overcame those obstacles and went on to win the next three games...

capturing the title of SYA Cardinal Classic Memorial Day Tournament champions.

A little birdy told me there folks were looking for these.

Sorry, I hadn't worked on them yet.

I admit, I fell in love with

my in-between-games shots more than anything.

My apologies.

dear c,

I didn't mean to make you sad.  Here, I post what I'm feeling.  A bit of stressed/depressed/aggravated/agitated.  A good bit of happy, good times.  So, I'm sorry.  My intention was never to darken your day or make you second guess what we're doing.  That's the enemy creeping in.  No, my goal was to say, "I love you, M.S. and we may be traveling 800 miles away, but we will not forget you and my hopes are that you will not forget us.  We do not plan on abandoning your friendship, not for a dag-gum second.  And I will refuse to not be friends or not send Christmas cards, etc. just because we're not in this county anymore.  There's facetime sister.  And I expect to see your bright eyes and smiling face there!"

I believe God has a plan for us.  It may seem complicated right now, but thank God, we don't get to see the big picture, because wouldn't we really feel overwhelmed.  So a while ago, I agreed to take life day by day and while the strange smell wafting through our kitchen is eery and has been for two days now and I may scream from time to time at our children almost daily, I'm just getting through today and I'll worry about that weird odor tomorrow and I'll hug and kiss our monkeys every night and sing songs and be silly until I run out of patience and voice.  No worries.  The smell - It's most likely the full bag of garbage that's been waiting to go outside all week.  The kids - I bought a new CD of sing along fun that we've been rockin' and Miss K and I have been bonding amidst french-braiding.  We'll make it through, you'll see.

So these are for you...

- Ann Voskamp

Romans 8:14

Romans 8:28-30

Romans 8:31

Gensis 50:20

- Mary Coleman

Philippians 3:12-14

Philippians 4:4-9

Philippians 4:11-13

Romans 5:3-5

These are some of the most treasured passages in scripture for me and they always give me reassurance.  I may have to read them over and over and recite them to myself all day, but they remind me of the hope that is found only in our Lord who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and he will not fail us.  So my hope is that you can find reassurance in them too.  Don't forget that God has gone before us and prepared the way.  If it is meant for us to be there, we will be.  Put your worries away and put your trust in him.  And remember, "Don't tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is."  I love that.

One more thing, I was talking to a friend this afternoon and she was asking how things were coming along with the job/move, etc.  We talked for a while and she said, "I'm so excited for you guys!  We've thought about moving but, I just couldn't.  Now, with you guys doing this, I think we should just do it, just move."  She's like me - grew up here, never left, everything's familiar.  I thought that was kind of cool.  She encouraged me by saying that I encouraged her, but I never knew I was doing anything besides having faith in God to get us through.  See, his light is shining in us and through us.  Keep your head up. 

I LOVE YOU.

bittersweet

I'm off.

The first Thursday in two weeks.

(Sigh.)

My house looks like a tornado hit it.

But in the stillness of this one quiet morning,

I am going through mail

and making breakfast,

and I find this...

and it reads...

It is sweet.

Like sugar.

Bittersweet though.

Because in the same bit,

I want to cry.

I love this child.

{like my own}

Miss K has grown up

with her since preschool.

When they were 3,

they spent their first (real) sleepover

together at a friend's house.

Ahhh, the memories.

I told her,

when we leave,

she can come stay with us

for a week or two.

And I meant it.

I don't want this to be the end.

Really,

it only feels like the beginning.

So, please, please,

don't say "last".

Or goodbye.

We'll be back.

And we'll mail you something

on your next birthday.

Or perhaps,

we'll surprise you by coming home

and taking you to Bounce 'n' Play

(even though you'll think that's goofy because

you'll be "way too old for that kinda stuff.")

Then, we'll eat lunch "on the terrace" at Red Robin.

Or hit McDonald's for breakfast.

(After we've already had breakfast

because you have that same insane metabolism

that makes me instantly claim you as my daughter.)

Then go to the library and end with thrift store hopping.

Just to reminisce.

am i the only one

who's got this stuck in my head?

I am guilty of my fondness

for catchy songs.

This song for instance,

"Just a shy guy looking for a two-ply

Hefty bag to hold my-y-y-y-y-y-y love."

Really?

It doesn't even matter.

I'm head over heels for it.

I'll be singing it for weeks now.

Tell me I'm not crazy?

thinking of you

On the way home tonight,

oddly,

I changed the station.

This song was on...

and immediately,

I thought of you.

If I lay here
If I just lay here
Would you lie with me and
Just forget the world?

i had nothing else.

You're very, very welcome.

I have gradually realized throughout this short period

of being apart there are so many things I adore.

Someone at work frequently uses the word "ain't" and it reminds me of you.

I corrected you, now I savor just hearing it.  And think of you.

As the weather gets warmer and warmer, I miss seeing you in shorts with boots.

And your sexy sock tan.  Ha.

I realize that it may be convenient to warm the bed with the electric blanket before I hop in, but nothing compares to laying smack dab against you and waking up in your arms.

Coffee just isn't the same when you make it.
It's better.

I miss your egg sandwiches.  Mine are just blah.

In fact, I haven't had one since you left.

So while I take the cake in the cooking department. 

You have your own specialty and it can't be beat.

I took for granted how much you really did here.

Like, how we would tag team the kids at bedtime after sports and church.

How much it sucks to watch movies by myself.

The list goes on and on.

But it's late.

And we both have big days ahead of us.

I hope yours is the best.

I can deal.

I love you Daddy-O.

To the moon and back.

{By the way, the man has that beat.}

Not that it was ours from the start.

"I love you up to the planets and all around them and back."