Alas, it is warm!

Summer weather is HERE! Yay! The sun is soothing to our bodies. The sound of the water from the neighbor's sprinklers put us to bed. The birds are chirping. The grass is growing! Kids jump on the trampoline in the early morning and late evening hours. Then we sleep in from staying up so late and another day begins. I love this time of year. 

Grace and I were driving to a Mother's dinner the other night with the windows down. The wind was blowing our hair all around and we were singing loud together. I looked at my 8 year old and mentally took a picture that I hope stays with me forever. It was a moment of, "Wow, she is getting big. She is turning into one of my best friends. This moment. Don't forget it." 

We had a nice time at the dinner but she was thinking it was going to be more FUN. I told her I agreed. Maybe we could host a Mother's day party and we could play games instead of just talk. ;) Love her! 

There are dandelions shooting up all over our yard. We have made some good use out of some of them. Making cookies, painting with them, making flower crowns and chains. Maybe I am not a winter crafter, knitting and crocheting. Maybe it is the luring flowers of Spring that spark creativity in me. It sure feels like it! 

It has been an interesting couple of weeks. God is changing things up on us again. Moving us out of our comfort. It's good. It's all good. :) Lots of learning going on for all of us. 

Baby included. He is sitting up and rolling over. He rocks on his hands and knees and scoots backwards. He sucks on his hands pretty much all day and talks, talks, and talks. He fits in perfectly with this family! 

One of the things I noticed this morning is that when he wakes up, everyone drops what they are doing and goes into our bedroom to say good morning to him and play and coo at him. LOVE THAT!

Maybe that is why he is so happy all the time. SO MUCH ATTENTION!!

Looking forward to another beautiful week. Praying for God's continued guidance on the home we are trying to buy and the business we are in the process of buying and the way "school" looks like in our family. 

Like I said, lots of growing and stretching. It's all good! 

These moments

Not a lot of words are composing well in my head so I will just share the photos of our camping trip: :)

Gazing out the van window

First evening = snow and rain

Worms to put on their homemade fishing lines.

He loved his little tent we made for him! 

Idaho is a beautiful place! 

I had dreams of heading off somewhere far away but in the end we were an hour from home. 

It was wonderful to wake up and have nothing to do but wait for the coffee to get strong. 

We came home and I had laundry piling into the hallway and dining room. It took me three days to get it done! I had visions of camping with my Mom as a kid. My dad would stay home so he could work and my sister and brother and I would run off with our friends while my mom put the tent up and took it down. Maybe we helped but I don't remember. I just remember rain. Almost every camping trip. Not a lot but enough to get things wet! It is an ongoing tradition in my life and I am thankful for an amazing husband who sees adventure and FUN in just about everything! 

Looking forward to more weekends this summer camping in the warm weather, stoking more fires and playing more music. 

Taking in these moments that are flying away far too fast. 

It's a good life

I can not believe it has been over a month since I last wrote anything on this here blog. There have been times when I have thought to, late at night already lying in bed, and decided to roll over and sleep instead. I have written in my journal a descent amount too. It feels good to write. To get the thoughts out that become jumbled in my head and sometimes don't know how to sort themselves out.

It's been a busier and busier life since have this fourth child. Committing to things and meeting new people and making sure all my children don't stink too bad and are learning new things on a regular basis! 

I have not picked up my camera as much as I should be but I have been taking it all in, into this brain of mine that fails me with memory, but at least I enjoy the moments as they come. Maybe when we get to heaven our memories will be restored to full capacity as well as our bodies!

Little Liam Lovers has found his toes! I thought that maybe he was a wee bit too chubby in the middle to grab them but no he is not! Everytime I change his diaper and has freedom, he lifts those rolley legs up and barely grasps those pudgy little toes!

He loves to stand up and see all around. Just these last few days he has been sleeping a longer stretch through the night. He talks and talks and blows bubbles and all in all is a happy and healthy 4 MONTH old baby!

On the other hand...

This seems to be said on a regular basis lately. Micheal and I are praying God would direct our steps in a very specific way. Here's the thing though. He hasn't yet. :) So we just keep rolling around ideas and praying about them and STAY PUT until He speaks or opens a door. Staying put is not our forte. Isn't it just more fun to move and do something new! Well, that's how we think at least. But I have this feeling, He might be having us stay put for longer than we initially thought and that's OK with us. We have a lot of growing to do yet, and I think this staying put thing might be just what we need.

This is the first time in 3 years that when we were to go out of town we knew we were going to miss a couple of gatherings and we were actually sad that we were going to miss them. I think this desert is becoming home. Mainly that has to do with our church. With just over 2 months of attending The Springs Calvary Chapel, we feel like family. It's a good feeling. No, it's fantastic!!

We are looking forward to hearing just what it is that Christ wants for our family and for the moment that looks like our life right now! Being married and parents and offering our skills and talents to those ministries we feel led to and growing in our own walks with the Father, and meeting new people and getting to know each other more deeply. As confusing as Micheal and I like to make things, God is showing us that to live for Him is really quite simple. Obey Him and love, love, love. :) 

And this is what we are pursuing.