I Have Been Blessed

This week is a week of reflection for me. On August 6, 2007, I received the most devastating news of my life. I had lost my father in an accident. So, as you can imagine, I have been thinking about him a lot this week. I've shed a few tears, and I'm sure more will come, but the overwhelming emotion I am feeling is gratitude!

I have been so blessed in my life in many ways, one of which is the blessing of loving and nurturing parents. I think for many years I took this for granted, thinking all kids grew up the way I did. But I now realize that many, many people were not so blessed!

So this post is dedicated to my sweet daddy and my precious and beautiful mom, who has shown me what perseverance and faith really mean this year. I love you, Mom, and you are on my heart every day!

Love this pic of Mom and Dad on vacation a couple of years ago!

Sparkpeople

While perusing a health magazine (not typical for me), I came across a website listed that helps you make healthy changes to your lifestyle. So I thought, why not! What I found was a place that you can customize to your needs, whether is be losing weight, starting an exercise plan, or just eating healthier. It allows you to track whatever you choose. You can also set it up to remind you of things you want to accomplish or you can just log on to find out how many fat grams are in an oreo (like anyone really wants to know that!) Anyway, the site is called Sparkpeople, and the best part is it is FREE! Have a look.

Fun on the 4th!

JP and Ken relaxing on the water

JP's action shot!

Brent (pointing) with Parker and April

Ken taking a spin around the lake

Ken and JP are about to take off. It was quite a ride!

We were blessed with an invitation to the lake to spend the day with friends from our small group! It was so much fun! Of course, I didn't have anyone take a picture of me to prove that I was actually there. Oh well, I'll remember next time!

Spiritual ADD

I was recently in a conversation with a friend where we were discussing what we felt like needed to change in order for our relationship with God to move forward. I shared what I had been feeling very strongly from the Lord in the last weeks.

PAY ATTENTION!

I have felt like I have been seeking God's will for my life and my future almost constantly in the last few months, but have not had clear answers. It finally occured to me that when you ask, you have to listen for the answer. I'm afraid that I was so consumed in the asking that I forgot to stop to hear what I needed to hear. I jokingly told my friend that it was like I had "Spiritual ADD" or something. I could not focus long enough on the thoughts at hand to hear an answer. I have since tried to listen for God's voice in not only the "big" questions, but also in the everyday questions. It's amazing how much fretting has left and how much peace has taken its place. I pray that my hearing will improve every day!

Reflections

Today would have been my father-in-law's sixty-second birthday. Much has happened in the last 5 1/2 years since he went to heaven unexpectedly. I pause today as I think about all the people (grandparents and parents) we have lost in these years. And strangely enough my thoughts go to my husband and the godly man he is. He shoulders the responsibility of leading our home and family in good times and in bad. In times of blessing and in times of sadness. I know this is a difficult task, especially when you have lost your male role models at a young age. But I believe the only reason he has been able to carry us through these rough years has been his reliance on his Heavenly Father. I am so thankful for the blessing of a loving and leading Father and a loving and leading husband.

Washing Dishes

In our house, we have a rule. If you cook, you don't have to clean up. Since I usually cook, my husband takes on most of the cleaning duties. Today, he finally realized that we have two boys who are old enough to wash dishes. So while I am blogging, he is training them on the fine art of dishwashing!

Hee Hee Hee! Now he is telling stories about when we were first married and didn't have a dishwasher, so washing dishes was spending quality time together! I can just imagine the eyes rolling now! Raising kids is so fun!

Anyone have a good system for training the kids in doing chores? I'd love to hear them. My kids have too much free time this summer!

My Guys!

I had a great Mother's Day this year. I am so blessed to have two fabulous sons and a fantastic husband, too! This is also the only holiday where I get to be in all the pictures, and I always make the guys pose for a bunch! As you can see in the second picture, this is the year that my 13 year old, Brent, passed me up in height! We have had lots of height comparisons lately. J.P. never stops making me smile with his funny sayings and constant impersonations of his favorite shows and commercials! And of course, my sweet husband is the best! I love the way he loves me and our family and leads us in the way we should go! I am blessed!