Want a tour?

We took out our new camper last weekend on our annual trip to Badlands National Park - and oh, we love it! Come on in!

After coming in the door, to your right is our bedroom. I get a real bed. This is a big thing. I slept soooo good!!
And to your left would be the living area - the dinette . . . (yes, that would be a flat screen TV mounted in the cupboard [comes as standard equipment], and NO, we do not plan on using it often!)And the VERY comfy couch - although it didn't get much use this weekend - we stayed quite busy.
Looking towards the rear of the camper - back in the left corner are the boys' bunks and behind that door is the toilet and shower.Boys' bunk beds. They slept good too - slept in every morning!

The bathroom sink, which is outside the "bathroom". Nice feature.

Standing in the back, looking towards the front (our bedroom doorway is over on the right):

The Badlands is the kids' favorite camping trip of the season. Here's why.

Our first day started out with an "incident." Our friend's dog went galloping right over the edge of a cliff. And it was a HUGE drop-off. Luckily, the dog managed to stop himself along the wall of the drop-off and he actually held still until Scott could figure out what to do (that's Scott laying there trying to keep his attention, and Jen attempting to get a picture). You have no idea how incredibly far down it goes right out of this "window." Obviously, neither did the dog. I thought for sure the whole thing would end badly.
However, at that moment, a camper drives up and they happened to have a bunch of rope, and the guy HAPPENED to be a rock climber and was well-versed in rope tying. So, this stranger made himself the anchor, tied up Scott and Scott went over the edge to rescue the dog. In all the excitement I didn't get any photos, except the crowd we attracted . . .
Happily, Sam (the dog) made it out safely. Whew.

Meanwhile, our little monkeys were IMPOSSIBLE to keep on the ground . . . .

Me and Jen . . .

Cave dwellers . . . .

Scott, Jen and Nathan . . .

Four Happy Campers . . .

Day two . . .

Next up: Garage sale on Saturday. Tons to do before then. Wish us luck!

Rain or shine, the Four Happy Campers are goin' camping!!

We are less than two days away from the start of our camping season and we're all jumping out of our skin. First up: Memorial Day weekend in the Badlands - our tradition. However. Rain is predicted most of the weekend. Nice. We wait so long for this, can't the weather just cooperate?? No matter - we're going no matter what, even if it means sitting in the camper playing games all weekend. It's still perfect. I'm so anxious to get away from the routine, the house, the phone, etc. Whatever the circumstances, bring it on!!

Anyhoo, where did I leave off? Prior to Mother's Day, I went on a field trip up into the hills with Jack and Noah's class - fun day but then had to stop twice on the way home for 2 puking kids. Nice ending to the day, don't ya think? One was carsick, one had the stomach flu. Luckily, neither was in our vehicle. I know, I sound terribly selfish. But that is one thing I CAN NOT handle.

Then I had a very lovely Mother's Day with all my boys. We didn't do ANYTHING which is exactly what I wanted to do!
And they showered me with some terrific gifts . . . this cute purse with slots for pictures:
. . . a pink basketball so I have my own ball for Around the World and HORSE!
. . . . cute popsicle stick notecard holders that the kids made in school . . . . . . and my new "toy" - a new phone with a touch screen and full keyboard. I can finally text!
Had our annual track meet last Friday with the other Christian schools in town. Jack and Noah LOVE this and looked forward to it all year. Both did well.
Noah at the starting line for the 75m dash (he's closest, in the green and gold). He placed 2nd.

Noah pushing hard in the 200m dash. He placed 2nd again!
Jack in the 200m dash - he placed 2nd too (different heat than Noah).
Jack in the 400 - finished 2nd.
Noah and friend Hailey in the stands - aren't they cute??
Some of the boys - late in the day and getting a little dicey.

Saturday, Jack and Noah had their first piano recital. SO CUTE. We loved it. They were fantastic. They each played 2 pieces - a duet with their teacher and one on their own.

This is their teacher - she ROCKS. If they stick with her, they'll go far.

And here's what Noah LOVES to do lately . . . .
Both the kids have now figured out that mom will let them stay up later at night if they read in bed for a while. Funny how that has turned them into avid little readers!

Tomorrow is the last day of school, then we have a closing chapel service on Friday morning. It's all bittersweet for me - I'm happy that certain things about this year are behind us, and yet sad that 1st grade is in already in our past. Wow.

And I'll leave you with two recent conversations:

Here's Jack, driving home one evening as we're driving past Ruby Tuesday:

"I wonder what Ruby Tuesday's is like on a Tuesday?" :)

And Noah: One night after we'd had a bedtime devotional conversation about where the devil resides and how people who go there are separated from God forever, he was laying in bed with big tears in his eyes and said "Mom, I don't like thinking about people being separated from God." Oh my, what a heart that little dude has!! Amen, sweet boy, amen.

Happy Mother's Day

To all the moms in my life . . . .

First and most importantly - to my mom: Happy Mother's Day, Mom. Today, I think of the many reasons I love you. I love you for sacrificing so much for me when I was little so that I could have the best childhood possible. I love you for having a committed, loving marriage to my dad. I love you for your strong faith in and love for Jesus Christ, which is the foundation for your life, and by extension, was the foundation of our upbringing. I love you for giving me a sister and brother to boss around. I love you for always being at all my events, no matter what. I love all of your little quirks like your love of auctions and garage sales and the way you have to iron EVERYTHING. I love the way you drink exactly one half of a wine cooler, never more or less. :) And the way you get a little giggly after a martini. I love the way your car is always full of water and diet coke bottles and empty boxes and stuff to take to consignment stores. I love the way you say "ferhita" (fajita). I love the fact that you were there with me when my babies were born, calming me in my moments of terror and seeing us all the way to the operating room doors . . . and that you stayed with us for weeks afterwards, holding me up while I learned how to become a mother myself. I love the way you loved and cared for your own mother during the very difficult end of her life. I love you because you are always able to set me straight, help me see clearly, and give me sound, strong advice. I love you for loving my kids the way you do and I love that they have an amazing Grandma in you. I could go on and on, but I hope you understand how much I appreciate you and I am so thankful that God gave me YOU for a mother!
(Here we are, about 33 years ago!!)

And next, to my Mother-in-Law:
I have been so blessed, LaRayne, to call you my mother-in-law. I've heard many horror stories about in-laws, and I am so thankful that ours is NOT one of those stories! I thank God that you truly feel like my family and that we all enjoy being together so much. I love looking forward to our visits - no matter where we are - you and Paul are simply the most easy human beings to be around! You have the kindest, most gentle heart of literally anyone on the planet. I thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for the truly remarkably job you did raising my best friend in the world. He is the most wonderful, loving husband and father and it's because of you that he is the man he is today. The fact that you started a daycare 35 years ago so that you could stay home with your boys, and you are STILL doing it today, simply amazes me. I am constantly awestruck by your patience - unmatched by anyone I've ever met. I love how much you love the kids too - they simply adore you and I'm eternally grateful that they have a such a great relationship and connection with you. You were made to be a Grandma! Thank you, and I love you.

To my beloved Grandmas who are both in Jesus' loving care - there aren't words to describe how much I continue to love and miss you. You both played such a HUGE role in my life - your impact on me was immeasurable. The biggest impression you both left on me was your love for Jesus. There are so many things I still wish I could say to you but I take comfort in KNOWING that I will have that opportunity someday. What a blessing. My heart aches that you never knew your great-grandsons - oh, how they would have loved you.

To my sisters and my friends - Happy Mother's Day to all of you as well. Thank you for the part that each of you have played in my journey as a mother. I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have all of you to lean on and talk me through things. You know who you are - each of you plays a unique role in my life and I'm so grateful for every one of you. I am blessed to have such amazing women in my life.

And finally, I thank God that He has graciously allowed me the honor of having the most difficult and also the most spectacular job on the planet. There are not words in any human language to describe how much I adore being Jack and Noah's mom. There isn't one other thing I would rather do with my life and my prayer is that I can raise these amazing children of God in a way that honors and pleases Him.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

A little R and R . . . .

We're in Minnesota this weekend for a really quick, too-short visit with Mark's family. Got here last night and we head home in the morning, but we had a very lovely day today of rest and relaxation. It was much needed. Mark and his bro got some serious catch-up time, the cousins had a total ball together, Grandma and Grandpa were in heaven with everyone at home, and I got to finish a mystery, do some bible study, mess around on the computer and start planning the boys' birthday party.

About that.

They're turning 8.

EIGHT, people.

In 33 days.

But who's counting?

I'm thinking some counseling might be in order for me.

Why is it that with each birthday, I feel a little chunk of my heart being ripped out? I remember so clearly their first birthday - all I wanted to do was cry because a year was gone already. HA. And here we are now. We're 2 years from double-digits. 5 years from teenagers. We're halfway to 16. Only 10 years left until they leave. Ouch. Yeah, yeah, I can just hear you all thinking - "10 years?? That's a long time!!"

I'm here to tell you.

No it's not.

I know firsthand how fast eight years went!! 10 is going to be a flash in the pan. And all of these thoughts just make me want to cling to every single little precious moment I have them under my wings. Like I said. Professional help. At the very least, some serious heart-to-hearts with God about helping me let go.

So on a lighter note, here are some photos to share:

This is our weather the day of my retreat last week. The day before it had been 85 degrees. 'Nuff said.

This is Jack with his award that I mentioned previously, along with the winning picture he colored. He's very proud.

And these are the 3 crazy cousins - can ya tell they had fun today?

End of school countdown: 12 days. Although if someone at school comes down with the swine flu, that'll finish our year immediately, since schools are now supposed to close for 14 days with one positive test within the school. Can you believe that? No joke. I'm certainly not hoping for THAT, however.

Have a great week!