just the highlights...more to come

it was spring break last week and we escaped to the mountains.  it was a retreat, an adventure, an opportunity to be together as a family, and a chance to stretch out and breathe deeply.  we did lots of new things--which was very exciting!  we took the less traveled road and saw amazing sights.

here's the quick highlights:  (we like to pack a lot into our days!)

--lunch at casa bonita's (one of the boys' favorites)

--a visit to the aquarium (where i fed stingrays by hand--awesome!)

--time at the hotel swimming pool

--morning drive through the mountains (going from thick fog to beautiful clear views)

--stopping quick at a lake we hadn't seen in the past to find mountain lion prints!

--lunch at mcdonald's (not a highlight, but the boys' loved their playground)

--driving to a close town to see the fossil beds and take a different back road to the hotel

--playing at an old penny arcade

--window shopping

--drinking out of natural springs (doesn't taste the greatest, but a unique experience!)

--climbing around balanced and steamboat rocks

--taking a very rugged twenty-five mile road back to the town our hotel was in (was a scary, exhilerating ride thanks to the snow covered parts!!!)

--a picnic supper in our hotel room (followed by more swimming in the pool)

--touring the olympic training center

--lunch at a favorite spot

--carter became a jr. park ranger

--did some shopping at the trading post

--took a drive and visited the dinosaur center

--chilled in the hotel and had a movie night (with hot chocolate and popcorn)

--slept in!

--took a trail we had never done before and went off-trail on the way back

--scrambled rocks for awhile

--climbed around in a favorite area

--went to another mountain park to visit a waterfall

--took roads without knowing where they would lead

--last time to swim

--final drives through favorite spots

--went to sunday morning service at a church we love

--lunch at a taco bell (taco bell can be an adventure, can't it?)

--LONG drive home

will share more stories of our experiences in the days to come...

whirlwind of a day

today has flown by so quickly.  church, time with family in one town, a drive and time with extended family in another town, a drive home, and i'm ready to crash!

today has been a reminder of how precious family is.  we went to see my grandparents this afternoon.  as we've all gotten older, things have changed some--yet parts are still the same.  we still had an easter egg hunt--only the little ones hunting are our kids instead of us.  we had sweets and looked at pictures and shared stories together.

the most difficult thing is that my grandpa is suffering from a form of mild dementia.  (early alzheimers)  he was alert and taking in everything around him, but couldn't remember what you had said to him just the moment before.  the good thing is that he jokes about it himself--knowing that he is asking you the same question a few times more just for smiles.  hard to watch someone change in this way...

we did the dishes together and took a few pictures together and then everyone needed to drive back to their homes.  colin fell asleep in the car--finally crashing from his sugar buzz.  carter sang along to the ipod, so we were serenaded all the way home.

things were simple today, but i don't think i would have asked for them any other way.

good friday

i've always appreciated good friday--the day when the christian world focuses in on the events leading to Jesus' death on the cross.  even when i was younger, the day always had a deeper meaning.  the day is a little more solemn, more reflective, quiet...  it may sound strange, but i appreciate it when it's a little cloudy--maybe rainy--on that day.

you see, good friday was truly a good thing for us, but not so good for Jesus.  we gained everything while He poured out everything down to His last breath because of His love for us.  i can't even begin to fathom the depths that Jesus poured out.  i just know that i am humbled and grateful and overwhelmed.

thank you, Jesus for giving all that you have and are for us, for being willing to endure the worst of humanity, the separation from Your Father, the agony...to save us.  i know what i am without You--thank you for paying the highest price because of Your love for me.

don't let colin help you decide what to wear

got done with work and was excited to do a 'girly' thing--a real treat for me...shopping for something new to wear!

i had received a ten dollar certificate for kohl's in the mail and i thought i would use it to help find something fun to wear for easter.  found a few promising things, but thought i'd try them on.  narrowed it down to two, so i put them both in the cart and figured that by the time i made it to the front of the store, i'd have my mind made up.

colin was chatting it up in the cart/stroller thing.  he was singing me songs (okay, everyone within earshot got serenaded) and was in a pretty good mood.  he was standing up in the cart, turned to talk to me.  i told him to sit down, turned around to look at something and i heard:  'Mommy...look...i threw up.'  nice.  luckily, it was all in the cart and landed on just one of the shirts.  so...we headed back to the bathroom (miles away...), took that lovely shirt and washed it in the sink.  colin was feeling much better :) and asked if he could play too.

the gal at the register was a little confused when i presented her with a wet blouse, but went along with it all.  i used my coupon, walked out the door and decided that i'm not going to let colin decide what i'm going to wear ever again.

monday, monday

mondays.

sometimes i look forward to them,

sometimes i have to force myself through them.

rainy mondays.

there's just something about those.

(and then i'm stuck with a song in my head all day too.)

rainy mondays after a sunday hospital visit, lacking sleep,

heading into a full work week with a sick toddler on top of it all--

i have to say that i don't feel all that chipper.

on the positive note, tomorrow is tuesday.

it is a great week to find a quiet space and reflect on what Jesus did

about two thousand years ago and what it means for each one of us today.

bonus points--our family is taking a little mountain retreat in about a week!

simply beautiful

i'm ignoring the fact that they say we are going to get some snow this weekend...

my doors and windows are open, letting the fresh spring air in.

it is simply beautiful out today!

we are going to get the stroller out and walk to pick up carter from school today.

i can't wait!

you know it's going to be a rough day...

had a hard time getting up and going this morning.  we're still sick at our house and the covers were just too warm.  but, we got out of the door in time...

on my way to work, saw something that made me laugh.  we pulled up to a red light and i casually glanced to the truck that was stopped to my right.  the driver was chugging out of a two-liter bottle of mountain dew.  i saw him drink at least a third of it!

i thought i was tired!

quiet

i needed some time to myself this afternoon.  i've had all kinds of questions for God over the past months and even years.  i sit here quiet today.  i simply have nothing to say because of who God is.  i may not understand things, i may question things, i may have an opinion on things, but all of that pales with who God is and what He means to me in my life.

i have been reading in the book of job.  i look at all that happened to him.  i see what happened to those who loved him.  i read how his friends tried to explain the situation or comfort him or shift his perspective.  i heard job's rants and you could see how his mind was grappling to get around all that was taking place in his life.  there was yelling back and forth.  there was speculation and attitude.  there was humility and brokenness.  there was confusion and despair.

i kept reading and reading because i wanted to hear what God had to say to job.  as i got to it, it reminded me of one of those movies where you think you know how things are going to end up, but there is some huge twist that leaves you breathless.  i felt that as i read on, not because i was shocked at God's response, but because of what it said to me.

God doesn't have to explain why He is doing what He is doing in our lives.  He is sovereign and knows what is best for each one of us.  if He could give the oceans its boundaries and give life and death to all the creations of this world, He can give and take away...who am i to suppose that i need the 'why' or the 'how'?  God is God and He simply wants us to trust.  good things will happen in life, difficult things will happen in life, but God is still God.

i am quiet because i am in awe of Him.  i fear Him.  i love Him.  and i am quiet before Him.

laying low

we have been so grateful that we have stayed clear of all the nasty illness going around.

...until this weekend.

both boys have it, i have it, somehow nathan is clear of it--for now.

so...sunday we laid low, monday we laid low

and we shall see what tomorrow will bring.

where's spring???

overnight, we went from the hints of spring to reminders of winter.

just an inch or so of snow at our house, but the wind...oh my!!!

coin and i went with friends to visit the capitol this morning.

after several rounds around the block to find a place to park (i might add that i did a fabulous job parallel parking during a morning rush.), we had to walk about a block or so to get to the building. the wind was absolutely piercing.

after sight-seeing and running around the top floor for a bit, it was time to go again.

bbbrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

we know we had a great time because colin fell asleep at lunch!

the sun is shining now.  looks a bit more springy, but definitely doesn't feel like it!

powerful words

so thankful for one of my dearest friends today.

she built me up when i did something stupid instead of reminding me that yes, it was truly stupid.

her words of encouragement completely changed my outlook for the day.

hope i can bless her in the same way.  (especially by not doing anything stupid.)

amazing on what just a few timely words can do.

new day, new week, new month, new season

it's the first monday of the month. it's almost the start of a new season.
(we experienced a beautiful hint of spring on saturday--
nevermind the fact that it's like thirty degrees colder today.)

i like the idea of new starts all around us. it's renewing. it's hopeful. it's energizing.
it's gives fresh perspective. it is a reminder that God gives us new mercies every day.

we get to be fresh and new each day.
i like that.