finally fall........

The leaves are slowly falling from the trees and the weather is finally cooling, such a relief. Today has brought a morning of rain and a cold crispness to the air. It feels so good. We really didn't have much of a warm summer, but it seems as though when school started, so did our summer. Crazy Michigan weather!

I'm wondering when we will feel like we are finally in the routine of school. It seems like we just hit a groove and then its the weekend; my younger kids want to stay up and my older kids want to go to bed, and before we know it Monday has once again dawned; all to start the process over again.

Colson seems to be adapting to school, Jacqueline is finding her "niche" as a tween-ager, and enjoying life in her last year of elementary school. Brennan seems to be hanging in there as a freshman, after having a few "bad" days the first two days of school and Blake, looking at colleges and applications, as he moves through his senior year. It seems rather strange that Brett is off to college and life without him just doesn't seem quite normal. I miss that boy (no Brett not because of all the errands you ran) I just miss his presence. Ok, I'm gonna leave it at that before the tears, that are welling in my eyes, drop! My classes are definitely keeping me busy and I'm wondering why I thought taking 3 classes would be ok. I have lots of reading, which I love, but finding the time to keep at it is another thing. I received an ephiphany, of sorts, a few weeks ago and came up with an amazing meal plan for my family, and we've even been able to stay within our budget each week too! Its been such fun planning, shopping and executing.

We are still waiting.......and I have to say that it hasn't gotten any easier, yet at times, can be a bit overwhelming, for God to give Den steady employment. It's hard to understand why He has allowed us to wait, trust, wait, trust for so long, yet He hasn't opened a door, hasn't given us clear direction so we will continue to put our faith in Him, even when the world screams we are crazy. We"ve always allowed God to direct our journey's, some tougher than others, so why would we change our course now? My hope is that I never ever FORGET these past 3 years, that God keeps them fresh in my mind, to be faithful in my service to Him, as well as, serving others.

conversations with Betty (a wee bit late)

Wednesday night Betty decided to stay in the nursery for the entire hour. Her hearing aid isn't working properly so she isn't able to hear the adult study. We chatted about many things but the one thing that sticks the most, in my mind, is our conversation on how God directs our paths and who He brings along to help us. We were sharing many stories when Betty said, "our Christian life is like a checkerboard, God takes us from here, slides us here, slides us over there, moves us up....."! what a vivid picture of life and maybe even an object lesson for the future. I just love this woman! I could sit and listen to her stories, and share her experiences all day, sitting next to her is as if I am sitting closer to Jesus. I want to be like Betty. I want to have a love relationship with God that keeps my mind focused on Him in the good and the bad times.

Conversations with Betty...returns......

All day yesterday I was thinking about finding someone to work the nursey at church. Since I have a broken wrist I'm pretty much useless for help with the toddlers. As I said, I was thinking about it but never took the step to call anyone and as I walked through the nursery door I saw Sherry and Betty sitting in the rockers. I apologized to Sherry and explained that I wouldn't be much help in carting and changing the kids but would be willing to stay if she didn't mind. Of course (this lady is a saint in my eyes, one of the best grandmas I have ever met) she says its no problem. Then Betty says (remember shes 85) that anytime I can't help out on Wednesday's to let her know and she will fill-in for me! What a sweetheart and what a gift she is to our church too! Well Sherry and I managed quite well and towards the end of the evening Betty came in, as usual. The little ones were quiet (which was remarkable in itself) so we were able to visit. As I look back on this I now see why God allowed me to work the nursery. I most certainly would have missed out on a tremendous blessing.

We were talking about husbands, good and bad, and both Sherry and Betty have had sad relationships with their husbands and yet they both are so full joy, no feel-sorry-for-me attitude. Betty said that when her husband left she was extremely grateful. She said she just knew God took him. She never remarried (you know what scripture says about that) and said that God became her husband, she didn't need a physical man. Then she says she began a love affair with God. Oh the way she talks just draws you to her. She says she doesn't do anything without asking God first. Her focus is always on Him. She said, "I pray and God just gives me an idea, I begin it, He helps me, He sustains me, and He gives me the strength to accomplish it." I asked her if she had gotten all of her painting done and she says, "yes now I'm rebuilding one of my outside walls. I have it almost done and my son-in-law is going to put the siding on. I really need to watch how he does this so I can do it myself." by now I'm just smiling really big and amazed at the tasks this lady takes on yet she can do it with grace and ease because you see, God helps her, she and God do everything together.....

Sherry says to Betty, "tell her about the skunks." Betty says, "I saw these two skunks out by the barn (remember in a previous post how she had to cut off a board from the bottom of her barn door? now there's a gap) Oh they were beautiful big skunks, their white stripe just glistened in the moonlight, but I thought I'd better take care of them before they got into my barn, so I got out my shotgun and hoped that I could get them both with one shot, as they were close together. I wounded one but killed the other. By now I'm laughing as I'm trying to picture (granny clampett) this in my mind. I asked her what she did with the dead skunk and she said she got out her big shovel, scooped him up and took him out into the woods (she lives on 10 acres).

Betty just loves her little house, she's lived there for 59 years. She is a very simplistic no-frills kind of woman, yet she is richer in more ways than most. She can quote scripture, from memory, as if she were a pastor, she has one of the deepest relationships with God I've ever met. I told her that she needed to write a book, or keep a journal and share her joy of God with others. I've never met anyone who has this deep of a desire and love for Him like Betty. Honestly I'm going to start taking notes, maybe even audio her from my phone because I want to remember every nugget of truth she shares. In that short time span of, maybe 15 minutes, I learned more truths than in an hour sermon.

Now I seriously can't wait until next week for my weekly dose of "Betty"......ya'll come back now, ya' here..........

From this little guy, 6 years ago........

to this guy.............

Today we take Brett to Spring Arbor University where he will begin his first year of college. I can't believe how quickly these past 6 years flew by. Seems like just yesterday he was in 6th grade and now he's a freshman once again, in college. I never quite get used to the progression of life, I know its inevitable, its the way God ordained it to be, but, as a mom, I just ache over my kids leaving, its like a knife in my heart and the emotional roller coaster ride is about to begin. Why does all the "going away, leaving, and starting" take place at the same time? Our home goes from utter craziness, chaos, loudness, playing, yelling......to eerily quiet. I don't enjoy having to remember to lock the door every time I step out it, or to keep it locked all day! I can't help it but I miss my kids, I miss their laughter, their sillyness, their teasing, their conversations, their help, their love and their smiles!
So.......without further ado, we will be packing up the van and heading out later this morning. I am so thankful he isn't going 12+ hours away like Daniel and Branden did, not sure we could do another cry-fest through 3 states; 1.5 hours will be exhausting enough! We are so proud of him and excited to see how God will mature him and use him at Spring Arbor!!!

a Colson/Victoria-ism...........

Today Colson was telling me that we don't start school until the 8th on Wednesday and I was explaining to him that Tuesday is the 8th not Wednesday when he says, "I wish God had just given us all the knowledge we need when we were born so we don't have to go to school!" I then ask him if he even knows what the word "knowledge" means and he goes into a lengthy definition which was correct!

He is such a little cutie! He isn't excited at all about going back to school on Tuesday; in fact he has been persistent in asking me to home school him. I think he will love his teacher this year (I know Branden, Bryan, Ben, and Blake think his teacher is HOT!)

Late this afternoon Den, Victoria and I were in the kitchen, he was about to leave and Victoria was asking (not bawling her eyes out like she does for me) if she could go with him when she says, "Sexy." Her daddy says, "you don't say that word, who taught you that Blake?" and she says, "no Benny teachet me dat wurd!" Oh my gosh! this girl is going to give us a run for our money I just know it and her brothers don't help either.............

yes......Yes.......YES!!!!!

Once again I have many thoughts swirling around in my head, some I'm trying to formulate, some I'm still chewing and some are taking shape. Several weeks ago we did an inner-city VBS, (see a previous post)and were totally touched. Our Pastors have, through the direct help of Christ, secured a room at the elementary school, where our VBS was held, and we will be holding a very relaxed worship service there on Sunday afternoons starting this fall. Isn't that just the coolest thing ever? Our family will be heading down there each Sunday, along with many who worked the VBS, to do whatever we can to touch the lives of that community, where they are. I'm so excited that our staff just couldn't let these families hang.....until next summer. We are blessed to be a part of such an awesome church family that are concerned about the needs of those around them, when many write them off. Please pray that God will work, through us, to bring hope to an area that has none.

a Brett-ism.............

Last night we all headed to Lansing for an overnight stay. Brett and the younger kids rode with me and as we were traveling Brett and I were talking about our rooms at the hotel. He said, "did we get conjoined rooms?" I just started laughing and said, "I think you mean adjoining rooms....."