A true man of God!

This is a picture of my Uncle Bud and Aunt Mary. Aren't they just precious? They are one of the Godliest couples I've ever met, they've been married 61 years and always have a sweet spirit and a smile on their faces. My uncle has been sick since fall with Cancer and has only hours to live. My heart is so heavy and the tears can't seem to stop! I am so extremely blessed by their walk, their witness; never failing, never faltering, always steady, always loving and serving God, no matter what! May God give him perfect peace and rest. . . . .I love you Uncle Bud!!!!

a dose of reality

This morning as I was dropping off Victoria in the 3 year old class at Bible Study one of the workers says to her, "its so nice that your grandma brought you today!" Of course I smiled and said, "oh I'm not her grandma I her mama!" She then apologizes and steps away to assist someone else. As she walks away I say to Victoria, "funny huh, she thought I was your grandma," and Victoria says with a smile, "you not my gwama, you my ma ma!"

I tried not to let the ladies comment resonate but it did cut a bit deep and hit me hard. Seriously I do have a son thats 30 with two little boys, so in reality I am a grandma, but I do have a 3 year old so that makes me a mommy, so there! and by the way this lady has watched Victoria for the past several weeks! Whats up with that??????

Happy 16th Birthday Brennan!
You are such a blessing to our family and we
love you very much!
Enjoy your day!

busy as a beaver. . . .

I wasn't feeling good yesterday; caught the virus bug that Colson, Victoria and Blake had! Last night my house was pretty much a mess from top to bottom; laundry unfolded in a heap on the living room floor, laundry in the dryer, two basketfuls to be put away, dishes everywhere; just an overall disaster. Thankfully this morning I felt somewhat better, well at least I had the energy to tackle the mess. Jacqueline and Colson were an amazing set of extra hands. They worked their little tails off for me and in no time everything was pretty much taken care of. I started the laundry, folded the laundry, sorted it all into piles for each child and Jacqueline and Colson took them to each bedroom. Ben didn't have any dirty laundry just a huge basket full of unfolded clean laundry. I dumped and folded it, smelling a few items just to make sure it was really clean! Next I made my grocery list, dropped Jacqueline off at a friends for the day and then headed to the grocery store with Victoria. Once home began preparing Brennan's birthday meal and dessert. Cleaned-up the mess then I steamed cleaned Jacqueline/Tori's queen bed (we purchased it used, once home, realized it smelled like cigarettes). Thankfully a good friend had a steam cleaner and loaned it to us. I am also going to tackle steam cleaning our carpets a section a day so we aren't locked out of all the rooms. Brett did the study this morning and WOW! does it ever look better, and it seems once you get started you can't stop because you can tell what is clean and what is still dirty. I enjoy doing it, you know me and physical work, LOVE IT!

The sun is shining brightly, the skies are blue and I even opened the windows for a while this afternoon, we are getting a teaser for spring, but for today I'm just enjoying the warm sunshine streaming in my home! Enjoy your weekend, they go by all too quickly!

oh what an afternoon we had. . . . .

We were invited out to a couples house from church today. We "rarely" turn down their offer, there home is the BEST place ever, especially for a large family! They live out in the country on 17 acres, with two huge ponds. What a fun time we had too. We spent the first 2 hours outside sledding onto the pond, throwing snowballs, making forts and just playing. I could tell Tori was getting a bit tired so, the girls and I decided to head inside and help Sue with dinner prep, shortly after, all the guys came in too. We had a great "lupper" (lunch/supper, thats what our kids called it) and the kids scattered and the adults sat down for a game of dominos. We had so much fun, lots of laughs and played well into the late afternoon. Once everything was cleaned-up and put away we headed home. On the way home the kids were just chattering about all the fun they had, and Den and I both agreed. Its been along time since we've been able to just enjoy a day with the family, as well as enjoying special time with our friends. We are unbelievably blessed by Wayne and Sue's hospitality. They are such a gift to our family. Some days, when life seems to press in and the troubles of the day crowd you, its nice to know that we have a haven to retreat too, not only in Christ, but in dear sweet precious friends that God brought across our paths.

Nana and Papa's Part I

Blake getting in on the fun and throwing snowballs. They were more like hard ice balls, you didn't have to pack them too much; they were hard as a rock! The snow was great but it wasn't great for making a snowman.

Scottie brought Ox, who loves the snow as much as the Lutztribe does!

Nana and Papa's Part II

Tori just loves the outdoors, she could hardly wait to play in the snow!

I built this small snow fort on the pond and she crawled in there, honestly I thought she was going to lay down and take a nap. She says, "I tired" then yawns!

Such a fun time sledding with daddy

Nana and Papa's Part III

What an awesome time we had this afternoon at our friends home. We all enjoyed a time of sledding and playing in the snow!

Colson on his first trip down the hill

what a a fun kid

Jacqueline on her way down and everytime she hit the bottom of the hill
this is how we found her........what a sweetie!

Happy Valentines Day to US!

We received a package today in the mail! What fun it was to open and find all kinds of yummy handmade treats inside made especially for us by our sweet daughter-in-law Amanda and sent from their family. I can't remember the last time we received a surprise package in the mail! What a thrill is was for all of us, especially me (I love packages too) to open it and pull out container after container of goodies, plus three special Valentines, from our grandson Wilson, to his Aunt Jacqueline, Uncle Colson and Aunt Victoria!
(I forgot to say that the m&m cookies are my FAVORITE too)

Thank you Brad, Amanda, Wilson and Walker for blessing us, not only with the treats but with your outpouring of LOVE!

oh yes they did.....

Our school called a snow day yesterday! We were so excited, not just for the day off, but for all the beautiful snow that fell through the day and night. We ended up with the most in our county, almost 11 inches. It was such a gift to enjoy a free day; those who could sleep in did, and those who never sleep in didn't (as always). We enjoyed a lazy day of nothing, which was just fine with all of us! The kids had fun playing outside in the snow with a few friends, then came inside to warm mugs of hot chocolate and playtime in the basement.

Even though we have a long weekend, it sure was nice getting blessed right in the middle of the week. I went to school today and dropped off Colson's Valentines for his class party (of course he woke up in the night with a fever and sore throat, strep again) and as I was driving home I felt so extremely blessed that we had been blanketed with such beautiful snow. Everything was bright, even the suns rays were warm and bright, and it just reminded me of how God cares about even the small things, like praying for a snow day, in our lives.

I hope your enjoying the beauty that surrounds you, sometimes its hard to see, when our vision is clouded but when we choose to ask God to give us clear sight we see beyond the "stuff" and can enjoy His creation.

Blessings to all. . . . . .

the day after. . . .

I had such fun last night watching my kids watch the superbowl! Its the first time Jacqueline and Colson have gotten into the excitement and actually watched the entire superbowl from beginning to end. Of course we were cheering for the Saints, and Drew Brees (gotta love a quarterback who loves His Lord), though I am a Hoosier, by birth, we are not big fans of the Manning boy, so our loyalties went to the Saints.

Colson and I ran out to get pizza (I splurged and bought the cinnamon bread too) and got home just in time to sit down with our dinner and watch the opening coin toss and tip-off. I love how my kids will follow who we choose, and thankfully pretty much all the man-boys, in our family, were rooting for the Saints. Victoria even got in on the fun and cheered her little heart out. There's just something so invigorating about watching your kids enjoy themselves, laugh and yell at the TV! Love it!

As the commerical's played one by one we were touched by the pro-life message of Focus on the Family and the Tebow family. Way to go FOTF for making a top-notch commercial without it being in your face!

This morning the kids are still talking about last night and replaying some of the commercials. Victoria loves the one with the little boy saying, "don't touch my mama, don't touch my doritos" as she keeps repeating it over and over! So cute!

Thankfully the kids were easy to get-up for school, Jacqueline could have slept in a bit, but the deal was, we let them stay-up and they have to get-up without being touchy. Everyone is off to school, Den is subbing today and people the sun is shinning!

I'm off to enjoy some time with my little cutie, and get some morning snuggles! Enjoy your week, we're supposed (I use that term very loosely) to get a winter storm tomorrow night (praying that it actually happens and we get a snow day Wednesday); the kids have a short week with our mid-winter break this next weekend, no school Friday or Monday! WOO HOO for breaks and kids and home and life!

Now that I am finally through the first of February, with two birthdays behind me, I can breath a huge sigh of relief, that is until the 20th, and a another birthday. February was a very prolific month!

I've been wanting to pen a few thoughts about blogging, whether to keep it, delete it, or just ocassionally drop-in, leaving simple post or two. I chatted with Den over the whole blog-issue and he encouraged me to keep it. I mentioned to him some of my anxiety over writing, and my intentions for the blog in the first place. I never wanted this to be about "me" or my "passion" for my family (however I do love my family deeply and will from time to time, share about them), but more about what God is doing in and through me, and how maybe just maybe my walk, our families journey, just might touch someone else.

You see, I'm not great at book learning, I learn from life on life, by experience, by example and its from these experiences, good and bad, that I hope, by sharing them, others might be encouraged, not feel so quite alone.

Since I've been going through the study of the "Fruit of the Spirit" I've come to realize what I am, where I'm at, what I want to be, and what its gonna take to get there. My journey is still a huge "work in progress", I haven't arrived and only hope that one day, God will say to me, "Well done my faithful servant, in you I am well pleased." Until that day, I will continue to step one-day-at-a-time, (probably more like two steps forward, three back) the desire is the same; simply to serve Him, and in my serving Him, I hope that others are touched and I can be a blessing to someone.

another February birthday. . . .

What a gift from God!
Happy Birthday Colson, we love you so much.

our baby is "3" today

What a precious gift she is to us!