Wednesday, August 26, 2009

County Fair


More bumper cars...while Papa and Joshua...
Rode the Ferris wheel :)
He's getting very sleepy at this point. I even wondered if he would fall asleep up there.
Even more bumper cars! In this pic Brannon is sandwiched between two cars full of friends. "Big kids" who are in our homeschool/church group.

One last ride...


Fun stuff:)




Monday, August 24, 2009

County Fair----First Installation

Decided to put my chosen pics in two posts instead of one super-long one :)

Wow, this fur feels funny! That's wool, sweetie...
This is the first year we did many rides. Last year we did none and the year before I think they did two each. This is the first year they were both old enough to really enjoy it. The boys saved their allowance for several months in order to buy armbands (far more cost effective than tickets! Especially if you buy them early and pay ten dollars less). We had a blast, them riding and me watching, lol.

Joshua went up the slide, looked down...and came down the stairs, heehee
A little fun house. I think it was Indiana Jones theme. Brannon was really scared of this bridge in spite of being closed in. Joshua was humming along behind him.
I think the bumper cars were the hands-down favorite of the day...

Around 1pm we left for a while. It was about a hundred degrees by then and the boys were getting worn out. We took a nap, had a home-made iced tea slushy and headed back around 5:30 for some more fun.
It was funny this little stream display for the kids to play in trumped the promise of more rides for a while...
Of course, there was no chance they would just play nicely in the stream that had been set up like the other kids were doing. :D They had to rearrange the whole thing, move the bridges, make a dam, LOL.
More bumper cars, oh yeah!
Joshua claimed the "merry-go-around" as his favorite ride. I didn't get very many good pics of them though.


More to come soon--








Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Joshua's Pics of Sunday's Bike Race

I have two budding photographers on my hands ;-)



And Mama's two pics. I wasn't in much of a picture taking mood that day...
This is the start of the race, backwards, I know:) There were a lot more riders than you see in this pic. I was zooming in on Nate and Lorna...







Tuesday, August 18, 2009

I'm Back!

Back from the dead! It's so good to feel alive! My beautiful, amazing Jesus set me free from the depression that had been holding me down. Not only that, when my dear brothers and sisters in Christ gathered around to pray for me and love on me, I was able to see at last my true self. I finally really believed that I have never been a disappointment to my King. I saw with crystal clarity the cage the enemy had me in. A cage that was so nearly my true shape that I accepted it for years. NOT ANY MORE!! LOL!!!


There have been many times in my journey with Jesus that, if you had asked me if I knew who I was, if I had experienced His love, if I knew I was absolutely pure in His sight I would have answered with complete certainty "Absolutely!:)"


The way I feel now, I'm not sure I ever really knew it for real. I feel so completely different than I have ever felt in my life. For the first time I know that all those things I hated about me, weren't me. When Jesus looks at me he sees pure gold, absolutely pure. What I have been told many times is actually planted deep in my heart now. The cage, the shell that I thought was me is gone for good. I know the truth now.


Ephesians 3:14-20---


When I think of the wisdom and scope of God's plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Thanks Matt!

For giving me a better perspective.


Matthew said,


"I have been given many labels in my life, and most of the time I let them get me down. I promise never to treat Joshua any different than normal. He is lots of fun and I hope he and I can be good friends. He doesn't have any "disorders" he simply requires more out of life than most people. He has a God-given gift to know that there is more and it is within his grasp"


So true!! Why, why, why do I let negative labels scare me into forgetting what is REAL???! I know that I know that I know that God made Joshua unique and wonderful with special gifts that HE can use to change the world. I'm not in denial. I pray for Wisdom to guide me every day as I parent my two marvelous boys.


I have so much more to say, but not today. This virus making my head cloudy does not help my writing at all :}

Monday, August 10, 2009

Friday, August 7, 2009

What's In a Name

My dear son,


I love you so much. You are an absolute joy to me! You truly light up my world. Your charm is undeniable, your compassion a marvel, your energy inspiring. Your love for God amazing to behold.


I can hardly stand to put a label on you. It seems so negative. Difficult to say the words without changing the shape of you in my mind. Devastating.


Why it should be so; simply putting a new name to what has always been present, I do not know. It is like the thought of breathing life into a hidden monster. As untrue as that is in reality. Adding a weight of dread to a thing already difficult.


Yet, if that label helps me to understand you. Helps me get inside your head so I can show you how to cope. Then it is no bad thing.


My dear one, I never doubt for a moment that you are destined for greatness, in whatever form greatness takes shape for you. I love you. Know that I am praying every day for Wisdom. I regret every mistake, every day that I have made more difficult for you through my ignorance. Or stubbornness. I will always be there for you, in spite of my mistakes.


The verse your Papa and I picked out for you the day you were born happens to be from the very book of the Bible that bears your name--


"I command you---be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Monday, August 3, 2009

"Family Camp" *Warning---Very picture heavy :)

Every year the last few years for my MIL's birthday we go camping with her sister and family at Dorena lake. It's fun to play with cousins we see only a couple times a year and enjoy being outdoors.
Games...

badminton...
Lots of bike riding!...
Part of our camp...

The dam

Matt, remember that dusty bank I told you about that the kids loved so much last year?

Loads of fun :) Keeps them busy ;) 'Course, it makes lots of laundry for the mamas when we get home... But camping in general means lots of laundry, so it's not a big deal.
The birthday girl, 60 this year.
Joshua was very anxious to look after a younger cousin, first helping him down off the hill when he thought he was stuck. Then running to get his shoes...
And even putting them on! I was very proud of him :)

I want to play too!


Rest time. Good thing Papa makes such a good pillow.
A very dirty and exhausted Joshua escaping the yellow-jackets by eating dinner inside.

Before heading home Nate, Brannon and I (Joshua rode home with Grandma) took a walk around part of the lake. There's a great paved bike and hiking trail that goes all the way around. I think we made it a quarter of the way.
:) :) :)

"Are you coming?"


"You really shouldn't draw my attention to the fact that you are taking my picture because now I have to pretend I am embarrassed and annoyed and turn the other way"
"Only for a minute though. Talking is much more important than pretending embarrassment and annoyance"