Quick pics

So we bought a canoe and it is totally awesome. Brian has been wanting a boat and somehow he decided that a canoe was a good compromise for now. This is our first recreational toy and so far so good.

I also included some pics of Benton. He is a doll.

Sun babies

So I had some people ask if I was going to blog about our vacation. It's hard to know what to say. We love love love to travel and this trip was a really big deal to us. First off, it was our very first trip with all 5 of us that had nothing to do with work or family. Aside from our rapid city vacation, since living in north dakota all our other cool trips were work oriented or back to Oklahoma. That is great and all but it's different. So this year when Brian earned his third week of vacation I vowed we must spend it on ourselves. I felt a bit guilty bc we have not been home as much as in past years and it certainly is not easy keeping our boys away from their grandparents, but they go on vacations too, not all of which are to see us. So, we did it.

This trip was also a big deal bc if we can travel with a 4yr old, 2 yr old, and a 5 month old across the country, for a week, then we can do ANYTHING! Many would call us brave but I just call us desperate. There is a fine line when you have kids between stopping your life so your world can revolve around them and carrying on like you don't have a child and can do the things you did before. I think it takes time to learn the balance (not that everyone does) and not that we have either, but we missed the ocean dang it, so we went to see it! Kids and all. Which reminds me I had at least 5 people ask me "oh, are you taking the kids with you?" to which I just thought..... Do I have another choice?? Now, for our 10 yr anniversary we are planning to go to Tahiti (Lord willing) and they will be bunking up with someone for that trip!

So we flew to Orlando and rented a home in Venice, Florida. Went to siesta key beach for about 5 days and soaked up the marvelous creation from our Lord and loved every minute of it. I can't tell you how much we love the clear blue water and white sand. It was heaven. Our boys were equally impressed. We had to drag Baker out of the water each day. They were living up "summer" as Baker called it. Florida also houses 3 H&M's, 2 of which we visited. And of course Disney world, which was the boys' favorite.

All I can say after that is that we had a blast. Benton did an amazing job staying happy no matter where we were. He rode all but 3 of the rides we went on at Disney world including: Peter pan, it's a small world, pirates of the Caribbean, the jungle cruise, buzz light year, and he even met Mickey.

The key here was major flexibility. Is it easy getting in an airport with 3 carseats, a double stroller, 5 carry on bags and 3 kids at 3:30 am? Heck no! Was it worth it? Yes. Does it help to complain in these situations- of course not. You just have to plan for the unplanned and roll with it. Examples: So baker threw up as we took off the runway? At least he caught it.
So Benton peed on my dress the first 5 minutes we were at the children's museum? It happens. So it turns out there is NO WHERE to park with in a 1/4 mile of the beach? Guess we are just going to walk! With all our junk! So we misunderstood our check out time and the cleaning lady put our bags by the front door of our house and we had to drive 3 hours to Orlando in wet swim suits covered in sand bc we werent able to shower like planned. Big deal. So, I got burned so badly I said I would rather give I birth than be sunburned again? We still couldn't let it ruin our time. We had spent too much money for that.
I mean, GPS's break, you get lost, you get burned, you might pick a really bad restaurant, but it's okay. I was very impressed with our "roll with it" skills. We have matured.here are some pics, all the others are on fb.

This iPad is hard to blog on. Please forgive my typos and pictures misplaced. I need a tutorial. Here is an Easter pic.

Ps. Thanks again to h&m for having such wonderfully stylish yet extremely affordable clothes for my 4 guys here in this pic. I miss you already. And isn't Brian so good looking? Dang. I def married up.

Book Review

As part of my New Year's resolutions I have been reading a non-fiction book each month.

#1- The Dream Giver by Bruce Wilkinson: Great book. It was really easy to see other people's dreams as I read it. I could see that my husband is pretty much living his dream right now. I can see my friend Courtney and the obstacles that are presented in her adoption journey/dream. As for me though, I am coming up empty. I can't pin point any dream. Brian says my dream is to raise a family but I don't think so lol. I mean, I am doing it-but it isn't what I pictured when I was a little girl or anything. Honestly, this is what I took from the book -i need to continue on in my personality and keep a good home. My first task is to clean my house, clean our dirty clothes, and feed my 4 males. I am not able to extend out to others until I deal with those 4 first. It may sound trite, but its true. Also, our home is bouncing with visitors at ALL times of the day- some invited and others unannounced and I love it. Making our home a peaceful, inviting place for us and others is important to both of us. That said, it is much easier to accomplish this when things are consistently orderly and clean. I still hate doing dishes. Thankfully my kitchen sink cannot be seen from the living room.

#2. Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis. Don't read it. I don't recommend it. It has so flipped my world upside down. I can't handle it or process it. Brian is reading it now b/c the things she speaks about can't be processed by just one partner in a marriage. I fear the book might have changed us permanently.

Two quotes that I will share are this:

"I wanted to do Gods work, let him display Himself through my life, and change my world as much as possible every single day. Most days, that didn't include anything other people would find impressive. It simply meant being faithful to the people and the responsibilities God had given me."

"in the days of Jesus, He expected everything of His disciples. Do I believe He requires the same today?"

Woah, that is heavy.

#3. Seven, an experimental mutiny against excess by Jen Hatmaker. Another book I would not recommend. I am reading this with a group (if I am ever able to attend) and its hard. Basically, as Americans we are super consumers who live in extreme excess while many, many, many people go hungry and how does this fit with how Jesus asks us to live as believers.

Bottom line here.... Books 2 and 3 have made me ask am I even a follower of Christ? Do I have a relationship with Him- most definelty. Do I spend time with Him and read the Word and desire to "do His will"? Yes, Yes, Yes. Defining myself as a follower however requires action on my part and I can't say my actions match up how they should.

The isssue at hand seems to be that for a long long time I have been trying to "do the Lord's will." that is good and all but in the process of figuring out the specific details like where to live and how many kids to have I have neglected to pay any attention to the general commands of the Bible. Things like Isaiah 1:17 "learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.". I have stayed away from verses like that and stuck to the "be hospitable, respect your husband, and do not kill."

Basically Brian and I have been living obliviously to the poor for like EVER. Not the American version of poor but the "I haven't eaten in a week and I live in the dirt with maggots" poor. its awful and bc of technology that other generations did not have we are aware and can either choose to turn a blind eye or love them as their neighbors.

My grandma just passed away and I just realized that she had been a widow for like 20 years. What did I do for her... Not a thing.

I have no idea what major actions this will bring about. We have seen several small things in our food intake, spending, and now I try to recycle everything. Do I still want to save for my kids college? Yes. Do I still have an awful love affair with fashion? Yes. Am I typing on my new ipad and did I just take a sweet vacation that could have fed a family in Africa for like 10 years? Yes. Am I willing to tweak that for the sake of the kingdom? Certainly. It's just that I feel we are approaching a new season and living much more aware. We often wonder what our purpose here in north Dakota is. Brian thinks we are meant to be senders. Whatever the case I feel like we are edging ever closer to it.


So again. Dont read the books.