Determination...

I am praying that God continues to ignite the fire of learning in your heart despite how difficult it is sometimes...

Buddy...I know He has big plans for you...you just wait and see!

This is a promise from His word to you...

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
James 1:2-4

Breakfast anyone....

the boys decided to take breakfast into their own hands this morning...

Mulittude Monday #1398 - #1415

"You can’t get to joy by making everything perfect. You can only get there by seeing in every imperfection all that’s joy...
Ann Voskamp

When I read the blog post linked above I couldn't help but think about the years I've spent trying to make things perfect...and how through trials that tested my faith and my inability to "fix" them...God confirmed in my heart what I deep down knew to be true...I CAN'T. He also confirmed another thing...He is Good...and worthy of my trust...even when things don't make sense.

This exercise in seeing God in and giving him thanks for the everyday things has definitely helped in my quest for joy in the midst of chaos/imperfection... so, I continue my endless list of thanks and pray for continued strength to trust Him.


1398...watching him look in the Bible for answers to his homework
1399...dinner and conversation with small group girls
1400...community around God's word
1401...seeing his brother care for him
1402...beautiful sunset
1403...his honesty at the doctor's office
1404...fall colors beginning to appear
1405...good news from the insurance adjustor
1406...his excitement in finding this



1407...wheezing that cleared up within a couple of days
1408...a beautiful rainbow at sunset
1409...opportunities to talk about how God never breaks a promise
1410...boys in puddles
1411...squirt guns shooting dirty, muddy water
1412...baths that cleanse
1413...the crunch of leaves underfoot
1414...an opportunity to discuss the importance of being honest
1415...boys playing 2 x 2

Let's Go O's...

Eli's favorite part of last weeks O's game...

Multitude Monday #1370 - #1397 ...

The endless list of thanks continues...

...him laughing at the Munchkin rolling around on his tray


...success in the morning
...watching him dance with his classmates
...celebrating his 9th birthday
...a friend to share it with

...his excitement in supporting the team


...our time together


...train walk with the younger two boys
...memories of how quickly time passes
...early morning fog in a field
...that the Dr. just laughed as the boys were teasing one another and said "I don't know how you do it."
...no more tests needed

...his love of puzzles


...time with a friend to be real
...beautiful lightening storm accompanied by a gentle rain
...His nudge to remember that even in the midst of the storm he is safe and present
...making homemade playdough with Eli

...more puzzles


...how he wanted to do each one all by himself


...puzzles as place mats (because after days of work he wasn't ready to put them away)


...14 mile run (the longest run I've ever completed)

...that he got all 4 boys ready and took them to soccer early in the morning so I could run
...the boys spying on me as we ran down the street

...soccer season

...a sermon on discerning God's voice that confirmed things I feel like He has been speaking to me
...Wes spending hours in the basement to restore it to a living space once again
...an afternoon family hike through the woods

...Micaiah's brave heart as he gained a new smile

The Trains...

There is a spot in our neighborhood where you can get a really good glimpse of the MARC train coming in and out of a tunnel. On a weekday they come about every 15 minutes or so and when they come you see one coming out of the tunnel and then about 5 minutes later one going into the tunnel. You feel a big rush of wind as they pass by.

I spent many hours in this spot when Micaiah and Joshua were little...almost every afternoon we would take a walk to see "the trains." They would stand up by the fence to get a really good look at the train coming and going.

Now it's Eli and Will's turn...

Taking full advantage of the time alone with his brother...

Will is now at the age where he is really interacting with his brothers...but there is something special about his relationship with Eli (and I don't completely understand it because Eli struggles to be kind most of the time)...Wednesday when Eli was at preschool, Will wanted to go up the steps so I walked up with him...he immediately went into Eli and Joshua's room and began yelling "E"...when he didn't get an answer he ran over to his bed, climbed in and yelled again...I guess he thought he may still be sleeping...my prayer is that there relationship would strengthen as the days go by...that Eli would realize his important role as a big brother and that I would see more times where he is loving him like this...

Glimpses...

into Micaiah's 9th birthday (on the 12th)...

posing with his class...

loving on Eli...

Going to the O's game against the Rays...

Celebrating Matt Weiters homerun...with his friend (that we just happened to run into as we walked into the ballpark)

hoping for a gameball...

Happy 9th Birthday Micaiah!

Multitude Monday #1344 - #1369...

The endless list of thanks continues...

...rain drops sparkling on the leaves
...wisdom from an old journal
...Will splashing in puddles
...reading time
...smooth IEP meeting
...M + M cookies at the end of the first day of school
...a neighbors help
...perspective
...my husbands example of not holding too tightly to earthly things
...how he ended the night playing Peace on the piano
...receiving his newsletter
...the waters receding
...puzzles with Eli
...hearing him share about reading The Magician's Nephew as a class to begin their Creation unit
...giggling with the boys over Micaiah's hiccups
...back rubs
...chapel with the boys
...a sweet friends encouraging words
...his diligence in cleaning up the basement
...the sun shining!!!
...this song
...his beautiful handprint with his signature (even if it was on the wall and door of his room)

...that he has started sounding out words


...the way he approached his friend

...worship on Sunday morning
...for time to remember

10 Years Later...

I remember exactly where I was and how scared I felt knowing that things were so uncertain...I also remember a coworkers wise words...she said "Honey, you don't have to be fearful...Jesus is your rock."

Driving in the car yesterday I was listening to a CD that Wes put together for me and this song came on...A Mighty Fortress by Christy Nockels...I felt the Lord once again remind me that He is a mighty fortress in whom I can take refuge...when I got home I took some time to look up scriptures that remind me of this promise from Him...

"But the LORD has become my fortress,
and my God the rock in whom I take refuge."
Psalm 94:22

"Truly my soul finds rest in God;
my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken...
Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge."
Psalm 62: 1, 2, 5-8


"Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me."
Psalm 31:3

video: if you received this post via email please visit www.ouradventurewithboys.com to view the music video

Buddies...

Will and his buddy Cameron enjoying the Zoo today...

The Aftermath...

from Hurricane Irene and the rain/flooding that followed...
this is the only spot in the basement that wasn't damaged by water...so everything is piled in that corner on top of the guest bed...you can see the beautiful red and black asbestos tiles that were underneath the carpet padding, Wes has spent hours removing them (after sponging them with water again to reduce the dust)...you can also see the pink carpet padding and some of the carpet from before in this corner...we need to complete one side so we will have a place to put all of this stuff while we remove the carpet, padding and tiles from this section...

he has removed all of the tiles from the portion of the basement in the picture below, filled in the "termite drilling holes" that were in the foundation from years before we bought the house (that we now realize were the culprit of the water fountains in the basement) and he just started to paint the floor with some type of sealant.

I will post pictures of our progress as the weeks go on...

First and Third...

A little brotherly love on the first day of school...

Will couldn't help get in on the action...

I love this perspective...

Perspective...

After we spent a good portion of the afternoon trying to shop vac the water and emptying buckets out of the basement...we realized we were fighting a loosing battle and resorted to ripping up the carpet and carpet pad underneath.
This day began emotional for me...dropping Joshua and Micaiah off for their first day of school, Joshua's IEP meeting shortly thereafter so when I looked at the basement the emotions came around again. I left the house to go on a walk telling Wes before I left that I knew I could be thankful that it did not damage the sunroom...I had no idea I had a lot more than that to be thankful for...

Yes, this is our neighborhood playground...the houses nearby are being threatened by flood waters...not just their basements...their houses. Thank you God for prompting me to go outside for a walk...and bringing me the perspective that I needed at just the right time.

Multitude Monday #1305 - #1343...

"I only deepen the wound of a hurting world when I neglect to give thanks."
~ Ann Voskamp

The endless list of thanks continues...

...hearing Will say "Wow"...

...a beautiful purple, orange, and yellow filled sky at sunset...

...him laughing at Kettle Corn popping...

...backyard baseball...

...electric cords strung across the street...

...hearing details about his day...

...brothers asking for his autograph...

...dinner on the outside patio...

...emails of prayer requests
...power returned to our neighbors...

...the difference a friend makes...

...the way he pushed my hair back to gain my full attention...

...running into a friend...

...watching him walk in with such confidence...

...13.1 mile run (the first one that I can "remember")...

...my own caravan...

...an afternoon nap...
...sharing the couch with Eli...

...taking time to stare at his beautiful face...

...a crabcake and a baked potato...

...hearing his piano music in the house...

...the boys swimming with Mom Mom...

...a fun "Mystery Ride" to Hersheypark...

...brothers caring for one another...

...watching Wes have fun...

...the little one falling asleep on my chest...

...brave boys...

...these two laughing...

...their excitement in sharing the ride with me...

...rides just his size...
...how he turned around to see where I was...

...brothers lined up in a row...

...Eli's robot moves...
...robot races...
...Will playing with trains (even if he sits on the train table to manipulate the trains)...
...chocolate chip pancakes and bacon...
...Will's little voice saying "uh oh"...
...seeing the bottom of the laundry basket...
...rain falling...