068|366 {Perfect}...

Mid 70's, yard full of kids playing soccer until the sun sets, the pup and an out of focus picture➡️perfect!

...click here to view my365 Project...

004|366 {Above}...

he had a great idea for the "above" prompt...practicing the scorpion kick⚽️. This is the best way I've found to have the older kids participate...let them come up with the idea for the picture.

Josh and Team Argentina...

Josh AKA "The Human Shield" had a blast this season playing with some friends on Team Argentina...

Soccer, Soccer, Soccer...

Because Wes helps coach both Eli and Josh's team I'm often the one running Micaiah to and from his games and rarely see the other boys play.  I made it to a game when my dad was in last weekend and took some pictures.  I hope to make it to some of Josh's last game this Saturday.

Soccer at Cape May

Here are some snapshots of Micaiah from the soccer tournament...

Soccer Saturday...

 Joshua saving a penalty kick!

 Eli giving the ball a swift kick!

 Micaiah and his buddies cheering on Eli's team and laughing at Will's crazy cheering!

Will and his buddy keeping busy at the soccer field.

13!!!

I really can't believe that our oldest turned 13.  Wow, time flies when you're having fun!

Our neighbor made him a beautiful soccer cake.

 He received a present that he was a little excited about:)

 and he played some soccer...

 As I posted on my Instagram feed...

"Happy 13th to our firstborn Micaiah. You are such a joy. Micaiah I'm thankful for our sweet conversations. I'm thankful for your determination and drive. I'm thankful that you're a willing photography assistant 😉. I pray you know the richness of God's pursuing love for you today and everyday!"

Week 17:52 {Birds Eye View}...

of the soccer game going on in the front yard as the sun sets...

...click here to view previous posts of Project52...

Multitude Mondy #4323 - #4346...

 “Joy is the realest reality, the fullest life, and joy is always given, never grasped. 

 God gives gifts and I give thanks and I unwrap the gift given: joy.” 

Ann Voskamp

Today along with the Gratitude Community I list his gifts from the week...all pictures were taken with my iphone...

...coming across this great reminder one morning...

...kitchen floor snuggles with Will one afternoon...while I was making lunch he kept coming over and trying to get my attention...so often I just keep on doing what I'm doing as I talk to him but this afternoon I stopped and got down on the floor with him and loved on him and he kept saying "do it again Mommy"...

...the joy in his heart as he jumps in a pile of leaves and says "I love autumn"...

...coming across this gem one morning...
"Yet he took note of their distress
    when he heard their cry; 
 for their sake he remembered his covenant    and out of his great love he relented. 
Psalm 106:44-45

...hearing Eli read "Green Eggs and Ham"...

...a night out with good friends...great conversation, great food and pumpkin cheesecake to end the evening...

 ...seeing this out our front door one morning...there is something so mysterious and beautiful about fog that makes you stop and slow...

...coming across this promise one morning...Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

...little "munchkin man"...

...family picture idea coming to fruition FINALLY...

...a family dinner around the table...candle lit, table set and boys loud and laughing...

...friends all gathered at our home for homeschool science one afternoon...

...a dinner party to celebrate a friends 40th birthday where we laugh long into the evening...

...studying Judges 11 with my CBS class and coming across this little nugget of wisdom regarding Jephthah in vs 3...
"Circumstances beyond his control forced Jephthah away from his people and into life as an outcast.  Today, both believers and nonbelievers may drive away those who do not fit the norms dictated by society, neighborhoods, or churches.  Often, as in Jephthah's case, great potential is wasted because of prejudice--a refusal to look beyond ill-conceived stereotypes.  Look around you and see if there are potential Jephthahs being kept out due to factors beyond their control.  As a Christian you know that everyone can have a place in God's family.  Can you do anything to help these people gain acceptance for their character and abilities?"

...this song and its truth..."I know who goes before me...I know who stands behind...the God of angel armies is always by my side"... 



...being in the classroom with the boys for American Education Week...

...my husband that lovingly reminds me to take one step at a time and to remember that God already knows whats next...

...shoebox packing party with Operation Christmas Child...

...taking my little train man to the holiday train garden for the afternoon...

...and for the photographer in me...achieving bokeh in the above iPhone picture...

...a full, fun soccer season coming to an end...

Multitude Monday #4206 - #4236...

"All of my life 

in every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship..."

Desert Song by Brooke Fraser 

Today along with the Gratitude Community I list his gifts from the past few weeks because I know that thanking Him in the little things shows He is near and present...

...impromptu neighborhood gathering...

...completing day 14 of the Whole 30 detox...

...Joshua's determination to conquer "the hill" on his bicycle...

...a beautiful afternoon to watch Micaiah play soccer uninterrupted...

...seeing our brokenness and realizing our need for Christ in the midst of difficult parenting moments...

...conversations that are hard but necessary...

...bike rides after lunch with Joshua and Will...

...hearing "Hi Mama."...

...a small group of friends that are determined to get to the heart of the matter and support Wes and I as we journey along...

...read alouds by the swing set on a beautiful afternoon...

...morning run with a friend that asks "how is your heart in all of this?"...

...neighbors that hang out while the kids play until after dark...

...a field trip to the quarry...

...the lovely ladies in my writing group that listen while I weep reading some of my recent struggles...

...their encouragement and support that follows...

...a yard full of kids...

...the morning quiet...

...a 5 mile run with my old training group...

...watching Wes enjoy time with friends...

...studying Joshua with a small group of women at CBS...

...Joshua's example of faithfulness and trustworthiness as a leader of the Israelites...  
-"Joshua believed God.  He believed that He would act as He had promised, despite outward circumstances.  That's the meaning of faith-it's believing God's word, even if our life situations show no sign or hope of immediate change." 

..."Thank you Mommy" from Will when I told him I would take him to our old neighborhood playground...

...doctors that help counsel...

...school at the library one morning...

...realizing that through all of this tough stuff with injuries, my grandmothers death and difficult parenting issues that God lovingly prepared me last summer to walk this road... 

...Joshua 3:4 "Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before."  That He desires to show us the way into the unknown if we choose to trust Him...

...a friends help...

...the best chicken you will ever eat... 

...the creative outlet of photography...

...reading this in my CBS study and knowing that God was speaking to me about a situation I felt ill equipped for... 

"God never commissions anyone for a task without equipping that individual with His power and wisdom to accomplish it.  The task ahead of Joshua is a difficult one, but he has the faith in God which the assignment before him required.  He has witnessed God's faithfulness in the past and he trusts God's promises for the future."

...afternoon shadows and the "puzzle man"...