at home

We're home from vacation, and it was wonderful! Very relaxing, very beautiful. In fact, I've had a few moments to go through my pictures, and they just don't do it justice. We praise God for many days of safe travel. Sadly, I am leaving today to head up to Minnesota for my Grandma Ring's funeral. She left us suddenly, but peacefully. We, too, have peace knowing that for her it is only the beginning of an eternity with her Savior in Heaven. She will be dearly missed by all those who loved her, but we rejoice in her life and the many years we had with her!

We are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
2 Corinthians 5:8

Seven Years

The gift for seven years of joy
Is copper, hard and cold.
But you deserve much more than that.
You're worth your weight in gold.
We've been through many things together-
Times we won't forget.
Some were fun, some were hard,
But none that left regret.
We have two sons to love and cherish.
They have your hair and smile.
I'm proud to parent them with you-
A job that's most worthwhile.
It's been a wild ride so far,
No sign of losing steam.
So let's celebrate! Let's toast to Us!

We make a top-notch team!

Happy Anniversary!

A Little Bird

Maybe if I sit up in the tree with this little bird, I will be able to get some perspective on this crazy week. Some thoughts:

• My evening small group finished the Truth Project series this week. It has been a metamorphoo- a transforming experience for me, and this last session was the convergence of all the previous sessions. The Sphere of Community: God cares, do I? Well, do I?? Matthew 22:33-40 & Luke 10:30-37 are seen with fresh eyes, as are many other things, due to this series. It is impossible to come away unchanged.
• Additionally, I had my normal women's morning bible study, and I tried out a new study here in my neighborhood. We went to our church's saturday evening service, for the first time as a family. If I was on a spiritual high, I suppose you could say that I was brought down a few notches when we had to leave early because my sweet 3 year old pee'd on my lap during the service, while he was napping. I'm not sure if that qualifies as spiritual warfare, but it was interesting.
• I need to have all four wisdom teeth removed next month. Enough said.
• I've taken over most of the work that my landscapers are supposed to do. But they don't do it right, and I'm too cowardly to fire them. It took me most of the week to get caught up, but it's such satisfying work.
• WTI is over, but now we're back to being the airport shuttle. Sometimes it's hard to believe that this is our break.
• Yet, in the midst of all this activity, I don't think we really feel established. Maybe that's why we're doing so much running around. In the words of Anne of Green Gables: "Marilla," she demanded presently, "do you think that I shall ever have a bosom friend in Avonlea?"