Lake Ida Minnesota!

We're back from "my side" of the family reunion in Minnesota.  We had a great time being together and the cousins had endless fun.   There was all kinds of activities to be shared... fishing, frog catching, botchy ball, smores, monster (Titus was the honorary monster all week), tickling and lots random running around.  We got to visit a water park and a state fair where on a whim Jarrod and I put Josiah and Titus on a cute and seemingly  harmless "little kid" roller coaster.  The boy's deer in the head light look remained in tack the entire ride and Jarrod and I never laughed so hard.  We never truly could decipher if they enjoyed it.  

And the last night there everyone but myself  (didn't feel well) attended the demolition derby.   It was Jarrod's first and he said he loved it.  I think it's true-men never do grow out of smashing cars into each other.

Cousin Willy and Titus

Madeline and Grandpa

Grammy and Steve

Uncle Jarrod

Aunt Steph and (Percy) Priscilla

Titus and Uncle Dan

Cousin Henry to whom I am the proud Godmother

Aunt Deb and Madeline

All the cousins, but Henry

Grandparents and Grand kids

I had to include these last two photos.

  This is Titus at the local restaurant where we enjoyed dinner one night.  I think grandpa took this picture of him.  (Take note of the folks behind him. )  The next I saw was Titus taking pictures of Grandpa with the camera.  But, apparently, he wanted to try out his photography skills on some other dinner mates.

Because the next day I was perusing my photos and found..... 

this picture...of the folks.... we don't know...

I've pondered over this, so many questions left unanswered here..  

Done

Preparing a house to sell while simultaneously caring for two rambunctious and perpetually hungry children....

I wish it for no one.  

Thankfully, I've survived to tell about it.

The only concern now is that the boys haven't experienced any residual scarring from the unusually large amount of time left to play unattended, learning to prepare their own food at a young age or the heightened impatience of a certain someone :(. 

What's that about children being resilient???

So, we're moving.

There I said it.  I feel better now.  I have been contemplating how to break the news on my blog.  There just didn't seem like a good way, but that was easy.  Simple and straightforward.

Now the only thing left is an explanation.  

And I hope to do that soon, but I'm afraid I can't right now.  I am knee deep in getting our house ready to put on the market, and I just don't believe I have the emotional energy to write about it or figure out how I want to say everything.  

I will say that it's very exciting!  What's happening is an amazing God story.  And there is so much to look forward to.  But it's very emotional too, saying goodbye to so much and so many.  So, it's complicated.. not the situation... my emotions I suppose, which then translates into my blog post.  wow, you get the point, don't you?

Even still, something happened tonight that I had to share.  Jarrod and I have been trying to break the news to the boys about moving. Really Josiah because I'm not sure Titus would completely understand at this point.  Anyway, the other night, Jarrod told Josiah that we were going to move to NY and have a new house.  He mentioned being close to Grammy and  Grandpa and also making new friends.  Josiah looked at Jarrod intently the entire time and when Jarrod was done there was a brief pause.  "Daddy, can we play fight?"

That was it, no acknowledgement of the life altering news just shared.  Just a request to wrestle.  So as you can see, we weren't so sure it was sinking in.

But tonight the boys and I went to target and on the car ride home, out of the blue Josiah said, "Mommy, I am going to have to tell David and Tyler (friends at church)  goodbye because we are going to a new house." 

Me:  "That's right buddy and you could give them a hug and tell them you are so glad you are friends and that you will miss them."  

Josiah:  Yeah.

Josiah again:  Will we have to get a new Jesus?

 That's right, he really did ask that.

Me: "No, baby, Jesus will be with us where ever we go. And He'll be the same Jesus.  He never changes Josiah."

Four year old's have the funniest thoughts sometimes, but after reflecting on it-his question was pretty legitimate.  I guess he is thinking it through after all. 

 And honestly answering it was a great reminder.

Almost every inch of life will change, but His book says He is the same yesterday, today and forever.  

My God will never change and He will never not be with me.

* Double negative intended ;)

  

Relive it with me.

So would you mind joining me in ignoring the fact that I have been ignoring my blog?  I haven't even visited my friends blogs from the guilt that would follow from my neglecting my very own. oh so sad, or is pitiful a better description?

 

Well, for those of you still hanging in there despite the lapse in posting, here are some pictures from our trip to the beach.  It was last month some time.  i don't care to look at my calender to find out exactly when since that would require me calculating how long it's been since blogging. 

The beach was divine.  Maybe that's why I haven't blogged?  It was too hard re-entering reality after I got back from our trip.  Yes, that's it.  It was just too much for me.

 

The trip though was prefect timing in our summer schedule with jarrod being gone so much.  It was a great time of sunning, swimming and..  i'm trying to find another S word here, but it's not coming.  Jarrod's mom came too, which made it extra special.

  

We found a little bay where there were no waves and you could walk out forever and still only be knee deep in water.   The boys LOVED it.  It was so great seeing them enjoy the beach.  We went to the same beach last year, but the boys were a little too young to play as they did this time.  

I was surprised though that Josiah actaully remebered the conference center that Jarrod's camp/event was at.  He seems to have a keen memory for those things.

We just had a few mental connections that needed rewiring for Titus.  

First was helping him remember that despite his last several encounters with the water (swim lessons), it was not neccessary to cry as soon as he saw water, and that pre touture lessons he really did enjoy playing in the water.

And second, that sand, although having the appearance of snow, was in fact not snow at all.   

 It took the 1st couple of days, but both eventually down loaded onto the hard drive so to speak.

Enjoy the beach!

                                          

                                            

                                            

 
                                                 

  
                                          

Update

So, I gave Jarrod our silhouette's and I think he really liked them (as much as a guy can be excited about silhouette's!)   The only thing was the look on his face when he saw his portrait confirmed my suspicion that his needed just a little more editing. :)

Here they are revised.  It's amazing how the tiniest slivers took about 150 pounds off Jarrod. Much more accurate now.

                                            

Trading candy or iron for silhouettes

This weekend marks 6 years of marriage for Jarrod and myself.  As a gift to us I decided to stretch my creative juices and make silhouettes of us to hang above our beds.  That part of our bedroom has been barren since the beginning of time for us,  and it was about time I found something to put there! 

Jarrod is driving home from Texas today and I have not given him our presents, so if you read this today and for some reason happen to be in contact with him, please don't spill the beans!   Jarrod  if you are reading this before you get home stop here!

okay, so here they are.

   

                                      

These are actually not hard to make.  I think I could have been more precise with my cutting, but then again, I am no perfectionist!

With out getting all mushy gushy, I can truly say I am so thankful for our marriage.  It is in fact a gift from God.  Although not always easy or perfect, it is great.  And it has actually only been uphill since we shared vowes 6 years ago.  I say this not to boast, but to be able to say our marriage is what it is today because it's based on the author and foundation of love, Jesus Christ.  Colossian 1:17  says, He (Jesus)is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Jarrod performed his 1st wedding  (his cousin Kaley's) a few weeks ago and there was a part where he urged the bride and groom to love Jesus first so that they might love one another as they deserve (I think he got that part from our pastor).  It is true that God is the author of love and with that He has the prescription for making love work.  I am just grateful He gives us the strength to live out the prescription, otherwise it would just be words.

Thank you God for my husband and the 6 years shared!

By the way, if you are ever looking for a great marriage resource, I enjoy this ministry.

Wordless Wednesday-Vacation Bible School

Titus and friends, Averi and Joshua

Enjoying a cookie with icing!

Josiah on the playground (doing what he loves most).

A major archaeological find-a dinosaur tooth.

Titus and Co. during craft time.  Picture frames!