driving, driving, driving!

WOAH Beth changed her blog!!! I don't think I can navigate it myself! I am somewhat handicapped on the blogging.

On this historic day, I achieved a newsworthy feat: PASSING THE RIGOROUS INSPECTION FOR A WISCONSIN DRIVER LICENSE AND MARATHON COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY CARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What? That doesn't sound newsworthy? Trust me, if you are born in Africa and apply to drive in WI, it takes an Act of Congress to be declared American! I chuckled at the counter when the lady said she felt like she knows me from somewhere-I wanted to shout, "IT'S FROM HERE! I HOPE TO NOT COME BACK!" We enjoyed browsing the library as bonified members. I will not take those rights for granted again.

In celebration, the Andersons are hosting a party this evening, inviting all Wisconsin legal drivers to attend. I know for sure one hot FedEx legal driver will be attending. We are having homemade twinkies.

I would post a picture of my new license, but for obvious reasons, I will not. You think it's so no one will steal my identity. Oh, no, it's because I don't actually have the card in my possession. That's right: Wisconsin prints them elsewhere and mails them allegedly in a timely manner. I will believe that when I see it! Cheers.

mpo na Jason

In response to acquaintances continually complaining about their significant others, I am dedicating this post to listing why I APPRECIATE and LOVE my husband!

1. He loves God. What more could I ask for?

2. He is faithful to me. He comes home every evening to spend time with us. I never wonder where he is.

3. Jason is hilarious and always lifts my spirits when I least expect it.

4. He seems to sense my fatigue and takes over with the kids.

5. He eats everything I cook, without complaint!

6. He loves music with a passion matching mine!

7. Jason is an excellent driver, obviously.

8. He puts family before TV or sports games [if needed :-)]

9. If I blurt out feelings while Jason is reading something, he will mark his place, look up, and listen so he can pay attention.

10. Back Scratches!!

11. He loves our two boys and is careful to discipline them, teach them, and play with them like a father should.

12. If I am into a hobby he will research online and buy me gifts to further that hobby and help maintain, for instance, my bike.

13. He always changes the oil and inflates the tires on our vehicles!

14. Jason doesn't spend big money on big toys (although I am sure he would like to).

15. He doesn't pick fights.

16. He is a family man I love and can trust.

Plus he is hot and rocks on the bass. I am so thankful to God for my studly husband Jason!

Faith like a child

I have a new favorite song almost every week. If you asked me today what it is, I would say "Praise Him," a song I have been meditating on for about a month. Not many words, but oh how deep and meaningful it is to live like this:

Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children!
God is love,
God is love,
Praise Him, Praise Him, all ye little children!
God is love,
God is love.

THANK HIM, thank Him, all ye little children. . .

SERVE HIM, serve Him, all ye little children. . .

LOVE HIM, love Him, all ye little children. . .


If we praise, thank, serve, and love Him, our joy is complete!

I love the Bible story book I just finished with the boys, "The Jesus Storybook Bible-Every story whispers his name." I have gotten choked up often as I read the tender words of God's plan for humanity-to restore us to Him. I want to share the last story we read today, in the hopeful words designed for children-and adults.

A dream of heaven:

John was one of Jesus' helpers. He was old now and living on an island, which might sound nice except it was a prison. (The Leaders put him there to stop him from talking about Jesus, but I'm sure you don't think a little thing like being in a cell, in a prison, on an island, in the middle of an ocean, could stop God's Plan, do you?)

One morning, Jesus appeared-right there, in John's cell. Jesus' eyes were bright, shining like the sun. "I am going to show you a secret, John," Jesus said, "about when I come back." His voice was like the sound of rushing waters. "Write down what you see so God's children can read it, and wait with happy excitement."

Then Jesus gave John a beautiful dream-except John was wide awake and what he saw was real and one day it would all come true. . .

I see a throne. And on the throne is a king. And the King is Jesus. All around the throne people are bowing down. They are giving him their treasures.

There are loud cheers and clapping, clapping and bright laughter like a thousand waterfalls and everyone bursts out singing a new song. . .

"This is our King! The Lamb who died, so we don't have to-our Rescuer. All Honor and Glory! Forever and ever." And every creature everywhere, in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, joins in.

And then
From all around
A wide
Immense
Beautiful
S i l e n c e

And I see Satan-God's horrible enemy-thrown down, defeated.

I see a sparkling city shimmering in the sky: glittering, glowing-coming down!
From heaven.
And from the sky.
Heaven is coming down to earth!

God's city is beautiful. Walls of topaz, jasper, sapphire. Wide streets paved with gold. Gleaming pearl gates that are never locked shut.

Where is the sun? Where is the moon? They aren't needed anymore. God is all the Light people need. No more darkness! No more night!

And the King says, "Look! God and his children are together again.
No more crying or being lonely or afraid.
No more being sick or dying.
Because all those things are gone.
Yes, they're gone forever.
Everything sad has come untrue. And see-I have wiped away every tear from every eye!"

And then a deep, beautiful voice that sounded like thunder in the sky says, "Look, I am making everything new!"

It was hard to squeeze all John saw into words. And fit it onto a page. And cram it into a book. All the words on all the pages of all the books in all the world would never be enough.

"I am the Beginning," Jesus said, "and the Ending!"

One day, John knew, Heaven would come down and mend God's broken world and make it our true, perfect home once again.

And he knew, in some mysterious way that would be hard to explain, that everything was going to be more wonderful for once having been so sad.

And he knew then that the ending of The Story was going to be so great, it would make all the sadness and tears and everything seem like just a shadow that is chased away by the morning sun.

"I'm on my way," said Jesus. "I'll be there soon!"

John came to the end of his book. But he didn't write "The End." Because, of course, that's how stories finish. (And this one's not over yet.)

So instead, he wrote: "Come quickly, Jesus!"

Which, perhaps, is really just another way of saying. . .To Be Continued. . .

May you wait with happy excitement as I am! :-)

Trusting

Have you ever cried at the Department of Motor Vehicles? That was a first for me. I had a day yesterday that I hope to not repeat anytime soon. On my 5th trip to try to get my WI license, toting 2 kids and enough toys and snacks for a weekend campout, after a good wait the very knowledgable staff informed me that without proof of my citizenship, I could not get a license. Bear in mind I couldn't care less about the license, but I have been drooling over a Wausau area library card for almost 3 months, which requires a license. It was the last straw. In my logical mind, I couldn't conceive how having an original birth certificate from Africa, a valid MT driver's license, a SS card, an expired passport, and 11 years legal driving experience wasn't enough! Apparently Wisconsin does not recognize me as an American. Haha, I can laugh about it now! I'm not sure what the next step is, but it involves a green card (which I failed to keep when I was smuggled in to the US in a drug suitcase). They were very helpful in giving me the immigration hotline though.


That was the morning. Then I broke a jar of applesauce all over the clean floors and cut my hand, the kids got into some grease and smeared it all over their new fall clothing, got two more medical bills from Montana, the boys refused to nap, and we got word that cousin Anna was in the hospital possibly with appendicitus.


All that to say, GOD IS GOOD. After my meltdown at the DMV, God gave me a strange peace and I saw "one of those bad days" in a whole new light. How privileged I am to live in a free country! What a blessing to have free libraries that I will eventually get to use. How arrogant of me to assume a library card and driver's license is my "right!" I am thankful for laughter-what a gift to get us through those compoundedly awful days. Then Jason's parents arrived with our beautiful new furniture from Jason's brother, and lots of fresh vegetables! God knew when the sun came up, that yesterday was going to be a character-building day He would faithfully see me through. I am still chosen, adopted, redeemed, and cherished by the Almighty God.


When He has purified me with fire, I shall come forth as pure gold. What a treasure! To add to that, I love my beautiful family! Here is a short photoshoot after church on Sunday.

My most handsome groom. Yep, he still does it for me!

I sure do love these boys!!!

Thanks for reading. Hope this week was strangely peaceful for you as well.

More of the same

This week was much like the previous weeks. I like pictures to capture our doings. We slept.

Splashed at the splash park. (Some of us. Some of us were kind of timid and others of us preferred to read books; but at least one of us got really wet!)

We built things.

Blew some bubbles, of course.

Did the chores. . .

Hiked.

Looked cute.

Hiked some more!

It was a great week! The highlight for me was definitely checking out a new church. New Hope Christian Church is farther from our house than we were hoping to drive, so we were hoping to cross it off our list. Instead-we loved it! The plan now is to continue looking at a few more local churches, but know that we have one we're excited about. God reminded me that HE KNOWS what we need and long for. He showed us a church where peoples' faiths are real and alive, they love God and they love each other! My favorite part was their worship style. They have a contemporary band sing new choruses, then in a different part of the service they bring out the organ and piano and play a hymn medley! I think that would be the perfect compromise for many churches! We'll see.

The boys are growing. Jonas is saying tons of words now, which kind of alarms Jason and I when we're not expecting it. You ask Caedmon where something is and Jonas answers, "I don't know." Caed is growing in wisdom, stature, and in favor with his brother. :-) We are very proud he's learning to share things BEFORE a fit and spanking. He is big enough to reason with which is refreshing! He often sees something Jonas has that he wants, and says, "When Jonas is done playing with it then I can have it, ok?" YES some of our parenting is paying off!

Well that is enough musings of a bored housewife I suppose. Have a wonderful week because He lives!

Camping!

We had a great weekend camping at a local park. There are interesting cliffs alongside a river, and nice hiking trails following the river. We are happy to live so close to a pretty getaway!

Caedmon did well using the wilderness restroom, and Jonas kept mimicking him, although I am trying to NOT start potty training anytime soon!

Poor Jonas looked like a neglected orphan after camping. There ARE mosquitos in Wisconsin! We did try to DEET them up, but their faces still took a beating. Stay away from my babies!!! It is a catch 22 though as you know, you spray them up and clothe them well, but you don't want to mess with DEET in the eyes, and you all stink and stick to the sleeping bags when you go to bed. Why do we love camping?

Because of the campfire! This was a happy little group until some one year-old whose name will go unmentioned burned Jason with his fire stick. After that the pyromaniac minimum age lifted to 2 years old. Yes, it was Jason's idea to start the manly fire-poking.

In other news, I am LOVING all the fresh produce that accompanies Jason's parents when they stop through here. I now have 1 day-old potatoes, sweet onions, beets, green peppers, carrots, green beans, sugar snap peas, lettuce, and sweet peas. I am giddy with the possibilities for dinners this week! My family will be green yet! We'll see if Jonas still avoids vegetables like the plague if that's all he gets served for a month!

God did something cool for us this week. I was fuming angry at an overdue charge for materials I had returned, totaling $75. Before I could call them, I prayed that I would respond in a way honoring to Christ. Sure enough, Jason came home and said they had called him and it was a mistake. YES!

Have a great week, everyone. Enjoy these last few minutes of summer! Then comes fall, and I believe I now live in a state MADE for fall colors! I can't wait!

Hello friends! I am brand new at this blogging thing, but am excited to join the trend. First of all, I look forward to showing off the beautiful boys God has entrusted to us! Secondly I am looking forward to having a semi-public venue to journal all God has been teaching me. It seems facebook statuses are not sufficient to keep close friends and family up to date on what truly is going on in our lives.

That being said I labeled this thing Contentment. That certainly is a lesson I am in the midst of learning! I have been convicted reading how the Israelites griped and complained about the manna they HAD to eat, all the while coveting what they used to have in Egypt. I will not look back and think of what could be. God has planted me here in WI and I will be so thankful for another breath!

Now the family update I guess. Am I doing this right? :-) This week we went up to Jason's old hometown to watch his sister run a marathon. It was fun to take the boys to Lake Superior. I think a bathtub would be just as much fun if you get to throw rocks in it.

We also went swimming and enjoyed ice cream cones.

Finally, we had a sad night last night when Jonas slept in a toddler bed for the first time. He loved it! He was way ready and I'm sure it will be more convenient for me, but I hate to lose my baby!

Ok, so obviously I don't know how to move pictures under their appropriate headings yet. Anybody have a hint?