When you decide that you want to move it can be a very difficult decision in life. You have neighbors close who you consider family that mean the world to you and you know you will miss dearly. You have fond memories that resonate in your head that will be hard to replace. You have ties and connections and so do your children. It's hard to uproot your kids and you want what is best for them in all of this as well. You do a lot of research to ensure that the place you will be moving to will meet your needs and be a wonderful place to raise your family.
We are going through all of the above right now but not with our regular home, but our church home. We have a very strong church family that we love VERY much and consider our family (some is family) but we have a VERY long commute and it has been very hard on us especially as the kids get older and we have more activities going on. We want to find a church home that is not only closer but that is biblicaly sound, a Bible teaching church is SO important to us. Not only do the beliefs (most importantly) have to be there but as mentioned in the opening paragraph, we want it to be a place where our children will be nurtured in the Word. We want it to be a place where they will have a lot of kids their own age, have great programs for them to attend and where they can build life long friendships with children close by so when they are teenagers and those tough decisions come their way in life they will have a solid set of Christian friends around to help them make good choices.
We think we have found a new church home and would appreciate your prayers as we continue our "moving" process. We still want to have ties with our old church, it would hurt to much NOT to. Before we "sign the mortgage" to or new church home so to speak we want to educate ourselves even further by continuing to attend their services, attend their new members class to gain information and we continue to pray about it so we have a peace about our new home. We appreciate your prayers as well during this "moving process" and adjustment phase in our lives.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Happy Earth Day
Happy Earth Day everyone! Our family celebrated by going to see Disney's new movie Earth.
I was worried that the kids wouldn't sit still for a 1 1/2 hour documentary but we all LOVED IT!!!!! Watching movies like these makes me so proud to be a Christian and makes me once again realize what an AMAZING Earth our Lord has created for us. I watched in awe at the incredible film. It went into full depth following tons of animals over the course of a year, our effects the earth has on them and them on it, their migrations, births, deaths, and fights for life. WOW!!!! There were some intense scenes for the kids during some hunt scenes but fortunately Disney didn't show any of the actual killings, just some of the captures.
We laughed together, got sad together, and were on the edge of our seats during a DOCUMENTARY, it truly was amazing. I still can't get the father polar bear out of my head - I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't seen it yet.
I am glad that we took our kids to see this movie and have exposed them to the wonderful circle of life that the Lord created. They enjoyed it and I could tell by the discussion and questions following that they have a deeper appreciation of it all.
I was worried that the kids wouldn't sit still for a 1 1/2 hour documentary but we all LOVED IT!!!!! Watching movies like these makes me so proud to be a Christian and makes me once again realize what an AMAZING Earth our Lord has created for us. I watched in awe at the incredible film. It went into full depth following tons of animals over the course of a year, our effects the earth has on them and them on it, their migrations, births, deaths, and fights for life. WOW!!!! There were some intense scenes for the kids during some hunt scenes but fortunately Disney didn't show any of the actual killings, just some of the captures.
We laughed together, got sad together, and were on the edge of our seats during a DOCUMENTARY, it truly was amazing. I still can't get the father polar bear out of my head - I won't ruin it for those of you who haven't seen it yet.
I am glad that we took our kids to see this movie and have exposed them to the wonderful circle of life that the Lord created. They enjoyed it and I could tell by the discussion and questions following that they have a deeper appreciation of it all.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
REFRESHED!!!
As I sit here writing this I feel REFRESHED! As a working mother those are words that seldomly come out of my mouth but that trip to the beach has left me feeling that way. If you have never been to Kiawah Island South Carolina,I highly recommend it.
They had a kids carnival that was free for the kids that was full of live entertainment, fire jugglers, climbing walls, craft stations, inflatables, all for free.
We enjoyed a great Easter on the island, the kids had fun with their baskets and hunting for eggs around the house:
It was a great time with family. My mom and dad, my brother and his wife came and it was nice relaxing with them, riding bikes around the beautiful island, exploring the beach gathering all kinds of sea life and shells (AMAZING jelly fish, star fish, crabs and shells all over the beach each day to explore), playing games and just enjoying quality time.
The island was just so beautiful. Here is a picture of Lauren exploring the islands bike paths, so pretty:
The beaches were great too. It was chillier than normal for this time of year in South Carolina but we had a few sunny beach days. Here is the view from my chair, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:
So, after a week on the beach, even though the car ride was long I am feeling REFRESHED! I thank the Lord for safe travels, and memories that will last a life time, that's what life here on earth is ALL about!!!
They had a kids carnival that was free for the kids that was full of live entertainment, fire jugglers, climbing walls, craft stations, inflatables, all for free.
We enjoyed a great Easter on the island, the kids had fun with their baskets and hunting for eggs around the house:
It was a great time with family. My mom and dad, my brother and his wife came and it was nice relaxing with them, riding bikes around the beautiful island, exploring the beach gathering all kinds of sea life and shells (AMAZING jelly fish, star fish, crabs and shells all over the beach each day to explore), playing games and just enjoying quality time.
The island was just so beautiful. Here is a picture of Lauren exploring the islands bike paths, so pretty:
The beaches were great too. It was chillier than normal for this time of year in South Carolina but we had a few sunny beach days. Here is the view from my chair, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh:
So, after a week on the beach, even though the car ride was long I am feeling REFRESHED! I thank the Lord for safe travels, and memories that will last a life time, that's what life here on earth is ALL about!!!
Friday, April 10, 2009
Spring Break!
Today is my official first day of SPRING BREAK!!!!! The car is all packed up and we are headed to Kiawah Island South Carolina, I can't wait to feel this:
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Inspired!
April 2nd was autism awareness day. Did you know that in the 1980's 1 in 10,000 children were were diagnosed with autism, now it is 1 in 150- STAGGERING.
I had heard good things about the documentary (that you can rent on DVD) "Autism the Musical" Well, Tim and I rented it and watched it this week and it is TRULY amazing. I laughed, and I cried and most of all I was INSPIRED! Not just as a special educator, but as a human being, as a proud human being at these wonderful children, they are amazing, TALENTED, curious, smart, funny, honest, raw, and just inspiring. Here is a clip of the kids in the movie I found on You Tube (be sure to press pause on my Jason Mraz music to the left before watching the clip)
All of them were an inspiration to me but Lexi just MOVED me. She was amazing. The interviews of her and her mom, how she would type what she was feeling instead of being able to say them made me realize how much she understood in her mind and couldn't express - like many of my students can. When Lexi sang it made me well up with tears, you have to listen to this she is INCREDIBLE. Who would know by listening to this beautiful voice that she suffers from autism. Here she is singing:
Please take the time to get this movie and watch it, even if you have no experience with children with autism it will move you and inspire you. Tim loved it just as much as I did, I look forward to hearing what you thought of it!
Lesley
I had heard good things about the documentary (that you can rent on DVD) "Autism the Musical" Well, Tim and I rented it and watched it this week and it is TRULY amazing. I laughed, and I cried and most of all I was INSPIRED! Not just as a special educator, but as a human being, as a proud human being at these wonderful children, they are amazing, TALENTED, curious, smart, funny, honest, raw, and just inspiring. Here is a clip of the kids in the movie I found on You Tube (be sure to press pause on my Jason Mraz music to the left before watching the clip)
All of them were an inspiration to me but Lexi just MOVED me. She was amazing. The interviews of her and her mom, how she would type what she was feeling instead of being able to say them made me realize how much she understood in her mind and couldn't express - like many of my students can. When Lexi sang it made me well up with tears, you have to listen to this she is INCREDIBLE. Who would know by listening to this beautiful voice that she suffers from autism. Here she is singing:
Please take the time to get this movie and watch it, even if you have no experience with children with autism it will move you and inspire you. Tim loved it just as much as I did, I look forward to hearing what you thought of it!
Lesley
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Busy March
The month of March is wrapping up and I can't believe it. This year is just whizzing buy which makes me excited for all we have on the horizon.
Both kids spring activities have started: Luke has soccer, baseball and continues in cubscouts, Lauren has soccer and we sign her up for cheerleading this week too.
Our good friends had a baby boy this month, here I am holding their precious baby David:
Here is Lauren taking a turn:
Luke had a big cubscout event this month: the Pinewood Derby. We were all nervous wrecks because we knew this was an intense event and were worried after the sailboat regatta disaster of his performance. Luckily a DEAR friend of mine at work has a son who is a boyscout, they had Luke over and helped him use the tools and get his painted. Luke and I got it decorated, Tim and Luke got the wheels and weights on and we knew we gave it our best shot.
Here he is on the big day:
They really go all out, Tim DJ'd so they had appropriate music and Tim did the announcing which made it a fun event for all the boys. I was just praying we wouldn't have tears this time, I was a nervous wreck. Here is the set up:
The race actually went very well and he won two of his heats, here he is celebrating his victory:
Overall Luke did a great job for his first showing winning 2 of his 4 heats and got 13th overall in his pack of about 50 boys so we were excited for that and even MORE excited that he left the event with a smile on his face.
We went out of town to a cabin in Nashville Indiana to celebrate mom's birthday, that was a nice getaway with my side of the family.
Today we had a big Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, why in the world are planned Easter Egg hunts outside so darn cold!?! Here is a view of the cold/miserable day but the kids still had a BLAST:
We went with my parents, here is Luke with my mom:
They had so many activities, a petting zoo, jump house, the Easter bunny, decorate your own cookie section, airbrush tattoo's, craft station, games, dying Easter eggs, etc. the kids had so much fun, here are a few shots:
So as March winds down I am SO ready for April, hoping for sunnier days ahead and looking forward to our vacation at Kiawah for Spring Break. I have jury duty the entire month of April and call tomorrow night to see if I have to report, so I'm sure I'll have some posts about that coming up so stay tuned. . ..
Both kids spring activities have started: Luke has soccer, baseball and continues in cubscouts, Lauren has soccer and we sign her up for cheerleading this week too.
Our good friends had a baby boy this month, here I am holding their precious baby David:
Here is Lauren taking a turn:
Luke had a big cubscout event this month: the Pinewood Derby. We were all nervous wrecks because we knew this was an intense event and were worried after the sailboat regatta disaster of his performance. Luckily a DEAR friend of mine at work has a son who is a boyscout, they had Luke over and helped him use the tools and get his painted. Luke and I got it decorated, Tim and Luke got the wheels and weights on and we knew we gave it our best shot.
Here he is on the big day:
They really go all out, Tim DJ'd so they had appropriate music and Tim did the announcing which made it a fun event for all the boys. I was just praying we wouldn't have tears this time, I was a nervous wreck. Here is the set up:
The race actually went very well and he won two of his heats, here he is celebrating his victory:
Overall Luke did a great job for his first showing winning 2 of his 4 heats and got 13th overall in his pack of about 50 boys so we were excited for that and even MORE excited that he left the event with a smile on his face.
We went out of town to a cabin in Nashville Indiana to celebrate mom's birthday, that was a nice getaway with my side of the family.
Today we had a big Easter Egg Hunt for the kids, why in the world are planned Easter Egg hunts outside so darn cold!?! Here is a view of the cold/miserable day but the kids still had a BLAST:
We went with my parents, here is Luke with my mom:
They had so many activities, a petting zoo, jump house, the Easter bunny, decorate your own cookie section, airbrush tattoo's, craft station, games, dying Easter eggs, etc. the kids had so much fun, here are a few shots:
So as March winds down I am SO ready for April, hoping for sunnier days ahead and looking forward to our vacation at Kiawah for Spring Break. I have jury duty the entire month of April and call tomorrow night to see if I have to report, so I'm sure I'll have some posts about that coming up so stay tuned. . ..
Friday, March 27, 2009
Rough Times
It has been a rough week this week. Just rough all around- not just for me and for my family but for others around me as well and that just makes it even harder. I feel sometimes as though I am walking through molasses and won’t ever have the ability to make it to the end. I keep praying for strength, for me, for my family, for others in my life going through similar challenges – for changes that need to happen to make happiness return – for many things. It’s so hard to watch those you love going through difficult times, all you can do is be there for them and hold their hand, and continue to give out hugs and uphold them in prayer, but it is also a powerless feeling .
In times like these I try to remind myself of the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on me, and bestowed on those I love. I run a constant tally in my head of all of the positives and they ALWAYS far outweigh the negatives and for that I am TRULY thankful!
I try to remind others of what they have in their lives too and be a sounding board and help them through the rough times. I feel like a counselor many days going from one person with a problem and need to the next, my heart just bleeds for them and sometimes I feel like I have nothing else to give but just when I feel that way the Lord gives me more strength, determination and care to give encouraging words to one more weary soul.
I thank the Lord for these many blessings, and pray for his strength and guidance in the moments, days, weeks, months, and years to come as we continue to make tough decisions and remain strong. I know the light is at the end of the tunnel, it ALWAYS is, I just can’t wait to reach it!
In times like these I try to remind myself of the many blessings that the Lord has bestowed on me, and bestowed on those I love. I run a constant tally in my head of all of the positives and they ALWAYS far outweigh the negatives and for that I am TRULY thankful!
I try to remind others of what they have in their lives too and be a sounding board and help them through the rough times. I feel like a counselor many days going from one person with a problem and need to the next, my heart just bleeds for them and sometimes I feel like I have nothing else to give but just when I feel that way the Lord gives me more strength, determination and care to give encouraging words to one more weary soul.
I thank the Lord for these many blessings, and pray for his strength and guidance in the moments, days, weeks, months, and years to come as we continue to make tough decisions and remain strong. I know the light is at the end of the tunnel, it ALWAYS is, I just can’t wait to reach it!
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