My life lately

I have had some ups and downs these past few weeks and it seems like just when I want life to slow down a bit, it throws us on a roller coaster instead.

I haven't been feeling so well lately due to an early miscarriage a few weeks ago combined with a change in Thyroid medication. I was on track with exercising and eating right and feeling good and now I have taken 10 steps backward. This week i have some more doctors visits to check out my heart and thyroid, so I would appreciate some prayer. Our family took a much needed vacation this past week and I haven't been this relaxed in a long time. Although that could have been because of the bubble bath i took last night:) We spent a day at Busch Gardens in Tampathen stayed in my parents RV at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. We stayed up late, and slept in late; we rode bikes, trains, buses, horse wagons, ponies, and boats; we swam in their pool and played in their new kiddie pool everyday; we grilled and ate outside; we enjoyed family time, just us and it was awesome.When we got back yesterday, we came home to a house with no running water. So we stayed at my parents house last night, now one day and 900 bucks later, we have water again.

In other news, Mike and I have been pursuing options of buying our own RV Park. It looks like one might actually work out, but I won't say where or when just yet.

If you ever get the chance to study Experiencing GOD by Henry Blackaby, do it! I went through it the first time about 15 years ago, but am enjoying it all over again and appreciating it much more. Here is a recent excerpt that hit me hard the other day

The authors says."Each day I have an appointment with God. I often wonder what happens when the God who loves me comes to meet with me. How does he feel when He asks, 'Henry where are you?' and I am not here (see Jer. 7:13). I have found this to be true in my walk with the Lord:I keep that time alone with God, not in order to have a relationship but because I have a relationship. because I have that love realtiosnhop with my Lord, I want to meeet with Him and spend time with Him. Time with Him enriches and deepens the relationship I already have with Him. I hear meany people say, 'I really struggle trying to have time alone with God.' If that is a problem you face, let me suggest something: make the priority in your life to love Him with all your heart. That will solve most of your problem with your quiet time. People who struggle to spend time with God don't have a scheduling problem; they have a love problem. You have a quiet time because you know Him and therefore love Him, not just because you want to learn more about Him. The Apostle Paul said Christ's love compelled or constrained him

(see 2Cor. 5:14)"

taken from unit 3 day 3

bold letters done by me for emphasis

I don't want to let all other "inconviences" and "interupptions" in my life to crowd my love for God. My priority needs to be pursuing my love relationship with God above all else.

Library Books

It has been a while, but we finally made a trip to the library again.  These are the books we have been reading the last 2 weeks.  The last two are some repeats, and favorites of the boys.  All of these books are so imaginative and fun to read

Circus

Roller Coaster

Go To the Doctor

Look out, Suzy Goose

Emergency

Dig Dig Digging

cement day

This is for Gail...:)

it is no suprise that the kids ideal day would be to spend all day at the Campground with Daddy.  As well, they both have a great love for Cement Trucks.

This was last years cement day at our house when we first started our addition.

And these are some pictures from Woodsmoke the other day when the men were pouring a cement pad.  We got the kids up early, picked up some bagels from Panera and brought them to the guys, and they helped Daddy pour cement.  What a fun day!

What the boys are loving right now!

Getting Soaked and Filthy!

Owen's required item for playing outside: sunglasses 

Caeden's required item for playing outside: shovel 

Puddle Splashing!

Playing in the rain

Fun with the hose

Answered Prayer

My oldest boy has had glasses for 2 years now.  He was born with a dermoid on the lateral border of the iris in his right eye.  When he was 2 years of age our pediatrician recommended we see a Pediatric Opthamologist to further diagnose his eye.  Through several doctors visits we found out that he had an astigmatism and amblyopia and would need to wear glasses at all times and  a patch for 2  hours a day (on the good eye).  Last week we had another check up with the doctor and received a huge answer to prayer.  His eyesight has improved so much that he no longer needs glasses!! Amazing.  The doctor wants him to wear a patch on the good eye for up to an hour a day. In order to do that we need to either use the patch we have that fits on his glasses, but pop out the lens on the left eye or find a cool pirate patch like this ...

 I am so thankful that we serve a God that heals and a God that truly bends down an listens to the prayers of his people.  

We will return to the doctor in 8 months to re-check 

his eyesight as well in July, we are taking Owen to the 

opthamologist for his first eye exam since amblyopia can

run in the family.

It's a boy

I previously posted this really quickly because I had just received the news that Amber is expecting a boy due Oct. 10, 2009.  I didn't had time to explain myself before, so, now I will.

My sister, Amber, and her husband, Sam,  have lived over in Italy for 2  1/2 years now as missionaries with Saints Bible Institute.  It is a place where christian college students can study abroad for a semester, receive training in Biblical Theology and Missions and travel throughout Italy.   Sam is the dean of students and Amber teaches Italian to the students.   The school is located in San Lorenzo, Italy which is northeast of Venice.

It was founded by Amber's in-laws (Sam and Chris Spatola) who 11 years ago also founded  Saints Equiped to Evangelize. (SEE)

SEE is a ministry that utilizes short term missions teams to travel Italy in the summer preaching the good news of Jesus and connecting them with local church plants around the country.  I have had the privilege of being involved on a missions team back in 2001 and it was an experience I will never forget.  We were located in Trieste, Italy, during the day we scoured the streets with evangelism and tract distribution, and at night time we performed ministry through mimes and songs in order to draw a crowd in the piazzas, then at the end someone would preach God's salvation message through an interpreter.  I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a life-changing missions adventure in Europe.

If anyone knows of any college students that would jump at the chance to study abroad in Italy, then please contact here  to obtain information.

In October, Owen and I will be flying over to Italy to meet the little bambino and help care for him and my sister.  My parents will be over there as well, but for a longer stay.  I am really excited to be there to purely serve my sister through the birth of her firstborn son, although the location does make it a little sweeter.

Can't wait to see you Am, I love you