Brothers

Sparing partners and best friends…I love seeing them together and pray they will always be close!

Our Princess

Two months already and SUCH a treasure!  We’re enjoying her immensely! 

My Second Treasure

My three and a half year old who loves every bit as hard as he plays! 

My Firstborn

Almost seven already…how does that happen?

My Beautiful Family

Special thanks to our dear friend and photographer, Jenn of Ruby Hill Photography!

She’s Here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our princess arrived on March 31st at 6:25 pm PST!  Even though she weighed 9 lbs, 3 oz and was 21 1/4 inches long she made it easy on mom and continues to do so!  She’s a sweet baby and we’re enjoying her so much! 

Things Are About to Change Around Here!

We're gearing up for a much awaited change around here! Pink has invaded the house, the pack 'n play has been set up and THE suitcase has been packed! Our precious gift is due to arrive March 25th, but I'm hoping I get to introduce you to her before that! :)
Have a beautiful day, friends!

My Beautiful Family

A Million Miles

When your mama turns 50, you can’t be there to embrace her.  A million continent miles stand between you.   

Your heart clenches tight, your eyes leak your pain, and you’re sure a million miles just might kill you. 

You’ve counted the cost.  And you do it again.  A million miles offered up on the altar.    

But as you watch them burn up (sweet aroma to Him, you pray), you think of another million miles.  The chasm between God and man. 

Though it’s long been bridged by God Man blood,  (and by grace, through faith you’ve crossed it), still so few know that Eternal Balm came to mend the million mile tear in their hearts.  You have to stay and tell them. 

A million miles.  How strange that the thing that rends your heart is the very thing that compels you to stay.

I Love Being a Mother

 

Darling Little Redhead and El Principito,

I’m so blessed to be your mother!  Thank you for all the joy, laughter, hugs, kisses, creativity, fun and LOVE you bring to my every day!  I love you! 

Mom  

Dear Mom, I Think I Know How You Feel

Dear Mom,

I think I know how you feel. 

They left again today.  So excited to be heading towards their dream. 

New home.

New ministry.

New life.   

In my mind, I’m happy for them.  Thrilled really.  It’s so obvious that they were created for this. 

In my heart though, I’m sad.  So, so sad for all the things that I must release to wistful “Someday”.    

Daily phone calls about, “What’s for dinner?” and “They had broccoli at the supermarket.” and “El Principito said ‘I love you’!” 

Spontaneous coffee dates. 

Hugs.  The really tight kind. 

Taking way too long to figure out who’s hosting Friday night dinner. 

Now those things are lost in yesterday.  From here on out, we’ll always be playing catch up.  Trying to somehow find time to fill each other in on the important details of life.  

And the small ones, the ones that I find so comforting and familiar, their telling will be lost in that elusive 25th hour of the day. 

What’s more, I fear there’s coming a time when they’ll mention something that has become commonplace to them, and I will have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.  Their life is so different from mine now.  

Just as it should be.  They’re following hard after Jesus and I’m inspired by Him in them.      

Unfortunately, inspiration doesn’t prevent grief.   My humanity can’t escape the heart squeezing, tear falling, lonely moments.         

Up until now, I’ve always been the one leaving family behind.  My heart still ached, but then grief was tempered by firm conviction in God’s plan, excitement for dreams come true, amazement at God’s provision and care, perhaps even by mere relief to be finally settled in one place again. 

But now, I’m the one staying.  This time, I’m wearing your shoes, Mom.  And it hurts.  Oh, does it hurt to know what you’re losing. 

You never told me what tremendous resolve it takes to smile and cheer when you really want to tie a brick around their ankles and beg them to stay forever. 

I’m wondering if maybe it’s not the ones who “Go” who sacrifice most, but the ones who stay behind.

I think I know now, at least in part, how you must feel when I’m the one boarding the plane, carrying your grandbabies off to distant lands when they’ve only just began to know who you are. 

I’m so glad I have your example, Mom.  You’ve counted the cost for Jesus and it has made it easier for me to do the same.

Both in the leaving and in the loving of one leaving. 

Counting all things lost,

Shilo

What’s a Wedding Without a Little Music?

Admittedly, things can get a little serious around here at My Place of Peace since this is where I process what is going on inside my heart.  So I thought it was time for something fun! 

This is an assignment which I completed in the second grade.  I found it when we were packing to move to Paraguay.  It makes me smile every time I read it!   

“Yesterday we went to my Grandma Bert’s wedding.  It was small.  Shayna (my sister) screamed halfway through it.  Then she ran to the nursery.  Last of all we ate.” 

In response, my teacher said, “Well, what’s a wedding without a little music?  I bet that’s why your mom brought Shayna.” 

Did your parents save any of your early writings?  Are you saving any of your kids’ school assignments? 

Mother of Six?

As of March 1st, I will officially be mother of six!  No, I’m not pregnant with quadruplets, but we do have the joy of dorming my three nephews and niece as their parents move into a new ministry in a remote tribal location. 

We are inspired by this family and their collective desire to sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel, part of which requires them to be separated for much of the school year. 

We are also glad that we are here to do all we can to help them through this difficult adjustment.  We would really appreciate your prayers for them and for us as we head into this new reality!  They need God’s grace and strength as they say the very difficult goodbyes and adjust to their new homes!  We need wisdom to be sensitive to the needs of our new “kids” as they go through this transition.  

I have great hopes that this will be a special season for my nephews and niece, full of good memories of their time with us.  More than that though, I pray that many people will come to know the grace found in Christ our Savior because we all have willingly given our lives, preferences and comfort for His glory! 

Does it Matter if Our Kids See Us?

 

A few days ago, I read an eBook called Maximize Your Mornings.  The author encourages early rising in order to assure that time in the Word, prayer and exercise actually happen each day.  The idea is to be able to do these things BEFORE anything or anyone else is needing your attention. 

While this is certainly logical and efficient, and even the way I generally study personally, I have began to wonder where it is that my kids learn HOW to study the Bible if they never SEE me studying the Bible. 

I have to ask myself, am I willing to MODEL this personal communion with the Lord to my children?  It will no doubt mean more work and less effectiveness initially as I train them about not interrupting and respecting this time with the Lord.  Still wouldn’t it be awesome to transmit by example a thirst for the Word, the need for communion with the God of the universe?

What do you think?  Is it important that our kids actually SEE us studying the Word or do you think it is enough that we do it privately and they witness the fruit in our lives?

Easter Blessings

What a privelege to celebrate, with this darling little family of mine, the power of the RISEN CHRIST!  Because of His sacrifice, we are completely forgiven and walk in newness of life!  "Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ!" II Corinthians 2:14

I was convicted today about some unforgiveness that I have been harboring in my heart for a couple of years, so I need to deal with that!  How can I continue on making excuses for my injured attitude when Christ has forgiven me so much?  

How did the Spirit minister to your heart today?  I'd love to hear about it!  

I love my family!

The entire lovable gang

 

My gorgeous sisters and me

My boys and me

Let the Packing Begin

We're moving to Paraguay!  If you know me in real life, you know this already, but since I've made so many wonderful new friends since I started blogging, I wanted to tell YOU GUYS the big news too!  

Currently, the move is scheduled for the middle of June.  Between now and then, we are visiting churches and sharing our new ministry with friends and partnering churches across the country.  I can only imagine what an adventure the journey will be with two little guys along.     

We are very excited, but at the same time, it's so hard to leave family and our wonderful church (again).  More on that in another post!  :)  For now, it's enough to say, God is faithful and we trust Him to care for us even when our hearts are torn.  

A Baby is Born...

...but she's not ours! I'm excited to congratulate my sister and brother-in-law on the birth of their Darling Little Princess! She's sooooooo tiny and precious!



Here she is with Darling Little Redhead a few hours after her birth.


One of the nurses asked if I had uterus envy seeing how I was supposed to have our baby first! We all got a good chuckle out of that. Looks like if our guy doesn't come on his own before, my Dr. will break my water sometimes this weekend. Thanks for praying for us!

P.S. Does anyone know why my paragraph breaks are not showing up here??? Help!

Family Reunion

We had a wonderful 4 days with my dad's family...here are a couple of my favorite pics...more to come!

My sweet family...darling little redhead didn't smile in a single picture! What a turkey!

My gorgeous sisters and me. Middle sister on far left is pregnant too and due just three weeks after I am...so much fun!