Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Oh my.

I should be going to bed.  But it's only 8pm and still light outside.  I asked the boys if they were ready for bed, and Matthew looked outside and said, "But it's light outside!"  Then Carrie quoted "Frozen"..."The sky's awake, so I'm awake, so we have to play!"  Then Josh and Matthew started saying it.  So I gave up and decided to blog.

Tomorrow morning at 4am, we will be loaded in the truck ready to head to Nappanee for Baby Emmie's dedication.  Church service begins at 8:00 (just twelve hours from now!), so we need to get moving early if we want to try out Taco Bell's new breakfast menu on the way.  Which we promised as extra incentive for making this a day trip.

So...before heading off to bed, I'm going to blog about something that I've wanted to blog about all week long!  Last Sunday evening was Carrie's Senior Piano Recital.  She has been so excited about this recital!  And I have been just a little nervous.  OK...a lot nervous.  It's not that I'm nervous really for Carrie, because I know that performing is something that she loves.  I get nervous because I remember how I used to feel when I had to perform.  P-uking sick!  So, if I just take me out of the formula, then I can be just as excited for Carrie as she is.  Much easier said than done.  

Well, she performed amazingly!  We were blessed to have so many friends and family members there with us to support Carrie as she ends one chapter in her life and begins another.  Carrie not only played more beautifully than I've ever heard her play, but she also spoke to her audience, telling us a little about each composer and piece before playing.  God has blessed her greatly with a talent that she wants to use to glorify Him!  I am so thankful for the ways in which He has prepared her for this moment and how she searches for His will in her life.  I am so proud of her for so many reasons.

I didn't take any pictures during the recital since it was being recorded, but as we were leaving a friend took a family picture and some pictures of Carrie.  I was so happy that she thought to ask if she could take our picture.  It's not often that we get a family picture taken.

Our beautiful girl...

After we got home, I asked Carrie if I could get a picture of her hair before she took it down.  She found this one on Pinterest and gave it a try.  Isn't it so pretty?!

You are so pretty, Carrie!

Even with bunny ears.

And moose antlers.

She also received several bouquets of flowers that we have enjoyed all week.

I've spent more time gardening this week than blogging.  The weather here has been absolutely beautiful all week, so I decided that I would get out every morning before breakfast so that I can get the flower beds all cleaned up.  Paul has even tilled me a garden patch!  I can hardly wait to start planting a few things!  But that will have to wait until Monday.  As of right now, it doesn't look like the weather will cooperate for gardening, so I may have more time for blogging again.  And!  We are just one week away from Carrie's high school graduation ceremony!  UNBELIEVABLE!  There will be so much to blog about very soon!

Time for bed whether the boys are ready or not!  Which they won't be because they are busy watching the Tasmanian Devil and Bugs Bunny.  The quote flying around right now is, "What for you bury me in the cold, cold ground?"

Silly Do-Wacka-Do's.

May the 4th Be With You

The Unexpected

I love what the Easter Sunday pictures of the kids have become.  They make me laugh.  I used to try to get the perfect picture of the four of them together...and I still do try for at least one where they are all smiling and looking at the camera.  And it gets a little easier as they get older and are less distracted by what is going on around them.

Wait.  William blinked.  Let's try again.

Oh!  Good one!

One with Charlie?  That never really works, but we'll give it a try...

Good job, Carrie.  Keep telling the boys through clenched teeth to "schtand schtill and schmile!"

Even when Charlie appears to be charging!

Matthew was determined to stand still and smile...

Even after everyone else had given up.

Josh sees that the photo shoot is pretty much over.

Paul, me, and my cotton candy crocks.

I really didn't wear them to church.

One week later, April 27, was to be Matthew's baptism day.  He had walked the aisle almost one year earlier as a fresh 5-year old and professed his faith in Christ.  Paul and I decided to wait awhile for his baptism.  We thought that it would be good for him to have another year of spiritual, emotional, and physical growth under his belt.  And it was!  He has grown in so many ways this year.  He has reminded us often that he wants to be baptized, so the date was set.  Sunday, April 27.

Just look at that sweet, fresh face!  He was so excited that this was to be his special day.  He told everyone about it and looked so forward to it!

Jeannie was there to help us get him dressed in his robe and give us warm fluffy towels.

Pastor John and Matthew had a lively conversation about Jesus, baptism, and the excitement of taking his first communion.  Matthew is pretty excited about that.  I love that each of my children have stood in this same place talking with Pastor John as he dressed in his waders and robe.

When it came time to go into the waters, Matthew realized that it was ice cold and he hesitated...

And then he decided that it was much too cold to go in.  Pastor John shared with the congregation that the water heater had failed and that the water was very cold.  The woman who was waiting to be baptized after Matthew volunteered to go first.  After seeing her shiver and shake through her baptism, Matthew decided for certain that he would not be going in that morning...

...even after Pastor John lovingly volunteered to hold him.  I am relieved that Matthew did not go in.  William stuck his hand in the water later and said that it was very, very cold.  Icy.  I don't know what that would have done to a little 6-year old.  I do know that Matthew was so disappointed.  So sad.  He sat in my arms and cried before getting dressed.  He said, "I really wanted to get baptized today, but I was afraid of going in really cold water and holding my breath."  I trust that the Holy Spirit was his Protector that morning.  Now I pray that He will be his Comforter and Encourager. 

After learning that a new heater is to be installed this week, Matthew cried and said that he doesn't think he is ready.  That maybe he isn't old enough.  That breaks my heart, and I've struggled all week with sadness.  I struggled to even post these pictures, but a very dear friend reminded me that all of this is "what will be a piece of Matthew’s story."  And that's why I blog.  To tell our story so that our kids will remember.  

And baptism?  We're not pushing at all.  We'll try out the warm water in the baptistry when the heater is tested, but we will wait for Matthew to decide that it's time again.

And this morning?

(Thursday, May 1...I'm posting this several days after writing it.)

Carrie is off to the doctor's office.  She has a swollen, sore throat and some flu-like symptoms.  I'm praying that she will feel much better as soon as possible so that she will be able to enjoy playing in her  Senior Piano Recital on Sunday evening that she has looked so forward to.

William is sitting here waiting for Mr. Pope to come pick him up for his in-car driving instruction.  After today he will have four of his six required lessons complete.  Mr. Pope stopped in on Monday to tell me what a great driver William is.  William reminds me that Mr. Pope hasn't had to use his passenger-side brake yet.

And Josh and Matty are playing with LEGOS...one of their favorite things to do.  And I love it because they play so sweetly together.  Most of the time.  I love listening to their pretending and their interaction.  And their singing....classical piano music.  Go figure.  Josh just said to Matthew, "I have a great idea!" And Matthew said, "You always have great ideas."

So, they will play until Mr. Pope gets here...or until they start arguing.  

Twenty-One

 Twenty-one years ago, Mom died.

Carrie asked me last night if twenty-one years seems like a long time or not a long time.  I guess when I think of the number "21," it seems like a really long time.  A lot has happened in 21 years.  But in so many ways, it doesn't seem long at all.  What's strange to me, and frustrating, is that I can remember my Grandma's mannerisms and can remember her voice and the way she laughed more than I can my Mom's.  I wonder if it's because I try too hard to remember.  I don't know.  I do know, though, that I think of her every day...not always consciously and meaning to...but her memory is all around me in pictures and recipes and scents and flowers and in the eyes of my kids.  And in myself as I grow older.  Then suddenly, there she is. 

I miss you today, Mom.

And always.

What Silence Means

A silent blog is a sure sign that my life is not silent.

This morning, my home smells like fresh air and cupcakes.  I am so thankful for a sunny, warmish morning.  I've opened the windows and am looking forward to a warm afternoon...weatherwise and friendshipwise.  Today is Matthew's friend party.  He has been looking forward to this day for so long!  Today we will be playing Cowboy games and doing lots of giggling.  

Tomorrow is Matthew's family party and the day of his Baptism!  Another very, VERY exciting day!  The day when Matthew tells everyone what Jesus has done for him...his decision to follow Jesus all of his days!  What he has decided in his heart will be be made known!  And the promise that the six of us will all be in Heaven together one day with our King is so amazing!  Thank you, Jesus!

So, until I have stories from this weekend to share, I'll show you some of Easter in our home.  Remember the LEGO Crucifixion?  Well, here's the LEGO Resurrection!

And let's back up a day.  The youth group at our church headed up the program for the Easter Egg Hunt.  Carrie was the farmer whose chicken laid some pretty amazing eggs!

Matthew was a good sport and had his picture taken with the Easter Bunny.  He's much braver than I am.  I get pretty uncomfortable around people who are dressed up as characters.  Thankfully, this Easter Bunny was pretty cute and fuzzy.

Patiently waiting for the day to begin!

Hi Sweet Kenna!  I do love this girl!

Grandma is holding Kenna's little sister.  Bouncy!  Bouncy!

Good Great Buddies!  Lots of talking going on here.

Let the program begin!  I don't have pictures of Carrie with the chicken, but she did carry a chicken into the sanctuary...very quickly and with a tight hold.  Now the girls are cracking open the Resurrection Eggs and telling the story of Easter.

Sound guys!  They do such a great job!

Finally!  Time for the Egg Hunt to begin!

And then it's over!  Just.  Like.  That!

Chickens!

The pass-off...

Successful!

"Can I hold it again?"

He didn't ask for a chicken for his birthday.  But I was holding my breath.

I must get going and get ready for a party!