Little House on the Lake

This is the log house that, many years ago, was built by three generations of hands.

Well, truth be told, just two generations as the younger wasn't interested in helping. Although, not helping isn't an option in this family. Work ethic is instilled at an early age and the value of a relationship with God and family along with it. More than likely, any time you're with one of the generations at this house, there will be a story brought up of when this house took shape. Many a memory made and passed on.

A couple of weeks ago, the wise man I married, told me we needed to spend some time there. To take a break. We went spontaneously...as spontaneous as you can be with a family of 5. Later that night, once we had unpacked and put kids to bed, we sat in the house still painted country blue and mauve and a hundred memories came flooding back.

I had first come to the house in college with our dorm floor and J's floor. There were about 30 of us packed in and overflowing out of the house that day. It was at this house, on that first visit, my future husband would get up the nerve to hold my hand for the first time on this back porch swing.

Months later I would come home from a three week missions trip to Europe knowing two things: one-if the Lord ever wanted me to go into missions, I would do it. Two: I was going to marry the pilot. I just didn't know how...or when...because I hadn't really broken that news to him.

Later the same week, with new insight that I kept to myself, I went to the lake to meet the pilot's parents for the first time. Guess I wasn't the only one that had some insight into the future?

Through the years this house has welcomed the pitter patter of the future generations who would explore the great outdoors and have their first taste of s'mores gooey goodness.

There have been domino victories and losses and Yahtzee mayhem...

There have been dry ice bombs by dumb college boys, firecrackers and bonfires (some from those same boys!), Sunday School parties, sleepovers with sweet girlfriends, temporary housing for friends and families in need.

There have been countless family gatherings with an abundance of food (because everything tastes better at the lake!) Washer board competitions have been battled and peaceful getaways sought when life gets too crazy.

Even though the generations are getting older, the stories remain and memories continue to be made.

2008

2011

This & That

Can you tell summer is here?! I thought my blogging life was slow when school was in session...summertime is CrAzY!

It could be that all three kids are here...all day long...needing play dates, snow cones and showers due to the copious amount of dirt they're covered in by days end. It could be that we're trying to sell the house "by owner" so on top of attempting to keep it clean because of the aforementioned three, we're also awaiting interested buyers. Or it could be that VBS is in two weeks and I've been in the throws of prep work.

But...I really do have like 30 posts in waiting. Seriously--30. They're all in various stages of writing and I'll get to what the purpose of some of them is soon!

For now, know that we're still here...just covered in a layer of backyard dirt with a touch of blue bubblegum (or Ninja Turtle or Barbie ) flavoring for good measure...

The Flip Side

This morning was bittersweet as I said good-bye to 29 of my church family. They are headed to Peru for 12 days to work with missionaries from our church, Oliver & Gloria Williams and Brent & Miriam Williams, in Lima and also in the mountains of Pichanaki.

Last week another friend left for NYC (her fifth or sixth trip??) to teach VBS around town for a week.

We also said farewell to my in-laws who are headed this week to the Phillipines to do work in clinics, and an orphanage among other things.

Tomorrow another group from church leaves to help with tornado relief in Joplin, MO.

And with all of these good-bye's my heart tugs...hard. I want to go with each of them. I want to experience the cultures, the people, the food, and yes, even the altitude in the Pichaniki mountains (16,000 +). I want to help clean up in Joplin, build houses in Pichanaki, see the kids faces in Lima, all the while sharing and showing Jesus' love.

But I can't go this time.

As my eyes welled with tears this morning, J said " Not this time. It's our turn to send, give and pray."

I know he's right. (I hate it when he's right!)

For the last year, our church, our friends, our family have supported us with their prayers, their gifts and helped us go and seek out the Lord's plan for our life. Now we have work to do here that will get us further down the road on this journey.

But now it's also our turn to give. It's our turn to hear of stories of how the Lord specifically answers the prayers of those who are praying back home. It's our turn to see loved ones come back with a renewed sense of God's presence...to see how they've forever been changed by the experiences they've had. It's our turn to wait for the days to pass until they come home safe and sound.

I also get a little taste of what they go through every time we've left this last year. I also have a renewed sense of gratitude for the power of their prayers and their love. And I can't wait till they get home.

How to Throw a Rock

Thanks to some very generous, lake abiding friends, 

we spent the last 24 hours taking in some much needed down time/family time.

 And in case I wasn't sure, I learned how to throw a rock in the lake by a master rock thrower. 

First, search for the perfect rock. This takes some time and research.

Once you find the perfect rock...

Wind up

 (because rock throwing emulates baseball in some states)

Throw with all your might.

This in the hopes of having your rock catch some air.

Release and Watch 

Yes, kicking your leg out helps move the rock further. 

(He's his mother's son when it comes to this stellar move.)

Start looking for another perfect rock to do it all again...

leg kick included.

I do...but...I don't

This week I started sorting, cleaning, boxing up, throwing away and passing on seven years of "stuff" that has accumulated in this house. Today, especially, it feels like I'm trying to climb Mt. Everest but I'm only at the bottom, leaning wwwwaaaayyyyy back trying to see the top. If you know anything about my athleticism, then you know the idea of conquering a mountain isn't really on my bucket list. (Let's remember, I tried that in December and it didn't work out so well!)

You see, I really don't have a problem parting with the "things" of this house. It's just "stuff". A recent quote I heard, "You never see a UHaul following a hearse to the cemetery, do you?"

Not to say that things are bad. I totally feel like they have their place, but that place for me is slowly transitioning. I find myself, instead, getting sentimental, looking back on the memories here and praying for future memories that are just as sweet.

I've already said goodbye to some things, taken some to Goodwill and some other "big ticket items"are going to good homes in the near future.

Like the dresser that we made over for our then, one and only daughter, is being passed on to another beautiful girl who will, no doubt, spend many more hours admiring her reflection in the mirror.

Our dining room table....It's the table we picked out when we were still in the newlywed stage, dreaming of one day having a few extra mouths to feed. We even picked the "distressed look" thinking that kids might destroy something nicer. I think we were pretty smart in that decision. We've spent countless hours at that distressed table laughing out loud at too many unnecessary burps, crying over uneaten vegetables, feasting with friends, blowing out many a birthday candle and celebrating board game victories. The family that's getting it will no doubt have their own share of memories adding to the "distressed" look :)

On and on it goes as I go through each room...and as it does, there's still the lingering big question of who the Lord will bring along to fill this house with their memories. All in good time...all in His perfect time...and one step at a time.

I guess it really is like trying to climb Mt. Everest after all.

Summer's Here!!

Yesterday I said goodbye to another class of 3, now most of them, 4 year olds. I wasn't expecting the onslaught of little hugs I received on the platform yesterday. I almost cried! But then the class video rolled and yeah, I cried then. Such a great group of kids...some bossy, some shy, some talkative...all different now than when they first walked in last September. I'll miss them.

D is now a second grader (I need some air...)

Mo will go back to the 4 year old class again next year because of the way her birthday falls. She won't care...it'll be another group of peeps for her to socialize with and that's just fine with her!

Mal has croup and a double ear infection. (I thought as long as we were talking about yesterday, that's what happened with her. She wouldn't want to be left out!)

So what's a Brew Crew to do until September?

Lord willing, the summer will be busy. This house needs to be cleaned top to bottom so we can put it on the market. I'm starting today...after my coffee...it'll be better for the house and me.

We also hope to get the proverbial ball rolling with our PD (partnership development) scheduling meetings with people and churches and helping them catch the vision of Wycliffe and our role in it.

VBS is in June so plans are in full swing for a great time of learning and fun. I'm excited to see what the Lord does this year!

Those are the highlights...I'm sure we'll have to have some fun along the way too. My kids will protest if we don't.

What about you? Any big plans this summer?

Sleeping Beauty

This is a story about our orange curly headed, almost 5 year old, princess whom we affectionately call Mo. 

Mo was born with the wonderful ability to sleep anytime, anywhere. 

Just get her still for long enough, and presto-she's out. 

Bored sitting? Nice time for a cat nap...

Long car rides...they fly by with her eyes closed...

Hard day at play? Dinner is overrated anyway...

Too much excitement turning 3? She fell asleep in the entryway after her party...

So imagine how NOT surprised I was when we went to see TobyMac in an outside concert before the Rangers game last Saturday and found sleeping beauty, on the ground behind me, completely sacked out. 

There were THOUSANDS of people there, it was crazy loud (have you heard TobyMac before??)... it didn't bother her one bit! 

And let me tell you, she was a better person the rest of the day because of her little outdoor siesta!

What a girl...