Courage

First time up to MANOWE for the year. Beautiful, peaceful, amazing. We all look forward to spending time up at the ranch once the spring time weather arrives.
I love the fresh air. The kids love it all, the horses, the kittens, the swamp, the trails, the pond, ropes course, on and on.....

A highlight though is when the boys are up on the ropes course trying to conquer an element and I hear them say, "I can't do it, I can't do it" and then the other says, "yes, you can. yes you can." and then I hear them say, "courage, I just gotta have courage" then, "I can do it, I can do it".

LOVE IT!!!

Character Development

Character is both developed and revealed by tests, and all of life is a test. You are always being tested. God constantly watches your response to people, problems, success, conflict, illness, disappointment and even the weather. He even watches the simplest actions such as when you open the door for others, when you pick up trash, or when you're polite toward a clerk or waitress.
We don't know all the tests God will give , but we can predict some of them, based on the Bible. You will be tested by major changes, delayed promises, impossible problems, unanswered prayers, undeserved criticism, and even senseless tragedies. In my own life I have noticed that God tests my faith through problems, tests my hope by how I handle possessions, and tests my love through people.
When you understand that life is a test, you realize that nothing is insignificant in your life. Even the smallest incident has significance for your character development. Every day is an important day and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen you character, to demonstrate love or to depend on God. Some tests seem overwhelming, while others you don't even notice. But all of them have eternal implications.
PURPOSE DRIVEN LIFE - Day 5 By Rick Warren

Any thoughts???

Justin's Birthday

April 18th has always been a special day for me. My sister's birthday is April 18th and since I was 11 years old, I have had a crush on Justin and have known that April 18th is his birthday as well. In fact, when I was in 6th grade I had a friend who was friends with Justin, (I was not at the time), and this friend gave me Justin's locker combination, so on his birthday, his 13th Birthday, (I was only 10 at the time, I bought him a balloon and some candy and a card, and early before school I went and put that in his locker without signing my name of course! Is that stalking??? Seemed like the right thing at the time. I was 10 years old after all. Later that day he found out who it was from, I was so embarrassed!! Anyways..............
Justin finally came around, and 2 years later, when I was 12 and he was 14, he asked me to be his girlfriend. Feb. 5th, 1991, it was our day! Back before we started dating, going together, whatever we called it back then, (I couldn't actually date till I was 16, but he was still my boyfriend) so back before all that, I told my close friends not to let me go out with this guy-- because I knew I wanted to marry him, and I thought, 'if I go out with him when I'm 12, there is no way we will get married someday!' so I specifically remember telling my friends not to let me go out with this guy (even though I was totally into him). Well, of course, I didn't hesitate when he asked me the big question back when I was 12 years old standing in the Laker High School Gym after a basketball game. I said yes!
Through out the rest of Jr. High and all of High School, I totally fell in love with this Justin Maust guy. He is the real deal. Honest, Generous, Kind, Fun, Committed and most importantly his heart is all out for Jesus. When I was 17 (a senior in high school, He asked me to marry him) CRAZY isn't it??? I mean who gets engaged when they are still in high school? Well, of course I said YES!!! So I graduated from high school with an engagement ring on my finger! If you look close, I am wearing it in the prom picture and the graduation picture. The other picture was one of my 'Senior' pictures that was taken before my Senior year of high school, so we were not engaged yet, but we used this picture as our engagement picture.

We have now been married for over 13 years, and have spent his past 21 BIRTHDAYS together, (well maybe not 1 of them - you know how high school is !!!!

Justin is my best friend and my love. I am so blessed to get to do life with this amazing man.
PS. Found a few old photos-- thought you'd appreciate them :)

Peaceful Times

Friday night was a quiet night at my house. After my longing for it last week, it happened! How cool. Justin had to work all night, Cameron was at his grand-parents house and my other two go to bed at 7pm, so the rest of the night was totally quiet. I even listened to the clock tick for a while and at about 11pm it was so quiet that I thought I heard music, it was strange, I swear I could faintly hear music playing, and then the next morning I saw that my radio had been left on Pulse FM, and the volume was just turned all the way down!!! Like so far down you would think it was off, but in the quietness of my home that Friday night, I heard it. Now that's QUIET.

Anyways, it was great, very reviving and healing. I recommend it to all!

Quietness

Quietness is my desire. I never thought of myself as a quiet person, but now that I have 3 very talkative, noisy children, I find myself longing for quietness. I love the sound of the clock ticking, or the branches rubbing up on the roof. I rarely hear those. I hear lots of noise.... not technology noise. The TV hasn't been on in weeks, the radio rarely gets on anymore. It isn't the computer or any games. It is all noise from the hearts and mouths of children.
Sometimes the sound makes me laugh. Sometimes the sounds bring a slight smile to my face. Sometimes the sounds make be want to scream and pull my hair out. Sometimes the sounds just annoy me for no reason.
I find myself thinking... Did I expect that children would be quiet, still individuals who just sat and read all day and spoke with words like, "mother, may I please have some water" in a soft, gentle, angelic-like voice. I know I expected or wanted to have 'active' children. So that I have. I don't remember thinking about all the noise... I definitely didn't have any idea just how much noise it would be.
I am thankful for the verbal capabilities of my children. They share and express themselves with words quite well and quite often. I am seldom wondering what they are thinking.
I guess my job now is to teach them how to use a filter and not speak every word that comes to their mind.
The Bible talks about only saying things that are Helpful, things that will build others up and encourage others. It also says to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Those are things we all can work on. Especially me!

Put on the Full Armor of God

Cameron came up from his room today and had all this 'stuff' with him that he had made. He said it was the armor of God. So he started putting it all on. I asked him if he wanted me to read him what it says in the bible about the armor of God and he excitedly said yes, so as he put on his armor I read him the following passage:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so you can take your stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood.... Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything to stand, Stand firm with the belt of truth around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness of peace. Take up the shield of faith, Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

He had me read it a few times as he put everything on and off, and then decided to make one for his brother.

All the kids are making up Easter gifts/baskets for their grandparents. They are making pictures of Jesus and Crosses and Eggs and really anything they think of. Well, Jalen thought he should include the body and blood of Jesus. So he put in two crackers and made up a red colored vitamin drink and put it in a container( which later spilled all over).

As always, I am amazed at their creativity and energy!

Indiana!!! Can you believe it!

Yes, We got home from Florida yesterday, and woke up today to 3 inches of SNOW!! I had to go dig out the snow pants and winter jackets. It was great packing snow, so we now have 2 big snowmen in the back yard! April 6th! What a way to start SPRING BREAK!

Back from Florida

What a trip! The Weather was PERFECT. I was surprised! We were only there for about 50 hours, but we made the most of them. We went for three long walks on the beach! Justin body surfed and tried a board alittle. We read in the sun, played in the pool, ran every morning, shopped at the outlets, and just had time to think and unwind!
I am thankful for the time to reflect and pray and have quietness. It honestly felt like a different world, a different life. Everything about it seems so opposite of my real life. I guess that is what vacations are. They're not reality! But it was nice.
My 3 highlights:
1. Walking on the beach, listening to the ocean.
2. Running in the mornings with Justin. We used to do that more way back years ago, and it reminded me of that time in my life, and the warm fresh air is amazing!
3. Relaxing by the pool, the sun was so hot, the peace and quietness was priceless!
4. Also, having Justin all to myself is always a highlight!

Few notes to remember for future:
Don't drive to Florida if you can help it, FLY!
Stay longer if you can, STAY LONGER!
Pack less...
Take the kids! We thought and talked about them constantly. If I ever go again, we will find a way to take the kids!

Leaving for Florida

6 hours and 12 minutes...
Guess I should start packing!