The sky was literally striped tonight with purple, pink, orange, and blue. The air was crisp and perfect - weather like June. The kids made an obstacle course in the yard with a shovel, a ramp, a snowboard, two tires, etc. They raced and practiced jumping the tires and shovel and running around the tree. I love their inspiration.

I love how God loves on my kids. As I watch Riley thrive in school, I'm over and over again reminded how much more God loves my kids than I do. I can't even believe the incredible opportunities he has, and the encouragement he is receiving.

Clayton gathered this morning at his flagpole with many other students for the annual "See You At the Pole." It's not that it is unique. Lots of schools were doing it, but it was unique that his public school had posters hanging all over the place to advertise it (right next to the Revolve Tour posters. SYATP was even in the list of daily announcements e-mailed to the parents. Our conversation on the way home revolved around what they prayed for, the songs they sang while someone played guitar, and how it gave Clayton the strength to face the day with some absurd science theories.

Bill's hours are beginning to shorten as the golf season comes to a close. We are grateful that I am working now to help compensate. God knows our needs - our needs for humility, purpose, provision, and hope. He is good - all the time!

Fall - Falling Upon Us

This afternoon was almost perfect! The air was a cool 59 degrees, but the sun was bright and warm. Clayton gave the lawn one last pre-frost trim. Riley finished selling his school coupon books by visiting many of our neighbors. Ian and Hayden looked for treasure on the "clift" with their friend, Austin. I cleaned the kitchen and mopped the floors with all the doors open, so the fresh fall breeze could blow through. There is a special way the sun shines this time of year. There is a special thrill that comes from seeing the apples begin to blush on the trees and hearing the children laugh and play outside over the hum of the mower. Soup for supper. Cuddling up on the couch to read books. All I'm missing is a new Pumpkin Spice candle. :D

I'm learning to embrace each simple moment like this as life gets busier and busier. I'm enjoying love gifts sent to me by my Heavenly Father - like a chance meeting with a friend that led to a day of fun with our kids together. We'd been trying to plan something for months, and couldn't work it out on our own. I enjoyed a divine weekend of rest at our women's retreat last weekend. I treasure every moment in the bookstore or library. It's a new season around here in lots of ways, and I'm praying I'll embrace the season God has for us - just as I excitedly embrace fall!

First Day of School

We have a lot of new things brewing around here. As of this week, we're adapting to a whole new lifestyle and set of schedules. One of us drives afternoon carpool. One of drops of kids in the morning and gets everyone ready to go. I'm working. The kids are all at school. I was supposed to have jury duty yesterday, but THANK GOD it was cancelled, because I didn't finish settling everyone into classes until 9:15. I guess there would have been a warrant out for my arrest or something. LOL!



I'm sure things will settle as time goes on. Last night I spent probaby two hours filling out all the paperwork the kids brought home from school.



Clayton has transitioned from "determined to hate school" to "not loving it, but not hating it", which I suppose is progress. I think it will get better as time goes on.



When I got home, Riley grabbed me and hugged me and said, "I LOVE my school!" Yeah! I'm so glad.



Ian was very quiet last night, but still seemed positive. I think it was attributed to being without his blanket for an entire day and realizing that maybe first grade wasn't just an organized play group with lunch in the cafeteria.



Hayden also said he had a good time. His little friend Isaac, who lives at the bottom of the driveway, is in his class. That was an automatic comfort factor.

Overall, we all survived the first day!

In the midst of all the change, though, I cannot describe the peace and excitement in my heart. First of all, I think it is just the result of obedience. Putting all my kids in school and going to work is not something I would have ever saw myself doing. I remember telling Bill, before we were married (while we were discussing how important it was that I was home with our future children), that the day I had to drop one of my kids off at daycare, I would probably fall apart. Well, I didn't fall apart. I didn't even cry once. I honestly wasn't sad. I know we are doing what God has asked us to do at this time in our life - and THAT is the best thing for our kids - just watching mom and dad obey and be filled with the peace that passes understanding.

In my quiet times recently (which seems to be the only personal thing I have time for), I've been enjoying the writings of Corrie ten Boom. I read her biography several years ago, but this is more like a journal. Talk about deep. Yesterday, I read her thoughts on worry.

We imagine that a little anxiety and worry are indications of how wise we are. We think we see the dangers of life clearly. In reality, however, our fears are only an indication of how wicked we really are.

As Charles G. Trumbull says,

Worry is sin; a black, murderous, God-defying, Christ-rejecting sin; worry about anything, at any time whatever. We will never know victory over worry and anxiety until we begin to treat it as sin. For such it is. It is a deep-seated distrust of the Father, who assures us again and again that even the falling sparrow is in His tender care.

The words fear not occur many times in the Bible. The Word of God has no suggestions, only commandments. So if we fear and worry, we are being disobedient, and disobedience is always a sin.

The only way blunders and destruction can occur in our lives is when we forget to trust God. When we take things into our own unskilled hands, we get them knotted and tangled.

Worry is utterly useless. It never serves a good purpose. It brings no good results. One cannot think or see clearly when worrying. Let pagans worry if they will, but we must not, for we have a living Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, and His conquering power. His victory can be our victory. Life at best is brief, and there is so much to be accomplished. If we must burn ourselves out, let us burn out for God.

In this age of increasing pace, it is easy to follow the crowd and let materialism become our god. But if we do, too often we find that worry and tension bcome our masters. The effects of tension are seen in all spheres of life. Tension leads to inefficiency and frayed nerves with our fellow workers and students; in politics to strain in international relations and fears of war. In the home, tension leads to irritability with our husband or wife, destroying the very thing God meant to be perfect.

She goes on to talk about her time in concentration camps. This wasn't written by a millionaires wife, but by one whose family sacrificed greatly for God's people. She served years in concentration camps, watched her sister die there, spent time in solitary confinement....all for hiding Jews from the murderous Nazis.

I think if she can learn to trust God, I can too.