Um....yeah.

So is this still a blog if I N-E-V-E-R blog on it? *lol*

In lieu of wracking my brain with that question, I'll instead post a montage of pics that adequately sum up life for us since the last time I blogged.

Faith started 2nd grade with MN Virtual Academy and Josiah started schooling with me, both here at home. I gave it the good ol' college try for a months' time and we made the hard decision to send her back to Adam's Spanish Immersion Magnet. It's proved to be a wonderful move and we feel as if we're ALL better off for it.



Before we sent Faith back to Adam's, we had the opportunity to take part in some awesome "field trips" with a group called Home School Adventures. Faith's favorite, BY FAR, was the mini-horse camp (which we have done once before). This girl can't get enough of horses and it really shows. This year she had the good fortune to ride the same horse as last year; his name is Rhythm.



The kids kept busy with a new pet...pet millipede, that is. Emptying out one of their toy bins, they fashioned quite the comfy home for a milipede that made its way into our home. Apparently, it wouldn't have come into our home if it didn't really need a place to stay. **Note the rocks for effect, the sock for a warm bed, and apple for nourishment. Can you find the millipede?**



Calvin discovered the fashionista within and wowed us with some pretty flashy wardrobe purchases.



LOTS o'fun was had courtesy of Eric. Don't ask what he was doing here but I think it all started when he was pairing socks and came across one of his that had a hole in it.



Josiah went thru a couple weird stages. This first one, he refused to do anything without his gloves on...including sleeping and eating. I remember him making an acception for when he was using the restroom, however...something about a weird sensation.



This second phase had to do with underwear. He came up with the bright idea that if started off each week with 7 pair of underwear on, he wouldn't have to take the time to change them each morning. He could simply take off one pair each day! Um....yeah, this was a hard one to convince him of.



Eric and I had the wonderful fortune of taking a weekend trip to Bemidji, MN, where he spent a couple of years at Oak Hills Christian College. Eric's mom and step-dad were so loving and kind to the kids while we were gone and it proved to be quite the regenerative weekend for our relationship.



Our Princess turned 8yrs old. *wow* How time DOES fly! What a beauty God has created our daughter to be. She's such a magnificent soul and full of life.



Of course I could make mention of the thousands of tears that were shed, not *all* by me, the shouting matches the kids have held, what a stinker Calvin can be, the ups and downs of our finances and marriage, all since I posted last but what fun would that be? The more post-worthy stuff is that:

As each day dawns, I'm learning to pause with the sunrise (yes, that means getting up *before* the kids!) and let God's love and grace wash over me like the warmth of the sun's rays.


As each day progresses, I'm learning to take deep breaths and put life into perspective.


As each day ends, I'm learning to forgive myself those times I stepped off the path that God is lighting for me, love myself for what I am right now on this day, and let my head hit the pillow each night believing that, "I will both lie down in peace and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8

And so it is.