My Baby Turned 7!!!!

So hard to believe, but it's true. How does this happen? Just yesterday I was holding this sweet baby boy and smelling the yumminess of infant-hood. Today I think about this same boy's basket of dirty smelly laundry that beckons me from a corner of his room!

Caleb Ross certainly completes us. He makes us laugh with the things that he says and does, and he continues to be the one that still loves to crawl up on his mama's lap and twirl my hair and "snuggle". Even though he seems to be the most independent of "the bunch", he's also the one who has been known to ask us if he can live with us forever. He still LOVES working hard on anything outside and specifically construction. I have been assured that he will build me my dream house someday (with his own separate living quarters I suppose) FOR FREE!

My prayers for Caleb have always been unique. He has such a strong personality (he always has... since the first moment I laid eyes on him). I have always known that he was created that way for very specific purposes. It is my duty as his mom to pray that his strengths will be used for good. In my journals, there are pages and pages of prayers for my boys. I consider it an honor to pray for them in specific ways and see how God works in their lives. I have seen this many times already in Caleb's life.

These are the specific prayers that we (Jason and I) will be praying for Caleb this year. We would love to have you join with us!

1. Prayer for his strengths to be used for good as he continues to learn in school (especially with reading).
2. For physical protection of his body as he continues to be a very active outdoorsman and soccer player.
3. Prayer for confidence in his character.

Happy birthday sweet Caleb! You are very loved...

**** NOTE ****

As an example of what I'm talking about when I say that Caleb says things that make us all just chuckle...

One of his chores is to empty the clean silverware from the dishwasher. This afternoon he did that chore, but when I called him back to the dishwasher because there was still a wooden spoon and a pink spatula in there, he simply stated...

"Mom, I don't do pink-ware OR wood-ware. My job is to do the SILVER-WARE!"

Simple Things

The past few weeks have been the highlight of our year! Being involved in so many things has it's rewards, but the simple things in life are what bring us the most joy. We had an amazing time of enjoying each other, reflecting upon God's goodness and setting new priorities for our family.

It all started with a camping trip to Morningstar. Morningstar has become a summer tradition. I'll admit... the thought of going this year without our camping trailer WAS NOT appealing! I actually told Jason that I thought I'd let the guys have their own trip and I'd stay home and have "girly time". Of course, nobody liked this idea and they talked me into going. I'm so glad that I did, as they treated me like a princess! I did NOTHING but read all weekend (and enjoy the FABULOUS cooking). I can totally get used to this NEW summer tradiiton!

After our camping trip we were off to Lake Tahoe for Jason's brother's wedding. The weather couldn't have been more beautiful! We soaked in the sun on the beach and visited with family that hadn't been seen in years (some we met for the very first time). Oh... and the boys showed everyone how it's done on the dance floor at the wedding. SO CUTE!!

We were home for about a day and a half before we left for Mendocino for a couple of days. What a beautiful place... So peaceful and romantic. Yes... I did say romantic... even with three boys. That says something! We didn't soak up much sun there as it was pretty foggy and cold, but it was such a nice break. The air was clean and fresh. Everything was green and dotted with flowers of every type and color. We strolled beaches, hiked to lighthouses and played together. It was such a blessing to our souls. There's something about the ocean. You breathe deeper there and whatever "load" you carry is immediately dropped and left in the sand. Our room at The Little River Inn ( I highly recommend this place) was perfect! Outside our room was a deck with two oversized rocking chairs overlooking the ocean. Jason and I cuddled up in those chairs while the boys hung out inside each night that we were there. The boys called it our "date" spot. I felt like it was heaven on earth!

The best part about this time together was that it was just simple. There were no extras. No camping trailers... just a tent. No fancy hotels in Tahoe, just a little cozy room and an entire beach that God put there for us to enjoy. No five star gourmet restaurants in Mendocino, just pizza in our room while cuddling with our boys and each other. The smell of the eucalyptus trees and the ocean air is enough to intoxicate you. It puts you in a state where everything feels good. Life slows down and the faces around you that you see everyday somehow look different.

I'm so thankful for this time that was set aside for us to "refresh". These simple pleasures and moments are priceless, aren't they? I pray that each one of you has the ability to set time aside to enjoy something simple... there's nothing else like it!

** If you've never turned your volume up while checking my blog, now would be a great time! :0)

Stay tuned...

HI friends!

I'm overwhelmed with pictures and stories of a couple WONDERFUL weeks of relaxation and precious time with my family. My thoughts are still kinda scattered about the whole thing, but I can say it was GLORIOUS! There will be more to come... so much more. So stay tuned...

Quenching the Thirst

I found this bit of scripture (actually, it found me) last week. It has been spoken to me over and over since. I thought I would share it...

The poor and needy search for
water,
but there is none;
their tongues are parched
with thirst.
But I the Lord will answer
them;
I, the God of Israel, will not
forsake them.
I will make rivers flow on
barren heights,
and springs within the
valleys.
I will turn the desert into
pools of water,
and the parched ground into
springs.
I will put in the desert
the cedar and the acacia, the
myrtle and the olive.
I will set pines in the
wasteland,
the fir and the cypress
together,
so that people may see and
know,
may consider and
understand,
that the hand of the Lord has
done this,
that the Holy One of Israel
has created it.

~ Isaiah 41:17-20

Raising Little Chefs and Little Daddies

Isn't it funny how you make plans to do one thing, but then so much MORE happens?

I mentioned in a previous post that I started watching a baby girl three days a week this summer. This was something that I did not go searching for, but something that God brought to me... for so many reasons. I'm learning though, that perhaps the most important reason is so that I can have the awesome opportunity to teach my boys yet one more thing... how to be daddies.

I'm sure you've noticed the many men out there who just don't know the first thing about how to be a dad. They hear their babies crying and think the world is ending. They look at changing diapers as some kind of payment for sinful acts. They sometimes don't even know that babies like to be talked to too, and doing so brings the most precious smiles from their faces. Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to have a slam-fest on men here. I'm just being truthful. There are also many GREAT daddies out there (including the one I sleep with every night).

Lucas, Colby and Caleb are learning how to be awesome daddies. They are learning about hearing a baby's cry and knowing what that kind of cry means and what to do about it. We were in the car last week and the baby was crying and Colby let out this loud exasperated expression. He said, "Mom, please tell her to stop crying." I informed Colby that you can't just ask a baby to stop crying. She was crying because she was tired. If you are patient and try not to let the crying bother you, she will go to sleep. Soon after, she did. At home, the boys love to hold her and talk to her. They have even been seen dancing for her in front of her little swing, but you didn't hear that from me. Being that this isn't their little sister, I don't allow them to change the diapers, but I have noticed quite a change in their opinion about that. They used to run into another room every time I had to change her. Now they might even sit next to her and distract her with a song while I'm changing her.

Even though this little sweet thing isn't their sister, they love her like she is. It has been the most precious thing to see them grow and develop in their "man-hood" in this way. It has been a gift!

This summer we have also decided to explore their creativity in the kitchen. It's an idea that they came up with... and I loved it even more. I'd be pretty dumb NOT to, right? After all, I'll have three men cooking for ME soon. They each picked out their own cookbook at Barnes & Noble and paid for it with their own money. Luke's first creation was an awesome sandwich, Colby's first was a trifle (Grandma LOVED getting the phone call asking if he could borrow her trifle bowl), and Caleb's first menu item was a big bowl of caramel corn. They have been consistently in the kitchen since... I LOVE IT!!

I was just thinking yesterday of how good God is. He can take our simple stick figure piece of "art work" and make it something so much more beautiful... a masterpiece! He adds all the little detail that we didn't even know was there to be seen. It's something so amazing and exciting to me. I never even thought of all the good that could come from a couple of small ideas, but God knew because He has a plan... Always.

Believe it... or not.

Today was a great day! It was good to just "be" with family. I actually got to experience some of that laziness that I last talked about here on my blog. We hung out at the pool together and then went on to church and dinner.

In other ways, it was also one of those text book "mom days". We got up this morning and found that we had forgotten to bring in our little kitty from outside last night. She started living outside during the day only a few weeks ago. We bring her in at night because we live in the hills where there are things that can hurt her. This cat has been especially good to Colby. She LOVES Colby! Ever since I can remember, Colby and Rosie have had a sweet time of just cuddling first thing in the morning. Colby has always been the one to feed her, give her water and make sure that all her needs were met. So, finding out that she wasn't around this morning was extremely hard. Of course, we tried to reassure Colby that she was probably fine... just out wandering for awhile. She was sure to be back once we came home from our day out.

We arrived back home tonight only to find no trace of little Rosie. The tears started to flow again, and this time they continued all the way up to the moment that I had finally soothed him to sleep all curled up on my lap. Before he fell asleep we talked and we prayed. I told Colby that sometimes God gives us things that make our faith grow. He kept telling me that there was no way he could go to sleep without knowing where she was at. I told him that he COULD go to sleep if he chose to BELIEVE that God was in control of this. We talked about some of the things in my own life that have brought pain and a sense of being hopeless. I shared how in some of these situations I chose to believe in a God who cares for me... and in some situations I didn't. I told him how much MORE it hurts when you choose not to believe. The tears and sobbing settled and he soon after fell asleep.

As I lay there with him sleeping, I started thinking about how I have been in a similar state recently. It's been easy for me to feel overwhelmed with life and the craziness that takes over lately. It's been even easier for me to just give up and say, "I can't do this anymore! I must have some control over this!" God has heard my heart speaking these words silently for such a long while. Even so, He has continued to pull me in. He has called me home to trust in Him... BELIEVE in Him and what He is going to do in EVERY chapter of my life. I was even reminded of this at church tonight. God does what is needed to get our attention. My attention is His and I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE and TRUST!

I know that Colby (as well as Lucas and Caleb) will have many more opportunities to believe. This is just the beginning. In some ways, I feel this is just the beginning in my own life. I pray tonight that God will strengthen us as we choose to believe... whatever the outcome may be.

** If you wouldn't mind, please pray with us regarding Rosie finding her way back home safely. I know it would mean a lot to Colby to know that others are praying about this with him. Thanks!

The hazy (anything BUT lazy) days of summer....

I'm still waiting for summer. I'm longing for a few consecutive days of laziness. Days to just get up whenever it feels right... do whatever feels good. Of course, waking up without a thick layer of smoke above me would be an added bonus right now. We have been under this thick layer of smoke for about three weeks now. They are starting to say that this could last until fall. YUCK!! We are praying for a miracle in California... RAIN.

Lucas is in the middle of his all-star tournament. They have won two out of three games. They play again tomorrow... it's supposed to be 108 degrees. Once again... YUCK! Colby also leaves for church camp tomorrow. This is the first time that one of my boys has left home without one of us with him for such a long period of time. He seems to be fine about it... unlike me. That leaves Caleb with nothing special of his own, so I arranged for him to sleep over with a friend. This is his first sleep over with a friend by himself. I haven't told him yet because he's the type that will get so excited that he will ask me every hour, "Is it time now, mommy?"

So here I am again, left to pray about some things as I can feel God working in my heart. The other day I was reading from this wonderful book called 'Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World'. This sentence literally jumped at me right off the page. It said this...

"We've been filled with great treasure for one purpose: to be spilled."

As the activity level around here has been out of control and my cravings for "laziness" have been left un-fed I have been feeling sorry for myself. I've been wondering where the time has gone. When did we get on this roller coaster and when do we get off? I have been second guessing every decision we have made regarding having our boys involved in so much. As I've been praying about this though, I have heard one thing spoken to me over and over again.They are involved in what they were meant for. They have each chosen one thing, and with that they have taken off! In these things, God will use them. When I read this sentence that I quoted above I thought about the fact that these boys of ours are being spilled. They have each been filled with treasures all of their own and these treasures are spilling into the lives of those that surround them.

I am praying today that I have the ability to spill positive things into the lives of my children and others that surround ME. I pray that I am able to take the treasures that God has so carefully and purposely put in me and spill them each day... whether it be a busy day or a lazy (even hazy) day.