Friday's Here...But Sunday's A Comin'!

I love this video!! Please take a few minutes on this Good Friday to listen to it!

Life is filled with good days and beautiful moments, but there is also much pain, sadness, and disappointment. Sometimes we feel sad or overwhelmed with everything going on in the world and in our lives. Even though we know Jesus died and will be victorious in the end (and for all eternity), sometimes the days, weeks, months can feel hard. Let's face it - life doesn't always turn out like you planned!

Let's remember, when we are stuck in the Fridays of life, that Sunday's a comin'! One day there will be no more sin, sorrow, sickness. Oh what a glorious day that will be!!!

Happy Birthday, Lyle!

Happy 17th Birthday to my favorite son - Lyle! Where have the years gone? (I know, I'm ALWAYS saying that). This seems like only yesterday:

Hilary looks so happy in this picture, but soon afterwards she had a major "melt down" when she found out we didn't use her name choice for a baby boy - Harry!! :0)

Lyle, thanks for being a great son! You are funny, talented, loyal, social, a faithful friend, encouraging, a great son, and will always be my baby. Hope you have a fantastic day and a great year!

And, in closing, just a random picture that was toooooo cute:

Adventure Club

Both of my kids have had the opportunity to be a part of the Adventure Club at Redding Christian High School. This is a fantastic club that was started by Mr. and Mrs. Henry, and they do all kinds of great activities -- rock climbing, rappelling, mountain climbing, skiing, camping, snow shoe trips, kayaking, canoeing, and lots of hiking. Every summer, they go on a week-long backpacking trip.

Recently, Lyle had the opportunity to go snowboarding at Mt. Shasta Ski Park with Adventure Club. They went during the week (because it was cheaper), so missing school for a day was added fun! :0) It was a small group that day, but they had a BLAST!! Wanted to share these great pictures:

Jarred, Jordan, David, Hannah, Mrs. Henry, and Lyle

What can I say about this next picture?

Marriage

A well-worn marriage is as comfortable as an old pair of hiking boots. New ones might look better, but they’d give you blisters.

A Love/Hate Relationship

You love me and you hate me – how can that be?

The other night when I saw you enter the door at Starbucks, I nudged Peppermint Mocha and said, “Move aside; you’ve had her all winter. It’s spring, and I am now her choice of drink.” You didn’t disappoint me when you ordered – “A grande black sweetened ice tea”. I was beside myself with the excitement of a renewed relationship. You thoroughly enjoyed the fellowship with your friend Becky as you slowly sipped my delicious, sweet taste. You reminded yourself how refreshing I am. You even talked about how much you love me during the course of the various conversations. I was feeling soooo loved.

Then at 1:37 a.m. (when you had never been asleep yet) you “changed your tune”. I contained too much caffeine and sugar, and I was keeping you awake. I was the reason you got up five times in the night to use the bathroom. You vowed several times to never drink me again at night. I was devastated! How could the love turn to hatred so quickly.

I tried to reason with you. Peppermint Mocha is just as bad, but I guess you used to drink that in the mornings with Becky. You assured me you would not drink that at night either! Apparently this Becky lady got a job which put an end to your morning meetings at Starbucks. So, she is the cause of the downfall of our Spring/Summer relationship!

You probably don’t want to come in by yourself some morning, but why not take a trip through the drive-through? We could take a ride together in the car and try to make our relationship work. You love me too much to let it go!

Hello readers! I hope all is well in everyone’s life. Maybe some of you have realized I haven’t blogged in a couple of weeks, or maybe you haven’t! Either way, I’m back! For several reasons, I felt the need to take a blog break – from writing AND from reading others’ blogs. I debated whether to share my reasons for taking a break or not, but decided to “put it all out there”:

• Blogging is a funny thing. You write because you like to/want to/need to. But sometimes I feel like I have nothing worth blogging about.

• The connections I have made through blogging are real. I enjoy reading about other people’s lives and sharing in births and deaths, job searches, struggles and happiness with children and parents. It’s strange, but it really does feel like a community here. Someone once said blogging was “a virtual neighborhood where we do more than just wave at each other across the street.” I do love reading blogs, but sometimes I get overwhelmed with all the sickness and sadness out there – children with cancer, loss of loved ones, etc. and need to step away.

• Sometimes while reading blogs, I find myself becoming discontent. I want to go on a trip. I want to redo my bedroom. I want to have that kind of relationship with my children/husband/friend. I get caught up in “comparing” myself to others (and that subject is enough for a whole post sometime soon). I get caught up in the “poor me” scenario. Well, shame on me!!!! I have a lot to be thankful for!

• Last, but not least, I have been convicted because I don’t have any problem finding time to write on my blog or read others’ blogs, but I seem to have a problem finding time to spend with the Lord. What would it look like if I devoted as much time and effort to my relationship with the Lord as I do my blog? (OUCH!!!)