Where has the time gone????

Wow. Can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I've written. Where did the time go? I always think winter is going to be soooo long, but here it is spring and the winter flew by. We survived hockey season and now we're into baseball season. Between Christian and Asa, we'll be at the ball field probably 3 times a week. Paola is taking a knitting class which she is enjoying. I told her it's a good thing that she'll have something to do now since we'll be sitting at the ball field a lot this spring! :)
I also finished my life coach training. I hope to get my 'practice' going by the Fall when the kids return to school. I'm excited about it, but also nervous and overwhelmed at this point. God has a plan, and I'm trying to trust and follow.
And, triathlon season will soon be upon us. My triathlon training class starts on Tuesday. I'm excited about that. I plan on doing 2 this season, but I really love the training. I also signed up for a 10k race on July 4th. I'm quite nervous about that, as I have a ways to go before I can run a 10k. Oh well....hopefully within the next couple of months, I'll be where I need to be to just finish! :)
Kevin and I get a week-end away this week-end. The kids will be staying with friends!! Yahooo!! Doesn't happen often. We plan on doing some things locally and enjoy the nice warm weather we're supposed to have.
Well, I'll try not to let 3 months go by again before I write. Shows how crazy life can be, I guess...

Sweet words

Just wanted to write that the other day I was playing the piano and singing along. Something I don't do very often. The kids were playing nearby with Kevin. I was singing/playing more to myself--in my own world. Christian stops playing and says, "mom, you are a good singer, it blesses my heart." :) Never heard him use an expression like that before, but it really 'blessed my heart' to hear that sweet compliment! He's very good about that, especially for such a young guy. He'll make some lady very happy when he's older! :) Actually, he makes this lady (me) very happy right now!

Crazy Love

I just finished a great book called, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. It is pretty basic in some ways, but also very thought provoking. It's all about how we love or should love Christ. One of the points was this...if we could have all the friends and family we ever loved, have all the physical pleasures we enjoy, have no sickness, etc. and no Christ in Heaven, would we be o.k. with that? When I first read that, I got this sick pang in my stomach. I could have done the 'of course I wouldn't be o.k. if Christ wasn't there' expected answer. But, honestly, my first response was that I probably would be. His point was...do we really love Christ Himself or just what He has to offer? In fact, I've prayed since that He would help me fall more in love with HIM, not just what He offers me. The more I think about it, the more I think I wouldn't be o.k. with Him not being there. I do love Christ, but obviously I can love Him more, better, deeper, more intimately than I currently do. At any rate, it's a great book that I recommend. There are actually little on-line video clips that go along with each chapter, so it was neat to hear the author himself speaking and sharing a little more about that particular chapter.

Obviously, I don't write on my blog very often, as you can see. But, life continues to fly by...and frankly, in the winter time, that's not so bad! :) Right now, it's snowing hard outside and the kids have been home all day on yet another snow day. We did have fun sledding and playing outside for a while.

Until next time....

The New Year

Well, it's a new year once again. Boy, time sure flies! Can't believe that Christmas has come and gone already. So much time is spent preparing, shopping, baking, etc. for the season, and then 'poof'-it's over. It was so nice to be with my family in Ohio for the holiday. We had a wonderful visit seeing family and friends. It was busy and went too fast, but we had some great conversations, game playing fun, and LOTS of good food to eat!
Now, it's back to the reality of the everyday, normal routine. School is in full swing, although we've already had a snow day and a 2 hour delay since vacation. It's wonderful to be on vacation, but always nice to return to the routine, as well.
We spent a lot of time outside today after church. I tested out my snowshoes (one of my Christams presents) on the lake and around the yard for about an hour. I like them! The kids enjoy sledding in the yard and being pulled in sleds on the lake. What a workout!!

We look forward to what God has in store in 2009. My theme this year is "encouragement". I did away with the 'new year's resolutions' a few years back and decided to prayerfully choose a theme for my year instead. Last year was 'boldness' and this year, with Kevin's help, we came up with encouragement. I want to work on encouraging others more, especially my husband and children. A positive theme for the year ahead. The kids made goals, as well, and I am going to put scripture verses along with their goals and hang them in their rooms so they can be reminded, as well as some encouragement scriptures for myself.

Well, Happy New Year to all! May God bless you in this New Year!

Tis the Season

I love the Christmas season! I love listening to Christmas music, decorating, baking, wrapping presents.....It always seems to go too fast, though. The kids are always really excited this time of year, counting the days until we go to Grandma's house.
The kids had their Christmas musical at church on Sunday. They all did a great job! It was so cute to watch. Paola and Christian did an excellent job remembering all their lines.

Christmas can also be a sad time, too. I have had a rough time lately missing dad. I guess it's the holiday season. He loved Christmas time and really got into it. The other day I was driving and heard the Nat King Cole "Christmas Song". That was dad's favorite. I almost had to pull the car over because I started crying and couldn't see. Earlier that day, Asa had seen the Old Spice in the bathroom cabinet (I keep it around and smell it once in a while to think of dad). He wanted some on so he could smell like Grandpa. I guess the combo of those 2 things just made the tears come. You never know when a 'moment' is going to hit. I'm looking forward to being home in OH with all my family, but there will defiantely be something missing without dad again.

But, it still is a great season and a time to celebrate. A lady at church was telling me that she doesn't like to decorate and get into the whole 'christmas' thing because she thinks it's become too much and the true meaning has been lost. I said that whenever we have a birthday party for someone, we put up decorations, make food, etc. to celebrate. And, this is the season to celebrate the birthday of our Lord, so why not put up decorations and celebrate?! Of course, we need to keep it all in perspective and not get carried away with the commercialism involved. It's all about balance! Why not enjoy the season and have fun--celebrating!?!

So...Jesus is the reason for the season...so CELEBRATE!! Merry Christmas!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving! Kevin and I (along with 5 others from our church) just returned on Saturday from Guatemala once again. And, after being reminded of how little the Guatemalan people have, I have much to be thankful for. However, their joy seems so much greater than mine. I learn a lot from my Guatemalan friends and family. What a wonderful week we had! It's always a huge blessing for me to be with the Impacto staff again and feel totally at home. There is a great peace that envelopes me when I am there. I look forward to and hope for the day when we can return for a longer period of time--however God allows!
The kids did great while we were gone and had a fun week with our friends Dan and Liz who cared for them. They had some funny stories to share! :)

It's hard to come back to the cold weather! We've had some cold, rainy weather this week. Winter is fast approaching.
I ran in a 5k "Turkey Trot" this a.m. and couldn't feel my feet when I first started running! :) But, it was fun and now I won't feel as guilty eating so much later today! ha!

And, we will decorate for Christmas tomorrow! I always look forward to that! It is as the song says, 'the most wonderful time of the year'--or at least one of the most wonderful times.

I hope all have a very blessed and Happy Thanksgiving. Count your blessings!

Hockey Mom

Well, I have crossed over in the world of "hockey mom" starting this Saturday. Both Christian and Asa begin their first year of hockey in a "Learn to Skate" program. They have all the gear and are very excited about it. I'm a little hesitant as the season goes every Saturday from now until March! That's a long season! But, they have talked about this for a long time. So, it will be interesting to see them as they learn to skate and hopefully move forward as time goes on. Lots of equipment needed for this sport--ugh! :) But, they are all outfitted and ready to go--thanks to "Play It Again Sports" which has all used equipment for much cheaper--ha! :) I'll include pictures after Saturday--their first practice.
Paola has started a beginner pottery class, as well. She doesn't show interest in sports, but seems to enjoy the creative activities. She's only had one class, but enjoys it so far.

Kevin and I are headed out to Guatemala next Saturday. I'm finally getting excited!! It seemed so far away and so many other things were going on, I hadn't had much time to really think about it. But, I can't wait now! The kids will be staying here with good friends. I know they will have a blast, as well! It's always weird leaving them. I usually cry the day we leave, but once I get on the plane I am o.k. and focused on what we are about to do.

And, yes, the election is finally over. Although the results were not what I wanted, I know that God is in control. He is much bigger than any country leader. I have to trust in Him and not the things of this world. We'll see what happens. It's times like this that I really miss my dad. I always enjoyed getting his take on what was going on in the country/world. It brought me comfort.

All for now....much to do before we leave next week-end.

P.S. Our Halloween went well. We had a nice, warm evening. The kids had a ball, of course, getting as much candy as they could (bad for me to have it all at home!). Paola was Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, Christian was the 'not so cowardly' lion, and Asa was a puppy dog (not exactly Toto). :)