I recommend them all

Our life group is doing this marriage study right now. It's a short study, but full of some great insight.


The best Bible study I have ever taken...hands down. Love this. It has blessed me in ways far beyond parenting alone.




Reading this and doing the online book club with it. It's beautiful.

Abnormal & loving it

With a husband, three kids, a duck and a blog, the blog tends to be the one neglected. And this is a good thing. I finally got around to updating a little.
Bryce said the other day, "Just when I think we're a normal family, something always happens to change that." He didn't say this sadly, but in humor.
I tried for many years to be like everyone else growing up. My personality is one that likes to blend in. God continues to teach me how unique He created me and how He intentionally did so.
Here's my pet duck, Bart.

Things I learned on a snow day

Bart does not enjoy the snow. She really is spoiled. While we all came out to play, she sat on the mat in front of our door and waited to go back inside.


Gemma does not have gloves her size. And her left hand does face the right direction, although you would not know by her glove placement.


Even in freezing temperatures, it is always worth going out to play in the snow with the family.

"Our backyard" is so much fun...and beautiful in the winter!

In a house where little girls reside

I asked Bryce when he got back from running errands the other day, if Jasmine had done them all with him. He looked confused...Jasmine? He he he. :-)

And this is why I need a poncho while feeding Ruth...

Christmas Love

In lieu of buying gifts for each other this year, we adopted a family to give presents to this Christmas. We weren't sure our kids would understand or grasp why we were doing this, but we felt a strong conviction to do so anyway. Our children will be far from neglected at the five different family Christmas celebrations we will attend. Plus, I broke down and bought a box of the new hot chocolate with colored marshmallows that they keep eyeing every time we are buying groceries!
We had a great time shopping for this family together and Zane understood a lot more than I thought he would. My favorite part of this whole experience though, was when Bryce and Zane delivered everything this morning. When they got back, I asked them how it went and if they got to meet the family. Bryce said that the little boy, close to Zane's age, immediately ran up and hugged him. Zane said, "It only took us 2 seconds to be friends, Mom." Those words were so sweet to my ears.
Just like so many people, I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off all week. (where did that expression come from anyway...yuck.) I've been reminded several times to "be still". Our world is so much about the big, hungry, lit up, decorated, shopped for and then exchanged celebration. I'm thankful for the little reminders of Jesus, during a holiday all about Jesus.
My greatest gift? Jesus.
My favorite gifts this year? My son's 2 second friend and a little yellow sticky note that Zane gave me, reading "I love Mom. I'll give you $2 to the dollar store. To Mom". He has $4.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might love through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." 1 John 4:7-12

Graham Cracker Houses

We put a lot of our old candy to good use last night, making graham cracker houses. We had a great time!

Gemma had a little help from dad.

Gemma's finished product

Zane's super cute house

My house

Note the duck in the backyard