Blog Life Crisis

So recently I have found myself so lost and confused and just not motivated when it comes to my blog.  I love reading other blogs but sometimes it just takes so much work for me to do mine.  I know I have family members waiting to see pictures of our kids and hear the latest of what's going on.  But sometimes I'm lazy.  Sometimes I've got nothing.  Sometimes I have no direction and so why bother.  


I've realized recently that keeping a blog is really a priority that I want to keep.  A large part of it is that it is a journal in a sense our our life happenings.  Some sort of record of the things we do as a family, the things the kids accomplish, my journey in this crazy role called "mom", and how our kids are growing and changing.  I try and find things or think up of things to blog about but the reality is I need to just blog about our life.  I know that is the most basic comment ever, but a concept I'm learning.  


And something God has been working in me for a while now is not comparing myself to others.  Some people are really good writers, I am not.  Some people are really creative, I am not.  And I could go on and on.  But God has placed me in a specific role and place for a reason.  I am learning to use my gifts for the place he has me.  And hopefully that will come out on my blog because my hope is that our blog will just be a true reflection of who we really are.


It is easy in the blog world to concentrate on what we are not doing or where we fall short.  The reality is that we can easily fall into the trap of feeling defeated.  We are not as good as ________.  We don't have as many followers or comments as _________.  We aren't as creative as _________.  But that's not the way it has to be.


I am learning to use blogs as a resource to help me get ideas for the areas I need help in.  I'm also beginning to see how they can be such a source of encouragement for me.  They can never replace my time in the Word, but they do help encourage me in my relationship with Christ and as a mom and wife.


Anyway, its good every once in a while to evaluate whether what you are doing is really worth it, and if the impact it is making on your life is beneficial or not.

Not Me Monday

I've never done one of these before, so I thought I'd take a stab at it.  Who knows if it will stick?!




I always use sunscreen.


I always use at least a SPF 30 and always a 50 on my kids.  I apply it at least 30 minutes before and always reapply when needed.  


So, I would never just apply it once, and think I'm fine for the whole day.  


Nope, not me.


I mean, I'm a responsible adult.  I know that sunscreen is crucial in not getting burned.
And if my dear husband warned me that I was getting red, I would definitely not say, "I know, I just don't feel like getting up to get it."


Nope, definitely not me.


And because I am a responsible adult, I would never consider covering up with a towel was good enough, completely forgetting about my face.


Then I would never come home and realize that I did not in fact have a burn on my face that revealed a perfect sunglasses tan.  


And my dear family would never make fun of me for it because they love me dearly and only use words to build others up.


No way, not me and not my family.


To make matters worse or not worse, I would never wake up two days later to find out my entire forehead was in fact swollen from the said sunburn.  I mean really.  Who would allow the burn to get that bad!?  And who would whine all day long about a swollen head while applying aloe and ice to it ALL. DAY. LONG.?


That would most definitely not be me!

You got the time?

This is Ed. I just had to write a quick story from today.

Since Katie and I led our youth to serve at a Special Needs camp called Camp Barnabas (see last post), physical and developmental disabilities have been common topics in conversation so Micah and Caleb have picked up much of it along the way. This is not the easiest thing to explain to little ones but it is cool to see them grasping it and understanding God in it all...(though this story has nothing to do with God :)

Today Micah and I were taking a walk/adventure and a couple stopped us and asked me what time it was (since I'm still wearing my incredibly nerdy Walmart $7 watch which I got for Camp). I told them the time and then Micah turned to me and asked "do they have some disability where they can't tell time?"
Love that kid. If only he had said it to their face.  

Camp Barnabas

Well we are back and somewhat rested from an amazing trip to Camp Barnabas.  We came home exhausted, but excited to see our kids again.  Both of our parents did such a great job with the kids.  The boys came back with lots of stories of things they did.  


Barnabas was an amazing opportunity.  I highly recommend it to any youth group or college student.  Our students were paired up with a special needs camper for the week.  They had to help them walk through camp for the week.  Our students were challenged in every way, and many of them really learned what it is like to actually depend on the Lord.  This was not really something they could do on their own.


We shared yesterday in church, and so here is a video that Ed made for our week at Camp Barnabas.

Quotable Kids

Micah Edition:


8:00PM - putting boys to bed
(i just lied about that bedtime.  It was really 7:15 because ed was gone and I was sick!)

Micah: Mom! Have you felt my muscles recently?
(need I go on?)


Me:  No Micah I haven't.


Micah:  Well you should.  They are HUGE!!


We are working on pride.

Quotable Kids

Caleb Edition:


7:30AM - kids in room, Ed and I downstairs reading


Caleb:  MOMMMMAAA!!!


Me: Yes, Caleb.


Caleb:  with Caleb enthusiasm aka shouting - I'm growing up!


Me: Yes I know!


Caleb:  I'm growing big like Daddy!!


Apparently my boy grew overnight, and he could tell the difference!

I'm Gonna Miss Them

This week we are preparing for a big week for us, all of us.  Ed and I are taking our youth on a trip to Camp Barnabas.  It is our first time going, and we are really excited.  It is a camp for kids with special needs.  Our students will pair up with a kid (ages 7-15) and basically walk through a week of camp with them.  They will eat with them, sleep in a cabin with them, help them ride horses, swim in the pool, do the ropes course, go down the water slide, etc.  This is a camp made just for them!  So its going to be a challenging week, but a good week.


On the other hand, I'm about to pass on the kids to our parents.  I am really struggling with it.  I decided a while back that I just shouldn't even think about it because I would just worry.  Well now I am here, and I'm not worrying, I'm just sad.  I trust our parents, but 10 days is a LONG time.  I'd like to think my kids will miss me.  They need me...right?


So this week I'm savoring every kiss, every giggle, every hug, every "I love you", even every cute little face I'll wipe, and dirty hands I'll clean, and yes maybe even their cute little bottoms I'll wipe!