Packing, packing, and more packing......

Packing, packing and more packing......and we're not even moving to Africa to be missionaries, like our sweet friends JD and Lori Thompson. We're just going to St. John for 2 weeks vacation, for Heaven's sake!! And, now if you are reading this for words of inspiration or even for tips on how to pack for 11 people, yes, I said 11, then stop reading. This is just my mid-packing break and probably will be totally boring. Although, I'm sure if you were actually here, you would be amused and entertained, as I get things out to pack, turn my back and someone has added to or taken away from the pile. Leah's new pink flip flops-you know the ones that cost $2 at Old Navy-they are her new favorites. You see, she has a shoe obsession. And while they are not going to be worn by Leah on the plane-she'd walk right out of those at the bustling airport-well, they likely will be on her feet the rest of the vacation. And they keep disappearing as I put them in the pile to pack! I should have known the child would have a shoe obsession, when the first night she spent the night with us in China, she screamed to sleep in her shoes, the whole first night. Duh, me....I didn't know that what she was screaming in Mandarin, was "SHOE"!! She slept with those shoes ON the next night! And, we all rested better! Okay-and back to packing, you see I'm not really packing for 11 people....Jim packs for himself-thank you Daddy, and Shelby and Kara pack for themselves-good thing, cuz, if it was up to me, they'd be wearing turtlenecks and baggy sweatpants on that beach-not the things they call bathing suits!! and Mae even does a decent job of packing for herself-with a once over by MOM! Nat, since he brought dirty laundry home from Tulsa, and he keeps telling me that he will wash it, well....he may be taking dirty clothes! Hope he remembers a swim suit or 2. He usually forgets them and conveniently, has to go buy one! Okay-so really, I ONLY pack for 5 kids and myself....and all the stuff that needs to go down to the house to refresh what the renters have used-linens, towels, shower curtains, kitchen towels, etc, etc, etc! I even tried to pack the dog this trip-but couldn't get a rabies shot verification from the vet today-he was closed! Oh well, next time, little Jed! Jed is the cutest little 5 lb. Morkie, that found me last year in front of the post office in the pouring rain. He has barely left my side since then. I think I'm having a harder time leaving him that I do when I leave my kids. Okay, back to packing-I told you this might be boring.....and then when we return, I can unpack....and then I'll need another vacation from unpacking! ;-) I have read some good books this summer. I read Charles Martin's newest, The Mountain Between Us. It's a good read-although my favorite of his is still Catching Fireflies. I also read a Jodi Picoult, that I can't think of the title of. It's about a teen that is affected by Asperger's that is falsely accused of a crime. I read it, because of Leah's autism. Boy, I got a few chuckles from his behaviors in the book. And, I also just finished Priceless by Tom Davis, If you have not read any of Tom Davis' books....you need to! That's all I'll say about his books. So, maybe the book recommendations were worth reading this blog for! Now, what to read on the beach???? And my quote of the day-"Autigm is my stuper power" by Leah....and yes, said just the way I spelled it!

What Is This?

I haven't blogged in a while... I mean it's summer. I'm supposed to be relaxing and enjoying no school time. Also, I just haven't had much to say. I'm not good at coming up with ideas for what to write about. And since this summer has been pretty slow so far, I haven't had any inspiration either. I'm not complaining though, I've enjoyed this summer.

Anyway, I just finished the book Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller, who also wrote Blue Like Jazz, which I plan on reading soon. This book was about the time when Don took time off of college to go on an epic roadtrip in a hippie van with one of his friends. They drove from Texas to Oregon, making different stops along the way. At one point they stopped at the Grand Canyon and even got to hike all the way down into it. All this time, Don is realizing how glorious God's creation is and admiring the beauty of it all. He is such a beautiful writer. He is just so good with words and describes things in a way that makes you feel as if you are actually experiencing them. And he is really funny actually. Needless to say, I'm ready to hop in a hippie van and go. It doesn't even have to be a hippie van. I'll fly. Bike. Walk. Whatever.

I've recently recognized a fear of mine. I say all of these things about just giving up everything and serving God no matter where that may take me someday, but how do I know that when that day comes that I won't be too comfortable to go? How do I know now that I will still be willing to do that? How do I know that I won't be too afraid to risk everything by letting go? I guess I have control issues. I like to think that I can control what will happen to me and that everything will turn out fine and go according to my plans. Well, maybe my plans aren't lined up with God's plan. That's a scary place for me, because I like for things to go my way. I really need to learn how to fully lean on God and let Him lead me, without me trying to butt in and lead my own perfect life. I'm scared that I'll be too caught up with chasing after that perfect life that I will miss the oportunities God gives me to truly go out on a limb and experience His love in a whole new way. I'm scared I'll be too scared to just go. I really hope that I get over that fear and just let God take me where He wants me, because if not, I might miss the best thing that could ever happen to me. At one point, Don Miller is talking about the roadtrip that he and his friend took and says, "Trips like ours are greener grass left unknown for fear of believing trite sayings, sayings that are sometimes true." I don't want to miss out on the greener grass.

This book also reminded me of how much I love the mountains. Speaking of which, I will be in some in less than two weeks. Sigh.

"These mountains, which have seen untold sunrises, long to thunder praise but stand reverent, silent so that man's weak praise should be given God's attention." -Through Painted Desesrts

what were we thinking??

Okay-School is out....and the kids are all home....all day long. Okay-well all except, Nat, who goes to school year around in Tulsa. However, we wouldn't notice if he was home, as the noise level at our house at any given moment of the day, is well, let's see, that of an F-5 tornado, or of a freight train moving through the living room, or of a herd of elephants stampeding! You get the idea! It's loud around here! And, WHAT WERE WE THINKING when we started adding all of these boys to our family? We definitely weren't planning for the future....I'm not talking about college and retirement and all that, I'm simply talking about feeding all of them. These 4 boys-ages 10 (almost), 9, 7 and 4 can EAT! and I mean EAT! One day several months ago, our oldest daughter, Shelby, who doesn't like the cafeteria food at school asked if I could start preparing a double batch of dinner, so there would be left overs for her to take to school!!! I laughed, as I told her, "honey, I already make a double batch at every meal!" She said, "then can you make a triple batch?" So, not only has the noise level increased, but now they are home all day long...and very active and very hungry, and my grocery bill has gone up. Can you imagine what it might be like when they are teenagers?? Maybe the laundry has decreased-no school uniforms. Only shorts and t-shirts and a swim suit, at worst! This may be the silver lining to the cloud...however, God did know when HE placed these boys in our family. He knew I needed these little guys that think my fat is muscle-hahaha! And HE knew I needed someone to make me laugh at any given moment....these boys can make me laugh! HE knew that I needed to brush up on my math skills, as I homeschool these boys. He knew I needed a break from the drama that girls can bring (I love their drama). HE knew I was tired of taking the trash out, when Jim isn't home...and I wonder how long they will ENJOY taking the trash out for me??? And, oh yeah...HE knew I needed someone to eat all of the left overs-because everyone knows, boys eat anything....if there were left overs! Most of all though, HE knew that we needed them to make this family complete! More later.......
and Kara-you are sounding just a tad bit spoiled, with all your fun travels.....oh to be KB!