Praise in the Storm

I thought I had learned my lessons on faith and trust, but evidently, I need more practice.

Robb called on his way home from work today in tears. He's had a rough transition to the corporate world, and it doesn't help that he's learning as he goes with no training...just an insurance manual. He's especially had it hard the last two weeks as both the other guys on his team have been traveling and he's been bored. He misses the freedom of his own company. And who wouldn't miss it? When you're self employed you are THE MAN. In the corporate world, he's still a peon. That sucks.
So he called in tears. He overheard the president of his division say he is "as worthless as tits on a boar".

I'm afraid he's going to quit. And I'm tired of change.

So as I'm driving home and mulling this over, God impresses me with the thought of praising him. Give thanks in all circumstances. Hmmm. Don't really feel like it. I flick on the radio. The first words on the speaker are these:


I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm.

I came home and downloaded the rest of the song. Here it is:

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say “Amen”,
and it’s still raining
But as the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise
You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can’t find You
As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
“I’m with you”
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

I’ll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I’ve cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

God's words for me. Now. When I need them. He is with me. I still don't feel like praising, but I'll get there. And though I don't know the future, He does. And it will be OK.

Summer Vacation

So, I guess I've taken a vacation from blogging. Though I think our life is more interesting in the summer, it just isn't much fun to write about it when I'd rather be at the beach! After two weeks spent traveling and visiting Robb's family, I recovered by immersing myself in fellowship! The kids were in VBS last week and I spent that three hours each day chatting with pals over coffee, visiting at a friend's house, looking at homeschool curriculum and discussing philosophies of life. We also fit in a few trips to the beach with more friends. My life's rough, I know! :)

The Toothpaste analogy

I recently found a Heritage Builders Family Night Toolchest Activity Book at our local library sale table for 25 cents. (That library has supplied me with the best Christian reading material lately!) I planned our first object lesson, and Megan reminded me for three nights in a row, until the evening came when we had time to do it together.

First the kids each squeezed a (small) tube of toothpaste onto a paper plate. Next I offered $5.00 to the one who could put it all back in the tube in three minutes. I laid out the five dollar bill and set the timer. Robb, having not read the lesson, was astonished, and hid his grin. Here they are trying to complete the task.

Of course, the task is impossible. Which is the point of the lesson. Once we speak unkind words, we cannot take them back.

Camping - Memorial Day Weekend

Robb with Jeff and Lisa
Megan, Drew, Mitchell, Maddie

UFDA! Sorry I've not blogged in two whole months! I'll try to fill in the blanks.

Joni and I share some tunes on the drive to Chicago and Willow Creek's Children's Ministry Conference.

Me thinks Kyrsten is ADHD! :)
Kyrsten and Allen show off their Chicago Style Pizza.
At the very first ever premier of the American Girl movie Kit Kittredge.

Kristina's 4 things

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Florist
2. Driver’s Ed. Teacher
3. Homeschooling Mom
4. Blog Book Designer

Four Movies I would watch over & over:
1. Anne of Green Gables / Anne of Avonlea
2. Pride and Prejudice
3. Sweet Home Alabama
4. Calendar Girls

Four things I could live without, but would rather not:
1. Bath and Body Works hand soap
2. double computer monitors
3. Clorox wipes
4. Swiffer wet mopping clothes

Four small appliances I could NOT live without:
1. sewing machine
2. food processor
3. mixer
4. blender -(I'm only allowed 4?)

Four countries I have visited
1. Germany
2. Russia
3. Taiwan
4. Mexico

People who e-mail me (regularly)
1. Robb
2. Facebook
3. Lisa
4. Carrie

Four of my favorite foods
1. a Mocha
2. Bourbon Street Tilapia from Bubba Gumps
3. Wild Rice soup
4. Pastries

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. a coffee shop
2. Mexico on vacation with my Husband
3.at the beach with friends
4. Mementos

Four things I am looking forward to in the next year:
1. My sister's baby's birth
2. Entertaining
3. Cupcake '10
4. Trip to WI Dells

Spring Mud on the Farm - Again

Spring!

I love winter in Minnesota, really, I do. Until March. Then, even those of us born here are quite tired of the cold and snow. I relish spring, rain, and grass: green, lush grass to tickle my toes. So when spring really does come, and the mud comes along with it, I am not quite satisfied. Somehow in the year since the last spring, I've forgotten that mud must come before spring.
So, spring came (if only for a couple of days. We had a snowstorm on Easter weekend that left us right where we had started in the snow coverage department). The kids went out to play and like true children, made a beeline for the mud puddles. I didn't watch them. Maybe if I had, I could have stopped them, but I doubt it. Maybe if I had, I'd appreciate how much they enjoyed themselves.

But as it was, all I saw was the result. The mess. The mud. They know the rule about coming in from playing in the mud. They strip down to their undies outside, and come in shivering and laughing. (Our nearest neighbor is a mile away, my modest friends!) Thankfully they followed my rule. Somehow, though, they still came in with their naked bodies smeared in mud! ACKKK! Here is part of the result:

I bagged the mud caked coats and clothes and carried them gingerly upstairs to the washer. The whole load had to be washed twice. The kids had to stay in the kitchen, on the lynoleum, until they cleaned up themselves and their trail of mud. Now for the boots. What do I do with mud caked boots when I don't have a utility sink and it is too cold to use a hose? Well, I just left them there, and I'm waiting for the mud to dry so it will come off in chunks of dried dirt! The key is to time it just right so the boots can come in before it starts to rain and the boots become muddy again. Then the rain will wash the muddy sidewalk and we'll start all over again. --Never mind relishing spring. I just want summer!

Thanks, dear.

Robb decided to move the office home recently. He requested that I clean out my office this week to make room for him, so on Monday, though I was feeling under the weather, I began re-organizing. I like to make Robb happy, so I plunged forward. I cleaned out a bookshelf, found homes for decorative shoeboxes filled with sewing supplies, and relocated some scrapbooking stuff and old yearbooks. I emptied a small file cabinet and found a nook in a nearby closet for it to fit. I boxed the assorted papers on my desk, threw away old phone books, and took apart a piano keyboard to be relocated as well.
When Robb came home, I eagerly showed him the office and the progress I had made. He smiled and said, "Well at least it's clean...."
Um, what?
He continued, "Well, I was thinking today, and I don't think it's a good idea to have the office at home."
Thanks, dear.
Now, it's Thursday, we've all been sick all week, and I haven't finished returning my office to its previous state of slightly random order. Oh, well. If I wait long enough maybe he'll change his mind again.

Random Recent Pics

Creative measures to get Mitchell to stay at the table and finish his schoolwork.

Proof for those of you who doubt I ever fix my kids' hair! I do...sometimes!

Proof that Madison eats healthy snacks.

This is a carrot....evidently it was cold, so she wrapped it in a paper towel.

It's hard to tell sometimes,

but Mitchell and Megan really do love each other.