Mom's play date

We visited yet another church on Sunday. This one is a new church plant.
We liked it ... well enough that ...
I took the kids to the pastor's house for a play date ...

there were 7 moms and LOTS of kiddos!
It was a great time.
It's nice to finally be meeting some other moms with kids the same age.

I've been missing my C Springs mom friends ...

our play dates and mom's dinners.

I miss you -- Laurie, Tisha, Sharon, Sandy, Lacey, Robin, Courtney and Tara!

Marriage

Two great quotes from Jody's blog. Thanks, Jody.

"I pity the married couple who expect too much from one another. It is a foolish woman who expects her husband to be to her what only Jesus Christ can be: always ready to forgive, totally understanding, unendingly patient, invariably tender and loving, unfailing in every area, anticipating every need, and making more than adequate provision. Such expectations put a man under an impossible strain." Ruth Bell Graham

"Unfortunately...we've become romantic gluttons. Instead of giving thanks for romance when it comes, we crave it, demand it, and even build our lives around it. We rarely give ourselves the opportunity to experience the more steadfast satisfaction of loyalty, commitment, and responsibility." Gary Thomas

Just for you, Auntie Nan!

An old friend

I bumped into an old friend, Sean Hall, today.
I met Sean in 1990 in Denver, Colorado.
We were both on the YWAM base in Lakeside, Montana in 1994-1997.
I haven't seen him in over a year.

Strange! I wouldn't have expected to see him at the coffee shop today.
It seems that at every turn, I see someone I know.
It's nice to be in a small town community where most everyone knows someone who knows someone who knows someone.

Landon's Birthday Party

Fun presents, cupcakes, good friends, balloons ...
what more could a little guy want?

Great day for the Stuckys

We started the day out visiting another church. We bumped into some old friends there who took us out to lunch at MacKenzie River Pizza (our favorite).

Then, during nap time - I got to go for a bike ride in the neighborhood while Steve got to watch football.

A steak dinner and more football.
Play time with the kids.
A beautiful sunset.

What a great day!
A great day of rest for all of us!

My baby boy is 2 years old!

Landon's birthday is today.

Happy Birthday, little buddy!

Psa 139:13-16 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them.

I pray that you know just what God has planned for every day He has for you.
May you serve Him passionately all the days of your life!

"It is not good for man to be alone"

The feeling of lonliness is a strange one.
I remember days being in Colorado Springs, surrounded by fellow staffers, friends, family ...
yet feeling really alone! I remember crying often for feeling so alone.

Now, here in Montana ... I am not surrounded by anyone other than my husband and kids and a small handful of friends ... yet I don't feel the same pain of lonliness. Maybe it will come, but I hope not.

However - we do need some friends ... and some good friends. My prayer for this season of life is that God will bless us with deep friendships, as opposed to many acquaintences. Ah, to know and be known. For friends to see my true colors and love me through it ... and I they. To help each other grow into better people... passionate to know and love God.

Children:

Multifaceted jewels

Fashioned by God's Hand.

A priceless treasure,

A source of joy.

Art and baking classes

The kids and I spent an afternoon painting, coloring, cutting paper and gluing it on with elmer's glue. It was a whole new world for them ... they had so much fun!


Another day, we made 2 batches of cookies and a batch of pumpkin muffins. Landon had more fun dipping the spatula in the bowl and eating whatever he could pick up. Shiloh tried to eat every dipped ball of dough. I think we lost a dozen cookies in the process! =)

Pets

We have adopted some new pets ...

a couple of fawns who often graze in our backyard
and a resident skunk who occasionally makes his presence known!

Praises to my Heavenly Father

I went to a Bible study in Big Fork yesterday.
The lady was doing a series on "How to have a Quiet Time."
(Most of the ladies are new believers.)

Her theme for the day was "Praising God."
She challenged us to think of anything and everything we are thankful for ...
write it down and use it as a time of worship.
So, I want to use this post to publicily worship God
and declare His marvelous works in my life!

I am thankful for ---
** a husband who loves me dearly and makes me feel cherished
**2 healthy and happy kids who bring much joy to our lives
**2 sets of parents who encourage and support us in very real ways
**my sister - who calls me often just to say hi - what a treasure
**good friends who write, call, email, and post comments
**financial provision - good, solid financial support for many years!
**every person who gave money to support the ministry God had us doing at the AFA.

**The Holy Spirit, who is always at work in my life, rooting out the ugly things in my life and working to change me from the inside out.
**God's provision - through family, friends, finances, a nice home
**God's calling on my life to know Him in an intimate way ... and how He allows both good and bad in my life to bring about that depth of relationship with Him.

**Changing seasons -
**I am thankful for the years God had us at the Academy. I am a different person because of that experience and my life is rich with friends from that season.
**Although our time at the Academy was mostly difficult - it brought significant growing pains, which have made me a better person.
**This new season of our lives in Montana ... a fresh start ... clean pages in a chapter for God to write upon. I wait to see what He will do, with eager anticipation.
**Glad to be freed from the responsibility of leading a ministry and all the pressures that come with that position.
**Enjoying the season of "motherhood" that God has me in - I want to truly embrace this role and all that it means for my relationship with God, Steve and my kids.

God is indeed worthy of my praise!

A foretaste of Winter!

We awoke to a mere 38 degrees!
I could see my breath when I went to get the paper.
Ah - fall is in the air ...
and at last the wildfires will be contained.

I love this time of year ...
the smell of burning wood
the chill in the air
the changing color of leaves
hot chocolate
sweaters, hats and mittens
hot apple cider
decorating for fall
Thanksgiving's a 'comin!
curling up with a thick blanket, a cup of coffee and a good book!!

The changing of seasons is a good thing!

---

"I will speak ill of no man,
and speak all the good I know of everybody."
- Benjamin Franklin

Enough said.
(And thanks to Jody for the quote!)

Friends Don't Let Friends Post Comments Anonymously

Yesterday, I received a comment from an "anonymous friend." And decided to delete it.
Today, I received another comment from this "friend."

Anonymous said...
I thought that Blogs were a way to communicate across boundaries, but as my 'comment' was deleted, I wonder whether that still remains true!
'We are not isolated entities, self-contained, existing apart from God or from one another or even from God's creation'
We were once friends, but maybe it is easier to push the delete button.

Because of this, I have removed the option to post comments anonymously.
I welcome comments from my friends.
However, if I do not recognize a comment as being from a friend, I will most likely "push the delete button."

Thanks for understanding!

Community

Why did God create us? There is only one answer: for relationships. God decided not to have a life of God's own but to share the divine life with us. God gets lonely when God has no one to walk with in the dew of the day. This is one of the greatest self-disclosures in all of history. Amazing, vulnerable, divine self-disclosure. God created us for companionship.

What makes us human is the same thing that makes us created in the image of God. We are not isolated entities, self-contained, existing apart from God or from one another or even from God's creation. We are made for "community."

Out of the Question... Into the Mystery
Getting Lost in the Godlife Relationship
Leonard Sweet

Love technology

Technology is a beautiful thing!
And life just isn't the same when it's missing.
For example ... cell phones.
I don't think I'd know what to do without one.

And internet access ...
it's my connection to the outside world.
Life is much better with it.

So, for now, we at least have dial-up.
should have high-speed by the end of the week.
So, I'm back on-line.
HAPPY DAY!

We got most of the house set-up and the boxes into the attic.
It's a nice feeling ...
and it's starting to feel like home.

It was 45 degrees this morning and should warm to upper 80s today.
Going to take the kids for a walk ...
and have dinner with some friends in Big Fork tonight.
I'm really enjoying our pace of life right now.
Just gotta soak in it... and remember not to cram the calendar too full.

Steve and I actually had our first date since Colorado (4 weeks ago).
We were able to go to the Farmer's market in town and out for lunch.
Joan - you'd love this place, The Knead - our kind of food! =)
I'll take you there when you come to visit.
And of course a cup of Joe at Coffee Traders.

We also visited a church on Sunday...
and the search begins.
Can I just say, I hate looking for a church.
It doesn't help that we only have a handful of friends here ...
and there is a church on every street corner.

My kids are waiting - impatiently - for that walk I promised them ...
so I go now.

September ?

It's hard to believe it's September, as it's been in the upper 80s every day!
Thankfully, it's not too hot - as the smoke from the fires creates a thick haze.
(Not that I'm saying I like forest fires.)
I'm ready for 70 degree days ... and the nice chill of fall time.

Pictures of our house

This should be a fun house for the next year. It has a big kitchen and a huge living room.
We even put the kids play area in the living room ...
just to break it up a bit. They like being able to play so close to where I'm cooking.
And with 3 bedrooms, the kids are back to sleeping good again.

We've nearly unpacked what we're going to unpack and I have even been decorating. It just wouldn't feel like home if I didn't. =)

I met 2 moms at the park the other day who invited me to a Bible study in Big Fork. And I found a MOPS group ... should I decide to attend either or both. For now, it's just nice having a blank calendar!!!

More pictures

The backyard is great ... with a nice deck and a bit of a view through all the trees.

I am indeed alive!

We have disappeared into the woods of "Many Lakes." We've been unpacking maniacs. We finally got a phone yesterday ... now we're just waiting for internet access. So today, we came to Big Fork for an outing and to use the wireless access at the local deli.

I'll post photos of our house when we get internet access at home.

Meanwhile - we're slowing visiting all the grocery stores, trying to find the best places to shop. (Our cupboards are mostly bare.) It's fun exploring a new town.

Steve has been offered 2 construction jobs - one in Big Fork and one in Kalispell. He's been working for the guy in Kalispell the past 2 days, installing windows and framing.

So, until we have internet access ... have a beautiful day!

Downtown Big Fork

This little town is so quaint. It's considered a "resort town." The extremely wealthy are buying up 2nd and 3rd homes in this area ... sending the price of housing through the roof. An average size home is selling for about $500,000, and if it's a waterfront property (which many are) - the price is $1,000,000 or more! They even have a "theatre" and just finished a 3-week production of "Hello Dolly." It's a fun place - with a cute park and playground just down the street for the kiddos.

The Bissell's view

We've been staying with Bill and Mary Bissell at their "Swan Haven" home in Big Fork since we got to Montana. Not only are the incredibly gracious to let us stay with them for a week and a half ... but they also have a peaceful, quiet home ... with a GREAT view!

Resolve to slow your pace

I picked up a random book at a used book store ...

When There's Not Enough of Me to Go Around
Life Solutions to Perfectionism, People-Pleasing & Performance Pressures
by Ellen Elwell and Joan Stough

It's been a pretty good read (basic, but good).
They had a quote from Dobson that I liked and thought I'd share it.

I can provide a simple prescription for a happier, healthier life, but it must be implemented by the individual family. You must resolve to slow your pace; you must learn to say "no" gracefully; you must resist the temptation to chase after more pleasures, more hobbies, more social entanglements; you must "hold the line" with the tenacity of a tackle for a professional football team, blocking out the intruders and defending the home team. In essence, three questions should be asked about every new activity that presents itself:
Is it worthy of our time?
What will be eliminated if it is added?
What will be its impact on our family life?
My suspicion is that most of the items in our busy day would score rather poorly on this three-item test.