Camping

I went camping for the first time this weekend! I was very nervous, but it went very well - I'd even look forward to doing it again! The occasion for this trip was with our home group. There were a few more experienced campers, so that was helpful! We ate well and just enjoyed time around the fire relaxing and chatting. The boys stayed home with Matt's parents (Thank You Grams and Grampop!) so that Matt and I could enjoy this time without trying to figure out how to sleep two boys in a tent! Someday we'll try that! Here is a picture to prove it!

New Book

Matt and I are reading a book called "Respectable Sins" by Jerry Bridges with an "older" couple in our church. The book points out the need for the gospel to be at work in our hearts as believers, ESPECIALLY in those places where we easily tolerate our own sin. "I'm just an anxious person" or "all young parents get angry at their kids" etc. etc. We have just gotten into it and it's neat. It doesn't say "oohh, look at all of the things you do wrong!" in a condemning way. It's more of a convicting "we are called to live in a way that honors and glorifies God, here are some areas that you are not allowing the truth of His Gospel to get to. Let's reveal those and let Jesus work." I feel like we're in a bit over our heads, it's going to be challenging. But I'm thankful at the same time.

Here are a few verses from the "Ungodliness" chapter I just read. (Just to note, he describes "ungodliness" as "...living one's everyday life with little or no thought of God or of God's will, or of God's glory, or of one's dependence on God." (p. 54) That certainly describes a lot of the parts of my days!!)

Psalm 42:1-2 "As the deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?"

Psalm 63:1 "O God you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water."

I'm praying that those statements would be MORE of what defines my heart and mind each day - longing, thirsting, seeking after the Lord - fellowship and communion with Him, rather than pursuit of my own idea, control, peace, order... What joy and wonder would follow! How much would my kids lives be blessed if I was more concerned with meeting with the Lord than with them behaving just how I'd prefer. How much more would mu husband feel loved if I was loving him with the love I have first received through Jesus? Why do I waste so much time an energy on other things? This is where life is really found!

Thanks for bearing with my thoughts today. I'm sure this book will prompt more thoughts and blog entries. I'm looking forward to how He'll be at work!

Rest Time Boxes

We started something new today for Owen at nap time. He hasn't taken a nap consistently for over a year. Instead, he does rest time. This looks like being in his room from 1:30-3:00 reading/listening to music/playing with toys, etc. This typically goes well. He goes through phases where it seems to bore him or he seems so tired but won't let him sleep. Those days don't go very well.

So today we started "Rest Time Boxes." I bought three rubbermaid storage bins, 16 qt size. I filled each box with some toys/activities/books. Each day, he can choose one box. That will hopefully focus and direct his time. If he wants to switch boxes, he can, he just has to clean up the first one and then move on.

We're only 20 minutes in, but it is quiet so far. I will keep you posted! I am hopeful that this is just what he and I have needed to help this time.

Any other thoughts on 4 year old rest time activities?

Owen's Class Trip

We went on a field trip last week with Owen's class to one of our favorite parks in Richmond, Crump Park. At first when I told him that I would be going with him he said, "No thank you mommy." Then when we told him that all of the other mommies were also going to be there, he was ok with it. Phew!

This is a picture of the two 3 year old classes and the 4 year old class. I'm thankful for how much he's grown up this year - in the fall he wouldn't sit without me for the picture, but this time around he sat still and smiled without thinking twice! That gives me hope!

Williamsburg

We spent a few days this weekend/week in Williamsburg to celebrate Mother's Day and our Anniversary (8 years today!). We "won" this trip through one of those time share companies - give them 90 minutes of your time and they pay for 2 nights stay and give you some gift cards. SO... the "pitch" to buy was harder than we thought, but we succeeded in saying no. After that, we enjoyed some time away from home, doing pretty much what we do at home. Vacation with a 4 year old and a 2 year old looks a lot like life at home, just away. But it was joyful to be able to spend time together without the distractions of laundry, work, email, etc. Here are some pics.


Lunch at a yummy spot, "The Cheese Shop."





Anything can be made into a drum!






Even with all that there was to see, the boys just loved RUNNING around! It was a beautiful day and a beautiful place to run and play! Their favorite was riding in the stroller over the bumpy rocks! Who knew! In a few years we'll have to go back and enjoy more of the history that surrounded us.









We went down the Colonial Williamsburg Parkway and found a great spot to walk on the beach and throw rocks into the river. We stayed for about an hour. It was awesome, peaceful, fun, etc. I am not sure who had the most fun though, Matt or the boys! There was a stick out in the middle of the water that Matt was trying to reach. He tried valiantly! He came close a few times, but it was fun to watch him try. If I had known ahead of time how peaceful this was going to be, I could have brought a chair and a book! That is how great it was!