My Little Schoolhouse: January 2011

1.23.2011

I forgot to take pictures!

Yesterday was especially sweet,
spending a whole day with
Nathan, Lynn and Abigail Carlson.
Meeting Abigail and having plenty
of time to talk and talk about
their future and our future
and parenting, it was... so, so good.
But, I forgot to take pictures.
I could cry.
We'll see you on the
other side friends.
(of the ocean that is!)

Back at Highline today.
Our church. There aren't
many places to call home these
days, but Highline feels
comfy and homey. We have more
time to look forward to.

So thankful for heart-connecting
relationships that come with shared
life in Christ!

1.19.2011

Adventuring

That's what I keep telling my kids...

This is an adventure

Who get's to live like this

We get to see so many great friends

You'll get to check another state off your list

Who am I trying to convince?

We leave our temporary home tomorrow for

an even more temporary home and

then a trip in the middle for another month-long adventure.

Colorado, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado

Its like a travel sandwich.

If I wasn't writing this to procrastinate the packing, I

might try waxing eloquently about earth and heaven

and this life and what we were made for and so on and so forth...

1.18.2011

What is Education?

Stealing a few quiet moments today,

I read through chapter 3 of

A Charlotte Mason Companion.

Its a goodie.

I read it every year.

What is the best curriculum of a well-brought up person?

Regardless of where your child goes to school or what you

teach them at home, each day they need:

*Something or someone to love

*Something to do

*Something to think about

1.17.2011

In Earnest

Ethan praying:

Make the world clean and

Thank you for

freedom.

joy.

and a pot of gold.

1.15.2011

a conversation

Watch out old west...

a few days ago...

Hours after Ethan's early rising,

and not so many hours after my not so early rising,

he finds me at the computer.

E: We didn't get to talk. (expressionless)

Me: What do you mean, honey?

Climbing on my lap, blankie in hand, he repeats,

E: We didn't get to talk.

Our early morning snuggle routine comes to mind.

Me: Well, what do you want to talk about?

E: Nothing.

Me: So how is your day going?

E: Good.

A little hug and kiss from me.

E climbs down and runs back to his play.

1.13.2011

On Empty Religion

Colossians 2: 18b-19

Such a person also goes into great detail

about what they have seen;

they are puffed up with idle notions

by their unspiritual mind.

They have lost connection with the head,

from whom the whole body,

supported and held together

by its ligaments and sinews,

grows as God causes it to grow.

Em's insightful interpretation of the passage.

Seemingly simple passages can be pretty important.

1.10.2011

Where in the world is ...

After a few conversations of late, I've come to realize that I'm not very good at communicating our family's big picture plans. This blogging thing can be a bit tricky. Moments in time make it through, but the days do not always.

Here's what's going on with us:

*We are living in Scottsbluff, NE with my Dad. All our worldly possessions are in a little storage unit not far away or in the garage or unpacked here in 'our' little basement.

Aviano, Italy

*Our hope and plan is to move to Italy sometime in the early summer. Aviano, our destination, is in northern Italy just at the foot of the mountains. Rick says it's not so different from Denver in that regard. It's an Italian air force base about 2 hours from Vicenza (I'm just saying... Army friends).

Airplane school

*We are spending our days raising monthly support and large one time expenses that come with starting a new ministry.

*The four of us have spent many hours traveling since July. This last month has been nice and quiet and we've stayed here. The kids especially have needed the stability and consistency of unpacking. Next week, we are on the road again.

car school

*Is there one specific day of the month that you would pray for us and our preparations for the Aviano Hospitality House? We feel desperate for God's guiding as we travel and seek new partners. You can email or reply here if you are interested. I'll put your name on our calendar and email you a specific requests each month.