2011 Winter/Early Spring Photo Album

So happy to be at home for now.

Nothing like spending our days doing "regular" things

like working in the garden,

touring the post office,

floating boats,

and taking swimming lessons.

Even though we loved the new places,

and new friends,

and new spaces,

we love "regular" days the most.

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!

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...

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

In Earnest

Ethan praying:

Make the world clean and

Thank you for

freedom.

joy.

and a pot of gold.

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.

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.

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.

Temporal

Ethan calls this his sleeping cave.

His bed is criss-crossed underneath Em's bed.

Nothing says sleep like 'cave'.

Traveled through a gazillion small towns lately.

Seems to me this could be just about

anywhere in America.

For now it is ours.

372

2010 Chronological Read Through of the Bible Complete!

Such a focused understanding of God's big picture.

Especially lovin' the last three months of the NT.

Go Church!

The Scott family 2011 plan is reading

through books together

at breakfast this year.

Jan. = Colossians

Our passage to memorize: Col. 3.

Coincidentally, A Holy Experience has

a plan for memorizing the whole

book of Col. in 2011.

Whew!

Not quite the PE i remember

Whatever happened to laps around the track?

She scrambled right to the top.

Good work dearie!

The old is gone

Isn't it amazing...

how fun an old toy is

when it has been packed away

for months?

Love that!

Oasis

1. a fertile patch in the desert occurring

where the water table approaches

or reaches the ground surface.

2. a place of peace, safety,

or happiness in the midst of trouble or difficulty.

Thank you Susan Wise Bauer for your beautifully written history lessons.

Decorations are being put away.

Contentment settles in

as the first day back

at the routine

is almost done.

Welcome 2011...

...we are waiting in eager anticipation for all that you have to bring!

Under contract

Early last week we got an offer on our house.

In this housing market that is forecast to only get worse,

this offer came at just the right time.

Thank you Jesus.

Would you like a little tour?

While we wait for the house to sale

We enjoy Colorado scenery.




We celebrate four years of Ethan!

We partake of local amusement.

Ethan visits the dentist for the first time.

Our days have been quite full with fun events and daily events, however, it is the four months of having a house for sale that is truly filling our time. I had no idea how time consuming this endeavor would be. Despite the numerous showings, we are now considering renting the house and holding on for awhile longer. In about three we will be released from HQ and will begin raising support and exploring our next assignment.

Want to know what it is?

Aviano, Italy!

Thinking about memorizing scripture...

While working on next year's school plans I found this.
All four minutes are worthy of your time.



I listened with tears and desire.

Happy Easter

I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions,
for my own sake,
and remembers your sins no more.
Isaiah 43:25

For my own sake...
I thought the reader said it wrong on Thursday night.

Such sweet glory in the forgiveness of my sins!

Halfway to a driver's license

I remember those early days. I couldn't get enough of you.

And those days, really weren't very different from today, because I still can't get enough of you. All the days from then till now, have been better than I imagined. You have become quite a girl - beautiful, confident, tender-hearted, creative and helpful. I'm so proud of you.

Happy Birthday my little love!