A little different this year.

Last year on this day, we had record breaking snow. This year....well, it looks a little different.

This time last year

Snow snow snow.

Christmas tree 2009

Politics

I hate to write a political post...but I think this one is deserving of all of our attention. As you all know, there is a major push to pass the health care bill . Please take a few minutes to listen to Focus on the Family's broadcast on the Manhattan Declaration. It is very informative and calls for true Christians to make a stand.
Let me make my stand perfectly clear. I strive to be a law abiding citizen. I will pay taxes and join health care plans if it is required by law. BUT!!! I will not become an accessory to murder. I refuse to willingly pay for abortion services. I am convinced that would be breaking God's law. I am willing to stand by my convictions and ready to face the consequences for my actions. I will render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's, but I will never render unto Caesar that which belongs to God.

http://manhattandeclaration.org

This is the link to Focus on the Family's Broadcast.
http://listen.family.org/daily/A000002319.cfm

This is a link to just one of the blacklash responses to the Manhattan Declaration. Christians are called the "American Taliban", and words like "ChristeoFacist" are used.
http://www.newshounds.us/2009/11/24/bill_oreilly_and_ann_coulter_endorse_radical_conservative_clergy_position.php

Thank you for taking the time to educate yourselves and I hope you choose to join with me in standing up for our Foundational Christian Values.

Sarah

Sammy J. 4 months

Picture by Andrew Keevy. Model: Samuel J.

Funny faces

Brothers

Another cute, cute, cute!

Sammy James 4 months old.

Endurance

Do you know that an Ironman Triathlon consists of a three mile swim in ocean water with hundreds of people swimming over the top of you, then a 100 mile bike ride, only to jump off your bike to run a marathon....that's right....22 miles!!! Most people don't have the ability to do 1 of those things, let alone all three in one day!! There is a time limit. The race starts at 6 in the morning and the finish line closes at midnight. The point is not to win, but just to finish. It just boggles my mind that people voluntarily sign up for such a grueling event. But they do!!
There comes a time during the race when the glamour has worn off. The excitement is gone. You are all alone in the dark. Your body hurts and you have expended all of your physical resources. Your brain is numb from the pounding of the pavement and you can't think of any good reason to keep going. Infact, the logical option is to quit. The pain and persecution would stop if you would just quit...just lay down and wait for something to come and scrap you up off the pavement.
But you keep going. Why? Because you have fixed your hope on the finish line. You are determined to finish the race because you have your eyes bolted to the One who is waiting for you . You run with endurance for the sake of hearing, "Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into my rest."
So, I am running my Ironman of life. The Christian walk is not an easy journey. It is an endurance event. Sometimes it is dark, sometimes it is painful, sometimes I just want to quit. But Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Dear God, Let me throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let me run with endurance the race marked out for me. Let me fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of my faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross."

Tim Butcher

You Know...Tim Butcher and I never really got the chance to know each other very well. I just barely arrived on the scene when he so suddenly departed. But, even though we were friends only a short time, he has had a lasting impact on my life. Let me share just some of my memories of him.
* He looked really funny wearing a water floaty "island" as a sombrero.
* He invented the word "motate" while playing a game of taboo and he couldn't say the word "drive". "we were motating in our car". Motate is still used often in our home.
* Any time Tim ever was around me he gave me a great big hug.
* Any time Tim was around me, he made me laugh.
* Tim is still making people laugh. I haven't met a person yet who can talk about Tim very long before they are telling a story that makes everyone in the room fall on the floor grabbing their stomachs laughing.

Tim was Cheyne's very best childhood friend. We miss him. And can't wait to see him again.

I am too tired tonight to "wax eloquent", so I will just say it plain. I try my best everyday to do right by my husband and kids. It is my goal every day to labor for the benefit of my family. This often and literally requires sweat blood and tears. And this is my conclusion... if it is up to me and only me to be everything for my family... then my family will surely fail. My 100% is nothing compared to what they need. I can not heal them. I can not save them. I can not protect them. I can not change them. I can only do very little. All I can do is point to Christ, and hopefully reflect Christ. Praise be to God, who is actively employed on behalf of my loved ones. He doesn't fill in the gap of what I lack. I fill in the hairline crack that he allows. Thank you Jesus.

Homeschool

Homeschooling is a new territory for me. If you know of any helpful web sites on the subject, could you let me know. I will post them on my blog. Thanks.

Isaac made breakfast!!

Isaac made breakfast for Daddy!! And Daddy was so appreciative and proud of his son that he ate the whole thing!!

Lov'n Life.

Riding the Rail!

Here is Grandpa Craig's sandrail. The kids loved riding on the dunes with him.

Summer fun

littlest big brother

tiny

the difference of 2 months

Yes, we shaved his head!

His hair was receding quickly. In fact, the only thing holding his hair on was his cradle cap. Now he looks like Mr. Clean.

Andrew in the Sink

Levi and Andrew

Kindergarten SVLA

Today is 9-9-09!! Isaac's first day of kindergarten. We will be homeschooling him 4 days a week, but on Mondays he goes to Spokane Valley Learning Academy. Mrs. Mackey is his teacher. Isaac, Davon, and Nathan make up 3 of the 4 kids in his class. The other is a girly named Macy. He had a great time. They read stories, practiced their letters and numbers, drew pictures in their jounals, and played soccer (which was Isaac's favorite part). Tomorrow we are starting up our homeschool consistently. We are looking forward to a great year!!