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!!

Isaac 9-9-09

Mommyhood

This mommy stuff is really exhausting. Exhausting in 3 ways. 1.) Pure physical stamina. It is exhausting going all the time. 2.) Mentally. You always need to be teaching, training, explaining, encouraging, rebuking...and all of it biblically. My mind does mental gymnastics when I am rebuking one, comforting the other, and just trying to keep track of the other two. 3.) Did you know that being constantly overwhelmed with joy is sometimes very exhausting? You know, like when you smile so much your face hurts. My mind often is often in a cramp due to all the wonderfulness my kids bring into my life. And I wouldn't have it anyother way.