Humbled Again

After reading a small devotional to Rylie about treating others with love, I thought I would try to bring it down to her level and simplify the lesson.


So, genius here says, "that means if someone is mean to you, you should love them anyway."

"Okay I will still love you since you're mean to me then." 

(Note to self: wait until you're not the only person your children spend time with before pushing them to reflect on life.)

"Am I that mean to you, Rylie?"

"Ya remember last week when I hit the computer?"

"Ummm....yes, I remember."


Maybe my kids getting older isn't such a good thing.  Now they remember.....

Just so you know, I am also battling a bad case of leprosy this week.  So, double whammy.

This Fits Too

I went home last week.  Is it weird that I still refer to going to my parents house as going home?  Wonder what my husband thinks?

Well, I went to South Dakota.

To the middle of nowhere.

To the farm I love. 

To the country. 

Ahhh...Just saying the word "country" brings me a calmness.  Even though I now live in what many people chuckle at even calling a town, I still feel a little claustrophobic here.  Often I look out the window of my house and I imagine a view like this, well, minus the snow.  The view I grew up with.

Yes, it snowed - blah.

 I miss seeing new life every spring.



Austyn wasn't impressed with the calves getting shots

                                                                                                                          

I miss searching for all the new kitties in the barn.

I want to go to grandmas and have milk and cookies everyday.

I want to ride off into the sunset. :)

 I want to have a built in petting zoo.



I want to wear muddy jeans everywhere.

I want to go days on end without a stitch of makeup.

I want to get that feeling of a hard day's work.

I want to live off the land.

I want my kids to know the beauty and simplicity of wide open spaces.

Even though I've been gone for 10 years, I have to fight back the tears everytime I leave the farm. But, by the time I make the long drive back to my home, I realize that "this fits too."  (A little nod to one of my movie faves, Sweet Home Alabama).  It feels like my home now and, surprisingly enough, I found that I can actually survive living in town. I'm still trying to figure out how to interact with neighbors and how not to let my dog run wild.  But, we're getting there.  Turns out dogs actually need to be trained, who knew? 

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This week's verse

(I'm a week behind so thought I would share this one - came as a good reminder for me!)

Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:2

The View from the Top of a Manure Pile

I've been reading the book Crazy Love by Francis Chan for Bible Study.  This book is a life changer.  I may get into why a little later but for now there is one quote in the book that has been replaying in my mind as of late, "Christians are like manure: spread them out and they help everything grow better, but keep them in one big pile and they stink horribly."

There are many days I love living in this town.  I have the privilege(?) of living in a very devout society.  Every which way you turn your head there are believers.  Or maybe I should say, church goers.  It's all very safe, very predictable, a town you want your kids to grow up in.

But as of late I am seeing "religion" rear it's ugly head.  Over the last couple months I've attended two church meetings at two different churches.  Both meetings were intense and both were over potentially divisive issues.  Both though, left me with a feeling of....why can't we just all get along?  I know I'm oversimplifying and understating both issues but, in the mist of church politics what happened to the greatest commandment in all this arguing? A command that I myself have been recently convicted of.

LOVE.

Through all of the backbiting, gossip, slander, judgments, and screaming, I can't help but think of what a terrible witness it is to those who don't know the Lord. If this is what Jesus looks like, I wouldn't want any part of it either.

The one thing I am sure about these days is that....I detect a stench.

Scripture and Grandma

When I was talking on the phone to my Grandma the other day she totally caught me off guard when she said, "I am going to try to memorize your verses with you.  It may take me a little longer but I'm gonna do it!"  I got so emotional after she told me that.  (I know, surprise, surprise - still trying to reign my emotions in a bit).  But it was just a special moment. I'm pretty blessed to have a scripture-learnin' Grandma.  Plus, it's just a cool thing to learn the same verses together.

I can only pray that my desire for learning God's word will follow me into my seventies and beyond.

Grandma holding Rylie as a baby

Isn't she a cute Grandma!

So Grandma, we have a hard one this week, but I get excited just reading this verse so putting it to memory will be worth it! 

But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:26-27

Kindergarten Round-Up

Can't believe the time has come for Kindergarten Round-up.  Pretty sure I used to pray for this day to come when, as a baby, Rylie would scream from 5 to 9 at night.  Or as a toddler when she would throw tantrums that would make me want to run away and never come back.  That, and her constant need for my attention left me irritable and drained 7 days of the week.

I've always been excited for the school days, I don't do babies very well.  It may have something to do with my selfishness and need for space. Just a guess.  So, I love Rylie at this age, the school age. She has become such a fun kid, her strong personality was so challenging as a baby (and sometimes still is), but it's become what I love about her now.  

However, Kindergarten Round-up left me feeling a little sad...where did my 5 lb. fussy baby go?

Where did my curly headed rug rat go?

Where did my ornery toddler go?

Ahhh....here she is

So grown up.
So beautiful inside and out. 
So worth all the hard fought days.