Pictures & Ponderings

My favorite quote of the week {by Sam} " I'm sort of like a pork bun from Trader Joe's. All the good stuff is on the inside." 

Remember that roller coaster.....we're still riding it, but instead of those steep ups and downs it seems to be coasting along. When it will stop nobody knows. We are good....we will be much better {soon}. I just know it. I believe it.

I've had a couple days where I actually questioned my faith. I realized that it's sometimes much weaker than I thought. But, that's all good. Ultimately, it all points right back to a God I know I can lean on....a God I need to trust in. Crazy days also remind me of what's important and what's fluff. Fluff can be so distracting.

For the first time in a long time, we will NOT be homeschooling through the summer.  Summer rugby league starts next week, and the pool opens this weekend. Amen, and hallelujah.

Some pictures from our weekend....

Oh, To Live In The Country Again!

Over the weekend, we visited a historic farm that is literally minutes away from us....yet it was our first visit there. It was the most perfect day to visit. The weather was great, and it was a needed escape from "city life".

This farm was once owned by Paul Revere's grandson....and finally owned by Mr Foster and his daughter, Caroline. I wish I could have taken more photos, but my battery ran low. There was a Gothic mansion, a beautiful flower garden and cottage, just lots of quiet & green.  Have I shared we have a secret dream of being farmers? Greg shared, he would either like to live in the city or country....action, or slow. I'll take the country, with an occasional trip into the city. This farm visit made us miss our last house so much.

There was a building with all the Foster cars on display. Sam asked me to take several photos of him getting out of the car. He was hoping to go home and make a stop animation film, but {as I shared} dang battery.

There was some faux cow milking. That is hard work. Greg impressed me with his extensive knowledge of pig & chicken farming as he chatted with a local farmer. He is pretty serious about his farming dream. Oh, if we were a tiny bit younger. But, Greg reminded me of all the people who followed their dreams successfully after 40. Now, to put some courage behind that dream. Problem is, we have a few dreams. Maybe our dreams will come find us?

The milking of the faux cow was their favorite part. Mine favorite part was spending a day away from honking cars, and away from stores, and just soaking in the quiet.

Made me think of this post.

Hope

The last couple of weeks have been the fastest, steepest, most nausea inducing roller coaster I've been on in a while. Through it all, we've leaned on friends {sometimes realizing who were true friends, and who were only on the surface}, we've leaned on family, and we've leaned on each other. Most of all, we've leaned on the Lord. Truly, I don't know what people do in tough situations when they don't know God...or, at least know they can turn to the Lord. His word has been an unbelievable source of comfort. At times, we've actually found a passage, read it out loud to each other, and closed with "Can you believe that? That's just what we are going through!".  We've come together as a family in prayer. We've even softened our hearts by praying for "our enemy". Prayer! It's amazing that we have that direct line to God...anytime, anywhere.

Through these past few days, we've made some big changes....and more changes are to come. For sure. I've had moments of discouragement, but most important....and I share this because it defies circumstances....I've had many moments of joy. Even deep down belly laughing joy. I'm excited, and worried, and happy, and sad {and tired}. My only explanation...God.

Remember this post? How one of my goals in our new city was to truly have a relationship with the Lord? Well, I've realized that I do. I've seen His hand expose things that needed exposing. I've seen Him lead us to things that resulted in hope. For a while, I've been telling people that what is going on is not a big deal, but then I realized that it is a big deal. And it's a deal that He will lead us through. Yes, I have some moments of doubt. Pressing on past those moments and keeping my eyes on hope {and joy} is what I need to do. This trial has changed us, brought us closer, and made us look at so many things differently.

We've promised ourselves that we will not forget this lesson....this lesson that we are in the middle of. When we come through {and we will} we will be different. Sorry for all the vagueness. I may share more soon.

This roller coaster is running out of fuel, and I can only thank God for that.

Resting

This blog post was really good. Really good.

"In a world of reaching, how do you rest?"....Ann V.  
(isn't that the truth? really resonated with me)


"There’s always something barking loud in you that you need a bigger field.
A better kid, a bigger house, a greater life, a grander point."

Well, I won't keep quoting. It's worth the time to read for yourself.

Wait, one more....

" Sometimes the way to win is to never enter the race."