A little Inspiration for those of us in the rough storms of life...

Coast Guard Rescue Helicopter Lego has landed...

Ok so this kid has way more patience than me with money. While I waste money on the piddly junk all the time, Aidan has managed to save his money for a looooooong time to get his "Coast Guard Rescue" Helicopter. So long that I have no idea when he started, but for a boy who makes .25 cents a job and paid $42 bucks even (with .$85 left) is quite the accomplishment. (He has had some money gifts along the way...so that helped.) And as you will see he even inspired his brother to save too...for "Mickey Lego" ($22 bucks with mom and dad pitching in $1, not bad.) Like I said better savers than me.

Here's the happy...no elated boy...

Good Stuff...in the middle of the week

1. God in the details...like potty training Mikey. Yes, I'm going to be "one of those Christians" on that.
2. Somehow only spending $10 on groceries this week
3. Finding the most fabulous dress ever...even if I didn't buy it
4. Aidan's excitement (and patience) for saving for his coast guard rescue helicopter lego
5. Somehow not having to buy gas this week
6. Studying "Hallelujah"
7. Coffee
8. Email
9. Aidan cleaning his room spontaneously
10. Prayer

For the grandparents out there (and anybody else that cares)...

This Monday marked a new milestone in the Porier house. 2 boys off to school. Crazy but true. Mommy had a whole 2.5 hours to figure out what to do with (not a problem really:)) Here are some pictures of the happy boys.

Mikey and Ms. Barbara

Aidan and Ms. Mary Lee

A (or 17) Year(s) ago...

So I've unplugged more in the last few weeks...thus my lack of entries.

Trying to figure out how to merge backpacking life with real life. Still don't know. Still know I'm more at home in the outdoors than in the city. Still know this is where I need to be right now and I'm ok with that. Just really thankful that I am close to the mountains even if it's Littleton instead of Buena Vista. On that note, I found my backpacking journal from when I first ventured out here 17 years ago and my entry said this...

"It was really sad to leave the mountains. I 'm attached to them now. I feel that made me a stronger person and I'm thankful for that." August 17, 1991

I feel so thankful that years later I am living the dream of living in Colorado. And hey maybe I'm not a ranger wandering the trails everyday but that's ok. I'm here. And doing a heck of a lot better than we were in August of 2007 which I say is reason to celebrate today.

A year ago...
I was having surgery to have my thyroid removed. Lots of unknowns. Lots of worries.
Jeremy's blood pressure wasn't 118/66 like it was today. Way proud of you baby. Way proud.
I wasn't buying fish, almonds, cucumbers, tomatoes, and squash in mass like I do now.
Didn't know how to rest. Not nap (I can do that just fine!) But rest in the Lord. Still don't totally but I'm learning.

Awesome Psalm for today (also found in my Backpacking journal from 17 years ago.) I loved it then for the mountain references found. I love it today because of the power and dependence on our creator.

Psalm 104 (New Living Translation)

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are!
You are robed with honor and majesty.
2 You are dressed in a robe of light.
You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens;
3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds.
You make the clouds your chariot;
you ride upon the wings of the wind.
4 The winds are your messengers;
flames of fire are your servants.^[a]

5 You placed the world on its foundation
so it would never be moved.
6 You clothed the earth with floods of water,
water that covered even the mountains.
7 At your command, the water fled;
at the sound of your thunder, it hurried away.
8 Mountains rose and valleys sank
to the levels you decreed.
9 Then you set a firm boundary for the seas,
so they would never again cover the earth.

10 You make springs pour water into the ravines,
so streams gush down from the mountains.
11 They provide water for all the animals,
and the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
12 The birds nest beside the streams
and sing among the branches of the trees.
13 You send rain on the mountains from your heavenly home,
and you fill the earth with the fruit of your labor.
14 You cause grass to grow for the livestock
and plants for people to use.
You allow them to produce food from the earth—
15 wine to make them glad,
olive oil to soothe their skin,
and bread to give them strength.
16 The trees of the Lord are well cared for—
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
17 There the birds make their nests,
and the storks make their homes in the cypresses.
18 High in the mountains live the wild goats,
and the rocks form a refuge for the hyraxes.^[b]

19 You made the moon to mark the seasons,
and the sun knows when to set.
20 You send the darkness, and it becomes night,
when all the forest animals prowl about.
21 Then the young lions roar for their prey,
stalking the food provided by God.
22 At dawn they slink back
into their dens to rest.
23 Then people go off to their work,
where they labor until evening.

24 O Lord, what a variety of things you have made!
In wisdom you have made them all.
The earth is full of your creatures.
25 Here is the ocean, vast and wide,
teeming with life of every kind,
both large and small.
26 See the ships sailing along,
and Leviathan,^[c] which you made to play in the sea.

27 They all depend on you
to give them food as they need it.
28 When you supply it, they gather it.
You open your hand to feed them,
and they are richly satisfied.
29 But if you turn away from them, they panic.
When you take away their breath,
they die and turn again to dust.
30 When you give them your breath,^[d] life is created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

31 May the glory of the Lord continue forever!
The Lord takes pleasure in all he has made!
32 The earth trembles at his glance;
the mountains smoke at his touch.

33 I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.
35 Let all sinners vanish from the face of the earth;
let the wicked disappear forever.

Let all that I am praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord!

(Aidan's) Monday 10

So today my devotions were Psalm 19:14 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer."

And today I am choosing to think about positive things with Aidan because he has had a few bad episodes today, I know his heart is good. I know I can easily go down a path of finding all the bad but I'm not. I'm stopping to reflect on the good.

So here are Aidan's top Monday 10 just for him...

1. Laying in bed with him and listening to him explain his lego boxes. "The street sweeper guy has the same shirt as the garbage truck guy but they have different faces and different hats."
2. Watching him do a "y-turn" with his jeep in the driveway and him totally getting it.
3. Aidan seeing Strawberry Shortcake fruit snacks in the grocery store and wanting to get them for his (girl) friends.
4. Bringing me a leaf in from the backyard and telling me it's for when I pray.
5. Looking out the back door and seeing him sitting on top of his cozy coupe just chilling.
6. Calling Micah "bub-buh"
7. Telling me "that's great mom".
8. His questions of life..."how does the lawn mower cut the lawn?"
9. Telling me all about how he wants to be a daddy when he grows up.
10. Cinnamon Toast.

A Bicycle Made For 3?

In an effort to be more green around here we have started biking more. Jeremy has been commuting to work on his bike, and we have integrated family bike rides into our everyday life...grocery shopping was even attempted and successful! One night last week I was out for the night so Jeremy took matters into his own hands and hooked the boys up one after another. Aidan on his new tag along bike (total hit) and Mikey in the Burley. They had a grand time going to the parks (yes multiple) and getting donuts from the gas station. It just goes to show that we don't need a mini van after all :)

Nature Walk right here in Littleton

Ok...we have been back a week now and still haven't posted our trip. We have been too busy looking for new ultralight gear (especially packs), checking out books from the library on the Colorado Trail, and playing in the sprinklers in the backyard.

I (Rach) am still processing how to merge the desire of selling it all and move to the mountains with the reality of jobs, kids, house, and life. But if nothing else our trip helped us get back to the heart of us and why we ventured out West in the first place. That being said I took the boys out for a nature walk this week in an effort to get outside right where we are.

Here are some pictures of our adventure.

Countdown...

It's now 2 days till vacation and there is something magical about the anticipation of getting ready for a trip. Something about making the lists and checking things off. Getting stuff in place to go.
It's even great to say..."I'll call you when I get back."

Just Jeremy and I are heading off into the wilderness for a week. No wonder I am giddy. Boys get a week with Grandma Faye and we get a week to be together. Good stuff.

I'll post when we get back :)

AIDANNNN !!

Here I am eating lucky charms and listening to Def Leppard thinking I should post this before I forget...

Anyway last Thursday Aidan had his "pre-school" graduation and we went to watch him sing songs with his class...not knowing I was about to witness one of the most precious moments yet between my boys.

So I am sitting in the pews with Micah standing on my lap (Jeremy is playing guitar) and Aidan walks up with his class. And I hear Micah calling out AIDANNNN! AIDANNN!! He keeps calling it over and over and when Aidan sees his brother cheering for him he BEAMS...I mean not just happy but he was so excited that his brother was there for him. And they make eye contact and you can tell they are there for each other. It was priceless. Totally cool. Good stuff to remember especially on those days when you need reminders (we all do right moms?).

Aidan's class. He is on the far left 2nd row striped shirt (no hat...not a conformist in any way).

Aidan and his teacher Miss Chris. She's been perfect...I couldn't have asked for a better fit for him this year.

Monday 10

After an insanely busy weekend I'm dragging this morning...so I thought remembering the good stuff would help get me going. Happy Monday to all.

1. A fridge full of food.
2. Saving 45% on groceries.
3. Micah staying in his "new bed".
4. Coffee.
5. The library.
6. Hamburgers on the grill.
7. Jeremy.
8. Psalm 13 and the "big but".
9. A way cool park that we found to play at.
10. Water.

Ok I'm off...

Darn Good Quote

Sometimes God calms the storm ... Sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms the child. Author Unknown

(I thought of you on this one my quote friend :))

Savoring...

Jeremy and my word for the year is disciple and my personal word for the year is savor. Lately I have been realizing how when Aidan was Micah's age (now) I expected so much more from him. So I went back and looked at old pictures of Buddy to make me savor...so I don't make the same mistake again.

Here they are (with a recent picture of his first sleepover, yes...it's a girl :))

Aidan 9 months old and flying...

McDonalds with Daddy. Saturday morning tradition.

A rare moment of sleeping in my arms.

His first sleepover(at his house) with his friend Jamie. And yes they actually slept!

What Defines You?

Define: " To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term. "

So you knew it was coming...my deep thoughts. I've been doing some soul searching, discussion and Bible reading and find myself asking others (and myself) this question a lot. What defines you? Is it your job? Your relationships? The church you go to? Where you live? The size jeans you wear? Who your parents were?...
The list could go on and on and if I allow myself to be defined by these things I will constantly be like the waves.... because man in the last 4 years a lot of those (all) have changed. So I need to be grounded in truth. All of those things shape me, but define me? Nah... I want my heart to be what describes me. A heart for God, my husband, my children. So much of the scripture focused on our heart. A change of heart, loving with all our heart (Matthew 22:37), a contrite heart (David in Psalm 51:17), Onesimus to Paul (Philemon 12) or those that have a hardening of the heart (Pharaoh in Exodus 4:21).

On that note the following is a commencement address given by the Author Anna Quindlen at Villanova University. It's a good reminder of what our "resumes" are made up of and addresses the heart. A little optimistic or dreamy but makes some good points all the same. I highlighted a couple of the best parts. So read on my friends...

It's a great honor for me to be the third member of my family to receive an honorary doctorate from this great university. It's an honor to follow my great-uncle Jim, who was a gifted physician, and my Uncle Jack, who is a remarkable businessman. Both of them could have told you something important about their professions, about medicine or commerce.

I have no specialized field of interest or expertise, which puts me at a disadvantage, talking to you today. I'm a novelist. My work is human nature. Real life is all I know. Don't ever confuse the two, your life and your work. The second is only part of the first.

Don't ever forget what a friend once wrote Senator Paul Tsongas when the senator decided not to run for reelection because he'd been diagnosed with cancer: "No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time in the office." Don't ever forget the words my father sent me on a postcard last year: "If you win the rat race, you're still a rat." Or what John Lennon wrote before he was gunned down in the driveway of the Dakota: "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."

You walk out of here this afternoon with only one thing that no one else has. There will be hundreds of people out there with your same degree; there will be thousands of people doing what you want to do for a living. But you will be the only person alive who has sole custody of your life. Your particular life. Your entire life. Not just your life at a desk, or your life on a bus, or in a car, or at the computer. Not just the life of your minds, but the life of your heart. Not just your bank account, but your soul.

People don't talk about the soul very much anymore. It's so much easier to write a resume than to craft a spirit. But a resume is a cold comfort on a winter night, or when you're sad, or broke, or lonely, or when you've gotten back the test results and they're not so good.

Here is my resume: I am a good mother to three children. I have tried never to let my profession stand in the way of being a good parent. I no longer consider myself the center of the universe. I show up. I listen, I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my husband. I have tried to make marriage vows mean what they say. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh. I am a good friend to my friends, and they to me. Without them, there would be nothing to say to you today, because I would be a cardboard cutout. But call them on the phone, and I meet them for lunch. I show up. I listen. I try to laugh.

I would be rotten, or at best mediocre at my job, if those other things were not true. You cannot be really first rate at your work if your work is all you are.

So here is what I wanted to tell you today:

Get a life. A real life, not a manic pursuit of the next promotion, the bigger paycheck, the larger house. Do you think you'd care so very much about those things if you blew an aneurysm one afternoon, or found a lump in your breast? Get a life in which you notice the smell of salt water pushing itself on a breeze over Seaside Heights, a life in which you stop and watch how a red-tailed hawk circles over the water gap or the way a baby scowls with concentration when she tries to pick up a cheerio with her thumb and first finger.

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work. Each time you look at your diploma, remember that you are still a student, still learning how to best treasure your connection to others. Pick up the phone. Send an e-mail. Write a letter. Kiss your Mom. Hug your Dad. Get a life in which you are generous.

Look around at the azaleas in the suburban neighborhood where you grew up; look at a full moon hanging silver in a black, black sky on a cold night.

And realize that life is the best thing ever, and that you have no business taking it for granted. Care so deeply about its goodness that you want to spread it around. Once in a while take money you would have spent on beers and give it to charity. Work in a soup kitchen. Be a big brother or sister.

All of you want to do well. But if you do not do good, too, then doing well will never be enough. It is so easy to waste our lives: our days, our hours, our minutes. It is so easy to take for granted the color of the azaleas, the sheen of the limestone on Fifth Avenue, the color of our kid's eyes, the way the melody in a symphony rises and falls and disappears and rises again. It is so easy to exist instead of live. I learned to live many years ago.

Something really, really bad happened to me, something that changed my life in ways that, if I had my druthers, it would never have been changed at all. And what I learned from it is what, today, seems to be the hardest lesson of all. I learned to love the journey, not the destination. I learned that it is not a dress rehearsal, and that today is the only guarantee you get. I learned to look at all the good in the world and to try to give some of it back because I believed in it completely and utterly. And I tried to do that, in part, by telling others what I had learned. By telling them this:

Consider the lilies of the field. Look at the fuzz on a baby's ear. Read in the backyard with the sun on your face. Learn to be happy. And think of life as a terminal illness because if you do you will live it with joy and passion, as it ought to be lived.

Well, you can learn all those things, out there, if you get a life, a full life, a professional life, yes, but another life, too, a life of love and laughs and a connection to other human beings. Just keep your eyes and ears open. Here you could learn in the classroom. There the classroom is everywhere. The exam comes at the very end. No man ever said on his deathbed I wish I had spent more time at the office. I found one of my best teachers on the boardwalk at Coney Island maybe 15 years ago. It was December, and I was doing a story about how the homeless survive in the winter months.

He and I sat on the edge of the wooden supports, dangling our feet over the side, and he told me about his schedule; panhandling the boulevard when the summer crowds were gone, sleeping in a church when the temperature went below freezing, hiding from the police amidst the Tilt a Whirl and the Cyclone and some of the other seasonal rides. But he told me that most of the time he stayed on the boardwalk, facing the water, just the way we were sitting now even when it got cold and he had to wear his newspapers after he read them.

And I asked him why. Why didn't he go to one of the shelters? Why didn't he check himself into the hospital for detox? And he just stared out at the ocean and said, "Look at the view, young lady. Look at the view."

And every day, in some little way, I try to do what he said. I try to look at the view. And that's the last thing I have to tell you today, words of wisdom from a man with not a dime in his pocket, no place to go, nowhere to be. Look at the view. You'll never be disappointed.

---

Allergies and Attitutdes

Man is anybody else out there dying these days? We are all puffy eyed and sniffling around here. Aidan seems to handling spring time allergies especially tough which means he isn't so easy to live with. Well I hope that's what is contributing to the attitude because I am out of energy as a mom, however I did get a special moment with him tonight just laying in bed and cuddling. Good reminder.

So that's my whining for now. All the other deep thoughts I have would wear us all out so I'll come back later...
Crysti, your shed sounds appealing can I move in for a couple days? :)

10 Cents

I've been meaning to post this blog for a while but life has been full. Micah ended up in urgent care on Friday night, Jeremy's dad came into town for the weekend, we cut down trees...

I'm writing this more for a scrapbook journal for someday but those of you that humor me can read on.

Anyway, as you know we have started chores around the house for Aidan and he makes money so he can buy legos. He had $19 saved in his piggy bank (still some left from birthday money). And so we went to the store on Friday to pick out his newest purchase. He chose a Mars Mission space thing for $9.99 and then he decided that Micah also needed something so he preceded to help us look for a Woody (from Toy Story) for Micah. All him. No prompting. Just a little boy taking care of his brother. And then to top it off when Micah wanted some Goldfish he offered to pay for that too. When we went to check out he had .10 cents remaining. Man I wish I had a heart like that. To give willingly. And give all I had. I love that my little boy can teach me lessons, I still have a lot to learn.

Good Stuff Snow and all.

Despite the snow here are my top 10 things to be thankful for today.

1. Coffee. Always coffee.
2. A new girly fun summer purse.
3. Flowers budding randomly all over the nasty front yard.
4. Homemade salsa by Jeremy.
5. New music from my cousin.
6. New green socks from my cousin.
7. Truly trusting in God's provision.
8. Watching the final Biggest Loser winner. Yeah Ali!
9. Jeremy getting to enjoy his new mountain bike (finally!)
10. Running to randomly selected songs on my shuffle and hearing some music I had completely forgotten about (and Christmas music in April).

Good stuff. Here's to life.

Spontaneous Blessings....again and again

Wow what a weekend.

Friday morning I was just done...you know those days when you are yelling before breakfast is done (assuming any of you actually yell :)) So when Jeremy came home early on Friday afternoon from work I was delighted (and also knew he had hit the wall too). He had been going nonstop for the last 2 weeks between church and work and we were both in some need of rest. But with 2 boys where does rest come from? Especially rest and time together?

Well, Friday night we were leaving the Barnes (our Pastor's) house after a meeting we said "ok we are outta here "...and they said yeah leave the boys here. Aidan and Jaime (their 4 year old) will have fun and Micah is already sleeping so just come back in the morning. And you know what we did? We took them up on it and ran to the hills!! We went out that night and then we went out for breakfast in the morning. When we picked up our kids they were completely worn out so they rested most of Saturday afternoon while Jeremy and I picked rocks in our backyard. And even though it's rocks... it's time together again. (A much longer story than that but I'll spare all the details.)

Then...
Saturday night Jeremy's sister came and watched our boys and we got out again. Pappadeax need a say more...

Then...
Sunday after church we had a staff meeting and I had nobody to watch the boys and so I thought no big deal I'll just not go. And somebody volunteered to watch our boys for us...again. Then we got the afternoon to pick rocks together again.

And today we got more time together again to pick rocks as Jeremy was able to take vacation time so we can get some landscape work done while the sun shines.

Lesson? I have wonderful people in my life. Thank you. Thank you. And a wonderful God who takes care of us.

On another note please continue to pray for my friend Kim's little 2 year old, Lu-Lu. As some of you may (or may not) know she had heart surgery at the end of last summer. Without giving you the full blown story I will say she is in need of prayer to stay strong thorough some rough weeks lately. She has had coupe and because of so much flem she was throwing up...some with blood. Kim updates at... luludavis.blogspot.com when she isn't completely exhausted. Pray for some encouraging days in the midst of this journey for them.

Bored.

Yep you read that right I'm bored. Not at home but in the gym. It's been 8 months since Jeremy's heart scare and so we both started running with the intent to work toward running something BIG and long (and painful). Well the painful came through for Jeremy with a hip injury that he has been battling since early on. And let's just say the elliptical isn't the same as a long night run outside and the weather hasn't exactly been cooperating with mountain biking. So Jeremy is struggling finding ways to workout. And I want to run something with him so I too am looking for ways to stay in shape other than the treadmill. (And strength training is SO boring I could just scream.)

So Saturday morning I was watching the boys play at Chick-fil-a and thought...they are getting a workout and don't even know it. What ever happened to playing for exercise? So we did...Jeremy and I played some old fashioned basketball and it was fun to be a kid again. And I woke up Sunday morning super sore.

And then yesterday I went to one of those dorky classes at the gym. Again just to mix it up. (I thought I was doing a core class turned out to be a kickboxing/bootcamp/core mix something). Anyway I ran suicides just like old track days and did some roundabout moves. And yep...calves are killing me. I guess it goes to show that logging the miles on the treadmill doesn't make you invincible.

So here's to being a kid again...let the games begin :)

Puppy, Lego Chores, and top 5

Our internet is wacko...so now that it is working for 5 minutes I'll post for you all. (Especially you that are so interested in my life. You know I can't back down a challenge.)

We lost Micah's stuffed puppy for a day this week. It was truly traumatic...I didn't know I was as attached to puppy (or more) than he was. Thankfully he was at the check in counter at the Dr. office. Counted my blessings on that one.

Aidan had a rite of passage of cashing in his money at the bank and going to the Lego store (Colorado Mills mall for you Lori) and selecting his very first EARNED lego. We have started the chore chart and he is loving it. Good stuff. I only hope his enthusiasm continues. If this continues I will have more accomplished than I can imagine around here...He loves to "have a job".

And yes here is my top 5...or 6 or 3

5 things you can’t live without under 5 dollars:

1. Two Decaf coffees brewed at Starbucks with cream and sugar (under 5) and the DVD player (ok more than 5 bucks I know) in the car for the boys so Jeremy and I can talk.

2. Magazines and Catalogs.

3. Fruit.

4. Water bottles (that I keep losing and usually cost more than 5 bucks to begin with)

5. Lego guys for Aidan. He can take just one guy out of the house and be entertained for hours…now if we could only find Micah entertainment like that.

5 Favorite Movies:(in no particular order and change all the time)

Ok…favorite is too hard so these are movies that either make me think or are just good for the soul.

1. Dead Poets Society

2. A Beautiful Mind

3. Stand By Me

4. Footloose

5. Forget Paris

5 Songs (or albums) you could listen to over and over again: (again, no order)
1. Rich Mullins any song any time…except for that goofy battleship song.

2. Mixes that my sis in law Jenn gives me

3. Old Monster Ballads

4. Sarah McLachlan Christmas Album…especially “River”

5. Jennifer Knapp “Faithful”

5 people who have had a positive influence in your life:
1. My husband…who has challenged me to grow since “Country Kitchen days” and loves me more than anybody.

2. Freda…who I call my “adopted grandma”. She took in our family from the day my parents moved into the neighborhood. She lived with joy until the Lord took her home. I hope I can be an old woman like that (well and a young woman like that too!)

3. Denise…my cousin who has been a sister to me since day one.

4. Aidan and Micah…if your kids don’t have a positive influence on you I don’t know who will! Nothing like little eyes watching your actions and life.

5. My dad…who lived his vows faithfully “till death do us part”.

6. And yep my whole band of sisters.

5 things in your purse you cannot live without:
1. Cell phone/Bluetooth

2. Keys

3. Wallet

How does all that take up all that space? J

5 moments that changed your life forever:
1. Waking up at a track meet to have a phone call from my dad to hear the news that my mom had died.

2. Going to CCU in the fall of 1995.

3. Sitting on a park bench with Jeremy in the fall of 1995 and having “the talk”…my wedding day wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for that day.

4. Sitting at Macaroni Grill and realizing I don’t want to grow old and have no grandkids…and thus Aidan is in the making.

5. Getting a job as a Math Teacher with an English and PE degree.

5 current obsessions:
1. Celebrating the everyday.

2. Challenging others to grow and live with passion.

3. Finding ways to put flaxseed in everything.

4. Making sure that things are special…as soon as it becomes entitlement then it’s time to reevaluate.

5. Finding what truly fills me up in life.

5 places I would love to travel:
1. Backpacking anywhere with just Jeremy and I.

2. Touring by bike…again pretty much anywhere.

3. The beach. Just give me water and sunshine!

4. Alaska (but when it’s warm there)

5. Holy Lands

5 people who’s top 5 you would like to see:

…Ha, I’m not one to name names…Ok Crysti you are up

Spring Break Thoughts & Rearranging

I've been working on an "everyday" scrapbook which has been good to reflect on...the everyday. (However I have decided digital scrap booking is not for me...not therapeutic oh well.) Like everyday lessons in life, and everyday routines, and everyday stuff we do. And it's been good to look for that because it can so easily be missed...like the joy of sharing an oreo with Micah that he already licked most of the mint frosting off of. And then at that moment realizing I just ate an oreo that was half eaten and not even caring (official mom badge earned for that one.)

But being out of routine this week was interesting. We get a lot of security from routines (especially me) and it is always good to get shaken up a little. On that note...if you like to rearrange stuff (your decorations, your furniture, etc) what does that say about you? Are you a person that likes to have control? Does it mean your life is out of control? Does it mean you just like to decorate? I have had some interesting discussion on this and will defend my point after I hear others...

Good Stuff of Today.

Love to make lists of stuff to celebrate. Here's this week's...

1. Longer days. (Well the days are the same but the daylight is longer, you know what I mean.)
2. Good conversations between Jeremy and I.
3. Playing board games with Aidan.
4. Eating Little Ceasers Pizza on the sidewalk with the boys.
5. NOT freaking out about van repairs...ok only a little bit.
6. Understanding volume displacement problems...geeky I know.
7. Cheesecake.
8. Micah's deep head back laugh...ah haaaaaaa!
9. Friends that you just click with.
10. Watching Christmas Movies at Easter time.

Everyday Life.

Waiting for daddy to come home.

Micah has turned into my helper these days...mopping has turned into soaking.

Aidan's job...cleaning up the shoes. (Not really, he took that on himself...)

Daddy and Aidan making ALL of his legos. He literally thinks, sleeps, and eats legos these days. He has quite the little mind :)

Superwoman, Growing Young , Shamrock Shakes, and Life.

So I took a little break for a bit. Had a couple Shamrock Shakes. Needed some time to realize that being superwoman doesn't prove much just causes stress for superwoman's family. So yeah...learning. Love the lyrics to an old Rich Mullins song called Growing Young...

"'Cause I've been broken now I've been saved
I've learned to cry and I've learned how to pray
And I'm learning I'm learning even I can be changed
And everybody used to tell me big boys don't cry
Well I've been around enough to know that that was the lie
That held back the tears in the eyes of a thousand prodigal sons
Well we are children no more we have sinned and grown old
And our Father still waits and He watches down the road
To see the crying boys come running back to His arms
And be growing young
Growing young
Growing young"

So friends grow young with me.
I'm thinking I"ll post some pics soon. Taking pictures of "everyday life again".Boys helping me mop, waiting in the window for daddy to get home...stuff like that. Superwoman...I mean Rach will be back soon.

Priceless...

i-pod shuffle $70, Running Shoes $90, Running shorts $5. A Colorado sunny Saturday morning run that refreshes your soul...priceless.

Or...

new Lincoln Brewster Music $10, Huge Diet Coke $2, Time alone to listen to it...priceless.

A Mastercard Ad

I'm back...So yep a little sunshine and some peace and quiet has done wonders for me today. So here is my inspiration...

http://aliedwards.typepad.com/

And she quotes from the mastercard ad, " Are people who discover the priceless things in life looking harder?"

And I am wondering if I (you) were to write an ad what would you say?
You know...2 tickets to the zoo $, 1 stroller $...discovering a day of exploring with your children...priceless (that one is for you Tina).

So I'm thinking on it and will get back to you...Let me know if you have any "priceless" thoughts (you know all you who have no life :))

"The Hummer"

Sure enough Aidan already has a name for the newest member of the family. "Daddy's hummer." Not much we can do to convince him otherwise. So if you hear us talking about a hummer know that we 1) Haven't gotten another car 2) are aware that it's an xterra, not a hummer .

On another note I must defend my friends...If you read our blog it doesn't mean you have no life. Jeremy is just jealous of all my deep thoughts. (Which in this last week have been non-existent.) I'll be back soon, maybe some Colorado sunshine and time at the park will give me some inspiration.

The new car

I'm guessing that if you read this blog a couple things are true:

• you have no life
• you think it's Rachel's blog
• you sometimes tear up while reading it

Well, it's time for a manly post. After quite awhile of trying to sell the Saturn we finally found a buyer. They were a great family and I really hope that car works out well for them.

I won't bore you with the entire saga of my hip pain and the frustration that goes along with it. Long story short, if I sit upright in a car I'm fine. If I sit lower down with my legs straight out (and using a clutch) I keep re-injuring my hip. It sounds nuts, but 5 months of frustration and semi-scientific experimentation has proved it.

So, meet the new member of the family. Rach and I don't have a stellar car purchasing record over the last 12 years of marriage (this is car number 12) but we think this is a good one. It's a 2007 Xterra and we love it. We haven't named it yet, but I'm sure Aidan will think of something :-)

The Good Stuff.

Always good to stop and reflect on the good stuff. The ones that come to mind today...

1. Lego guys and Aidan's imagination
2. Making Lasagna (from scratch) and liking it.
3. Learning that bringing snacks along brings no less joy than stopping for one.
4. Micah's laughter.
5. A healthy husband.
6. Enjoying breakfast out with Jeremy two days in a row. (Thank you Crick and Mindy.)
7. Discovering little treasures by using what I have. Old jackets and sweaters.
8. Just being at home more.
9. Being educated in politics :P (or at least a tiny start.)
10. Hearing Micah pray...with hooray at the end.

More Theology From Aidan...

Last night we were reading about Moses and crossing the red sea. And as I was reading the story and the Israelites were waiting to go across Aidan asked, "why didn't God give them a boat to cross?"
And I thought...I bet they were thinking the same thing. And yet a boat wasn't in God's plan because he was getting ready to do something bigger. Way bigger.

So to those of you that are looking for a boat to cross whatever it is that you facing, know that God is getting ready to send you a parting of the sea. Get ready for bigger.

Partied Out

It's now Thursday and I am now getting to recap the BIG open gym bash.
So I realized a couple things...

I need to hire a photographer for events in my life. (Dad we missed you!) Because I barely took any pictures, but boy did I have a blast!

The chicken dance is way more fun than I remember.

Our boys (and us) are blessed with amazing friends and family.

Kids will eat cupcakes flaxseed and all if you put frosting and sprinkles on them.

Big boys (aka dads) play more than little boys when given the chance.

We should always party like we are 2 and 4. (Eating mini marshmallows, jumping into foam pits, jumping wild, and dancing like chickens. )

Life is good. Thanks for celebrating with us.

Jeremy and I are off for a weekend of relaxation...woo hoo. Will be back soon...

Birthdays Take 1.

Aidan is now 4 (Feb 5th) and Mikey 2 (Feb 4th). (yes...we planned it that way in answer to the question we get often get...not really but fun to be sassy.)

This has been the week of the birthday celebrations.
...Aidan's "school party" on Monday with Daddy Jeremy playing guitar at school for him.
...Micah's family Birthday dinner on Monday night at Buffalo Wild Wings.
...Tuesday lunch for Aidan at the "lego store" to pick out gifts with Birthday Money
...Family party on Tuesday for Both Boys with Aunties and Uncles and Miss Jess. (And cheesy bread, chocolate chip cookies, graham cracker sandwiches, cake, and cupcakes.)

I feel blessed. I really do. (Although I'm already "cup-caked out" and we still have the BIG open gym bash on Sunday.) I won't get too deep though since I'm already catching flack for my Spider man entry :). Here' a couple pictures instead of my ramblings.


The best mac and cheese in town (yes, there is such a thing.)

The purchases. He looks afraid, but really he's totally excited. Just not up for pictures.

My helper. Testing as we go.

A Hero...

Was watching Spider Man 2 tonight (got it for Christmas and it's taken me this long to get to watching it) and remembered why I loved this movie (well at least some of it, some was long and boring but that's besides the point).

It's because of this quote...long quote but worth reading...

"He knows a hero when he sees one. Too few characters out there, flying around like that saving old girls like me. And Lord knows, kids like Henry need a hero—courageous, self-sacrificing people setting examples for all of us. Everybody loves a hero. People line up for them…cheer them...scream their names. And years later, they’ll tell how they stood in the rain for hours just to get a glimpse of the one who taught them to hold on a second longer. I believe there’s a hero in all of us…that keeps us honest…gives us strength…makes us noble…and finally allows us to die with pride, even though sometimes we have to be steady and give up the thing we want the most – even our dreams. Spider-Man did that for Henry and he wonders where he’s gone. He needs him."

I highlighted the part about giving up our dreams rather than the part about a hero in all of us, because I think this is the part of being an everyday hero that is tough.

I believe I am a hero to my son when I give up "my time" to play legos...again. (Jeremy does this the best, true Dad hero right there.) Or give up my expectations, my plans, my money, my "mys". All these sacrifices are what heroes are. Real heroes. Which come to think of it I really doubt Jesus went into his life saying...man it would be great to be betrayed and to die brutally on a cross. (He did it though. I think sometimes we get so caught up with knowing that he did it out of his love for us that we forget how much it wasn't what he wanted to do, rather it was what he chose to do out of sacrifice.)

And so when we choose give up our dreams...to have a perfect kitchen, to go on dream vacations, to go back to school, to...to sacrifice that which we desire. We exchange them for playing the steady part of the hero ...which sometimes, wait...never, is very glamorous. But I believe that's what God wants for us. I believe Spiderman isn't all theologically correct (in case you were wondering) but it did get me thinking. And I know I have a long way to go before I release all the "mys" in my life. But I hope I can stay steady. For my husband, for my boys, for what which I am called to right now to be a hero to.

A couple theological questions...

So we are reading Aidan's Bible at night before bed and here are some questions that came up just tonight. If you have some insight on these let me know...

1. Is Jesus going to take us to the rainbow?

2. How does he fly? Does he have a cape?

3. How do all the children get there? Do they have capes too?

4. Does little Jesus or big Jesus live in our hearts? Because our tummys are small.

And yep, we are still thankful for Santa (he's still going strong, Christmas or not) and that Jesus is going to make us taller so that we reach our legos without dumping them over.

Gotta love a child's heart. Hope your night is filled with deep thoughts and thankfulness for the wonders of life.

Inspiration at Target

So I saw this today and thought it was a good quote...

"Wouldn't it be great if we all lived a little everyday?"

(Also...I did it! I didn't get suckered for clearance junk that I didn't need. I returned some stuff that didn't fit and had a gift card burning in my pocket from Christmas. And yeah, I walked out with nothing. Ha! Go me!)

And thanks for all the sympathy today after a very sad night at the Porier house yesterday. What can I say? It's painful to be a Packer fan.

Special Treat?

So lately we (Jeremy and I) have been talking about entitlement...ours, our boys. Things that used to be special are now deserved or expected. Getting a shake at McDonalds, riding the toys at the mall, getting presents, shopping clearance (that's mine, obviously), etc. We see this creeping up in Aidan and we want to nip it right away, but how do we nip it if we are the ones that go through the drive-thru because it's easier? What has happened to discipline?

So that's it...that's our word for 2008, discipline. We are going with the word thing rather than the resolution thing. Because that's a lifestyle to change. And it's not going to be easy. Discipline in money, fitness, choices... It means saying no just because. It means being obedient to a lifestyle that is against what the world says. "You deserve it, you earned it, you had a bad day, treat yourself." We strive so much to give our kids more than we had but what happens when the more just leads to more?

Making things special again. Starbucks isn't special if you get it everyday (sorry guys, true). I really realized this at Christmas time...Christmas is special because it's not there everyday.

And the cool thing is discipline can be good...it means things will be special again and that's something worth working towards. (Yes honey, you can bring this post up when I'm really wanting things done NOW instead of waiting :))

So I ask, will you join me on this adventure?

All four of Us.

In one picture, can you believe it? Merry Christmas 2007.

Wag More, Bark Less...

Saw this on a bumper sticker during our Christmas travels (which always seem to be an adventure, more to come once I catch up, hah!) and made me think. What a great approach to life. I know this is the whole "new year resolution and goals" time of the year, which I'm not super hype about. I'm more about the whole year/life change that you can start March 12th or November 9th or December 1st...(so you get the idea). Because I believe life is now. So I'm going to stop barking (yelling, complaining, whining) and start wagging (smile, sing, laugh)

So yeah, on a daily basis I hope I wag more and bark less. More to come. I'm trying to upload my 155 pictures I took.

The Blessings.

Aidan's prayer tonight. Thank you Jesus for Santa (he's made the cut every night for a while now not just at Christmas), and all the great stuff, (something else Aidan?) and the blessings you give us.

How precious. Blessings. Do we stop and think of all the blessings we are given? I know I don't enough. I am cranky when the van is in the shop (Monday), when I don't get enough sleep, or just when I feel like life isn't fair(umm, yeah a lot). But, man...I I don't want it to be just thankful at thanksgiving or those cliché times but as a lifestyle. You know those people, that are just joyfully contagious? I want to be that. Not in 20 years from now, but today. Anybody else with me?

The Jeep.

So as many of you know Aidan has been going to speech therapy for a little over a year now. Currently he is loving it but a while back we were having a rough go with him cooperating, behaving, etc. So as an incentive we make a chart for him and every week that he worked hard for Miss Patti he colored in a box. The chart was for a jeep. And the whole time I'm thinking, dang, how are we going to afford one of those jeeps? So I had been watching on Craigs List (online classifieds) and go figure I found one last night that I emailed on, and today he filled up his chart! So I drove and drove and drove to this person's house (which Aidan called the desert, also known as Thornton) and picked up the jeep for our hard working boy. I love it. You can just see the excitement on his face. What a guy. And Micah was happy to ride along. So now we made a new chart for a TRAILER to add to his jeep. Keep working buddy, we believe in you.

Daddy would be proud of his jeep boys.

One proud boy with brother in tow.

And they are off. Someday it will be on the real road.

Full.

Life is full. I can't believe a week has gone by already. Last week was full with a Christmas Party for Aidan's friends, the parade of lights, Jeremy's work Christmas party, and a leadership meeting as our church gets ready to move forward to lease to own a new building.

Which means, this is the time of year where your schedule gets crazy full and then you forget...oh yeah this is the most wonderful time of the year. More like the most stressed, the most tired, the most... Sad, I overheard somebody saying I just need to get through the holidays. Is that really how we want to treat Christmas as a job? I know with the stress of shopping for the perfect dress and getting all our decorations out and perfect, we lose the magic. I'm learning to let go, my tree still doesn't have decorations, the Christmas cookies for the party were out of mix, and I went to bed with dishes in my sink. Oh well. The stress isn't worth it when it sucks life out of you. Can I learn this at 30 already? We will see :)

Pictures from last week posted soon. I had good intentions. Happy Monday.

Countdown to Christmas 22 days!

Monday Quote

Morning...it's been a rough couple days around here, we all got hit with the flu (minus Aidan) but when Jeremy and I are both down and out...well if you are a parent I will say no more :)
But it's Monday and I'm ready to face this week, with God's grace (and the singing Snowman in the background which I set up last night and Micah has now played it straight for A LOT of times...maybe the battery will wear out before the morning is done.)

Here it is:

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."

Alan Cohen

A.D.'s New Bed

When you have a small room and a ton of toys, what do you do? Build a loft bed of course! The loft bed has been the favorite of college students for years. So Grandpa Dan made one that sits on the half wall ledge in Aidan's room. I'm thankful that all I had to do was polyurethane it. We also painted the half walls chalkboard green. It actually turns the wall into a chalk board too.

Aidan has an interesting painting technique...

Happy boy #1 in the new bed


Happy boy #2 in his brother's bed

The finished product, walls painted and all

Good Advice

Out on Saturday for Girl's night out and we were talking about life. Talking about being a mom and trying to get stuff done and this advice especially struck me. Especially since I'm someone who has a task list or at least an idea of what I want to accomplish each day.

"Welcome life's interruptions."

So true. So simple. Yet so not natural.
I'll keep you posted on this, I'm learning. And if you wish please share with me how you live this in your life.

Quotes

So I have started this "100 list" (you know the one of all the stuff you want to do in your life) and I am trying to encourage others in my life to do the same.

And one of the things on my list is to paint a quote on my wall. I'm a junkie for quotes and would love to know if any of the rest of you out there have any suggestions.

Here's my favorite one of the moment. Trying to live this. Not always easy, but definately trying. (And obviously WAY too long for a wall, but for a scrapbook page, it's perfect :))

"..but the biggest mistake I made is the one that most of us make while doing this. I did not live in the moment enough. This is particularly clear now that the moment is gone, captured only in photographs. There is one picture of the three on them sitting in the grass on a quilt in the shadow of the swing set on a summer day, ages 6, 4, and 1. And I wish I could remember what we ate, and what we talked about, and how they sounded, and how they looked when they slept that night. I wish I had not been in a hurry to get on to the next things: dinner, bath, book, bed. I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."
-Anna Quindlen

And the same thought in a much simpler way: (I used this a while back but it bears repeating.)
" If you don't stop and look around once in a while you might miss it"
-Ferris Bueller

Happy Wednesday. Don't forget to share your great quotes.

Feeding Puppy

Micah has managed to get attached to something and now it goes everywhere with him. Puppy has now started eating breakfast with him. Sometimes I catch him feeding puppy but mostly he just gets slimed with whatever Micah is eating. Too cute.

"I'm cheering for the Soldiers"

Just a quick brag for daddy. He just won his intermural champion game today (CCU staff guys vs. student winners) and Micah and Aidan got to go cheer him on.

I'm kicking myself for not bringing the camera as we had some good moments, but that's ok. It still happened even if we didn't take a picture of it (I'm learning that, silly but true.)

And yeah the soldiers is what Aidan called Daddy's team of the "elders". I have no explanation for that one. Just a good laugh.

Off to work on Aidan's next rite of passage....the bunk bed.

Getting out of the house

I told Micah it was time to go this morning and he came running down to brush his teeth (literally his favorite thing to do, he gets "busted" sneaking in the bathroom all the time) and had on his Packer hat...that he put on all my himself.

Seriously a nut. He drives me crazy and makes me laugh all in the same minute.

I thought all those Packer Backers (and moms trying to leave the house) would appreciate this.

Happy Wednesday to all.

The Spinning Wars

(sorry it's a long story, but I'm long winded what can I say?) It has a point though...

So this morning I headed to the gym for a 9 am spinning class that I go to once and a while. It's never been full before (keep that in mind in my story here). And as I checked in at the front desk and heard the people behind me ask for the sign up sheet for the class, thought hmmm I wonder if I should sign up. But with 2 kids in tow and already heading towards the kids club I thought I'd let it go. So then I sign my kids in to the kids club (see how much work it is to get a workout?!) and then think...I should go sign in for that class just in case. So I go back to the front desk and wait. And wait some more. Then I talk to the front desk attendant and she says the instructor already took the list the class started.

So I head to the class and it's full.

I was so MAD. So mad. Seriously the girls BEHIND me got in and I didn't. So my selfish little attitude took it out on the treadmill for a while since all the exercise bikes were also full. (Seriously where are all these people coming from at 9 am on a Tuesday morning?)

So I ran, hard, and then headed over to the bikes because I saw one open up. And I couldn't help but overhearing the girls next to me talk about some thyroid problems she was having and nodules that were getting tested. So my nosy little self said, "I heard you guys talking and just wanted to let you know that I just had thyroid surgery in August." So she came over and talked to me for a long time about her symptoms and what she was going through.

Which normally I would have thought was a nice coincidence. But with reading Chasing Daylight (study at church, way awesome by the way) I believe it was more. I believe it was a divine appointment. And while I didn't save anyone's soul today I did get a chance to calm their thoughts and nerves. And that made me smile and realize maybe when we see something full in life really it's God opening us up for more. Look for those in your life, I'm glad I did today.

Rite of Passage

This is Aidan's first churro bought by himself. Wow, how did he get so old so fast? Churros at Costco have been one of his favorite things for a long time now. I told him he could go buy it himself after he ate his lunch (a hot dog, more health there.) And the pride he had was so precious. I couldn't have bought a better memory for a buck (plus tax.)

(Taken 10/31, Posted 11/5)