Fall is in the Air

hmmmm..... How did an entire summer go by? Here we are in a new school year (Kara 5th grade - Christian 2nd grade!!)

Summer was amazing! We did nothing of special significance. We played together a lot. We went to the pool and the park - we took picnics and went to the library. All the good stuff. We didn't plan every minute of every day. We didn't run around at breakneck speed. (We save that for fall!) :)

So here we are again. Not only is fall in the air, it's on the calendar. But it's going to be great too. Just a little more scheduled out. Let me make the most of every day Lord.

Kids Spring/Summer 2009

Just wanted to show you some of the things we have done recently. The pictures are kind of random and not necessarily in order. (I'm trying to get the hang of this blogging stuff!) We are gearing up for a fun summer of day trips and adventures. Stop by often for an update.



During Spring Break we took a couple of fun day trips. We went to McCall one day and there was still so much snow we couldn't even do most of the things we hoped to do. But we made it a fun day anyway. Maybe I'll add some McCall pictures another day. Then we also took a little trip south - Givens Hot Springs south not California! One of our stops was this place called Map Rock. We also went to Walter's Ferry and to a really cool museum there. If you are in the area definitely look for it. It's behind the ONLY gas station in town. :)


Map Rock is located in Idaho kind of south of Nampa. It was a little hard to find but worth the drive.

Kids in a TreeChristian

Kara

Fireballs Spring 2009. This is a picture of Kara's spring soccer team. With them is Brittney Coach Osnower's daughter and she's done a great job of being the assistant coach. I'll expect to see her on the coaching circuit soon. (Kara's the cute blond down in front!!)

Skylar, Hailey, Abby, Natalie, Britnney, Coach Brittney
Natalie, Karliegh, Kara and Jade

Wait

My friend Jessie gave me this in church last Sunday and said to me, "don't read it now, it will make you cry." She knows me so I trusted her. Unfortunately, I put is so far aside that I didn't remember a single thing about it until I pulled out my church notes notebook this morning in church.

Now remembering that I didn't want to cry in church I tucked it away again, but remembered to go back to it once we all got home and "lunched" and relaxed a little. Jessie was right, it DID make me cry. But it was also so cool that I decided I wanted to share it here.

Enjoy.

Wait

Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried.
Quietly, patiently, lovingly God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate,
And the Master so gently said, "Child, you must wait."

"Wait? You say, wait!" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is Your hand shortened? Have you not hears?
By faith, I have asked, and am claiming Your Word.

My future and all to which I can relate
Hangs in the balance, and YOU tell me to WAIT?
I'm needing a 'yes' a go-ahead sign,
or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

And Lord, I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply!"
Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate
As my Master replied once again, "You must wait."

So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting ... for what?"
He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes wept with mine,
And He tenderly said "I could give you a sign.

I could shake the heaves, and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead, and cause mountains to run.
All you seek I could give, and pleased you would be.
You would have what you want - but you wouldn't know Me.

You'd not know the depth of My love for each saint;
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint;
You'd not learn to see through the clouds of despair; You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there;

You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence were all you could see.
You'd never experience that fullness of love
As the peace of My Spirit descends like a dove;

You'd know that I give and I save ... (for a start)
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of my heart,
The glow of My comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight,

The depth that's beyond getting just what you asked
Of an Infinite God, who makes what you have LAST.
You'd never know should your plan quickly flee,
What it means that 'My grace is sufficient for thee'.

Yes, your dreams for your loved on overnight would come true,
But, Oh, the loss! If I lost what I'm doing in you!
So, be silent, My child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to get to know Me.

And though oft' may My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still, 'Wait'".

-Author Unknown

Shaping...

God uses everything we go through. He uses our good stuff and our bad stuff he uses all our stuff! I am learning to be thankful that God is growing me, even in spite of the fact that I may not be enjoying the actual process. Today I was reading my bible and this is the passage the Lord showed me.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (Message) So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

So I take my lead from Jesus. In the garden He prayed "my Father if it is possible let this cup pass away from me, nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire. (Matt 26:39).

I will say I do not like my current circumstances, but I am confident that it will be used to shape something good. Thank you Lord for your promises!

A Song on My Lips

This morning as it sat in my chair, having my quiet time and waiting for my family to rise, I heard it. And I starting thinking that I hear it often. And I love it.

My son (who just turned 7) wakes almost every morning with a song on his lips. I hear him. He lies in his bed and sings a song or two (or three!). I love listening to him sing. I have learned that if I go in while he is singing, he can be grumpy or withdrawn. But if I wait for him to finish his song he will come out for his morning snuggle just as happy as can be.

So I sit and listen. And he reflects - prepares his mind to start his day.

What an awesome way to start your day - with a song on your lips for our King!

Good for him.

Today I start

I want to be used by God. I want to be effective in my life, with my family, with my ministry. I am assured through scripture that a willing heart will put me on the right path. The world seeks to make big impressions that are flashy and immediate. God desires a right heart and a willing attitude.


I intend to use this blog to talk about myself but also to show my family, my friends, and the things God is doing.


Tune in if you're interested!



-Kate