You’ve read The Boxcar Children, right? If not…you HAVE to read The Boxcar Children. Hands down…it is my favorite children’s book series (which is saying a lot, because I love, love, love Little House on the Prairie books. I’m not trying to rub it in or anything…but I did end up having my very own boxcar when I was little. That may have had something to do with why I love these books so much.

This book series isn’t exactly and entirely what this post is about. This post is actually about what I walk into each night when I go tuck my boys into bed. There they all are…lying on their beds…all completely still and quiet for the first time all day. And there is Asa (our oldest) propped up by the lamp reading the latest Boxcar Children Mystery to his brothers.

It is so sweet.

I would capture it on camera for you…but um…the boys’ summertime jammies aren’t quite Heavenly Homemaker website friendly. They resemble a little something close to what I don’t like hanging out on my clothesline…and I’m not talking about their socks (although their socks are not always presentable either).

Oh, and neither is the floor of their bedroom.

Anyway, what I’m grateful for this Gratituesday is for the sweet memories my boys are making. They don’t know they’re making memories. The littler boys just think their biggest brother is reading to them so that they can stay up later. :)

Of course they’re right. It does cause them to stay up later. What like twenty…thirty minutes later? I’ll gladly let them do that while they let these books take them on adventures together. And…while they’re on these adventures…I may or may not stand outside their bedroom door just listening to the sweetness of this time. And feeling proud of my oldest guy who loves reading to his brothers.
———————————————

Join us for Gratituesday! Read the details here, then come link up with us. If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re thankful for!

Well…here I am in Kansas. I have no regrets about my quick decision to come. What a blessing to be here and spend time with lots of family and friends.

It has been a glorious day. Perfect weather…wonderful conversation…a few tears shed.

Oh, and all those family hugs I’d been needing? Got ’em. Lots of ’em. I’m sure we’ll get a few more in while I’m here.

I’m so grateful that God put it on my heart to come. I’m so glad Matt was kind enough to make do without me for a few days this week (and oh my word I hope he finds enough food in the fridge to eat while I’m gone). I’m thankful for a safe trip and that the boys traveled so well.

And I’m so thankful for this special time with people I love.

Join us for Gratituesday! Read the details here, then come link up with us. If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re thankful for!

**Mr. Linky ate too much at his Memorial Day cookout. Please leave your link in the comments section. I’ll try to continue to add your links as I can.  :)

1.  Amy @ Finer Things
2. Mother Hen
3. Hannah
4. It Feels Like Chaos
5. Patti
6. Gigi
7. Josette
8. The Happy Housewife
9. Jenn @ Beautiful Calling
10. Angie
11. Snow White
12. Jennifer
13. Kerry
14.  Holly
15.  Jody
16. A Simple Walk (family, freedom, food)
17. Myra
18. Mominin
19. Brianna @ Heart(h) Management (Unplugged and Plugged In)
20. Beth @ Not a Bow in Sight
21. Sarah
22. Jill Roper
23. Auntie Q
24. Alison at Hospitality Haven
25. Penny
26.  Carrie at Blessed Chaos
27. Kelly
28. Emily at Barefoot in the Rain
29. Elizabeth at Heartfelt Homemaking
30. Elizabeth at Small Town Blessings
31. Jamie
32. Meg

I know that not everyone “gets” to be a stay-at-home-mom. I know that not everyone wants to be one. I know that some women want to be home and for some reason or another, it isn’t working for them. I know.

But I still feel the need to express how thankful I am to have the honor of staying home to take care of my family.

I mentioned here that we spent all day Friday at a track meet…then turned right around when we got home and left for a birthday party. We left the house at 7:30 am and got back home after 9 pm. It was a full, fun day and oh my goodness the boys slept like rocks that night!

After getting the boys to bed that night, I looked around at the piles all over our house. Piles of clothes both from the track meet and from swimming at the party. Piles of dirty dishes. Piles of trash and etc. from the cooler we’d taken to the meet. Piles of jackets. Piles of mail. Piles of soccer shoes, shin guards, socks and shirts from the day before when we arrived home late from game and needed to head straight to bed.

Piles that I was too tired to mess with.

I was once again reminded:  Being away from home – even for one day – makes keeping up with housekeeping quite difficult.

I was tempted to listen to lies about what a terrible job I sometimes do with keeping up with things around the house. But, no. It really was simply that being away from home and on the run all day had put me behind.

And again, I was reminded of what a blessing it is that I am able to be a stay-at-home-mom. It’s a blessing that I take for granted.

I’m thankful that my husband agrees with my desire to be home. I’m thankful that we’ve found a way to make it work financially. I’m thankful that most of the time, the kids and I are able to hang around our house together making messes…and then cleaning them up!

I LOVE being home. It is my favorite place to be in the whole world. 
——————————————————-

Join us for Gratituesday! Read the details here, then come link up with us. If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re thankful for!

[blenza_autolink code]

My dryer is was around 35 years old. Yes, that’s as old young as I am. 

We bought it used and cheap when we lived in Colorado and it has served us well for around 11 years.

A couple of years ago it stopped working. But, when your old dryer breaks down, do you go buy a new one? Of course not. You have your father-in-law take it apart and fix it for you when he comes to town for a visit. And then you thank him profusely and start using your old dryer again.

But last week, ye old dryer broke again. I discovered that it was broken when I went to take the clothes out of the dryer and noticed that the clothes were still very wet. I started the dryer again (sometimes it would take two rounds anyway). An hour later…wet clothes. Wet towels and socks to be exact. Ick. 

Matt called his dad (who had the nerve to be at home in California this time when our dryer broke) and talked through some of the issues and possibilities. Over the next few days, as he had time, Matt took the dryer apart and tested some of the things his dad suggested could be the problem. 

I have to say…I think it was mighty considerate of my dryer to break down in May, instead of say…January. I’ve been hanging most of my laundry out on the line anyway…so a broken dryer this time of year doesn’t really bother me. Except for the fact that I’m not a big fan of crispy socks…and the idea of hanging out our thunderwear (sorry I just couldn’t bring myself to blog the real word) makes me feel a little too up close and personal with the neighbors.

Anyway, long story long…our dryer is a gonner. We could have spent $200 on a part that might have fixed it, but yeah, I don’t think so.

But guess what? We just so happened to have another dryer. (Have I ever told you that we own a few storage units in town that we rent out?)  Yes, we own a few storage units in town that we rent out. About a year ago when someone moved out of their storage unit, they left their washer and dryer behind. They told us just to sell them or give them to someone who needed them. We’ve offered them a couple of times to some folks who we thought could use them, but no one took us up on the offer.

So, yay for us. We pulled the old dryer out, and put the new (to us) dryer in. Easy as that! (says the girl who had nothing to do with lugging the old dryer down the stairs and out the door and hauling the new dryer in and up the stairs and getting it set up and ready to use).

I’m so grateful for our new dryer…and I think I’ll head upstairs right this minute and go start a load of um…socks. :)
———————————————

Join us for Gratituesday! Read the details here, then come link up with us. If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re thankful for!

[blenza_autolink code]

I feel a little bit silly writing this post…but really, you can not imagine how grateful I am to FINALLY BE WARM!!! I can not stop thanking God that I am warm, and that’s no joke.

I have been cold, almost constantly since about October. I try to stay warm…but our big old house is just never really toasty warm…and well…I live in Nebraska. I was so tired of being cold.

And now I’m warm!!

In fact…a couple of times…I’ve even been hot!! I have been cold for so long, that I will NOT complain about being hot!

I’ve been sitting in the sunshine as much as I can (gotta soak up that vitamin D, you know) and just praising God for spring. 

And our windows are open, letting in the spring breeze…and our sheets are hanging on the line…and the birds are chirping.

And I’m WARM!!!

Good luck coming up with a comment to leave on this post. “Laura, I’m so glad you’re warm” is about the only option I’ve given you today. Sorry ’bout that. Maybe you can be more creative than that.

Right now…I’m going back outside to breathe in the springtime!!

Oh…and I hope that you too are warm! Hooray for being warm!
—————————————–

Join us for Gratituesday! Read the details here, then come link up with us. If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re thankful for!

**UPDATE**  Mr. Linky seems to be out enjoying the spring weather too. Doesn’t he know he’s not supposed to take any days off?! If you wrote a Gratituesday post, please leave your link in the comments section until Mr. Linky decides to get out of his hammock. Thanks!

Also…my overall site was having issues earlier too…sorry about that. Nothing scares a website owner more than when her website is not working. Shew. HOPEFULLY it’s all good now?!  :)

***RE-UPDATE***  Looky there. Mr. Linky is back. Let’s hope he stays for a while…

[blenza_autolink code]

I had something else planned to write about this Gratituesday, but I can’t stop thinking about the excitement of the weekend, so I’ve gotta shout about this instead. (I love having the problem of having SO many things to be thankful for that I just can’t decide what to share!)

Hopefully you read about the Clothing Exchange my friend organizes at our church twice a year. If you didn’t have a chance to read it, please go do that. I have always loved the idea of this Clothing Exchange, but after this weekend I’m even more excited about it and convinced that this is one of the most beautiful ways a church can reach out to a community.

I was only able to help sort and organize the clothes for tiny snatches of time because I had one boy at home with a fever and another boy with a double ear infection. Then on the day of the actual clothing exchange, we had soccer games so I could only help for a little while.

But…I hope I can capture the joy of this ministry for you with my words. The Clothing Exchange (which I really should be calling a Clothing Giveaway because the clothes were really just set out on tables for people to come and just take what they needed)…began at 8:00 on Saturday morning. When I arrived at 8:02, the parking lot was completely full and there were cars lined up on the street. I walked into the room filled with clothes and already over 50 people were there finding clothes for their families.

I took a few moments to get my emotions under control because there is something very touching about seeing our church building being used to meet the needs of others. Then I spent the next part of the morning handing out sacks as people walked in…and helping people get to their cars with their arms full of clothes…and my favorite part:  holding babies so mamas could “shop”. 

Oh, and the smiles. Yes, that was my favorite, favorite part.

Our prayer now is that the people that entered our building Saturday morning left with more than clothes. We pray that they felt our love for them…and that maybe those that don’t know Jesus saw something in our eyes that will make them search for the One they’re missing. 
———————————————

What are you grateful for? Read the details here, write about it on your blog, then come link up with us! If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for!

[blenza_autolink code]

Have you ever had one of those days? A day that ends up being perfect and wonderful from morning to night?

Saturday was a day like that.

Matt was home all day. The weather was perfect and gorgeous. It was just one of those days. The kind that makes you sigh and smile with contentment and gratitude.

You know something that makes me really happy? Seeing all my men work hard. I love it. I love watching Matt work…and the boys working beside him. We spent a good part of Saturday afternoon working outside together getting our garden plots ready and planting potatoes….picking up leaves and sticks…cleaning up the yard.

We were all a delightful picture of filth by the end of the day. Ah…good and filthy…you’ve gotta love it.

There may have been a brotherly squabble or two during the day…but I seem to have blocked it out of my mind.

Mostly there was a lot of teamwork and cooperation.

Malachi was trying to scoop grass clippings with a shovel twice his height. He finally laid it down and started putting the grass onto the shovel with his hand.

We ended the evening with juicy grilled steaks that we were able to eat outside at our picnic table. Then we played a couple innings of baseball. I hit a homerun…and ran around the bases without smacking into a pole…catching my hair in tree branches or falling on my face. Ah, the perfect ending to a perfect day. :)
——————————————

What are you grateful for? Read the details here, write about it on your blog, then come link up with us! If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for!

[blenza_autolink code]

 

Our Easter weekend was very full.

Full of travel. Full of friends. Full of LTC events. Full of the celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.

It started out on Friday night with Asa and Justus participating in the LTC Bible bowl. I don’t want to brag (yes…yes I do) but the boys each did very well. They had studied so hard, and they were so excited about their results. Our favorite part? They learned the gospel of John frontward and backward!

Saturday we spent the day watching the events our own kids were involved in, and the events the other kids from church were in (ooh, and running into friends we only get to see once a year!). Here are a few pictures:

Justus and Asa both took part in this puppet show. Justus was the third burly guy from the left…Asa was the puppet laying down. He was the “lame man”. Amazing though…by the end of the show, he had picked up his mat and walked! :)

Here was the (adorable!) skit Justus was in. He’s sitting in the second chair from the right. Matt directed this skit and oh my word these third graders pulled it off like champs.

Here was Asa’s skit. He was part of the “LLW” Rock Band (Light, Life, Word was the theme this year). Asa is the second punked-out dude from the right…wearing the lovely black wig. This skit was very cool!

Not to be outdone..Malachi put on Asa’s wig after the show and wore if for about an hour. Yes, I was um…proud.

The boys were also in a large chorus, singing “Thy Word” and “Firm Foundation”. Apparently I am completely unable to watch my children sing songs to Jesus along with a group of other kids without getting teary eyed. It was so precious!

After all of our events were over…we headed back to our friends’ house for the night. We enjoyed a wonderful night of visiting (and hunting 100 Easter eggs that had miraculously been hidden while we were gone!).

We had Easter dinner together after church Sunday afternoon, before we headed back to Nebraska.

Today for Gratituesday, I’m grateful that if someone was going to be caught in a picture stuffing a bite of food into their mouth…it was Asa and not me. :)  Just kidding. Sort of.

Seriously…I am so completely grateful for everything about our weekend. The time to get away and have a “mini-vacation” was wonderful. The time spent with our friends in KC was delightful, as usual. And…well…Easter is just a beautiful celebration.

What are you grateful for this Gratituesday?

Attending funerals is never something I look forward to. In fact, I usually dread them…until I get there and remember that I’m there to celebrate the life of the person who died. 

Last week, I mentioned the death of my friend’s dad. I struggled so much preparing to go to that funeral. But I tell ya, this man lived his life for the Lord. And he loved his family. And he wasn’t afraid to tell people about Jesus. He was constantly sharing about how God was blessing him.

This man had given his life to Christ and lived for him…every day.

His memorial service was a huge celebration because HE IS NOW FINALLY WITH JESUS!!!! And he’s walking again and talking and singing and dancing…all for the Lord!! Pain free…struggle free.

Oh the joy of knowing that we as believers have hope! The peace that comes from understanding that living on this earth is not all there is to LIFE. 

“In this world, you will have troubles. But take heart. I have overcome the world!”  John 16:33

I ask you…is there anything else that makes you more excited than that? Jesus has overcome the world for us!!

We. Have. Hope. 

Thank you, God. We have hope.

That makes me so excited, I can hardly breathe.
———————————————–

What are you grateful for this Gratituesday? Read the details here, then come link up with us so that we can come read about what you’re thankful for! If you don’t have a blog, leave a comment letting us know how God is working in your life.

[blenza_autolink code]

I’m not exactly sure what was wrong with me last week, but I was fighting off some big-time discouragement.

It has a little bit to do with lack of sunshine. I have a tendancy to struggle after a long winter with not enough sun in my life. (Plenty of sons…not enough sun…)

Then, a man from church, whose daughter is a friend of mine, died on Thursday from ALS, the same disease that took my mom four and a half years ago.

When I heard the news, I kind of lost it. Feeling the pain of that family…knowing what they’d been through…and what they’ll go through as they continue to grieve…hurts more than I anticipated. My grief seemed to come back fresh again.

But God is good. All the time. And God works through pain…because he is just that amazing and powerful.

I love how God shows himself to us in incredible ways when we’re hurting. How he helps us see parts of him that we can’t see when we’re “fine”. 

And I love how God can use the pain we’ve experienced to help others going through something similar. 

Today, I’m just grateful for God’s goodness. His consistency and his power and his complete and total care for us, his children.
——————————————

What are you grateful for this Gratituesday? Read the details here, write about what you’re thankful for on your blog, then come link up with us here. If you don’t have a blog, please leave a comment letting us know what you’re grateful for.

[blenza_autolink code]