Farewell Summer!

*Warning, I'm playing catch-up so this is long! :)

The last days of Summer are here. On Monday morning we will set our alarm clocks, rise with the dawn and begin a new season once again.

I can hardly believe that Jake will be in the third grade. How has it gone so fast? I know all moms feel that way, but I guess sometimes the days seem so long that when this feeling rises up within me, it often surprises me. It literally feels like yesterday that it was just the two of us playing toys, reading books, singing songs, fixing snacks-and yet, 8 1/2 years have past! I kid with him sometimes and tell him I'm not letting him go into third grade, and that he can't grow any bigger, not one more inch-but inevitably he keeps growing! :) I am so proud of the young boy he has become. Even at such a young age, he has a passion for God's Word and a compassion for others that I know comes from the Lord. B and I are praying that this year the Lord will increase that passion and love for others and that Jake will begin to use these gifts to "minister" to others-other kids in his class, or on his Baseball team, teacher, or anyone for that matter! (Eph. 5:1-2) Jake is a special little guy, and even though I really am going to miss him during the day, I am really excited to see him grow, and to see what the Lord has in store for him.

Now, don't get me started on Trent Carter! My buddy is off to Kindergarten! My little entertainer is off to "entertain" his new teacher and classmates. And what a show it will be! I'm not sure what Ellie and I will do without our Star Wars reenactments, Bibleman shows, our afternoon Longhorn football, baseball, basketball games, and the countless other shows he comes up with. :) I am going to miss that little boy so much-but he is ready. He is so ready! Our prayer for Trent is that even though he is young, that he will indeed set an example for others in everything he does. (1 Tim. 4:12) Being the younger brother is tough sometimes, Jake (from Trent's perspective) seems to get a lot of attention and praise, and of course everyone knows that Jake gets to do EVERYTHING-but we are praying that God will show Trent that he is special and unique in his own way and that He has a tailor-made plan for his life, that will fit him perfectly.

And to top all of this off, Ellie is going to start "KK" two days a week! That is just crazy! She is as excited as she can be-for not really knowing what she is getting herself into! She has her "pack-pack" all ready, with her "name on it", and every time we drive by her school she yells out "Ellie's schoooool"! One of her best little friends is going to be in her class, and really they are more like sisters, (being only 9 weeks a part), they have been together, literally, their whole lives. Shannon and I are praying extra hard for their teacher! We have a feeling it won't take her long to figure out that Ellie and Kate already know each other and have been in a few "scraps" over toys before! :) Good luck with that! B and I are really enjoying Ellie. She is a firecracker, to say the least. She is FULL of joy and personality. Our prayer for her is that as she grows, God will continue to shape and mold her into the woman He has called her to be, and that one day she will be like a "pillar carved to adorn a palace" (Ps. 144 :12) full of His beauty and strength.

So that's my farewell to Summer....but before I close, (I sound like I am preaching a sermon) I'll share a few (ha! more like 12!) of my favorite pics of the Summer!

Sweet girlfriends.


Sword fights!


Summer Camp!


Craziness...


Older brothers'influence:


The older brothers!


Two of a kind!


Best lookin' 8 year old in town!


You got me!


A little girltalk.


Glow sticks rock!


Pure Joy!
Here's to a great Summer!

If you have a second...

Carolyn Mahaney and her daughters over at their blog "Girl Talk", are doing a week long series on Homemaking, and how to instill in our daughters a love for home and family. If you have a sec go check it out, it will be well worth your time.

Healer

A few weeks ago, I came across a new song on Hillsong's latest cd, and I have not been able to get over it. The story behind the song is very moving, and I think that is what initially captured my attention, however, the lyrics are so powerful, that the more I've listened to it, the more I am realizing that it is exactly what my heart is crying out for.

Healing.

I know that God is asking me to let go of something that I've held onto for many years-something that I don't even like about myself, yet somehow have found myself defaulting to over and over again. I want to let it go-I need to let it go-it has to go. But as much as I want it gone, I am afraid. Afraid that I can't let it go-afraid of what it will take to let it go. Tonight as I was doing my Bible study, the author (Kelly Minter) was talking about the difference between surrender and trust, and how surrender is more of an issue of our wills, but trust is an issue of the heart. It hit me like a ton of bricks, that while most of my life (I say most, because I know I still have areas that I haven't completely surrendered to Him) is surrendered to Christ, I don't trust Him in this particular area that He is asking me to let go of. This lack of trust is one of the things that has kept me bound to this for so many years. But tonight, I am choosing to trust Him. I am choosing to believe that HIS ways are right, and that He is good-and just like my mother said to me today (talking about a totally different subject) whenever He asks us to surrender or let go of something, somehow He always replaces it with something far better than we could have ever imagined...ultimately, HIMSELF.

You hold my every moment,
You calm my raging seas.
You walk with me through fire,
and heal all my disease.

I trust in You,
I trust in You.

I believe You're my Healer,
I believe You are all I need.
I believe You're my portion,
I believe You're more than enough for me.
Jesus, You're all I need.