5th Anniversary

Friday was our 5th wedding anniversary! This little video was waiting outside our bedroom door when we woke up. I love how they're trying to be all serious and then Charlie sniggers at the end.

Dr. Love took the day off and we spent the day in Northwest Indiana. We stopped by our previous church and were able to see some old friends there. Then we took in a movie, had dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse and went to Costco. You might think that's not romantic but it was exactly what both of us wanted to do. We had kicked around the idea of going to Lake Michigan for the sunset, etc... but in the end I didn't want to be driving home that late all sandy. On Saturday we slept really late, went out for sushi and then spent twilight in our backyard hammock watching Momma Wren feed her babies and reminiscing about the last few years. All in all it was a wonderful weekend.

I am so blessed by God and thankful to have Dr. Love for my husband!

Miss B Goes to Camp (while Momma bites her nails)

Here are Miss B and her roomie for the week at Purdue. They're at a technology-based camp for girls that is targeted to their grade range.

I must admit that I was more than a little nervous about dropping her off someplace other than with her friends at church camp but Dr. Love has driven this current camp gig and I do trust his judgement.

Since she called last night both after dinner and just before bed, then again this morning after breakfast, I am much assured. I am still praying for spiritual, emotional and mental protection for her but I feel secure knowing Him who holds her in His hands.

Psalm 19

"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

Who can discern his errors? Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."

A Belated Telling of the First Week of Summer Vacation

The kids & I spent the first week of summer vacation visiting our dear friend Aunt Joe in Adams-Friendship, Wisconsin. We took along Miss B.'s best friend Mimi Flope. This picture is from our climb up 300+ steps at the Roche a Cree State Park just a few miles north of Aunt Joe's home.
Other activities included making stepping stones for our pool pathway, cooking together, riding the Ducks (take a closer look at Charlie's shirt), playing the game "Apples to Apples" and fishing in the pond under Aunt Joe's catch & release program.
Thank you Aunt Joe for your hospitality!

Tuesdays For Timothy Moms V (on a Thursday)

To find out more about Tuesdays for Timothy Moms, pop over to Sheila's blog Timothy Moms to find out more.



This week, Sheila asked us to post our meditations on this passage:

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (Hebrews 12:7-11)

I was thinking about this again this morning as I woke for the day. Yesterday I had to take Miss B. to task over her attitude in general and a couple of other small things that I had been letting slide. Does God do that with us? Does He give me the chance to realize the rabbit trail I've headed down before chastening me back to His perfect path? Does He delight in the sweet fellowship that comes after my change of heart?
I believe that as parents, we have a unique view into God's own heart. He is our perfect Father, never making mistakes, never growling at us because He's had a bad day, never putting His own desires above our best. He always has time to sit with us. His laundry is always done, His meals for us always prepared on time. His patience never fails.
So the current result of all my ruminations is a committment to strive to be more Godly in my own parenting. If my teens drive me crazy sometimes, how must He feel about me?
Grace & Peace,
Leslie

Aren't They Gorgeous?!

Miss B. (in the middle) was able to reconnect with some friends from up north last week. This picture is from their adventure at our local mall. I escorted them and then, after handing them the spare cell phone and establishing a check-back in person time, sent them off by themselves.
They are beautiful inside as well and the potential that I see in them just stuns me.

Here is their big purchase:

and the shirts they decorated.

It almost makes me want to be 13 again. Okay, not really.

Leslie

If A Tree Falls in West Lafayette.....

...and you're home at the time, does it make a sound? Actually, we were heading to the "safe" place in the house as Dr. Love determined that we should due to the ugly winds that were kicking up. It sounded as though some branches were falling; nothing new-we always get that when it rains hard here. The wind, either straight-line or a microburst, lasted only 70 seconds or so and we were shocked to find this tree had fallen from the back yard across the garage and over the front porch!

We are extremely thankful that God seemingly "placed" the tree where it fell. It missed coming down on the sunroom & pool. There are a few minor holes in the roof, a damaged gutter and a bit of structural damage in the attic. There is no damage at all to the interior of our home or to our vehicles!

Praise HIM from whom all blessing flow!

Tuesdays For Timothy Moms IV

This week's question for Timothy Moms is : "What of God's word has really spoken to you lately? Is there a verse or section of scripture that you heard or read recently that really grabbed you, something that you'd say were words God was commanding YOU (like Deut.6:6 says)? If there is a verse or passage, how can you talk of it with your kids (or grandkids), at whatever ages they are right now?"

This question has really caused a conviction in my heart. I have to be honest and admit that I haven't been reading my Bible as I should. And since school is out for the summer and the kids and I traveled to Wisconsin last week, and also because Dr. Love is on vacation this week and we're busily trying to get the landscaping around the pool finished, we've not had our family devotions either :(
So I am purposing today to stop neglecting my own Bible reading time and to remind my family to do the same. Thank you Sheila!

Grace and Peace, Leslie


If you'd like to take part in Tuesdays for Timothy Moms, pop over to Sheila's blog Timothy Moms to find out more.