Thoughts

In our home, we believe in God. In our home, it goes a little like this...

"I've been to church

 I've read the book

 I know he's here

 But I don't look

 Near as often as I should

 Yeah, I know I should

 His fingerprints are everywhere"

God is capable of the most amazing and unimaginable things so how is it that he allows evil to bring destruction and loss into our lives? Why does he not protect us from all evil acts?  I pray often, but I do it privately which sometimes leads me to wonder "Am I doing this right? It doesn't seem like its working!"  Then I remind myself that sometimes the unanswered prayers are just as important as the answered ones.  Can it be that in the midst of something evil goodness fights to prevail? Is it really possible that something evil can end up being good?

I've read that "God uses Satan to refine the faithful. We all have the devil's disease."  Many times when we are hurt or offended, we find ourselves categorizing those who have made us feel that way as "indebted" to us. Shouldn't that person owe me something, like an apology? Or an explanation? To deal with these debts is often at the heart of your own happiness. I've also read that "the issue is not the existence of the pain; the issue is the treatment of the pain." 

Settling the score, or getting even, doesn't even bring happiness. It often brings more pain.  No matter how justified you may feel in your quest for vengeance, you may never feel your debts are paid.  So then how is it possible that something good could come from all this evil?  Possibly its these difficulties, conflicts and evil diseases that are voices of encouragement.  If God brings it to us, he also brings us through it and its said that he will never give us more than we can handle. So this is where I am lately, searching for the sunshine through the storm clouds.  Focusing on what good may come instead of playing the lonely bounty hunter out trying to settle debts.

"Jesus does not question the reality of your wounds.

He does not doubt that you have been sinned against.

The issue is not the existence of the pain;

The issue is the treatment of the pain."

{A friend introduced me to this place last month and even just looking at the pictures I took there that day, I stop and take a deep breath}

Happy Sunday! May you find joy and inspiration in something or someone today!

{EMiLY}

Its beginning to look a lot like...

Fall? No, Winter? Already?

Yes! Snow started showing up on the mountains in September around here and before I knew it I was out clearing the driveway of the fluffy white stuff! Welcome to fall in Alaska!

{October 26}

When I posted the picture above on facebook, a friend responded with "Snow on pumpkins, its just not right!" and for anyone who has never lived in a place like this, it just does not seem right! It shouldn't happen! This will be our second winter here and I am still adjusting. To me fall means, warm sunshine during the day and cool weather at night.  Windows open, hoodies, bonfires, the pumpkin patch and crunchy leaves.  This year I've been wearing hoodies throughout the year, we had to go to the Fall Fest and "pumpkin patch" in September, the windows have been closed up since labor day and the trees were bare by mid-Ocotber with snow to soon cover all the leaves that had fallen.

Growing up in a place where we only "visited" snow from time to time, I do not know the excitement of being a child and wanting to go out and play in the snow.  But that doesn't mean I want to deny my child of that now.  Even thought he sometimes doesn't want to be out long, to me its worth the time it takes to get all bundled up just to get him out in the fresh air exploring for a little while. Alaska really can be a miserable place if you choose to stay trapped in the house just because of the snow, and that's not what I want for my family.  I know its going to be a loooong winter, but I refuse to make it seem any longer that it will already be. 

{October 30}

So, this is where we are...a little buried, but still alive! Right now as I type, the sun is high over the mountains making the snow sparkle and coming in the windows creating a few shadows and for that I'm smiling. I am home with my son today and we may just go out and explore in the snow for a while today.  Why not have a reason to come in and need warmed up with a cup of hot chocolate!

 {November 8}

And, as always, I'm not just being buried by the snow...Aiden, my job, and a new endeavor are all keeping me really busy! And I have also taken a couple nights for my self recently and gone out with friends.  One night to a hockey game and another night to a women's roller derby!  We are still trying to stay busy as redeployment approaches, which will of course also be another busy time as we focus on reuniting our little family! 

{EMiLY}

DeCap ReCap2

Here’s another look back at the last few months around here…

In May. Aiden and I went to Sesame Street Live put on by the USO especially for military kids.  We were in the second row and for most of the show Aiden was right up at the stage…he doesn’t really ever watch Sesame Street, but he does know who Elmo is and he loved it!

As if we didn’t have enough going on in the last year already, Aiden also underwent a major surgery.  After numerous bouts of sicknesses and being diagnosed with sleep apnea and reactive airway disease, the tonsils and adenoids finally came out.  In true Aiden style he caused a little trouble but handled the whole process exceptionally well with his only major complaint being he couldn’t get out of bed because there was an IV in his foot!  And now, what a relief to have a healthy boy who is growing and developing without restriction!

We started getting a little bit more daylight, about 7 mins a day, back in May as well…It was difficult to get used to at first but once we did it was amazing!

Here’s 9:30p.m.…

10:30p.m.…

And 11:15p.m.…

When all the snow finally melted, these showed up in the yard over by the shed…

Along with some other signs of Spring!

Much Love~

{and prayers tonight for a sick family member}

...Em...

Three is Tough

Ya Gotta Be T O U G H To Be Three!

T H R E E

We’ve just begun the journey of the fourth year of Aiden’s life. Yes, believe it or not today is the third anniversary of the birth of our s o n.  And what a wonderful, crazy, patience testing journey it’s been so far.

The day we met...

After Aiden's tonsil and adenoidectomy, I began seeing major improvements.  He now speaks and sleeps much, much better.  He is holding steady with his weight and his immune system is much stronger than ever before.  He will see the pediatrician on Wednesday and I am hopeful that they will throw out the reactive airway disease for good.  We are also very close to the potty trained achievement award! Everyday I have so many reasons to be proud of him.

In the three short years of this little guy’s life, he has endured a major cross country move and deployment, along with some other major events.  But he handles them all so wonderfully, he always has had an easy temperament which we are so grateful for.

Year One

Year Two

Year Three

Aiden currently loves:

Rodeo and lassos

Dinosaurs

NickJr.

Macaroni & Cheese and Chicken Nuggets

The park down the street from our house

Yellow

Red Robin

Sleeping in Mommy's bed while Daddy's away

Doing things himself and helping

 

We already celebrated with a couple presents and lunch at Red Robin, but Aiden will also be taking treats to school today.  

HAPPY B I R T H D A Y AIDEN

Mommy and Daddy L o v e You