the next thing He asks

this week was one of those weeks where we just did the next thing He asked us to. our plans weren't His plans. we weren't on top of anything and couldn't do any hour in our own strength. it was a good week. but, i admit to having had a bit of a meltdown this morning (complete with ugliness to my husband and some tears in the shower. my "go to" ways of coping with having TOO MUCH on my mind and heart...and shoulders.)

the weekend (a week ago!) started with a friday afternoon full of extra kids, rice krispie treats, brownies and chocolate chip cookies. we just went all out :-)

our family is giving all we can to help denise. pat is using his gifts...and i'm not sure i've ever seen him fight for someone like he is fighting for her. watching your husband come alive using the gifts God has given him is one of the most beautiful things to watch. i've been moved to tears and silenced in awe many times this week by how God works. we are bringing our kids into it as much as is appropriate and praying that they see our family's sacrifices (even the time they've had to share their dad) as ways to LOVE OTHERS.

ready for the super bowl :-) he somehow found his mouth guard and wrist thing for the plays - ha!

pat and i had orientation for rebekah going into high school!!?? what in the WORLD?? how is this happening??

bailey had a stomach bug one day. she is THE happiest sick person. it's crazy. she'll be all talking and smiling with me...then..."hold on, mom. i think i'm going to be sick!" as she waltzes to the bathroom. that girl...

sawyer ASKED me to run a mile with him. two days in a row. he wanted to see if he could "get faster" like his older siblings do. his legs were sore the next day :-) and he DID get faster on his second mile!

so. every wednesday night, rebekah goes to youth group. she is gone til 9:30 pm. so bailey has to go to bed alone. she cries every wed nite. she HATES going to bed alone. so, for christmas, i gave her a coupon in her stocking for a "date night" on a wednesday night...we could do ANYthing together while rebekah was at church so that she wouldn't have to go to bed alone that night. she cashed it in this week :)

she is SO precious. all she wanted to do was wander around the dollar section of target (not anywhere else in target...just the dollar section. and she didn't even buy anything!) and then get frozen yogurt. she is SUCH a joy to be with one on one. we've had some hard months with her...so it was a REALLY nice week having some sweet moments (between her sick day and her date!) i think it did BOTH of our hearts good!

gearing up for an insane week ahead...joshua's birthday this weekend. hosting an event at my house next tuesday night for some women from our church. orientation for joshua entering middle school. oh, and our bedroom is half painted...the furniture has been in the middle of our room for 2 weeks now. i'm trying not to let it get to me...but it's GETTING TO ME! bailey is in a play at school next week. i always do a "valentines party" for my kids which will be late next week. AND we're finally doing bailey's 9th birthday party next weekend (her birthday was in september. i know. it's ridiculous. there's a story.) so i need to plan that. also homeschooling and feeding all these people and making lunches and homework and laundry. see why the meltdown this morning??? we'll just keep doing the next thing He asks...and trust Him to see us through!