Beautiful Things

It is that bewitching hour when I surf the net after finishing up homework stuff. Well, I have been surfing for a while, but I have been listening to Gungor's "Beautiful Things" song.

I suppose it is one of those moments where I sit in the silence of my home and relax to the last few moments of my "day of rest" by woshipping to this tune.

Why is it that when we are sitting in the midst of chaos we feel so helplessly overwhelmed? Yesterday, I spent the entire morning cleaning out the garage and cleaning my house. I spent some time online via Skype with Jeremy. It was so great to see his face. Towards the end of our conversation, Bek pops Savannah Kay with a rubber band which causes a small melt-down. I had to address my almost-twelve-year-old for popping her only-six-year-old sister in the back with a rubber band. Being one to support retributive justice, I proceeded to pop Bekah back with the same rubber band. Now I had Bekah bawling, Savannah crying even harder because Mommy hurt Bekah, and now Mason was crying from the swing. Sheesh. All this chaos, and Jeremy was just watching the whole thing. Missing home now mister? These are the moments when a year of single parenting is beginning to take its toll. However, through all my failures and frustrations, He is able to make beautiful things out the dust. No need to feel so overwhelmed...He makes beautiful things...even out of us.

Funny how just a few words can spark such inspiration...

"All this pain

I wonder if I'll ever find my way

I wonder if my life could really change at all...

All this earth

Could all that is lost ever be found

Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out the dust

You make beautiful things

You make beautiful things out of us

All around

Hope is springing up from this old ground

Out of chaos life is being found in You"

If you don't know this song, please tune in...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyPBtExE4W0&feature=related

I hope this inspires you the way it does me.

By the way, I was standing at the welcome center before and after services this morning when one of our elders made a special effort to come to me and tell me how many positive things he had heard about the preschool. He wanted me to know that he knew how much time and effort I had put in and that everyone could see God's blessings through my obedience. What a blessing! Just that little effort encouraged me so! Out of chaos, life really is being found! Thank you God for making such beautiful things!

Have a worship filled week friends-

Pumpkin Patch at Browndale Farm

I know this is a lot of pics, but my hubby checks the blog to stay tuned in to our latest adventures...so bear with me! I decided to take the kids to a new pumpkin patch this year. I had researched new pumpkin patch places for the preschool (whew, that was a mouthful) and stumbled upon Browndale Farm in Clay Center, Kansas. It is a pretty decent trek...an hour or so, but it was worth every minute of the drive! We left right after noon and spent the entire afternoon enjoying all there was to do! We stopped for dinner in Clay Center and I had a delicious chicken fried steak with loaded mashed potatoes and salad at a local dive, Danny's. The girls were fishing corn out of their pants all evening! We had a great time just being a little family...minus one very important man!

It was the perfect fall way to start the month of October!

The zip line was Savannah's FAVORITE part!

Bekah had to curl those long legs, but she did it and it was fun!

The corn was a close second...

Pony ride!

The Obstacle Course

Rebekah

Savannah Kay

Rabbits and their baby bunnies

The sweetest racoon we have ever seen!

In the barrell train...Bekah refused to ask for the bigger barrel towards the back

Playing on the hay bales

Feeding the goats

Chickens and Roosters

Trailer full of corn kernels = Perfect Photo Op

Me and my Son

A hayrack ride

My babies

In the Corn Maze

Sweet donkey

Team Work

This girl is a pro!

Happy Fall Ya'll~

Game Night

Just so you know, Savannah Kay is the Candy Land Champion! She beat me like 6 times!

Kansas State Fair and SELENA GOMEZ

Momma and Daddy live in Hutchinson, Kansas...home of the Kansas State Fair grounds. We have visited the fair several times since they have lived there. Usually we do the regular rounds...the giant veggies, the butter sculpture, the concessions, the pig races, the animal exhibits, the petting zoo, a few rides and then home. However, this year I was told that Selena Gomez would be in concert the last day of the fair. I got online and purchased tickets for the girls and I and invited my friend Heather and her little girl Isabella. My crew of 4 and our 2 buddies packed up and headed to Hutch to enjoy a little fair and a lot of concert!

It was only a million degrees outside. Savannah Kay is rosie cheeked and sipping on some water. We sampled the following fair foods during our 6 hours there:

Funnel cake, snow cones, pronto pup, corn, fried pickles, turkey leg, nachos, sweet tea and cotton candy

I think we gained about 10 lbs but sweat off about 5!

Bek and Izzy...she is so Hollywood
Mom and Savannah Kay

The girls just had to ride a water ride...it was too hot!

The second best part of Savannah Kay's day...Cotton Candy!

Me and my girls

Heather and Izzy

Nose-bleed section of the concert

Down front buying t-shirts

Look how close we got!

I think the concert was a huge hit! Savannah kept squeezing my neck and shouting "BEST MOM EVER!" Bekah knew all the words and acted like a concert pro. I don't think she wanted the other 1,000 squealing girls to know that inside she was as giddy as they were. Everyone had a great time and we were exhausted when we left.

It was a great trip!

Hog Roasting

Our church has an annual Hog Roast. I believe it started out as a welcome to all those university students, but now has evolved into a welcome-back-to-church-from-summer-break event. They had rented giant jumpy houses and we brought covered dishes. This was a great opportunity to socialize with our church friends and enjoy our Sabbath. The kids had a great time, and I was glad to have a "day of rest." Dinner was done and the kids were occupied! Thank you God for good food and great friends!