Wesley's Day

There are so many posts I want to write...so many things to catch up on! It feels like it has been so long that I was away from blogging! But that will have to wait for another time. Right now, I have to brag on my sweet son! Wesley Anderson is one of the sweetest, kindest, tender-hearted children I have ever met! He loves people! He loves to make people laugh, make them happy, make them smile! He is the biggest help! He never EVER complains about helping me out at home, with the other kids, or doing WHATEVER needs to be done! He is constantly thinking of others first...his sister or brother...me or Daddy! My heart feels like it will explode sometimes for the joy I feel just being his mom!

Today we dedicated the WHOLE day to Wes! Since my surgery and Travis hurting his leg, we have had to depend on that boy more than any 6 yr old boy should be depended on! His responsibilities tripled and he never batted an eye! He rolled with it and even had fun with it! He learned to change diapers (seeing as changing diaper requires 2 hands), do the dishes, fold laundry, pump gas, and the list goes on! (of course all of these activities were supervised:) But it blessed my heart to see him jump right in and do what needed to be done, just b/c we needed it! We didn't have to threaten or bribe him...he willingly served! So, once we were feeling better, we told him we wanted to honor his servant's heart and reward him with a day filled with whatever he choose to do! He was beside himself with excitement!

Our day began by sleeping in this morning:) Then we all went to see the new Narnia movie! (great movie) After that we took him to Fred Meyer to spend his Christmas money from Nana and Grandpa! (that was a BIG hit!) After which we had some lunch and went downtown for Winter Solstice with Daddy to watch him play banjo! The kids got to sit with Santa and take pictures! We then played Putt Putt golf, and Wesley won! After that we ate dinner, at Wesley's request, at Chili's! And to finish off the night we watched the fireworks downtown! It was a perfect day! I am so thankful for my family! Each child God has blessed me with is so special and unique...and I couldn't imagine my life without any one of them! Thank You Lord for my family! And tonight, I thank You especially for Wes!

Winter Wonderland!

One of the greatest parts of living in Alaska is the snow! We LOVE IT! We love to play in it! Daddy, Wes and Emmy spent the greater part of one afternoon building this new friend! They had so much fun! Isn't he the cutest!


We really enjoy riding on our snow-machine! It is cold though! BRRRRRRRRRR!

/ We all wanted a ride!

It was too cold for Lukey on the snow-machine but he had a blast helping daddy shovel the driveway! He really thought he was big stuff!

And I can't keep this little guy out of the snow! Just walking from the house to the car he will purposely fall into the snow, eat the snow, sit in the snow, run in the snow, hide in the snow, or throw the snow! This child is ALL BOY! He is such a stinker! This is him making his infamous "Cheezer" face! I love it!

The 2010 NutCracker Ballet

We have a new tradition! Every Christmas season, we take Emmy to the Nutcracker! It is so much fuN! We (meaning me, my mom, and Emmy) get all dressed up, go out for a nice, fancy dinner, and then to the ballet! It is great! Emmy Grace LOVES it! She looks forward to it all year long. Now granted, we live in Fairbanks, Ak...so it isn't the grandest ballet in the world...but they do a nice job for out little town.


Here is Emmy all dressed up ready to go to dinner and the ballet! So excited! Doesn't she look so grown up!
Mommy and Emmy Grace! Emmy said I was as beautiful as Mrs. Jennifer! Not a princess, but Mrs. Jennifer! She thinks the world of my sweet friend!

Mimi and her girl! She loves my mom probably just a little bit more than me! Mimi hung the moon in her book! It blesses my heart to see the joy in their relationship! My mom is the greatest Mimi in the world! I'm glad that she got to be apart of this night with us!

We met up with a friend of mine, Molly, and her sweet little girl Jaime! Emmy Grace and Jaime are great friends! They were all dressed up together and danced the night away every chance they got pretending to be "sugar-plum fairies" and beautiful "dancers"! Love it!

Us Girls! We had such a fun night! I think the greatest part wasn't watching the ballet, but watching Emmy's reaction to it! It brought joy unspeakable to my heart! I love being a mommy! And I love having a little girl in my life!

Im Back!

Well, here I am again! Finally back! It has been entirely too long! But you see, when your writing/typing arm/hand is operated on...it delays blogging and emailing and journaling! It has been torture to me! But I am finally on the mend...and feeling much better! Still in a splint, so these next few posts may be short, but I wanted to update our last couple of months!

I did have surgery on my arm. For Carpal Tunnel syndrome. It was painful and NO FUN! But I have been learning alot! Sometimes I believe God wants to strip all control away from us so that we will look 100% to HIM! I haven't learned painlessly...for so many times I go kicking and screaming! I resist the awesome work God wants to do in my life...fearful of the unknown. But through much prayer and encouragement from some very dear friends, God has begun speaking to my heart once again...and my soul has felt alive like never before!

This is my ulitmate favorite part of the year! I love celebrating! LIfe, Joy, Christmas, Family, Worship, Jesus! It is the best of all best! I feel the "party" all around me! It inspires me to live to the fullest! And it is so beautiful to celebrate with my children! The pure delight of every mystery unveiled...the light as it shines in their eyes as we tell stories, sing songs, bake cookies, give gifts to friends, eat and enjoy family and friends! I have so much more to write...but this will have to do for tonight...sorry to have been away for so long:)

Horses in the Snow!

Wes just finished up his riding lessons for the year. At 22 degrees, it is a bit chilly to ride horses! But he did! And he loved it! He just told me that all he needed was a couple of extra pair of gloves for his hands and he would be just fine! We love his lessons, all the kids have a blast playing while he rides! I'm so thankful that he has had this opportunity! He will resume riding in the spring. Until then, we will be doing swimming lessons and x-country skiing lessons! So excited for all that God has allowed us to do!


Daddy and Luke watching brother ride! LUKE LOVES the horses!

We got to ride Jewls bareback! He did really good, until he fell off! But no problem, he just got back on again. He blamed it on his slick snowpants! It was kinda funny...only b/c he didn't get hurt though!

Hello Mr. Horse!

Taking the horse back to the pin! So much fun! I'm so proud of my little guy! This is his favorite hobby right now!

Longing...

Have you ever longed for something so heavily that words could not explain the feeling so deep inside? This morning as I sit writing, thoughts of Korea are on my heart. How I loved it there! That will always be a special place to me! I love serving overseas! It is a passion within my soul that only God could have ever set aflame! And it is funny, b/c in "serving" overseas, I have always been "served" far more than my heart could have ever given! God has used those times in my life to break me, mold me, completely remodel my heart into something that resembles more of Him! Why there? Why not here? I've thought of those questions many times...sit and pondered within myself. Here are a few conclusions I have reached...

1. I think being away from your home country makes one vulnerable in ways never before experienced. You are no longer on your own "turf". The language is foreign, the soil is foreign, the culture and people are all different that your "normal". You are FAR from your comfort zone...and it puts you in a place sensitive to God like never before. You are depending on Him in ways that you never have thought necessary. He is all of a sudden, needed EVERY step! Literally!

2. You have chosen to forsake what is "home" to venture out and fulfill the "great commandment." Yes, I know that you can do that here, in the states as well. But when you are willing "go" to a foreign land, you are making a choice to be uncomfortable. So, when the discomfort comes, you expect it. You even smile in the midst of it. B/c you are right where God wants you to be and YOU KNOW IT! Living here, in our normal day to day lives, we forget that we called to "be set apart". We loose focus of our calling to tell others the "good news". We get caught up in "getting ahead"...in "making a name" for ourselves...in climbing ladders...gaining riches...attaining status...bettering ourselves, that we forget about the KINGDOM PURPOSE that all of us believers are called unto!

3. We are on an adventure! All of a sudden, our normal life has taken on this great and crazy adventure! Everything is "different". Fascinating! Just venturing to the grocery store has become a wild excursion! I believe your senses are heightened! You take in everything as new and exciting! All of a sudden, grapes and oranges are the grandest things b/c of the unique and cute packaging! You are eager to drink it all in...eager to learn and experience life in new and wonderful ways! Talking to strangers is a fun and challenging undertaking! You smile at everyone you see, b/c you are different! You notice them noticing YOU! You stand out! And for the first time ever, you love it!

So why is it, that in our own neighborhood, we try so hard to "fit in". We want to even "blend in". We don't want to stand out...we walk with our heads down trying to make it back to our little homes unnoticed and untouched. We don't want to talk to anyone...we are selfish with our time! Smiling and engaging strangers is the LAST thing on our agenda! And heaven forbid we become FLEXIBLE! We have our schedules...and they must be met! Lord help the ones who get in our way!

4. And one last conclusion I've reached is...COMMUNITY! That is something my soul longs for daily! The feeling of community you have overseas in a Christian environment is unbeatable! I have been on many mission trips in my life, and that is one of my favorite things by far! The feeling of connecting with other believers, the joining of hearts, the unifying under the Spirit of God...nothing in all the world can top that! You are all there with one heart, one purpose! You share in each others joy and triumphs, and weep in sorrow for each others struggles and failures. Friendships are formed for eternity! Real, honest, truthful relationships are built and love is formed that knows no end!

These are just a few thoughts that I have been reflecting on this morning. God has been BEYOND good to me! He has allowed me to be apart of His work...here and afar! He has allowed me to meet some of His favorite children...and share in their lives here on earth! He has woven friendships within my heart that will stand until eternity! And the precious souls that He has used to help mold me into His most glorious creation...let me just tell you..."we are gonna dance together on those streets that are golden!" We will one day worship our King, hand in hand, before His very throne! I am so thankful that I have had the privilege of knowing you this side of heaven...and I can't wait for the day that we will...."join in the song of the Lamb!"

"Gearing" up!

Hormones, how I hate you some days! The past week has been "not so great" of a week! I have been down! Depressed! Sad! Out of sorts! Normally, I am a pretty up-beat kind of girl! I roll with the punches and can get out of a funk pretty quickly. But my latest "funk" has lasted all of a week and I am NOT liking it at all! I felt like I couldn't get my "happy" rolling! I prayed, spent some time with my friends, chatted with my momma, hung out with my hubby, laughed at my crazy kiddos, but inside I felt icky. (I am also a HUGE people person!) So, when being around people didn't help me...I just sat down and cried! A good, long CRY!

And then, after about an hour of so, I determined..."THIS HAS GOT TO COME TO AN END!" No one wanted to be around me...goodness, I didn't even want to be around me.

So, this morning, I woke up early with the very intent of laying some stuff down on the alter! I needed this "pity-party" feeling to END! And glory to God, it did! I was reading in Eph. 6 and realized I hadn't put the "armor of God" on in so long. My defenses were down...Satan was throwing all his fiery darts my way and I was getting slammed at every turn. So, I had a "gearing" up moment...and peace and joy flooded my soul! And let me tell you, this day has been wonderful! Every dart cast my direction has fallen short...cuz I am protected, aware, and ready to face those giants head on! What a wonderful feeling...to claim our victory and WALK IN IT! Thank You Lord!