Friday, March 28, 2014

Family

I'm a family girl. Always have been. I attribute it to coming from a semi-large family and doing most things together as a family. That's what farm-families do! Everything was (and is) together. It was messy. (pun intended if you wish...) It was chaotic. It was barely one foot in front of the other some days. We didn't always like each other very much, but at the end of the day, love pulled us through. As my sister so eloquently stated recently, we were sometimes sideways, sometimes upside down, but regardless, we were family! And still are. I was blessed to have grown up with a common thread always sewing us together and that was a love for Jesus, taught very early on...to all 6 of us kids...by our parents, grandparents, etc. Oh sure, we had spitfires for grandparents but who didn't?! Maybe it's a generational thing...or maybe it's that Swedish/Norwegian heritage thing. ;) I wish I had a tape recording of Grandma's voice just to hear her spout off to Grandpa one more time about forgetting to bring this or that up from the basement cellar....and how he caused her to poke herself with the needle because her thimble fell off due to being distracted by his forgetfulness. He would chuckle and come and kiss her on the top of her head and make his way to the kitchen table for more coffee. She would call him "ya old coot" with her semi-pursed lips and eyes cracking a smile, and then we'd find ourselves at that same table moments later. 
the Carlson family :)--one of my favorite pics! Classic!
My mom has always been so good about sending little packages ever since we moved westward. She never fails to put in a few copies of the local papers...but lately, I've caught myself admiring my dad's handwriting which can usually be found on the front page near the top. Scribbled phone numbers. Sometimes a name. It's chicken scratch really. But it's my dad's. I can picture that phone ringing or a message being listened to and that was the closest piece of "scratch paper" in order to jot that name & number down.  

I guess it's turning another year older that I find myself semi nostalgic. Age will do that to ya. 
overnight bday getaway with my man!!!! (Thanks Mike & Elisha!)

Or maybe it's in part to the news of my mom's uncle passing. Or just realizing that none of us are getting any younger and health issues are becoming more complicated. Or just missing family altogether. But a big part is also continually realizing that these three handsome gents of ours are growing up way too quickly before our eyes and we really don't want to miss a beat. Family time together is too precious.
Sunday afternoon in Water Canyon!
our little explorers!
not 'family', but dear sisters!! ;)
sippin' on hot cocoa!
Anderson fam. in water canyon for the afternoon!
bday card and hugs from my Jovi-girl :)
cousins!!!
L.O.V.E. my man :)
This little family of ours will someday stem out a bit larger and I can only pray that the closeness of our family unit will remain, growing stronger with age. He has been our Rock from the beginning. Our sole source of comfort and strength and joy. And we can only pray that a deep and real love for Jesus will continue to be that common thread that keeps sewing this family together, no matter how many snags or knots we encounter.
a little ice cream/movie night for GREAT conference reports!!
goofs!


























And now it's time for more family memories with our 3 crazies....spring break!! WooHoo!!! :)

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Seasonal shifts

Over the course of the past few years I've wrote a thing or two about seasons, the changing of seasons, my favorite season, etc. We're coming upon the start of another one but you wouldn't know it if you were living in my homeland of MN. I'd love to say that the little bit of snow that remained was getting kinda dirty so that fresh 5-inch layer of white did some good to beautify things again....but I might get a few scowls. ;) And I probably shouldn't say that our backyard is producing some color popping up from beneath the dirty surface....but I will. Spring is a-coming!! 


And what's the changing of seasons without a little look at the seasons we go through in life? Some are only for weeks at a time, such as switching over from courtside seats to baseline bleachers. 
baseball time for our Carson!

Some seasons are for years as that pregnancy test continues to say 'negative' (in the case of some dear friends); as relational healings are longed for and finally achieved after a long season in the waiting room. Makes that seemingly endless MN winter not so long after all. 

God takes us through seasons in our life, some shorter than others, in order to draw us closer to Him. I'm not sure about you, but sometimes whether it's the 100+ temps of summer or -30s of winter, that particular season is never over fast enough when in the midst of it. Same can be said of that season God needs us to go through in order to be a bit more thankful on the other side, a little more dependent on Him, and a little deeper rooted in our faith. Hindsight perspective. 

 (a few snippets of a women's retreat over-nighter--love these ladies!)
... :)
 
You don't want to know what happened next....



always time for giggles!!
much needed coffee...to make up for lack of sleep! ;)
the ladies working hard!
Seasons are inevitable to go through; what matters is how we get through them stronger on the other side, and hopefully not frozen or melted. ;)  Studying the book of James has definitely brought some warmer weather to what seemed a not-so-mild season at times...I had a little shoveling to do. ;) As all of us James-Journeyers would say from week to week, we are so thankful for God who gives His grace, and gives it abundantly when we humbly ask and seek that wisdom from above. It's been a perfect study for this season of life. For all of us.

These three handsome gents, though sometimes the culprits of making a season a little bit tougher at moments, can usually somehow find a way to help us keep things in perspective. And I'm sure I would get nods in agreement when I say that I'm ready for a new season--a season of enjoying iced tea on the deck, for the sun-kissed cheeks of my littles, the warmth of the sun as fingernails are beneath the dirt, the taste of a hot dog that is only best at a stadium...another season of God's grace showering down on us as we are one season closer to eternity.
CJ playing hide & seek with his brothers...
my crazies!!
Carson on the top row (think...where's waldo?) playing the finger cymbals for the 1st grade assembly!
Carson--showing Mason how to do it! :)
mini-man Mason! (not so mini anymore...)


Mason chatting with Grandma one morning...at quite great lengths!

Monday, March 10, 2014

Our God

There's a song that in the "praise and worship world" that would seem to fit the category of being an 'oldie but a goodie.' But for some reason lately, it's lyrics are resonating deep into my heart and even deeper into those parts of my soul that are sometimes caked with dirt. It's really not that old, ....ok 10 years old...but with new songs pumping out into the mainstream daily, this one has had it's fair share of sitting in the #1 spot of Christian music for a while. 

The song I'm referring to is called "Our God" by Chris Tomlin and as I've heard it come across the airwaves these past few weeks, I can't help but nearly blow the speakers as the words rich with Truth are sung out loud and clear. This isn't all of the lyrics, but it gives goosebumps and chills nonetheless:

              Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
              Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
              Our God is greater, our God is stronger, God you are higher than any other.
              Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
              And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
              And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
             And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
             And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
             What could stand against.     

It may come in part to the depth of pain and struggle I know so many are facing...and my heart aches. But our God is Healer. It may come in part to the testing of faith that God is calling us to, knowing we are to persevere. But our God is for us and with us. It may be in part because, through studying James, we sisters have been and are challenged that it's an all-or-nothing kind of life we are called to live as Jesus-followers and Jesus-lovers...who could ever stop us?! It may simply be that as I watch the rain fall (sideways at times), the sun beaming through the clouds, the melting snow form glorious icicles, and the red and blaze orange hues of a sunrise or sunset light up the sky that the words "Awesome in Power" are displayed right before my very eyes....than what could stand against?!
Student Art Show opening! (SO PROUD of my hard-working man)
They love wrestling daddy/uncle Andy!
And it's those simple little things like swimming in the pool, watching movies together with not enough lap room for my boys to sprawl across, tossing a football, playing UNO (for the umpteenth time...), sipping on shakes, that I pause to say thanks.  Amidst the (sometimes) minute-by-minute chaos of life, God graciously sends these little reminders that He alone is still God; He is still our constant; He still loves me and will pick me up out of the mud even when I get stuck; He is my power/strength when I am weak; He needs to be the sole source of my joy and contentment. Period.
CJ
 
AA & CJ with a friend










NV Sunrise! (pics. never do it justice....)
So if you happen to hear this song, don't be afraid to sing along and do a little praisin' today. We did. And it was rich.  

Saturday, March 1, 2014

February Finale

The month of February is somehow behind us already and we breathlessly sprinted our way through some of the final days, while others were a leisurely breezy stroll. We fumbled through closets finding t-shirts so as not to get too warm while playing in the sunshine on a Sunday afternoon (in February?!). We took in more basketball these last three to four weeks than we have in our last 5 years together as a family of 5. And we did the usual daily living of life--laughing, studying, singing, crying, dining, sporting, reading, playing, schooling, praying, growing, you get the idea.  
mom and Mason ready for some Lowry basketball!
morning snuggles!
the house we stayed in before heading to the Lowry/Elko basketball game!
buck anyone??
mama and Austin
snuggle time with my gents!

game time!! KJ & Elisha
playing in the sandbox...in t-shirts...in Feb.?!?!

and then the t-shirts came off....wrestle time!!
sometimes there are no words...
at least they're laughing!
Austin shooting....and ALMOST scored...
Austin taking the ball down the court
March will also have it's crazy days and intermittently have it's down days but it begins quite rapidly as my amazingly wonderful, hard-working hubby puts together the annual Humboldt County District Student Art Show, on display for the entire month of March. If people only knew the HOURS of behind-the-scenes he puts in....well, I'll tell you. He puts HOURS into this show, working from the ground up to get it built and put together and without barely a word of letting others know he was behind it all. Humble. That's my man. But I'm a bit prideful when it comes to him. ;) I'll maybe showcase pictures in the next post. We'll see what happens between now and then. 

The closing ceremonies of February consisted of the AWANA Grand Prix and a movie night at our church--fun events topped with trophies at one, popcorn and laughter (and tears) with friends & families at the other.

Carson's shark car
Austin's Jesus' tree service truck
Sparks Design winners! (Carson got first...cousin Daniel second!)
TNT Design Winners! (Austin got first too!)
Anderson cousins at the AWANA Grand Prix :)
Proud racers!
Movie night!!
awwwwwwww ;)
Ham fam!
AA and CJ snuggled in for the movie

Give 'em Tools

Ever since Andy and I signed that purchase agreement making us the owners of our very first home on Brookview Drive in Burnsville, Minnesota...