Hibernation

As many of you are probably aware, since Minnesota made national headlines, we have been frozen (literally, practically, non-hypothetically) for a number o' days. I'd love to say that I'm about to post a ton of pictures of all the laughter shared, the sporadic fun we had & things we did, the games we played, movies/shows we took part in viewing together, and numerous packets of hot chocolate consumed, but I honestly didn't take that many. I was simply living in the moment. 

Our backyard message, written by handsome gents who have been awaiting some fresh powder!

You could say...I, along with my handsome gents, well....we were hibernating! 

And hibernation equals rest. And resting is such a good thing. Was it by choice? No, not really. It was more or less forced upon me and my family, and the entire state of Minnesota per say. But what a good thing to be forced into sometimes. 

These boys of mine....

...never a dull moment!

I mean...ya gotta bake an extra batch when in Hibernation mode

Throughout this unexpected "time off" from the busyness of school life, I was chatting and videoing (aka..Marco Polo app) with various family and friends about what they were doing and so many of them said that they were retrieving untouched games out of their closets, getting a variety of games from other relatives, picking out movies and making fun food, and actually enjoying spending some time together as a family they wouldn't have otherwise had! By the warmth of a fireplace of course. ;)  What a blessing!!

Austin is ready to tackle his first "panting on canvas"! 

Pretty sure it's safe to say he definitely has the "artistic gene" 

Sometimes living in the extremes of weather makes one extremely thankful for the simplicities of life that God gives. Warmth. Family. Togetherness. Craziness! Laughter. Sleep. Oh that bless-ed sleep. 

And it also heightens your alertness to those who brave these very extremes with a resilience some of us probably don't fully understand. No home. Broken furnace in sub-zero temps. No kids to chase after or redirect. Frozen pipes. Firemen. That list is endless. 

Bubbles!! 

Because everyone's doing it.;)  But the boys loved it! 

The classic boiling water in sub-zero temps is science fun....

...pretty awesome!

movie matinee + free hot cocoa = Win!!

I'll simply leave my writing here...as a point of thankfulness for a forced hibernation with my handsome gents and memories made that wouldn't have otherwise happened. But also prayers said for those whose 'force' may not have been as enjoyable or memorable. 

#Golf

Thankful in the little things. 

Grateful.

Prayerful.

Humbly blessed. 

In Someone Else's Shoes

The other day I decided to slide my feet into my eldest son's shoes in order to retrieve our trash bin from the end of our driveway. The shoes sat perfectly positioned next to the front door and even though our driveway was more like an ice rink than a snow-covered blacktop, I figured it would be quicker to put on his "lace-free shoes" than trying to interictally lace up a pair of my winter boots. If nothing else, by wearing my son's shoes, I could at least shuffle my way down the slab of ice since they really didn't have much of a "grip" and they'd be a bit tight too. 

But then it happened. 

My feet slid into those charcoal black shoes without any warning of a struggle and....*gasp*… they were even a little bit big!! What?! How in the world was that possible?!?

I literally stood there in our entryway for about 15 seconds in sheer disbelief and wonderment of how quickly this baby boy, turned toddler, turned youth, turned young gent, ….. turned young man right before my eyes. I've had plenty of these 'pausing moments' before, noting that my boys are growing up all too quickly for this mother's liking at times. But once again in this particular moment, my mind all-too-abruptly became flooded with an obscene amount of sentimental thoughts, and these blue eyes nearly stung with a well-up of tears. (You should know by now that tears can come easy for this gal, especially when dealing with my fam...)

As I shuffled (literally....I was shuffling/sliding/gliding/skating) down the driveway, it sorta hit me with an inescapable thought, that how often do we try to fit into someone else's shoes, only to realize that it's not at all the right fit?! 

Ugh. Been there. Done that. 

I could take this in many different directions but I'll simply say that I've definitely done that: trying on someone else's shoes only to realize they don't fit AT ALL. 

#myfavorite

And even though we think it might better us to try on those 'other' pair of shoes, when do we finally come to realize that the shoes we're wearing are the exact size God called us to fit into? 

#54 with the up's!! Way to go Carson...

In otherwords, our journey is ours...yep, our very own. And if you're a Christ-follower, it's the very one He set you out on to travel. Now, the shoes on our feet may not be the high-end designer shoes we would have maybe liked to be wearing nor the clear-cut path we would have chosen to take said shoes on because it most definitely wouldn't have contained as many mud puddles and rocks and slippery slopes and mile-high snowy sidelines. Mainly because those shoes would have easily worn down after a run or two. But no matter the brand name, when Jesus is the One providing the shoes worn, you're pretty "high-end". 

Truth. 

blessed with tickets to a Wild game!! Boys night out! :) 

love these handsome gents of mine.....

Trying to put on someone else's shoes that don't fit...well, there's a reason. They quite simply don't fit! Run your own race sweet reader!! That perfect race that God has called you to, from start to finish. Stop and tie those laces when necessary. Pull up those boot straps when the going gets tough. Humble yourself to let others run alongside you when that going gets even tougher. And I'll tell you from experience that those runners alongside you, won't always be the same. But each one is there for that very moment, that very season, that very leg of the journey when you need them. 

So let them run with you. Walk with you. Journey alongside you "as the shoe fits." 

Way to go #54! Love watching Carson play some ball alongside his buds 

and teammates. They'll be a "force to be reckon with" on that varsity court.

And then continue on that journey, in the shoes God fitted for YOUR feet. Sizes and styles will change because life will change.  

Mason's turn on the court...and he's so fun to watch!!!

#3 shoots....and scores!! 

So fun having Grandma watch Carson and Mason play bball on the same day! 

As my boys grow and continue to play hard through the years, I don't even dare try to add up the number of pairs of shoes that we have already worn and tossed and will eventually go through. But as they grow, and those new shoes need to be bought to match their ever-growing foot size, how much more do I pray that their faith grows as well?? A new pair of shoes to fit the next leg of the faith-race God is individually calling them to run. 

How much more do I pray that for us...that as our shoes are worn down for the numerous steps we've taken and the "playing hard" that we have done, I pray it's because we have journeyed as God has called us. And then, I pray we are once again ready to slip into or lace up that next pair of shoes because God has the next leg of the race marked out specifically for us.  Not only for us, but also for those who are coming alongside us and for those that we have the privilege of walking alongside. 

Just a few of the beautiful women I'm blessed to walk alongside...

Sports/Jersey Day! LCA homecoming 2019

Legacy Pridewear Day, Homecoming 2019...this FFof5 is beyond blessed

to be a part of LCA. 

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!"  Isaiah 52:7

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders, and the race that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..." Hebrews 12:1 

A Potter's Wife

I'm almost embarrassed at the number of months that have passed since the writing of this particular Anderson gal finally made her way back to the blog posting--not for a lack of trying mind you, because there have been a-many 'rough drafts' that have had opening lines but none of them ever came to a final curtain call. It's not for a lack of desire or will-to. I absolutely love writing! It's due in part to more of a lack of time. That 4-letter word that haunts many of us. 

T-i-m-e. 

Always wishing we had more of it, and then once we have it, figuring out how to best utilize it so that all parties win.   *sigh*   But  then we find ourselves wishing time would just hurry up and slow down! Even for a mere half a second. 

Truth.    

And you know what I mean. 

It's been 2 1/2 years since we made that "leap of faith" moving from NV to MN--from some 'comforts' to some 'unknowns'. From what if's to potential. From potentially possible to reality. 

The last time I sat to pen my thoughts to paper  computer, spring was just around the corner with so much 'newness' appearing on the horizon, but the biggest 'newness' was bringing with it another faith step with a potential possibility waiting in the wing to take action. And then..... it happened. 

Art-A Whirl

Proud. Endeared. Stoked. Twitter-pated. Humbled. Enamored. Wowed. 

Awed. 

Inspired.

And that relatively small adjective list is basically endless when it comes to those one-word descriptives in trying to display my numerous affections for a certain mid-western potter. My favorite potter in fact. Who just happens to be my handsome husband. 

*photo cred: Ken Jones*

AndersonClayworks is now in full swing and the small business venture, albeit nerve-wracking at times, is fully upon us. Another radical step for this FFof5. And it's been another huuuuuuge (insert voice exaggeration) step at that. 

It feels quite risky at times, but without that risk, we would have never known the reward. And that reward isn't monetary. It's the people. 

It's the relationships built and the stories shared with friends and family alike. 

Artistic Trio!!

It's the student's who choose to hang out with an art teacher on a Friday night at his show that makes the set-up worth it. 

It's the community that offers continual support through showing up at various shows & their continual encouragement throughout the year that makes the 'take-down' worth it. 

It's the random inquires about being able to stop by Mr. Anderson's classroom to see the product display on the shelves that make the "after hours" worth it. 

It's family who invests an interest beyond a pocket-book but by 'being there' in physicality and prayerfully and intentionality. 

It's these 3 handsome Anderson gents that have had the privilege of watching, helping, and  being a part of their father's dream, see Andy utilize his God-given gifts and talents to bless others that make the hours away from home worth it. And they get it. 

"Art Attack" show 

Christmas show--& they did their own canvas paintings on 'family day' 

at the Solar Arts building in NE Mlps. 

It's the Joy that is brought to each individual that picks up "that mug, that bowl, that vase, that amplifier....." because they have connected with a piece of pottery due in part to the specific finger-marks left in each one that makes ALL of this completely worth it. 

That's why Anderson Clayworks exists. 

And I couldn't be more proud. I'm excited for the adventure that God continually calls us to and I dare say this may not be the last. For now, we'll step out in faith no matter how big or small that step may seem. We've had many of both in the past year and I'll leave you with a very small picture-collage to encompass some of them. 

#houseprojects

Coaching Legacy volleyball!! Love these ladies..... thru and thru.

L.E.G...A.C.Y....Goooooo Legacy!!!

blessed by these ladies--in so many ways 

Love these 3 handsome gents.... Legacy Lions!!!

As this faith-family-of-five makes our way into a new year, we continually look to the One who brought us here. 

Love. Him. #myfavorite #smitten

#standingbymyman 

He paves the way before us, no matter how smooth or rocky, and yet who's faithfulness remains constant above all else. May you be encouraged dear reader, as you step out into whatever adventure God has called you on, to look to HIM first and foremost and to know and believe wholeheartedly that He is your constant. He is your guide. Be encouraged. 

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..." Colossians 3:23