Colin

Just a few pictures of Colin from vacation to Oregon. He hates getting his picture taken so I'm bad about getting them. I feel like if I don't talk about him more or post pictures of him that he's going to feel forgotten. He may not be here but he's thought of everyday. He is doing so good at the ranch. He worked this summer. He just started school. He has gotten his focus. He knows where he's going in life and what steps he needs to take to get there. He wants to go to the University of Oregon. So I've been busy researching the school and scholarships. He is playing football again this year and is excited about it. We're going over in October to watch him play a game. We're all excited about that. He's a little bummed that he isn't home yet, even though he's told me at times he wants to stay there till graduation. We decided that he has more opportunity there than he would here so that's why he is still there. I'm just so proud of him. It's rewarding to see him pursuing the things I've instilled in him. Makes me feel like I've done something right.


Brothers

Father and son

Vern, his dad and the boys after a day of clamming

Colin and Emma. She loves her big brother.

Proverbs 31 woman

In our small group through our church we've been studying contemplative prayer and since I was up this morning I thought I'd put some of that into practice. So I starting reading my Bible (something I rarely do but always feel guilty about) and while reading I was prompted to read Proverbs 31. God has been speaking to me, mostly through my hubby, about my attitude and my "duties" as a wife and mother and that passage seemed fitting. It is extremely overwhelming because I know that I will never measure up to that standard. I wonder, how does it relate to the modern day woman? In that period of time women were homemakers. Today the majority of women work. How are we to "live up" to that standard? What can I do differently to become more like this woman? Do I have more traits like her than I realize? Maybe I don't recognize it because times are different so they don't seem to correlate? All I know is that I want to become more like her. God, give me the strength and wisdom needed to become the woman you want me to be.

Life is short

Yesterday my coworker buried her husband. He was shot in the line of duty and leaves behind a wife and 2 boys. All of this has gotten me to rethink my priorities and what I want from life. I think about how I would feel if the shoes were reversed. I sometimes feel like my hubby doesn't do much for me because it's not what I want done. But as I've sat back and thought about all the things I would have to do if he weren't around it completely freaks me out about how I would survive. There are so many things he does that I take for granted. Simple things mostly. He is always telling me to slow down and relax. It's always so hard for me to do because my brain is always whirling with the things that need to get done. How much of my "to do list" is really important? Is it going to count towards eternity? The Bible says not to store up for yourself earthly treasures, but to store up heavenly treasures. Life is about making memories. Do I want my family and friends to remember me for always being busy and not taking the time to spend with them because of my "to do list?" Or do I want them to remember me as a great wife, mother and friend because I made time for them? I want to leave a legacy of love, the beauty of having a relationship with the creator of the universe, memories of fun for my family to remember long after I'm gone. I want to live life wholeheartedly with no regrets. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind for your loved ones?