Homesick

In an hour I will head out to pick up my kids from camp. They have been gone for 2 weeks and I miss them.  To say they love camp is an understatement. They reminisce over their YSSC experiences the 352 days of the year they are not at camp, and make paper-chains to countdown the days till they will return.

When I pick them up they will hug me good, and introduce me to everything that has nourished  their souls for the past 2 weeks. I will be glad.

And when it is time to say goodbye we will fill our SUV to the brim with sleeping bags and pillows, a months worth of laundry, two weeks chock-full of memories, and my three who will feel the pangs of campsickness. 

Campsickness will cause them to ache the moment we turn out of the driveway and onto the main road. They will breath in deep the fragrance of their beloved YSSC; inhale every bit of sustenance to take from this mountain back home to the foothills. 

Campsickness.
I already ache for them... and with them.

I ache because this world is not my Home, and when I get a taste of What is... well, nothing here satisfies. God is so good; so delicious in every way. Everything this side of heaven pales in comparison to Him.  At YSSC my three have feasted on the LORD their God (and they have dined in community, which is the most scrumptious kind of feasting) because of this I know that the campsickness is really Homesickness. 

Knowing this causes my mama-ache to be enveloped by pure-mama-joy, and I praise God, Who has SO FILLED my children WITH HIMSELF that they are Homesick for Him.

 I want to build a house up on this mountain

Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain

I can see for miles up on this mountain
My troubles seem so small they almost disappear
Lord, I love it here
Up on the mountain

My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain
 
I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay
Up on the mountain
 
I said I'd go, Lord, wherever You lead
For where You are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley
My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
 
You bring me up here on the mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain 
And I carry it to the world far below
So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that You will go with me
This is my prayer, Lord
Help me to remember what You've shown me
Up on the mountain
Up on the mountain
 
I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday You'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain

Time to go!

Live in Peace,

July 4th

Hi all. 

Hope you are enjoying your summer. 

We've been soaking up the sunshine, each other, and the freedom from the ordinary that summer brings. 

Speaking of freedom, here are a bunch of snapshots from our 4th of July.

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  We ventured up the mountain for lunch at a local landmark, Jones Store. 

Local pals, I'm ashamed to admit that I've lived here for 20 years and this was my first time to the made-famous-by-you Jones Store. 

Maybe you'll cut me some slack when I tell you the Maui cousins are staying with us this week, and sharing our first time to the Jones Store was a perfect memory-making event for this Jones clan!

 (Speaking of freedom- we take ALL the kids to camp this Sunday for 2 weeks- Yeeeeehaaw!)

 This young chap helped build the Jones store in 1954.
 

I ditched my usual water for an A&W root-beer, which is chilled in these retro fridges (in my dream kitchen I have all three of these. They will go nicely with this).

Word on the mountain is that Jones Store has stellar burgers. 

It's true folks! You should have heard us all exclaim, "THESE ARE THE BEST BURGERS EVER!!"  Our cute nephew Nicholas might have expressed love for his burger.

Seriously, drop what your doing and head up Beasore (which we pronounce "Bay Shore," but is pronounced 5 different ways by locals) to prove me wrong.

If your worried about facilities way up in the boonies don't fret, they've got'em!

There's plenty of "Mountain Charmin" available, too. 

After lunch we ventured up the hill to find a "crick" to wade in.  When I say "ventured up the hill" I mean went 4-wheeling in our non-4-wheel-drive-vehicle. Someone in the vehicle might have been full on freaking out! Her husband on the other hand might have enjoyed every bit of tromping through the forest.   

Once we arrived at a creek the kids yelled, "BEAR!"  Someone, who hates 4-wheeling, might also fear bears, and as a result may have been in dire need of the "Mountain Charmin."

Emilie (I love her. She will turn 14 at camp...I will miss her). 

Michael has mad rock stacking skills. 

He is a man with many skills, but he is most talented at loving me (I just made you say, "ahhhhh" didn't I). This 4th of July marked 20 yrs of us being an "item." 

After we were done romping around the mountain side we headed down to Bass Lake for the annual fireworks show,
 

where I had the best view on the lake. *love*

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Before I close I MUST show you the 20th dating anniversary gift Michael SURPRISED ME with~

A 3 hr flight lesson, with one hour flight in which I WILL FLY A PLANE for 30 minutes!!!  AHHH!! This is something I have ALWAYS dreamed of doing.  Now that it is a REALITY I am terrified, like gonna-need-a-lot-of-Mountain-Charmin-TERRIFIED! I'm also really excited...I'M. GOING. TO. FLY. A. PLANE!! 

(Btw- he bid on the certificate and got a deal of $75 instead of the original $249- woot woot!)  

How did you spend July 4th?  

What is something you've dreamed of doing? 

Live in Peace,

25 Years

"I think the most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus...

 I know our culture will sometimes understand a love for Jesus as weakness. There is this lie floating around that says I am suppose to be able to do life alone, without help, without stopping to worship something bigger than myself. But I actually believe there is something bigger than me, and I need for there to be something bigger than me. I need someone to put awe inside me; I need to come second to someone who has everything figured out." 

Blue Like Jazz 

by Donald Miller

For 25 years I've done life with Jesus.

For 25 years today. 

Nothing is worth more than this day. 

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On June 19th, 1988, I was saved from abandonment, lies, defeat, curse, unworthiness... death.  I came to Life.
 
In late spring of 1988 when I was 14 a friend invited me to Hume Lake Christian Camp, but because my mother worked as a waitress, camp wasn't financially possible (We got the free cheese. Those of you who got the free cheese know what I'm talking about). However, one week before camp the same friend called to say a girl had cancelled, her spot for camp was paid in full, and the church (River Oak Grace) wanted me to go in her place.

I honestly can't say I wanted to go to a Christian camp.  If there was a God I had a question for Him, "Why did you give me this life, I've done nothing to deserve it?"
 
From birth my dad had rejected me, and over the years has made it clear to me that I am not his daughter (He was a drug user for 27 years. In 1998 he was arrested, and a year later committed to a state hospital. He is Bipolar-Pschitzoaffective).
   
 At the age of 2 1/2 a routine weekend visit to my paternal-grandparents turned into a 3 year stay when my teenage mother decided she couldn't care for my younger sister and I.  When I was 6 she returned for us. In the 13 years I lived with my mother she was married, divorced, engaged, separated, married, divorced, engaged, separated, married, divorced, married.  I've had 7 "dads."

The message repeatedly displayed to me by my parents and "step-parents" was that I was not wanted.  Their rejection, abandonment, selfishness and neglect conveyed that I was unworthy of love. 
 
BUT GOD.
So... I went to camp because I wanted a week break from it all   
 
Hume Lake was beautiful. I was enlivened by the activities, games, being part of a team, 3 meals a day, singing, and mostly by the people pouring their Life into me. 

Away from the defeat, I was breathing and living for the first time in my then 14 years of life.
 
That week the speaker, Steve Russo, seemed to be speaking to only me as he shared that "God is a Father who will never leave you or forsake you," and  "nothing can separate us from the love of God." (Duet 31:6 & Romans 8:38-39).  I wanted a father Who would stay and never leave. I wanted someone whose love I could not lose. 
 
So on June 19th,1988 I took my first steps toward my Father God.

And nothing is worth more to me than this day. This day changed the entire course of my life. 

Praise the God Who Saves! 

It has been quiet a journey these 25 years ("Journey" is my favorite word, it's meaning is "to travel from one place to another.") Not easy, but good.
 
And Oh, how I love the LORD my God!
And again I have one question for Him,
"Why did You give me this Life, I've done nothing to deserve it?!!"

"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

  I will praise you as long as I live, 

and in your name I will lift up my hands." 

Psalm 63:3-4

 

Live in Peace,

Daddy, catch me too!

Happy Father's Day!

Sentimentally Ill (Part 2)

(Read Part 1- here)

The symptoms of my  "sentimental illness" have spiked this week.  I'm experiencing emotional waves of sappiness causing me to hug my children excessively, and pathetically plead with them to never EVER leave me. I've also been sneaking into their rooms after they're fast asleep to nibble on them (15, 13, 11, and they're still yummy), and to take a mental snapshot of each of my babies to tuck into the photo album of my heart.  

Unfortunately, I ran out of my "meds" (my closet stash of emergency chocolate) a few weeks ago (3 Musketeers are my drug of choice- Milk chocolate on the outside, creamy nugget on the inside, and 45% less fat= Sweet sanity goodness).


The trigger that caused my sentimental illness to peak this time was Emilie's 8th grade promotion last week. Her promotion means that our 9 years together home schooling are over.  She is officially a freshman, and will go to high school mid August.

It's no secret that I have had a love/hate relationship with home schooling (read this in the "about me" on the right).  I've loved it because I get to be with my kids 100% of the time. I've also hated it for the same reason.  Emilie is a peace maker and a diligent worker so I've pretty much loved home schooling her.

She is also a gracious, fun, and bright friend.

Years ago I began praying that God would give me a close friend.  It seemed that He was slow in answering, until early last year when He revealed to me just how generous He had been to give me that dear friend in my own Emilie {love}.

She's not just my bestie though, she's also Josie's. To say that Josie adores Emilie is an understatement.  A few weeks ago after Emilie had been in classes for the day and was due home, Josie had her nose pressed against the front window waiting. Impatient she asked, "when is Emilie going to be here?!"  "Soon," I replied. Then she declared loudly, "I just love Emilie!"  (Note to self: Get Jos her own stash of emergency chocolate).

So you can see why it's going to be a serious bummer not having Emilie around 24/7,

and also why I'm a bit jealous of high school; I envy every friend she'll make (seriously people, you're get'n a top notch pal).
But I know it's best to...
let
her
go.


For her 8th grade promotion ceremony I was asked to share my hopes for Emilie's future.
It seemed fitting that my hopes would come from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott- a book Emilie and I laughed and cried to as we read it together a few home schooling years ago.

“My child, the troubles and temptations of your life are beginning, and may be many; but you can overcome and outlive them all if you learn to feel the strength and tenderness of your Heavenly Father as you do that of your earthly one. The more you love and trust Him, the nearer you will feel to Him, and the less you will depend on human power and wisdom. His love and care never tire or change, can never be taken from you, but may become the source of lifelong peace, happiness, and strength. Believe this heartily, and go to God with all your little cares, and hopes, and sins, and sorrows, as freely and confidingly as you come to your mother.” 

Though I selfishly want to keep Em all to myself, I know that the more independence she has from me the more dependent she will become on her Father God...
and this sentimentally ill Mama wants that for my sweet girl more than anything.

Live in Peace,

Maycation 2013

This year's Maycation was short and sweet.  Short because it was only a week (boo), and sweet  because we said "good riddance" to the South Beach Diet, and "come to Mama" to the Bass Lake Beach Diet.

Maycation Highlights:
Spending time with our dear friends, the Cannedy's and Gage's. The Bass Lake house is lively with 18 of us in occupancy (There are 12 fantastic kids between us)!

 S'mores, worship and twangy tunes 'round the campfire.

8 kayaks filled with our bunch racing through Bass Lake's Willow Cove.

Seriously 12 of the MOST AWESOME kids I know, who made memories together  skiing, kayaking,  playing rounds of Air Soft, Werewolf, Alien, Sardines, One Big Happy Family, Mau, Just Dance, and Guitar Hero. I want to steal everyone of the kiddos and make them mine!

The Favorite junk-cereal breakfast bar. A combo of Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, and Captain Crunch with Crunch Berries is a breakfast cereal yum fest (it's also part of a well balanced Bass Lake Beach Diet)! 

 After our guests left (which was not a highlight), our family took it's annual end of the school year outing to Miller's Landing for dinner and ice cream. This Mama's heart was so full sharing this memory making time with my family. As my three (who after this week will be a sophomore, freshman, and 6th grader) devoured burgers and fries, snapshots from years past at Miller's flipped through my mind. Time flies. Sometimes I wish I could make it stop.

 Being invited to a BBQ by new Bass Lake friends.

Eating Kristen's cookies (Kristen is a blog friend from Idaho, who trekked 3x to Cali with her family for Maycation). Kristen's makes the BEST chocolate chip cookies EVER (Select the following links to drool as I munch on them in Portland). 

Coming home sweet home. We are REALLY grateful to the in-laws, who share their lake house with us at the end of our homeschool year when we're SICK of being home. Maycation at the lake helps us change gears and roll into summer, and time away from home helps the heart grow fonder for it.

 Here's a snippet of our gang sing'n 'round the campfire. 

I'd give you a nibble of a S'more, but the Bass Lake Beach Diet required I finish them off.

Live in Peace,