A Whole Decade!

Ten years ago our world changed...a little baby boy with his big blue eyes and wide smile was born. He surprised us with an early arrival, but that was only the beginning. He continues to surprise us with his music-making, his tough questions, his appetite for reading, and, more importantly, his desire to learn and follow God's truth. He has blessed our family with so much joy!

We thank the Lord for sending us His Son, Jesus Christ, and we thank Him for sending us our son.

We love you, Hudson!

Happy Birthday!

A Day to Remember

So, new year resolutions are made to be broken, right? It's been a busy few months, but little worth blogging about. Despite my track record with new year resolutions, we set out this year intending to take at least one 'field trip' each month. January was full with a two-week trip back to Texas, so we started this resolution in February.

My sister-in-law and I had a double-date to Branson last weekend; no, not with our dear husbands, but with our eldest sons. The four of us ventured south to visit the Titanic Museum. Hudson is a walking Titanic encyclopedia having read every book he could find on the subject, so when we learned there was a museum in Branson, we knew we had to go!

The street view of the museum fed our enthusiasm…

Is that not impressive?!?!

Unfortunately, cameras were not permitted inside the museum, but it was top notch. In addition to the recreated Grand Staircase, first and third-class quarters, and the captain's bridge, the museum was full with personal accounts of those on the tragic voyage. We were amazed at how many pictures the museum had of the passengers. Even some pictures taken while on the Titanic where recovered and on display. A 1:48 scale model of the massive ship was impressive along with some of the artifacts from the ship.  

Interestingly enough, the Titanic's claim to be 'unsinkable' reassured some passengers and concerned others. One little girl told her father she did not want to get on the ship because the claim to be 'unsinkable' flew in the face of God. Sadly, her father seemed to have more faith in the ship than fear of the Lord because his simply replied that all was fine because the ship "truly was unsinkable". "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." Luke 18:17

After the museum, we went to eat lunch at the Bradford Inn. We snapped a few pictures on the porch before seeing the sign that they were closed until Spring...uh oh.

Being the low-tech people that we are, we had no smartphone handy to make recommendations nor give us directions. So we did what people used to do all those years before the iPhone was invented...we drove around. We were hoping to find a place unique to Branson that had decent food and, more importantly, good dessert. Nothing says unique like a 40-foot tall chicken...

We took our chances and pulled into The Great American Steak & Chicken House. We were pleasantly surprised with some good country cookin' and yummy desserts. Even Hudson filled up his hollow leg and was unable to finish his blackberry cobbler. We played the part of the good tourists and even bought the photo from the restaurant photographer to help capture our Mother-Son Day Out:

We rounded out our time in Branson browsing the outlet mall. The girls benefited from our time away with some matching outfits found on clearance...

We really enjoyed spending this special time with our sons. It is not often that our children are able to have our undivided attention. Too soon, we will blink and these boys will be young men. We must be intentional about setting aside special times like this with each of our children to strengthen that bond and get to know each of them deeper.

"For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother." Proverbs 4:3

Happy New Year!

After a six week sabbatical, I decided there was no better way to begin a new year than with a blog post and a resolution to not wait six weeks between posts. :)

Since the last post, we took a few weeks to visit friends and family in multiple states. Upon our return to Missouri, we were greeted with winter a few weeks earlier than the notation on the calendar. This Texas girl had the opportunity to drive in the snow like a native Missourian as the front came in. It was slow-going, but not as bad as I expected. However, the van was unable to make it up the driveway when I got home. Thankfully, Randy was able to get some traction and get the van to the house. We got seven inches that first snowfall. A few days later another five inches piled on top of it. The temperatures stayed well below freezing for several weeks, so the children got ample time to experience snow. Sledding, snow angels, launching snowballs and laying the foundation of a snow fort consumed their time outside. 

One afternoon I was walking through the woods behind the house. The scenery was amazingly simple: white and brown as far as the eye could see. While the visual contrast was beautiful, it was the stillness that struck me most. During the summer and fall, those woods are teeming with the sounds of life - birds, insects, and small animals. However, that winter day, none of those creatures were stirring; they were probably nestled in their warm nests or burrows waiting for a warmer day. It made me realize how noisy life can be...in the woods, in the home, in the car...there is always something clamoring for our attention. These are not all bad sounds, you get used to them, but when they are silenced it is a bit disconcerting and yet refreshing. I am thankful for the sounds of children laughing, beautiful music, a tea kettle whistling, and the wind, but I am also thankful for the quiet moments. These times help to balance the volume of life and are so revitalizing. Winter seems to be the time when God planned for all creatures to quiet down and rest. We should do the same.

"The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing." Isaiah 14:7

"And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever. And my people shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places;" Isaiah 32:17-18