a quote.

hmmm...what a zinger for me...

I think God in his mercy, doesn't let us see the future, because we wouldn't be able to enjoy the present.
-Carol Kent.

a new kind of normal.

i just started a book entitled, a new kind of normal, by carol kent.

it comes highly recommended...

this is what i find when i peel open the cover.

this book is dedicated to people

who are living in their own

"new kind of normal."

they have aknowledged that

unexpected circumstances mean

life will never be the same as it once was.

instead of running away or withdrawing

to a prison of their own making,

they choose to embrace the new

opportunities and unexpected joys

that can only be known by those who say:

I will survive.

I will persevere.

I will be vulnerable.

I will forgive.

I will trust.

I will hold those I love with open hands.

I will be thankful.

I will choose purposeful action.

I SALUTE YOU!

i know my life has been pretty darn easy so far.

what a challenge for me to think about these words.

i am sure it's a lot easier to read on paper until something rocks your world...

and your core is shaken to its very being.

i can't wonder very long about what my life will hold, it can get too scary

for me to think about...but instead read these words...and realize the challenge

i have before me to live each day so that it really matters...

(...just some of my thoughts before bed... mk.)

mcdonalds anyone?

p.s. just in case you DON'T feel like cooking TONIGHT...

i wanted to invite you to come to McDonalds in Gap...

Kaden's schools teachers will be running the McDonalds

from 5-7:30 pm TONIGHT...all proceeds will benefit the

Betsy Handy and Nicole Frame Scholarship funds...

(i played field hockey with Betsy...she died tragically of

some kind of rare virus...she was the sweetest girl ever...

always had a smile on her face, and giving to everyone...

kaden is blessed this year to have Betsy's oldest sister,

Ginny Schempp, as his kindergarten teacher...)

country music loves.

so i don't have any fun pictures or anything...

just an overhaul of my music...

some music for the country music lover...

we had the joy of taking friends of ours, scott, ang, and addalie stoltzfus, to

the "king cabin" last weekend, from sat. thru tues. nothing exciting up

there...some old snow we got to play in, games, books, good chatter

and of course good food. i think i got my camera out once...really...

i don't know what in the world i was thinking...obviously, i was just

enjoying the company and the quiet. our kids got along so well...we are sorry

to say addalie took a tumble into the woodstove, and got a yuck-o burn on her

back...it didn't seem to bother her there, but now is becoming a little more

tricky to deal with...so we pray for a speedy recovery. she is really a

trooper.

we are thankful for matt, scott, and kaden's return to the cabin

after a "short" afternoon drive, which turned into hours and hours.

i guess matt felt the need to try a new way into the cabin...up a mountain

road that had not been winterized, (and later we found out was closed to

vehicles, only open to snowmobiles...for a reason) i think they all thought they

were going to die...matt even told kaden to put his seatbelt on...HE NEVER
ENCOURAGES SEATBELTS...EVER...poor little guy was scared to

pieces...4 wheel drive doesn't even work all the time. :) we love you

guys and are glad you returned safe and sound...

so...we always treasure our time away at the king cabin...more now then

ever before...because it's harder to get away with the chickens, etc.

thanks to uncle mark and kendall for watching the birds! and to scott

and ang, and little addalie, we had so much fun. we treasure

our friendship and were so glad we had some time alone to get the world's

problems figured out...well...and ours too...smiles...

i was finally caught up on laundry...and calli got sick on wed...

kaycee woke up this morning, Sat., and is throwing up...agghhh....

as if that's not bad enough...campbell just threw up EVERYWHERE...but

the bucket...aghhhhhh...more laundry. smiles...

p.s. it's now sat. afternoon, and kaden is also throwing up.

what a mess...running between 3 children throwing up, cleaning up

when they "missed" the bucket or toilet, and keeping

the washer loaded and on, all while keeping my

healthy baby out of all the yuck buckets. i don't think i need to

squeeze my exercise in today...i really cannot imagine dealing with

an unhealthy child...it breaks my heart...this is nothing compared

with what some mommies deal with everyday... still smiles...not as

big, but there is one here hidden somewhere...

Yea...It's my birthday.

Feel free to leave me a birthday message HERE...

You got it. I am 32 years old TODAY. Yikes.

I am again reminded very blatantly of the fragility

of life. It can be snuffed out, or changed at any moment.

Life is sad and heavy for me today, but I am thankful

grateful, and very happy to have led the blessed

life I have thus far...Here's to another year of being

a daughter of the King, a wife, mother, daughter, sister,

friend, teacher...the list goes on...i do love my life...i just

wish all the sadness would go away...mis.

p.s. thanks for all the fun texts, phone calls, cards, and comments.

you make me feel so loved. :)

Happy New Year!

CHEERS

to you in 2010...

(no...we did NOT toast in the New Year with our kiddos at midnight...

we did, however; toast this mornin' with orange soda in our

princess martini glasses...thanks for spending the night

Jaiden and Reese. You were so good. Tell your

mommy you want to do again soon...)

While we were busy playing and "toasting", Matt was out goose hunting. Forget the pork and saurkraut, roast goose anyone?