Rock Solid ~

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.



Refrain;
On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

We are (football) Family...

We have always been a football family...tonight is the Steeler/Ravens game. Steelers do rule in our house for most of the boys...I miss not having my older boys home to watch/dialog/argue/cheer/jeer with. Even Jesse is working late and not here!



Tonight is a toss up for the little kids. We just saw 'The Blindside' this week and they are still interested in Michael Oher's life and playing for the Ravens...the family is split. Me, I'm still rooting for Steelers...with a side of good will for Michael Oher...

A week ago...

A week ago we all got to go to church together. I love it when I can attend church with my adult children. These ones are all taller than me now...

Jesse is drinking my coffee, stop it!

Gunna Be A Bear...

*The Code of the West*

For my husband ~ I bought him this wooden wall plaque recently and it hangs in our living room...it's cool and so much him:

* Live each day with courage

* Take pride in your work

* Always finish what you start

* Do what has to be done

* Be tough but fair

* When you make a promise, keep it

* Ride for the brand

* Talk less and say more

* Remember that some things aren't for sale

* Know where to draw the line

Back...

So I'm having back problems. I haven't felt this kind of pain in I don't know when. And I'm not liking it. I don't like taking pain meds...I wish I could be one of those type of people that enjoyed the feeling when on pain meds...but I don't - I can't relax and it makes me even more tense when I know that I now don't have full control of my thoughts - speech - and balance. I know that there is usually something that I need to learn or see when I'm forced to slow down and 'take it easy'...but I'm too irritated to be open to any new view or perspective. I want my body and mind back. I gots things to do...

Shark Week - must see for us! As we open all the windows...keep the lights off and cool down from the hot hot days...it is intense viewing....wow

1 on the 4th...

Ben is in North Dakota with Gordy. Spending time with that side of his family. Ryan is camping at Middle Thompson Lake. Spending time with that side of his family. It is so odd having just 1 on the 4th...

~ Time that I will never get back ~

The things that happen in spans of time. It's fun to reflect back on the day and how my time was spent...Having a nice dinner with someone I enjoy spending time with. Spending a long span of time looking at potential opportunities for children.

Then there is the: Getting yelled at by an unstable person...that was 5 minutes of my day...I want my 5 minutes back...

March came like a blurrrr...

I haven't blogged in a while. When much time goes between blogs - it's usually because I have way too much going on and I am afraid to put my thoughts down in print :)

March was a blurrrrr. Which is mostly fine because the weather was awful and somedays - just getting in and out of the house was a major event.

And we prepared to move to our new house. I hate moving. Not for the usual reasons that most people hate moving - I hate moving because it always brings up sadness from all the moves when I was a kid.

And I got sick.

We gave our Sheltie to a new owner. Fluffy is having a grand time with Cami's family.

And we discovered my Lady Dog had cancer...we had a week with her before it 'was time.' That week was really wonderful. Lady and I had roast, steak, Frugals and Taco Bell. Today I went to the vet to pick up her ashes...

Lady's collar was attached her the container that held her ashes. I wasn't prepared for that...

So - March was a month of many changes - with the added challenge of being sick.

I'm glad April is here - the sun is shining all week!!! And we are slowly moving into our new home - getting used to the new routine in a new house...

This is my Lady Dog. She is thinking. She was a very deep thinker and wayy too smart. I really miss her.
These are 3 of Fluffy's puppies. Diva, Cooper and Dicey. They are pretty darn cute and a nice distraction on a sunny day.
This is my favorite puppy, Chloe. She has a blue and brown eye like her Mommy Fluffy. And she loves to cuddle. Very sweet puppy

Pop Tart Irony ~~

Yesterday, my son Ben, asked if he could have a pop tart for breakfast before school. In all my Mommy wisdom, I told him no - there isn't any real nutritional value in pop tarts - they are more for a snack - not for brain food before school. Then later in the day - he questions me again - wanting to know why pop tarts aren't good for breakfast. I explain to him again - that to get ready for school - he needs vitamins and some protein for his brain to work well for all the learning he has to do.

Ben poses the challenge regarding Toaster Struedels. That they have less frosting etc. I continue again that Ben can have pop tarts for a snack in the evening or after school and that Toaster Struedels aren't really any better.

Then we get home for the day. And I realize that Fluffy is in labor...it's late in the evening. I send the kids to bed - promising to wake them up if she begins to have puppies.

4:30 a.m. There are puppies. Wake up the children and we see more puppies - 5 in all. One was still born (More on the puppies later)...Kids have breakfast - and taken to school. My day at home continues to be busy. Haven't had any food yet - feeling a little low on energy and brain power...

So - I had pop tarts!!!

Don't tell Ben.

~New Paths~

It's interesting when life makes new paths.

While on that new path...the trail takes one into new relationships and experiences.

But while the new path - is fun, interesting, distracting and can be all-consuming...the 'old' path is never forgotten...and still walked daily - to get back home.

I find that those I meet on the new trail - seem to only think that new trail is what defines or drives me...but I have learned that my old walk home - is really the one that is the most comfortable and desirable. I know every pebble, crevice, turn and destination on the old path.

Even when fully engaged in the new view and heading up to a new trailhead...my mind and heart - is thinking about taking that old path home...

S.A.D.

In the Flathead we all know a term called 'SAD' or Seasonal Affect Disorder. Because from November - March of any given year - there are about 20 days of actual sunshine for the whole day.

And it's been gloomy lately - with the very late sunrises and early sunsets...we don't actually see the sun - we can just drive for about 9 hours with out our headlights on.

Today the sun was shining for most of the day. I didn't leave the house - busy with home projects...but my dog Lady - took full advantage. Every time I walked through the dining room - she was laying in a different spot. She followed the 'sun patch' on the carpet and was soaking up all the rays she could. My Sheltie - Fluffy - followed her - only not the full laying out...more like she was on standby waiting for Lady to escort her outside.

Maybe Lady suffers from SAD too...just a thought.

~ What I Miss ~

These are my babies' babies. Somedays I hate that we live so far apart. They are so stinkin' cute. And smart too. And they love each other so much. And they bring much joy and happiness to their family. Gwen and Giselle






Andrea 'Big Eyes'...always pleading the 5th...that she didn't do it...

And today Lisa posted that Aden took his first steps. I hate that I missed it. Not even 1 year old yet. What an over-achiever! Now Aden and Azalea will keep things hopping with both of them moving upright on 2 legs...