Car Conversation

Having one of those nights that in the stillness of the house I reflect on the day.

A conversation in the car with our 7 year old rings in my ears.

"Mom, how do you know God loves you?"

I had just asked her the same question.

"Savannah," I replied, "One huge way I know He loves me is through His creation. I come in from work late at night and I stand under the stars knowing that He has named every one of them and yet knows MY name. He is everywhere to me. In the sunrises and sunsets, in the mountains, at the beach, in our back field."

She smiled and said she feels the same.

It is no coincidence that her hymn chosen before she was even born is "This is My Father's World".

We marveled together at the beautiful moon tonight. I felt Him whispering to my heart.

I have felt overwhelmed lately. In the day-to-day struggles of life, I struggle to really hear Jesus' words in Matthew--"I am always with you". There are many days and ways I begin to feel lost and question if He sees me--especially in my laundry room full of dirty clothes!! In every one of those moments something happens to reign in my focus: an amazing sunrise occurs, a bird's song begins to fill my ears, one of our blessings (AKA kids) randomly gives me a kiss or begins singing praise songs, a call or text from someone dear, a hymn from long ago floods my mind, a story shared of one's struggle far greater than my own...He speaks to me everywhere in all of His creation and gives me perspective.

I merely need to quiet myself and listen.

Allow His truth to fill me to overflowing and drown the voice of the world.

I do not have all the answers and I may never know "WHY?" to many things. I am at peace with that. Because the One who put the stars on place and named each one knows all the whys and hows and whos.

But as I stood under the stars tonight I merely exhaled and smiled.

I know He sees me. I know He loves me. I know He laughs with me. I know He cries with me. I know He died for me. I know He lives for me. I know He prays for me.

Sometimes I need to convince my head of what my heart already knows.

Praying that if you are reading this--whatever your lot and wherever you may find yourself--you know in your heart that God sees YOU, that you are loved beyond measure, and He is in your corner fighting for you!

And if you must, go stand under the starry sky and take in His awe and love for you <3 nbsp="">

'Twas the Night Before....

'Twas the night before school
And, quite frankly, I'm a mess
But it isn't from slacking
and definitely not from stress

Everything is all in order
From the lunches to the shoes
But the same can't be said about me
I'm suffering from the blues

Three will board the bus tomorrow
One will stay with me
My heart will be in multiple places 
'Til they all return at three

The girls' want skirts with frilly tops
And pretty brand-new shoes
Sophia chose orange and flowers
Savannah chose sparkles and blue

Brayden wanted to look "smart"
Wearing a green-striped polo
He'll button it up to the chin
Have mercy if the button were solo 

The speed at which they are growing
Nearly stops me in my tracks
Sometimes I wish I could freeze the clock
Or maybe turn it back

Third, first, and kindergarten
Wow, I can hardly believe
And our baby is no longer
As she is nearly three

But God made every season
for a purpose and a time
Because I know that He's in control
I will be just fine

What a blessing to watch them grow
And help them along the path
Learning of God's unending love
And respecting His holy wrath

So I'll shed some tears and say a prayer
And cheer them on their way
And be there eagerly waiting
To hear about their big first day!

It's the most wonderful time...

...of the year!!

Hiking, biking, creek-walking, four-wheeling, camping!

WE LOVE SUMMER!!

New computer=new posts??

New computer...hopefully some new posts to follow!  But I won't promise when!!

'Twas the Night Before

Twas the night before I send two
And my heart is aching
Second Grade and kindergarten??
It just may be breaking!

I am not a Momma
who cheers at The Stop
I'm not looking forward to quiet
Nor wanting to go shop

My kids on the other hand
are bursting at the seams
To bed they went
Having school-filled dreams

But the tears I shed
are not all in fear
as they are attending
a Christian school this year

Their backpacks are ready
their lunchboxes packed
I've even included
their mid-morning snack

A skirt and pink top
with matching socks and brown shoes
A red plaid shirt and jeans
colored dark denim blue

It is hard to believe
they're getting this big
I know all too soon
they'll be learning Trig

For now I am busy
with schedules and soccer games
piano and homework
and learning friends' names

Momma's a second-hand learner
as we all journey this path
learning all about God's love
and His holy wrath

Praising His Name
and commiting to heart
His Word and Commandments
praying never to part

So may this new journey
be one full of cheer
We're all trusting God
For a fantastic school year!

Fall (and now spring) Soccer!

Brayden's Soccer picture

Team photo!! What a great bunch of boys!

Getting ready to be goalie for the quarter!

This would be my Gram and Dad on the sidelines.

Needless to say...it was COLD!!

Another team photo =)

Go Fireballs!!

I offered to take the team pictures this fall. I took TONS of action shots each game and also group/individual photos. I had so much fun! We just started the spring session of soccer and I am very much looking forward to it. The blog needed a serious update and I can only use previously uploaded photos at the moment =(  Thankfully I had all of the fall season uploaded already!! Until the first week of June, soccer will be the activity every Tuesday and Thursday evening and Saturday mornings. It is fun to watch Brayden learn and grow in his skills. He has a great group of boys on his team--we are so thankful for that! I know that he loves being with the boys after days on end of a house full of girls...poor guy! He counts down the minutes until his Dad pulls in the driveway. So here's to a great Spring season!!

GO FIREBALLS!! 

Grampa Whitney's Poem

I was asked to compose a poem to be read at Grampa's funeral service. The hardest two pages I've ever read in my life. But I've never been more honored and humbled in my life. What a blessing to give tribute, as one of the speakers noted, to a mountain of a man.

~~~~~~~~~

Reverend Andrew Jackson Whitney.

Grampa. A great man indeed.

Great only because he knew his greatest need

Was to bow the knee, make the LORD King

Not just in some areas—but over everything.

So how do you sum up the qualities of a man

Who lived a full and blessed life through following His Plan?

The blessing is that there’s no secret side to reveal

No matter how you knew him, Grampa was always real.

The Fruits of the Spirit were ever apparent

Grampa died to self and became transparent

So that the love of Jesus could shine and work through

His earthly body for there was God’s work to do!

A servant’s heart; a man of strong conviction,

He was a breath of fresh air

In a world of contradiction.

His undying love for Gramma was so beautiful to behold

At times he would say that he didn’t feel whole

But Grampa kept his eyes looking to Heaven above

Drawing strength from Jesus and His perfect Love.

Grampa loved to play jokes; was quite the funny guy

There was often a mischievous twinkle in his eye.

Retelling stories, often in jest

Poking fun and making sure the point wouldn’t rest.

Grampa’s large, powerful hands would greet you with a squeeze

And happily cradle a child on his knees.

With those hands he would lovingly build a fire

Keeping his granddaughter warm when she tired.

Writing letters, emails, and birthday cards

With reminders of keeping our lamps trimmed and hearts on guard.

Grampa established a family altar of prayer

6:30 Wednesday mornings we all would meet there.

He was so often our steady when life felt unstable

A stalwart reminder that God is always able.

So though we sit and shed tears in this earthly place

In our sorrow there’s a greater joy

For Grampa left us with a great heritage of faith.

So, Grampa, we follow your lead--We know the LORD is soon returning

And, praise Jesus, we’ll keep our lamps burning!


~Mandy Yount
  January 22, 2011

Our Wagonload of Love 2010

I'm a bit behind with the pictures as I've been without my computer for a few months. I have some sporadic access to my photos now that Daryl has it reconnected at his office, so I am taking advantage! Hopefully I'll have my computer back soon, but I'll make do in the mean time =).

This is our fourth year of the Wagonload shot. I took about 50 shots of the kids on the wagon this fall just before the weather went south. Here's a glimpse of what my 'photoshoot' was like with our four! Its a rough age bracket to get all of them looking at once, let alone with a smile. So, I enjoy these shots that capture the fun and some of their personalities as I know all too well that soon this time will be past and I can have all the professional poses that I want from them.

Makes me laugh just looking through them!

Giving thanks

"In EVERYTHING give thanks...", Paul wrote in the New Testament. From prison. While in chains. With no comforts of home. Or friends. Or family. I think on this quite often when I complain or feel sorry for myself for one reason or another. And four kids are calling my name. And trying to figure out what's for dinner. And attempting to model for my kids what Jesus modeled for us. And begging the Lord to give me that extra dose of grace in the midst of life.

And He does.

I have so very much for which to be thankful. In nurturing an attitude of gratitude in our little ones, I am constantly reminded of all the little blessings, the little whispers of God that fuel a fresh wind and fire through my soul. As the kids spend time each day and night telling us what they're thankful for I often find myself in tears. Their tender hearts don't miss a single thing for which to thank God! They rattle on and on and on. I smile as I think of our Lord listening to their ramblings of thankfulness: beds, blankets, pillows, jammies, grass, birds, trees, all the animals of the 'wheeled', horses, books, leaves, Daddy, Mommy, every family member by name (which I don't have the time to list!), sticks, Jesus dying on the cross, shoes, cheese, Clay (our dog), trumpets, church, clothes, food to eat, fans in their room, playgrounds, grass, cheese...you get the picture. Sometimes they each spend 10 minutes each listing all the things that come to their minds! I always laugh at how grass and cheese gets a few mentions--they really are BIG things in their lives! =)

But it always makes me stop and think of all the things I am blessed with each and every day. And its always the small things that come to mind, the very basics that so often get overlooked! Spending time in Central America has permanently altered my thankfulness for the little things!! Like turning on the faucet. And not only turning on the faucet, but to have clean water pouring out. A shower. Daily. A home with more space than we need (and we don't live in a large home by American standards). Hair that's not infested with lice and bellies not infested with worms. Food at our disposal. I know I could go on and on for paragraphs, but these are the things that I think of every day as I care for our family and home. What a blessing!!

As we travel this Thanksgiving to be with family, I pray that my mindset may be on all the littlest things and how greatly they bless my life. I do know that there are four little things running around my house every day that bless me so richly--even when I feel as though I may pull out my hair and change my name ;)  More importantly I pray that Paul's reminder of giving thanks in ALL THINGS resonates throughout every season of my life...not just in November.

Because...

Because I pray that their bond will only grow stronger as they, too, are growing.

Because I already miss these warm summer days and their little, dirty, bare feet!
Because they truly already are each other's fiercest enemy and fiercest ally.

Because this moment in time is so precious with them.

Because they are so girly...and bring out the girliness in me.

Because I have more pink piles of laundry than anything else.

Because they love their little sister and accessorize her to the max!

Because they know they are princesses with a love for the King.

Because they think their brother can rope the moon.

Because they love bows and bangles and beads and ballerinas.

Because they love frogs and froo-froo and frosting and Fancy Nancy.

Because they love their Daddy.

Because I never expected to have them!

Because I'm so thankful for all the pink in my life because of them.

Because they hold my heart in their sweet little hands.

Because I can't imagine my life without them.