~ Life ~

What a whirlwind! Last night was our first night at home in a week! We had such a great turn-out for the Summer Kick-Off Youth Rally. Praise the Lord for everything that was accomplished! Check out the "Great Things" tab for more info on the weekend. I do apologize because I only took 2 pictures the whole weekend and neither were blog-worthy. I blame it on my desperate need for a new camera. :)

This week has been full of recovery (rest, cleaning, organizing, etc), but now 3 of us have summer colds! Yuck! Thankfully, Chad has kept it at bay. We are hoping to be better today because we have a 3-day weekend with DADDY! YAY!!! We've not had him to ourselves (on a weekend) for just about a month now... we miss him~ He does get to go fishing tomorrow, but we get him Sunday and Monday. Monday we are headed down to Gramma and Grampa's house for a cook-out.... if it doesn't rain.

Why not start a new tradition this year and read the Constitution with your family... so many people today have NO idea what the Constitution says. Sad. Be informed and know what our founding fathers intended for our nation. One nation under GOD.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!! Have a safe, fun holiday with your family and friends!!!

Special

Well, actually we've been back for almost a week and have just been readjusting to home-life. What a FANTASTIC vacation we had with our family in Texas. Lots of family get-togethers, Travis' graduation, roofing, newly remodeled sanctuary, and lots more!

We are so thankful for our wonderful family and friends. What a time of encouragement and refreshment we had with them. We had several trips back to Texas since we've been married, but this one stands out to me. I can't exactly pinpoint a reason why... the only word to describe it is "special". It was just a sweet time. Since you probably don't want to read every detail of the trip I will highlight some "special" moments.

FLIGHTS: First of all, we were at the airport for 7 hours on June 1 and never left Portland! Storms in Newark, NJ had shut down the airport and no flights were coming in or leaving. Finally, we re-scheduled to leave the next morning at 6. So we stayed with Gramma and Grampa and left their house at 3 the next morning to catch our 6 a.m. flight. What a trying time for a mommy with 2 toddlers to entertain and keep quiet! Some folks were helpful and some folks were content to stare. :) My verse for that trip was "God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind." Focusing on the "sound mind" part. Coming back, we were delayed in Dallas for an hour and a half (already on the plane) because of more storms in Newark... though I'm fairly certain that they shut down the airport if it so much as sprinkles. The Lord gave a token for good that really encouraged me.... a lady helped me as we were getting food in the airport and her son appeared 2 seconds later with straws that I didn't even realize I had forgotten. If that weren't enough, a few minutes later she walked by with her 3 sons, one of which had Autism. What a blessing that was to me to see a woman, who definitely had her hands full, take time to help a younger mom.

COUSINS: It was SO special to see Caylyn and Trent play with their little cousins, Gianna and Makayla. It was especially special to see them play together because I have lots of great childhood memories with her mom and dad! We went to the park a couple of times, swam, and just had a great time with them.

CHURCH: I always enjoy taking my children back to my home church. The older folk just love to see them and I enjoy sharing them! There is something so special about bringing them home to the church where I grew up and having them meet people who have made an impact in my life. It's so encouraging to see lots of familiar faces who have been faithful through the years, but it's also great to see new faces and growth in the church! Very special.

At the beginning of May, a tornado took the roof off the church and damaged the sanctuary. After 5 weeks of meeting at the local funeral home, the church met in the newly remodeled sanctuary. What a sweet service. Tears of joy everywhere! Rejoicing for the Lord's goodness, rejoicing for a baptism, and rejoicing for 2 young boys who were saved the previous Wednesday night! God is SO good!

REUNION: A former roommate from college, Sheila, came to visit me while I was in Texas! She and I and Cortney (Makayla's mom!) were roommates in college and have some special memories together! We were Sheila's first roommates when she came to America from Indonesia. She spake little English, but we could tell that she had such a sweet, sweet spirit. She has been a huge encouragement to me through the years and I am so thankful for her friendship!

WORK: My dad flew Chad down to Texas for a week to help roof a rental house. Chad really enjoys working with my dad and brothers... even if it's on a hot roof! Even though it wasn't really a "vacation" for him, he still had a really great time with the fam! He also enjoyed working with Max and Uncle Rod... I sure hope Max's finger is okay! (Ask Max or Chad if you want details.)

GRADUATION: The first Sunday in Texas was Travis' graduation ceremony. It was such a nice service as we reflected on his life and his accomplishments. We are so proud of him! Definitely an emotional time since he is the last kid to graduate high school! What a blessing to say that my mom home-schooled all four of us for all our school years! I remember many times that we caused her frustration, but she never gave up. My dad worked so hard for her to be able to stay home with us. I am so thankful. What a great example and testimony!

FAMILY: The most special moments of the 2 weeks were spent in quiet fellowship with my mom and dad. Their wisdom and transparency in the choices they've made through the years really encourage and challenge me. Nobody is perfect, but it takes a very strong person to share their strengths and weaknesses openly. I so appreciate my parents and how they have raised me and challenged me. Chad and I are so thankful for them and are blessed to call them ours!

Here are a few snapshots from our vacation...

Playing after a shopping trip with Aunt Sara.

The graduate!

Pardee family

Feeding the giraffe with Papa at the zoo.

The most awesome peacock that Caylyn tried to pet.

Cousin time!

The newly remodeled sanctuary. All the praise belongs to the Lord!

Busy, busy, busy

This week is like a whirlwind and hopefully when it's done I'll land safely in Texas!! The kids and I fly to Texas next Wednesday... excited about the trip but not too thrilled about flying with two toddlers by myself! Mom and Dad Pardee bought Chad a ticket to come down for a week and help replace a roof or two. We are so thankful!!

This week has been so busy with lots of things needing to be done and also lots of traveling! One thing at a time... I would type them all out for you but I don't have time and it would bore you anyway.

Tomorrow Chad is selling his car, tomorrow night is cousin Hilde's graduation (woohoo!), Saturday, Chad hops down to Augusta to work on his parents roof, Sunday is always busy and Chad is preaching the evening service, Monday morning we are participating in the town's Memorial Day Service/Parade, and finally Tuesday heading down to Rockport to stay with the great-grandparents so they can take us to the airport on Wednesday. Whew...

As most of you know, Trent has a clogged tear duct in his left eye. In March he had a routine procedure with a probe to open the duct. It didn't work. So yesterday we went to a specialist in Waterville who scheduled another surgery for July 29. This surgery will require Trent to be put under anesthesia again and will be similar to the first. They will put a tiny tube through the upper tear duct and it will run down through the lower duct as well. Then they will tie it in a knot and leave it in his eye for 3 months. This serves 2 purposes... 1) It will ensure that both ducts are open and 2) It will ensure that they stay open and heal that way. After 3 months we go back and they just snip that tube and pull it out. Simple, right? I sure hope so... it's no fun putting a little one through surgeries!! I know many other moms have been through much worse, but the Lord knows what each of us can handle.

Pray for us, if you think of it... as the next few weeks pose several changes and new adventures for our family!

Car Exchange

Last July before we moved up to Maine, Chad was searching for a second vehicle. We were looking for something dependable because he has an 3 hour commute to and from work everyday. We also didn't want to spend much money because we had just purchased our Explorer. Chad found this little beauty on Craigslist and bought it. It has been a great little car for the last 10 months and we've put very little into maintenance.

Every weeks (so it seems!) Chad is saying that he wants a truck, he wants a truck, he wants a truck. What guy doesn't?! The week of his birthday, he came home and said he found a truck that he wanted for his birthday. Haha, right? Well, super-duper long story made short... our friend, Glen, found a great deal on a 1985 F150 that he has fixed up for Chad! Chad is like a little kid in a candy store whenever he sees/talks about that truck. It's a great truck as it only has 65,000 miles on it! An added blessing is that Chad is able to sell his car for the exact same price he paid for it... WOW! The Lord definitely blesses in His time.

Here is Chad's new truck!

Happy Birthday, Chad!

Even though it was yesterday we want to say Happy Birthday to Chad!!! We are so thankful for him and all he is and all he does for our family and church. He is the most patient, loving, creative, and God-fearing man. He is a wonderful husband and father and we love him SO much!!!

Though it was his birthday, he let me sleep in a little since I was sick. What a fella! After a special request birthday breakfast (fried egg sandwiches), he headed over to the church to help Tim put carpet on the gym walls. Then after a delicious lunch with the Bickford fam (thank you, Hilde!), we came home to let the kids nap. Chad planned on resting, but he just CANNOT sit still... which I like about him! He went BACK over and cleaned up the gym with Tim.

We had Youth Group last night with a big cake for Chad... he got a big corner piece with lots of frosting! Guess what... he decorated his own cake! Special, huh? After all the kids were dropped off, Tim came over for steak fajitas and they sat around "shooting the breeze." All in all, I think he had a good birthday.

Today when he gets off work, I'm going to meet him in Bangor and take him out for a birthday dinner... we like to celebrate birthdays all week in our family!!

Happy Birthday, Sweetheart! We love you SO SO SO SO SO much!!!

The Sick Ward

This past week my poor babies have been down with a cold. It sure seemed to take it's time coming and going! Trent caught it first, then passed it to Caylyn who passed it to me (though I was sure to get it because we did a LOT of snuggling!). Snuggling is just about the only good thing that comes from being sick... :) Thankfully, Chad never caught it!

There wasn't much I could do, either. The vaporizer ran non-stop and I gave them baby Tylenol when they ran fevers... thankfully, they usually only required Mommy-time to make them feel better.

We did have a few fun/funny moments amongst the misery.

Caylyn and I were snuggling on the couch and Trent decided to go play in their room. A few minutes later he emerged wearing his sister's Easter hat! I laughed so hard!

Anticipating a rainy week, I made some homemade finger paint for Caylyn. Just cornstarch, water and food coloring and she was ready for some messy fun! This recipe was fine for a small child, but wouldn't work for older children who would actually draw pictures. It was quite thick and jello-like, but she had fun!

It started out nice and neat...

... but soon turned into quite the mess! To make it even better, I tossed in a chocolatey beater from making Chad's birthday cake.

We are all on the mend now and should soon be back to our normal selves. The kids seem to have their energy returning quicker than I, today should be better!

Easter Weekend

**WARNING! This is a long post.**

Well, the end of Music Retreat turned out to be only the beginning of a LONG, BUSY, but FUN weekend. Saturday, we celebrated cousin Grace's 16th Birthday with a cake, and small get-together with Gramma and Grampa Colburn and the Bickford kiddos.

Caylyn and I dyed Easter eggs! It was fun and she did a good job saying the colors (with a little prompting from Gramma!). She really enjoyed putting the eggs in the dye and then putting stickers on the eggs. Such a big girl!

Sunday morning, bright and early, we headed to church for the sunrise service. Early morning is such a great time for reflection. On the drive to church, I reflected on what it might have been like for Mary and Mary Magdalene to come the the tomb and find it EMPTY! What thoughts raced through their minds when the angel said to them "He is not here, for he is RISEN!" They knew that He was the Son of God, but he was also their dear friend whom they had watched die. Another thought, what a great plan for soul-winning is found in Matthew 28:5-9.

"And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. (6) He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (7) And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. (8) And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. (9) And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him."

First, the lost are seeking for Christ. They stumble through life searching for meaning that can only be found in Christ. We must tell them to "come, see the place where the Lord lay" after He sacrificed Himself for our sins. The we must tell them the greatest news in the history of mankind: "He is not here: for he is risen!" This news can only bring great joy and a desire to tell others as He has commanded us. What a great time of reflection this Resurrection Day brought... we do serve a RISEN Saviour!

I missed the sunrise service because Caylyn and Trent are quite active first thing in the morning. :) We had a nice breakfast there at church with some good fellowship. Easter morning service was wonderful. I'm so glad we have "The Peace of God versus the Peace of the World" as explained in Sunday morning's sermon. All were encouraged to bring Easter Lilies "In Memory Of" loved ones who have gone on before us.

Here are the kids at church...

Sunday afternoon, we had a big Easter dinner with Gramma and Grampa and Grace. We also started a new family tradition... an Easter Egg Hunt. I know, big whoop, lots of people do an Easter Egg Hunt. Well, this was our first so it was special for us. Caylyn did such a good job finding all the eggs while Trent picked up one and threw it on the ground so he could get the jelly beans. :)

Happy Easter, everyone!