Boots, a Barn, and a Beautiful Bride.

Carefully sewn dresses hung in a closet.

Scribbled line-up notes thrown away.

Guitar chords faded.

Tears wiped away.

Hydrangeas wilted.

Tissue paper balls crushed.

Cake eaten.

Taillights disappearing down the lane.

It's all over and Abbie's hitched, but what remains is a love big enough to last a lifetime.

Love is right here. Love is alive.
Love is the way, the truth, the life.
Love is the river than flows through,
Love is the arms that are holding you.
Love is the place you will fly to,
Love never fails you.

Synchronizing.... Do not disconnect.

I love our iPod. I love my iTunes library. Don't get me started on it. I love playlists. I love the handy dandy tabs. Like "Top 25 Most Played" or "Recommendations for You." I would love to take a look at your library... I think you can really tell a lot about someone by their songs.

Anyways, in my last bible study, I got to a paragraph that made me grab my highlighter.

Like everyone else, I sometimes fail, but what a joy it is to pray to God the way Jesus showed me: "Lord, Thy will be done." When we pray according to the will of God, we get on the same wavelength as God. And as we pray, little by little, God takes all the things that are out of sync in our life and puts them in sync until we can take a deep breath and say, "Oh, yes, that's the way it's supposed to be! .... How much energy would we save if we said, "All right, Lord, I don't understand it, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me, I can't figure it all out - but if this is Your will, I'm going to do it. I don't want to get out of sync with you!" ?

I quietly giggled because I love to sync my iPod, so I knew exactly what David Jeremiah meant. If I buy a new song, I hook up the iPod so it will sync my new song ASAP.

David Jeremiah makes it sound so simple. Pray according to the will of God. I truly want to be in sync with God, but sometimes those words are hard to say in the middle of a crisis. Or when I am praying for Drew and Finn. Or when what I really want is My Will to be done. But even more than my will, I want to be at that place where I can say, "Oh YES! That's the way it's supposed to be!" So little by little, I am learning to pray it more confidently.

And for now, I have a new reminder. Praying Thy Will Be Done is my own personal iJoni Synchronizing button.

By the way, our #1 most played song is By The Mark by Dailey and Vincent (70 times).



#2 is The Outsiders by Needtobreathe (51 times).



See what I mean? This tells YOU that Nate overplays songs that he is trying to learn on the guitar.

The Wisdom of a Nine Year Old

Finn: Drew loooooves Jennifer.

Drew: Yep!

Finn: Drew has a girrrrlfriend.

Drew: Yep!

Finn: Well, I do too. I like Addie.

Drew: Whoo Whoooooo!

Finn: I think I want to buy Addie a ring.

Drew: FINN! You are way too little. You don't buy girls jewelry when you are in kindergarten. You have to wait until you're like.....
my age.

Me: Okay, Drew.... so you love Jennifer. What does that mean?

Drew: Well, it's when you think someone is cute and you both wave Hi and Bye in the hallway.

Me: That's it?

Drew: Pretty much.

Finn: Well then, I think I love Addie.

There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not: the way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.
Proverbs 30:18-19

Faux Anthro

I had a little problem solving to do on vacation:

Beach House 20 miles from Anthropologie
+ Shower Gift Needed For Abbie
.............................................................................
No Thinking Necessary


After purchasing her gift and forgetting to ask for gift wrap, I watched forlornly as the saleslady wrapped another gift. I figured she would think I was lying when I sighed at how perfectly it was wrapped and then said, "By the way, my purchase really is for a gift." Those waif-like Anthropologie girls intimidate me.

So, I watched her closely.

And then went home and totally copied it.

I felt so McMaster and Storm'ish.

Playing Ketchup

In order to update you on all of my latest news, I prepared a Spring Break Sandwich...

Bread:


Lettuce:
Pretty much the only thing that I left in the refrigerator for Nate when I left him alone for nine days. Big thanks to Mama Lucille, David and Katie, Brian and Mandy, and Ryan for feeding Nate.

Jalepenos:
Things got a little heated when four ten year old boys played Double Dog Dare with peppers at Dick's.

Olives:
I love going on field trips with the forth and fifth graders. I love 80 degree days and no rain at the beach. I love watching the sun rise on Easter morning. I love watching my boys hang out with their buddies. I love surprising Nate by getting home five hours early. I love the smell of my house. I love the fact that he was furiously doing laundry and dishes. I love all of you that still check my blog for updates...

Dressing:
Favorite purchase of the week... Organic Pima Cotton T-Shirt... $17

Cheese:
4th Graders Taking Pictures

Seasonings:
Outdoor Kitchen at Jamestown Colony.... my favorite part.

The Meat:
I was halfway through Jamestown and heard the name King James several times until I finally put two and two together. Oooohhh! THAT King James.

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
Hebrews 5:12-14
(Please don't tell my Bible 101 Class)

Sandwich Best Served Fried:

With Colonial Root Beer on the Side:

Thank You, Dr. Davis

Pros and Cons of Giving Finn Asher Prescription Valium Before Root Canals...

Pros:
Helps Gag Reflex
Stops the Panic
Stems Tearflow
Numbs the Pain
Relaxes Jaw Muscles
Eases Fear
May Cause Laughter from Mom and Dad



Cons:
I really can't think of any.

Prayers and Support

My words are very few. My heart is breaking and my throat feels raw from swallowing tears.

I spent a day with Trisha in November. As we were Christmas shopping, I kept seeing her pull cash from an envelope. She explained it was her budget envelopes and she showed the whole concept to me. I was very inspired and began my own at the beginning of the year.

I have made an envelope in my folder labeled "Ben and Trisha." We will be taking it to Ohio, Lord willing, when we make the trip and will give it to them. Please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers, and I encourage you to make your own envelope and give sacrificially.

Brethren Charity Fund
c/o Ben Reece
PO Box 365
Brookville, OH 45309

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether they be afflicted, it is for our consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which they also suffer: or whether they be comforted, it is for our consolation and salvation. And our hope (For the Reese Family) is stedfast, knowing that as they are partakers of the sufferings, so shall they be also of the consolation.
2 Corinthians 1:3-7