Getting Away

Our school district is on a year-round schedule so we just finished a two-and-a-half week fall break. It was such a nice break from the busy routine of school and extra curricular activities! Sometimes we really find ourselves just waaaaay overcommitted so taking the step back every few months really helps out A LOT!

 This break we headed up north to Overgaard, Arizona. I have always loved nature - growing up in northern Minnesota on a fishing lake kind of made the "tom boy" in me come out! As an adult, though, my two favorite getaways are the mountains and the beaches. When I hear the whispering of the pine trees or the rhythmic rolling of the ocean's waves, I feel so at peace and so near to God. So, at a much needed time, we headed to the mountains where I got to hear lots of whispering pines and God was faithful and He met me right there!



We were finally able to head up with some dear friends for the weekend and then the boys and I hung out on our own the rest of the week while friends and Daddy headed back down the mountain. It is so fun to watch the boys just enjoy being boys. They run, play, dig, yell, collect, and get absolutely dirty and it is perfectly fine! They don't have to worry about cars hitting them, windows being broken by their football, or the limitations of our block walls down here in Phoenix. And I get time to hang out on the porch with my Bible, or another good book, or even the latest copy of "People" magazine! It is FANTASTIC! 

The boys and our sweet friend decided to make ornaments for the trees. The drew on old 2x4's, the Dad's cut them out, and the Moms and big sisters used string and thumbtacks to create hangers. bunch we all are! What a creative bunch we all are! Note how they made a ton for in honor of our sweet Selah!

 



Look at this large furry "friend" we found visiting us!

Look! The colors of fall! That is a treat for us since it doesn't actually happen in Phoenix (the Valley)!

  

                    

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!

Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the Lord.

For the Lord is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness.

Psalm 98:7-9



A Cardinal Kind of Celebration!

Our school participated in a competition to win some big time grant money from the NFL. They had a week-long celebration of fitness and the Arizona Cardinals!! They loved logging their hours of fitness at school and home and I loved how it made them aware of the importance fitness plays in health. They would come home from school, have a healthy snack, finish their homework, and then head back out for some kind of exercise! I didn't even hear mention of the computer or tv! Very cute! Friday was the best because of a huge celebration for the first 20 minutes or so of the day where  the entire student body did the "Cardinal Shuffle" (remix dance version of the Cupid Shuffle). I just couldn't get enough of watching them dance and have the time of their lives! Here are a couple of cute pictures I took during the Friday morning celebration. Notice the boys have Bible verses written on their black out stuff under their eyes! Proud Mommy Moment for me 'cuz it wasn't even my idea! They love Kurt Warner and the way he speaks out about his faith and they love Tim Tebow and his example of writing the verses on the black out, so they put their two favorites together for this celebration! Thanks Kurt and Tim for being great role models for our children and for honoring God in all they do!