One of the Best Parts of Our Summer

Each summer the kids and I have taken some extra time travelling up through Ohio up to Pennsylvania to Ligonier. We get to love on Team Paul and Ristow gets to go to camp at LCCC. It is always wonderful to see my brother Jim and my lovely and hospitable sister-in-love Zan. I get to hug my niece and nephew and watch my daughter chase the chickens. What could be better?

Last week we got back from such a visit. Jim was able to take a little time off from his busy camp schedule and we got to hang with our little ones. It was great. He even took the kids and I on jet ski rides while we were there.

We also got a grown up night out which was wonderful.

While we were there, Ristow and his cousin Dylan both got to be a part of Little Ligs which is a two night camp for kids 6-8. They do much of the same super fun camp stuff as the older kids on a shorter scale. Dylan is almost 6 and got to be a part of camp during the day and come back at night to her own bed (best of both worlds). They loved it so much! It means so much for Ris to be able to be a part of this great camp and he totally loves that his Uncle Jimmy works there ;)

So thankful for such a great visit. We love them tons!

Oh and I had to throw in a cheesy smile of Jess and James for fun!

The Life Yet To Be Lived

It has been over a year since my last blog post. Lots of life has happened in that year, lots of laughter, lots of tears, lots of changes of who I see myself as. One thing that has stayed consistent is my faith and hope in God's love for me and the fact that He will never leave me nor forsake me.

Life may be hard at times, but it is the life that I have yet to live that excites me right now. It is the experiences that I can share with my kids and all the amazing wonderful things I can teach them. It is the excitement I have of growing and learning while in Grad school right now that challenges me to be a better me. It is the love and support and encouragement of my family and friends that lifts me up and reminds me who I am. It is the realization that whatever expectations we have of our life and our future may not work out to be what we thought they would, but we set the disappointment aside and heal and grow and take that big bold step onto a different path that is lined with hope and God's promises and a bright future. I will weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice and am super thankful for the amazing people who have wept and rejoiced with me over this last year.

The life I have yet to live beckons me forward...
You are welcome to join me!