Summertime is fading fast

We had a cold spell about a week ago, and I thought for sure that Autumn had arrived. Actually, with the snow falling last Tuesday I though we went straight to winter and skipped Fall altogether. But it warmed up over the weekend and has been sunny and gorgeous for the last few days here in the Front Range.

However, our dear forecaster tells me it's soon to become much more Autumn-like. And since tomorrow is the 1st of October I suppose it's justified.

We've practically been forcing the kids to play outside until it's nearly too dark to see, knowing that soon enough we'll be trapped inside and driving each other batty. Bike rides, kite flights, long walks and plenty of time on the playgrounds. It's all been so nice. *sigh*

Here are a few captured moments of them taking advantage of the last days of the summery warmth:

Taking turns with wagon rides is fantastic, particularly because on this day my only involvement was behind the camera lens.

And who knew this backyard chunky plastic $5 garage sale find would provide hours -- literally HOURS -- of entertainment for the kids.

Perhaps not quite as intended, but if they're happy, I'm happy.

So goodbye, Summer. We look forward to catching glorious glimpses of you amidst our Rocky Mountain winter...

For the Joy of Sprinklers

Last week our sweet little neighbor boy turned four years old. His parents came up with the most appropriate celebration for him that I think I may have ever witnessed. Some kids have an infatuation with super heroes or princesses, baseball or butterflies. But for a few, it goes beyond mere enjoyment to reaching levels of obsession.

For Zane, that obsession is sprinklers.

He knows what time each house on the block has their sprinklers programed to turn on. He knows what kind of sprinkler heads they have and what sound they make. He knows what aisle the sprinkler systems are sold at Home Depot and he begs his mom to buy him sprinkler heads when they go. And most of all, he knows how much fun he has playing in the spraying water.

So for his birthday celebration, his mom asked our whole block to turn on the sprinklers in our front yards at precisely 6:30 pm. It was THE perfect way to help them celebrate! We were all out to witness his reaction. (And of course for the cupcakes promised afterward.)

Joy doesn't cover it. Bliss would not be a sufficient word. Glory might come close. Zane was beside himself as he ran from yard to yard.

Judging from the grin that never left his face, he was the happiest four-year-old. Ever.

What brings you that kind of joy? What makes you smile and laugh, no matter how often you see or feel or experience it? Don't you wish we could all live life as if we are looking forward to a sprinkler party? Or better yet, as if the whole block had sprinklers on, and knowing those sprinklers were turned on just for us...

Book review: Fearless

Are you controlled by fear? Is it your default reaction? In our world, financial ruin, illness, death of a loved one, or even the end of the world can consume our thoughts. Maybe you fear that you don’t matter, that God is disappointed in you, or even that God doesn’t exist.

Max Lucado’s newest book Fearless addresses fear as corrosion of our trust in God. “Fear may fill our world, but it doesn’t have to fill our hearts,” he writes. He discusses what the Bible has to say specifically about each of many reasons for fear and presents practical ideas on conquering those fears with God’s help, such as prayer and recalling scriptural truth and even hymns.

It’s not an overnight solution, but it’s wonderful place to begin the battle, and an excellent reference tool as each chapter addresses a different fear.

His pages are not just sprinkled but doused with scripture, particularly centered around Jesus’ numerous admonishments to “not fear.”

Lucado’s trademark colorful metaphors will cause you to digest this book slowly. It has encouraged me this week to focus on Jesus when I feel my own fears creeping into my thoughts.

How about you? Are you ready to envision your life without fear?

Coming soon...

Yes, that's right, we are expecting another baby!

To answer your questions....

If all goes as we hope, baby will make his or her appearance in March.
At 12 weeks now, I'm feeling pretty good.
Lucy is thrilled, though she says she wants a sister this time.
Josiah is happily clueless.

As John puts it, we are about to switch from a man-to-man to a zone defense.

We're excited and thankful!