live it!

Jenny's "goodbye" pictures

Why are we doing this?

In 12 hours, we leave on a bus from Unity CRC with 20 high schoolers and another couple. A 13 hour drive will land us in Marion, Indiana at Indiana Wesleyan University for Youth Unlimited's Live It (formally known as convention). I have never been to Indiana, nor have I ever driven through the entire state of PA. Guess that will all change today. This experience is different than in years past, and with an emphasis on service, going out and doing, I'm pretty sure kids and leaders alike will meet with and worship God in some unique ways.

This trip has brought up some anxieties, along with some excitement. Every time we have ever left the girls over night, it has been for youth group functions. (Matt and I keep saying we want to get away just the two of us, but then we end up getting away with just the 20-30 of us). Every year we have our retreats, and 2 years ago we traveled to NC for convention, and today we travel west.

This year the trip has been especially rough for the girls, as they now understand time and are very aware of their reliance on us. I know they will be fine and will have fun with the 4 different friends, babysitters and grandma's taking care of them (think I have that schedule straight!), but they still have shown quite a bit of anxiety about us leaving. Last night Jenny was diligently working on something, and I was not allowed to look. She came to Matt and I and with tears in her eyes told us to take these with us and whenever we missed her to look at them to remind us of her.

As a mom, I am trying to leave everything "just so" for everyone so that my kids keep somewhat of a routine and have some surprises from mommy and daddy every day, and making sure that those who stay at or use my house will find it comfortable and "easy" to watch my kids in. This is where I get myself worked up, and then I get frustrated that I am leaving, and then I start thinking about what else I could be doing this upcoming week, and then I feel bad about leaving my kids for a week . . .

But then I come back to the question I started this post with. Why do we do this? I don't have an answer to this question, but I know that God always surprises Matt and I when we ask this question in connection to working in His kingdom.

I'm praying that God reveals an answer to this question for me in the next 6 days.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Phillippians 4:6-7

eleven

The Liberty House

view from our table

Matt and I celebrated 11 years of marriage this past Thursday, July14. In some ways it doesn't seem that long, and in other ways it seems like a very long time. When I think about life 11 years ago, it's hard to remember those apartment days without kids, peace and quiet, being a new teacher fresh out of college, and having only each other to come home to. It really wasn't that long ago, or was it? I was 22, Matt was 27 . . . yikes. A lot has happened in the past 11 years, all of it very difficult now to remember life without it.

We celebrated by going to The Liberty House, in Liberty State Park on the Hudson. A very cool, casual, chic (not many dutch here!) restaurant complete with outdoor dining, a view of The Freedom Tower, deliciously (expensive) cocktails, and outdoor fire pits complete with bowls of marshmallows and roasting sticks. I can truly say I was completely relaxed.

These past 11 years have not been all easy, but nobody promised they would. We have grown together, and we have challenged each other. We have laughed together, and we have had tears. We have 2 beautiful daughters amazingly created by God through us. We have a comfortable home on a pretty street with good neighbors, we have wonderful friends, we have loving parents who are close by and have been able to be very involved in our girl's lives, we have the time and a place to get away from the daily stresses of life, we have been blessed with good jobs, and we still have each other to come home too . . . with some added "benefits."

Matt's aunt and uncle sent us a card and along with some very sweet words, Aunt Caroline referenced Philippians 4:8. "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." How true it is that in order to grow a long, faithful and godly marriage, we need to choose to always bring glory to Him by overlooking each other's faults and looking to the positives.

My prayer is that we will continue to grow our marriage and that Matt and I will continue to remember to put each other before ourselves, and above all, to put God first.

blue mountain lake

We are grateful for our BML retreat.

Normally we do our best to get up for at least one full week in the summer, and then some long weekend trips here and there. This year we spent 4th of July week there along with TN relatives, mom and dad, Gram, and Jon and Jules. A busy and full house to say the least. It was very good to see and spend time with my cousin Paula and her husband whom I haven't quite convinced to move to NJ yet!

The weather was perfect all week, a rarity in the ADK's. Here is just a peek at some of our week.

Aunt Julie and I made massive amounts of Sangria on Day 1!

4th of July picnic lakeside

The story of the fireworks. Lots of Fireworks. Ridiculous amounts

of fireworks. So fun and nobody lost any body parts!

A warning that was not heeded: Never mix alcohol and explosive materials.

Oops.

sparkler skills

relaxin', chillin', snackin'

who wants to get covered next?

One of our favorite things to do is the 3 lake tour on our pontoon boat.

BML is connected by beautiful, peaceful channels to

two other lakes . . . Eagle and then Utowana. We ate lunch at the end

by the canoe carry to the Marion River, tied up to an old steamboat dock.

We even saw nesting loons.

my kayak enthusiast

Jenny, Kirsten and I kayaked all the way to "blueberry island"

where we swam and explored.

My talented, beautiful, patient cousin.

Two little blondies wanted to take her back to NJ.

We spent some time at the ADK museum, just the 4 of us.

The ADK museum is so unique, and so beautiful, and right up the street.

We really enjoy bringing

the girls here, not only to learn about the history of the ADK, but because the museum

is so creative and kid and family friendly.

It was Family Palooza Day, and it is not often

Radio Disney broadcasts from this rustic hillside museum

or a place where bouncy pits can be found.

To the girls delight, the museum did not disappoint on this day!

the "dress up" station