Scrub boards and laundry lines

For the past year and a half or so, my dryer has been, let's say, underperforming.
It would overheat after 5-10 minutes of drying and I would have to restart it multiple times to dry a load. Like all day to dry ONE load.

Bothersome, but non-essential.
It did, however, make it so that I was NEVER on top of my laundry.

But last week, to my horror, my washing machine gave out. Gonzo.

I began thinking about scrub boards and laundry lines. It was doable, but difficult, and maybe a bit too agonizing for how hard my work life will be this summer...

I decided this was a last straw scenario.

So I...

• Went shopping.
• Got discouraged.
• Began thinking about money and the impending gap betwen paychecks during the job change.
• I did something stupid and financed a matching set of Maytags.
• I began having buyer's remorse.

Then, the next day, something wonderful happened.

In the mailbox, I found a statement talking about some stocks we had cashed in when Chris switched careers last fall.

But why am I still getting a statement in May when we received 'payment in full' in October?

So I made a phone call. The statement I was holding in my hands was some OTHER stocks we didn't know we had. And they had grown by more than double since the time Chris left Red Lobster in September.

Today, I got a check in the mail.
Come Monday morning, my brand new, do-not-take-all-day-to-complete-one-load, matching washer and dryer set will be paid off.

It's in the little things that God daily shows up in our lives. When He shows off fancy, taking care of His little girl, in a big, big way, I can't help but feel overwhelmed by His interest in my life.

To what do I owe this enormous love You show? I am overjoyed by Your faithfulness!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l3CEMWCxSk&feature=related

A snail of a tale.

When I was a little girl, I looked forward to the few hours after a big rainfall. I would go outside, a hunter, and collect earth worms, snails, and every other non-perilous critter that would cross my path.

This evening, after dinner, Avery, Jaron, and I went outside. We were all business, we three "Snail Hunters," using our whisper voices, prowling tactics, and everything.

We collected scads of them. Then we would gently touch (er, poke) their long spindly eyes and giggle as they slunk back into their shells. Poor snails.

We made snail art.

We had a family snail race.

Each of the 4 snails got a permanent marker tattoo of each family member's first initial.

D= Daddy Snail, M=Mommy Snail, J=Jaron Snail, and A=Avery Snail.

As you can see, it was slow going at first. But Avery snail took an early lead.

Notice that Mommy snail is flat on her back, with no intention of even poking her eyes out of her shell...

In the end, it was Avery snail. Followed by a distant Daddy snail in second place.

Mommy snail is still refusing to play. I guess Jaron snail had a great video game to play...

Good times! Yay Avery Snail!

(No Snails were hurt in the filming of this post.)

seven

(Jaron's last 6 year old shot @ bedtime last night.)

It's amazing - how one little person can completely change your world.

Even though I know, with a deep inside kind of knowing, that God feels this way about us - still I find it difficult to accept His unbelievable and unchanging love as a Father.

But it becomes infinitely easier to comprehend because of how I love my son. Today he turns seven years old.

(The sweet little angel)

(The truth...)

Seven years I could repeat a thousand times in my mind with love increasing each moment and with each memory.

Our lives are super-charged with energy and love, all because of these seven years with you, Jaron. You are an absolute page-turner of a person!

I can't wait for eight!

Yes, thank heaven for little boys.

Extra Extra Read all about it!

I have been given the go ahead from all the people who have a say in these things, so here goes...

You are reading the blog of a newly selected elementary music teacher.

She will be teaching at her children's school.

This. is. a. dream. come. true.

You would not believe how long I had to sit on this information...

God - Thanks for blessing us big time! It always amazes me how much you care about the things that matter to us. Such awesomeness you are!