It's been a lot of loved ones around these parts. This past Thursday, my Dad and Mom drove up from Florida with one of my brother's kiddos: Baylee who is 12 and going into the 7th grade. She is going to spend about 3 weeks with us here. At the end of her visit, her family will come in town, do a family vacation, and then leave the other daughter here for 3 weeks.
Sunday, June 04, 2023
Family in town
It's been a lot of loved ones around these parts. This past Thursday, my Dad and Mom drove up from Florida with one of my brother's kiddos: Baylee who is 12 and going into the 7th grade. She is going to spend about 3 weeks with us here. At the end of her visit, her family will come in town, do a family vacation, and then leave the other daughter here for 3 weeks.
Friday, June 02, 2023
Azores
Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Broken heart & Sin
Sin in this world is so ...
Sinful.
The truth is: I don't see this SIN that much. I see "basic" sin. Of course, Jesus doesn't categorize it that way.
But I am a human. And I do.
People harming children makes me want to SCREAM. How can Jesus watch this? How can he know it happens? How can we not lose our minds over this?
And yet, it isn't that simple. I know that. Even if you want to help, you cannot always, actually help. Because trauma that has been inflicted on a child is BIG. And the consequences and ramifications of that sin is BIG and you have your own family that can be affected by the trauma inflicted on that child.
We have had a young girl in our lives who was harmed by sin. By adults that should know better. We've tried to help. Maybe we have. But maybe we haven't. Watching that sin and what it does just tears me to SHREDS. How do my children get to be born into a home where they have loving parents and no trauma .... and someone else, seemingly because of bad luck, is born into a home where abuse occurs?
And because of that abuse, the trauma spreads. And it eeeeks out of them. And more sin occurs? Through seemingly no fault of that child.
How does a mother with ELEVEN children that are "in the system" keep getting pregnant and having MORE children when she cannot take care of the children she has? How does this keep happening and we must simply foot the bill for this? And even worse, there aren't enough homes to care for these children AS IT IS.
I am angry. I hate sin. I just hate it. My heart has broken this past week.
Sunday, May 28, 2023
Thursday, May 25, 2023
2022-2023 comes to a close
Yesterday, Aunt Hannah finished off the “Quad Squad” school year! Third grade is done for Hannah and BFF Genevieve. Fifth grade done for Abigail. Eoin completed 4th. And Theo just upped the ante!
Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Hannah Joy Pomegranate
Monday, May 22, 2023
Saturday, May 20, 2023
MeowWoof (Santa Fe)
We went with Lee’s parenrs: Rush & Barbie to see a really cool art museum today:
Logan’s Graduation
What an honor to have one of eight seats at my goddaughter’s graduation. It was held at a beautiful Catholic cathedral in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Friday, May 19, 2023
Visiting Kristi
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
Adventures of Elijah
It's Elijah! My Mom wanted me to write what happened today when I went squirrel hunting. Even though I didn't get any squirrels, I found some pretty weird and cool stuff. But even before I went out, I went to move the sheep and walked by the pond. A baby red-winged blackbird saw me and jumped from his nest and fell into the water. He then swam back to his nest and climbed in.
A few hours later I went hunting and saw another baby red-winged blackbird in the field, and then, once I reached the woods, I saw my first of about seven lizards. I also saw a snake and a herd of deer. (I saw 3-4 deer. But there is a good chance there was more.) Way late into the hunt I saw what I think was bear scat and maybe a log busted apart by the bear. After that I found the biggest three-point antler I have ever seen (pictured below.) In the photo, I compared it to two other antlers I have.
On the way around our big pond I saw a green heron upside down in a tree. At first I thought that it was getting attacked by a pair of red-winged blackbirds defending their nest from him, but he was just laying there so I tried to get him down to maybe show him to my family. While attempting this, I saw that there was a snake wrapped around him. I quickly hit the tree causing both of them to fall down. Upon hitting the ground, the snake let go and climbed back into his tree, and the heron took off. Finally I was saw a couple foot wide ant hill (pretty large for here).

On the way around our big pond I saw a green heron upside down in a tree. At first I thought that it was getting attacked by a pair of red-winged blackbirds defending their nest from him, but he was just laying there so I tried to get him down to maybe show him to my family. While attempting this, I saw that there was a snake wrapped around him. I quickly hit the tree causing both of them to fall down. Upon hitting the ground, the snake let go and climbed back into his tree, and the heron took off. Finally I was saw a couple foot wide ant hill (pretty large for here).
Monday, May 15, 2023
Corn growth
Sunday, May 14, 2023
Saturday, May 13, 2023
So much truth
I ABSOLUTELY KNOW I will miss this season IMMENSELY. My kids still need me. But they need me SO much. My day is simply getting them to and from things.
And before anyone suggests: cut down the activities. It really isn't that simple. We've been very intentional about the things they are doing. Sidge is only doing karate for his PE credit for example.
But Isaac has truly made the decision that his future will involve the arts: music/theatre etc. This being the case, we've decided to really lighten up his school load each of the next four years and have him spend a significant amount of time each day working on his music. This will include theatre, guitar, piano, and voice lessons. We think that this is incredibly important for his future. Whatever he decides to do, we have no doubt it will include this natural musical talent God gave him.
As for the girls: it is really just ballet. And ballet is a lot. I hold no preconceived notions about my daughters being ballet stars. Nor would I actually want them to be ballet stars if that possibility were there. But this is giving them a solid growth both in the Lord, their bodies, positive image, and movement.
As a family: Heritage Home Scholars and Central Ballet Theatre are our two "things." They are our ministry. We plan to pour into these two things, in addition to our church of course.
We also have been called into fostering more and more. Not fostering ourselves. But standing alongside families as they foster and adopt and help children who are hurting. God has also made that VERY clear. We have many families in our lives who need our support, and God has asked us to support them.
But I'm ... tired.