wisconsin and rest

by Alanna

   We got the chance this past week to retreat as a family to a beautiful "cabin" in the middle of nowhere, Wisconsin. Just an hour and a half drive from our house in the city, but it felt like a whole world away.  My husband and I had our struggles and our arguments, but I'm so thankful because some of those hard conversations help us to understand each other better. One thing we fought about has to do with my vacation attitude.  I am not very good at resting. Sitting and doing nothing makes me anxious and I start to struggle with my identity and fear that I am wasting my life away.  Thankfully I have a kind husband who encourages me to rest and is patient with me when I cry about it. Maybe I'll blog another day about some truth God reminded me of through those struggles this week.

  I'm so thankful that God gave us this time away. No neighbors nearby, forests stretching as far as you could see, dirt roads, fields, farms, hills. Lots of deer, lots of birds. Quiet 6 a.m. mornings with two of my boys on the front porch, watching the sun rise, singing to Jesus and reading Psalms out loud. I wanted this week to be a time of thanksgiving. To not ask God for so many things, but just to remember the good that He has done. To praise Him, to rejoice and to rest in His love.  One thing I was reminded of is the beautiful family that God has given me. These four incredible children and this husband who still acts like my boyfriend 6 years past the day we exchanged rings.  Here are some pictures. With every one I breathe thanksgiving to God, through His Son Jesus. I am in awe at His goodness.

Nehemiah loved this place

 Climbing up the triple bunkbed

 Baby getting kisses

 Out on the dock by the pond

Isabella on the canoe with Papa

 Emmanuel on the canoe!

 Samuel choosing to be brave too

 Both boys with their dad

 This nest of four baby birds was right above the front door

A deer right off of the front porch

Breakfast on the front porch.

We decided to try a 3 mile loop our last morning

And they made it!

 

Taking turns in the stroller, with the little boys mostly in carriers

Praise the Lord!

celebrating you

by Alanna


Dear son of my heart,

I am finally getting a chance to sit down and write for your birthday. We celebrated you on your special day, nearly two weeks ago now. Such a big day for you- 10 years old! In August it will be 10 years since I first laid eyes on you, a tiny baby wrapped up in a blanket, in the arms of another nursery volunteer. Ten years since that lurch in my heart, when my whole world changed. So many years of praying for you and loving you, most of them from far away, most of them with no knowledge of what your life looks like now. I love you still. I pray that you come to know Jesus, still. I pray that you seek truth, and that God puts friends and family and teachers into your life who will point you to that Truth.

I rejoiced on your birthday. Because I thank God for your life, for creating you. For all the beautiful plans that He has had for you and has for you still. I rejoiced that I got to be a part of it. I'm thankful for every day, every moment God gave me with you. I'm thankful too for the gifts He's given me here. My youngest son is 10 months. Representative of the total time I had on the same continent as you. On your birthday I opened my eyes and looked at my four children here. Looked at my husband. Looked at the family that God has given me. Thanked God for the family He has given you. I chased my boys around the backyard and laughed hard with them, and didn't take those moments for granted.  We ate ice cream and thanked God for you. I love you.