The Beach

We got away for two days. Seven people in one hotel room is always an adventure. Sean, Chase and I in the king sized bed, Christopher in a made up bed under the desk, Kaelin and Douglas in the pull out sofa and little miss Catherine on a made up bed of sofa cushions beside me on the floor (in case anyone wonders!). We had a blast exploring beaches and lighthouses and windmill and three trips to Whole Foods. Many, many hours of driving later, we are so happy to be home. What a wonderful time we had!
This boy turns FOUR tomorrow. Be still my thankful heart.

No M's or N's

That's what happens when the baby burps up all over your keypad. No more M's or N's.
So until my laptop miraculously recovers or until funds for a new onebecome available, my writing is...limited. This is Sean's work computer I'm on now. So please say a prayer for my M's and N's. I'd appreciate it.
Blessings,
Hannah

Family walks

We were a walking family while we still lived on a busy main road in the noisy city. Even in the dead of winter I would bundle up the children, packing the smallest two at the time into a double stroller with eighteen inch wheels.

Out across the snowy sidewalks we went, crossing the roads at the stoplights with our little caravan, making footprints in the powder across the park. Slushing through the parking lots and across a few more streets until we came to a favorite coffee shop with a sign that said small children left unattended would be given an espresso and a puppy to take home.
They loved us there, them with their colorful modern hairdo's and modern thinking.We'd shake the snow off our hats, stomp our feet at the door and burst in to the warmth like frozen things, rubbing our hands to encourage re-circulation.
Around a little table we'd gather with our steaming, frothing mug of hot cocoa, sipping and chatting until warmth flooded us beneath our winter attire. Back out into the snow we'd go, retracing our prints homeward.

I don't miss living in the city. These wide open spaces have spoiled me. Sean and I mention how close the neighbors are here and laugh remembering the spitting distance between our house and the next in the city.

We waited a long time and looked a long time and schemed a long time and prayed a long time to be able to live here. The oldest of ours barely remember those winter walks for hot chocolate.
I'm hoping the sun on their faces, the taste of fresh berries out of the fields, being chased by a rooster, holding soft feathery ducks and stacking wood with their Mama are things they never forget.
I don't doubt that we might live in a city again in the someday of our lives and so I savor this bit of life so much.

I love being able to wear rubber boots as I muck through the garden digging carrots. I love that there is a rooster to chase and swing at when he chases my kids.

I love that no two sunsets are alike and each one is in its own way extraordinary.
I love that our friends come to visit, some thinking we're crazy with our little menagerie of poultry and that this never been a country girl plucks chickens and gives birth at home, but still loving the peace of being here.
I am sure family walks will continue to be a part of our family's identity, whether it be through fields after the rain or through slushy parking lots in a blizzard. I have so much to be thankful for.

Tornado? ish clouds out back tonight.

I'm not from the midwest and so I've never actually seen a tornado minus Dorothy's in Oz. Hopefully this'll be as close as we get to seeing one.

A special Sunday - Chase's Baby Dedication!

Three babies were dedicated to the Lord this morning, Chase being one of them. In case anyone is unfamiliar with baby dedications, the Pastor asks us if we will raise our child in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, if we will provide for them according to the scriptures, and if we will love and discipline them. The Pastor then prays for the child, asking a blessing and a hedge of protection around him and praying that the child will come to know the Lord at a young age.

If you click on the photos you'll see Chase was loving all the attention!

A bloggy give away! (feel free to answer anonymously!)

Over these ten years of marriage, Sean and I have become pretty passionate about two things: marriage and family. Sure, we love a lot of things like spending time outdoors, cooking delicious meals from scratch, photography, fishing while the kids wade, restoring old houses... but if you were to really nail down what we have a burden for it would be marriage and family, undoubtedly fueled by the dysfunction we were raised with and the trials we have gone through as a couple.It is of such concern to us that the divorce rate within the Christian community is the same as the culture surrounding us and in some instances even higher. I always wonder what we expect the world to be attracted to when the body of Christ sadly has as much dysfunction inside as outside. We really, really appreciate that our local church is making a bold turn toward valuing children and that our children's pastor and his wife are incredible people.One of Mormonism's big attractions, I think, is their big emphasis on marriage and family, including their track record of a divorce rate half that of born again Christians. They really do present themselves in an attractive way to a society brimming with broken families and dysfunctional homes.

Sean and I are trying to figure out how to better focus our desire for stronger families and marriages within the Christian culture. In the past, leading small groups in our home specifically focused on marriage has been one way we've been able to see marriages strengthened and so we're looking forward to beginning another focused marriage group this fall. We've also enjoyed having couples in our home for premarital counseling and marital counseling. We feel really blessed that God has given us those opportunities but we want to do more, help more, see more change.

And so we're wondering, what has your place of worship done to strengthen marriages and families? What works? What doesn't work?

As an added bribe to get your comments on the subject, someone will be picked at random to receive some great marriage and family resources if cultivating home receives over 50 comments. Mention it on your blog and I'd be most appreciative!
Just leave your answers to these questions, plus anything else you'd like to add, in the comment section.

1. Are you married? Single, divorced, never married... Not trying to be nosy, just curious. Okay, so it is a nosy question. Bear with me.
2. Are your parents still married? Again- curious/nosy.
3. Do you regularly attend church? Most of these questions are geared toward church attendees but please feel welcome to comment if you do not attend church.
4.How many sermons/special events in the church have been geared toward marriage in 2008?
5.How many sermons/special events in the church have been geared toward parenting in 2008?
5. When you need/want marriage help or resources where do you go?
6. Do you feel supported in your role as a parent by your local church? How so? C'mon, give me ideas! I covet good ideas!
7. On a scale of 1-10, how focused is your local church on building strong marriages/families? Tell me what they do. More good ideas here, please!

Please comment, even if you cannot use the books, I'm sure someone you know could! And lastly, as a side note, Sean and I have the honor of serving in a fabulous church but this survey is my own and the giveaway is funded by my hard working husband. (thanks, honey!)
Blessings,
Hannah

Must run, the kids are out burying a dead frog they found in the driveway!

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;


Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art


Thou my best Thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;


I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;


Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.


Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;


Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.


Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,


Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:


Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,


High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.


High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!


Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,


Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.