Today may be the first official day of summer, but Carlie has been out of school for a few weeks now.  Some of your favorite memories so far:

*Trip to the local historical reenactment town - Crossroads Village - getting to ride on the old train.  (kids were thrilled to finally ride, as it comes thru our town a few times a day and we hear it all summer long)

*Sitting in the shade under our maple trees making garden stepping stones on a hot day.  We'll be doing this again soon.

*Adoring my daughter missing her 2 front teeth up top!  Precious.

*Scavenger hunt!  The kids were up early last week and wanted to play... we came up with a hunt for them to do around the yard.  Hunted for feathers, flowers, bugs, and sticks taller than they are!  I'm planning another scavenger hunt morning already.  :)

*Realizing the bushy tree-thing in the middle of the yard is a mulberry bush!  We've been here 3 years and it was just a scrawny little stick when we moved in.  I think this is the first year it had much fruit.  Yum!

*Watching our dog, Truman, herd the chickens.  He's always been good with the girls, but we didn't know he had this particularly useful skill.  If he thinks they're wandering too far, he'll round them up and chase them to the coop.  So fun to watch!

*Having Bruce home for a few extra days.  He had a long weekend at home for Father's Day and it couldn't have been nicer.  He knocked some items off his list of house and yard work, played lots of games with the kiddos, we had some quiet time, cooked out, had s'mores, and went to a Ren Faire.  It was a full 4 days!

*Canning several batches of strawberry jam.  I love the rhythm of canning... and (bonus!) I have some Christmas gifts finished.  :)

*Watching my garden grow.

...Least favorite things of the summer...lots of migraines...Jack's horrendous allergies, doctor's orders that I am unable to go outside if it is very hot (90ish) because the heat and dehydration cause me to have contractions and lots of swelling (hoping for a cool summer!).

And just think, June isn't even over!  *sigh*  LOVE THIS.

Create

*I started the green rug last night and finished it today. 

I started on a new rag rug last night (and it would probably be finished now if I wasn't blogging).  :)  I love love love taking old fabrics and giving them new life.  I can never bring myself to throw away clothes with holes or stains...I know we won't wear them, no one will love them again if I give them to Goodwill or Salvation Army, but I cannot let them got to the dump and fill up a landfill.  Ick!  So, I save them.  Um... this sort of fabric stash starts to take over your closet, room, life... and your hubby starts to wonder why the closet is overflowing with bags of junky clothes nobody can wear and no longer believes you when you say, "I'm going to make something out of them... really!".  Yeah.  Until you throw everything in a spare corner in a barely used upstairs room and start making rag rugs.  :)

I made one for our kitchen first, then the bathroom.  Then I started making a few more.  Jack started asking why we needed more rugs.  :)  We don't.  I took them to a craft show (but it was 90 degrees out and nobody came) and put up pictures on facebook.  Two rugs sold in a 2 days on facebook!  Holy cow, I couldn't believe it.

I'm going to create things regardless.  I can't just sit here...I need to have my hands busy, to be making things.  I might be knitting a scarf (current obsession is cowls!), making a rug (to sell to support my crafting addiction), or sewing (because I recently fell in love with my sewing maching again).

We're creative beings...we're made in the image of the great Creator.  I like to repurpose old items and give them new life, purpose, and make them lovely again... that's not to far off what God does with us.  Through His amazing grace and mercy, He forgives us makes us new... getting rid of the old life and making us into something new.  And lovely.

Spring time love

What a productive Thursday!  I cleaned off the inside porch and scrubbed the floor.  It's enclosed and holds the washer/dryer, dog (when we aren't home), chest freezer and an assortment of junk.  After pitching the junk (bonus- it was garbage day!) and sweeping/vacuuming and scrubbing the floor with a combo of water, vinegar, and mint and eucalyptus oils the porch no longer smelled like dog!  Yay!  


I made 2 batches of jam, cleaned the kitchen and washed dishes approximately 7 times. I had time to sell 2 rag rugs to a friend and ooo-and-ahhhh over my new cloth diapers that arrived in the mail.  (seriously, they are the cutest things... one more reason I cannot wait for our darling little girl to be born)


The kids spent the day playing dress up...Carlie came up to me and said, "For Halloween, we should all dress up as princesses and princes and stuff."  She was wearing her green velvet renaissance princess dress (score!  $1 at Goodwill last year!).  And then she added, "But don't worry, you can just wear your hippie stuff and be a hippie queen."  hahaha... nice.... she knows me too well.

Baking, Creating

Yesterday was a day for making, baking, and creating.  Chicken noodle soup in the crockpot (to get rid of the allergy sickies we have), banana bread and chocolate chip cookies (yum!).  Painting shelves for the youth room (finally!).  Working on a few sewing projects with Carlie (yay!).  Beautiful, wonderful, blissful.  *sigh*

I seem to get so much accomplished on Mondays.  Even a bit of laundry!  We won't talk about dishes or clutter... maybe those will be tasks for Tuesday!  :)

* 9 years *

Today we are celebrating our 9th wedding anniversary.  I can hardly believe it.  The time is flying by...  it has been busy and amazing.  To remind us of some of the events over our 9 years, my mom posted this on my facebook page:


"One burned out apartment, 2 houses, 1 broken wrist, a few surgeries, several stitches, too many rabies shots, 1 cut off wedding ring, 1 replacement wedding ring, quite a few cars, 1 motorcycle, 2 dogs, 5 chickens, 3 fish, 1 pregnancy with bed rest, 1 without, many great 4th of July games, a lot a tears, even more laughter, 2 and 1/2 kids, yes, it has been a full 9 years.. We love you guys, Happy Anniversary."


To be married to a man you love, who loves you back... who is faith-filled, devoted, kind...attractive (oh yeah!), has a great sense of humor... is FAR more patient than I deserve... an amazing father to our growing brood of children... Man.  I feel so incredibly blessed.  Beyond-words-kind-of-blessed.  And thankful.  :)

Us back in January of this year... chaperoning a youth retreat (no sleep).  I'll have to find a better picture!

Dreary

Wet...dreary...gray...blustery...weepy...icky sorta day.  It's spring, but I don't much the like the kind of spring we're having.  I'm moody, emotional, hormonal, upset easily... (I'm feeling quite pregnant, obviously).  I've been yelling at the children all too frequently and then breaking down and being all weepy because I feel like a bad mom.  Perhaps if the weather would change, my mood might follow. Perhaps.  I struggled with some postpartum depression after Jack was born.  (not that I told anyone but Bruce)  I desperately want to avoid that this time around.

Migraines, back ache, and other pregnancy troubles abound.  At my last appointment was told to rest and take it easy... not exactly bed rest... but seriously limited if I wanted the pregnancy to go okay.  I'm bored so I constantly over do it and then feel worse.  I am no longer allow to pick up the kids (at 40 lbs apiece I can see why) but it's difficult to not want to scoop up a teary 3 yr old.  :(  With all the physical troubles (and I know it could be worse) I feel betrayed by my body...physical, emotional... everything. Unable to do 'normal' things.

My ultrasound is in less than a week.  Praying all is well with the baby and she/he is cooperative so we can find out if we're having another boy or another girl.  Then we just have to come up with a name.  We haven't come up with anything... at this point I'm hoping for some divine inspiration.

Hello Again!

I actually think about this blog all the time.  Most days I even think of something wonderful I want to blog about. And then something will come along and distract me.  Laundry, helping with homework, making dinner, a migraine, sitting and reading someone else's blog...   You see what I mean.  I have the best of intentions, really.  :)

The last post was shortly after I found out I am pregnant.  Sheesh.  I'm 16 weeks pregnant now!  It certainly is going by quickly.  I had a lot of morning sickness (and the flu, which really didn't help) in the beginning.  I was lucky if I could make it through a day without being sick or taking a nap.  I didn't have any morning sickness - at all!- with Carlie or Jack.  This took me completely by surprise!  I've been having near-daily migraines or headaches, too.  Not fun.  It can get pretty difficult to function and lead a normal life.  I'm trying not to complain and just cope with the pain.

Okay, no more complaints or excuses... on to the real blog post!  :)

 Mom-daughter Day!

Carlie and I had a wonderful weekend.  We set aside a few hours Saturday just for us girls.  We spent all our time here in town.  Lunch across the road at a sweet little family-style restaurant where we laughed and took pictures of each other.  Then we went to the resale boutique in the same plaza to search out some treasures.  We found a cute sundress for Carlie, a maternity tank top for me (in a beautiful blue!) and dress for her babydoll.  We spent $6.  Not bad!  At home we painted our fingernails (I think I do this 2 times a year...maybe).  Carlie picked out blue for me to cover up the nasty bruise under my thumbnail from when I slammed by thumb in the car door last week.  After a batch of our from-scratch brownies, our day was complete!

My Carlie-girl!  I cannot believe she's 7 and so grown up.  (she turned 7 last month.  I didn't blog about that either...)

Me - 4 months pregnant and looking tired.  I'm wearing a dress because she insisted we dress up for our afternoon.

We made these adorable little birds Sunday.  Carlie had a lot of fun learning to sew!

You can find the tutorial for the little birdies here.  While you are there, check out Em's classes and etsy page (if it's not open right now, it will be soon).

I'm pretty sure I'll actually blog again soon because my ultrasound is in 2 weeks!  Hoping the baby cooperates so we can find out if we're having another boy or girl!!!  :)

Expectations

Me - a momma to be.  Again!

Hmmm, I look peaceful.  Content.  Sleepy?  Really, I was just wasting time while waiting for my 3 yr old to finish up in the bathroom.  :)

At home and in Wednesday night youth group we've been talking a lot about how people respond to Christ.  As a Christian, you can (and should) fully surrender.  Trust completely in Him.  Let go, lift your hands, and enjoy the ride.  Twists, turns and all; because you know the Lord is in control.  Or you can be the Christian who shuts your eyes and holds on tight, trying to be in control of your lift and never quite surrendering to Him.  Never fully trusting.  Always fighting to do things your way or questioning God's will.

We've been overwhelmed this past month.  Deaths in the family.  Illnesses.  Medical bills from the past year we thought the insurance company had covered.  Our one year old niece had some blood work completely and returned with troublesome results.  (and has more testing this week)  Bruce was in a car accident and nearly totaled his car (and praise God he was unhurt.). Although he's driving the car, we continue to invest money in repairs to make it safe and truly drivable.  Then he got a ticket for the very loud and very broken exhaust.  *sigh*  We had a blizzard last week and the weather continues to be bitterly cold and dreary.

We expect to be healthy.
We expect finances and expenses to work out.
We expect to make it to work and back safely, day in and day out.
We expect the weather to break, sooner or later.

And now I'm expecting our third child.  We are excited and trusting the Lord in the timing of it all.  Praying for a safe and healthy pregnancy.  Our children, families, and friends are thrilled.  :)  Trying so hard to be the believer who lets go, leans back and lift her hands to the Lord.  Trusting completely in His care.  Finding joy in the twists and turns that come our way.

What I'm Reading

Top to bottom:
"Daily Strength for Daily Needs" by Mary Wilder Tileston.  The copyright date on this is 1928  (first published in 1884!).  A gentleman at church had brought in boxes of old books that once belonged to a friend.  They were spread out in the fellowship center (a fancy name for the gym in our building) for folks to take if they wish.  I found this gem.  It's a daily devotional book full of wisdom.  I'm enjoying it immensely and having a difficult time not reading ahead!

"Holy Bible - NLT" - I love the New Living Translation.  I have a few others, but this is my favorite.  I call it the easy-reader version.  :)  I'm working on reading thru the Bible again this year and this is definitely the version the help me through it!  (I'm still in Exodus, but hey - it's the last day of January!)

"Brisingr" by Christopher Paolini - The third book in the Inheritance Cycle.  I'm a nerd.  I like fantasy books.  Good vs evil, swords and men in armor, yeah.  I'm in.  (and fyi - I like movies with a good sword fighting scene, too!)  My favorite books are historical fiction.  (ahem - nerd.  I say it again.)  Hmm.  And another thing, I don't like stand-alone books.  I usually only read book series.  Weird, I know.  (oh, and this isn't my first time through this book.  It's my 3rd.  My hubby bought it for me for Christmas.)

"The Ragamuffin Gospel" by Brennan Manning - Man, oh man.  I'm taking my time with this one, taking it in and meditating on the wisdom of the gospel of grace.  Being impressed over and over again by the Lord's ferocious love for us.

"Serving Like Jesus" by Fields and Eastman - This is the book we're studying in youth group with our students.  (It's the 4th in a series)  Truly learning what it is like to have a servant's heart.


I didn't throw our Sunday school book in the pile.  Or all the books I read with the kids.  Or the blogs I follow.  Or the news I keep up with.  Or facebook or email....

So, what are you reading?

Blessed

A great song from the worship during the youth retreat.  (written by Tommee Profitt)

I am under the weather.  Overwhelmed by daily migraines, head congestion and persistent cough.  Physically, I feel completely and totally beat.  Spiritually, I'm encouraged and uplifted!

Bruce and I took a handful (6) of our students on a retreat to northern Michigan over the weekend.  We had lots of crazy fun (like every year) enjoying the antics of our teens and the full joy of worshiping together.  Amazing.  The speaker was a phenomenal youth pastor out of Chattanooga, TN.  His message was right on the mark.  Hitting our kids hard, breaking their hearts and drawing them into a closer relationship with Jesus.  Amen.  Praying it'll be more than an emotional response to the evening and be a true life altering heart change!

We lovelovelove our students, our ministry, and the opportunity to disciple these teens.  I'm always in awe the Lord allows us the chance to be volunteer youth leaders.  Looking around the event, we saw friends (some youth pastors, some teens) and I began to doubt myself.  Doubt what God has called us to do.  Churches with full-time paid "real" youth pastors had soOoOo many students.  Of course they come from bigger churches.... but  I couldn't help but wonder if our students are missing out because my husband (or myself) aren't 'real' youth pastors.  So I pray.  I turn to the Lord and seek His face, thankful for His ferocious LOVE and GRACE.  Seeking Him, and praying in all we do with our students... knowing He can use us in our weakness.  And feeling blessed.

Happy New Year

Well, I'm not much for resolutions but I love frivolous lists.  :)

1. Sweet or Savoury?  Usually sweet.  But love spicy, too.
2. Dresses or Jeans?  Actually, skirts or yoga pants.  Depends on the day and the weather.
3. House or Apartment?  House.  I like a yard and the really of being rooted somewhere.  I crave soil to dig and plant, trees to fill up my view.  I am not a city girl.
4. Shop Online or Offline?  Both.  Etsy, craiglist, Ebay, Amazon and itunes are some of my favorites.  I love handmade items and try to buy used where we can.  I haven't tried ordering any food online.  
5. DVDs or Downloads?  Streaming netflix or DVDs.  We borrow from the library or netflix and we own a number of used movies.  We're movie people, not tv people.
6. Cocktails or Juice?  Eh, neither.  Juice, on occassion.
7. Chocolate or Strawberry?  Chocolate.  :)
8. Laptop or PC?  Netbook.  And I love it.  It does the basics and I don't need anything fancy.  But it's more convenient and portable.
9. Magazines or Newspapers?  I'll say magazines.  We like 'National Geographic', 'Mother Earth News', and such.  I read a lot of news online.
10. Facebook or Twitter?  Facebook (and far too often).  Admittedly, I just don't get Twitter...
11. CDs or MP3s?  mp3s.  I love not having stacks of cds sitting around or dealing with the packaging.  (does anyone else hate shrink wrap?
12. Kids or Pets?  Both!  We have two lovely and spunky children, 1 gigantic dog, and 4 crazy chickens.  (this is where I tell you I dream of having goats!)
13. Macaron or Cupcakes?  Cupcakes or brownies.  My SIL makes great cupcakes and dreams of having her own bakery.  I make brownies from scratch and we are never going back to boxed!  
14. Walk or Run?  Walk.  I enjoy running, but with my scoliosis it isn't a great idea.  Last time I ran consistently, my back freaked out and I spent a week on the couch and a month on the sidelines.  I walk and do yoga...  
15. Breakfast in Bed or Breakfast Out?  Out.  We rarely get the chance to sleep it and once I'm up, I'm up.
16. Market or Supermarket?  In summer we grow a lot of our own and shop farmer's markets to buy local.  Otherwise, I go where I can get the best food prices.  And we live across the road from a grocery store.  :)
17. Sourdough or Grainy?  Anything as long as it's homemade!
18. Heels or Flats?  Flats. (I'd really rather not wear shoes at all.)
19. Late nights or Not?  Hahaha.  Not.  It's a big joke in our house that I can barely stay up past 9pm.
20. Coffee or Tea?  Herbal tea.  I like the smell of coffee but I can't drink it.

'Tis the Season

I've been feeling a little under the weather the past couple of days.  That means lots of oranges, hand washing, and healing teas.  (and the kids are crazy about these little mandarin oranges!)

We set up and decorated our Christmas tree Sunday.  Our little reindeer enjoyed themselves!  Their enthusiasm was fantastic.  Bruce and I strung up the lights, then sat back to watch their joy in finding ornaments treasures in the box and choosing the perfect place on the tree.  Perfect.

Wishing you happiness and joy this Christmas season.  May we all be like the children digging in and finding joyful treasures in the common and miracles in the everyday.  And a hope, a relationship with the brave little boy, the redeemer sent from heaven by the God who loves us.   

Little Joys

Thanksgiving weekend was wonderful and joy-filled for our family.  It's been a long year and we have much for which to be thankful.  The Lord has certainly has given us strength and blessed us each step of the way.  Multiple surgeries, job concerns, anxiety and school trouble, my migraines and trouble with prescriptions, and so much more!  But this weekend was all about joy, praise, family, and giving thanks.  (not to mention pie!)  Here are a few highlights...

Homemade cream cheese frosting on Thanksgiving (to go the pumpkin cake with chocolate chips.)



Oh, yes.  It's that good!



My niece. She's only been walking for a few weeks and I got to see her do it on Thanksgiving.

Such a beautiful November and unseasonably warm. (okay, it's still chilly. But this is Michigan!)

Everyone (including the Truman, our labradoodle) had a chance to play outside. In late November, in Michigan, without snowpants. It was amazing!


Well, kids played outside.  Bruce worked on the cars and I cleaned the chicken coop.  At least the sun was shining!



Soaking up some vitamin D and playing with their best friend.

Hubby and I managed a full 24 hours away from the kids (which never happens!).  They had a chance to spend quality time with my fabulous and generous folks.  Bruce and I were able to spend some much needed grown-up together time, dinner out, and shopping for the kids.   As much as I love my children, it was very very nice to focus on my husband for a time.  I love that man!  I know I am blessed and am truly thankful...

First Grade Feast

Okay, so here is the thing.  I volunteer for everything.  Really, I do.  (it's a problem, I know!)  I always want to help out and be involved.  Especially when in comes to helping out at Carlie's school.  I don't get to work in the classroom because, honestly, busy 3 year old boys don't do well in structured first grade rooms.  :)  I love my boy dearly, but he makes that brand of volunteering pretty well impossible. 

Each fall the kindergartners and first graders have a Thanksgiving feast together.  The littlest tykes make apple pie, the teachers make some turkey, and the older students make stuffing and cornbread.  I was unable to come in and help the kids crack eggs and mix up cornbread, so I inquired about baking.  I like to be in the kitchen and sticking in a few pans of muffins during the evening didn't exactly seem like a hardship. 

I ran up to the school at the end of the day and - lo-and-behold - my little first grades did not mix up cornbread.  Apparently they ran out of time.  (the classroom is always disorganized and seems to run out of time to do important things on a daily basis.  Like send home important notes.  On one occasion - we had to sent Carlie in paint clothes for 2 weeks straight because they never seemed to get around to it!)  Anywho... 

I now find myself with boxes of Jiffy mix and dozens of cornbread muffins to be made.

all the goodness for cornbread muffins - yum!



I truly don't mind helping.  I just don't always (or usually!) think before I volunteer.  Oops.  I guess that's something I need to work on.  The third batch is in the oven now. Wish me luck on finishing them tonight and on safely transporting them to school tomorrow!

This is What 31 Looks Like

Me... taken by my multi-talented 6 yr old daughter.

My birthday was yesterday.  It was an amazing, blessing filled day.  Making me smile and bringing me to tears, all at the same time.  The thoughtfulness of my children, the kind words from my parents and in-laws, the happy wishes from old and new friends alike.  Dinner with me husband (no cooking!)  Wonderful thru and thru.  I am blessed. 

Self-Portrait

Today was a rare Michigan October day.  Sunny, warm, beautiful.

Encourages you, makes you slow down - observe - enjoy.

October in the Great Lakes State is changeable.  Volatile. 

Chill and windy one day.  Bright and still the next. 

Should you open windows or light a fire in the wood stove?

Much like our moods.  Every changing and affected by our surroundings.

But unlike our faith.  Where we are firm, steadfast, and confident.

Finding joy in Christ, regardless of our circumstances.

Depending wholly on the Creator and trusting in Him.

Trusting Him to grow us, change us, refine and reveal us. 

Reminding us of our identity in Christ.

"Forgiven beloved

Hidden in Christ

Made in the image of the Giver of Life

Righteous and holy

Reborn and remade

Accepted and holy, this is our new name"

~from "I Am New" by Jason Gray

Go!

I do not know how it happened, but I am running.  It began innocently enough, taking out the stroller in the afternoons to run errands.  I thought, "This is nice, we should just go for a walk".  And then we walked further.  And further.  I bought a jogging stroller off Craigslist for $30 to replace our worn out Graco that is 6+ years old, has bald tires and far too many miles.  And then walking seemed too slow.  I began to jog.  (Perhaps it was a trot?  It was certainly no run.) 

Today we did almost 3 miles.  Almost the entire distance at a run.  Jack rides in his trendy new (used) stroller as I pound the pavement.  We share possession of the ipod.  (my ipod doesn't work anymore and we are down to one pair of earbuds in the house.  What a travesty.) 

It has been 12-13 years since I've run.  Walk?  Sure.  Yoga?  All the time.  But never ever run.  I was a distance runner in high school.  After I got married and had 2 children, my back was so bad I could hardly walk.  Between my scoliosis and loss of core strength my back was taking on more than it could handle, grinding with each and every painful step.  Some days I was unable to move off the couch, debilitated by the pain.  But no more.  Two determined years of yoga, prayer, and hard work and I am well.  Having lost 20 pounds, I feel whole again.  Thankful the Lord made our bodies capable to bend, break and heal - remaking us stronger than when we began.

And I'm off...

Garden Love

Last Wednesday, we finally had rain. It's been a long hot, dry summer with highs in the upper 80's everyday with matching humidity but never any rain. (=miserable) Wednesday was a blessing. It poured for hours drenching the parched grass and garden. The kids and I were able to head out, weed some of the garden (really, how can weeds thrive without rain!) and harvest what was ready.
We are inundated with tomatoes and it's time to start canning! We grew 17 plants of heirloom tomatoes (but lost a few early in the season). And 17 cherry tomato plants. I've eating cherry tomatoes for lunch, dinner and snack and giving them about by the bucketful. Happily, they've been a blessing to many people this summer! We get a break from the heat this week (low 80s) and I have a two bushels of tomatoes to can. If the lack of counter space wasn't telling me it was time, the abundance of fruit flies would be...

Calendula! A pretty and hardy flower and one of my favorite herbs. I use it in the healing salve I make. We've had a really good harvest so far and, surprisingly enough, it is drying well inspite of all our humidity. We (my daughter is a great helper) will soon be collecting seeds for next year. Hopefully, we'll be able to sell seeds or seedlings in the spring above what we need to plant for our own use.
Another bit of green from my thriving herb garden (it gives me such joy). Lemon Balm.... mmmmm. Sweet and lemony mint-relative. My little plant has really grown after I transplanted it this year. I'm looking forward to tea....
Me. And my Teva tan-lines. :) Enjoying time outside barefoot in the wet grass after the rain. Looking forward to cooler days ahead as summer and farmer's markets wind down and school starts up...

Jedi Jack and the Invasion of the Garbage Men

Just to show you what life is like with an imaginative 3 yr old boy, here is a snippet from today:

I came out the bathroom this morning to find Jack holding a pumpkin carving
knife.
"Uh... whatcha doing Jack?"
"I sorry Mom. I gotta kid knife." (that's what he calls the pumpkin knives because they aren't sharp and the kids are allowed to use them under adult supervision)
"Um. Why?" I ask as I gently grab the knife away from his chubby
fingers.
"I heard a man voice," he replied.

Jack goes on to explain to me that he heard someone outside (probably
the garbage men since it's pick up day) and wanted to protect himself. Really? Couldn't he just knock on the door and tell me he heard something or go to his sister Carlie who was watching tv in the other room? He thought he was going to defend the household against the invasion of garbage men with a pumpkin knife? Jedi Jack, indeed. The boy has a lot of confindence, I'll give you that...

Counting Stars

We watched Andrew Peterson's streaming concert of 'Counting Stars' last night. Now, I've been a fan of his since the beginning so it's no surprise that I love this album and was more than happy to snuggle up in my pjs to watch a concert over the computer. It's been a few years since we have been able to see him live and I was not about to miss the chance!

I'm not an eloquent or gifted writer. I don't give moving album or movie reviews. I don't find it easy to come up with the right words, invoke the right emotion. And this new AP album simply leaves me tongue-tied. The songs beautiful and well-writed, as always. But it's more than that. There is something deeper and more soul-stirring here. (I knew I was in for it when the song snippets on itunes brought me to tears...)

Peterson isn't afraid (or, if he is it doesn't show) to delve into difficult aspects of relationship. Whether it's the relationship between husband and wife, with our children, between generations, or with our God - Peterson covers it. And it isn't all puppies and rainbows. The beauty is in the struggles and in the everyday moments. It's in the redemption from the brink. If things were easy, they wouldn't be worthwhile. (I wanted to choose a verse from 'Dancing in the Minefields', but it was too hard to choose just one. So I included the video.)
God's peace, grace and love surpasses all. The Lord and those aspects of his very being are greater than anything we could ever do or not do. God extended His love and grace to us in the form of His son, Jesus Christ, before we ever decided to accept Him and love him back. And He'll go on to love us forever because it's who He is, not something He does. God's love is not dependent on what we do. Or the strength of our faith in Him. (thankfully!) Enjoy the video and then the purchase the album at the www.rabbitroom.com (and you can read a real review there, as well as other great writings.) :)