We had a great weekend visiting family & friends back in Illinois.  Spent Friday evening with some of Matt’s family, rode in the combine Saturday, Jaelah visited her best friend from school, had supper with my family Saturday night, and on Sunday Sierra did pig chores with Daddy and then we went to church–so it was a full weekend.  This was the first time we’d been back to visit since we moved up here and although it made me sad from time to time, thinking about the people and the place that we’d left behind, I was hit over and over with how incredibly blessed we are–that someone wants us to come back and visit, and how loved I felt. In church, the minister gave a challenge of sorts, to be engaged in our spiritual life, and to be glorifying God in the MIDDLE of whatever circumstance/trial/situation we’re in–not to wait until the end of the experience to do so.  When the Israelites were carried away as captives to Babylon, God didn’t want them to ‘waste’ their time there–and He already had plans for them after their 70 years there were over.  He sees the big picture, while so many times, I am so short-sighted. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jer. 29:11  Reminded me again of what I’ve learned (slowly) over the past few years–that my true purpose here on earth is to bring glory to God–and if that means giving up ‘living my dream’ to go live on the Amazon river because that will bring Him the most glory, well, that’s why I’m occupying space on this planet.

I wanted to include some recent pictures of our kids also…