"Praying for Boys" ~ End of the Month Wrap-Up

"We mustn't forget why we give in the first place-
because we have been given so much.

Not gold,
not silver,
not fancy presents,

but simply the love of a radically good God.

It's the goodness of God
that compels us to be good.

When we truly understand the depth of God's gift 
of salvation and where we would be without it,
we're motivated to do good works
and live a good, moral life.

We're motivated to give
because God gave to us.

We love to love,
because of the way He first loved us.

And we love to point others to Him because we know
He can give them the same gifts He's given us."

-Brooke McGlothlin-

"On that day the Lord their God will save them,
as the flock of his people; 
for like the jewels of a crown they shall shine on his land.
For how great is his goodness, and how great his beauty!"

Zechariah 9:16-17

"Praying for Boys": Mid-Month Discussion Question from Brooke McGlothlin

"Name five ways the Lord has been good to you in the last month.

What are some activities you and your family can do together that give back to your community?"

Cell phone photo dump!

Well here are are WHOLE bunch of pictures from the past couple months I just (finally) downloaded from my cell phone onto my computer for safe keeping... many of you have seen them either on Facebook or Instagram or in private messages/texts, etc.... but, some haven't... so without further ado, here they are for your viewing pleasure.  

/Peace\

Reading on a rainy day.

Hangin with our buddy Colby!

Spending time out of doors (obviously this was before the temperature of our days rocketed into the upper 90's/lower 100's on a consistent basis)

My sweet Bennett.

Road trip! To Auntie LoLo's house, for a going away dinner/bonfire :(

Brother buddies... mmm love it :)

HOT & TIRED

Randoms.

Their preferred clothing option.

"Look, a worm!"

[side note- he potty trained himself- I take no credit for it]

Road rage?

More good times with Colby!

[and Bennett thinking... "what did I get myself into?!"]

They are so sweet together... when they are not beating each other up.

Another road trip! This time to the lake with friends!!!

The Chewelah Creek is super fun right now, shallow and not ice-cold!

Hitchin a mower ride home from neighbors Chris and John!

Chillin out, maxin, relaxin all cool...

The Springer Family monkey named 'Ringer' has been hanging out with us since I came home from my trip to Wisconsin, and he has sure been lovin life in Washington :) :) :)

We thoroughly enjoyed having the 'Thunder' Drum & Bugle Corp practicing in "our backyard" (the fields behind the high school) for five days in June!!!  We are official Thunder groupies now!  

"CRUSH IT THUNDER!!!!"

Playing at a "new" playground in Chewelah... don't know why it took me so long to bring them here.. it's the playground behind the elementary school... I think I just felt that since my kids don't go to school there, we shouldn't play there?  I don't know... anyway, one of my coworkers said JUST GO!  So, we did, and- we loved it :)

They have a "BIG SLIDE!"

We've been having lots of fun together playing the matching game that Bennett got for his birthday.

And ever since turning 4, Bennett has quite suddenly developed a new passion for art, 

and sticker books!

So focused.

This little piece still has me in awe! I truly love it!!!

[I am also a lot biased! This I know!]

His favorite thing is to draw "dinosaurs", which are circles with dots for eyes and stick figure bodies.  Here is an example- this was on a card to Grandma Lori & Grandpa Dean.

He also likes to give a name to each dinosaur, and I label them for him.

And i'm pretty certain this one is a picture of Mike Wazowski!!!

I can see that he finds beauty in simplicity.

He also loves to put things into orderly patterns...

..Type A, oldest child, perhaps? Ahem...

And then there is our wild, strong-willed, independent little Sawyer...

...who keeps us on our toes, constantly surprises us with the things he is picking up on without any help at all... and chooses to wear winter boots to the park, and, everywhere for that matter.

Stinky Sauce ;)  

Ugggh I love them SO much!!!!!!!!

Happy 239th Birthday America!

"Praying for Boys" ~ Month 15/21

"God’s goodness is the eventual conclusion of every generation of His children.

You might not think it now, but if you’re one of God’s children, you’re going to figure it out by the end of your life—God is good. Before your last day, “God is good” will come from your lips. I don’t know what He’s going to have to take you through to get you to that place, but eventually your value system will be set up in such a way that you say, “The Lord does all things well—and good!” Everything that He allowed, everything He withheld, every difficult season, every stretching circumstance, He meant for good. His disposition is kindness. His default action is for your benefit. He’s good! And someday, you will taste it!"

"Psalm 100:5 says, “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Every generation learns the truth—God’s goodness is something He wants us to experience. It flows to us as steadfast love and faithfulness and is present in everything that He does."

-James MacDonald-