Me and My MAC

I did it.....

Hold on and stay tuned because it is amazing and E Z!!!

My AdVeNtURouS Summer became ABUNDANTLY AdVeNtURouS

Friends,
WOW has it been a long time and I am missing sharing all of the excitement that I am blessed with.
This post will be short as I am in a hotel business center because I was missing this experience and just had to attempt fill my longing right here in Sugarland Texas....

The summer started out as....
3 Mommas
6 Children
and a brilliant idea to get in touch with nature...
And so we set off to Ingrid's Farm (the post right before this one:)
We continued fulfilling our brilliant ideas  by fishing at DeWitts pond near to where we live and then off to Wyoming on a 7 day adventure but not with out a little pneumonia saying hello the day we were to leave.
Thousands of miles later and many hours sitting in the vehicle we unloaded new bikes and children some of which experienced emergency rooms in another country some of which experienced tire shops in a small town in another country.
2 days later.....on an airplane headed to the East Coast of Canada.
1 week and 2 days later we broke the news to our children and family and friends we would be moving....
We finished our vacation (which was full of adventurous hikes, beaches, festivals and fun) and my second child and I  headed to Doane College to get my first born settled in his first year of University and then headed home to meet grandma (she was moving to our house here now she will move to our house there:) and the other 2 of our fabulously fantastic five. 
The work began....
Cleaning and de-cluttering so the house could go up for sale and we could fit our stuff into a moving van....
10 days later I was on a plane to our new location to find a new home.
AND
Here my man and I are 6 days later trying to make the right decision on a home for our family...
It has been that adventurous summer that I desired....
I love when I am given all that I ask for and MORE!
It has truly been an amazing trip and as SOON as I have more that 20 minutes I will let you know the beauty in each and every step of our summer journey.
Stay tuned and may your adventures be all they hope for.

PS  My apologies for no pics..I am either technologically illiterate :) or the mouse doesn't work properly!

Were on our way, on our way to Ingrids farm.....

When Mommas have nothing but time on their hands (and all you mommas know the surplus of time that we have) and they sit around eating Bon Bons and watching Oprah (remember....she retired her show:)  great ideas produce themselves!

3 Mommas...

6 Children....

A summer holiday (6 short weeks)

and the Brilliant idea to get in touch with nature....

A journey of connecting and discovering and the continuation of writing our life stories as we cultivate a relationship with Nature.

And the list was made and the miles planned...

First Stop

"Ingrid's Farm!"

We decided we would start with a short trip!  A 1 hour drive to be exact!  We were out of practice and thought that it would be best if we tested our packing skills before we embarked on the "Mother of a Journey".

It was the last day of school and the bags were packed....The Mommas were off to gather up their beautiful offspring and head north.....

The last door slammed, the horn honked, the Mommas cheered, the offspring jeered and

down the road we went....

Oh dear...I forgot the food....

Oh dear... I forgot the car seat....

Oh dear, Oh dear....

One hour late and some anxiously awaiting offspring on the other end...we made it to the farm.

From sun up to sun down the children played and connected, explored and discovered....

AND

There were no electronics!

NONE!

Pure Creativity and Adventure....

It was BEAUTIFUL....

A perfect beginning to What will be the best summer Adventures EVER!

A perfect beginning to embracing Nature and allowing it to fill our souls in the deepest parts, transforming us in ways yet to be known!

BaKiNg BrEaD

The first ahhhhhhhh! moment that I embraced as a celebration of  the completion of a long busy six months was....

 BaKiNg BrEaD! 

The dough groweth over!

Our dear friend (she is an amazing baker) posted a wonderful picture of her bread that she baked!

A few of us girls were inspired so we invited ourselves over to learn how to produce something so enticingly delicious!



THE INSPIRATION



It was a beautiful day!  The sun was shining and the birds were singing.

A day of connecting and spending time catching up! 

Making the perfect round shape!

A time of learning something new beyond a bread recipe! 

It was a time of children's laughter and the smell of Spring and freshness! 

 It was a day that represented "newness"! 

The end of one season and the beginning of another.

And what a better way to celebrate a new season of life than with wonderful women coming together to build relationships and enjoy each others company...

AND the bread was scrumpdeliciciosous! 

Fresh out of the oven with butter....who could ask for a better treat! 

Warm Buns...Melted Butter...YUM!

Hot, Fresh Homemade Buns

I am sure that other than our wonderful teacher....

Teaching the girls how to knead dough!

 none of us have baked bread since our bread baking lesson but the time we spent together was far more enriching than the flour we used!

History and Heritage Rekindled!

Roots of Change

Whew....
This journey is almost complete and what an adventure it has been.  It has changed me in the most amazing way.  Providence has prevailed and my roots have grown deeper into the soil that grounds me and feeds me.

My word DILIGENCE has served me well.
My support network has provided just that...SUPPORT!!

I miss writing.  Oh don't get me wrong I have been writing (typing) til my fingers tingle and loving what I have been learning but I miss writing and sharing on my blog and I can't wait to get back to this piece of me!

I have sooooo... many great adventures to share.

Words...What Are Those?

WoW!  The last time I connected with you beautiful and lovely friends was February 8th.....
Where does the time go?

Agghhh!!  I am a little rusty at this..  I could however write a behavior/treatment plan for you!

This year has been amazing and full.  As I started this year there were a few new endeavors I embarked on. 
I committed to pushing through the first six months of this year to finish my 2 year program in Child and Youth Care Work.  What this mean for me was 3 courses and 30 hours of practicum in an INTENSIVE Residential Treatment Home working with youth age12- 177/8.  This journey began in January and will be complete in June.

With this choice came sacrifice!  I had to set aside what I was doing and loved doing and follow in obedience to my calling.  Boy was that hard.  It has been tough.  It has challenged me on so many levels but most amazingly His hand has been on me through this entire experience.  I love providence...it is moving and encouraging.

In January as my dear friend Jodi and I were sharing our stories and ideas ( I love when that happens) she shared with me that she was choosing a word for the year.  I was inspired and chose a word as well....


Providence (No this was not my word if you can believe it) Moment....
At my practicum placement on my first day we participated in a team building activity.  We were to create a piece of art to represent the word (an ethic) that the therapist assigned us!  These pieces of art would be used in the treatment of the youth in our house.

The word I was assigned was the word I previously chose to be my word of the year....

This is my piece of Art that I created that hangs in the house where I am practicing changing lives.  It is a word that I hold dear to my heart because with out diligence I would not be where I am today.
This word is written in the top margin of my blackberry (an agenda with a black plastic cover..HEHE) as a reminder to be diligent in my calling knowing that I am on a journey that is far beyond myself. 

These are the creations of my colleagues....

It was amazing to see how each of us designed our pieces so differently.  I wallowed in the beauty of our difference as it reminded me that we are all created for a purpose and it is a celebration to embrace....

Providence

Providence according to the American Heritage Dictionary
1.  Care or preparation in advance;  foresight.  2.  Prudent management; economy.  3.  The care, guardianship , and control exercised by a deity;  divine direction.  4.  Providence. God

This season of my life is very busy.  My goal of posting once a week is taking a back burner as I move forward in my journey to impact the lives of troubled teens.  The day will come when this season is complete and a new season begins...

As I live out this adventure I can only say......PROVIDENCE.

As I make it through one more day...PROVIDENCE

As my friends and family support, feed and care for us....PROVIDENCE

As I walk with friends who are living out their desires......PROVIDENCE

As my husband and I talk about our hearts desires and see them coming to fruitation......PROVIDENCE

As I put one foot in front of the other moving toward my dreams and goals and it unfolds beautifully....  When I am so exhausted but answer the tug at my heart to write the message my heart is speaking ....
When I, through this season, balance the demands of full time school, friends who have needs, family demands and needs, and working with teens who need to be LOVED

and I make it through the day full of joy, thankful for what is ....PROVIDENCE