Window Into Heaven

Several weeks ago we heard a message in church about Malachi chapter 3.  The sermon was about testing God with our tithing, and seeing how he will be faithful to meet our needs in His ways.  Jordan and I were on month 7 of living in our Hillsboro house with the garage piled high with boxes, watching the Oregon summer slip through our fingers from our shoebox backyard.  I was dreaming of what our "window of heaven" was going to look like...honestly, it had a lot to do with me.

Malachi 3:10
Bring the tenth part into the store-house, so that there may be food in My house. Test Me in this,” says the Lord of All. “See if I will not then open the windows of heaven and pour out good things for you until there is no more need. 

As I wondered how many acres God would give us, or what my next kitchen would look like, I thought to myself, "When we get into our next house, I am going to make an art project and put that phrase up somewhere in the house.  It will be our 'window into heaven'."  

God didn't audibly respond to me in that moment, although I am sure he had a little grin.  He just let me keep coming to him.  More weeks went by in the house, more sunny days seemed to slip past our tiny backyard and shadowed windows... so our family planned a camping trip to the coast.  Trey was waking much earlier than the other kids, so I strapped him to my back and we walked the beach.  In the early morning, brisk air, I talked to God.  I just thanked him for the ocean, the sand, the precious little boy now breathing heavily against my back, and the opportunity to be in communion with Him.  I heard him speaking back to my heart.  

"It's like a little taste of heaven, when you and I walk on the beach together."

Yes, it is, I thought.  Then the verse came back to me.  Like a window into heaven.  In his gentle love for me, I felt convicted.  So, heaven may not be just the home I live in.  I do feel heaven here, also.  I could also feel heaven in our Hillsboro house.  Maybe heaven is more about meeting Jesus, and less about my actual location.  

A week later we settled on coming to Jenn's house.  In His gentle love for me, he spoke again.

"This is a window into heaven, I am here with you."

I looked around.  He was everywhere.  Late night conversations with Jenn, the kids playing together, laughing as we figure out how to put 4 kids to bed in the same room at the same time, enjoying dinners on the back patio, sweet snuggles with a soft baby, watching Jordan with all the kids climbing on him, and all in the setting of an Oregon summer.

This is a little sampler of heaven.  

Laying out in the sun, getting warm after the splash pad

Two handsome brothers having snack

Resting in the shade, with a binky, with someone who understands :)

Of course...there is a lot of this in heaven!

Picnics on the play structure

Toasty red cheeks from bike rides, swings, and games of chase

Roasting marshmallows with friends

Or just eating them straight out of the bag...

Having smiles that are so genuine and real and beautiful

Being good at your favorite things

Chasing bubbles

For the first time

Oh yes...this is heaven

Snuggling up for bed time stories, all together...never having to say 'goodbye'
(as a side note, Jordan has swept me off my feet all over again since we have been here.  He is amazing with all the kids.  Not gonna lie, it turns me on :)  I can only say this here because I have already said it to him.  Incredible.)

There is still a lot of human in this heaven.  In the real heaven, kids won't fight over toys.  Babies won't wake in the night making mommies so exhausted that they lose their minds and yell at the older kids when they won't rest at nap time.  In real heaven, husbands don't work late or overseas.  And, thankfully, in real heaven, you never have to walk down the stairs at the end of a long and busy day, and see this...

In God's gentle love for me, he has reminded me that the most incredible things about desiring heaven is desiring him.  It isn't about me, it's about him, and it is indescribable.  

Dear Grandpa

Dear Grandpa,

At our new house we were listening to some music with our friends while we colored.  The music station played ALL your songs.  First was Wheels On The Bus, then Twinkle Twinkle, and even Skid-a-mrink!  We were so excited.  It made us talk about you and miss you.  Trey was clapping, just like you taught him.  Thank you for singing us songs, Grandpa!

Silas, Jewel and Trey


Dear Dad,

One afternoon while we were getting settled at the new place, Jenn and I turned on a kid's mixture station for the kids to listen to while they were coloring.  It played a lot of songs, but then all in a row came three of the most frequent that you had been singing to the kids while you were here.  At first Jewel shouted out, "Grandpa's song!".  When the next one came she looked at me and said, "Grandpa's in there?".  When the third one started she let out a big sigh and leaned her head against my arm and whispered, "My Grandpa".

After the kids were off and playing, I was cleaning up crayons and papers.  The music was still on and it started playing You Are My Sunshine.  My heart fluttered and my eyes got blurry.  It may just be the busy week, or all the change, the lack of sleep.  No.  That's my Dutch side trying, trying to give a practical explanation.  It wasn't practical, it was personal.  It was because I wanted to let out a big sigh and just whisper, "My Dad".

Thanks for singing to me.

Sommer

Sunshine

 It is true that we get a lot of rain in Oregon.  The winters are hard, very short days, many that are grey and dreary.

But, when the sun comes out, and there is visible and tangible evidences of the work of the rain.  There is no where else I want to be. 

This spring we did a lot of hiking and exploring.  Every budding flower, every waterfall, every bright green tree, causes us to say; O Lord, how GREAT Thou Art.

 Multnomah Falls hike. 

 This is why Jordan is the best Dad.  Not just a hike, not just corralling the kids down the path, not just pointing out the sights...he stops to teach them about marking your path to find your way home.  They learned about the power of a current and why it can be dangerous to fall into a river even if it looks shallow.  And we all tasted water squeezed from moss, survival skills 101.

Nearly 10 years for us...I had no idea what a great deal I was getting back then!

When the kids play in the sandbox in the back, I scoot Trey's exersaucer out so he can watch and get stocked up on vitamin D.  He likes it :)

Here are the promised 'catching up' pictures.  Trey at 6 months, pulling up and standing anywhere he can get a grip.

Matching tattoos.  Pretty tough.

A trip to the fire station with our Mom's Group from church.

Getting Trey dedicated at Westport.  This is my family :)

Jewel was totally distracting to the audience with her flashing grin and sunglasses.

Trey played it cool and sucked his thumb when it was our turn to be introduced.

Thankful.  We have a church family who does just as they promise in a dedication...walking with us in support and encouragement as we humbly take on the gift of parenting.

L.O.V.E.

Jewel really getting into feeling the warm sand at the park sandbox.

Trey, really getting into melting his momma's heart with his bright blue eyes and thumb sucking cuteness.

And he knows it.

First trip to the splash park.

Getting Trey in on the Saturday morning pancake and sausage breakfast.

Getting big, drinking from a sippy cup.

So, this is a major splattering, but just documenting for myself (and for the kids), that we did do fun stuff this spring :)

Movin'

Many of you know that Jordan and I have actually been "On the Move" for almost 2 years.  We are at it again.

A few weeks ago we were presented with an opportunity that we just can't pass up!  

Jen and Troy are very close friends of our family.  We met them over 4 years ago at our church and have been through major journeys with them.  Jen and I have been in Bible Study together, in parenting together and in friendship together since we met just weeks after their twin daughters were born.  Then, when Jordan became a Marshal, he and Troy have been working together (Troy was instrumental in helping us get connected with the Marshal service).  Our families have become family :)  Troy has been put on an assignment that will have him away from home until December.  Jen is home with her twin girls (now 4 1/2) and their newest addition, Caleb (10 weeks).  This is not Jen's first time holding down the fort while Troy is gone, but it is her first time doing so with 3 kids and for this amount of time.  Just before Troy left, he and Jordan devised a plan :)  Troy wanted to make sure someone would be around to give Jen a hand when she needed it, keep her company, and help with taking care of the house/yard.  Jordan and I have been wanting to get our Hillsboro house rented out before the school year starts, but we have been unable to find another rental that we feel suits are family.  I am sure you are putting the pieces together.  We are combining forces.

This week, Jordan and the kids and I moved in with Jen and her three kids.  Thankfully, God has blessed Troy and Jen with a spacious house and great yard (which they are generously sharing with us!).  Jen and I are looking forward to supporting each other, planning an incredible fall schedule for the kids (including home schooling for Katie, Karly and Silas), and getting some great laughs along the way with six kids ages 5 and under in the same house.  We are gearing up for major Costco trips, freezer meals, wacky dinner times, crazy bed times, and loads of memories.  I am feeling thankful, again, for our Super Bury Suburban, able to haul Jen, me and ALL SIX KIDS together!

Our plan is to stay until Troy returns home.  We are trusting God with timing for where we will go from there.  We are still looking for houses, prayerfully considering our plan to rent or buy.  

We would love for you to join us in prayer as we kick off this next phase.  In our own strength, Jen and I cannot care for our own kids and help each other, so please pray that we would be offering to one another only what the Holy Spirit has equipped us to share.  Pray that our kids would embark on this adventure with excitement and flexibility (which they will of course see from us).  Pray that God will supply all of us with incredible grace, love and sense of humor.  Pray for God's protection over Troy while he is away.  Pray that our Hillsboro house rents with quality renters ASAP.  Pray that this will be a time of growth for all of us, a time of intentionality in parenting and relationships, a time of receiving God's provision with gratitude and praise.

Major positives for me are that Jen is a Spirit filled and incredibly fun person.  She parents in that way, relates in that way, and most importantly she loves God in that way.  We are both (in a totally geeky way) looking forward to organizing, planning, coordinating, optimizing, and getting the most out of this time together.  I feel thankful that we are able to grow in our relationships with one another and encourage each other in our Spiritual walk.  

Is it going to be wild?  Yup.  It will.  Just wait for the upcoming blog posts...if I can squeeze them in....they are sure to be entertaining.

Starting Monday, August 13th, our new address will be:

12422 SE One Rosa Drive

Happy Valley, OR 97086

Much Love,

Jordan, Sommer, Silas, Jewel and Trey

WALKING!

OK, I know this is totally out of order.  I still have pictures of Trey at 6mos pulling himself up and standing around the house.  Then I have more of him at 8mos cruising along the furniture and standing alone.  At 9mos he took a few uneasy steps, but there are no videos since it was impossible to predict when he would do it.  Then at 10 months, he takes off.  This has been going on for several days, but every time I got down on the floor to video him, he got so excited he would walk too fast, lose his balance and tip over.  The day before my birthday he walked about 20 steps from me to Jordan, on the opposite side of the room.  We all cheered and clapped so loud he immediately dropped to his knees, crawled back to me at lightening speed, and burst into tears.  It took a day or two to get over that, and now he is getting more confident every time he tries!  So here he is, just shy of 11 months, about 17.5 pounds, gettin' around town :)
(try not to pay attention to the lack of clothing, it is HOT here today.  And don't mind the dangerous drum sticks he is toting around, he walks better when he is holding something, it was for the sake of the video)

Spring Cleaning....

 Yes, Spring cleaning at the end of July.  Life has been a whirlwind since May.  I want to catch up before we get even further ahead of ourselves!

In June, I had the honor of throwing a baby shower for my friend, Lisa.  It is her last sweet little baby, and celebrating with her, her family, and our friends, was so much fun.  I am learning that I really enjoy these party planning and throwing opportunities...especially when it is for someone I love so much!

Just two weeks ago, Lisa and her husband, Kyle, and their kids; Marin, Maddie, and Max, welcomed baby Marcus into the family.  He is cute as can be and a treasure to round off this fabulous family.

For the baby shower we did a camping theme...and roasted gourmet s'mores.  Thank you pintrest.

 My cousin, Jean, was in town for this weekend (thankfully, because three kids plus shower planning is a little wacky).  She's the kind of house guest that feels more like a relief to welcome than to send off.  She feeds Trey baby food while I am cutting up dinner for Jewel, she reads books to one while the others are getting bathed, she finishes dishes while the littles are getting tucked in, she stays up until wee hours of the morning sharing hearts and listening to stories and struggles.  Needless to say, we all soaked up every last minute of our time with her and had big tears when she left. 

We made a trip to the Rose Garden on her last day...I can't stop myself from plastering my totally adorable daughter all over this blog post.  The yellow dress plus the yellow roses made for a postcard setting. 

 There was also a spot for ring around the rosie (although we weren't actually around the rosies at this time), rolling around in the grass, and a big brother helping his little sister back up the hill. 

 Already looking forward to Auntie Jean's next business trip to the NW.  We are very blessed to have shared this weekend with you!