Lost and now found or our Amazing God...

And how he loves on us so. My beloved has been traveling more for work this year. He went to Atlanta a few weeks ago for the week. If you've never been through the Atlanta airport then you've missed a confusing overwhelming experience.


He likes to take small bags so he doesn't have to check stuff to save time. He's pretty careful of his things. This time he did great the whole week until the day he came home. He walked through security and put his laptop in one tray and his pocket contents and wedding ring in another.

When he came home I was sitting here telling him how I'd looked at wedding bands again for him but didn't buy one because they were lots more than I'd anticipated. He'd lost his last one somewhere in the mill so he's been wearing his grandfather's ring for the last year or so.

He jumped up and started patting his pockets then went downstairs and tore through all of his bags. I knew as soon as he'd started patting his pockets what had happened. He had lost the ring. It's a fairly big ring - Michael's hands are quite big and he wears a 13 ring. I guess he took it off automatically and dropped it with the keys and change in the tray then he forgot to pick it up. Now least you thing "HOW did he forget his ring?" He doesn't wear it on a daily basis. Where he works it is detrimental to his hands if he were to get it caught on a piece of equipment. So he wears it when he is home and not in the mill.

I calmed him down - he was very upset about it. And we called Atlanta. They have a voicemail thing telling you to register a lost complaint on their "Foundit" sight. We did this fully thinking the ring was gone for good. I started watching Ebay. We found one that looked very similar but was in California so we were fairly certain it was not the same ring.

Flash forward well over a week and he gets a call from the airport. They FOUND THE RING! Amazingly enough they found it. They shipped it back to us. I picked it up at the post office this morning and the envelope didn't seem to have anything in it. I tore it open and PRAISE THE LORD there it was!



I had friends everywhere praying for this ring. I know it's a material thing but it truly cannot be replaced. It has been in his family for many years and as I found in my searching there really aren't any exactly like this ring out there. Even if it were exactly the same it wouldn't be THE same.

I know the Lord cares enough about us to know the number of the hairs on our heads. I'm so thankful he cares enough to bring this ring back to us because it was so important to us. I love how he searched for it and brought it back. I love how He continues to search and bring us back to him again and again. Amazing love that is!

In Christ's Amazing Embrace,

Peg

Back to school...

Just kidding. We started school two weeks ago. And so today when nearly everyone else in our neighborhood/town is going back to school - in the rain no less - we slept in. I still have one in the bed. You get to guess who that might be.

We have enjoyed not having to get up and be at the mercy of others schedules. Well, except for my beloved Michael's. ;) So today while everyone else is learning the new drill at school we get to do fun stuff. My girls will read until they decide to move on to the next thing or figure out they probably should eat breakfast before it's lunch time. And I'm sorting the clothes out of the attic and getting ready for West End's huge consignment sale. Fun stuff I tell you.

We'll do school tomorrow unless Charlotte wanders in and wants/insists on doing her school. She likes school very much. I'm glad she has a love for it. I'm glad my big girls still have a love for it.

So how was your first day of school? Or are you already midway through the year? The beauty and blessing of homeschooling! WHOOHOO.

In Christ's love,
Peg

It's my girl's 13th Birthday.

We had a great day shopping and lunching just the two of us today. We ate too much at Panera and stayed in budget in Old Navy. Great sales in Old Navy too.

McGinley wanted "skinny" jeans after wearing a friend's at camp this week. Interestingly enough she is skinny enough to wear "skinny" jeans and look good. Wench. ;)

And the evidence:



Here are a few more pictures from her birthday party tonight with family:



This is a dress she picked out today while we were shopping. I was amazed at the fact that she actually picked a dress. She is so not my girly girl. But it is a good choice and I think she'll enjoy wearing it.


And her birthday cake she requested:



And the final great birthday present from Mimi and Pop Pop:



Each girl in our family receives a birthstone ring from their Mimi and Pop Pop on their 13th birthday. Each one has been unique to the girl so far. McGinley was excited to see she did indeed have a ring box in that big bag!

We have so enjoyed and been blessed by the creation that is our McGinley. God surely makes some unique and awesome people. We're just thrilled she is one of our people.

In the midst of Christ's abundant blessings,

Peg

Enjoying the quiet in the midst of chaos...

We've had a busy month here at La Geron. I've had three out of four girls at camp this month. All at different times which has meant some juggling of schedules and asking (i.e. begging) for favors from friends and family. Michael was gone for 10 days in the middle of the month. We finished swim season again. And today we're getting ready to leave for another 10 days to Family camp.

Today the agenda is busy. I've got a cake in the oven for one of Michael's co-worker's birthday. One girl is up and moving. All three older girls are still sleeping. And still left on my list is: pack for 6 people, clean my house, library, Kmart, knitting shop, pay bills, grocery store and of course, maintain my sanity in the crazy day ahead.

And in the midst of the chaos that is my life I am enjoying the peace and times of quiet. Last night we had friends come for dinner. I was cooking pasta sauce in bulk to take with us camping. I called our friends and said come on by and eat with us. It was such a fun time. Laughing and eating with good friends - it doesn't get much better. This morning as I got up early to bake this cake that I should have baked last night I have enjoyed the quiet of my house and the small stirrings of life as the girls slowly awaken. God is good all the time.

I am thankful for these small pockets of quiet in the midst of the craziness and am ever aware of the need to purposefully plan for them. The quiet time focused on the Lord and talking with the Lord is filling up those spots where I've given all I can, emptied all that I have into others. I am ever grateful that His mercy and grace is fresh each morning. I sure need it every morning.

And now I have to get on with the blessed chaos that is my life. Have a blessed day and make sure to carve out some quiet time for yourself today in the midst of the chaos that is your life.

In Christ's peaceful grip,

Peg

Charlotte's first swim meet...

She was so proud to get to have the signature dolphin on her back. All good swimmers have their team logo on them don't you know?



She was a tad bit nervous about the deep end she had to start from - it was 8 feet deep. One of her coaches got in with her initially and then stayed back once she got going. They are doing a great job.





She was met at the end by her big sister Sophia. They waited for her at the other end and Sophia pulled her out. I love seeing my girls love on each other and cheer for each other.

In Christ's Abundant Love,
Peg

Getting ready for the new year...

You all know we home school right? Well this past weekend my beloved and I went to a home school convention to get some of the curriculum we will use in the next official school year for the girls.

We have, for the past several years, gone up and spent the night so we can have two full days at the conference. Friends go with us and it's a great time of fellowship but also focused time to remember why we do what we do.

This year we focused on our eldest daughter. She's going to be in high school this year. I know it's hard to believe but she is. She is a beautiful and intelligent girl. Keeping up with her is going to keep me on my toes. I think I'm up for it. Today that is.

I loved being there in this huge convention center with all these people who do the same things we do. I love being with people whose focus is being with their families. And like being together as a family.

So we're ready - we go year round and we're finishing up a few things right now. But we'll start the "new" year in August. My girls were excited to see the new stuff. They love books of any kind. I love that they love them.

How cool is that? Kids who love to learn. God is so good.


In Christ's Love,
Peg

Birthdays/Anniversaries and Joy/Sorrow

May is a time of great joy in our house. My Emma turned 11 the other day. And we had a great time celebrating the joy that she brings and gives to us. She is a sweet, giving child with a servant's heart. She is a beautiful girl inside and out. We are thankful for her.

At the same time we always deal with a great deal of sorrow in May. Our sweet babby boy Zebulon Adam was born in May. He was stillborn at 22 weeks. We miss him still. Even though we never got to hold him this side of Heaven we miss him. Makes no sense to someone who has not walked the path we have.

I realized today that yet another May has passed by and we are still missing Zeb. I picture him with Jesus holding his hand as he walks the streets of gold. Talking to my daddy - my daddy loved his grandbabies. He loved being a granddad. He took great joy in the job of being a granddad. I picture Zeb with a head full of curls and a smile just like my beloved's. I miss him. I have marked yet another year since we lost him.

Some days it doesn't bother me because I know he's in a WAY better place than we are. Others it hits me right in the gut. Takes my breath away. Like when Charlotte said to me a few weeks ago "If Zeb were here he'd be friends with the Kriner boys." It had never occurred to me until that moment that yes Zeb, Micah and Caleb would be the same age and best of friends. It makes me enjoy the twins more when we are with them.

Today I also realized that I go through May in a fog. I can't focus. I'm forgetful. I just do the next thing. Put the next foot in front of the other. I don't think the Lord means me to live like that every year. And I know my Zeb would not want us to be that way. So I made a promise to myself today that I would be focused on the joy, the moment and the time we have here until we get to see him in heaven. So, as a friend of mine said today, I'm trading my sorrows in!

God is good all the time and I am thankful for the joy that May brings. I choose to focus on the joy.

In Christ's Abundant love,
Peg