Finally Fall

It was funny as I did laundry yesterday...I don't think I've ever had shorts and sweaters in the same load of laundry before. It was close to ninety on Monday and in the fourties yesterday morning! I'm loving the cool temps though - I've been looking forward to pulling out the comfy fall clothes! Not to mention how beautiful it always looks back at our house in the fall (I'll have to post some pictures of the color later). Things have been pretty busy here lately - nothing in particular, just a lot of little things (Making a bedroom for Grace, MOPS, Jordan's new job, youth group, keeping up with the kiddos...you get the drift). Anyways, it seems like I blinked and it's the middle of October! In three weeks we'll be going to Disney World :) We've been planning this trip for over a year so I've had it in my head that it's so far away for so long...It's so hard to believe it's here already! I can't wait to see how much fun the kiddos are going to have (we're going with my parents, my brother, his wife and their two boys). So here, in picture form, is what we've been up to lately...lots has been going on as you'll see.

This is Jackson's first quad ride :) You should have seen us (or maybe not)....we all managed to ride this one because we couldn't get the other one started. I'm positive we exceeded the weight limit! We've since had many more quad rides...Have I mentioned how much Jackson LOVES to be outside?

In September we went to the apple orchard. Yum-O! Grace had about five apples while we were there (not exagerating). She is such a silly one!

Jackson's First Apple...Don't worry we didn't really let him eat it!

And can you believe these blue eyes!!!! They're pretty hard to resist!

This is Grace riding Rocky (her Auntie Katie is boarding it at their house).

Can you tell how much she LOVES horses - her face says it all!

Grace and her kitten Durango.

Our cat had kittens this summer and this is the only one that stuck around...so glad it did or she would have been broken hearted! She cracks me up the way she carries him everywhere not caring if he's scratching her or not - such a little mother she is!

Without a doubt we are blessed!

Answered Prayer

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Growth is good, even when it hurts a little; especially if it draws us closer to God. I'm so glad that God continues to show himself to me and gives me opportunities to grow in my faith. I may have mentioned to some of you that Jordan lost his job earlier in September (his last day was actually today). God has given me such a peace that he was going to take care of us and that he would provide. Even when I found out that COBRA was going to be $1200 a month, I knew he would show us a way or we'd get by without insurance. Well I'm very happy to say that he has found a job. He will work on contract for the next three months with the intent that they will hire him at the first of the year. They are even going to pay our COBRA. It really has been such an answer to prayer. Thank you to everyone who was praying for us.

Relief.

I need to let out a big sigh of relief. For a couple of reasons. First, VBS is officially over. We wrapped up with a special service this morning. It was an awesome week, but I think maybe just maybe I got myself in a bit over my head this year. Especially with a new baby and all.

So here I sat this afternoon. Nothing needed to be cut out. I didn't need to practice motions for songs. I was just able to catch up on some much needed snuggling with my kiddos. And since we've been blessed with a couple nice, cool rainy days, we were able to go puddle jumping with Gracie. By the time we got up to Jordan's parent's house Grace was covered in wet mud from the waist down. Her rain boots were sloshing and squishing with every step she took. There was so much water in her boots! As girly as she can be at times, she sure does love dirt and mud!

The second sigh of relief is because I just put Jackson down to bed in his crib and he put himself to sleep! He moved from his bassinet to his crib a few days ago and this is the first time I didn't have to rock him to get him to sleep! Don't get me wrong, tomorrow is another day and sometimes we take two steps back...But I'm going to relish in this moment while it lasts! Even though this is our second child and I worry much less than I did the first go-around, I still find myself second guessing the things I'm doing at times.

I'm going to leave you with the song I sing to Jackson at night. It's a beautiful prayer and my favorite Fernando song.

Jesus, King of angels, heaven's light,
Shine Your face upon this house tonight.
Let no evil come into my dreams;
Light of heaven, keep me in Your peace.

Remind me how You made dark spirits flee,
And spoke Your power to the raging sea.
And spoke Your mercy to a sinful man;
Remind me, Jesus, this is what I am.

The universe is vast beyond the stars,
But You are mindful when the sparrow falls,
And mindful of the anxious thoughts
That find me, surround me, and bind me . . . .

With all my heart I love You, Sovereign Lord.
Tomorrow, let me love You even more.
And rise to speak the goodness of Your name
Until I close my eyes and sleep again.

The universe is vast beyond the stars,
But You are mindful when the sparrow falls,
And mindful of the anxious thoughts
That find me, surround me, and bind me . . . .

Jesus, King of angels, heaven's light,
Hold my hand and keep me through this night

Long post...lots of pictures

Pulled out the Bumbo chair for Jax today. He looks so cute just hanging out :) He seems to really like it. He sure loves to be upright and likes to be able to look around at everything going on around him. Can't believe he's going to be three months old in a week!

So I know it's a little late to post about our 4th, but it's been a busy week and I haven't been able to post before now. We had such a great holiday. We had our good friends, Andrew, Erin and baby Emma over for lunch. Grace decided to play pirates, as you can see in the picture below. We got this dress up stuff in the dollar clearance at Target and Grace just loves it. Funny how kids just love pirate stuff these days. She kept saying she was a scurvy pirate which was making Andrew crack up.

So we were supposed to play Dutch Blitz but the guys chickened out and determined we should watch The Patriot instead. Good call since it was the 4th. At night we went to the fireworks. Jackson slept through the whole ordeal. Grace was hilarious. She sat on Papa Krause's lap with his hands over her ears and her hands over his hands (so sad I didn't have my camera along)! He said she kept going back in forth in her opinion of the fireworks. One moment she was saying how much she loved them and the next saying she didn't like them because they were too loud.

She was pretty tuckered out after such a busy day.

Friday I was putting some thing away and when I walked back into the living room I came upon this very sweet moment. So glad I managed to get a picture before Grace noticed I was watching them.

Grace loves her baby brother so much and just wants to do everything with him. I managed to get a few more of them while they were watching their Baby Einstein movie.

We had our family night on Friday and our story was on Noah's ark. Jordan managed to find this huge refrigerator box to be our ark. Grace loved decorating it. We hid stuffed animals all around the house in pairs and she had to find them. Such fun!

Saturday we went to the farmer's market and Grace ate so many blueberries and cherries I thought she'd be sick. I didn't get a picture, but man was she covered in cherry juice from head to toe!
Sunday we had Andrew & Erin over again and we managed to convince the guys to play Dutch Blitz and Canasta. I took the cake with Canasta which was such a self esteem boost for me :) Not really, but it was a lot of fun.

So now that I've pracitcally written a novella recaping our last week and bored you all silly, I think I'm going to head to bed. Good night & God Bless!

He's Always Been Faithful

Been a hard week for the Krause family and some of my friends...this song by Sara Groves came to mind. The song is very beautiful and says what I feel so perfectly.

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

What a promise! God knows exactly what we need and His hand will provide for those needs. We can't see the big picture, but God knows exactly what His plan in our life is. I love the phrases, "Season by season, I watch him amazed. In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways" and "I can't remember a trial or a pain, He did not recycle to bring me gain". I know first hand the validity of these promises. God has "recycled" so many of my trials into such gains (reminds me of another favorite Sara Groves song "Less Like Scars").

Hoping you are all as blessed by the message of this song as I was.