My Dad

I have written this post about 100 times in my head, and I have typed it a few more after that. This may end up being jumbled thoughts; but my hope is that you understand the depths to which I love my Dad.

If you had asked me when I was younger if I was spoiled and if I took my dad for granted I would have been affronted that you even asked such a question, an emphatic "of course not!" Would have been my reply. The truth is I was very spoiled and had no idea how much I took for granted. I don't really know how my dad raised 4 girls by himself; just raising me would have been hard enough! He is hands down the most self-sacrificing person I know.

I decided to narrow this down to the 4 biggest lessons that I have learned from my dad, otherwise I would type forever. (4 is a strange number too choose, but 3 wasn't enough and I don't like odd numbers very much... Unless they are multiples of 5. But I digress..)

 1. A reverence and deep love for scripture.
     The first thing that comes to mind are the times that we would be listening to a hymn in the car and as we pulled into the driveway my sisters and I would try to get out of the car, but my dad wouldn't have it. We would sit in the driveway until he learned every word by heart. He would ask us if we understood what we were singing and then tell us how thankful he is that the Lord would save someone like Him.

2. Thankfulness.
    My dad will look around and see what The Lord has blessed Him with and become overwhelmed with thankfulness. Growing up he would often talk to us about how we should be thankful, and would sing count your blessings. Paul once described himself as the utmost of sinners in 1Timothy 1:15 "it is a trustworthy statement and deserving of full acceptance that Christ Jesus came into the World to save sinners, of whom I am foremost of all." I believe it is this mentality that makes my dad  thankful, and also which leads me to number 3.

3. Humility.
     My Father is humble. He is ready to seek council, he is ready to hear where he is wrong and have his sin pointed out. He would rather go through the painful process of having his weaknesses pointed out than to live in sin. I have never known him to be without many counselors.

4. Forgiveness.
    I know the depths of my Fathers forgiveness because I have been forgiven by him the deepest. I am fully ashamed to say i have hurt him in my sin and disobedience, however, I have learned much about my Heavenly Father through the unconditional love of my earthly father. He is quick to forgive and bring me back into the fold.

 Kyle may not know it, but the times he compliments me the most are when he tells me I am like my father. I'll do something or get passionate about something, and he'll say " you get that from your dad". I just smile, but he doesn't know the joy it brings me to be compared to my daddy.

Marked by Thankfulness

A while back I told Kyle that I wanted to be a person marked by Thankfulness. I want to live with the mentality that I am blessed beyond measure. This story is a wonderful one to keep my thinking where it should be.

During his travels one day, Rev. Jeremy Taylor's host was worried over the state of his lodgings, and wished he could have provided more for Taylor. Jeremy Taylor responded by saying, 'Do not be troubled that I am ill provided for, for I have someone who goes before me to make sure that I am treated as a royalty wherever I go.

 The owner of the property replied to him: "who is this? who do you send before you, for no man came to me to prepare for your coming."

Taylor replied: "The knowledge of myself, and the consideration of what I deserve for my sins, which is eternal torments; I arrive at my lodgings, how unprovided soever I find it, METHINKS IT IS EVER BETTER THAN I DESERVE."

How deeply do we think on the gospel? You cannot understand the heights of grace without understanding the depths of sin. You cannot understand the Justification we have in Christ, unless you understand the wrath of God.

Today, I sit at my desk at work and, Praise the Lord, my co-worker is a believer. So we sit, and send out emails to parents, and finish paperwork, while listening to an Alistair Begg sermon.

What blessing (to have work) upon blessing(to work with a believer) upon blessing (to be capable to accomplish my work) upon blessing (to learn more about my Lord) I get to experience today!

Methinks It Is Ever Better Than I Deserve!

D-Day June 6, 1944

June 6, 1944, 160,000 Allied troops landed along a 50-mile stretch of heavily-fortified French coastline to fight Nazi Germany on the beaches of Normandy, France. General Dwight D. Eisenhower called the operation a crusade in which “we will accept nothing less than full victory.” More than 5,000 Ships and 13,000 aircraft supported the D-Day invasion, and by day’s end on June 6, the Allies gained a foot- hold in Normandy. The D-Day cost was high -more than 9,000 Allied Soldiers were killed or wounded -- but more than 100,000 Soldiers began the march across Europe to defeat Hitler.

"You are about to embark upon a great crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers in arms on other fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened, he will fight savagely....

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory!
Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great, and noble, undertaking."

-- Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower June 6

Homemade Salsa

Kyle loves homemade Salsa. He cannot stand the stuff that comes in a jar.

Being the, Montana bred/white girl that I am, I don't have a bunch of homemade salsa recipes. I'll cook you a rare elk steak any day. However, when it comes to Mexican food... well, mine is Americanized to say the least.

Kyle requested some homemade salsa last night and I decided to take on the challenge regardless of the fact that I had reservations. I mean let's be honest. I knew that Pioneer Woman or Paula Dean or someone from food network would have a simple 5 star recipe on the internet just waiting for me to use.

I chose my recipe and walked a block to our local produce market and....... they didn't have over half of the ingredients that I needed.

Ok, time to fake it 'til you make it! Kyle wanted salsa and that's what he's gonna get.

Turns out it was a hit! I'm sure I'll tweek it as time goes by, but here is my Salsa recipe. Kyle approved!

Ingredients:

 3 large ripe tomatoes diced
 1 small white onion finley chopped
 1 small red onion diced
 1 clove garlic minced
 1 4oz can yellow peppers and liquid (dice peppers and add juice)
 1 chopped green pepper
 1/2 large jalapeno pepper diced
 salt, pepper, onion powder to taste
 2 Tbs vegitable oil
 juice of 1 lemon

I would have added cilantro if the store had it! You can also use a can or green chili's instead of yellow ones if you'd like.

Just add it all into a bowl, stir, and let sit. (you can serve it right away, but the longer it sits the more the flavors mix.. yummy)

2 years

Today marks 2 years of being married to the man of my dreams. I can't begin to tell you of the blessing it is to be his wife! I have learned so much from him. Kyle is patient, humble, teachable, and is a man who loves to memorize scripture. He has gently lead me. Lovingly points out sin. He works hard to provide for us, and he loves to take me on adventures! I am FAITHFULLY loved.

Here are some fun/random pictures from our journey thus far:

(I randomly take pictures of him all the time, because I think he's so cute!!! It's not his favorite, but he smiles anyway)

Engagement Shoot

Just being pirates for Halloween. Arg!

Camping in Joshua Tree

a little trip to Bozeman Mt. Kyle loved it as much as I said he would!

Tennessee for our dear friends wedding

date night! (I just had to take a picture of him. his lips were so red it looked like lipstick.. hahahahaha)

Camping in the Sierra's

yes, camping again. "Team 'Merica"

Supporting my sister at a recital. Wow! she has a great voice!

Just stopping by Minnie's for a bite to eat and a chat

Memorial Day Weekend. He's thinking "why in the world am I smiling for another random photo?!?!"

Learning to say no

It seems that everywhere I look women are pregnant or having babies and telling me that I have NO idea what it means to be busy and that I wont know what busy is until I have a little one running around.

Obviously I have no way to counter act them because I don't have a little one running around. In fact it's a little scary to write this because I may look back on it in the future and think "what a fool you were!" Well, I guess I'm going to be a fool and tell you. I have been busy, and the Lord is humbling me and teaching me to say no and remember my priorities.

I don't have babies, but I do work full time, try to maintain our home, and stay involved in ministry. On top of that it seems that every weekend fills up.

I realized that things are falling a little through the cracks. I just don't feel on top of things. I was getting up at 5 every morning and how I'm up at 6:30. I was having a breakfast ready for Kyle so that his getting up at 4 or 4:30 wouldn't be quite so tiring. I was on top of laundry, and cleaning and the list goes on.

There are a lot of things I WAS doing.

Then all of those little "yes's" to "good" things took over.

The weekend trip to see people, or to serve at this one event, or to do whatever, took over my life.

The Lord really humbled me to show me that it wasn't so much the business of life that took over, as much as my lack of discipline in keeping the main things the main things. Isn't that how it always is? Even for you moms out there? Does our lack of time at the end of the day really come from making other things besides our role our priorities? Or in being discontent and so you pursue things that aren't what the Lord has called us to pursue FIRST?

I am learning my limitations. ( 10 pm is a limitation for me. If I'm awake at 10, I am not going to be very productive the next morning) That makes me feel a little old. But it's true. Kyle has been Oh so Patient with me as I learn to be a better wife.

So here is my plea to you. Pray for me after you finish reading this. Pray that the Lord would continue to convict my sin and give me the strength and desire to grow!

I've stocked our fridge; we're good for meals for the month and laundry is underway. I have un-packed from our trip and tonight Kyle and I are back at it with the projects.

I know my will-power will give out unless I realize that I am serving the Lord by staying within my role and needing to gain my strength from Him. 

5 days

There are 5 days left of school. Everyone is done. Like, "put a fork in us" kind of done. Here are a few snippets from the day so you can fully understand....

Miss Prario: "Hailey, did your dad mention anything about an email I sent him last night?"

Hailey: "Yeah, probably."

Miss Prario: "Well, he either did or he didn't. Did he say anything to you about it?"

Hailey: "Oh, he didn't say anything to me, but he probably mentioned it to himself. Sometimes he talks to himself."

Also, I danced down the hall with "James Brown". (One of our 4th graders who is James Brown in the play tonight)

And last, but definitely not least..... Our science teacher went to the bathroom and came out with her skirt tucked into her underwear... She made it all the way down the hall to her classroom before we could catch her.

It's been a wonderful day!