Goodness, it has been a while since I’ve posted.  I really mean to do this more often, but I guess the craziness of life right now won’t allow.  We are well on our way to being completely ready to leave for Scotland in 6 weeks.  God has been good and everything is coming together nicely.

So, the real reason for this post is to share an exciting accomplishment…at least for me.  Some of you may not completely understand how exciting this is to me…others who know me super well…and/or have known me forever and ever (McGinniss clan) may be a little shocked…so hold onto your seats.  I have officially broken the 8:30 mile mark.  It has been a goal of mine…to run at least an 8:30.  Not only have I broken it, but I’ve run an 8:14.  WHAT????  Yea, I don’t know how it happened..better eating, better and more sleep….Anna’s music..and just wanting to push myself a little harder.  So…who’d a thunk it…I’ll be 32 in 3 weeks (yes…I’m that old)….and I’m only getting faster.

Oh..one more thing.  If any of you are paying any attention to the Olympic track and field and swimming trials here are a couple of people to be watching.  In track and field: Watch Allyson Felix…not that you can help it she is one of the fastest women in the world, but also a solid believer.  Her dad was one of Jason’s greek professors at The Master’s Seminary.  Then over to the swimming:  Another strong believer: Gabe Woodward..swims the 100M free and 50M free.  I worked with his wife when I worked at The Master’s College. Also, be on the look out for Larsen Jensen.  He is not a believer, but comes from Shafter…yes even this little town produces Olympic talent.

Okay..so God gave us our parents, right?  And remember how they annoyed us when we were teenagers and maybe even a little older.   And think now about how much we must have frustrated them and saddened them as young children.  Did they really wash us for years, before we learned.  Did my mom really do hundreds of loads of laundry for us?  And yet, I hated the fact that I had to dust the multiple - spindled chairs in my parents dining room.  Would I know or want to keep my house clean now if my mom hadn’t taught me?  Was I really that disrespectful and disobedient?  Did I really not heed their advice? Is not a parents’ love of unique beauty?  Why am I so reflective you ask?  Because even with all the pain of raising me, my dear parents, still love me so much.  They support my husband and I in so many ways.  This weekend they are giving me such a tangible expression of their love and support.  They have my two oldest children…for two sleeps.  Already I am feeling relaxed and feeling that I have gotten so much accomplished.   Thank you, mom and dad, for taking care of Charlie and Janie..and for this precious gift that you have given to me.  I pray that I’ll remember this example of a parents’ love when I am a grandmother.

Isn’t parenting the most humbling unselfish job imaginable?  Everyday I look into the eyes of my children and see my own sin as I watch them act in ways I know are wrong..and yet so often I act that way.  And knowing that they probably learned that particular behavior from me.  I’ve been reading a book called The Heart of Anger.  I am not really much of one to read books on parenting.  Not because I don’t think I could use the help, but because I feel like I’ll never remember the tips and principles given.  Jason encouraged me to read this particular book.  I’m only about half way through and see so many things I could be doing better.  Almost like, I’ve had the basic idea, but there is a little more in the way of training that I could and should be doing.  I’ve also just finished the little book, The Cross Centered Life by CJ Mahaney.  These two books are intertwining so well.

What are children?  A stewardship from God.  What is our responsibility as parents?  To train them in the ways of the Lord.  What is the best way to do that?  Teach the cross.  How thick headed are we?   Terribly.  The Gospel..the cross is so basic, yet it should be completely controlling every area of our lives.  So what is my goal in parenting my children?  To show them, biblically, their sin…have them ask for forgiveness…and have them tell me the correct way to behave.  And through all of this to teach the Gospel to them.  To remind them and therefore reminding myself that I am a sinner.  I deserve the wrath of God.  But that through Jesus I am blessed to even breath.  He completely bore all of my sin….my shame.  Oh…that it would be so easy to remember and follow gratefully.

My prayer for you, my friend, my children, my husband, and for myself is that we lay our lives at His feet each day.  Do we not realize that we are worth nothing without Him?  That we would take joy in every circumstance (James 1:2).  That we would forsake ourselves for the sake of the Gospel.  May you be compelled today to serve Him more fully.

So I get to write another birthday blog today.  My dear son, Charlie is 6 today.  I can’t believe how quickly the years have flown by.

I am thankful today for the gift of my son.  I pray that he grows to honor the Lord and serve Him.  Charlie is named after a man that is very special to Jason and I.  Charles Warren (CW) Smith was truly a man of God.  I am thankful that CW got to meet Charlie and that CW was aware of the impact that he made on the lives of others.  CW died when Charlie was just 8 months old.

Tomorrow will be Charlie’s last day of kindergarten.  Oh, how he has grown in this past year.  He is a much kinder, more responsible young man.  And he can now color inside the lines.  Something even his mother still has trouble doing…and I think he draws better than me.

So today, Charlie, I want you to know that you are loved immensely.  You truly are a gift.  You have brought so much joy into our lives.  I am proud to be your mom.  Happy Birthday, Charlie-Bo!!!!!

I have thought of so many things over the past days that I wanted to write about, but of course seemed not to have time to sit and write. Now..a few stolen minutes.

The other day the UPS man came to our house. Jane called him the PBS man. Does anyone wonder what kind of cartoons?

Charlie has really begun to read. It amazes me how the human mind is made. He completely knows all of his sounds and works very hard at sounding out words and then saying it correctly.

Kendra’s vocabulary is growing everyday. I notice more and more how she is putting words together and making more complete sentences.

I have felt and, I suppose, am feeling very overwhelmed these days. As if running a family of five is not enough hard work, I have been working on cleaning out the house and filling out applications for our visas. I have been encouraged by many. Often they don’t even know that they are encouraging me. I am reminded of the blessings that I have been given. As I seek to meditate on the Gospel. I deserve God’s full wrath. Yes, here I am living, breathing, and enjoying His handiwork. With Memorial Day just passing I did reflect on the men and women who have served, who have given of so much including their lives for the freedom of this country. I know many don’t agree with the military or even what the governement is “doing”. My thoughts are this: God is sovereign. He has created all. He has allowed the wars and the deaths. Do we always understand? No, and we are not expected too. We are expected to rest in the mighty work of His Son on the cross and know that the “trials” that are faced on this earth are nothing compared to the wrath and death that we truly deserve from Him. Personally, I am thankful for the blessing of living in a free country. I am thankful for the men and women who have served faithfully over the many years. Their road has never been an easy one.

I am also being taught, once again, that His timing is perfect. There are so many things coming at us, as a family. So many forms to fill out and so many expenses to pay in order to get to Scotland in August. I am my father’s daughter..and so proud of that…but that also means that I have to be taught over and over that He will supply my every need in His (and only His) timing. Pray that I will be faithful to glorify Him through my daily life and through my continual desire to rest in Him for each of my needs.

Today is the birthday of my precious Kendra Cosette. I can’t believe that two years has already passed. I am so thankful for my little angel. She has brought so much joy into our lives. She is truly funny…and most of the time easy going. I’ve added a picture of her as a newborn and then one that I took today. Happy Birthday sweet little girl!!! I love you!!!!!

Charlie has a cut on his ankle.  Today at school he banged it and it began to bleed, again.  Of course, his sock stuck to the newly formed scab.  After his homework I told him to go ahead and get his swimsuit on and get in the pool with the one sock on his foot.  He didn’t believe me that in a few minutes the scab would soften and I’d be able to take his sock off without pain.  About five minutes later the sock came off, without the pain that Charlie was anticipating.  I could tell he thought that was so cool…so I said, “See, your mom is one smart cookie, isn’t she?”  His reply?  “Yep, the smartest cookie I know!!”

Here are a few photos of the beginning of summer.   ENJOY!!!!!!

I’ll start with the weather.  It is to hot to early.  Seriously, what kind of a crazy place is that is going to hit 100 by the end of the week?   So..am I looking forward to moving to St. Andrews?  Yes, for the weather, for sure.  Rain, glorious, rain….and cold weather.  I’m sure my family will look like ghosts by the time we return.

What a busy couple of days.  A couple of highlights (or lowlights..is that a word?):  Friday night -  the fam drove to Santa Clarita for the TMC graduation.  The highlight for the night was seeing one of my bestest friends Ruth.  I haven’t seen her for two years since she moved to the most beautiful state of Colorado.  Then just a couple of hours later…a lowlight.  Heading North on the 99 at 10:30 at night..with three sleeping children the right front tire decides to blow.  We call our roadside assistance..they send two teenage boys who almost jack up our car…one kid ended up calling his dad (the owner of the company)…finally at 1 in the morning we arrived home.

Saturday we had a great day of outreach in our community.  Free autowork (provided by folks from Riverlakes Community Church)..and then a small basketball tournament and grilled hot dogs.  The Gospel was shared in a clear and concise way.  Pray for the lost souls of Shafter.

Now here we are on Tuesday evening.  The kids are finally in bed….and I’ve a few moments to think.  Charlie had his first baseball practice this evening.  We are all exhausted.

I’ve spent some time this evening reading a bunch of blogs that I enjoy. Some make me think and some are just of old friends and their sweet families. One particular blog brought me to tears. And I can say that I will definitely be reading this every day this week. That blog is GirlTalk. They are doing a series this week on honoring grandmothers. They’ve allowed their readers to write in and a handful of these tributes will be posted.

I was struck by two things in this first post.

1. The simplicity of life. We, as Americans, have to many things and are told that we need so much. This is a battle that I continually fight. Partly because I am my father’s daughter and we don’t like extra stuff, but also because the materialism of this world has really become something heavy on my heart. We are consumers! But are we always consuming what we need? Or are we spending the Lord’s money on the things which do not matter? The grandmother was written about it this first post lived with so little. She was content…she enjoyed her life.

2. The second part feeds from this dear ladies contentment. I am so often discontented with my life. Oh…another battle which wages within. Who put me here and why? The answer is obvious. The Lord and only for His glory. Why is it that I don’t remember this? Sometimes it is so hard to find the ways to glorify Him in dirty diapers, folding laundry, washing floors, making beds, etc. It all seems so mundane. Yes, in our humanness. But when I think of what I truly deserve, death, I am thankful for each breath and the ability to change diapers, fold laundry, make dinner, sweep, iron, and so many other things.

My prayer is that I will remember to glorify Him and to remember that He alone has placed me here. It is all a stewardship for Him.