Family Time

Our first Memorial Day celebration with family in 5 years.  

So good to be together again.

Making of a Dream

Having your son move thousands of miles away from you is bad enough; having him move to North Hollywood really makes you uncomfortable.  Then you pray and hear God saying to let him go and trust Him.  

Then He begins to move.  Money needed comes quickly.  A friend, who is a believer, calls to say he has just moved around the block from the dance school your son is trying to go to and wants to give him a place to stay.  Plane tickets are arranged & so is a ride to get there.  

Then he arrives.  He's chosen his first day at school to dance back up with a rising star.  He goes to  a good church.  He and his roommate begin writing music together and making tracks of ones already composed.  They pitch one to an agent, who pitches it to a producer. 

Then 3 weeks into a new home, new church, new classes, the producer says, "Let me hear more of your stuff, Tofer".  And just like that, just like only God can, your son is finding himself in the middle of a dream becoming reality.  Not just for himself but for the man of God who gave him a home, and even more, a friend to lean on. 

 Learning the board and the equipment of a major recording studio.

 Arranging harmonies.

 Laying down tracks.

 Finding favor with major players.

And loving the journey - keeping it real - letting God lead.
I'm still praying.  Still asking Abba to hold his heart, keep him safe, keep his focus centered, and bring him safely home.  ... I am still the Mama, after all.

Send off

The past couple months we've had to say goodbye to some people it isn't easy to let go of.  I know God has seasons, tides, bridges, batons, seed sowing, ... and any other metaphor/simile that describes transitions in life, that are healthy, but sometimes I really don't like what 'is good for me'.

Stefan left for Iraq.  Josh left for Boeing. Both were so excited about the doors God is opening for them.  Both had a hard time leaving James and the rest of the Summit fam.  I feel like I'm letting go of sons because they have really taken root in my heart.  

I'm sad we didn't get photos of our Kung-Fu Panda night with Stefan and Danielle.  Noodles, dumplings and, of course, the Wooshi Finger Hold and the fabulous 5! 

Josh's departure gave us a bit more time & therefor, photo ops.

 

Eating cookies, watching the Hawks lose.

 Basecamp Jenga!

Move day.  Hooked up at his place.  He wanted shots of the view he'd had for 2 years; this gigantic Maple in the backyard.

 Michael and Paul (dad and little brother) came to help him move.  We had some breakfast together before they took off to play Old Works one last time.

 James gave Josh a Housh Jersey too.  He has the "Home" colors, James has the "Away". 

There were tears.  Both Stefan and Josh are the kind of guys you just love to be with.  Easy, relaxed, funny, family oriented, & kind.  I miss them both so much.  Can't wait for when they return - whether from war or from the land of Boeing.  There will be hugs, and warm cookies, and a pint waiting!

All Because of Relationship

As many of you who are long time blog readers know, Minda has had a dream of becoming an archaeologist since she was 5 or 6. Grama Linda bought her a palentology dig trip for her 13th birthday just to fuel her dream. Since we moved to Montana she has been dreaming of the hot, dry sands of Egypt even more.
Rewind again to when this dream first began.
We had just become a part of the budding 'internet world' and Yahoo Chat in particular. James being a musician and worship leader went to a Christian chat room and asked, "Anyone want to talk about worship?" A woman from Texas replied and they began a long conversation that covered a wide variety of topics. When they finished, James told her she reminded him of me in so many ways he'd love to get us together to chat too. The next night we did. Her name was Zanetta. Her husband, Randy, didn't believe I was real. :)
That was the beginning of our relationship. We hit it off immediately, and have stayed close over the past 11 years!

Now, back to the present. Just after Minda's graduation in May, Zanetta and Randy announced their intention to become full time missionaries in Israel. Through an offhanded comment on Facebook, about being able to get Minda awfully close to Egypt if she came with them to Israel, plans and dreams began to take on form and flesh. Questions started pouring out of her. How much would she need? How long would she be there? What would she be doing? Could she possibly go to school there? Visit Egypt? Would they really be willing to allow her to come?

She leaves in June! They will be living in the main port city of Haifa where they will be working with the poor, beginning an outreach to college students at the University of Haifa, and providing some 'home' contact for the naval forces that dock there.
BUT - her favorite part so far? No Snow! Warmth. Sun. Sea Breezes. Fresh Figs. And, Oh yeah! The possibility of gaining a student visa and remaining in Haifa to get her archaeology degree.
Who would have guessed an internet chat 11 years ago would have congealed into a lasting friendship that would be an avenue to a little girl's dream coming to pass?
All is falling into place, piece by piece. We are still working out details. Another thing you can all be praying about! We are just a bundle of prayer needs in this household!

Pumpkin Patch

Sara K., Jess, Liz, Joanie, Amber, Sarah S. and I headed out into the clear, cold morning yesterday to take the kiddos to Rocky Creek Farm's Fall Pumpkin fest.  Hay rides, tractors, forts made of haybales, carmeled apples, face painting and, of course, pumpkins!

 

My favorite moment of the day was when Jess handed Noah a carmel apple.  Top heavy in a little fist, it tipped directly over onto his shoulder.  He just left it there and turned his head to get all that sticky goodness into his mouth!! Classic!

Bates and Rachel.  Batesy didn't want to sit on the pumpkin until he got a good look at Rachel! 

Beautiful, sweet Hannah.  I absolutly fell in love with this little girl. 

Sara and her festive little-bit-o-jack-o-lantern, Amelia!  Doesn't Sara have the best smile?  You should hear her laugh!  It's even better!

The truck - decked out in Fall Finery!

Hay ride to the "patch"

All the pumpkins they grew froze, so they trucked some in and set them inn the orchard for the kiddos!  Joanie brought Kale-bug since mama had just gotten home from the hospital with JP.

Lily was the big girl of our bunch. She is just precious.  Kind and happy, caring and silly - all the things the others can look up to and love!

Days with Amelia

Welcome to our world!

Joel Patrick Moore. Little brother to Kalen Charles. Second son to Naomi and Peter.
Child of the King.

Garden Life

We have joined with friends to plant, weed, and harvest a big, beautiful, green garden.