Tonight we started to celebrate my mom. She is seventy tomorrow and what a life she has had! She is amazing and so full of life in every way. The best part is how her life refects her love for Jesus Christ. She gave her heart so many years ago, but acts as though it is new and exciting daily. She inspires me, encourages me, loves me and enables me. I know that she is a gift to me and so many other people. Our kids adore her. She walks them through valleys and mountains and the best part is how she prays for us all - ALL THE TIME. Thank you Mom for loving me and standing with me on my journey in life

I have four words that I use when I pray often. BLESS, PROTECT, ENABLE, PROVIDE. I thank the Lord for blessing our family, protecting us, enabling us and providing for us. I also want to extend a thank you Mom for blessing me in ways in can't even count. For protecting me through prayer and decisions you made for me in my early yearts. For enabling me to be the woman God has called me to be (still growing daily) and for providing me with love and friendship and teaching me what Titus 2 talk about so wonderfully. I teach because you taught me. I love you Mom!

It is all about the heart!

Being a mom has taken me to the heart of the matter. Not just my heart my children's hearts. I have never desired to take a loving hold of their hearts more than I have now. The latest book I am reading (from so many that line the shelf, or should I say pile up around the places I sit to read to the kids) is a book by Tedd Tripp, Shepparding a Child's Heart. I have come to the realization after so many years of parenting it comes down to capturing the hearts of our children and giving ours to them, simultaneuosly. They have mine, I have theirs. Sounds like an ideal world. Oh, so easy to do. Well, no on the contrary. It takes all you are and all you will be to have this somewhat 'ideal' situation. NO family is perfect, but if your heart is truly searching to Glorify Christ and lead your children the way God has laid out for us in the Bible, we can do it. It does mean dying to self every day and realizing that it is not about you, not about you. It is about serving. Just how Christ came to serve and not be served. I serve (as mom's do) DAILY and often without a neon sign saying, "Thanks mom" But I find that more than ever I am not overtly creating situations where I hear what I want to hear!! I serve to serve simply because Christ served. I love simply because He loved me first. Essentially, that is my day. Does this mean it is easy and I don't pull my hair out? Okay I have more lines on the face, a few more gray hairs etc, but what I can say is the best part of my day to sum up my bursting heart right now: I sat with the kids today reading from our Christians and Heroes series about Cameron Townsend and I was cuddling beside my eldest and holding his hand too for a brief time. All I can say is my heart was full and I know what I am doing and why. That solidifies decisions about what I am doing. We are connected from the moment we rise until we rest our heads. Thank you God for the gift of sharing our hearts! I love what I do and I strive to do what God calls me to do daily. It is not easy, it is difficult and there is ALWAYS something to distract me from my kids and my purpose during the day. As I reflect on the day, yes I am tired (aren't we all) from doctor appointments to math and english, but we are all on this journey together (even the journey of Sara missing the potty and cleaning up the MOUND of number two, didn't know she had it in her!!) Bless you my friends!

I am just starting this blog, so be patient while I attend to the many photos to choose and comments to make! I like having this to keep track our life here in the Mac household and want to share it with you!!
Enjoy...

This is celebration time, the ice is in!! Way to go Daddio!

Here is the Macgregor truck that Duncan brought home one night and we unloaded all the pieces to the rink. There was an excitement in the air that could not be calmed by anyone! It was done fairly easily and now our garage is empty (I like that part personally!) Now we have a full shed on the side of the house for all the 'garage' goodies!

So if you are all wondering what they are doing on the video...we have 'ice' in our garage. No, hockey will never end here. 365 my friends! The ice surface is polymer (sp?) and is good to go for all seasons and many years. They have (including Daddio and friends)spent many hours skating and having quite the work out! Samantha too!! I don't have skates, maybe I should keep it that way! Sara watches and yells "Daddy, boys" Very funny!! Come on over for a skate anytime...

Sam had curly hair for Easter and felt like a queen for a day! It was worth sleeping in rollers! What we go through girls...

This is some Easter fun our family had and take a look at the curls on Samantha!!

I am happy to say that we have some medical students in the house! Today Chris and Jack worked on a model of the inner ear (as a medical team of course!) I am very proud of their efforts. The next stage is labeling it and describing the functions. I myself must research how to do that!!)

More to come...