You Brought MeThis Far

This morning, my church had a special surprise: we were able to worship together in our own building! After more than a year of meeting at our local high school while our building was being remodeled, our city finally granted occupancy for our regular building only a couple of days ago. Because of a fluke with the locks at the high school this morning, we spontaneously decided to hold our church service in our beautiful new building.

Last week, Geary preached about remembering the times that God worked a marvel in getting us through a wilderness. (You can listen to that sermon here.)

This week, Pastor Jon shared about Ebenezer stones: a special stone that Samuel set up in commemoration of God's help to the Israelites in their victory over the Philistines at Mizpah (1 Samuel 7:12). The Israelites set up other stones of remembrance, too, they just weren't all named "Ebenezer." Jon talked about the stones being a reminder that God brought us this far...and he will continue.

God bringing us "this far" has been an important idea to me before. It's part of why how we chose Miles's name. Miles means just what it sounds like. Miles. Distance. Journey. God has taken us on a journey, is taking us on a journey, toward Himself. And we are marveling over the fact that He has even brought us this far. I am reminded of David's prayer after the Lord established his covenant with the king,

Then King David went in and sat before the LORD, and he said:
"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? (2Samuel 7:18)

And of course, all those thoughts, remembering the wilderness, ebenezers, and celebrating being back in our church building, brought a song to my mind: Make a Way by I AM THEY. Give it a listen.

After listening to this song a few times, I decided to finally execute an idea I've had in the back of my mind for years. Introducing the Linhart Ebenezer Door:

This door is in our kitchen and I plan to record here all the times that God brings us through a wilderness or provides in a special way. I already wrote down a few things like the births of my children, moving to Newberg, and the most recent trial--a kidney infection that me down for a couple of weeks (you can hear all about it in Geary's sermon above).  It doesn't look like much...yet.  I hope that soon it will be FILLED up with colorful reminders of what God has done in our family.  If we ever move, we'll just bring the door with us (and record that moment on the door, of course)!  

Today's sermon from Pastor Adam was about Jesus opening eyes.  I'm praying that my eyes will be opened to see the great and wonderful things he's done for us and will continue to do.  To God be the glory forever and ever, amen.

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So, hi!  It's been a while since I've blogged!  I stopped for awhile because my kids were getting older and not really loving their whole lives being shared publically.  I wanted to honor them and respect their privacy.  And then I went through a period of deep grief after my brother died in 2015.  And then life was just...different.  It's taken me a little bit of time to find my writing voice again and how to move forward from just stories about my kids.  But now I know that I want to keep recording our journey here.  Especially, those ebenezer moments.

First Day of School 2014

Steps!!!!

About one year ago I started making a plan to fix the steps down to the bedrooms in our house.  I am so happy to say that today I have accomplished that plan!

They just might be the prettiest steps I've ever seen.

Miles and Toby's Room

Towards the end of last school year, Geary told me he would really like a desk area at home.  I thought I could accommodate that request but it would mean switching bedrooms around again.  Noah got his own room back in November and thankfully Miles and Toby were eager for a change, too.  

While Geary was away at conference I switched all the bedroom furniture, stained the boys' bunk bed, and painted the walls of our new/old master bedroom.  At the end of that weekend I posted this video on Facebook with the progress I had made on the little boys' room.

I've continued to plug away at this little room all summer.  It's still not complete but it's mostly done.

Toby's desk area.  I love how the shelf above his desk turned out.  The brackets are from Ikea and I was able to find thick enough wood at Lowes.  I had the employees cut a piece of stair tread to size and then I stained it with the same stain as the bunk bed.

I got the blinds hung up and stole the bookshelf from Noah's room.  It's a junky old one that we've had for about 10 years and all the laminate is peeling off.  But it's the perfect size and I like how the cubbies help the boys keep their books nice and neat.  I'm hoping to find a nicer quality bookshelf soon.

Miles' desk got new drawer pulls and a good scrubbing.  He also got new shelf above his desk.  I like these so much I want to make two more to put in the bathroom.

The closet turned out even better than I had hoped for.  We removed the doors and it makes the room feel so much bigger!  We took the cubbies that were stacked in their old room and hung them high on the closet wall.  Then we lowered the rod and put two pine Ikea Rast dressers (stained with the bunk bed stain) underneath to hold their clothes.  Those little dressers can hold a surprising amount stuff!

I still need to make new labels for each bin but first we need to sort through the toys and organize them...again.

I'd like to add a couple more pieces of art on this wall.  And I'm not sure I'll keep that orange robot bin thing.  We don't really have a use for it but I do love the color and texture it adds to the room.  What I'd really love to do is get a couple of letterpress or printers drawers and hang them on the wall to display hot wheels/matchbox cars and lego mini-figs.

Oh!  And did your eagle eyes catch what is just outside the door?  New flooring in the hallway/step-down/nook/weird space!

Hooray!  I'm not quite done installing it yet, but I'm so happy to finally have real flooring and not ugly cement anymore!

Elements

Miles (4) was playing by himself and was describing an intense lego ninja action scene.  With a different voice for each character, he made his little lego ninjas shout out the elements:
"Earth!"
"Water!"
"Fire!"
"Dairy!"

Tween TP

Noah (11) slept in very late one morning this summer.  I said to Geary, "He's being such a teenager!  How should we wake him up?"

"We could TP him again!"  I can't believe he didn't wake up while we were "decorating" his room.

We got tired of waiting for him to wake up so we started tossing full rolls of toilet paper at his sleeping body.  That worked!

Of course, then we had to dodge the TP rolls as they came flying back at us.  Hence, the blurry photos.

 
Good morning, you happy little tween!

Latin Winner

Noah's school participated in the annual Latin Olympika with three other schools.  The students compete in Latin verbal quizzes, written exams, and a foot race and discus throw.  Veritas students did well and Noah won third place on the Mythology test.  When Toby saw his third place ribbon he seemed unimpressed, "You won a bookmark?"

Don't worry, Noah.  Mom and Dad are extremely impressed with you!

Snowmageddon 2014

It started snowing hard on Thursday afternoon and school was closed early.  So we bundled up the boys for some backyard snow fun.

This is what happens when it doesn't snow often enough to invest in snow boots every year.  Plastic grocery bags tied over your shoes!  But how cool is the R2-D2 hat?

I'm not a fan of snow.  Sorry.  I don't like puppies either.  I know, I know, I'm a horrible person.  I was able to get some bad cell phone pics through a screened window.  These were taken late Thursday afternoon.

The snow just kept coming on Friday.  It fell in huge, puffy flakes.    This time Geary volunteered to go outside with the boys and help them build a snowman. (And I instantly starting singing "Do you want to build a snowman?" from Frozen.)

They started making big snowballs...

And then they rolled them...

And rolled them...

Until they were huge snowballs!

And then they made a giant snowman!

With really enormously big gloves!

Okay, so our trick photography isn't that great.  The snow was too powdery to really make good snowballs but they managed to make a tiny snowman.  They called it a snow penguin, actually.

It's supposed to snow more on Saturday.  Yippee.  But it will be worth it if it means getting to see these expressions of pure delight again.  I love their little frozen faces!

Master Bedroom Update

We were pretty spoiled this Christmas.  Our friends and family gave us so many beautiful and meaningful gifts.  One of my favorite gifts was from my mom.  She gave me this gorgeous bedding set called Poetical by Barbara Barry.

I just love how it looks and it is so soft and luxurious feeling!  Thank you, Mom, for such a generous gift.  

We'll have to try the meatballs

Toby:  Maybe when we go to Africa.
Noah:  Pssht.  We're never going to Africa!
Jeana:  Who knows?  Maybe we will go to Africa someday.  And we're probably going to Yakima this summer.
Noah:  All of us?  We're all going to Yakima?
Miles:  Oh, I want to go to Yakima!  That place has a ball pit!
(crickets)
Jeana:  Do you mean...Ikea?

Basic Needs

Noah and Toby were having a staring contest.

Noah: Whoever blinks first loses!
Toby:  But, Noah, I have to blink!  It's how I survive!

Christmas Smile

Miles (age 4) calls Nutcrackers "Graham Crackers" and it's so cute that I can't bring myself to correct him.

Noah is Eleven!

We still haven't seen a letter from Hogwarts but he won't technically be eleven until 11:26 pm tonight.  Geary and I could not be more proud of our firstborn son.  He is kind, generous, helpful, smart, witty, and sincere.  He is an excellent big brother, a hardworking student, an incredible lego designer, and has an amazing, creative imagination.   We are so grateful to have been entrusted to raise this extraordinary young man.  Happy birthday, Noah James!  We love you!

Miles is Four!

Four years ago our precious Miles John was born and our lives have never been the same.  Miles is hilarious, spunky, goofy, and sweet.  His imagination is incredible, he is super smart, and he can talk your ear off.   We are all still just as smitten with this guy as we were the day we first met him.

Happy birthday, Miles!

Four is going to be great year!

Craft Fair

Well, it's Christmas Bazaar season!  This weekend I have my first bazaar of the season.  I set up my booth this afternoon and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.   One thing that's cracking me up in this photo though is that my bunting banner looks like it reads Hat Shappy.  Also, my table cloth is crooked.

I have over 80 pairs of earrings on display.

Some pretty wire wrapped rings.  I'm loving the coral and silver one.

Remember the Feathered Friends Earrings?  How about some Feathered Friends Necklaces?  I've made them in large and small sizes.  Here are the large:

And here are the small.  I really love how the white one turned out.

My tree necklaces are my all time favorite things to make.  

The popular Lace Leaf Earrings in aqua!  I've been playing with enamel.

These earrings are new this year.  I haven't come up with a name yet.  They come in silver and gold and are so lightweight and comfortable.  And they go with everything!

I found these cute little acrylic buttons and they were just begging to be made into hair pins.

I also turned a few into earrings.  I wish I could have found more colors!

Beach Comber Necklaces, a sand dollar and a crab, both with sea glass beads.  

I love how these two necklaces look together!  

The Wild Branch Necklace...another favorite to make.  And I love those colors.

I made a bunch of nest necklaces and attached tiny swallows to them.   I also made some matching earrings!

My pretty new Poppy & Pearls Necklace display.  My friend, Lora, actually made this out of one those things that hold fireplace tools.  I gave it a little makeover to better match my display and I'm giddy over how it turned out.

And, of course, Bloom Brooches.  Some of these have feathers!  

I'm tired from working so hard to put all this together but I'm also excited about tomorrow.  Hopefully everyone will love my work and I'll sell every single item.  One can dream, right?