our little artist

We found out that Isaac had one of his art pieces from school displayed at the Clinton-Macomb Library for the past few weeks at the annual "Festival of Arts", so we made a family night of it and went to view his masterpiece. Only a select number of students from each school in Clinton Township get chosen each year, so we were so proud of Isaac for being one of them!

to my mom.

Proverbs 1:8,9

Listen, my child...don't neglect your mother's teaching. 

What you learn will crown you with grace and clothe you with honor.

Thank you mom.

Happy Mother's Day.

Color Me Rad

 

My sisters made me do it.

It was the most fun I've had in a long time.

I loved having one of my main men by my side.

I was so proud of him.

He was so proud of me.

Now I need some Advil.

and in all things... session 45

Things I am thankful for on May 9th, 2013...

1. Psalm 136:26 
2. The Rizers...  the newest obsession in our house!
3. Playing-Outdoors & Windows-Open weather
4. The guidance of the Holy Spirit
5. Bolthouse Mocha Cappuccino Protein Drink 
6. My new-to-me laptop
7. That our truck can fit SO many people
8. My kids giggling and playing together... all by themselves
9. Each NEW day
10. Some new burdens that the Lord is placing on my heart... and the endless possibilities they bring

Field Trip: Deneweths Garden Center

Today we went on a special field trip to Deneweth's Garden Center with Zoey's Preschool Class. Despite the fact that it was during the time the boys would normally eat and nap, we made the best of their crabbiness and tried to stop and smell the roses... or the orchids... either way. It was slightly frustrating that I couldn't give my little girl some undivided attention (individualized attention is a delicacy around these parts), but I was glad that I could still be there to show her support. She got to see how all the machines run, plant her own flower and she even informed me that she saw a flower that looked like it had bones (I was chasing baby boys around the watering cans at that point). I'll tell you one thing... those flowers definitely put me in the summer spirit!

thinking functionally... and hating every minute of it.

I've finally come to the conclusion that in order for our family to survive I need to make my house a very functional home. This is both liberating and disappointing at the same time. This might not be rocket science for most, but for me, succumbing to the fact that having a "pretty" house doesn't cut it with 4 kids and a full life has been a difficult process. As much as I would love to have a beautiful lantern with tangerine scented candles on my counter, a basket full of size 3 and 5 diapers and Burt's Bee diaper cream serves me better on any average day. Beautiful throw pillows on my couch are out of the question... they would be destroyed by ninja warriors before anyone would have a chance to see them. I had to ask my self a very simple question: what is our home primarily for? The answer is easy: raising 4 gifts of God while attempting sanity for their parents. So the solution was obvious: function over beauty.

I do still have pockets of beauty strewn around my house.... I love my wall of picture frames, my glass container of tea bags and my bedroom is slowly becoming my secret get-away.

It's a season... just like everything else in my life, and I'm determined to enjoy every minute of it... even if for the time being my couch cushions have turned into wrestling mats.

Our UNFINISHED wall of picture frames I have been saving for years. We still need to put up a few more frames and then fill them... but it's starting to look the way I pictured it in my head when we moved in!

Welcome VIPs

 
Well, if you are reading this, then you are one of the newest members of my newly privatized blog! I've been asked a few times why I have decided to make it private, and the answer is simply that I'm trying to use wisdom as my kids grow older. If you know of someone who would like to be invited to view it, please leave me a comment here with their email address, or email me their information at loribunk@gmail.com.

Princess Party

Today Zoey attended our annual Princess Party at church and we both had a blast. I have to say that we both have the most amazing friends and they are so much fun to be with!!!

Fine Arts Night

Isaac had his 1st grade Fine Arts night this past week, and we couldn't be more proud!

Seriously?

Oh my word!

I was re-reading the post I made a couple of weeks ago about "Zoey's moment" in the car, and I clicked on the link to the song that moved us in the car.... TOTALLY WRONG SONG!!!!! I can't believe no one in my family asked why I was playing that song????

Here is the song that I'm pretty confident I accidentally linked:

(It's a wonderful song... just not quite our style)

Here is the song I MEANT to link:

 

Does it make a little more sense now?

So thankful for pre-made Student Packets!

On a related note, I have to give major props to the kids' elementary school. They always go above and beyond for the education of their students. This is the packet Zoey went home with for her summer learning in preparation for Kindergarten. Each student gets a packet like this (grade appropriate) each quarter as well. Isaac's have been so much fun to go through.. in fact, they give you so much stuff it's hard to do it all... plus it's all fun! It's such a nice little touch for a mom who doesn't have a ton of time to think about fun learning games.... thank you!!!

i'll never be ready for this...

Yesterday Zoey had her Kindergarten round-up and I thought for sure this one would be easier than Isaac since we already have one under our belt.... that was definitely not the case. The great thing is that we love all 3 of the Kindergarten teachers and would be thrilled to have any of them for our daughter (that takes a lot of pressure off). It was very difficult to bring my brain to a place that was okay with my little peanut leaving me everyday. She is beyond thrilled to get started and was even skipping down the halls with Isaac before we left. At the end we all took a school bus ride and Isaac and Zoey were sitting in the bench behind us... I could hear Zoey asking questions and Isaac patiently answering every one of them making sure she was excited about everything.

2 down, 2 to go....

January 14, 1990

I'm not quite sure what was so memorable about that day, but for some reason, my Nonne decided to send me a letter on January 14th, 1990. At that time I was 11 years old, so I'm sure I skimmed through it, feeling special that she thought of me enough to write me from Florida.

I found the letter today while I was working on a project. I read through it, 23 years later, and I'm confident it had more of a profound impact on me today then it did back then. She writes, "You always tried to do your best and be the best" (something I have strived for and struggled with for as long as I can remember). I won't go into all the details of why this letter spoke so clearly to me today, or why I miss her so much, but I will say that I am in a phase of life that causes me to deeply appreciate the generations before me.... and I want to leave a legacy for those following in my footsteps.

our very own spiderman

 

He climbs the cupboards.

He climbs the back of the couch.

He climbs the dining room table.

He climbs up on the counter. 

He climbs the shelves in the pantry.

He climbs the shelves inside the fridge.

He climbs the dressers.

He climbs the fence.

He climbs the desk.

He climbs everything he possibly can.

Good thing this boy has 2 dimples!

house of worship.

I think one of my most important endeavors is to make our house a house of worship. Tonight the TV went off and the worship came on... and the atmosphere changed. It's hard to explain if you have never experience it, but there is something deep inside that shifts when we acknowledge that our Creator is present and give Him the honor and glory He is worthy of.

Needless to say, our house can be very chaotic at times..... well almost all the time, if I am being completely honest. I have found myself just stopping mid-laundry to just raise my hands in surrender to the Lord and block everything out. At first my kids would ask what I was doing... now they just join in. It's my way of declaring that God is always our priority, no matter the emotional climate of our household.

Why am I sharing this?

I'm not quite sure.

Tonight I just was so grateful for the reminders God is constantly sending my way, that He is present.... that He is available... that He is here. So Chris and I blasted my worship concoction on You Tube tonight and allowed our minds and hearts to focus on Him.

Psalm 22:3

"You are holy, You who inhabit the praises of Your people."

act accordingly.

Her Moment.

It was a real moment.

One I will not soon forget.

We were driving to church... listening to this song.

All of a sudden I hear Zoey call my name.

I could tell she was crying.

"What's wrong baby?"

Then she said something that struck my core.

"While I was worshiping to that song, I started to cry because I love Jesus so much. He is good all the time and he died for my sins."

We had just then pulled up to the church and Chris had come out to help me with the kids. She shared her encounter with him, still very choked up. We all were choked up.
She is our worshiper and is very sensitive to the leading of the Lord.

He is real... and He made Himself known.

Not because we prodded or pleaded or manipulated.

Simply because He wanted to.

For that I am forever grateful.

I was trying to record her talking about it.
We got the basics.

Operation Front Flip

Operation Front Flip

We are getting a little bit closer.

i secretly love when they steal my camera.

and in all things... session 44

Things I am thankful for on April 4, 2013...

1. Psalm 30:2
2. People in my life who are trustworthy
3. New beautiful sand in our sandbox
4. Spring Cleaning
5. Hope
6. Calculators
7. "I'm thinking of you" texts
8. The book of Isaiah
9. DayQuill, Tissues, Chicken-Noodle Soup, Cough Drops
10. Netflix

The miracle of the resurrection... and the fact that I have all 4 kids in a picture.

It won't win any photographic awards,but all 4 kids are in the picture and no one is screaming. I call this one a WIN! (even if Elijah's hair looks like he went thru a wind-tunnel)

Easter.

I'm loving the discussions we are having this year with our kids.

So powerful.

So meaningful.

So full of Jesus.

I'm grateful for our Savior.

Today we have nothing planned....

Just enjoying our fried chicken, potato salad, hummus lunch and watching the Wings game in our sweats. I couldn't have planned it better if I tried!

sandboxes, trampolines and firepits.

Today was just one of those days that is good for the soul.

Week in Review...

On Sunday our 3 little ones had their school Easter program.

Zoey was totally in her element... as usual.

Elijah, our oh-so shy one, was so mad at us for putting him on stage.

Jacob had no idea what was going on, but he was more than happy to oblige.

I am so blessed by the Daycare and Learning Center that my kids go to that is hosted by our church. My kids are loved on by some of the most amazing people I know, and as an added blessing, I get to see it 1st hand (my office is right down the hall).
***I apologize that this video of Elijah is extremely long and monotonous... but I know a particular person who will love the entire thing.

Last night Isaac has his final practice for Little Wolves hockey, and starting next month he will be joining his first home league, playing for the Mites. It's been fun to see him work really hard and start to thrive at hockey. It's also been a blast for me to see his dad be able to teach him so many life lessons through the sport: teamwork, perseverance, submission to authority, dealing with disappointment, hard work, etc.

it's not quite spring weather... but it's good enough for us!

This week may have been one of the most taxing weeks I have had in a long time.... it's at least in the top 5. I had to continually stop to remind myself that "with God, all things are possible," because there were moments when I felt extremely incapable. That being said, I haven't had much time this week to just hang out with the kids. My attention has been elsewhere and I realized how much they fill me with peace and joy... just by being them! After school today when they asked if we could all play together outside and I jumped at the opportunity... even if we all did end up a little muddy.

1 Peter 4:11

1 Peter 4:11

 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

I talk all the time about how much I love my job.

How fun and exciting it is to minister to teenagers.

It's so true..

...but there's another side.

It's hard.

Most of the time there are more questions than answers.

There is heartbreak, confusion and despair.

Today I can't control my emotions.

I think about all of the teenagers throughout the years that God has given me the opportunity to engage and connect with.

Some have experienced victory, some have succumb to defeat.

Some have overcome, some have surrendered.

Some have experience healing, some have adapted to destruction.

For some reason God has given me a voice, and until I can no longer speak, I will scream truth, life and restoration. God, give me strength.