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I started a tradition where I visit the Prayer Labyrinth during Lent.  There is always  a local church that hosts one.

I never knew what one was until the fall of 2003 when I attended the Youth Specialities National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis.  They had a room set up where youth workers could walk the Prayer Path which is a Christ centered labyrinth created by Group Publishing.  The organizers told us it would be the most important thing we did at the Convention (it was voluntary) and not to rush through it.  It was AMAZING!  I was able to work through some hurts and pray through upcoming transitions.

This year I wanted to focus on being a mom.  I reflected on the last seven and a half years of my journey as a mom…a stay-at-home mom in particular.  From the Sunday night the husband and I whisked off to Walgreens after church and purchased a pregnancy test.  I took the test and said, “See I told you it’s negative again.”  And the husband saying, “No, look again, it’s positive!”  Sure enough it was.  In September of 2006 we became parents.  I remember long stroller walks to the store and reading board books from the library with my daughter. We lived in a small two bedroom apartment in Grand Rapids, Michigan.  My life was quite simple then.

My daughter and I going on a long stroller walk/run.

Then our little girl turned 11 months old. That August of 2007 we packed everything we owned and headed across the country to Oregon breaking down in Nebraska long the way.

Our car was towed by a couple aka “Our Good Samaritans” from just outside Chappell, Nebraska to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Wyoming still gives us anxiety to this day.

It was a new life–one that I never dreamed would be filled with so many blessings.

Nine months after our move I became pregnant with our second born.  He was born just before our second Thanksgiving in Oregon.

The one to two transition was hard, but got easier and easier as my son got older.

Of course there were challenges those first few years.  I began an academic program to be a veterinary technician.  I was sicker with my second pregnancy and spent many afternoons on the couch.  I did not have as many close friends yet and was quite lonely.  But God always provided.

After my son was born I learned how to multi-task.  Laundry and cleaning increased. Visits to the park, wagon rides, and watching my two kids play together were our spring and summer pastimes.

My son at around nine months

On my 32nd birthday, I announced to my family that I was expecting Child #3. She was born two weeks before Child #2 turned two.  The year of juggling a preschooler, toddler, and baby is a blur.  I do remember Child #3 getting cold after cold after cold.  I still made myself run three times a week to stay sane.

Our smiley little girl at eight weeks old.

I sent my oldest off to kindergarten in the fall of 2010.  I also made the painful decision to end my education as a veterinary technician.  I now feel at peace about it but it took a very long time. Even though my grades were stellar and I enjoyed it–I grew to love being a homemaker–something I never thought I would love so much. I realized I could not do it all anymore.  It honestly took five and a half years for me to be comfortable with being a stay-at-home mom.

My three kids playing at the indoor playground.

God speaks to us when we listen.  He leads us when we look to Him for wisdom.  He heals us when we are broken. He fills us when we are lonely.  He provides for us when we we are empty.

I reflected on all this as I walked the prayer labyrinth.  And I can’t wait for whatever is next.

Playing on the coast in Newport, Oregon.

Posted by artoornstra in Uncategorized

Sinus pressure.  Runny nose.  Coughing.  Poor sleep.  Itchy, watery eyes.  That has been me the past couple days.  Last Superbowl Sunday, I also had a bad cold and was coming off a NyQuil induced drowsiness…and I slept through most of the afternoon.  This year: same story, different verse.

I came home from church yesterday dizzy and fatigued.  Lounging in the big mauve recliner seemed more invigorating than dragging myself to the Superbowl Party.  The problem was I had to cover the Superbowl Party for my news writing job.  Plus this party had a kid’s carnival at it and I told the kids they could come with me.  It’s all they talked about all morning.

The whole morning I am talking in this raspy “sexy male” voice as my own is pretty much gone.  Every single time I am talking to someone, they have this look of concern like “What the heck happened to you?”  The pressure in my ears and sinuses makes me feel like I am in a barrel or underwater.  All this aside, I whisk the kids in the van in “my cold and sinus induced state” without having them go to the bathroom or take along extra clothes…you know what happened next.

We drive to a smaller town forty miles south of us.  Very unfamiliar with the town.  Thankfully Mrs. GPS gets us there and we do not get lost.  Child #3 is fast asleep having missed her afternoon nap.  Child #1 and Child #2 wake up Child #3.  Child #3 is soaked…wet her pants…and I have NOTHING else for her to wear.  I call my husband:  ”Do you know if there any clothes stores in this town?”  He has no idea.  But there is a Safeway.

The nearest Target and Wal Mart are 18 miles away.  All we can find is Safeway.  Which is pretty much packed with people buying last minute items for their Superbowl Party.  We find the pull-ups aisle and wait in line with a cazillion other people buying chips and dip and beer.

Child #3 is OK wearing a dress with pull up underneath with no leggings, tights, or pants in the dead of winter.  At least she has a winter coat.  We get back in the van and drive back to the church.

We walk into the church and are greeted by the warmest, energetic, upbeat people.  They welcome my children in, ask them their names, take them around to the carnival games, and allow me to snap pictures and gather quotes.  It’s not my church and I know hardly anyone…but I feel at home.

I am grateful for my small news writing  job where I am able to learn about other churches and communities and how they are reaching out to others.  I am thankful for my “go with the flow” kids.  We have been talking about in the Bible Study I attend about how it is easy for us to complain and fall into pessimism.  A day that I had plenty to complain about was instead a day to celebrate.

Posted by artoornstra in Uncategorized

”Tis the season for cleaning gutters!

And it’s much easier to do this cold, wet, unpleasant task when you have a little helper!

Posted by artoornstra in Uncategorized