I’m Blessed

Well, we had a whirlwind of a weekend.  I need to stop posting with that kind of intro.  There are only so many ways to say that we’re so busy and I can’t wait for it to slow down.

We went camping out at the family lake cabin, although we didn’t sleep in the cabin, we slept in our “new” tent just outside it.  Knut got it for his birthday last year and it was our first time trying it out.  Obviously, he didn’t ‘need it’ as much as he thought he did if it took over a year for us getting around to using it.  I will say, though, that it was awesome.  Although I wouldn’t want to be in it for bad weather, I could stand up inside.  It was so spacious, and we had room enough for 2 queen sized blow up mattresses, and could have easily fit in 2 more.  So we set up the pack n’ play, and had aisles to spare.  It was lovely.

I’ve been feeling really blessed lately with my in-laws.  Though I still feel sometimes that I’m out of place, or the weird one, I’ve been so blessed this last weekend with their sense of humor that only comes out at certain times, and the help and encouragement they have been to me during this busy summer.  From covering midwife appointments, or just being someone to escape the house with, or share those inner-mom problems…it’s been nice.

Our extended family is in a state of babies.  We are so blessed with babies.  Here is Knut’s sister’s youngest on the left, Knut’s brother’s youngest in the middle, followed by Knut’s sister’s 2nd youngest on the far right.  Of the 4 siblings in that family, there are now 11 grandchildren…and will become an even dozen with our next addition.  I strongly doubt that is the last of babies, as some families are unsure if there will be more, other families are sure there will be more, and some families haven’t even started yet.

The yearly tradition of Knut and his siblings and parents and all associated families staying out at the lake started a few years ago.  Each family is responsible for 1 meal from planning to clean up.  I picked breakfast.  Don’t worry.  We didn’t just serve cereal.  That was just for the kids to eat while they waited for breakfast to get ready.  They eat right away, and then have 2nd breakfast…like hobbits.

Knut made french toast for all of us, and his brothers pitched in to help with the bacon and sausages.  I did the eggs and orange juice, and general crowd control of the little ones.

As you can see, I haven’t yet cleaned my camera sensor, and I need to do that today.  Sorry about the “flying saucer” as my sister calls the specks on my photos.  It’s on my list.

Anyway, I was so blessed to see Uncle Jon look straight at Solveig after breakfast, and ask her if she wanted to go to the end of the dock with him.  She just smiled.  Then Uncle Lars asked the other little girl cousin, and the 4 of them headed down the dock for their double date.  They must have sat in that spot for over half an hour, just looking at the water and sitting.

When Solveig came back, she was just beaming.  It was like she had just had the best date of her life.

The other, older kids were out fishing with Knut, Grandpa and Uncle Chris.  So that left the cabin to the moms and babies.  It was so peaceful, and peace is a great blessing!

For the sake of saving dishes, we each had our own cup with our name on it.  Aunt Rondi went around to graffiti on some of them.  I particularly like the “I love John Deere” and “I love to Dance!” written all over Grandpa’s.  It got him upset, but poor guy was bound by the inner longing not to waste anything ever, so he didn’t get a new cup and had to drink out of it all weekend.

He has not lived down dancing with Silje at the wedding yet.  I’m not sure he will anytime soon either.  Best $2 I spent this year.

Yes, we are so blessed by family. 

Also, I’ve arrived at a state of peace about the whole-leaving-my-kids-fear.  I’ve been spending some time in prayer, and I’m so much at peace about it now.  As I poured out all of my fears to God, He reminded me of all the times He commanded celebrations throughout the Bible.  He stresses so much the importance of remembering the good things He has done, and rejoicing over covenants kept.  We rejoice when He rescues us from trouble, and keeps every promise.  I felt like God spoke directly to my heart about the issue, and saying that it was a very good thing to celebrate the covenant between God, Knut and I the last 10 years.  It was good to show our children the importance of celebrating the good things God has done.  That may sound cheesy, but it calmed me down so much.  My excitement has fully returned.

If you would like to share God’s blessings on your life, just leave a comment below, or a link to your list in the comment section.  I love reading so many good things God does for each of us.

( I know we leave tomorrow, and I haven’t posted the corn chowder recipe yet.  I’m planning on having that post automatically tomorrow.  I don’t plan on blogging in Hawaii, but we will have the ipad with so I’ll be able to check in on occasion…if I feel like it. Ha!  No promises there!  I’m on vacation!)