For almost three years I’ve chosen to put this off. There’s too much to write, I think. So I don’t. There’s so much that’s happened. So I push it off another day. Even the fact that I ended my last post with a part one, begs for a part two, which has kept me frozen in time for these three years. Instead of stressing about filling in the gaps of the last three years, I’ve decided to keep those memories on my camera phone, my one-line-a-day diary, and my brain’s very own hard drive. The main reason I need to get back to writing is the very fact that it is a way in which I feel God smile. Someone told me just this week how God looks forward and loves to meet me in the place where I sit down and put words on a page. And another friend asked me if I ever thought about writing a book. That makes more people than I can count who have asked me this. No, this isn’t a book, but it’s like a warm-up session to a workout, or a training run for an even longer run. You’re welcome to peek into the words, but it’s more like an exercise of dislodging the writer’s cobwebs which seem to be thickly spread throughout my procrastination-familiar brain.

For the sake of continuity, I would like to wrap up the last three years in as concise a way as possible.

We recently sold our big van, Silver Belle. It was emotional as we had so many amazing memories with her. We bought a different, smaller, Mercedes R Class 350. It’s weird to have out-shrunk something instead of outgrown it, for the first time ever.

Harry has grown into a kindergartner with such a sweet darling personality. He loves to trace, eat oats with blueberries, pretend he’s a police-officer, record himself talking on an old-fashioned tape deck and take rides in the car. I love introducing him to my old childhood favorites like Psalty the Singing Songbook or Patch the Pirate, and we listen while we drive. He still like dinosaurs, but also loves cars, bugs, creatures of all kinds, and is slowly getting braver in the swimming pool!

Betty is just about my height, now. I actually changed size quite a bit over the last three years, and thankfully I saved all of my old clothes, because she fits into everything just perfectly. She is completely into crafts and has an entrepreneur-driven brain. Her current obsession are these beautiful hand-made earrings. She loves to listen to Adventures in Odyssey and is almost always doing that while crafting. We gave her a cat named Timmy for her birthday this year, and he’s totally loved. She recently had an epic trip to a camp in Tennessee, and I was able to fly there to bring her home. She’s also relishing another week she had at a local camp and two more weeks coming up later this month!

Elsie is a beautiful young woman with such an artistic flair. She is brave and hilarious. She double-pierced her own ears a few weeks ago and is super nonchalant about such things. She cleans houses on the side and “fluffing” a space to make it beautiful seems to come quite naturally to her. Ukulele, guitar and singing are still a part of her life. She’s currently on week 2 of four weeks of camp!

Jack is about Matt’s height, and got his driving permit this spring. He’s an excellent driver and saving up for his own car. He still wrestles, but also had the opportunity to run his first 50K with Matt in Kentucky last month. His favorite summer activity is biking and fixing up his go-kart to go 40mph. He will bike for miles and miles, and I’m always amazed by his new-found skills and tricks he teaches himself just by using youtube. He often works for Matt a couple days a week, and is a huge help. He is currently at soccer camp.

Elijah graduated highschool last year, went straight to tech school, and graduated last week from UTI as an automotive technician. He’s been working at a shop all year, and today was his first day on the job, full time, not as a student, but as a full-fledged technician. Of course, he will always be a student because learning never stops, but there is the major perk of no more tuition! We had a celebration this weekend with the family, and surprised him big time with something he’s been dreaming about for a long time: a motorcycle. He’s already had a safety lesson from his granddaddy, who also rides. Less gas, more prayers!

Nadine also graduated from highschool last year. She has spent the last year working at a barn, a coffee shop, and cleaning houses. She experienced moving into her own place for most of the year, but various things have led her to move back home as she shifts career directions. Being in the “in-between” is exciting, daunting, overwhelming and full of possibility! She continues to be amazing with animals, especially dogs and horses. It truly is a gift!

Matthew continues to work his own business. It has grown and God has blessed him! He has one major renovation job and a few smaller things on the side. One of those being our house. Since part one (which pictures I can hardly believe!) our house has changed so much I barely recognize our old photos. This month he installed all new windows, finished the downstairs trim, and put us at about 95 percent finished from our “bathroom renovation”. Hahahaha. We all have a good laugh at that one! We do not recommend living in a renovation. Matthew also went to and graduated from something called the “Man of War Crucible”. I will link it here, instead of explain it. You can take a look and see what kind of experience this was. We talk about it here, as well, after the fact. (Language warning… not from our interview, though, which starts around minute 19). He is now a coach for the program and is an amazing mentor to many other men, as well as being mentored. He also continues to run ultra marathons and feels really good. There will always be the collateral damage from years of surgeries and such, but we continue to ask questions and learn how to better support our bodies, and be convinced that they are designed to heal themselves.

Major changes for me? The most difficult challenges began as two positive pregnancy tests. One in December of 2019, and one in August of 2021. They both ended as a miscarriage, and my body went through a real mixed up time of excitement, grief, joy and grief like I’ve never experienced before. The highlight of the last three years was when Matthew surprised me on my fortieth birthday with my very own “Amazing Race” experience, complete with clues, which culminated with a trip to Thailand twelve hours later! What a gift, and what divine timing, as we arrived home March 13, 2020. Enough said.

Other changes include the fact that after seven years, I am no longer working my Plexus business. This was not an easy or quick decision, but one which came with a lot of peace. God taught me so very much during those years, and gave me such beautiful friendships which I still have, even though I’m no longer with them in business. So what do I do now? You’re reading it. =)

Matthew and I also started a podcast! So far we are only fourteen episodes in, but it’s been a lot of fun to learn and do. We are praying for continued ideas, growth, and clarity as we expand this area of ministry. It’s called the Ride of a Lifetime, and you can listen here!

Obviously there is MUCH more in between each of these lines, but the first layer of cobwebs has been swooshed away, and I’m committed. Thanks for reading this far, and stay tuned for more!