listening to the words...

music moves me. all kinds of music, and i mean, really moves me. its always been a part of my life. as a kid, i dreamed of being a singer. and still to this day, on the songs i love, there's pretty much a concert going on in my head. its why, when i actually go to a concert, i just sit and watch.

i especially love worship music...it stirs something so deep in my heart that it often brings me to tears. at the very tip top of my favorite singer list (just underneath celine dion) is christy nockels. she's the lead singer for watermark...and i've loved her songs for years.

but today...as i was working out and listening to one of my favorite songs by watermark...it was like i heard the words for the first time again. so moving...so inspiring...such truth....
it got me through the last 10 minutes of working out...just meditating on the words...

"It is time that we give you honor...
this is the day to give you all the praise that you deserve.
A Holy King...of everything...inhabit the praises of your people...
Have we waited far too long now to surrender. Forgive us, oh God, the years we failed to seek your face. Oh, Lord your mercy turns us into grateful people. We can't seem to find the words...so take our lives that they might be enough...
to show you how grateful....
Lord we are grateful...."

"Bless the Lord...oh my soul...and all that is within me, bless his holy name...."

fort time....

well, andy found a bunch of huge boxes being thrown out, so he grabbed them and has been saving them for a "fort day". i went to canton, and the boys built a fort. i must say it was much more extravagant than i expected...with tunnels and windows, and towers. it was pretty awesome. sadly, we didn't check the weather, and we didn't get to keep it up for today due to the storm coming (as you can see). we did salvage half on our porch, so they can continue the fun...

brothers

brothers....priceless...

working hard...

to all the mom's of young children...it does get better!

snow...snow...snow...

after being out of school for 4 days because of the thick layer of ice...we finally got some perfect snow! it was about 4 inches...and today, i think we got closer to 30 degrees (as opposed to the mid-teens as its been all week). so, the boys wanted to go play...and i don't really understand the whole mustache thing, but they all decided (andy's idea) to draw mustaches on their face whenever they went out to play. i don't know. boys will be boys. :)

boxing ring...

well, there's a thick layer of ice on the roads, so this is the 2nd day at home with no school! we have desperately needed this break, so we are sooo grateful for the time to get caught up...and just have some family time. today, andy has scheduled in time for wrestling...and now he's come up with the idea to use every mattress in our home to build a boxing ring. needless to say, the boys are having a blast....and i'm sitting in the other room alone. i thought i could sit and read a little, but with all the mattresses being used, i don't have anywhere to sit! :) o well...even though the sheets were just washed, and i had all the beds nicely tucked in...i'll choose to enjoy my creative husband and his crazy ideas! :)

daddy time...

this is one of the most special times myboys have...Bible story time with their dad! he reads the story to them, answering questions and using all kinds of voices. and then they usually want to "play" it...where they all play different parts and act the story out. usually the boys are all in their underwear, so i thought i would snap a picture since they were all dressed this time!