Final Post...

... not really.... just for a few days. :)

Tomorrow begins Southwest Indiana Walk to Emmaus #39! Starting at 5:00, 52 team members and 44 women from all walks of life will begin an incredible life changing journey. 72 hours in the presence of the Lord. Unless you have been, you can't even imagine. I HIGHLY remcommend it.

Counting my own walk, this will be my 4th Walk experience and I can tell you this...every walk is a bit different, BUT one thing is the same...Jesus always shows up. He will be in the faces and hearts of all those coming together to make this weekend happen. Pray that these women will be able to see Him and feel Him and be open to what He has in store for each and every one of them.


But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness and into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9

Finally Friday..

This "short" week has been a long week in my opinion. SO much to try to fit in. Since my last post, Aaron and I celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary. (That is hard to get my mind around.) We spent Labor Day weekend at my dad's with the family (Had an awesome time!) And we had our last team formation for Southwest Indiana Walk to Emmaus #39!! (Hard to believe it's here! Woo Hoo)

The lord has revealed a great deal to me over the last several weeks. He has reminded me that when I have no strength left to go on, He will carry me. That when worry begins to enter my mind, He will take care of it. That when people hurt or disappoint me, I can find forgiveness. That none of us should complain about our lives because others are going thru unspeakable pain. That there is nothing that can quite compare to the Body of Christ praying together in unison. That He be can praised in ALL things and ALL situations.

A friend from our team of the upcoming walk lost her brother-in-law yesterday to a battle with cancer. He was diagnosed this past January. He was only 40 years old. He never had a chance to "find himself at 40." He and his wife also lost a two year old to a brain tumor several years ago. So much pain for one family to bear. As I would read the emails and the posts on his caring bridge site about his failing condition my heart would ache. I could picture myself, sitting at a hospital bed in my living room, holding my husbands hand and I could feel the magnitude of that situation. They have a 13 year old boy. I thought about what it would do to my 13 year old to watch that happen to his dad. Doesn't that kind of put your whole life in perspective.

Throughout this most difficult, unimaginable time, that family never once... not for a single minute stopped praising God. Never Once. What a testiment to their faith. They were so completely confident that Kevin's healing would come. If not on this earth, then in Heaven. And they were ok. I could never do justice in conveying the complete and total faith that this family has. I would encourage you to go to his site and read his journal. www.caringbridge.org/visit/kevinking/journal
You will be blessed more than you can imagine.

A dear old friend posted on facebook this morning "we are only one phone call away from falling on our face before Him." Man...that's heavy stuff. Where are you on your journey. Do you have a personal relationship with our lord and saviour Jesus Christ. I'm not talking "yes, I go to church every Sunday" I am talking a REAL relationship. There is a huge difference. Pews are full of people who will never make it into heaven. Are you one of them. Do you have a daily walk with Him, or only think of Him when times are difficult. I challenge you to really examine your life. Will you be prepared when you get that phone call. Will you be prepared if someone else gets that phone call about you.

The last words that Kevin had his wife type on his caring bridge site on Sept. 1st were these... "Live, love, and abide by God's glorious commandments. Good Night and have a blessed day tomorrow. Love, Kevin."

Happy Birthday Jaden!

Jaden put the "Labor" in Labor Day six years ago. It was nice that he was born on a holiday, because the ENTIRE family was able to be there. He spent his first hour being passed around among a dozen people or so. It was really cool. His big brothers were so proud of him.

Today he is spending his birthday at school. Another "first" to deal with. He wanted me to make brownies for his class, since he isn't a cake person. I told him I would bring them out for his classroom party this afternoon. His reply, "you really don't have to come mom." I said "it's ok Jaden, I want to come" thinking awww, he is worried about how busy I am and doesn't want to inconvenience me. How sweet. But then he said it again. And then a third time. Finally I asked..."Jaden do you not want me to come?" He tried his best to be diplomatic, but DANG... another dagger to mom's heart.

So I will honor his wishes and miss the classroom party today. This one seems to be growing up at lightening speed. Little mister independent. I don't like it a bit.

Catching up...

I love being caught up don't you. Caught up with the laundry. Caught up on the housework. Caught up in a moment... Getting caught up with old friends, especially ones you haven't seen or heard from in years... can't beat it.

I haven't blogged much lately as you may have noticed. Do you even need to ask why? I simply cannot get caught up with the chaos that is my life. In fact, it is physically impossible for me to get caught up at this point in time. Way to much going on. Take the usual stuff that you poor readers get to hear me vent about and add back to school, a kid with mono, a kid with a bad cold, and a kid with endless soccer games, and a kid with an upcoming birthday... coupled with preparing to work an Emmaus Walk and trying to keep my head above water business wise. Man... I am SO not ever gonna get caught up. SO, I am going to quit trying and just go with the flow.

Here are a few "catch up" facts for new readers who are interested in the where abouts of the family...and for those readers who maybe had lost track...

Mom moved to Indy six years ago next month, the same month that Jaden was born. That was a bummer...BUT Greg was working up there so it pretty much had to happen. She lives in the Castleton area. I get up there with the kids usually in March for spring break and October for fall break. A getaway for the kids and I get to shop by myself! She, on the other hand, comes down here every other week... gotta see her babies. I am so thankful for that.

Dad is still in Jasper. He and Julie are still operating Pieper-Burns State Farm after 23 years. Dad is still Dad...he never changes. My baby brother Evan will be 22 in November and is a Senior at IU this year. He is one amazing kid.

Kent is up in Carmel. Village of West Clay, to be exact. Super successful of course. Check him out at www.kentburnsonline.com. Haley is up around IUPUI, Max is a senior and Abby is in the second grade. I don't get to see him near as often as I would like, usually 5 times a year or so, but we do text eachother about every other day.

Grandma Burns is 93 and going strong! Still lives alone, still cruises Jasper, and can often be found hanging out at walmart. Isn't that wild.

As for me...there are plenty of posts on this blog to give you the lowdown... 151 to be exact. One night I couldn't sleep and read them all. Got "caught up" on the past year or so. Amazing what you forget in a year's time.

Playing catch up bites... but getting caught up is awesome. I highly recommend it.

First Day...

It's done... It was just as bad as I had feared... worse actually.

I was weepy on the drive there, but under control. We pulled into the parking lot and all piled out of the van. My big boys both hugged me and kissed me and man that's all it took. Bring on the waterworks. They walked away and I couldn't watch.

I managed to gain control by the time I got into the building with Jaden. We hung up his things and went to his seat. There was a picture there for him to color. He sat down and I sat down in his seat with him and he began coloring.

I tried to think of everything I needed to tell him, even though I have tried my best for the last almost 6 years to teach him everything he needs to know. I reminded him to raise his hand in the cafeteria if he has trouble getting things open in his lunch. I'm worried about that. I told him over and over and over that I loved him and he was going to have a great day.

I tried so hard to choke it back, but I failed. I sat there in that tiny seat and hugged him and cried....and I didn't care.

I cried all the way to the van and then had the big ugly cry for the next half hour or so. As I type this I am holding my baby girl who wants to know where Jaden is and how long till he gets home. Gonna be a long day.

Point of no return...

It's almost 8:00. I happen to have few minutes of peace and quiet, on this, the eve of the day I have dreaded for the last year.

In a few minutes, they will all pile in the back door from their various practices and activites. I will head them all to the bathtub and showers. We will pick out clothes and get backpacks and supplies in order. I will look at my big boys and see each one as the tiny boys that I knew long ago, even though now I have to look up at both of them. I will look at my J and wonder where the last five years went. Seems like I was carrying him on my hip only yesterday. And I will look at my precious baby girl and thank god he gave me one more to hold onto a little while longer.

I am choking back tears already my friends. Typing this through cloudy vision. I know they all grow up but man, I tell ya, every year it gets a little harder to accept. Four short years is all I have left with Ethan. It will be over in a flash. I am also thinking of my dear friends who are sending their babies off to start their senior year and of friends who are sending their last baby and will come home to an empty house for the first time. My heart breaks for them too. Letting go stinks... But, despite these sad moments, that inevitably come, what joy surrounds me in this house. What a privledge and honor it is to be a mom to such wonderful kids. God gave me four gifts... and I am so thankful.

Women of Faith!

My girls and I returned home yesterday from our second annual Ya Ya trip to Women of Faith. If you have never been, you are truly missing out. 12,000 women in one arena all coming together in Christ to share and laugh and cry and rejoice. The speakers were outstanding as usual. Stephen Curtis Chapman literally took our breath away and left us speechless on Friday night. (He is my fave, in case I never mentioned it :) Mandisa, and Lisa Welchel (Facts of Life) and Patsy Clairmont, and Marilyn Meeburg, and all the others were equally as inspiring. Everyone has a story my friends, and none of us are alone.

I forgot my camera! But here is a pic we had taken while there.


My favorite Farhar and My favorite Fields (Christy's sister Andi)

Shirley and Tami...love those crazy gals

Me and my precious pals Susan and Annette