We moved!

My favorite readers (A.K.A. my kids) 

keep reminding me that I need to tell you some big news...

We moved!

to Vermont!

We packed and packed

(seriously you don't know how much stuff you have until you have to have to pack it all)

and witnessed the Lord work a miracle when it all barely fit into our moving truck.

Thank you Jesus!

Then we said a lot of tearful 

"see ya laters".

It was so hard to leave our church, friends, the kids school and neighbors 

and extra hard to leave our family.

We said our final farewell to California and hit to road to Vermont.

You know we love a good road trip so we took a couple of weeks to make the trek across country

hitting as many National Parks as we could on the way.

How many Sellars can you spot?

We went to lakes, forests, deserts,

canyons and a few times even a hotel pool (which is hard to find in Covid).

We spent A LOT of time in the car

but when we got out we climbed,

and explored

and jumped. 

And then we got back in the car and drove some more. 

We also yelped the best places in each new city and ate. A lot. 

That's one of our favorite parts of visiting new places. 

Any other foodies out there?!

Rocky Mountain National Park lived up to all the hype.

It was incredible. 

These 4 ran around and climbed and acted like kids that had been caged up for way too long.

It was the first time, in a long time, they could just run and be free.

We all soaked up God's beautiful creation and the fresh air. 

One blessing that has come out of Covid quarantine is the strengthened bond these guys have with each other. 

It's so sweet to see their friendship.

Don't get me wrong, they still drive each other crazy at times

 but I know they will grow up thankful for one another.  

We also bought a couple $10 Walmart fishing poles and caught a ton of trout!

This little fisherwoman was begging to fish every day.

Mammoth Cave National Park in Kentucky

The beach in South Carolina was beautiful

and I loved the warm water. 
So different than the beach in California.

We also visited family in Tennessee which was a highlight! 

Then we went to Great Smokey Mountain National Park.

The kids wanted to take the Appalachian trial to Vermont but we opted for the car instead.

Maybe one day!

Eventually we made it to Vermont

and have been eating as many maple creemees as possible since then.

Tomorrow

"Is there nothing to sing about today? 

Then borrow a song from tomorrow; sing of what is yet to be. 

Is this world dreary? Then think of the next." 

-Charles Spurgeon

These lyrics have been floating through my head often;

"My hope is built on nothing less 
than Jesus' blood and righteousness"
and while my head gives a fervent "Amen"
by heart proves distrustful.

The same doubt that crept into Adam and Eve's heart
causing them to eat the fruit
and question whether or not God really loved them
has flashed into my own heart as well.

Quarantine chaos has revealed many areas of my sinful, fickle heart.
Do I doubt God's goodness when things get hard?
Do I feel entitled to an easy, comfortable life?
I would never say that but does my grumbling or woe is me attitude out me? 
Is my hope built on things of this world?
Health? Freedom? Comforts?
The answer often times is Yes!
As I think about my heart that is prone to wander
and even feel ashamed and frustrated at my weakness
I am reminded of God's amazing grace.

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:15-16
Christ knows I am weak and sinful.
Jesus paid it all. All to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow.
Christ is the Good Shepherd that chases after his lost sheep.
Praise God.

On Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand.

Amen.

John Newton's prayer and mine

John Newton’s (1725-1807) words may be 200+ years old but they speak so beautifully and powerfully into our current situation. This is my prayer for myself and you my dear friends.

“I wish we may learn from all our changes, to be sober and watchful, not to rest in grace received, in experience or comforts, but still to be pressing forward, and never think ourselves either safe or happy, but when we are beholding the glory of Christ by the light of faith in the glass of the Gospel, to view him as God manifest in the flesh, as all in all in himself, and all in all for us; this cheering, this strengthening, this makes hard things easy, and better things sweet. This includes all I can wish for my dear friends, that you may grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus. To know him, is the shortest description of true grace; to know him better, is the surest mark of growth in grace; to know him perfectly, is eternal life. This is the prize of our high calling; the sum and substance of all we can desire or hope for is, to see him as he is, and to be like him: and to this honor and happiness he will surely bring all that love his name.”

Happy 9th Birthday Maddie!

Our Maddie girl turned 9 the other day! 

We surprised her with a little drive by quarantine birthday party. 

She was so embarrassed and excited at the same time.

She doesn't love being the center of attention but she loved seeing her friends and being celebrated.

Madelyn Joy, you are truly a ray of sunshine.

Christ's love shines brightly through you. 

You are kind and caring and love to have fun. 

Remember when Gamma used to call you the sassy one?

You are still 100% lively, bold and full of spirit and I love that about you.

You've still got some spice to you 

(I have no idea where you get that from)

but you have matured and grown so much in grace this past year.

You love music and really wanted to learn how to play the drums

but settled for the ukulele instead.

Thank you Jesus.

You also write the best songs! 

You are brave.

You like high speeds, 

climbing trees and

holding reptiles.

You are a wonderful big and little sister.

God knew what he was doing when he made you the middle child. 

I love the special bond you have with each of your siblings. 

You bring them together in a unique way. 

You are wise beyond your years.

You are often asking deep, heart felt questions I have never thought about.

You think deeply about the things of God 

and earnestly want to live a life that honors the Lord Jesus Christ.

You have a cheerful, tender heart and a sensitive conscience. 

You know when people need a kind word or a hug

and you give them out generously.

You seek adventure and find it. 

You love all things outdoorsy.

I'm pretty sure you will free climb a mountain one day or end up beating all the boys on the show Alone. 

You love to cuddle and spend alone time with Daddy and I. 

If we forget to ask our Highs and Lows of the day at dinner time 

you always remind us.

You radiate the joy of the Lord to those around you.

We love you so much and love watching you grow into a godly young lady!

Hi old friend!

Hey guys! 

I can't believe it has been over 5 years since my blogging days abruptly ended (whoops). 

A lot has changed and not much has changed all at the same time. 

Life is funny like that.

We have all gotten bigger. 

Especially these guys.

As much as I miss the little years and am always trying to slow down time, having big kids is awesome.

These middle years have been such a joy.

I thought I'd jump back in by sharing 10 totally random things I have been loving lately.

1. The sweet smell of honeysuckle. 

These grow like a weed around our neighborhood and the smell is thick in the air when I go for a walk around our block. It literally stops me in my tracks and I breathe in as many breathes as I can. 

2. Emergency distance learning (EDL) has been a learning curve to say the least.

Things have not been all sugar and spice. 

There have been a lot of really hard days trying to figure out this new way of learning and learning how to learn with 6 people in a shared space. 

Am I the only one whose home felt instantly smaller once quarantine kicked in?

There have also been so many sweet moments because of EDL. 

I love the slower pace of our day and the freedom (and time!) to add in so many other shared learning opportunities. 

When we heard the schools were closing I ran to the library (which thankfully was still open) and checked out a bunch of read aloud books. 

Caddie Woodlawn was the first one we started and it been the perfect book for our family in this season.

It's the story of a big family that lives in the countryside and is full of adventure and moments that will make you laugh one minute and then want to cry the next. 

We have one chapter left and I'm sad for it to end. 

Any suggestions on what we should read next?

3. I didn't grow up singing hymns and I didn't know what I was missing.

Last year I stumbled upon Happy Hymnody and it has been such a blessing!

Hymns are full of such rich and sweet theology. 

We have had so much fun learning a new hymn and the background behind it each month. 

4. This pretzel recipe.

We have baked a lot of things during quarantine and this is by far my favorite.

It's like having Wetzel's pretzel bites at home.  

Heat up some Tostitos queso to dip them in and thank me later.

My pants are happy we ran out of rapid rise yeast because we may have been making them every day.

5. I'm not a big online shopper but there is one online shop I love.

All of my favorite clothes are from Carly Jean Los Angeles.

They have cute, affordable, good quality clothes that make me look way more put together than I really am. 

They also introduced me to my favorite hat ever!

6. It's loquat season!

mmmmm

Thank you to all of our friends who have let us raid their trees.

Have you ever tried a loquat?

7. The Puritans knew how to pray.

I've got a lot to learn and they have been great teachers. 

I'm so thankful for the compilation of Puritan prayers in the "Valley of Vision" and "Piercing Heaven" that so often put eloquent words to the thoughts of my heart.

8. My baby lost his baby front teeth and looks like a big kid now.

I'm not crying, you're crying.

9. We are living in a dark time. 

I've been so encouraged by David Platt's "Pray the Word" podcast this year.

A few days ago he prayed for people who are contemplating suicide.

Maybe someone who is reading this has been there before or is there right now. 

If that's you please listen to this! 

Corrie ten Boom said, “There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still."

Friends, there is hope in Christ. 

If you need a friend to listen to or someone to pray for you please send me an email.