The voices in my head

I got up this morning for some 'quiet time' to read my bible before the boys woke up. I'm reading 1 Samuel, and I was just reading about the classic Bible story of God's voice calling to Samuel. Because he was young, he didn't recognize the voice of God when God called his name. I was just praying that I would learn to recognize God's voice, when I heard a different, frantic voice from the basement, "Mommy, mommy, come quick!"

Isaiah was standing at the foot of the stairs, his little stomach heaving as the flu bug wreaked havoc on his diaphragm. What are the odds that the one time of the year my family gets the flu, we're on vacation!! Miles had flu symptoms all weekend, but despite the gross digestive system issues, both boys have had energy and seem to feel good, so that is a blessing.

It's a cooler day on the lake today, a little below 60, so we're not ready for any water activities yet, but as soon as Miles wakes up from his morning nap, I'm going to take the boys for a walk in the woods.

Verse of the day, thanks Facebook application (jeez i'm a dork) is:

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
2 Peter 3:18

My Favorite Summer Meal

Taco Salad

hamburger, browned, drained & rinsed
red kidney beans, drained & rinsed
garbanzo beans, drained & rinsed
pepper jack cheese, cubed
monterrery jack cheese, cubed
ranch dressing
chilli powder
chopped bell peppers of various colors
one tomato, diced

mix all ingredients together and refrigerate. Serve with lettuce and chilli cheese fritos

I didn't put amounts of ingredients, because you can vary them to suit your own tastes. Maybe you're in a meaty mood - use more hamburger. Maybe you like a lot of beans - go crazy with the beans! I love orange & yellow peppers the best, but depending on the grocery store price and the state of my bank account, sometimes I don't pay for those colors, and get green or red peppers. My mom uses onions instead of bell peppers, cheddar instead of pepper jack, and green goddess dressing instead of ranch; but we like the above mixture better. I don't think you can actually buy green goddess dressing in scottsbluff anymore but that what was in the original recipe. Enjoy!

The Men in my Life

My husband Dustin is the absolute love of my life and my hero in pretty much every arena. He is the funniest person I know, and the weirdest person I know...one of the perks of the intimacy of marriage I suppose. He can be seen in this picture strangling Miles stuffed duck at Miles's first birthday party, which kind of says a lot. He hates having his picture taken, so when I get a treasure like this one, I savor it.

Isaiah Gibson

Isaiah's life has been nothing but a testimony of grace from the very first day I knew I was pregnant with him. Isaiah means God's salvation. Gibson is after his Daddy's guitar. Born in August of 2005, he is almost (gasp) 4! He is sweet, mild mannered, and very obedient the majority of the time. He is boy to the core, loving to play and watch anything on tv that includes a ball,, including basketball, golf, baseball, and football. His favorite color is indisputeably red, and he loves to wear ALL red as much as possible. He also loves anything with wheels and loves to go FAST.

Miles Lewis

Miles means soldier. Lewis means warrior. Miles is a name I fell in love with after one of my favorite characters in fiction. Lewis is a family name. Originally Florence Lewis, my great grandmother married Dale Reinhardt, and they had son Lewis K Reinhardt. Such a great man inspired James Lewis (my dad), John Lewis (my cousin), Lewis Scott (my brother), and now Miles Lewis. I got to name this kid - and the Lewis was truly after my brother, who had a life transformation in the name of Jesus in February when I was pregnant with Miles.

Born in May of 2008, Miles is feisty, persistent, adorable and TROUBLE. He always has an opinion and thinks he has to have his hands on and into everything. The word "no", out of my mouth at least, doesn't mean much to him. He also has a sweet side. He loves to help, cuddle and spend as much time as possible with his brother, though he never wants do anything Isaiah's way. A second child, like me, I'm excited and terrified to see what his future holds, and how his personality will grow.

Sunday Afternoon List

Lists, how I love you. I think in lists. My most organized friend makes fun of me because I draw little squares beside my list items, and then I check them off. I am not extremely organized, but I am a heck of a list maker.



5 Things I Enjoy That I Shouldn't

• Peanut butter and Jelly Sandwiches on white bread


• Britney Spears #1's such as "Hit Me Baby, One more time" and "Toxic"


• Lifetime Movie Network - but only when Dustin isn't home because he NEVER lets me watch it if he is.


• Reading celebrity tabloids in the grocery store check out line (I never buy the magazines, I'm much too big of a person for that) ha!


• The Husker Game Trifecta: Stadium hot dog, Pizza Hut pizza and a Runza - because that's how the Reinhardt family rolls.

Ten Mile here I come

Threeish days until I leave for summer vacation without my husband. Excited? Yes I am. Crazy? Yes I am. Dreading the entire trip? Yes, a little bit, I am.
From Scottsbluff to Ten Mile Lake, near Hackensack, MN it's about 12 hours, if you are a road warrior and Helen speeds.
Road Warrior - (n.) a person who consistently goes above the speed limit and stops as little as possible. Stopping is only permitted to eat, drink, fill up your tank or empty your bladder. Must be named Helen Reinhardt. Must talk much at great length through all trips about the fact that one is a road warrior. Must have become this way by being tormented by husband Jim to stop at every gimmicky tourist trap on I-90 across the state of South Dakota (i.e. Pioneer's Auto Museum in Murdo, South Dakota; Corn Palace, in Mitchell, SD) just because he knew it would annoy her.
Not being named Helen, and also knowing if the trip is made with two kids who feel the need to pee, scream and hit each other, I'm going to estimate that it would take me about 15 hours. Therefore, to preserve the lives of my children and my own sanity, I'm breaking up the trip a bit.
Wednesday we're heading to Lincoln, where we'll spend two full days with my grandparents. A trip to the children's museum is planned, and whatever else my Grandad has on his mind. then Friday night after dinner, I'm driving the sleeping (please God?) boys to Owatonna MN to stay with Dustin's parents for two days. Sunday night around 7, I'll then drive the sleeping (please, please God?) boys to Ten Mile Lake in central MN. I'm hoping to stop and see my friend Brittany in St. Paul at her new apartment, but if she's in the middle of moving in, I'll probably catch her on the way back home.
We're meeting my parents and sister at the Massey family's home on the lake, I could not be more excited. I'm going with a mind to have a complete servant's heart, and to read my Bible a lot. To anyone who reads this in the next couple weeks, please pray for safety and patience and intimacy with God on this trip.
Ten Mile, after 5 years away from you, Here I come!!!