Arrowwood in Alexandria

We made another trip to Arrowwood Resort in Alexandria, MN with the Knowlton side of the family again this year.  Thanks again to the generosity of my grandparents.  This has been such a highlight for our boys the last few years and this year didn't disappoint.  This year we were able to spend a lot of time on my aunt and uncles boat.  My boys LOVED it!  Here are a few pics...

Barrett's First Day of School

Barrett started Kindergarten this year.  He's there all day and having fun.  His only complaint is that he doesn't "get to play much at home."  Here are a few pics of his first day.

Myles' First Day of Preschool

Myles started his first day of preschool at the end of August.  Here are a few pics of the morning.  He LOVES school and asks every day if he gets to go.

The End of Summer

Woah!  My last post was in mid-July.  Summer has been so busy and full that I haven't even had a chance to check in with all of you.  We have done most of our summer bucket list.

I don't know if we'll finish it all, Myles starts preschool tomorrow morning.  That's right.  My baby, my youngest, is now heading off to preschool two mornings a week.  I can't believe that.  He was just a "tiny" little newborn weighing 9 pounds!

Don't even get me started on Barrett.  He starts school on Tuesday.  All day kindergarten.  Days full of new adventures and friends.  I pray that he feels my love and Christ's love while he's away.

I'll post some pictures of back to school soon and hopefully I'll check in with you more often.  For now, savor these last days of summer (if you're still on summer break) and have fun with back to school!

Blessings,

Megan

Let Me Be Honest

After reading the post at She Breathes Deeply today I wanted to had to write this.

I don't want to be one of those people who come across like I "have it all together."  I don't.  I'm a mess.  I'm a work in progress.  I have to surrender to Him over and over every day.  I make mistakes constantly and I don't ever finish everything I want to get done.

You would think it would be a little easier to get things done around here.  I have two kids that can entertain themselves (and the puppy) for a little while.

I have a kitchen that's a disaster (and waiting for my husband to conquer).

I have clean laundry piled up all around me (dirty too, don't let the clean piles fool you).

I have a puppy that thinks ALL of her toys need to be out (I'm pretty sure the boys help her too).

But.  Yep, there's a BUT.  God didn't call me to be a great housekeeper, clothes washer, dish cleaner.  I'm learning to let those go and try to do what He's called me to do.

He called me to follow Him.  Some days it's easier to get my time in with Him.  Some days, it falls to the side and I have guilt.  It's about surrender, constant surrender.  Over and over each and every day.

He called me to be a wife,

a mom,

a Holy Yoga Instructor.

Most days I still don't feel adequate for what He's called me to do, to be.  But, I'm trusting that He's got my life.  He's got me, my husband, my kids.  He's got everything and I just need to trust.  And breathe.

Blessings,

Megan

3 Minutes

Waiting for the Como Zoo shuttle to pick us up.  My two are in the middle.
Picture taken by Kate.

Today the boys and I headed to Como Zoo with some friends.  We were almost done and checking out the orangutans.  Myles was with the two bigger boys and then they came over by us and Myles was standing by himself (like 2 people away... I could see him).  I felt a little nudge that I should have him come over with us, but didn't listen to it because he wasn't that far away.  I should have listened.

We were ready to go and there was NO MYLES!  He wasn't near the orangutans.  He wasn't anywhere within sight.

Have you ever had that moment?  That moment when you can't find one of your kids?  It's terrifying.

Barrett went with my friend and her two boys and I ran the other direction screaming Myles' name at the top of my lungs.  The tears were there.  Where was my little boy?  Someone asked me what he was wearing and I rattled it off and kept running.  Praying.  Please God, let him be ok.  Let me find him.

Then, up ahead there he was.  He turned around.  Tears streaming down his face.  Jumping up and down.  He thought we left him at the orangutan exhibit and he went to find us.

I've never been happier to hug my child.  To know that God kept him safe.  Kept him from any harm.  Praise God!

It was only 3 minutes, but it was the longest 3 minutes of my life.  And 3 minutes that I had no control and had to lean into Him for strength.  Praise.  Jesus.

Enter the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-6)
Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 

Just as I rejoiced when I found Myles, He rejoices when you come home.

Peace,
Megan

Oh, and listen to that inner voice (Holy Spirit).  It might be telling you something you really need to hear.

Seeking Community

I've been yearning for friends, for community.  I've been feeling like I don't have that and I want it.  I want people around me that just do life with me.  Nothing fancy, just life.

Then this weekend happened.  The Twin Cities were hit pretty hard this past weekend with storms.  I went to a friends house on Friday night for a slumber party.  Just me and two of my girlfriends.  We planned to do some Holy Yoga, play some games, polish our nails, do some facials and drink some margaritas.  God had so much more in store for us.

So. Much. More.

We got to my friends house (which was plan B already due to the power being out at the other home) and 15 minutes later her power went out.  What to do?  We got on our yoga mats.  We worshiped in the dark by candlelight.  It was beautiful.  It was Holy.

We felt moved to pray when we were done.  Sitting together in a circle, knees to knees and holding hands.  You could feel the Lord's presence there.  He was with us in the dark.  He was a light shining among us.  It was peaceful and amazing (even with the gurgles of water coming from the basement).

We went downstairs to check out the gurgles and found her husband and daughter had been transferring water from the overflowing sump basin to the utility sink for the last thirty plus minutes.  Thus began our bucket brigade.  In the basement, in the candlelight, for the next hour.  I have never had more fun doing work like that.  We laughed, we sang, we slipped, we were doing life together.

If we hadn't been there that night, if we had been at the original location, their whole basement probably would have flooded.  God put us right where we needed to be.  And he gave me what I had been longing for.  People who were just happy to be around each other doing life.  Nothing fancy, just life.

I have community here and it spreads wider than the women I was with that night.  We have amazing family and friends that came together this weekend and we did life together.  What I longed for, I already had.  It just took a storm for me to see what was right in front of me.

Do you have community?  Do you long for community?  If you're in the Twin Cities you can find some Holy Yoga community here.  It might change your life.

Blessings,
Megan