The Redelsperger Family

Whew, today is a busy day. Have you ever heard someone say they've got a list "as long as my arm"? Today is one of those days for me. The list is never ending. Of course there are things on the list that are the ever present chores: dishes, sweeping & mopping, bathrooms, vacuuming, laundry etc. But today there's so much more I want to accomplish. I want to do more than just laundry and dishes, I want to do more than just tread water. I want to excel, I want to go beyond, I want to feel like I'm super mom! To just "get by" is fine for some days (because some days that's all I can do!), but not for today. Today is a day to get things done. No baby steps in the right direction, today I will leap to my destination, I will set the bar high and I will succeed! So, I guess I'd better get busy!

So we are embarking on the adventure known as potty training. Someone shoot me! I think Potty Training is one of the best methods of birth control known to Mommies around the world. (This and sick kids that crawl in bed with you and snore in your ear all night long, fussing when you roll over because you are no longer holding them) Don't get me wrong. I love my kids and I love being a mommy, but there are times that I see others sleeping in and I get a tad bit jealous. When Grace turned three she was a terror. I thought we would never make it through, but six months later she was back to her angelic self again. I know it's my lack of sleep typing right now (hence the disjointed thought process) and that in a few days when the kids are feeling better, and we are back into our routine this will have passed. And when Noraa is finally using the potty this will all be a fuzzy memory of laundry and Potty Power songs. In the mean time, I think the only thing that's going to keep m

In case you didn't get the email I sent out to my friends and family, I wanted to show you all the link to my nephew's artwork . This link is only a few of his paintings in a series he's working on. As they have more of his paintings imaged they will be posting them for all to see and I will keep you updated as this happens! You can also see a few other paintings on my facebook album . He is truly gifted and is using his talents already at a young age. I am proud of him and his accomplishments, as well as the way my sister is learning how to get his art out there for the world to see! It's so very exciting! (I love you Davis!)

Amazing how God uses others in your life isn't it? In 2001 I traveled to Fort Portal Uganda and stayed with some missionary friends of mine there. Today I discovered her blog. It is amazing, inspirational and something I will be visiting often. Words of wisdom will pour over me, and tears will flow freely as I read her blog. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Cheryl! For all to enjoy... gently led .

...so today I turned the big 3-0. I have to say this birthday did not come with the dread that many people have suggested. In fact I would venture that this birthday has been one of my most joyful. Recently I've been noticing my dear friends who are reaching their 40's. Many of them are more beautiful now than ever. Maybe it's because I'm growing a deeper appreciation for the maturity they exemplify or maybe their faces have more character now. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but I have been taking a look at women in my life that are aging "gracefully". Oh, Lord, how I pray this for myself; to grow in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man . As I visited with my best friend we were reflective of the past 30 years and all that we have to show for it. I have all I've ever wanted in life: an amazing, godly husband, three incredible children, friends that love and support us, a home, an amazing church with thriving ministries and peace. For the

After praying long and hard about Grace's schooling this fall we've finally come to a decision! This fall Grace will be attending Cordova Lane Elementary School a few blocks from our house. She was accepted into a program they call the "Spanish Magnet". After applying students are drawn at random to participate at either the Cordova Lane school or a school in Folsom (a 25 minute drive from here). It was our prayer that if she was chosen for the program and it was at the school near our house that we would embrace the opportunity to be more a part of our community here in Rancho Cordova. I was very conflicted between keeping her home and sending her to Kindergarten this year. I feel God has truly answered my prayer and now I pray He will provide me peace and strength as I send my sweet baby to school. I will be in her classroom two days a week and I'm excited to meet her new little friends and their families. She's such a social butterfly and I know she will t

Sometimes you have to take delight in the small victories in life. For me today it is a clean bathroom. I'm having a hard time getting the other things on my list accomplished, primarily because the list is so long and the kids are especially clingy. So every now and again I'll step into the bathroom and smell that just been scrubbed smell. I'll breath it in deep, because for now in this moment the bathroom is clean. The baby slept and the girls played nicely with the doll house while I took hold of the moment and transformed the stinky into sparkly. **inhale** Sweet victory!

Today our little Buggy and his precious Mamma are headed home. Tomorrow morning the grandparents drive back up to Washington. What a fun time the cousins have had together and the great memories that have been made. Four of the six grandbabies all in the same house as GranJan and GranDad make for lots of Betsy stories, yummy breakfasts, playing outdoors, trips to fun Sacramento destinations, and not a few time outs! I know that I've been silent in my blog for a while and it's for a good reason! It is due to being slightly overwhelmed by the love of family. I have loved having them here and I'm excited about the future of having them here full time. I was blessed to have my sister Alicia here for a few days before she starts the monumental task of packing her family of five for the long trip home to Africa. Even before her flight left the crowd began to trickle in. Our sweet little three bedroom two bathroom home was at one point housing six adults and four lovely children.