Luke passes swim test

A couple of years back, the Y instituted a new swim policy. In order to swim unattended without a vest, kids must pass a swim test.  They must do freestyle or breaststroke about 1/3 the length of the lap pool.... quite a good distance. We didn't even attempt this last year with Luke-- he was still not really "swimming".... But, thanks to swim lessons with Mrs. Becca earlier this month, he passed the test yesterday on his first attempt! He was so proud! :)

It is really amazing seeing your kids grow and mature-- watching them take on things and learning and developing their skills and talents. Makes me wonder what areas they will excel in and pursue...

"Time to Make the Doughnuts!"

Went out with some great girlfriends last night! So fun to have time with dear friends who have been by your side through the good times and bad for almost 20 years!

We shared about husbands, kids, family, and our crazy lives! One of the gals said she told her husband that so far this summer she had felt like the old Dunkin' Donuts commercial-- "Time to make the doughnuts!" Exactly! It has been a jam-packed summer!

We have had camps every week of June-- swim, baseball, gymnastics, basketball! Whew!

Scott and I also celebrated 18 years together in June! :) What a great time we have had! Looking forward to the years ahead!

Hello, Again, Hello

S0-- after much soul-searching and thought... I have firmly recommitted to blogging again. It's not that the draw to facebook has faded... it is that I realized I was no longer documenting any details of the day-to-day happenings of my life....

After witnessing the passing of a much beloved mother-- the grieving of her family and daughter-- and a visit to her BLOG... I decided I MUST blog. I want to be able to look back on these snippets of time and be able to re-read some type of archive of what took place during my brief time here... And-- perhaps Scott, Luke and Caroline will find comfort in it one day, too.

Perhaps it has not been the busy-ness of life that has kept me away as much as the daunting task of trying to keep up with it all! The concept of trying to recapture ALL that happens is too much! So-- I will try to limit my posts to the highlights and most memorable moments, thoughts, and adventures!

I'm off to a meeting now-- but, I will post more later!

AW

ZOE-- Midland, Texas

Just got back from a great weekend at the Golf Course Road church in Midland. A wonderful time of fellowship and praise.

You can see photos on the ZOE facebook fan page.

Off to New Orleans and then Malibu! April is a BUSY month! :) -- oh, yeah-- and there are the many Easter activities on the calendar as well starting this week!

AW

New Year Wishes

Well-- once again I have fallen down on the job as far as my blog goes.... I just can't seem to find the time to get over here-- or, more importantly... I can't seem to find the time to ponder anything long enough to have any thoughts worth journaling about!! :) My blog used to mainly be a weekly update about life in the Westerman house but now I pretty much just post photos and updates on facebook. Although quick and easy, it doesn't give me the lasting archive that the blog does... so, I am vowing yet again to start coming back here.

We had a great Christmas and New Year... Luke started playing basketball and had his first game. He is loving it! He got a Nintendo DSi for Christmas and wants to play it all the time. Caroline is as energetic as ever and such fun! Her Christmas ballet recital was precious! She makes such a cute ballerina!

I am gearing up for the next consignment sale on March 5-6th. I am also trying to coordinate the Women's ministry at church now-- and I have a lot to figure out as far as the best way to make that happen-- and not lose my mind in the process! :)

God is good... my kids are precious... I adore my husband. Who could ask for anything more?

Hope your 2010 is off to a good start, too!

Donald Miller & North Atlanta

One of the best reads I have had lately is Donald Miller's A Million Miles in a Thousand Years. The main theme of the book is centered around "story" and our role in the bigger "story" that God has planned for us. It struck a cord with me, and I was thrilled when I saw he was coming to Nashville. A gang of us from Otter Creek attended, and it was great! You can read some excerpts yourself here.

ZOE was blessed to travel to the North Atlanta Church of Christ this past weekend, too. They were in the process of celebrating a 40-day journey of compassion. The church gave away over a million dollars to its members and challenged them to use it in whatever ways they felt called to show compassion and the love of Christ to others. Sunday, the members shared the many ways they had encountered Christ through these acts of kindness.

It is always a powerful reminder to us that when we GIVE, we come to know HIM better.

Hello, Again

For some reason, I find it difficult to post on my blog... As I mentioned earlier-- facebook has taken over my posting time. I enjoy the functionality of facebook and how immediate it is in terms of communicating.

But-- what I miss from blogging is the "day-to-day" documentation of my life-- the musings of my mind, deep thoughts, crazy concepts, etc. I love looking back at the "blog diary" I used to keep pretty faithfully. Nice to remember where I was then-- to reflect on who I was at those moments in time.

Life is just busy-- like you all know. I think I have fallen into a trap of having nothing worthy to blog about-- because I haven't made much time lately to think deeply! That is tragic-- so, I am trying to get a grip on the mental part of my life....

Especially as I grow ever nearer to the big "4-0".... I am starting to ponder again-- who am I-- or even bigger-- who do I want to be in the second phase of life?!

So-- I am going to once again try to start blogging again! Is anyone still out there?! :)

ZOE Kids- "A New Hallelujah"

We have always wanted to get our kids into the studio with us, and we finally did it Thursday night! In Michael W. Smith's "A New Hallelujah" there is a verse that he did with an African children's chorus. We thought this would be a great chance to have our kids make their singing debut....

This was such a special night. Amazing to see all of them together singing... One of my very favorite ZOE moments over the past 12 years! Most of them weren't even born when ZOE began back in 1997.

ZOE-- Inside Out 2009

So-- we have been in the studio for awhile now working on our latest project for the conference in October-- Inside Out. Things are going well. You can get complete updates on the ZOE facebook fan page.

Here is a clip from "A New Hallelujah":

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Pondering "Mommy"

Spent all last week in Pepperdine... Nice. Went to sing with ZOE. We have done that for so many years. Crazy to think about how the time has flown.

I just launched a new facebook fan page for ZOE. Please visit and join! It is a great way to keep the lines of communication open. I just adore the opportunities facebook provides.

Yesterday was Mother's Day... I still cannot accept the fact that I have children?! Luke and Caroline are so wonderful.... This day reminds me of how I so often fail in the task of being a "great mom".... I am not even playing the "mom guilt" card... I am just saying... I acknowledge that it is an awesome responsibility, and I KNOW that I need God's help. It goes so much deeper than play dates, quality time, teaching them life lessons... Motherhood has eternal ramifications. Makes me want to hit my knees... and I should... daily.

I ran into some dear friends at Pepperdine. They have just had the rug pulled out from under them by one of their children's recent choices. They are heartbroken and weary. Made me think about how little time I have left to be the "manager" and controller of my kids' lives. Before you know it, you move into the "consultant" role-- when you get to offer advice with no guarantee that they will even listen! Right now I am glad that I get to make the calls.

So- I remain a mom who is flawed-- but, perhaps I get an "A" for effort!? :)

OCWFM Brunch Promo '09

Facebook Fancier....Blogger Betrayer

OK-- so I realize I have TOTALLY abandoned my blog as of late-- and I have shameless turned into one of those "facebook people." I confess-- I love facebook, and I have been keeping it up to date rather than my blog.... I'll try to do better.
Life is good. Luke's playing baseball again and is MUCH better than last fall. Caroline is a dancing fiend and will be starting her first classes this summer. They are both really growing up-- very bright, very sweet, very cute! We are having such fun watching them change each day.
I am keeping busy with the usual--- Bible studies, consignment sale, Otter Creek Women's Fellowship Ministry, ZOE, Otter Creek Kindergarten.... etc.-- and continue to serve as C.H.O. (Chief Housing Officer) at the Westerman household. Hopefully the "boss" won't have to make any cuts due to the slowing economy!

We took our first family ski trip a few weeks back. It was a grand adventure and the kids did great! We had tons of new snow and perfect weather-- even though our flight got cancelled twice before we could actually get to Colorado.

Easter was wonderful. We had amazing Easter festivities at Otter this year with a fabulous Good Friday service... very nice.

I feel very content, blessed, and safe-- which is amazing in this crazy world we currently find ourselves in....

Speaking of "currently".... I will work on staying current with the blog!

Blessings!

Fresno, Fearless, Friends-- and Pizza

Spent the weekend in Fresno with the great people at College Church. It is such a blessing to be with them each year. I had forgotten what a powerful theme "Fearless" is-- it was good for me to listen again and think about the path I am on. Mike, Jeff, and Randy were amazing-- what teachers they are! I am so thankful to be a part of this ministry.

This is us with some members of College Church. They sang a couple of songs with us on Sunday and sounded great! :)

The Girls!-- Sheryl, Lindsey (Peter's wife), and I. It was fun to hang out and catch up on life.

So, today was my birthday! It is such a cliche to say-- time flies and I can't believe how old I am getting!-- but that is true. Tonight was also the birthday of one of Caroline's friends who is in our lifegroup-- Avery (in the pink dress). We all met up for pizza to share her special day and eat Tinkerbell cupcakes. This is a group shot of four of the girls in our group-- 3 others are weren't able to be there. As I watched them playing, I thought about time-- how one day Avery (and Caroline) will be at their own children's birthday parties and tonight will be a dim memory-- if they remember it at all!

Of course the kids were loud, played in the fountain, spilled drinks, made a mess-- and we all stayed at the restaurant about 30 minutes AFTER it closed.... We were THOSE people who drive everyone else in the restaurant crazy-- and we were feeling bad that we had lingered so long. But, Joey (the owner and chef) was so nice-- as we were leaving he advised all of us to treasure the time we had with our children, "One day they will be teenagers before you can blink your eyes." He gave the kids "high fives" and we all climbed into the mini-vans and SUVs and headed for home.

Yes, time marches on. Thank God for good friends, spiritual mentors, sweet children, and yummy pizza. Life is good tonight.

What a Country!

Although both of my sisters are thoroughly entrenched in all things political... it is safe to say, that I don't have any real political passion. I am all about "love of country", etc., but I tend to be skeptical when it comes to the rigmarole politicians dole out.

I typically lean toward the right-- I am pretty straight-laced and mostly conservative. This past election neither candidate wowed me.

Today, however, one cannot ignore the greatness of our country. Whether Democrat, Republican, Independent... you just have to be proud of what our nation represents-- and has represented-- in this world.

I am a historical nerd (was a history major)-- so, I have been seated in front of the TV all day soaking in all the inaugural events. I really enjoy it.

I tried to impress upon Caroline and Luke the gravity of what was happening... how Obama would be the first black President. I had to explain to Luke what it meant to be "black"-- he didn't realize that there was a difference in skin color. I am pretty sure that his children won't know there is a difference either one day.

I have to say I am missing Tim Russert so badly. I bonded with him during the "white board" election back in 2000. I loved his passion and wit. He would be loving today....

I am praying that God uses President Obama to accomplish His purposes. I hope you all will join me in praying for him today and for our country.

God bless America!

Caroline at Mary Kate's Wedding

Happy Honeymoon, MK & Josh!

My youngest sister Mary Kate was married on New Year's Eve. It was a grand and wonderful event, and we are thrilled to have Josh join our family. Scott and I were actually in a Bible study group with Josh when we were first married and we have considered him a great friend for going on 14 years now. I can't imagine a better brother-in-law to welcome into the family.

The wedding was at beautiful Scarritt Bennet Chapel on the Vanderbilt campus. The reception that followed was downtown at the Hermitage Hotel-- so nice.... It was the perfect way to ring in the New Year.

Nancy, Mary Kate, and Me-- the three sisters.

Scott and Caroline at the Rehearsal.

Luke and Caroline were ring bearer and flower girl along with their cousins, Austin and Camille (my sister Nancy's children). They couldn't have been cuter.

Happy New Year!

OC Family Christmas Breakfast '08

The Otter Creek Family Christmas Breakfast was today! It is such a special event-- and so fun to share with our church friends! :)

I spent Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at church working on the stage decorations. Tons of work-- but, lots of fun. It is rewarding though, and I love using my artistic side. At one point (while I was on top of a 10 foot ladder in the sanctuary all by myself trying to put glittery deco-mesh on the highest point of the Christmas tree!!), I did stop to think, "I have spent 3 straight days working on the decorations for this and haven't finished my own decorations at home!" So, I still haven't lived up to my new goal of putting family/home first yet-- but, at least I am aware!
Props to our AWESOME lifegroup who worked so hard to make this event a success! What a blessing they are to us-- and to Otter Creek! :)

Luke and Caroline with Santa! So sweet! :)

The Stage! I thought it turned out really cute! Thanks to my Dad for making my balloon tree stands over Thanksgiving. That was a fun project and relatively easy. My fingers are still sore from tying all those balloons!



Our wonderful lifegroup! :)