Scripture Memorization Idea

I have always struggled with memorizing scripture. I know the importance of it... to store His Word and Truth in your heart, but I stink at it. Really, I do. Oh ok, honestly, whenever I had to take tests, I would cram. Oh ok, and to be even more honest, I'm still a crammer! *shoot!

I saw this somewhere and I've been doing it for a little bit and I'm amazed at how many words are etched on my heart. You write down somewhere where you'll see it many times during the day (I clearly chose my forearm) the first letter of each word in the verse. Then when you look at it, it's incredible how the words just pop out at your just seeing the first word.

----You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Psalms 23:5-----

Each one of my kiddos have noticed and pointed it out.... Arly said, "oh cool." Alyn said, "looks like a tattoo." Avin said, "so we can write on our skin?' and Anchor colored his hands PINK!

What do you think? Would you try it too? Do you have a way that you memorize scripture that you'd like to share?

XO.
Jari

It's a New Year

Wow! The last entry posted was wayyyyy over a year ago (almost two!) So much has changed since we announced we were moving back 'home' to South Dakota. We had a few celebrations and a few heartaches. Our story grew and cracked, but when I look at the time between entries; my heart is grateful for each moment because of the growth we experienced. I have so many words to share; so many memories to document for our family, but first, I'm starting with today. The very first day of the new year.

A new day. A new week. A new month. A new year.... could it get any better?! I have all the feels.

There is something amazingly refreshing about the newness of all of it. We spent NYE very low key. Joel and I stayed home, with the littles (the bigs ditched us for fun with friends), snuggled in tight with temps as low as -33 (yes, that is actual air temp, not wind chill.... that is RIDICULOUSLY COLD!) I spent the whole weekend wearing the same clothes, the same stink (yeah, it's been since Friday since I've showered... ew. I better put that on my 'to do' list.... I kid.... kind of)  and doing the same thing: organizing E.V.E.R.Y.T.H.I.N.G in this house. I've gone through EVERY photo, EVERY piece of fabric, EVERY pen and marker; ya'll.... EVERYTHING. It looks like a mega yard sale (or dump) in our house but I promise, it's progress. I just hope the garbage guys feel as excited I am about the overflow.

I still feel overwhelmed at the mess and every part of my being wanted to be finished by tonight, but I'm not. And I'm ok with that. I'm more than ok with it. I have a lot of work to do.... but I spent a good part of my in between this weekend playing twister, 'art teacher' and race car with the littles (thanks Grama and Papa), decorating Arly's bedroom, coffee date with girlfriends and running through the kitchen playing 'get me!'

I have big goals for this year. But I'm not going to jump into all of them right away. One at a time. I pray I develop good habits this year all starting with daily Bible readings and scripture memorization. Even if it's just reading a verse for the day (hey, every thing works best with baby steps first right?) or reading from a short devotional, or a plan on She Reads Truth or YouVersion apps....every day will start in The Word. What about you? What is your FIRST goal this year?

XO.
Jari

Spry's BIG News

That's right, not because of circumstance.... But because of choice. 

Joel and I were born and raised in South Dakota... Went to college and were married there... Had our first two babies and purchased our first home there. We are SD people. 

Eight years ago we moved to Missoula MT and have loved every moment of it. We have met friends here whom we will always consider family. We met Jesus here and have the most amazing church family. We had two more babies here. We started Scentsy here that has blessed our lives beyond measure. We love the mountains and rivers and everything in between. Our softball community is the best. It's going to incredibly hard to leave here. 

Now here's the reality of our hearts. Everything about moving back home feels so right. We are currently 11-13 hours away from any family and all family (minus the military siblings). This means that almost every birthday, celebration, and holidays are spent without family and sometimes feel like any other normal day. Two summers ago, we lost Joel's father to cancer. We travelled back as often as we could to see him and spend his last months together but by being so far away, it was difficult and we always wished we had more time together. This past year, with Anchor's super early arrival, our family bent over backwards to help us out. Some of them spent their annual vacation time off to come serve our family at the drop of a hat. Another component is that my grandparents are still living and I want nothing more than my children to have time to get to know them better and hear their stories. We want our parents, siblings, nieces and nephews to be a present part of our lives. We want them to be there to cheer for our kids and celebrate life's precious moments with them... And us for them too. Being away for 8 years is long enough for us. It's time. If we could move them all up here, we would. But we can't... And so we must go. 

Some may ask where?.... Philip , South Dakota (population about 800) in west central South Dakota. Our kiddos will adjust to small town life just fine I think. They spent 3 weeks last summer there with family during our last weeks in the NICU and they had a blast! They loved the simplicity and joy of riding bikes, walking around town, and swimming twice a day. This is how I grew up and have wondered if and when my children would experience it.... Now they will. 

Joel is transferring with Progressive. They have been so gracious to us the past 12 years and especially amazing this past year. He will be able to work from our home (which we have to build but do have a contract on a few acres!) It will be an adjustment living and working together all day every day, but honestly we miss that about our NICU days when we were together 24/7. 

I will still and always be a Scentsy girl... Your Scentsy girl! Because of the way we are able to do business, I have customers and hostesses all over the US and Canada. I'll always be able to serve our Montana customers with the click of a button and maybe a post office trip or two. I'd be happy and excited  to serve you always... Unless you want to join my team and be the Scentsy girl for you and your friends. That's be equally as exciting!  We have an incredible team of consultant in the area that would be just as happy as I if you joined our family. Training and connecting is easy through social media and smart devices so you'll never get rid of me :) As for our business in SD, we are beyond thrilled to work with our consultants there and in NE and WY more and train them like we never have had the opportunity to do in person before. It's going to be exciting!

What about Anchored Hope? Oh yes, this new project, we pray, will continue to thrive and grow. We will find a small group of friends here to be our basket assemblers and deliverers when needed. Our 501(c)3 will hopefully be finished by the end of this month (first have to get this house on the market!) We will continue to head up the fundraising and needs for Community Medical NICU baskets and plan to eventually bring this little mission to SD NICUs and families. 

We will be back to visit often as we are keeping Anchor's specialist doctors here. Hey know his history and we trust them so we will take the trip out annually and see friends and family and enjoy this beautiful place on earth. 

So.... "From purple mountain majesty to amber waves of grain"... The Sprys are 'double backing' in August 2016. 

Telling My Story

What would the world miss if we didn't tell our story?

It would miss my mess ups, my failures... it would miss my messy and my mundane.... but the world would also miss the miracles I've witnessed and my heart when it is overwhelmed, humbled, honest and overjoyed as well.

This past year has been an incredible ride.... really, my whole life has been.  Even though I think I'll remember every detail forever, I know that's impossible because every day, new memories, new moments are being made and at some point my brain will get full and start erasing moments. I know our days are short and I know that these moments, that these days that we live every single day, are worthy of being shared. They are worth the memory. They are meant to be shared. Even if I'm yelling, even if I'm falling flat on my face... but to share what falling on my knees looks like too. I want to remember the good, the incredible, the messy, the crazy. So I share it here.

What story do you have to tell? Are you brave enough to share it? What if you did? Would people see you differently? Wouldn't the honesty feel so right? Let's step back and let Jesus shine in our every day.

Until tomorrow,

Sniffles and Snuggles

There's something a little magical when you come home from a trip.... Even a super quick trip. Especially when you haven't been away from your kiddos for months and months. True smiles and the 'so glad you came backs' just make a mama melt.

Then I find out that we are battling a cold with Avin, who lets just say doesn't have the best hygiene etiquette when it comes to a runny nose and cough. 

Today I was in full on nose blowing, hand washing mode with her while stealing a few snuggles and wrestling to keep her at arms length from her baby brother. (News about his last lung appointment soon!) I have borderline fear about him getting a real cold with respiratory yuck that would likely admit him to the hospital almost immediately. 

I'm so thankful we have are able to flip a switch and try to alleviate these cold symptoms. 

Now here's my shameless plug because I love it and truly believe this little device would bring value to your home and lives too. Our Scentsy oil diffusers are pretty much amazing and in my and many others opinions, the best diffusers on the market. With a LIFETIME warranty (yes you read that correctly), 16 LED lighting options and 3 diffusing settings, this beauty will be beautiful, and useful, addition to your home. I'm thrilled to tell you that it is 10% off which makes it $117 for this month only. I'm telling you, from experience, you won't regret the decision to invest in one (or two) of this little miracle workers. 

Now, I'm off to steam up the babies in the bathroom with some Eucalyptus and Lavender oils. 

Lungs! Are they big enough yet?

Anchor Joel has a big appointment tomorrow. His daddy is taking him to see the pediatric pulmonary specialist. He gets to show his doctor what a strong boy he is and how much his lungs have grown. For the past month, Anchor has been using just a tiny bit of oxygen during his naps and through the night. For the past few days, only at night. 

We are excited to hear what his doctor has to say about his progress. 

If you remember, please say a prayer for our little guy's lungs to be restored and healthy enough to say bye bye to the cords and machines. 

Anchor Update (kidneys)

On the outside, little Anchor Joel looks like a healthy, growing baby boy. And for the most part he is. 

But there is no doubt that he has overcome many challenges and still has a few he will be facing head on probably sooner than we will be ready for. 

Just days before we left the NICU after our nearly 3 month stay, Anchor started showing signs of hypertension. His blood pressure was considerably high, enough to medicate him immediately. After a renal ultrasound it was assumed that the hypertension was caused by a blood clot sheath that was most likely left behind by his picc line. We'd leave him on medicine until that sheath broke down and dissolved and that would likely take care of the hypertension. 

After working with Seattle Childrens, we were able to 'borrow' a blood pressure monitor and check his pressure measurements twice a day. The bigger Anchor got, the more meds he had to be on.  

The end of October, we went back to the pediatric nephrologist (kidney specialist) and had another ultrasound of his kidneys. This time it showed that his right kidney was noticeably smaller. Unsure if that was natural or caused by prematurity, we were told it was likely caused by restricted blood flow to that kidney. 

Last Wednesday, we had a follow up with his nephrologist. We are understanding now that there is likely a blood clot in his right kidney causing stunted growth or worst case no growth to that kidney. We will have more answers the bigger our sweet boy grows and we are able to track and trend kidney growth through ultrasound. 

We know whatever the outcome, we will continue to trust The Lord with everything. How can we not? He has never once left us with anything but peace and comfort during this journey. Sure, this can be uncomfortable... But I know there is good to come from every little thing in not only this boy's life, but ours too. 

I'm asking for prayers from you. Please pray for the healing for our precious sons kidney. Pray for normal function and growth. Please pray for lower blood pressures (which Joel and I continue to monitor here at home daily) and a chance for his little heart (more on that soon!) to get some rest from working so hard.  Oh and don't forget about his lungs.... We will have more news on that after Wedensdays appointment. God is good and full grace and hears every prayer. 

Now I just can't quit smiling at this photo. Today,  Joel and I found some diapers with anchors on them and we just HAD to have them for our boy. I melt.