I Can Only Imagine ~ Mercy Me (Symphony Version)

Many times when Mark & I were in Florida we would comment at what a paradise it was...white sand, palm trees, warm sunshine. One day, as Mark was talking about this again I replied "Yeah, can you just imagine what Heaven will be like then? Made us both ponder that thought.

On my way home from bringing Summer to school this morning, the song "I Can Only Imagine" came on KDCR FM. This made me think back to our conversation on the beach of just the other day.

I posted MercyMe's video with the London Symphony's version of the song. If you want, close your eyes, listen, and just imagine what one day you may see. Enjoy.

Footprints in the Sand

The Coaches of Team Utzig had a chance to get away. Since the kids didn't have school for a couple days, we thought we'd send them to get their Farm Fix with Grandpa & Grandma B. while we headed for sun & fun in Tampa, FL. We slept in, spent our days at Clearwater Beach being bums, ate our meals outside on the patio of one of the boardwalk restaurants, and in the evening watched the sights from our hotel balcony. Relaxation was the theme. Mark spent most of his time napping in the sun while I devoured 3 Karen Kingsbury books.

Mark and I missed the kids, yet really enjoyed "escaping" for a while. Once we landed and got the whole team back together again, it was definitely "back to reality." Bare cupboards, a mountain of laundry, bags everywhere, 100 + work emails for Mark, and an Acute Care visit for 2 kids for 2 sinus infections.

As I now sit at the computer with the cupboards not bare anymore, the laundry now a mound instead of a mountain, one child at school the other home getting rest, and Coach Mark leaving town for most of the week; I am thankful for the "re-charging" of our batteries and the time alone with my handsome hubby. Whatever the next days, months, years throw at us FL is only one pleasant memory away. I hope you like the shots we shared. Now, go make some memories too - preferably in some 85 degree sunshine!

Happy Birthday To You!

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday Dear Sam, Happy Birthday to you!" Can you tell what day it was at our house? Yep, Sam's big 10th!

Sam had a good couple of days celebrating his double digits. Had a buddy overnite, Pizza Ranch & arcade for supper, presents, (including the Nebraska Cornhusker Jersey he's wearing in the photos, was a hit.) cake, phone calls from grandparents, and beautiful weather. I think if you asked Sam he would say his 10th was a success.

Thanks to those of you who remembered Sam on his day with calls, cards, and/or presents. Thanks for checking in and celebrating with us!

10 Years Ago Today

Ten Years Ago Today....

I became a Mom. For some reason, Sam hitting his 10th Birthday is a bittersweet moment for me. I cannot quite wrap my head around it. He can't really be in double digits already, can he?

The past few days my mind has been replaying memories of the past, here are a few I thought I would share:

The complete shock & awe of God's timing. After 4 long infertility years, one miscarrage, hundreds of tears, reading 1 Samuel 1 more times than I could count, God allowed us to become parents. So thankful, now, to Him for that struggle.

Healthy baby boy, Samuel Mark Utzig, born at 7:07 a.m., weighing 7 lbs, 7oz. on a rainy, fall day.

Sam not yet a year old, sitting in his car seat at a Perkin's Restaurant, smiling at the pretty blonde waitress every time she came around (like father like son!)

Many hours of pushing Sam in the tire swing, teaching him to play baseball with the big, orange, plastic bat & ball when he was a toddler.

Riding in the combine with Grandpa B. - started when Sam was literally in diapers, still loves to do this today...although now he enjoys DRIVING it! Countless hours cutting alfalfa, rock picking with the CAT, riding in the semi. As a country girl, it warms my heart that my child has gotten this "stuff" in his blood too.

Moving. Being the nervous new kid at school. Sam being excited when another new boy came to school named Damon and sat at his Kindergarten table. As I hear the two of them "fishing" on the Wii now, I am thankful for that friendship and the others he has made here.

Dad coaching baseball & football and Sam loving to play both. How Sam used to get up before school and watch cartoons...now it is Sports Center on ESPN. Sam always loved going to MN Twins games...used to be for the peanuts (Grandpa U. & Dad couldn't get them out of their shell fast enough) now it is ANY baseball or football game. He watches the plays, dreams of being on the field, and keeps track of the stats...are there even peanuts anymore??

Sam's quick wit. He may not say much, but he can come up with some good ones. He still enjoys reading, likes school & learning, most the time is tender to his sister. He is my "thinker." Sam has plans A,B,& C lined up for any given situation.

Enough looking back. I am almost afraid to look ahead, as the next ten years will surely pass more quickly than the last 10 have. In ten years Sam will be 20, out of the house, driving, dating.

As his Mom I am in awe at how great God has been to us this past decade and will be honored to watch him break the shell of childhood and grow (literally) into adulthood. Who will you grow up to be Sam? Teacher, Firefighter, Pastor, Military Commander? Whatever Sam becomes, I hope he always knows what a gift he has been to us, how proud of him we are, and that he can turn to us in any situation, and that his "team" loves him dearly.

Happy 10th Birthday, Sam!

Fall Time

Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Important Things To Remember

The other day I ran across a little book titled "50 Important Things To Remember." Since I only had enough time to quickly page through it, what I had found in its pages made me smile. It went on to list 50 things the author thought we all should never forget. This got me thinking, what would be on my list? I won't bore you with 50, but how about 5? Perhaps you'll find we may share one or two "important things." Here I go:

1. Empty Cross - a few years back, at a church we were attending at the time, had a life-size wooden cross standing up near the pulpit. One Sunday for Communion, the Pastor had us come to the front, stand in front of the cross, and drink/eat the wine and bread in front of the cross. I must say that now, even years later, that really was powerful to me.

2. Little Girls Giggles - Summer has a friend named Grace who has the best low-belly-laugh-giggle you could ever hear. Just hearing those two playing and laughing makes you want to giggle too.

3. Sweet Smells - Fresh Apple Crisp, A Newborn Baby, Carmel Rolls - These are some of my favorites. Apple Crisp reminds me of Fall. Nothing like the smell of new life. (Or is it Johnson Baby Soap??) I was reminded of this again when I held my great-nephew a few months back. Once in a while when I got off the school bus as a kid, I'd open the front door and the smell of warm, fresh carmel rolls would invite me in. That was a very good day (and smell) when Mom made those for an after school snack.

4. Savor the Sweet Words - As my children get older (especially Sam) I remind myself to not take his "I Love You, Mom's" for granted. One day I am sure I will be more uncool than I already am; He won't want me to give him a quick squeeze or peck on the cheek at school, tuck him in bed, and I won't hear "I Love You, Mom" as he heads down the stairs to play on the Wii or go outside.

5. Nature - A dewey Sunrise, powerful Sunset, a hawk flying overhead. God's creation is truely a gift. I think it is important to soak it in, enjoy it, and pass on the love of it to the next generation. God's hand is everywhere if we just look around.

What do you think of my list? What is yours? Do we share any? Thanks for checking in! Now, go do something "important!!"

Lincoln Brewster - The Power Of Your Name (with Darlene Zschech)

Hi Blog Friends. Doin something a bit different for my posts today. I thought I would share a couple songs that have touched me. This song is by one of my top 5 artists, Lincoln Brewster. The guitar at the beginning is amazing/haunting. May we never forget the power of HIS name!