Wheeee...

Merry Christmas to you all!! We're enjoying time with family. Dad & Mom drove down a day early, as we were expecting snow. The 8 inches forecasted only turned out to be 1 1/2 inches, but we'll take it. It's fun to have a White Christmas. My husband took me on a "hot date" to Wal-Mart this afternoon; we spun doughnuts in the Old Navy parking lot & shared a Peppermint Mocha @ Starbucks. I am a happy woman. We put the kids to bed, filled stockings, and had fun playing the Wii we borrowed from friends.

Here's video of Mom & I were busting a gut watching Dad & Phil play tennis.

Tonight was the school Christmas program. Last Friday, I got to watch the kids preform for a local high school, so I enjoyed knowing what to expect the second time around. Nothing could have prepared me, however, for my youngest, who choose to ham it up his entire performance. It was his moment to shine, and "shine" he did through every song, his duet, and everywhere in between. I'm not sure if it was because he could see us sitting near the front, or if it was because he knew he was on camera, or if it was because he saw countless people laughing hysterically at his antics. Whatever the reason, he didn't stop. The laughter only added fuel to the fire, despite my prayers and desperate attempts at telepathy! So, although I was embarrassed for one evening, it was all caught on tape & I undoubtedly will have many occasions with which to embarrass my son with the evidence of his behavior. But something tells me...he just might be proud of himself!!

On the upside...the other three did great & behaved themselves wonderfully. :) Grace was one of the main characters (Fluffy the Lamb) and did great on her lines & her solo for "Away in the Manger". Abbie was a 50's girl & looked cute in her poodle skirt. She also had a solo; we love to hear her sing out with all her heart. Noah was disappointed to be the only one in the family without a solo, but he sang his little heart out & we were proud of his part as one of Noah's "animals". They are all glad to have that "over with" and are counting down the days to Christmas break.

Birthday boy

Here are pictures from Daniel's 5th birthday...better late than never, I guess. He requested a guitar cake, because he is "daddy's guitar buddy". It was fun to give him a kid's acoustic guitar that was a hand-me-down from some friends of ours. Abbie is becoming quite the little cook. She made supper for me while I was busy finishing decorating the cake. I'm loving having an 11 year old in the house! :)

The idea of it...

I love the idea of winter and Christmas and snow and the intricate designs in frost. I just forget that with all the beauty comes freezing temperatures and frozen windshields and wind that burns my ears and face and goes right through me. I'm wondering if we'll enjoy the beauty of winter in heaven as we hang out in the comfortable mid-70s...not that it will be a priority then. I'm just thinkin'. And I don't want to hear any sassy comments from you Northerners. I realize I don't have a leg to stand on when it comes to complaining about low temps because you can top any figure I give you. But unless you live in the "Windy City", you can' t rival these Oklahoma winds. And if you argue with me, I'll just sing the song to prove it. ;)

Anyway...all that to say...in order to keep warm today, I'm cooking and baking and drinking my weight in hot tea, which means I'm also spending much of my day in the bathroom. (You wanted to know that, didn't you?) What was my point? I'm not really sure I had one...the cold must be getting to my brain. I guess I'm just trying to express that despite the inconvenience of trying to keep warm, there is something comforting about being in the kitchen, snuggling down in my four layers of clothes, and dancing to Christmas music to keep the blood flowing. In the end, I have to admit that I love more than just the idea of this season of year.

Evidence

In case you wondered how rowdy it can get...here is the proof. :)

Thanksgiving

There are quite a few of us when we all get together. With 12 adults, 10 kids, laughter, music, games, fun, and craziness, it makes for a headache and lots of great memories. Just kidding about the headache. I think that was from my caffeine addiction and not the noise we all created! We stayed at Matthew & Jenny's home in AR. They care for teens who are pregnant, many of whom are in the juvenile or foster care system. The girls were there with all of us for about a day and a half. One girl told me, "You all are weird...but in a good way." Here are a few glimpses of our time there. And believe it not, most of it was happening simultaneously!

Grace & Avery playing "boots ready"

The kids table

Abbie & Judah made lunch - mac 'n' cheese & lil' smokies

Christmas Carols
Wii tennis tournament

"Rocker" Daniel & Ella, his "back up"

Noah holding little Kenzie, 4 weeks old

Sisters

By: Abbie Voth

(a poem in process)

An important part of a loving family

Even though not always manly

A person we are told to love

A gift and blessing from above

A friend with which to cry and laugh

Share joy and sorrow along the path

A friend with which is fun to party

Whose food is almost always hearty

An ear which is always listening

To whatever you heart is missing

A flikering candle of love

As gentle and quiet as a dove

Droppin' like flies

This morning Abbie & Noah woke up with fever, cough, and headache. It was inevitable, I suppose, but I was holding out hope that they wouldn't get sick. I have informed Phil that he's not allowed to get sick, which eventually led to the debate of whether men get more violently sick then women, or if they are just bigger babies. His brother agreed with his theory, but I informed them both that just because I was outnumbered, didn't make me any less right! ;)

Grammie WARNING!!

Don't even read this next part...what you don't know will keep you from worrying!

Grace is still running low-grade fever, but that hasn't stopped her from climbing up on the roof to help hand out shingles. I made the boys come down yesterday. They were running all around & the guys were completely oblivious! I was like, one little misstep or trip & down they roll...off the roof. I envisioned broken bones, ER visits, concussions, and things of that nature. Phil assured me they would no longer run on the roof, and soon put them to work hammering in nails. I'm all for family working together, I just like to do it a little closer to the earth.

Another one bites the dust

Grace woke up this morning...sick. She has been running fever, but despite feeling miserable, she still got up on the roof with her dad while he tore off shingles. She told me she even took a nap up there. :) Phil's brother, Matthew, came over from Springdale, AR to help re-shingle the roof. I'm looking forward to staying home tomorrow & caring for my sweet girl.

On another note...I have to brag on Abbie for a minute. The girls' team lost, but she didn't run from the ball (like she did last year), and she even SUNK A SHOOT! I was so proud! And she was beaming the rest of the game. I didn't get a picture though, as I forgot the camera at home. Oops. Oh, well. Try again Thursday.

Happy Halloween

The bookworm

The soccer player

The pirate

The football player

(The pumpkin...as himself. Grace carved the pumpkin @ a birthday party on Friday night. Cleaned it & carved it all by herself. He was a great addition to our Halloween pictures.)

Recuperating...

It's been slow going, but I'm recuperating from having H1N1 last week. I think. I still feel like I'm coughing up a lung...and I sound like I'm a chain smoker, but other than not being able to breathe, I'm fine. Really.

It wasn't the way I planned to spend my last week of teaching, stuck in bed for 6 days. My "official" last day is this Friday. I'm not teaching this week, and honestly, I'm kind of anxious about what this week will "look like" and trying not to think too much about it. Trying is the operative word. I'm not sure I'm succeeding. And every time I start to think about it, I'm pretty negative. Sad, but true.

So...on a positive note...the Hillsdale basketball tournament will be this week - Monday, Thursday & Saturday. I'll get to watch Abbie play basketball and then cheer during the boys' game. (I'll post pictures. She will be so thrilled. But she looks too cute in her cheerleading outfit. Even if her mother has issues with cheerleaders in general. Sorry...highschool.) And back to being positive...the preschool & kindergarten classes have a field trip to a local corn maze on Thursday. It was cancelled last week due to bad weather, so even though I was in bed, I won't miss out. Yeah! It will be a fun day that I get to spend with my students, and my son, and my fellow teacher who has become a dear friend. And Friday is a "Good-bye" party for me. I love parties. Even though I cry to think about having to say "good bye". And even though it's embarrassing to be the center of attention. I still like parties. And cake. Let there be cake.

Oh, and chili and cinnamon rolls is on the menu for Wednesday night at church. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but until you've eaten Cathy's cinnamon rolls, you have no idea what you're missing, and can therefore not make fun of me for getting excited about it. And then, after getting my sugar fix for the week, I get to go out to coffee with friends. We're an odd mix of women, and it's amazing that we all get along. But it's a lot of fun, and my cup is always filled up and running over...literally. Mostly because I'm a clutz and spilling on myself, or maybe it's because I can't stop laughing.

So now I have something to look forward to on everyday but Tuesday. I guess I'll just have to steal some of my kids' Halloween candy on Tuesday & that will redeem the day. Chocolate always does.

That's my pep talk to myself. Thanks for listening. And goodnight. This cough medicine is getting the best of me, I'm afraid.

For fun...

How could I resist posting these pictures of my silly sons?

Camping...

We went camping in late September with two other familes & had a fun weekend together at Keystone Lake. On Saturday, we drove over to our "old" church for their Country Festival. The kids spent most of the morning at the petting zoo begging to bring an odd assortment of animals home with us.

Who gave these boys SUGAR? And WHAT were they THINKING?!?! :)

The barrel train
Grace found a kitten that looked just like Shadow

The kids fell in love with the ducks - AFLAC!

Obsessed with FIRE

Long overdue

It seems like so long since I've taken the time to think and process through our lives, and longer still since I posted any pictures. So without further ado...
Noah had fun helping Phil with a swarm of bees that had moved into our storage shed out back. I sewed this bee suit for Abbie several years ago. I was proud of my brave son. It was also a good introduction to "beekeeping", instead of being surrounded by thousands of bees and 20 hives.

My bathing beauties! We spent several afternoons at the public pool in Kremlin, but on the days we were home, the kids got creative. :)

Conflict

My husband asked if I enjoy conflict, to which I replied, "Absolutely not!"

And then we fought about who was right.

Aaaaaahhhh....

Why does a little picking up make a world of difference? I can see the floor in the boys' & girls' rooms, and in the living room. It is a wonderful thing. The kitchen & bathroom floors are another matter, but I won't focus on that right now. I'm basking in my accomplishments, small as they may be.

The past several weeks have been busy. Well...that's an understatement, but I'm trying to be positive here. There have been wonderful moments...and some tears too. In many ways I love where I'm at...working...teaching. I have fallen in love with these kids, with their unique needs, and funny quirks. I love teaching them & seeing the excitement when they learn something new. It is very fulfilling. Today I told a little boy, "You are so creative." His quick response was, "Like God?" ;)

In other ways, this journey has not been what I expected. There have been "promises" broken and expectations unmet, but it has been a learning process despite the disappointments. I was not prepared for the toll it would take on our family. I knew it would be an adjustment, but nothing prepared me for this. Some nights I feel like...I'm not just out of gas; I'm pushing a semi-truck up a hill...a very big hill. And I wonder where I will find the strength for tomorrow.

Tomorrow always comes, and thank goodness it is a new day! I have been blessed with a new friend - a fellow teacher who has taken me "under her wing", answered countless questions, and provided needed encouragement and wisdom. And I'm thankful for "old" ones too, though they aren't old by any means. :) We went camping with friends this past weekend, and despite being a lot of work & having little sleep, my soul was filled to the brim...and overflowing.

In just another day, I will turn the calendar over & see a beginning and an end...an end to this journey of teaching nine Kindergarteners. I know it will go by fast, despite the crazy days, and I want to make the most of it...not just at work, but at home too. I also know it will be hard to say "good bye". Maybe not at first, but I'll miss it...eventually. :) And I'm praying about the "What next?" and trusting God to show me.

A link

Today I'm just going to link you to my cousin's blog. I love what she wrote. Though our circumstances may be very different, we can all relate to feeling overwhelmed & needing to refocus on what is important, and on who God is.

Thanks, Beth, for always sharing from your heart.

The funnies

This year, the 3rd-6th graders have been receiving the paper at school. Grace is cute about making sure Phil gets her paper, "'Cause I know how you like to read the paper, Daddy." I love getting the paper for two reasons. Sudoku and the comics. The comics make me laugh, and (as oddly as it may sound) Sudoku is a stress-reliever. As it's been a while since I wrote about life in general, I thought I'd be corny, or cheesy, or whatever :) and compose a family newspaper, complete with the comics. Enjoy!

School Year Is Underway

School seems to be our life these days. We leave around 7:15am & get home around 5pm most nights, so it is a long day for everyone. The kids are enjoying school (for the most part) and love their teachers. As parents, it's exciting to watch our children excel because of their desire to please their teachers. Abbie memorized 1 Cor. 13 after her teacher challenged the class. Grace has read above her reading goal (which isn't due until October & is a huge deal for my girl who "doesn't like" reading!). Noah is working hard on his reading & we're amazed that he can read stories already. Daniel loves his teacher & everything about Preschool. And he doesn't mind being the only boy in the afternoon with six girls! Phil has been a big help on the mornings I can't "rally the troops" & even though the dishwasher doesn't get loaded the "right" way (Right, Mom? :) I'm not rearranging it, I promise!), I'm thankful he is doing his part to help out.

Mysterious Stomach Pains Are Slowing Subsiding

Abbie has been suffering from stomach and intestinal cramping for the past 3 weeks. She claims it has nothing to do with Math. :) It got bad enough that we took her to the ER to be sure she didn't have appendicitis. After blood work and other tests, the results were negative. A visit to the Doctor's office last week & more tests confirmed that she didn't have an intestinal parasite. She is slowly getting back to her old self & her pain & cramping are decreasing each day, for which we are very thankful.

Motorcycle Moves On Down the Road

After several garage sales, unsuccessful sales attempts, & a final farewell ride up & down the road, Phil loaded up his motorcycle at the crack of dawn Saturday morning. He & Jim drove down to Clorita to an auction & he finally sold his high school pride & joy. Abbie is glad she has one less obstical in the backyard to mow around.

Funnies

One night Daniel asked, "Are we having library tomorrow?" I told him I didn't know. To which he replied, "But Mom...teachers know everything!!"

Daniel asked Phil, "Dad what is bear day?" "Bear day?" Phil scrambles for an explanation, "Um, is bear day on Friday?" "No! Bear day means a green crayon." Understanding. "Oh! You mean verde?" "No, Dad. Bear day."

We were trying to get information out of Noah about his reading group - procedure, what they read, who is in the group, etc. No matter what we asked, he kept giving the same answer, demonstrating how he reads. Soon we were cracking up at his repetitive reply - "Some kids read like this - (loudly) B - A -T ...BAT! And I read like this (quietly) b-a-t...(yelling) BAT!!"

After listening to talk radio all day about health care reform, Phil is more convinced that we need to care for our own bodies. He was cutting apples for supper & in an effort to drive his point home, said, "What is it they say? An apple a day..." "...gives you soft poopies." Nothing like a 4 year old to turn things upside down. :)

Life in the fast lane

I hate to admit it, but I like to be in the driver's seat. Especially when we're running late for church & Phil is driving 5 miles under the speed limit & taking the longest route to church. I find myself physically pushing my right foot down on my imaginary gas pedal. A few times I thought it would be nice to have one of those cars they use for driver's ed - the kind that gives the driver the illusion of being in control. When we were first married, we bought a little Honda with manual transmission. I loved that car. Something about changing gears & being in a smaller car, made me feel like I was going really fast. I like to go fast. I don't like to putter along slowly. It feels like a waste of time. I want to get there. Get things going. Get to the point.

The point. The point is, these days, I'm longing for the scenic route. I think the Amish have something here. It's hard to hurry much when you're driving a buggy around. You have to plan ahead & be prepared to take it slow. As much as I love things about my life right now, I'm not really loving life in the fast lane. I want to be able to slow down a little and smell those roses. It's hard to find time to enjoy the moment when you're rushing from one thing to the next. I feel like a honeybee during the peak of honey-making season. They go, go, go for 3 weeks and then they die. Work themselves to death. I really don't want to be a honeybee.

Well, I can't end this post here. That would be too depressing. And I'm not depressed. Overwhelmed. Over tired. Over extended. Yes. But not depressed.

I keep reminding myself that God led me to this place - to the fast lane. So I'm depending on him to carry me through. And even though it's stinkin' hard, I am thankful for all that he is teaching me. In the meantime, I'm trying to plan ahead so I have moments of "taking it slow" - talking with my daughter, reading to my son, playing with my kids, laughing with my husband, cherishing my friendships, resting in my Lord...

First day

Well...sort of. My "official" first day of teaching was on Friday, but that was only half a day & it was mostly "fun", so I'm not sure that it counts. :) Today was our first full day, and to say that I'm tired would be an understatement. I can hardly keep my eyes open. I just got the kids in bed & now it's "okay, what do I HAVE to do before I go to sleep?". Not what do I want to do, or what needs to be done, but was has to be done in order to make it through tomorrow. That makes it sound like I'm barely surviving, which isn't true.

I felt like today went really well. I'm learning how to adjust, that I need more comfortable shoes, that Kindergartners need a lot of movement, that I can let go of some things, and that despite the work, I'm going to love this job.

I was a little nervous about rest time. I decided that instead of showing a movie (which honestly, would have been a wonderful break!), I would read a Thomas Burgess book. They are older books, and I needed to modify some of the wording, but I was amazed at how it captured the kids' attention. We read the first 3 chapters of The Adventures of Jimmy Skunk. They seemed to enjoy it & I was glad I had some beanie babies for visuals. I ran into one Mom just as I was leaving & she told me her son said his favorite part of the day was "story time". That the skunk story was so funny & he wanted to hear what happens tomorrow. That made my day.

I'm also learning that it pays to be organized. I'm okay at doing things impromptu, but not great. I need a plan. I'm anal that way. Now I just need to learn how to be flexible when what I've planned doesn't turn out exactly as I expected...

All right. Enough about school. If I'm going to survive my second day...I'd better get to bed, and soon!!

Catching up

I have wanted to post some recent pictures from our last trip, but I left my camera in Kentucky. It arrived in the mail this week, carefully padded with ghost shaped Halloween marshmallows. I laughed when I opened the box. Thank goodness for God's Pantry, free products, & a creative sister-in-law! :)

We were all running different directions during our week in KY. Philip was busy installing windows, I had fun helping in the kitchen, Abbie was a camper, and this posse roamed the camp.
They sure are a cute bunch, aren't they? :) Thanks to Ryan & Kris for supervising them at mealtime. They were very brave & gracious to put up with a table full of loud & rowdy kids 3 times a day!

I had fun getting to know Kris. It was one of those "I know we've never met, but I feel like I know you" kind of instant-friendships. I have no idea when we'll see each other again. Maybe at camp. Sometimes in bloggerville. For sure in heaven. But it was definitely fun to hang out & talk with someone I could relate to.We enjoy traveling as a family, and this trip we expanded our "family" to include Abbie's best friend, Jordyn. It was her first time away from home and her first time at camp. Her mom was very brave to send her off with us for the week, but we had fun with her along & hope she did too. At least she doesn't cringe as much when I hug her now. :)

It was a fun week away from the everyday. Now that I'm back in the thick of "reality" I wish I could go back. Maybe next year...

Why am I still up?

Too much Diet Pepsi. Too much thinking. Too much to do.

It's almost midnight & Phil is gigging for frogs with his buddy Jim. Basically it's a way to explain the need grown men have to get in touch with their inner "boy" and have a blast chasing frogs & getting muddy! If I had my camera I would take a picture of the gig he constructed. It's quite the weapon. And I would have loved to take a picture of my boys sharpening their own "gigs" (sticks). Noah stood in the driveway with no shirt on, and informed me he was gonna gig the van. It was a "Lord of the Flies" moment. If only I had my camera...but I left it in Kentucky, and that's a story for another day. I am glad my husband is having fun, but he'd better not bring any frog legs home. I've put up with a deer head for the past several months. I draw the line @ frog legs. A woman can only take so much.

Goodnight. I'm going to bed. I better not have nightmares.

My boys have been getting along really well, for the most part. But this morning an argument quickly escalated to yelling & then throwing things. I decided it was time for a break & a snack. They were sitting at the table munching, when Daniel turned to Noah with big eyes & said, "Noah? Will you forgive me for everything?"

All is right with the world.

Confession:

I have been totally and completely lazy the past couple of days in preparation for next week and the craziness that is VBS. Any woman with kids who volunteers in any way during VBS knows what I'm taking about. Yesterday I took two naps. Two. Who does that? I finally broke down & loaded the dishwasher last night @ 10pm. I was worried we might not have any clean dishes today. I did consider using paper, but it's hard to eat cereal off a plate. I have low aspirations for today - a trip to the thrift store, a stop at the bank, a doctor's appointment, and maybe swimming. It's too hot for anything else.

This summer I have enjoyed having older children. They dress themselves, help around the house, pick up, play on their own, are fairly independent and very resourceful. I like this new phase. There are still arguments to resolve and activities to create, but overall it's been an easy job. I has allowed me to be lazy...now & then...

Travels...and changes....

When we were in Colorado for my brother's wedding, my uncle graciously invited us to come back for a week so my husband could do some repairs in/on their home. We thought about the near-100 degree temperatures here in Oklahoma, and then about the cool mountain air...and couldn't resist the offer. Not to mention, it was a "working vacation" and a chance to spend time with my aunt & uncle. Our air-conditioner broke down the night before we left. I was very glad to leave home. The kids loved hanging out on the deck & we got to roast s'mores a few nights. It seemed a little strange to be building a fire & curling up with a blanket in the middle of summer, but I didn't complain...

On Saturday, we took the kids to the zoo. The highlight was being there to see them feed the mountain lions. Afterwards, we headed over to the kids area, where my boys got in touch with their "inner" lions & had fun roaring & growling the rest of the day.

I love how quickly children build friendships. We met another family from my aunt's church @ the park & my kids had fun playing with her kids. By Sunday, they were looking forward to seeing their friends again, and Daniel confided in me, "Maximus is going to be my next cousin!" Apparently that's a step up from "friend".

This week it has been about getting "back into the groove" and catching up. I'm not sure how well I'm doing at either one, but I'm working on it. I think I finally finished unpacking from our trip. Just in time for laundry day! We're looking at some big changes for next year as I accepted a position to teach Kindergarten for 3 months (I'm sort of "filling in", while the teacher they've hired finishes her student teaching.) But I'm excited about the challenge & am also glad it is just for 3 months. I have pursued avenues to complete my teaching degree & kept running into what seemed like dead ends. But I have finally found a place that will accept most of my college credits & I can take online courses! So that is a huge answer to prayer. My goal is to finish my degree, get ACSI certification, and go on to get my state license. After 4 babies, I'm fairly convinced my brain has shrunk, so we'll see if I'm smart enough to do it! :) But I'm gonna try...

What I've inherited

I love to drive my Mom crazy & blame her for all the things that are physically wrong with me - headaches, achy shoulders, the fact that I have a hard time finishing a...what was I talking about? I can attribute my bad knees and over-active, grease producing hair follicles to my Dad. :) But lately, I'm starting to think that I can also blame him for the fact that I am getting more emotional with each passing year.

You already know that I turn into a blubbering fool when it comes to weddings, but last night at the VBS program, I lost it as I listened to the kids sing, "Yeah, the word of the Lord is true, we can trust Him, we can trust Him..." I tried to hold them back, but they were there, and they were real...real tears, people. We bought the CD & were listening to it in the kitchen tonight while I was making supper. The kids were singing their hearts out & I thought, "Oh boy, here we go again..." I'm pretty sure it's because I was cutting onions. Yep. That's the reason.

When I was in high school, I remember watching a Hallmark movie with my Dad. Those movies can be gut wrenching, but he was just fine, until the commercial came on. You know the one? Where the kid is reading a card from his big brother, telling how he's sorry he can't be home, and then suddenly he walks in the door and surprises everyone for Christmas? That's all it took. Just a 90 second commerical to break the dam & release the water works.

These days Dad gets teared up when he listens to a song or hears someone speak or sees his children and grandchilren growing in Christ and carrying on a legacy. It's something I love about him. He's not afraid to be emotional or sensitive...or even cry. As his daughter, I'm required to harass him for crying over commercials. :) But as much as I fight it, it's something I'm proud to have inherited from my Dad.

Shoe's on the other foot...and I'm not likin' it

My baby is going to camp tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I'm not ready. And she's really too young to be going off all by herself, don't you think? The other 3 are going to Grandma's today, which means we have 24 hours with our eldest. It hasn't been this way for 8 years. Yesterday she looked at me with a sparkle in her eye & asked what kind of things we would be doing once "the other kids" were gone. I told her we were going to clean the whole house from top to bottom. I got an eye-roll for that. As we count down the days until camp, she gets increasingly chatty. I finally asked her if she was nervous. "Kind o'...and kind o' excited too."

I remember that feeling. Only I was the one looking forward to seeing friends & swimming every day & the excitement of school & being on my own. I never was on this side of the fence - worrying about if she'll be safe, how it will go, if she gets homesick, if someone makes fun of her for leaving her zipper down (she does that a lot), if she forgets to brush her teeth, or if she has too much fun & never wants to come back home again. I don't like being on this side of life! I feel compelled to say to my Mom, "I'm sorry I ever left & put you through this!" But at the same time, I know that this is a part of life, a part of growing up, a part of letting go.

There is one thing that gives me comfort & security: The God of the Universe loves & cares for this little girl more than I can comprehend & He is there with her when I am not. So I will trust His daughter to Him, and then I'll pry my fingers off & kiss her goodbye...

Rediscovered

A couple of days ago, my boys were bored - which really means they were fighting & irritating each other, which means they were getting my last nerve & my patience was wearing thin. As their punishment, I sent them to retrieve the forgotten box of Legos out from under their bed & told them to "play nice, or else"! The "or else" is usually something miserable - like chores, or weeding. We received these Legos as a Christmas gift over 4 years ago & though they have been played with here & there, the kids never showed a lot of interest in them. Until now. I remember my younger brother spending countless hours with his Legos, building race cars, and boats, and airplanes, and anything else that entered his imagination. Now as I sit & watch Noah, I smile to see the same quiet boy, the wheels turning, and his creativity growing. As for the fighting, it still continues. Now it's just over stolen pieces and destroyed products.

Something new

This afternoon I tried out a new recipe & was pleasantly surprised at how yummy these cookies were. My friend informed me that "healthy" should never mix with "yummy". She tells me, "Don't be puttin' no fruit in that jello. It'll ruin it." That's oklahoman, in case you were wonderin'. :) These cookies have plenty of "healthy" mixed in, but it doesn't ruin the taste.

Also, I love to keep cookies in the freezer. It became a habit about 10 years ago. I'll admit, I am a little anal about it. My cookies go directly from baking sheet to freezer. This deters me from snacking on them, and I can't stand crumbly, stale cookies. Our good friend, Greg, loves to tease me about my "fresh baked" cookies. I offered him some "home made" cookies one afternoon. They were frozen solid & he carried on, saying he could have broke a tooth! He still hasn't let me hear the end of it.

So, for those of you out there who don't mind mixing healthy & yummy, this recipe's for you:

Chocolate Chip Whole Wheat Oatmeal Cookies
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 c. regular oats
2 c. chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix butter, sugars, eggs & vanilla. Add dry ingredients & mix well. Add chocolate chips. Spoon onto a cookie sheet & bake for 10 minutes. Take out of the oven before they look "done" & let them sit for another 2 min. before removing from baking sheet. Makes about 4 doz. medium cookies. (I think I'm going to try substituting 1/2 c. applesauce for 1/2 c. of the butter & see how they turn out. I'll let you know how it goes...)

Put on my travelin' shoes...

We're back home again after a whirlwind trip this weekend. Phil's cousin got married in Kearney, NE on Saturday. We loaded the car on Friday night & left home by 4:30 the next morning so we could "make it to the church on time". The wedding was beautiful, and you know me & weddings...more boo-hooing. By 6pm, we were headed to Uncle David's pig farm to be with family where I could do what I love...laughing. :) We weren't there five minutes when Daniel came running back from the pig pens to inform Noah, "I can't even tell you what that pig was doing!" We were a little curious, what with several prize winning studs in the pens, so we asked, "What did you see?" "That pig just went to the bathroom right there!" This is our third trip to the farm & when we were there in the Fall of '06, we couldn't get Daniel off this toy tractor. This time he got to ride with Uncle David to feed the pigs. He was in hog heaven! Pun intended. :) He talked Uncle David's ear off, and later informed him "I want to feed the pigs with you everyday."

Grace was shy at first around Megan. After the wedding, she whispered, "I'll see you back at the farm." They became fast friends and were inseparable. We left the farm Sunday morning, and I soon noticed that Grace had gotten really quiet. I looked back to find her crying. When I hugged her close, she confessed, "I didn't want to leave Megan."

We arrived in Omaha on Sunday afternoon & got to spend time with my cousin & her family. I was able to go to the hospital & meet Judah. I have to admit, it's hard to find the words. There is so much I could say, but sometimes words are not adequate to describe emotions. Sometimes it's enough to just feel & not explain. He is a beautiful baby...a baby God is holding in the palm of his hand...a baby that in his short life, has touched the hearts of many people. He has brought the family of God together. People that don't know this family personally are praying for this precious boy. It's a beautiful thing to see.

We left Omaha last night & got home in the middle of the night. Yes, it was a whirlwind trip, but it was worth it. It makes me look forward to heaven. Not only will I get to spend eternity with Christ, but I'll get to fellowship with family...God's family. And I can't think of something I want more than that.

Please Pray

Judah Matthew was born yesterday afternoon & there have been various complications. Please pray for Judah, for Beth & Jared, for the grandparents, and for the kids (siblings) - Eli, Ezra, & Lydia during this time.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Thankful...

...for a beautiful day

...for affordable swim lessons. The kids are learning a lot & are always excited to tell me what they did - "Did you see me mom?!?!" Noah was excited he finally swam down to the bottom of the pool to retrieve the ring. Abbie is learning to dive. Daniel is...as brave as ever! And Grace decided to rejoin Level 2 after a freak-out on Tuesday over having to put her head under water. She was proud of herself for doing it once today...progress...slow & steady, like her mother. :)

...for food on the table & in our garden. It's been nice to eat "garden fare" and save some on the grocery budget.

...for a clean house. We've been slowly catching up from camping & being gone & our garage sale. With the kids' help, we got a lot of the odds & ends picked up & put away. It feels good to see my floors & counter spaces again.

...that my kids are using their imaginations. Grace, Noah & Daniel have been playing "fire truck" the past few days. They built one out of cardboard boxes & our wagon & have revised & revamped it several times. I love to see them working together & getting along.

...that my oldest is a bookworm. When she's not jumping on the trampoline, I know I will find her curled up with a book somewhere.

...for friendships & community. We don't have to go it alone.

...for family. We're off to another wedding this weekend - Phil's cousin's wedding in NE. It's a side of the family we don't often get to see, but one I enjoy getting to know & spending time with.

The lazy days of summer?

Whoever it was that coined the phrase "the lazy days of summer" obviously wasn't a mom. Especially if they meant "lazy" as in "having nothing to do or doing nothing at all". I have the opposite problem, as in "I have so much to do, I don't know where to start, so I'll just sit here a little while longer." Or maybe they are the "lazy days" because it's just too stinkin' hot to move. Don't mind me. I'm just hot & bothered because I had to climb up in a 350 degree attic to retrieve bears & lids to finish jarring honey this afternoon. I really need to go restock the shelf at the grocery store, but every time I think about taking 4 kids with me, I decide it will be much easier at 9pm tonight when they are all tucked snugly into bed.

I had a panic attack this afternoon when I lost my list. Yes, I'm a list maker. Go ahead and make fun of me. But if you know me at all, you will know that I am lost without my lists. Or rather, I am dependant upon them. Don't be offended if I don't remember something important you tell me. If I don't write it down, chances are it will be gone from my mind the moment the conversation is over...or before then. It helps me to stay focused & on task. And sometimes it's nice to glance over it at the end of my day and see that I did, in fact, accomplish something. These last fews days my list has been full...too full. It spills over into the next day & I can't seem to catch up. So I'm learning to let go & hand over some of my "to do" items to my kids, even if they don't do them to the obsessive degree that I do. And I'm plesantly surprised to learn that they do a fairly good job. :) I'm also learning that some things just don't need to be on the list at all.

I came to the realization this afternoon, that for various reasons, I wasn't enjoying these "lazy days of summer". And after my nap, I feel like I've gained some perspective. As a mom, there will always be plenty to do, but I want to be intentional about being "lazy" this summer - reading books to my kids, playing in the sprinkler with them, building a fort with them or just hanging out in the hammock. I plan to put it on my list.

Menu Plan Monday

Summer is here, and that means planning two meals a day for my hungry kiddos. If I don't have a plan, I tend to run around the kitchen getting more exasperated by the minute. So here's my attempt at being organized & (hopefully) reducing stress this summer. I'm excited about trying some new recipes too.

Monday:

L: Tortilla Sandwich wraps

S: Phil's birthday! Baked Fish; shrimp; oven-fried potatoes

Tuesday:

L: Pigs in a blanket & baked beans

S: Rice & hamburger gravy; green beans

Wednesday:

L: Sandwiches

S: Stove Top Casserole & peaches

Thursday:

L: BBQ beef sandwiches; cucumber slices & apples

S: Leftover buffet

Friday:

L: Taco salad

S: Oven-fried Parmesan Chicken & pasta

Saturday:

L: Sandwiches; carrot sticks

S: Ham & Bean Soup w/ bread

Sunday:

L: Pork Chops w/ wild rice; salad

S: Eggs & toast

Enjoy! For more great recipes & ideas, check out Organizing Junkie's blog.

Ambitious entrepreneurs

For the past several summers, Emily & I have held a garage sale. Our kids have enjoyed selling water & pop & seeing their profits increase. This year, they decided that they wanted to sell "pastries" (as advertised by Abbie) as well. They begged & pleaded to bake cookies yesterday afternoon while Emily & I were sorting clothes and setting up tables. I was feeling very overwhelmed with getting things finished for the garage sale & still recuperating from our trip, so I made a deal with them. If they cleaned the kitchen, I would help them make cookies. I never expected they would take me up on my offer! Those girls worked diligently until every surface was cleared and clean. They were pretty confident that they could handle the recipe on their own. Emily & I were close at hand, just in case they omitted anything important. It ended up being a math lesson, as we decided to double the recipe. Today they were excited to see the fruits of their labor, and have been nagging us incessantly to bake brownies for tomorrow's ventures!

Colorado...here we come!

We had a great time in Colorado last week. One of the highlights was visiting Focus on the Family & going down this cool slide in Whit's End.

Noah dressed up as Whit.
The kids had a blast climbing...on anything & everything. Phil took the three oldest climbing @ REI, and we found this cool park nestled back in the neighborhood where my aunt & uncle live.
Daniel didn't want to leave CO. He loved waking up early and having Aunt Verna all to himself. They formed an instant bond when "that lady" (as he called her) built him a fire one morning.We drove through Garden of the Gods. We didn't have a lot of time to sight-see between the rainy weather, a packed wedding schedule, and time spent with family, but we made the most of our time there.

We all were a little sad to leave Colorado. It's a beautiful place & the view of the mountains is breathtaking. The kids each wanted to know why we couldn't stay...and when we were coming back!

The Wedding

This past Monday, my brother got married. The wedding was at a beautiful garden, the rain held off until the end of the ceremony, and I cried...a lot. What can I say? I'm a softy for weddings. All that love & commitment. It's a wonderful thing.
My girls looked beautiful. Whose idea was it to dress them in white? I'm not ready to picture them as brides walking down the aisle. And...cue the crying. Stupid emotions.

The ring bearers. Daniel carried the rings in a "special treasure box". You couldn't wipe the grin off his face if you tried. Noah & his cousins, along with 3 of Lydia's cousins were the "guarders of the rings". They took their job very seriously. And they made it up the aisle without a sword fight. May wonders never cease.

The bride & groom. When Lydia walked down the aisle, I broke tradition & watched my brother. I cried again when I saw the look of love on his face. I can't wait to see what great things God has planned for them.

The Trip Home

The drive back home took 5 hours longer than expected, between historical markers, scenic routes, and attractions. We got to see the highest point in Oklahoma - the Black Mesa.
Not far from there, we saw dinosaur tracks. If you're a history fanatic like my husband, or if you care, you can read all about it here. If you're like me, you can say "Ooh...ahh..." and move on.

Most of the day we spent driving, listening to books on tape, watching DVDs, and this...

For those that were awake, this was the view for hours and hours...and hours.