Five Joyful Hearts

First Day of School

2011-08-04T07:37:00.004-04:00

Joshua is starting the 2nd grade. Lydia is in the first (which means she gets a locker and can buy a snack from the vending machine now!). Katherine is going to preschool in the mornings.

Storms, Surprises and Stings

2011-07-27T21:43:00.009-04:00

The storms continued into the day today. However, we were pleasantly surprised to see the sun peeking through the clouds around lunchtime (Steve was more than surprised...he was relieved that he would not be spending the day at the outlet mall).

We had time to build sandcastles...

...catch lots of sea creatures...

...and ride some big waves!

The storms brought in a plethora of jellyfish...one of which stung Lydia on the arm. She recovered quickly, but did not enter the water again. We spent the remainder of the afternoon catching jellyfish and burying them in the sand.

Stormy Day

2011-07-26T22:25:00.007-04:00

Although the skies were filled with rainshowers, thunder and lightening most of the day and into the evening, we were able to get a little time on the beach. The impending storms brought in some good waves this morning!

Lydia waiting patiently for one of us to join her in riding the waves.

Aunt Diane joined us again this year.

Destin 2011

2011-07-25T22:07:00.010-04:00

The girls enjoy jumping in the pool together.

Lydia rides the waves like a surfer in training!

Endless hours digging in the sand...for the water at the bottom...

...and even more hours in the ocean. The kids LOVE the ocean this year. I don't have nearly as many pictures as usual because I seem to be spending all my time jumping the waves! Katherine, as usual holds her own and keeps on going even if she wipes out!

Joshua fishing for treasures.

Burried alive!

Job Security

2011-05-28T21:26:00.004-04:00

The kids love it when Steve bounces them on the trampoline...the higher the bounce the higher the squeals! That is Katherine about 4 feet in the air.

Grandma B bought the kids a new toy for their birthday. This is Lydia bouncing with Steve.
I know the photo is small, but look closely, yes Steve is actually above the 6 foot tall safety net...

After seeing just a few of the photos, I think the blog title is self-explanatory!

Graduation!

2011-05-27T16:06:00.009-04:00

Joshua received two medals upon graduation from first grade. He earned the all A Honor Roll medal and the Citizenship Medal (he earned excellence in conduct all year). He also received the Abraham Genesis 22 Obedience Award.

Lydia graduated from kindergarten and will excitedly tell you she is now a First Grader!!

Katherine completed her first year of preschool.

She did not receive the Excellence in Conduct or the Obedience Award...

I need a new calculator!

2011-05-05T13:21:00.007-04:00

My calculator will not add in the trillions. One trillion dollars looks like this 1,000,000,000,000. It is 1000 times more than one billion.

One million times one million.

1,000,000,000,000. That is a number that is hard for me to wrap my mind around. So when thinking about the national debt which is 14.2 trillion today 14,200,000,000,000 it is immediatly overwhelming.

Our "income" meaning what the government took in last year was 2,173 trillion. We spent 3.8 trillion. That means we spent 1.6 trillion more than we made. Let me state it differently. The United States spent 1,600,000,000,000 more than it made last year.

Although the government is obviously more complex than the family unit. In order to attack this in my mind, I will use Dave Ramsey's method of bringing these numbers to a micro-level we can actually discuss. This is equilavent to a family making $55,000 a year, spending $96,000 a year (spending $41,000 more than they make) with $366,000 of credit card debt.

Even if this family cut their spending in half, they still would not even be touching their debt that is growing daily. They may have to sell their house or expensive car. No matter what they decide to cut, I can assure you it will not be fun for anyone in the family.

Earlier this year our elected officials fought, screamed, cried, and some even through temper tantrums about a proposed 60 billion dollar cut (meaning they would only overspend by 1,540,000,000,000). That would be the equilavent of this family cutting $4,000 of their spending next year. It would now look like this $55,000 income with $92,000 spending and still $366,000 credit card debt growing everyday. I wouldn't be too excited for them. Yet, our congressmen spent an entire week patting themselves on the back for cutting even less than this. Seriously?

So that's the mess our country is in. What is the solution? Depending on who you are chatting with (and if you aren't chatting with folks about it, you should be) there are typically two lines of thinking...and a newer third proposal that I am scarcely going to mention.

Some say to raise taxes. Won't work. If you confiscated 100% of everything the Forbes 400 owned...that is the 400 wealthiest people in the country, if the government took everything they owned - it would only run the govenment for 4 months. If you raised taxes on all the rich, however you define that, it may help a little, but then we have socialism which to me is a much larger problem that the national debt.

Cut spending. We could completely do away with welfare and still would be spending one trillion more than we bring in. We could go "line by line" as our current president promised to do while on the campaign trail, and cut excess spending...would not even come close to balancing the budget. We are way beyond just cutting out waste. One half of our spending is on Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid...cut out all of those and we still may balance the budget...maybe, but we would not touch the debt which is earning billions in interest even as I write this.

Einstein said, "we can not solve our problems with the same kind of thinking that created them." So I will not even discuss the third proposed solution - spend more.

It is probably going to be a combination of the first two.

Cut spending. That hurts. Easy to say. But what do we cut? Our military, the men and women putting their lives on the line for our freedoms everyday? Medicare-the checks our grandmothers receive to pay their light bill and buy food? Police departments? Education? Do you like the ability to send and receive mail? Better not cut the US Postal Service. We all know people suffering with diseases such as cancer. We can't cut cancer research. FEMA? not in the wake of the tornadoes we just witnessed.

I don't buy in to all the Chicken Littles on TV running around saying that the sky is falling. I don't believe America is going to fail. I don't think China is going to take us over some day. I do believe the borrower is slave to the lender, however. Because of past fiscal irresponsibility, our Congress has some tough decisions ahead. And as we attempt to free ourselves of this burden, we all need to brace ourselves for what is to come, for it will take sacrifice.

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labor of the people under the pretense of taking care of them." Thomas Jefferson

**I was shocked when I heard these numbers the other day, I wanted to share it with others so we are not blindly led by decision makers. Truth and knowledge are powerful. The numbers I reported here are from a recent episode of the Dave Ramsey show. You can hear it for yourself along with some well thought out solutions by going to www.daveramsey.com and clicking on April 28, 2011.

Happy Birthday!!

2011-04-13T20:05:00.006-04:00

We celebrated Lydia's 6th birthday and Katherine's 4th birthday this past weekend. We had a great afternoon spending time with family and friends. Lydia wanted a pink monkey party. Katherine wanted unicorns.

We had cake and ice cream at the house...and once the electricity came back on...we went to a party place where the kids could run and play. They had lots of friends there.

The girls in the "birthday" chair.

The girls with Tangerine and Scruffy...they've been inseperable since Saturday!

COSI

2011-04-08T21:05:00.013-04:00

We went to Columbus Ohio for a few days this week to visit COSI and the zoo. The weather turned out to be too cold for the zoo, so we spent two days at COSI-the Center Of Science and Industry. Here are some photos of the fun

A street of 1898 A street of 1962 - our kids saw a telephone booth for the first time!

With the use of a very large lever, Steve was able to lift a car

Lots of play with clouds

Water table fun

We all live in a yellow submarine...

Steve and I rode a unicycle on a tight rope! There is no trampoline or mat under us, just the lobby of COSI and folks looking up. There is a 250 pound weight that hangs below the unicycle that keeps you and the unicycle balanced.

This is me on the tight rope ...just before I got stuck! I had no trouble peddling backward away from the station, however, when coming forward it is similar to peddling uphill...a very steep hill for a 98 pound weakling like me! About 5 feet from the station, I leaned forward to push harder on the peddles-which made the weight swing back...the 250 pound weight. They had to use "the hook" to give me a pull back into the station.

Just stand under the giraffe and he will tell you how tall you are!

This is Lydia learning about pulley systems while pulling herself up in a chair.

We had a wonderful mini-vacation!

Missing teeth...Missing Answers

2011-03-03T08:33:00.005-05:00

Lydia lost a tooth while in school yesterday. I have no idea how it had hung in there that long! It was barely hanging on a week ago. I asked her how it happened...
Lydia, "I was sitting at my desk doing my work and my tooth was really hurting so I prayed to God and asked Him to help it stop hurting...then it fell out...it was floating in my mouth!"
Me, "were you wiggling it and playing with it?"
"No, I just prayed to God and it fell out"
"Did it stop hurting?"
"Yes"
"Then God answered your prayer didn't He?"
"...Well I guess" she hesitantly responded.

Isn't that just like us? How many times have I prayed to God for something...and even thought I knew the best way to get me there? Do you know what I mean? For as high as the heavens are above the earth so are His ways higher than my ways. I am so thankful that not only do I not get to decide the answers to my prayers, I don't get to decide how they are answered. I usually don't realize that I had it all planned out...how He would answer...until the answer comes and then I am amazed.

Like when Jesus was on the boat with the disciples and a furious storm came. The disciples were terrified, yet Jesus slept. They awoke Him screaming "we are going to die! Save us!" Obviously they were crying out to be physically saved from the storm...but His means were not what they expected. He did not make the boat strong enough to withstand the storm, He did not speak and move them to dry ground, He did not tell them to hunker down and He would cover them. He could have done any of these things, and maybe that is what they were thinking he would do. No. He spoke and His creation listened. The Bible says they were amazed and said, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey Him."

Or What about Martha and Mary, they sent word to Jesus that his friend Lazarus was ill. They were asking for physical healing from an illness, they knew Christ could heal the sick, they had witnessed that. The Lord did restore Lazarus...He did heal him. But not the way they expected Him to do so. He waited. Three days he waited. Long enough for Lazarus to die and lie there for four days. Then He answered.

The Isrealites waited on their king. A king that would come and save His people and take the throne. The Jewish people were living under the oppressive hands of the Romans. They wanted an earthly king who would come and conquer the Romans and free them from the yoke of slavery. God heard His people and answered the cry of humanity. He gave them a King who would rescue all people and sit on the throne for eternity. Being born of a poor woman, living the life of a servant, having no political power and ultimately being crucified as a criminal was not the way they had expected. Then He answered. Three days later.

God always answers. Sometimes yes. Sometimes no. Sometimes not right now. However, even when the answer is yes...and immediate like when Lydia lost her tooth or Jesus calmed the storm, God seldom works in the ways we had planned. Lydia thought the pain would just go away, she really believed He would make it stop hurting. And He did. But she never thought it would fall out.

defriended

2011-02-26T18:12:00.002-05:00

I have been defriended. It's not the first time I have been defriended, although this one is much less painful since it was really just the illusion of friendship that social media such as Facebook facilitates. The first time I was defriended I was 22 and it was a literal lifelong friend. I made a tough decision and she did not agree with it so she abruptly ended our friendship. One day we were the best of friends and the next day we were not. Just like that. It was on the phone that I told her of my decision. That was our last conversation. It was a terribly lonely time for me. I am not cynacal or bitter or distrusting of folks. It did however teach me a lot about friendships..how to be a friend and how to choose friends.

I suppose I should admit I have defriended someone on Facebook as well. It was a complete accident. For a time, Facebook had the option under someone's post to comment or like or delete or block. I meant to hit like and I hit block. After countless hours and a couple of weeks I was able to make her my friend again. I honestly thought I was going to have to call Mark Zuckerberg to get permission to be her friend again! We tried everything. I had to go into my privacy settings and change some things. Once I changed the settings, Facebook made me wait 48 hours before I could ask her to be my friend! I suppose that was time to think things over.( I think Facebook has changed all this now.) That is a good amount of trouble to go through but she is a good friend.

Back to my being defriending. I was not really defriended after all. To be defriended implies there was once a friendship. I was simply taken off a list. None of us really have 672 friends. I suppose our innate need to feel significant drives us to social media such as Facebook. The Lord put that longing there. It has a purpose. He deliberately created each of us with a need to connect...to know someone cares...to feel loved..to have relationships with each other. Most importantly to have a relationship with Him. Social media is just the newest way we have created to try and fill that void.

Dont' get me wrong, I enjoy facebook. I recently connected with a good friend from my childhood...so many good memories. And I have been able to keep up with another friends hospital recovery. I have the most fun on FB during NFL games as I chat with my fellow Cheeseheads. However, it can't be a substitute for those real friendships. The ones our parents and grandparents had...friendship that can't be ended with the click of a button.

The Things They Say...

2011-02-23T08:21:00.003-05:00

We spent a weekend in Gatlinburg and as we pulled in one night the sky was clear and the stars were abundant. I said, "Joshua, look at the sky there are so many stars! You can even see the big dipper." Katherine, scrambling to get out of the car says, "I want to see the apple dippers!" I'm thinking maybe too many trips to McDonalds?

At the grocery the other day Lydia asks, "When I get big can I change my name?"
Me, "No, why do you have a different name picked out?"
Lydia, "Yes, Swirley! because I like to swirl and twirl like this!" ...as she swirls and twirls down the ailse.

Katherine, "I know what happens when you eat too much junk food."
Me, "Oh, what is that?"
Katherine, "You get flat."
Me, thinking she is getting flat and fat confused, "Really? do you mean fat?"
Katherine, "No, flat...like this" and she lies on the floor, flat on her back.

At a restaurant the other day Katherine exclaims, "Look! I not real!" and suddenly makes herself stiff like a statue, arms down by her side, neither blinking nor moving her eyes...staring at nothing.

On the way to school the other day Katherine says, "I hope we crash our car today."
Me, thinking she had a word confused, "What? crash our car?"
Katherine, "I hope we crash our car so we can buy a new one."
My husband obviously put her up to that one.

Preparing dinner the other night, I said, "This is may favorite dinner...it smells soooo good."
Lydia, "I know my favorite dinner!"
Me, "Really, what is that?"
Lydia, "That brown stuff with the red stuff on top."
Me, "I don't know what that is."
Lydia, "You know, that stuff that doesn't look good-but is really is?"
Meatloaf. Seriously, what 5 year old loves meatloaf?

Me, "You guys are going to Ms. Crystal's house after school tomorrow because I have a conference with Lydia's teacher."
Joshua, "What is a conference?"
Me, "A time for me to meet with Lydia's teacher to see how she is doing in school."
Lydia, "Oh, she's doing good."
Me, "What? Who is doing good?"
Lydia, "Mrs. Angie, she is doing okay at school."

Family Bible Time:
We were talking about the Israelites eating manna and quail for 40 years in the desert...breakfast, lunch, dinner...and yes, even snacktime. We asked the kids what they thought of that and Joshua said, "I would get tired of eating the samething all the time." Lydia says, "Well, only if it were Pop-tarts, I'd like to eat Pop-tarts all the time!"

A few nights later during family Bible time...Moses receiving the 10 Commandments. We asked the kids if they could name them, Joshua and Lydia were doing well so we asked Katherine if she could remember any of them. Steve gave her the prompt, "it starts with "do not..."" to which Katherine exclaims, "Do not bug!" (Joshua is constantly in trouble for bugging his sisters.)

On the way to school last week Katherine asks, "Mommy do we have eyebones?"
Me, "eyebones?"
Katherine, "yes, eyebones."
Me, "No honey, we don't have eyebones."
Katherine, "well they just talked about eyebones on the radio."
The radio was on but I had no idea what was playing. Joshua overhearing the conversations clarifies, "No Katherine, not eyebones...iphone...it's a commercial for the iphone!"

As the kids get older, the chores they are responsible for change. Katherine has watched the chore of unloading the dishwasher each day be passed from Joshua to Lydia and now to her. While unloading it the other morning she asks Steve, "When are we going to have another kid in the house?" She was quite disappointed in Steve's answer. I think she figures she is stuck with that one forever.

And just this morning while brushing Lydia's teeth, we were talking about Joshua bugging the girls and the appropriate response to such "bugging" when she asks-with all the seriousness a five year old can ask, "who is ever going to marry Joshua?!"

2011-02-12T08:48:00.004-05:00

I have not deliberately been remiss in blogging. Simply stated, I lost the month of January. We may have a doctor in the house but we seem to get sick as much as anyone else! Between strep throat, the flu and the stomach bug, I have been somewhat busy.

I think one of the hardest things about being a mom of multiple youngsters is when I get sick. I had the flu for a week and before I could fully recover-came down with a stomach bug. Katherine at one point asked me if I was going to die. Although on day 7 or 8 I was thinking the same thing, I assured her that I would once again get off the couch and play with her. She said, "but when you don't eat you die. And you don't eat." My husband visited every fast food restaurant in town during those two long weeks. And I don't even want to talk about how many hours of PBS Kids and Nick Jr. my children watched! Joshua stayed home from school one of the days, we thought he had the stomach bug. Little did he know that I was sicker than him. He not only took care of me that day, he also took care of Katherine, and did a little laundry.

Anyway, we now have clean clothes, food in the house, I have spent lots of lost time with my kiddos, I'm caught up on my Bible studies, phone calls have been made, the budget is done, parts of the house are clean (it is never all clean), and so now I blog.

February 6, 2011 will go down in history as a day of excitement, elation, and disappointment for our family. For the first time in 45 years of Superbowl history the Greenbay Packers and the Pittsburg Steelers played for the Lombardi Trophy. Those of you who know us well know that Steve is a Steelers fan and I am a Cheesehead. Without going into the details of the game...the Lombardi Trophy came home! The height of my excitement was met equally with the depths of Steve's disappointment.

Disappointment. No one likes it. Everyone deals with it. So what do we do? Some disappointments are trivial such as losing a board game (yes we are still working on that one) or missing a ball game. Others are big such as not getting the job or finding out a friend has been lying to you. Then there are the life changing disappointments...maybe we call them tragedies - the unfaithfulness of a spouse or the diagnosis of a terminal cancer. We pray for a miracle, we beg and plead and maybe even bargain with the Lord God. Only to receive the answer we so feared.

Ultimately, regardless of the intensity of the disappoinment, we have to resolve the issue of Who God Is. This is for both the believer and the non-believer alike. What do I believe about God? Do I trust Him? A roller coaster faith is one that trusts God for what He does. A solid faith is one that trust God for Who He is. Do you see the difference?

One says I trust God as long as things are going good for me and those around me, but when bad times come (and they always do) I begin to doubt either God's sovereignty, His power, or His love for me.

The other says I trust God. Period. No matter what life hands me I know God is Sovereign. God is Good. And God loves Me. I just spoke with a friend the other day who spoke those words to me...she has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Partly because of life's circumstances but also because I am reading an incredible book entitled Lies Women Believe: And the Truth that Sets Them Free (which I think every women should read!). I am also in a Bible study that is addressing these same foundational issues. Interesting to me that it just all lined up so that I am concurrently reading that particular book (of all the books on my "list"), taking this particular Bible study (chosen by our group 2-3 months ago), and dealing with some hard life issues. Some call it coincidence. I call it Sovereignty.

To get back to February 6, 2011. Being the supportive and empathetic wife that I am, I could only boast for so long. Although my team truimphed over my husbands, I went out of my way to brighten Steve's day on the following Monday. I took a surprise goody tray to his work that included treats such as cheese puffs, queso dip and chips, and cheese chunks. It's a great time to be a Cheesehead!

Pinewood Derby 2011

2011-01-19T21:07:00.005-05:00

I once heard someone say that a blog is a place for mom's to brag on their kids. While I strive to bring my readers more depth than frivolous accounts of our day and self-indulgent photographs...this is going to be an exception!

Joshua competed in the Boy Scout Pack 777 Pinewood Derby last night and brought home the coveted Coolest Car Trophy.

While his police cruiser may not be able to catch the other hot rods in a high speed chase, it was voted the coolest car by his fellow boy scouts.

Look at the size of that trophy!

Way to go Joshua!

Snow Day

2011-01-12T21:29:00.007-05:00

Top 5 Things To Do On A Snowday:

1. Sleep In. After the kids went to bed last night we received the one-call that our school was canceled today. No 5:30 alarm for the morning! We are sleeping in...well at least until 6:15am when the kids slowly started trickling in our room.

I have to wake them up every morning for school at 6:40. Steve sometimes carries them downstairs because they are so tired...yet today, with no school they wake up on their own!

2. Visit the Doctor. For our kids this means not only an exam and maybe some medicine but also spinning in daddy's desk chair, suckers, and stickers! The only downside was they had to get dressed...no PJ day.

3. Popcorn and a Movie. Yes, right in the middle of the day. They were so excited when I said we were going to watch a movie and have popcorn and root beer in the middle of the day. After lunch I told them they could even bring their blankets downstairs... about 30 seconds later this is what I found!

4. Games. Trouble, Richard Scary Busytown (which I highly recommend - it is a GREAT game), the Ladybug Game (also lots of fun), Operation (or as Katherine calls it "that don't touch the side fang (thing)), etc. Steve and I are always looking for opportunities to build character in our children. Well you don't have to look hard for this one! Learning to "lose with dignity" (in other words, not rolling around the floor crying when you lose...or are about to lose...or have the slightest perception that there is a small chance you might lose) is a commonly spoken phrase in our house these days.

5. Play In The Snow. I had to be creative with this one because there is no way you are going to get me out in 2 degree weather to play. That is insane! The kids did go out to play...and stayed almost as long as I spent getting them dressed. So for our arts and craft time today we made Instant Snow!

You can buy the powder from www.discountschoolsupply.com ,you just add water and within seconds you have a plate full of snow. No gloves! No ice! No frostbite! This is my kind of snow!

Oh, I just thought of like 4 more things...which would make this a top 9 list, which is awkard. And I have spent way too long trying to come up with number 10. It is late and my alarm is going off at 5:30 tomorrow. So I will end with a quick thank you...

Thank you God for the snow outside that has allowed me to spend a delightful day with my children.

The Things They Say...

2011-01-08T19:29:00.003-05:00

I was replacing our family portrait hanging in the family room with our new Christmas picture, while looking at the old one, Katherine says, "are you going to sell it at the yardsale?"...Dave Ramsey would be so proud!

Steve had been having some trouble with neck pain and at breakfast one morning I was teasing and told the kids that daddy was getting real old and sometimes old people's bodies don't work like they are supposed to. Katherine looked at me in all seriousness and said, "are we going to buy a new one?"

I was talking with Lydia and teasing about what I could do to stop them from growing so fast, we came up with a few funny solutions and Lydia says "how are we going to stop you from getting older?!" oh if we could only figure that one out!

For Christmas the kids bought me PJs with feet in them. They were a little big (size 10/12 from kids department at Target) and I said I would try to shrink them. Lydia says, "not too much..you might grow into them next year!"

Joshua to Lydia in the car one day, "what are you thinking in your head?"
Lydia, after being quiet for a moment says, "nothing"
Joshua, "you can't be thinking nothing, what are you thinking?"
Lydia, "nothing"
Joshua, "if you are thinking nothing then that means you are thinking something."

Katherine has learned than when spending the night with my parents, she can get up about 6:15 or so and crawl in bed with them. I was teasing her at breakfast and said, "Katherine grandma and grandpa are not used to getting up so early, they are retired now." Katherine responds, "I'm still tired too."

While brushing her hair one day Katherine says, "what's that fang (thing)I do?"
Me, having no idea what she was talking about said, "What thing?"
Katherine, "you know that fang I do."
Me, "I don't know what you are talking about."
Katherine, "you know, when snot comes out my nose."
Me, "sneezing.:
Katherine, "yeah Ive been doing that a lot."

Joshua came downstairs early one morning and immediately noticed that I had changed the calendar to December. He says, "is it December now?" me, "yes" him, "Can you buy Oreo cookies now!" (only the Dave Ramsey fans will get that one). What a great teaching moment!

On New Years Day we were talking about all the fun things we could do this year. I suggested "daddy could take us to Hawaii!" Lydia said, "or Disney World!" Katherine exclaims, "or Chuck-e-Cheeses!"

We were having a dance party while listening to one of the Rock channels on the TV, it shows still pictures of the artists while the song is playing. We happened to be dancing to Ozzy Osborne, I was telling the kids that I had seen him in concert before and it was one of my favorite concerts of all time. I told them that back in the 80s the boy rock stars wore their hair long. Joshua says, "oh because that was before they had razors."

Christmas Traditions

2010-12-30T21:36:00.024-05:00

Parties for hosting

Christmas with Nani

Baking goodies with the B family at Aunt Missy's house

Christmas with Aunt Diane
Crafts with Aunt Diane

Christmas cookies...

with lots of sprinkles
Christmas presents

including a fuzzy coat and a piggy hat!

Christmas with Grandma and Papaw T.

Going to our church for Christmas Eve service

Presents at Grandma and Papaws

A white Christmas!

Santa brought Joshua just what he wanted...a real guitar!

Cookies and milk...and thank you notes

Grandma Eula's green Christmas cake

the Advent Calendar

Presents for Katherine

Pillow pets definitely brought the most squeals from the girls!

Three of my favorite gifts!

the Gingerbread house...we think it is the best one so far!

A wish list for Santa

2010-12-23T16:19:00.002-05:00

Merry CHRISTmas!

Who [Christ], being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the

highest place

and gave him the name that is above

every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee

should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus

Christ is Lord.

Philippians 2:6-11

Jolly ol St. Nicholas

2010-12-08T16:09:00.003-05:00

What are you going to ask Santa for this year?
Joshua, "a banjo" -I have no idea where this came from, first I've heard of it!
Katherine, "a kitty cat-a real one!"
Lydia, "a real pig!"

Call it motherly instinct, but I had a feeling this might happen. Thankfully, I asked before we went to see Santa. I told them all to try again.

As expected, Katherine had no fear or reservations when it came to talking with old St. Nick. In fact, she ate about 20 cookies while we looked around the store. When I saw her getting more, I told her that she had eaten enough and she responded, "I asked Santa and he said YES!"

Merry Everything

2010-11-28T21:51:00.002-05:00

I love the Christmas season. This morning while getting ready for church I was thinking that it is only November 28th and I have already completed my shopping (except for two folks I remembered later in the day), ordered Christmas cards, Christmas pictures have been taken, Steve has decorated the outside of the house-it looks beautiful, and yesterday we decorated our tree and I finished decorating the inside of the house. I was thinking now I can enjoy the rest of the season-baking candy, wrapping gifts, and hosting parties.

Then I went to church.
The sermon was on John 14:6 when Jesus very clearly and simply explained who He was to His disciples. It is a verse I memorized as a child. A verse that is the foundation of what I believe. The verse that forms my worldview. A verse that has the ability to make the blind see. A verse that can make those who are dead-alive. That is what it did for me so many years ago. Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me." Politically correct? No. Comfortable for everyone? No. Offensive for some? Probably.

Conviction. Ugh. Lights...cards...pictures...parties...all good things. But what in the world happened to Christ-mass? The celebration of the birth of The Way? I don't know all the answers, just being transparent in the middle of all the chaos. Is this what Christ-mass has become? Shopping at 3:00am (I'm not picking on you-I was at Target at 4:15am)? Buying gifts for people who have more than 99% of humans who have ever lived on this planet? Decorations, cookies and parties?

...brings me to Merry Everything. While searching online for the perfect Christmas card, I noticed a new "greeting" to place on Christmas cards...along with Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays we now have Merry Everything. Seriously. Merry Everything? What does that mean anyway? Merry "you lost your job this year" Merry "your child was diagnosed with cancer" Merry " your husband died last week"...these are all things I have known people to face in the past month or so. Merry Everything. Really?

Merry Christmas. Merry "the birth of our Saviour." No matter the circumstance, whether it be as terrible as those I wrote above or as trivial as your heater going out in your car...when you are 2 hours from home...and it is only 30 degrees outside...and you have no tolerance for anything under 70 degrees...

Merry "the birth of our Saviour" makes sense. In the midst of all the yuck of life we can rejoice, not in our circumstances, that would be ridiculous, but in our Lord. "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice."

Our pastor never mentioned Christmas today. The sermon was on the exclusivity of the Gospel, meaning that Jesus is the only way to God. That is the beauty of it. A verse I learned so many years ago. A verse I believe with all my being. Yet He cares enough for me to use that very verse...today... to remind me of the true meaning of Christ-mass.

Operation Christmas Child

2010-11-05T21:42:00.005-04:00

Samaritians Purse distributes around 8 million shoe boxes each year. I can't even get my mind around that number 8,000,000 children from over 100 countries around the globe will receive Christmas boxes. For most, it will be the only Christmas present they receive and for many it will be the first time they hear of a God who created them and who loves them. For two decades Samaritians Purse has provided opportunities for folks to share the message of the true meaning of Christmas with others through Operation Christmas Child.

Tonight Steve and I had our second annual OCC Party. We combined it with friends who wanted to have a soup party/recipe exchange and it worked out perfectly! I don't know how many people were here...a few I met for the first time! I think there were 10 or 12 families who each brought 12 items and together we assembled a dozen shoe boxes.

The Lord has blessed us with so many friends in the 10 short months we have lived here. This is a photo of our kids with a few of their friends who are eager to put their gifts in the boxes.

Capturing Memories

2010-10-29T12:52:00.006-04:00

I have a terrible memory. Awful really. I'm not just talking about the busy days with three little kids when I could not remember if I had brushed my teeth or what I had eaten for lunch...if I had eaten lunch. I mean long-term memories. The important things in life that you never want to forget. For example, I have no idea where we went on our honeymoon. I know it was a short cruise...but no idea where. I have no memory of my high school graduation...now granted that was a long time ago...but I can't remember my college graduation either.
Now this has always been a weakness of mine. I can remember in high school my friends and I joking about how terrible my memory was. It is not so funny now. I kept diaries from 6th-12th grade and religiously wrote in them knowing one day I would not remember my teen years. I have also journaled since having Lydia. I did not journal when Joshua was born because I thought that the memories and details of something as momentous as having my first child could never be forgotton. I was wrong. His first 22 months are a blur. Another strategy I used was taking photographs. This is where what we folks with psychology degrees call Obessive-Compulsive tendencies kick in. I have photo albums for every year of my life since 1985 (I started young...like when I was one or something...). Anyway, you can ask me for a picture from any month between 1985 and September 2010 and I can get the album (labeled on the outside of course) and turn the the pictures for that particular month. They are in chronological order categorized by events. Many are individually labeled with the names of folks in the pictures and the event (I wanted context...not just pictures).
This has developed into a love of mine. I am in somewhat of a dilemma in the age of technology as I have all of my digital photos stored on my computer, on Snapfish, and backed-up with an online company call Carbonite. However, there is just nothing like holding a photograph in your hand or flipping through an album and reliving all the memories. Somehow the thumbnails on my computer (also stored and labeled first by year, then month, then day, and tagged as well) is just is not the same.
In our new house the albums are more accessible so my children love to look through them and ask questions and hear stories. It has been time well spent. And although I can't tell you where we went on our honeymoon, I can look up June 2000 and find the pictures!
With all that said, here are some memories that will be logged in the October 2010 pages! Our family at the annual B. Family pumpkin patch...

The B. Family grandkids!

Dinasaur World with some great friends...

the Declaration of Independence

2010-10-21T14:13:00.002-04:00

With elections around the corner, Ive been thinking about history...the importance of history, whether it be the fall of the Roman Empire, Biblical history or American history, we have so much to learn from those that have lived before us...the good and the evil.

Over 234 years ago our Congress adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence. It was a document to declare America's independence from the British Empire. The document is quite lengthy, and unless you are an 8th grader required to memorize it for a US history class (which I think is a terrific idea), then you can probably only quote a small portion of it...say for instance the sentence that reads..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

This has been deemed as one of the best known sentences in the English language.

That leads me to September 17, 2010 at the Congressional Hispance Caucus. Our President, while giving his address quoted a portion of the Declaration of Independence...editing it a bit..."We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." he said. He was reading from a teleprompter.

My neighborhood Bible study...which has grown and is now not technically a "neighborhood" study but a group of girls who love the Lord and who I have grown to love over the previous nine months...has just started a study entitled Return to the Garden:Embracing God's Design for Sexuality. No, I will not be blogging the contents of this study.

We began our study with Hosea 4:1-8. In describing the people of Israel, the Lord says, "there is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery, they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed."
Why? How did a people end up this way? Let us learn from this history lesson to avoid the same outcome. He gives us the reason in verse 1..."there is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land. "

Go back and compare the two quotes from the Declaration of Independence.

...the phrase has been going through my head all week..."no acknowledgement of God in the land." Then I was horrified. Grieved. Angry. Listening to our leader intentionly leave out the phrase "by their Creator" when giving a speech.

I experienced many emotions but despair was not one of them because if you keep reading the Scripture you will see a love story unfolding. A love story between a Creator God and his people. A people he loves so much that although they stray and turn their backs on Him...He longs for their return. More than that, He has provided a means for their return through His own Son.

Am I mad at Obama? No.
No. I am not mad at him. I pray that he becomes the leader that I think America deserves and most importantly one in which the Lord would boast.

Fall Vacation

2010-10-12T21:02:00.012-04:00

Fall break was last week so we took a mini-vacation to Northern Kentucky. We visited the Creation Museum (http://www.creationmuseum.org/) which was incredible. That will most definitely be a post coming soon. The Museum has a petting zoo.

We also visited this great little treasure hidden in the hills of Covington, KY called Totters-Otterville located in Johnny's Toys. There are so many fun activities for the kids to do. We stayed all day. Here are just a few of the things they played...

Lydia caught every pink fish in the pond!

The Veterinarian Clinic was well staffed with our three there to take care of the animals. Joshua has always wanted to be a vet.

Their grocery cart looks like mine usually does with boxes falling off the top. I menu plan which means I only go to the grocery one time a month...except for small trips for items like fruit and milk. Last month I could barely push my cart and I had to carefully tuck the last few items into the sides, otherwise, they would have fallen off the top! I will have to have two carts when they are teenagers!

Okay, the coolest part of our trip was the hotel room we stayed in at Wildwood Inn. The hotel has theme rooms. We stayed in a two story pirate ship. Honestly, I don't know who liked the room more...Steve and I or the kids.

Personally, I think our Captian was quite good looking.

This is our room from the loft area...with a few members of the crew playing on the bed.

Outdoor fun

2010-09-26T08:57:00.010-04:00

Yesterday was Kids Outdoor Day at Green River Lake. It was a beautiful day!

Joshua shooting a pellet rifle. He came very close to hitting a white balloon. However, Lydia shot the gentleman helping her. The pellet bounced off the target and came back and hit him. I thought he was kidding!

Steve joined us just in time for a canoe ride. Which was good because I think the kids and I would still be paddling our way in...
Katherine insisted on shooting a rifle. Not sure there is anything this girl won't try! Her finger was not strong enough to pull the trigger alone so the gentleman had to help her. Her goggles (is that what you call them when you are shooting a gun?) kept sliding off her nose so the sweet girl in line behind us (who was 10 years old but told us she prefers shooting her dad's 22 over a pellet rifle...) held them on for her.
This is Lydia shooting a bow and arrow. Kathine did this as well, but she was on the otherside of Lydia and the only way I could get a photo was to stand in front by the targets...I really wanted a photo but not that bad!

We had relaxing pontoon ride. The little boy with us is a friend we made while waiting.

Fun times, real fun times. We came home exhausted from the day...and now I know what a 22 is and what trap shooting is. So much this city girl has to learn...

Trick or Treat

2010-09-23T13:16:00.007-04:00

Yes, it was 92 degrees and technically still summer but we've already been trick or treating!

Last weekend we departed on our annual trip to Lake Rudolph for a Halloweekend. Despite a barking dog, partying neighbors, Holiday World closing, and a dead battery (which my friend and I are convinced is directly related to the barking dog)- we had a great time!!!!

Friday night included hayrides and Charlie Brown's It's a Great Pumpkin on the big screen at the Pavillion, with popcorn of course. This was followed by s'mores around the campfire and time spent with good friends.

We did squeeze Holiday World in on Saturday since it was closed Sunday. We had to cut our day short in order to get back to the RV in time for trick or treats! The kids rode everything they were tall enough to ride at the park. Trick or treating was a blast for all of us. The decorations and costumes are so fun. We rode around in a golf cart (complete with flying ghosts thanks to Steve) and visited numerous camp sites. Lydia collected so much candy that her bag broke!

None of us won the costume contest although we all know Katherine should have, seriously, look at the picture.

The night ended with more s'more and time around the campfire with friends...well it ended for us, but not for the neighbors... or their dog which kept us awake all night. We found out the next day that four other neighbors on the cul-de-sac had also called security. However, our car was the only one that had a suspicious "dead" battery the next morning. Amy and I are convinced that the neighbors did it. Steve says no...the battery just "happened" to die during the night.

This is a photo of one of the campsites...there are hundreds of them throughout the campground. Some where a little scary but the kids had a great time. Katherine even walked up and gave a very large werewolf a high five. Guess she knew he had candy.

I am already excited about next year!

All by 8:15am

2010-08-25T21:51:00.002-04:00

Okay, I debated on posting this blog because of the roach. But I am working on being more transparent at this stage in my life. So I decided to post.

Just in case you had a bad day...here goes. I found a roach on my shirt while getting dressed this morning. Thankfully it was a white shirt and the bedroom light was on. Often Steve is still in bed when I get dressed, so I don my clothes in the dark. It was a baby roach...which means it has a mommy and siblings somewhere in my closet. Yuck!
This may explain in some Freudian, psychoanalytical way why by 7:15 I had spilled bleach on my favorite pair of jeans. They are really my favorite by default. I have only one other pair of jeans which I ruined earlier this year when I sat in gum at the county circus. Yes, we went to the county circus. That is a story for a different blog...or not. Anyway I tried everything google had to offer including peanut butter and a few nights in the freezer and my sweet husband sat for hours dissecting the gum from the back of my jeans (after I had taken them off of course) but to no avail. So now, I have one pair of jeans and from the knee down on both legs there are splatters of bleach.

By 8:15 or so I had cleaned up vomit. Which is another interesting story. Katherine and Lydia have had the stomach bug this week...and stayed home from school. Today, Joshua woke up convinced he had it. I was not convinced. I was doing the whole "tuff-love" thing and making him get ready for school...unless he could come up with some symptoms, no pun intended. Anyway, I let him stay home, but there was no nuturing or compassion going on here. I made him lay in the bedroom floor with a bowl while I scrubbed the bathroom with bleach (which I had sprayed on the floor earlier...hence the stains on the jeans). Well, I started feeling guilty, like what if he really was sick. Throwing up is terrible. Maybe I should let him watch Scooby Doo, or at least lay in a bed. I was working through this and just prayed, "Lord, give me discernment here...if he is sick , I will stop what I am doing and just love on him. But if he just wants a day at home..."

Which brings me to two points. One, the Lord cares about the everyday. Don't just turn to Him for the big stuff or when nothing else works. He desires to be involved in the mundane of everyday life. And two, the Lord always answers us, sometimes it's in the rustling of trees, or a whisper-a still small voice. Sometimes we have to wait...and He is teaching us something in the wait...Other times, it is an immediate answer and right before our eyes. That was the Word I got from Him about 5 minutes after my prayer...then I was cleaning up the mess.

I think Joshua's first words after the "episode" were, "Can I watch Scooby-Doo now?"

First Day of School

2010-08-11T09:20:00.006-04:00

Today was the first day of school. Joshua is in first grade, Lydia is starting kindergarten, and Katherine will be in preschool just two mornings a week. They were all excited, I was not but think I did a great job hiding it from them. They got ready so fast this morning they had time to watch 10 minutes of Scooby Doo before leaving at 7:35.

Horses

2010-08-10T21:18:00.005-04:00

Over the weekend we celebrated a friend's birthday with horseback riding at the party! The kids can't stop talking about how much they loved it. They all want to learn to ride horses now...and if they take after me they will be just the right size!

Vacation 2010

2010-08-07T16:11:00.014-04:00

We had a terrific vacation this year. Enjoy the highlights!

As the kids are older and better swimmers this year (thanks to the swimming lessons this summer), we spent lots of time in the water!

That is Lydia under the waves! She loved "riding" the waves and even being wiped out! Katherine was wiped out a few times as well...she learned quickly to close her mouth and eyes and hold on tight to her floatie!

There are just endless activities to do in the sand...

JUMP!

Katherine entertained folks at the pool everyday as she would run and jump in the water while yelling "cannon-baum!"

FEAR

2010-07-15T22:04:00.007-04:00

Fear. How many decisions do we make out of fear? Really. How many times do we think the thoughts..."I'm afraid if I don't..." I'm afraid if I do..." Often we are paralyzed by fear, meaning we do nothing. FEAR-False Evidence Appearing Real.

Joshua faced his biggest fear this week. He did not go willingly. I began mentally preparing him about 2 weeks ago. I encouraged him the day of. Then I finally threatened to carry him to the car. Fortunately, he does not realize that I probably can' do that anymore. Anyway, he held back the tears and walked into the class. Thankfully, he had his sister, who is part fish, right beside him.

Joshua has always had a fear of water. He has learned to tolerate getting his face wet, but will not get in water without a life jacket and/or a floatie. I took him to swimming lessons when he was three. He still remembers it...and how much he hated it. So now, four years later he is again facing his fear.

On day 2 he was holding back the tears when it was time to go to class. I shared with him a time when I was scared as a kid. I also shared with him Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your heart and mind." I told him to pray that verse and that I too would pray it for him. The most frequent command in the Bible is "Do not be afraid". Can you imagine a life without fear?

Notice...the smile is real!

When I picked him up on day two, he ran to me exclaiming, "I liked it mom, I liked it!" He found out that if he put his ears under the water...when he came out he could still hear. And if his nose went under the water...he could still smell. He learned an important lesson...False Evidence Appearing Real.

I give credit to his amazing teacher who is patient and gentle. Joshua allows her to lead him into deep water because he trusts her. She will lead him, be beside him, and if he sinks, she will catch him. He believes that and follows her wherever she leads in that pool.

I can't help but see the similarities in my relationship with the Lord. How many times have I sat on the side of the pool, with my toes in the water, hesitating, because I did not trust He would catch me?

Some days, I feel like I am in the deep water, not sure if I am going to sink, but knowing if I do, He will catch me. Even if my worst fear becomes a reality, then God will take care of me. I can't just "trust that God will not let it happen"-that is conditional faith. I have to trust and know that in all things, He is faithful..even when my ears and nose get wet!

Oh, to see Joshua's smile. He is no longer in bondage to his fears. He has faced them head on and knocked them out! Way to go Joshua!

The things they say...

2010-07-12T22:50:00.003-04:00

It has been a few months since I did one of these....

Lydia "I have never been to a wedding before!"
Me "no, you haven't"
Lydia, "well except you and daddy's...I was in your belly."
Me, "no sweetie, you weren't born yet."
Lydia, "I know...I was still in your belly."
Me, knowing this was not going in a good direction."No, you weren't there yet."
Lydia "Then where was I?"
...and for one of the few times in my entire life...I had no answer for her. Luckily Joshua saved me and explained that he was "borned" first so she could not be there yet." She was satisfied.

Lydia, "mom, are cowboys for real?"
Me, "yes."
Lydia, "no, I mean are they alive, do they live really or are they pretend?"
Me, "yes, they are real people,why?"
Lydia, "they have farms right?"
Me, "yes...with pigs"
Lydia "I am going to marry one!"

In the dentist office...for the third hour (me and all three kids had a check up)...
Me, "Katherine, talk quietly...listen how quiet it is when you are not talking."
After listening for a moment she says, "quiet does not feel comfortable for me, I don't like it."

At lunch one day...
Me, "Katherine, what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Katherine, "nuffin"
Me, "Nothing? are you sure?"
Katherine, "nuffin."
Lydia, "oh, so you want to be a mommy!"

In Walmart, we were in an aisle with a very large woman, I see Katherine looking at her and she says, "Mommy, she has a big, big, big, biiiiiig, biiiiiig...."
I, knowing what was coming next, literally ran down the aisle.
Katherine, "big bottom!"
So instead of running out of the store, or just finishing the remainder of my shopping, I see this as a teaching opportunity, I very quietly stopped and taught Katherine that we should not say people have big bottoms, big bellys or for that matter anything big. I explained that it may make them feel sad or mad to hear her say that. Then feeling satisfied with myself and my ability to seize a good parenting moment, turned into the next aisle where there was another large woman. Right as we passed her, Katherine proudly exclaims while pointing, "See mommy, I didn't say she had a big bottom!"

Joshua, who has an incredible memory says to me, "I'm starting to lose my mind."
Me, "what are you talking about?"
Joshua, "Now that I am in school everyday, all the time, I have other things in my head and I am forgetting some things...like when Katherine first went to the beach."

Katherine looked out the car window and said, "look mommy, a cut moon!"

And one of the most precious. Back in May, at 6:30am Katherine ran into our room and exclaimed "Mommy, come see-there is a rainbow out my window!" She was so full of excitement, she grabbed my hand pulling me from the bathroom to the window. She swung the shudders open and said, "see blue, purple, and orange...but no lelo (yellow)" What she was perceiving for the first time was the beauty of the sunrise.

2010-07-08T20:25:00.006-04:00

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. Psalm 33:12

Lydia's Week

2010-06-22T09:04:00.003-04:00

Lydia the morning after she lost both her bottom teeth!

Piggy Farm

Lydia has had a big week! First she lost not one but two teeth on Saturday! She lost one while eating dinner at her cousins birthday party. She lost the second one in the car on the way home from his party.

The video above is of us at a small farm with pigs. It was Lydia's first time seeing real pigs and at first she was surprised that they were not pink like on Babe, Charlottes Web, and in her many pig story books. However, as typical of Lydia, she quickly put her disappointment aside and enjoyed every minute with the stinky pigs! She even fed them a little. She was definitely beyond words with excitement!

Bubble bath and Pool Fun

2010-06-20T21:18:00.004-04:00

We are spending lots of time in the water this summer! To add a little fun to the pool today, Steve filled it with bubbles. The kids played for hours. This counts as a bath...right?

I have posted a video for the first time, comment or email and let me know if you can watch it!

Joshua is 7

2010-06-14T11:05:00.003-04:00

It's been forever since I have blogged for a myriad of reasons that I won't get into. Ithink I have some computer and camera issues worked out so hopefully I will be more consistent again.

Joshua had his seventh birthday last week. So many changes have taken place this year. Everything from riding his bike, to losing two teeth and learning to read. He is a great kid and a blessing to our family.

Ten months ago Steve was working a 3 week shift in C'ville. We came to visit him on a weekend and went to a park with a rock bed creek. The kids played in the creek and had such fun...I probably wrote a blog about it. Anyway, Joshua in his excitement about the creek said he wanted to have his seventh birthday party there. I told him that we could not because we lived in Louisville, not C'ville. He said everyone could just drive here. Of course I told him no one would drive that far.

Reminds me of a familiar Bible verse. Many are the plans in a mans heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.

We celebrated Joshua's seventh birthday at that very park...right next to the creek. The children played in the creek all afternoon...it was just as Joshua had imagined 10 months ago!

And many folks did drive "that far" to celebrate with us!

Joshua was able to share his favorite spot in C'ville with many friends!

Mother's Day Top Nine

2010-05-09T16:41:00.005-04:00

Since it was Mother's Day, I was given the gift of a little time to myself. So I read, had a few uninterrupted thoughts, and napped. During this time of reflection I began to think about my life as a mother. I came up with my top nine things I like about being a mommy. I really wanted a Top Ten, but my time of reflection came to a sudden halt with two crying children.

I want to preface this list with a comment for those of you who don't know us as well as our families and close friends. Our family has ups and downs just like any other. We have wonderful days, and we have days where I want to hide under the covers. Many days I feel like I do nothing but discipline and clean up messes. I am completely exhausted by 8:30 every night. I would love to sit and read a good book; go to a mall...alone...and roam; eat my food while it is still hot; and watch a movie from beginning to end without being interrupted, falling asleep, or feeling guilty.

With that said, here is my 2010 Top Nine Things I Love About Being a Mom (in no particular order, I am too tired to think that hard!)

1. The live performances. I love the theatre, the ballet, a good musical...in fact I once had season tickets to the Opera. Now I get to see Magic Shows, Dance Shows, and as you see pictured here, traveling bands.

2. Sharing in new experiences. The other day at 6:30 am, Katherine came running into my bathroom excitedly yelling "Mommy! mommy! come here" she took my hand, ran to the window, pulled open the shudders and said, "look it's a rainbow in the sky! See? Blue and purple and orange... but no yellow (pronounced lello) but that's okay (yellow is her favorite)." Actually it was the sunrise, I suppose the first she had truly seen. I stopped what I was doing and we sat and watched the sunrise and colors change together.

3. Creativity. I never know what the bunch is going to do next. House boat? Moving? Yard Sale? Have a wedding? This morning they were building a kitchen. The other day they were eating lunch under their chairs... evidently there was a big storm coming; this is a picture of "Moving Day" it took about 15 minutes to make this mess.

4. I am constantly learning. Like today for instance. We visited a church for the first time. They had a little children's sermon in the middle of the service. It brought back memories of my childhood...which obviously clouded my decision making. We sent all the kids up onto the stage. Steve questioned if Katherine should go. I said sure! Evidently I was wrong. We were about half way back and I could tell she was getting wiggly. Then her head disappeared. I began praying real fast that she was not crawling under the pews to get to us. That was about the time I saw the pastor, who happened to be seated on the front row...in front of her...bending down...farther and farther, then he began speaking to someone who was obviously on the floor. Thankfully, the little sermon came to a close and she left the sanctuary smiling with Joshua on one side and Lydia holding tight to the other.

5. Fun. Play-doh. Bubbles. Tea parties. Hide and Seek. Salt painting. Coloring. Swinging. Dance parties. Silly books. Painting toenails. Just fun things that as adults we get too busy to do.

6. Being a mom encourages me to be in the Word. I have lots of parenting books, but the Bible is by far the best. Seeing how they are bent toward sin and encouraging and guiding them how to recognize it and resist it has only made my own sin nature more evident to me! Whether it is selfishness, speaking harshly, or being judgemental...as I turn to the Scripture to guide them, it also guides me.

7. Watching Steve. I love to see Steve turn into the tickle monster and chase the squealing and screaming kids all over the house. I love how he carries them to bed each night. They all have their favorite "carries". Joshua likes the military carry, Katherine likes the baby carry, and Lydia likes the upside-down piggy back ride.

8. More Learning. My mom was not half as crazy as I thought she was.

9. Cuddle-buggin'. That's what we call it around here.

Payday!

2010-04-24T14:20:00.002-04:00

Yesterday was payday at our house! Well, for everyone except me. My paycheck is in hugs, kisses, and sweet memories...more than any career could ever pay me!

Anyway, we don't give our kids an allowance. They earn a commission. They have a chart with a list of chores. If they do the chores, they get paid a specified amount of money, if they don't complete the chore, they don't get paid. Pretty simple. My five and six year old are learning a life-long lesson. If you want to get paid, you have to work.

To clarify the chores, it is not things like cleaning their room, setting/clearing the dinner table, or picking up after themselves. Those things are done because they are a member of this family. They live in a house, not a hotel. However, I have not unloaded the disher washer one time this week, I also have folded very little laundry! And I have even made a little money, you see, everytime I pick up a piece of clothing, a sock or a shoe..it costs them. They have to pay me out of their commissions after they get paid. Amazing how few clothes I have found lying around this week!

Anyway, we tallied the charts yesterday and I paid them. We took 10% of the top for tithes. Which is teaching another important lesson, the Bible teaches that we give a tithe (the word literally means 10% and it is always off the firstfruits or in our day-off the top). God owns-we manage. After all, the Lord only asks for 10%, leaving 90% for us to spend, save, and give away. Speaking of "giving away"...

All is good, until Katherine entered the room. She saw the money and immediately began requesting some for herself. When told no, she began demanding money-full-blown tantrum with tears and jumping up and down, and even trying to take Joshua and Lydia's money right out of their hands. That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks. We have a future congresswoman on our hands!!! She thinks that I should take money from those who have worked hard for it and just hand it to her! I think it is called "redistribution of wealth" ...I call it socialism. More teaching opportunities.

I asked Joshua if it would be "right" for me to take the money he had earned and give it to Katherine. He said, "no" of course, because even a 6 year old knows that is not right. I explained that due to her circumstances she could not earn the money. She is only three, she can't really do any chores yet, and would not understand the concept of commission. So now, is it right to take some of your money and give it to her? He said no. Interesting. At about this time, Lydia, being the compassionate heart that she is says, "but it would be nice!" I agreed, and we had a great discussion about generosity, compassion, and giving to those in need.

Next, following the recommendations of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Jr. we divide the money into spending and saving. Teaching two more life-long lessons. Spend only what you make...the borrower is slave to the lender. The majority of Americans spend more in a month than they bring home! Craziness. Number two, the value of saving...for something real special. We live in a world of instant gratification...oh the value of learning to wait and save for something.

Most importantly, we have to keep all this in perspective, I don't want a bunch of greedy, money obsessed kids. We talk about giving. For example, last week they each gave $1.30 to buy a Bible for a child in Costa Rica. Teaching them yet another lesson...though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.

Wow, all this cost me and Steve a total of $3.15 (okay, maybe our wages are a little low). The lessons our children are learning, the discussions we are having, the character traits we are encouraging-priceless!

Our baby girl

2010-04-20T21:07:00.015-04:00

Initially, I was going to post some of the photos that I have taken over the previous years that best reflect Katherine's personality. I soon realized that it would not only be a record-breaking long post, but that there would actually be only about two people interested in reading it...Steve and myself. In that case, we might as well just look through my photo albums together.

So what we have are just some pictures. No real theme, which is driving the obsessive-compulsive part of me crazy. I don't even think the photos are in chronological order...not that I did not try, but my computer will not let me move them around for some reason.

It is amazing how different each of our children are! I actually thought that since Katherine was the youngest of three very young children that she would be passive, patient, and flexible-because of her environment. Because her mom would be busy with meeting the needs of a then 3 and 2 year old, that she would know somehow that the world did not revolve around her. What I totally forgot...was that nuture was only a piece of the puzzle. What I failed to consider is nature!!! Katherine is the polor opposite of my flawed assumptions! She is fiesty, deteremined, independent, brave, extemely extroverted; and when allowing me to steer her in the right direction-a total blast! She has never met a stranger...not the man on the tractor at the gas station, the checker at the grocery store, the young man working at the jewelry store, or the guy at the Verizon store (who by the time we left was showing her pictures of his cat and dogs).

Katherine loves playing with her baby dolls or anything that she can feed and dress and hold and push in a stroller.

Her first birthday.

She has no fear...and dives into life headfirst...literally sometimes.

She is always cold... just like me. She is hugging our space heater and yes it is on and blowing hot air!

She is determined to keep up with Joshua and Lydia...no matter where that takes her!

Although extremely independent, she is learning that sometimes she just needs a little help!

Already Five and Almost Three

2010-04-05T21:22:00.010-04:00

Our weekend was full with Easter celebrations, egg hunts, and birthday parties!! Lydia is now five years old and Katherine is almost three. I so much enjoy my girls. They are as different as night and day but best friends. I often tell them that the Lord blessed them with a best friend who gets to live in the same house!! The girls celebrate birthdays like their mom...parties on three days!

On Saturday, we had their party. It was a good time with family and friends. It was fun getting to introduce "old" friends to "new" friends. We had a pink pig/yellow kitty cat party. I'm having trouble tonight with posting, so I will only select a few pictures.

On Thursday, we had a pink pig "friend party"

On Friday, which was Lydia's actual birthday, Steve took the day off. We had a picnic in the park, went to a local candy store, and played in the creek.

The Easter Song

2010-03-29T14:39:00.007-04:00

This is a delightful book by Michelle Adams that tells of Christ's resurrection from the point of view of an eyewitness - a sparrow. The book is written in rhyming verse and the illustrations are bright and fun (and even includes pigs which makes Lydia happy). It tells the story of Christ's death and resurrection in simple terms with no embellishments...none are needed of course, but sometimes children's books do so. The little sparrow is excited to share the Good News with all of her friends and once they hear the Good News they immediately run to tell others.

This book is appropriate for children of all ages...and adults too!

Green Eggs and Rainbows

2010-03-17T08:34:00.004-04:00

I should begin my post with a Laundry chute update. It continues to be a source of fun for the kids. Last week I found a small turtle, a ball, a pig, and a clothespin among the diry clothes. On Saturday I was out shopping, after being gone about 45 minutes I receive a text from Steve that reads "the longer you are gone the worse it gets. I am not responsible. Quote from Joshua, "mom is going to freak out.""
Typically I would have been at least a little alarmed by that text. However, my responding text was, "Considering I just dropped a piece of crystal...and it broke...we'll be home soon." I was looking at a piece of crystal trying to decide whether to buy it. I learned that dropping it on a concrete floor is a quick way to make a decision about buying crystal.
Okay, back to my laundry chute text. Upon returning home, I found the laundry chute had been stuffed with stuffed animals, blankets, pillows and toys to the point that it was coming out the top of the chute...yes the top-where I typically open the cabinet to toss the clothes down. You would have thought Santa dropped by at the amount of excitement and squeals when I walked in the door.
Well my update was longer than I expected. Anyway, green eggs and rainbows. We did have green eggs for breakfast. The kids and Steve were good sports and ate them. We had great conversation about St. Patricks Day while eating breakfast.
Lydia was hesitant, but only because in big brother fashion, Joshua told her that we were having broccoli stew for breakfast. It took a few minutes of convincing before she would take a bite.

Katherine dove in without hesitation. The same way she responds to everything!

So what about shamrocks, lepricons, and rainbows. Why do we celebrate this day anyway. Just a reason to pinch someone or to eat green food? How many of our children across schools in America will color shamrocks today? Will anyone tell them why? Will anyone explain that St. Patrick used the common shamrock as a visual to explain to the people of Ireland the concept of the Trinity. One God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit? Today the Shamrock is Ireland's national flower.

What of the name St. Patrick. It was not even his name. He was not even Irish.

He was a wealthy Roman living a good life as a boy in England...until the Irish invaded the land, kidnapped him, killed his family, and destroyed his homeland. He became a slave. He did escape years later and even returned to England. However, he followed the calling of the Lord and returned to Ireland-the folks that hated Romans and the folks he should have hated. He stayed and shared the Gospel of Christ. It changed the course of history for Ireland.

Oh how we have emptied this holiday. How many are searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? Most of the world would say that as Americans we have found the pot of gold. However, a recent study of countries around the world both developed and not developed show that Americans are some of the most discontent folks in the world.

And rainbows...the path to the pot of gold. Well that part is true, it is the path. Genesis teaches us that God gave people the sign of the rainbow to remind us that He never breaks His promises. Never. And He promised a Savior, a Redeemer. And He kept that promise too. Maybe the pot of gold isn't wealth...maybe it is a relationship with a loving God.

It is no surprise to me that my generation and the youngers ones after me are searching. We have been told of shamrocks and lepricons-fariy tales. No substance. Nothing to hold onto during the hard times. Like when a friend dies of cancer.

The good news? We can change it. Just as St. Patrick did. One man. He made a difference for an entire country...one person at a time. We can start with our own children, co-workers, and relatives...today is a great opportunity! Just ask them? Why do we celebrate St. Patricks Day anyway?"

The Things They Say...

2010-02-23T19:48:00.002-05:00

I have not done one of these posts in a while. So the other day I decided to write down when our kids said something funny. Yes, I have to write it down, otherwise I have no memory of it. Believe it or not, except for one or two of these, this is from just the past few days.

Katherine to Papaw T: "You love me."

Lydia went clothing shopping with me. I had to take her. She has grown so much this past year and I can no longer size her without her with me. She picked out what she called a "rainbow dress." Lydia loves rainbows. The dress was not cute. I said, "I don't think so, I don't really like it." and with not even a hint of sarcasm she looked at me with those big blue eyes and said, "That's okay, you don't have to wear it."

Joshua has noticed how messy Steve's handwriting is. The other day I was addressing an envelope and made a mistake on the return address, I tried writing over it, making my letters darker, but it was pretty messy. Joshua said, "they'll probably just think you are a doctor."

We saw a man the other day with a large belly, actually that is an understatement. Lydia exclaims "Mom, look how big his belly is." I tried to quietly redirect her and she said "I think his buttons are going to pop!"

We finished hanging pictures in the kids rooms, Joshua has nothing over the head of his bed and I was explaining that I would look for something. With all the seriousness of a six year old boy he said, "I know what you can get! Dad can get a big gun and shoot a deer and we can hang the deer head over my bed!"

While pulling her hair around her face, just under her nose, Lydia says to me, "Look mom, I can wipe my snot with my hair now!"

We have vaulted ceilings in our bedroom and the girls had a helium balloon that had come off the string and was at the very top of the room. We had tried to get it down with no success. While telling the story of David and Goliath Lydia exclaimed, "Golaith could get my balloon for me!"

While visiting a public bathroom (which we visit in every store we enter), Lydia stood under a hand dryer and said, "I could blow my hair dry with this." I absent-mindly said, "but your hair is not wet." I must have blinked at some point because next thing I know Lydia's head is under the faucet in the sink. Yes, the hand dryers work very well on hair.

The kids often get involved in some sort of "adventure" that is a lot of fun for them but creates a huge mess. I love coming upstairs and asking what is going on, here are a few of the responses I have heard in the past week or so:

Getting married (Joshua was in a sport coat and tie)

Mining for gold in caves (attire: rainboots and goggles)

Exploring the jungle and giving Bibles to people who don't have them

Houseboat (this is usually a huge mess)

Moving -this is no longer allowed-they "packed" not only their toys and blankets-but their clothes and small furniture

Jail - Katherine does not like this one, she usually is the prisoner

To be fair...here are a few things I've said...just this evening:

"Lydia, get out of the refrigerator." Her body was literally in the refrigerator.

"Girls, don't lick the bathtub"

"No, I don't think warming up your zebra cake with the space heater is a good idea."

"Katherine, you don't give boogers to people, go get a kleenex."

Laundry Soup

2010-02-14T22:10:00.005-05:00

The kids love exploring the new house, they are particularily intrigued with the laundry shoot, which Katherine in her 2 1/2 year old dialect calls the "laundry soup". I never know what I might find as I sort the clothes because they love putting balls, stuffed animals, and other toys down the shoot.

Today it happened. I knew it was bound to happen. A mom knows her kids. In fact I am surprised it has taken this long. Katherine sent herself down the "laundry soup". I suppose to a 2 year old it looked like an enclosed sliding board. The landing was fairly soft as we had a pile of dirty clothes. She landed with only a bloody lip. No broken bones. No stitches. Thankfully she went feet first. I found out later that Joshua had tried this a few days ago, but could not fit. Lydia started to try but was scared (or is just blessed with some common sense).

So why was I not watching my kids. Oh, you will see. Just look at the precious pictures below. We finished Lydia's pink room. Steve and I were hanging shelves and pictures while the fiasco was being played out.

Lydia has been wanting a pink room "all of my life" she says. And now she has one! And yes, if you can tell she is wearing her button up pajama shirt backwards...don't ask.

Grandma B gave her this bean bag for Christmas. Yesterday at breakfast she told me her dreams had come true...for she had dreamed of a pink pig bean bag...and now she has one.

Your pediatrician recommends....

2010-02-12T07:55:00.004-05:00

Folks who don't know Steve and I so well seem to be under the fallacious assumption that we are healthy eaters. Not sure what this fallacy is grounded in. Maybe because he is a pediatrician or maybe because I still weigh in the double digits. Not sure. Anyway, we start our day just like everyone else...

Notice the doughnut bag is almost empty...so is the box of Honey Buns!

Settlin' in

2010-02-03T19:18:00.006-05:00

How is Campbellsville? Many folks have asked. Well, we are on the backend of round 2 of the stomach bug making its way through our family. I've spent as much time sanitizing and doing laundry as I have unpacking boxes!

We have also recently discoved a plumbing leak that is going to require replacing cast iron pipes from the attic to the basement...knocking out plaster walls...and rendering the second floor bathroom useless.

The kids have transitioned nicely, better than me. Joshua is enjoying his new school. The girls get to spend the days at home with me. They love the house and playing hide n go seek and dress up. Lydia changes clothes at least 4 times per day. Which means Katherine changes clothes at least 4 times per day. Must me a girl thing because Joshua has never cared about changing clothes. Although the other day he had on a tie and sport coat...with tennis shoes. Evidently he was getting married.

Anyway, here are some photos from today. In addition to this we also went to Lowes to chose paint colors, the bank, my monthly trip to Walmart, baths, colored, and went on a pretend adventure...never could get a solid response as to where we were going.

Katherine playing dress up.

The kids putting on a show. Yes, Katherine is in her underwear...had something to do with the show...I didn't probe for further details. Cool wallpaper huh?

We made bird feeders with pine cones, peanut butter, rice krispies etc. I have made bird feeders numerous times this way...in therapy with my patients, in Sunday School...never have I needed power tools to do so...but when Steve became involved...

2010-01-23T10:52:00.002-05:00

Joshua lost his first tooth today. He has been wiggling it all week and after breakfast this morning it came out. He is very proud of the hole in his mouth. He says he looks 8 now. I cried. I did not cry when he took his first step, or when he transitioned from a baby bed to a toddler bed, or even on his first day of school. Maybe I'm just in a pensive mood who knows, I have not taken time to analyze it...and with the number of boxes needing to be unpacked...maybe I won't analyze it! I'm going to blink and he will be wanting the car keys.

Our New Adventure...continued

2010-01-19T16:35:00.003-05:00

We have been in Campbellsville for a week already! It has been a busy week, but we are beginning to sort through the boxes. It is nice to have the family together under one roof again. We have had a warm greeting to this small town. I have not cooked dinner since we have been here, it has been graciously provided every night-including tonight!
As we settle in I will begin updating the blog more often again.

2009-12-16T12:17:00.014-05:00

Here are pictures of our new home. They are not in order and unedited, I don't have time to edit them right now. The home was built in 1902.

This is the master bathroom, an addition to the home.

The living room.

One of three fireplaces.

The office. Originally it was the dining room. It has a dish rail around the room and tin on the walls.

The kitchen has been remodeled.

The second floor bath.

The master bedroom, part of the recent addition.

The front stairs.

The sunroom. We will use it as a breakfast nook because it does not have an eat in area in the kitchen.

The foyer.

Our New Adventure

2009-12-13T13:35:00.002-05:00

After talking to some friends the other day, I realized that I never explained this new adventure that our family is on. I will take just a moment to give you the abbreviated version.

About six months ago the University of Louisville purchased a private pediatrician's office in Campbellsville KY. The only pediatrician in town had been trying to sell the practice for years with no success. His plans were to close it, leaving the town with no pediatrician. This also affected the only hospital in the region as he was the pediatrician who attended the high risk deliveries, admitted kids to the hospital, and once admitted, he was the only attending who provided for their healthcare.

Until U of L could find a permanent doctor to take the position, they offered the opportunity for their physicians to go down for a few weeks at a time. Steve thought it sounded fun and wanted the experience of "rural" medicine. I wanted hardwood floors. Sounds shallow, but true. He assured me that after taxes and tithes, we could spend the rest on hardwood floors. For those of you who follow my blog, you've read about this before! Anyway, he spent September in Campbellsville and although it was a challenge, he loved it. He enjoyed the patients, the staff, and the work. At the end of the month he told me that U of L offered him the job. Evidently, Campbellsville liked Steve as much as he liked Campbellsville and had called Steve's program director. He told me and I laughed...until I saw his face.

When I realized Steve was seriously considering this offer, I told him I would pray about it. If the Lord is calling us to Campbellsville, then we needed to go. My prayer was that the Lord would make this decision crystal clear to me. He did. Within seven days I knew the answer. I will tell you that I am going out of obedience to the Lord. Sometimes our emotions are not going to preceed our actions. In other words, we may be called to do something we don't want to do.

Everything has happened so quickly. Our home sold in 13 days. We have purchased a new home in Campbellsville. We will move December 28th. Steve begins work there on January 1st as Medical Director of UCHS-Campbellsville. Joshua will begin his new school on January 4th. And I will be busy unpacking boxes and hanging pictures.

Six months ago it never entered my mind that we would welcome in the new year in a new home in a new town!

Weaknesses and Graces

2009-11-22T22:03:00.003-05:00

I love my BFG. Bible Fellowship Group. It is the "new" title for Sunday School. Don't know why they changed it. I will concede and call it our BFG YC3 (young couples 3...yes somehow I'm still in the young couples class) but it will always be Sunday School to me.

Our BFG is great, we study, learn, laugh and cry. It is a wonderful, sincere group. A real mix...a potpourri of folks...SAOMs, students, teachers, an attorney, fast food workers, waiters, jail commander (not sure of his actual title, but his job is important and dangerous), the "bug" guy who also has to be there when a meth lab is busted, an engineer...I could go on. It is a great mix. We are from many different states, some have kids, some don't, some went to college, some did not. One thing we have in common. We love the Lord and seek to live lives that glorify him.

Anyway, our lesson today was in Micah. Didn't know too much about the book but man does it apply to my life today. Amazing how scripture written several thousand years ago to a population of Jews who had forsaken the Lord can be so relevant in my life today. Only the Bible.

Weaknesses...the things we don't do so well. For me it is playing the piano in front of others, remembering dates and numbers, thinking on the spot-especially in times of stress, and there are many more. We all have weaknesses. It is easy to go to God and ask Him to help me in these areas. And He will. But what about my strengths, the things I do well? Like talking-to friends, in front of others, or complete strangers; organizing and planning, multitasking, or cooking. How often do I ask God to help me in those areas? Don't need it, after all I've got that under control, right? No, I only have the strenghts because He has "graced" them to me. Stay humble here...I like what a friend say, we have weaknesses and graces. Hopefully I will remember that.

What happens when I "forget" and become self-sufficient in life? When I have it all under control? When my strengths are strengths and not graces? Faithful husband, great careers-good salary, healthy kids, families in town, wonderful place to work my 4 hours/week, fabulous schools for our children, beautiful home...the front porch of my dreams, book club, a solid church, and friends-real friends-ones you don't have to clean your house for.

Honestly, there isn't too much I have to trust Him for when you look at all that.

Micah 1:10 Tell it not in Gath, weep not at all.
In Beth Ophrah, roll in the dust.

What happens when my house is sold, my kids have to change schools, my family is no longer in town, I have to leave my job...our church...book club, what happens when I say good-bye to those friends? What now?

Trust.

Christmas Party

2009-11-16T21:29:00.004-05:00

Samaritan's Purse (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/) is a Christian organization ran by Franklin Graham that provides international relief for those around the world who are suffering secondary to natural disasters, corrupt governments, and other situations. One of the most well known relief efforts of Samaritans Purse is Operation Christmas Child. Each Christmas millions of shoe boxes are shipped to countries all over the world. The shoe boxes contain items such as soap, combs, toys, hard candy, and hair clips. Typically a family will fill a shoe box and drop it off at a collection location.

This year Steve and I hosted our First Annual Operation Christmas Child party. Each family brought 12 of the same item and worked together to fill 12 boxes. We chose to provide for 6 girls and 6 boys ages 5-9. We had the boxes placed on the table and one at a time families came in and the children distributed the items they bought.

We had more kids in the house than we could count...somewhere around 27, which by the way is just the way I like it! We talked with the children to make sure they understood why we were putting the boxes together. Our children know absolutely nothing of poverty and can not even conceive of not having a single toy...comb...or crayon. In our age of wealth and excess we as parents must be intentional in teaching our kids to practice generosity and to develop a compassion and concern for those less wealthy (about 99% of the world right now).

Most importantly, each box contains literature about the Greatest Christmas gift of all, Christ, in the child's native language. Many children hear about and experience this love for the first time when they open their box.

Our good friends, Matt and Sarah with their son Isaac and daughter Gracie, placing items in the boxes.

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T21:57:00.002-04:00

Notice the scary man in the background.

Lydia has been wearing this pink pig costume around the house for 6 months...finally she gets to trick or treat in it. Joshua had to label all the bones of his costume before we'd let him wear it...okay not all of them :). Katherine loved trick or treating, running up to each house excitedly.

Happy Halloween!

Huber's Farm

2009-10-25T14:37:00.007-04:00

Each October we go to Huber's Farm with Steve's family. We eat a great lunch and let the kids play. Following Hubers is the annual Pumpkin Patch Hunt at Steve's parents house. Grandma B. hid 114 small pumpkins this year for the kids to find. We came home with three large pumpkins and 42 small pumpkins! We will be doing alot of painting this week! It is a fun filled day as we also celebrate three birthdays, draw names for Christmas presents, and eat lots of snacks. Some years it is hard to get everyone together, but thankfully, this year everyone was able to come. What a wonderful family tradition!

The grandkids!

2009-10-12T21:30:00.007-04:00

Remember when even the everyday, routine things in life were so much fun?

Campbellsville

2009-09-30T13:35:00.007-04:00

Steve's job does not often provide much adventure for our family. But this month has been different. He is spending the month of September in Campbellsville. It is a small town in the geographical center of Kentucky (a little under 2 hours from Louisville). It is also the home of Green River Lake which is where Steve has been living. We visited him on the weekends and it provided quite an adventure.

Our first weekend was spent on a house boat. The kids had a blast, Joshua drove us all over the world! In reality, Steve was on call the entire weekend, so even if we had wanted a boating adventure...it could not happen.

Then he moved to a floating cabin. Literally a cabin that is connected to a dock about 30 yards from the rivers edge. We enjoyed a relaxing (that term is relative-relaxing for a family with a 2, 4, and 6 year old) weekend at the lake.
We went to Lebanon Co. Ham Days and the annual Pigasus Pararde (much to Lydia's disappoinment-there were no real pigs), hiked, swam at the beach, and found some great playgrounds; but best of all we spent time with Steve!

Joshua's thinking

2009-09-21T20:59:00.003-04:00

I love a six year old's mind! Here are some examples of the reasoning skills of a six year old boy:

Joshua "Grandpa's are always older than Grandmas"

Me "Most of the time, but not always."

J "But Grandpa T is older than Grandma T and Grandpa B is older than Grandma B...and your grandpa was older than Mammie."

Me "yes, but I am older than your dad so when we are a grandma and grandpa, I will still be older than him."

Joshua, thinking very hard about how to solve this issue says, "well, maybe you could miss a few birthdays, then he will be older."

I think he may be onto something really big!

Joshua saw Ice Age for the first time the other day. He wanted to know what was the name of the large elephant-like animal. It was not in his animal dictionary that is about 500 pages thick (I broke my toe on it last week...literally). Anyway, he found the elephant section of his dictionary but there was no Wolly Mammoth to be found. I told him that they lived a long long time ago and were now extinct. He said, "I bet when you were a kid your dictionary would have had a wolly mammoth in it."

Mammie is his great-grandmother. She is 90 years old and his reference point for "old". He asked me this morning if there were dinosaur bones under her house.

Joshua had to move his Behavior Bear to the yellow box at school the other day for talking in the hallway. I asked him what happened and he said he forgot that rule. Not being satisfied with the "I forgot" excuse I pushed him further and said, "Aren't the rules hanging on the wall in your room?" He says, "yes, but my teacher has not taught me how to read so it just looks like a bunch of letters up there. I think by the end of the year I will know what they say." Typically, Joshua would have been devasted at being reprimanded by a teacher but he did not seemed phased talking with me so I inquired about that as well. He responded, "I just don't want my bear in the black box...that means you have to go to the principals office!"

Labor Day

2009-09-09T21:10:00.006-04:00

We went to the lake this weekend with Steve's family. We celebrated his dad's birthday and spent lots of time outdoors. We have a cabin but his family is large so we decided to camp in our tent. It seemed to be a great idea at 9:00 pm...at 9:15 when the thunderstorm began, it seemed maybe to not be such a good idea...and at midnight I was lying in the tent with a wet pillow thinking maybe it was a bad idea. However, the rain stopped and the thunder began to rumble a little more quietly until finally at 12:30 am it was over (and I could run into the house to pee!). Anyway, our tent does leak. Not alot, but even a little leak in a few places quickly makes for a problem. Life is a constant learning experience:

Next time there is a chance of rain...take some towels to soak up the water coming in

Make sure the all windows are completely closed

Summer thunderstorms are not always short, but can last a long time...like 3 hours!

We toughed it out, actually, the kids fell asleep quickly and slept through the whole thing while Steve and I contemplated what to do if the tent flooded. We had a great weekend and will definitely camp the next time...a little more prepared. Here are some of the fun we had:

Lydia learning to fish. Of course, her fishing pole is pink!

Steve and I tubing. My brother in law tried to hit some big waves fast to throw us off, but succeeded in only throwing one of our kids across the boat...

Joshua fishing in his PJs, don't you just love it?!

2009-08-19T22:30:00.007-04:00

Claudette is gone and the sunshine is bright. Watching the weather on Monday, Joshua said, "it can't rain, the sign said Florida is the sunshine state!"

This is a picture of a Pirate Ship that passed by yesterday. I have talked with Joshua about pirates, but must have left out a small detail...at what time period they lived. When we saw this ship he got really excited, it even shot off a cannon! He ran and grabbed the binoculars and with a very serious tone exclaimed, "it is not a real pirate ship...they are all wearing swimming trunks!" Then looking again he said, "and only one person is wearing a hat...wait...it is a sunhat...and a girl is driving the ship, definitely not a real pirate ship!" I love this age!

Lots and lots and lots of sandcastles, dams, holes-yes just holes...

Here is Katherine looking so sweet. Ibuprofen is a wonderful thing. She woke up with a fever yesterday...we are bracing for what may follow. Right now it is just a fever. When the meds begin to work she joins us for some fun. We are hoping she can get in the pool tomorrow.

I get to have fun too!

Isn't this photo so good? We took about 250 of them before everyone smiled, looked at the camera, turned the right direction, opened both eyes...

Our days are all running together at this point. We get up around 6:00-6:30 eat breakfast and suprisingly are the first ones on the beach. We come in for lunch then hit the pool and beach again. Then, I get dragged into the condo...kicking and screaming...for dinner (which I have to prepare!). After dinner, it is back to the beach for a sunset walk. I love Florida!

Vacation

2009-08-17T16:37:00.006-04:00

We are enjoying our time in Destin, FL. With the exception of Claudette, an uninvited guest, we are having a good time. Here are a few photos from our first day at the beach. We are hoping to be able to go outside again tomorrow.

Ready, set, jump!

Lydia rolls in the waves all day!Katherine rolling in the waves like her big sister. She learned quickly to lay with her head away from the water...and to lay on her back-not her belly!

Lydia and Steve getting a bit deeper. Due to the tropical storm about to hit, the waves are large and the current is strong so we were not able to go very deep.

More to come...

Back to School

2009-08-12T22:40:00.004-04:00

The supplies. I had so many that the cashier at Walmart asked me if I was a school teacher!

As a child, I loved going back to school in the fall. The new clothes and shoes, sharp crayons, crisp notebooks, and friends. It is a bitter-sweet time as summer is coming to a close - I have always loved summertime, but fall is around the corner. Autumn brings beautiful colors, crisp mornings, holidays, and of course my birthday. I really like autumn also, we have many fun traditions. Although, nothing beats a lazy summer day in the pool. Okay, "lazy" is not an accurate description-but you get my point.

The girls started pre-school today. Lydia goes three days and week and Katherine goes one day a week. Joshua will begin Kindergarten this year, but his school begins later.

(For my OT/PT friends, Katherine's backpack appears huge but really is stuffed with a change of clothes and a blanket for rest time so it is not too heavy!)

WE'RE DEBT FREE!!!!

2009-08-01T21:59:00.004-04:00

Yes, we are debt free! We recently made the last payment on Steve's student loans!!!! We are now debt free except for our house. If you read my blog, you will remember the post last January about post-poning our hardwood floors. I still have my ugly carpet but it was worth it!!!!

Spring 2008 we completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University through our church. Prior to the class we had a budget, used the cash envelope system, and were making slow progress on our debt. The average person who completes FPU is debt free (except for their house) in 18-24 months. We had a large sum remaining and figured we would be closer to 3 or so years...13 months later we mailed the final check.

The end result is great. However, the process is pretty great as well. It requires that you and your spouse are completely 100% on the same page when it comes to finances. No, you won't always agree, but you compromise and decide what is best long-term for the family. It is not always easy but just like anything else, you work as a team and get it done. Other than good communication, it really is nothing more than what every generation before the 1980's did-spend less than what you make. It really is financial peace.

Our children, although young have learned alot in the process as well. Here are some of the many conversations we have had in the past year:

We have been in dire need of sand in our sandbox for about a month...the other day Joshua said, "now that we are debt free, we can start saving up to buy some sand!"

Lydia noticed Oreos come in pink now and wanted to buy some. I explained they were not on sale and we could not get them. Later, after coming home she asked, "is it wrong to buy something not on sale?"
Me, wanting to clarify what she asked said, "wrong?"
Lydia, "yes, bad, like something only bad people do?"
Me, "no, why do you ask that?"
Lydia, "then why don't you ever buy anything not on sale?"

Grandpa T. to Joshua, "when are you getting a swimming pool?"
Joshua, "after we are debt free"
Grandpa T. "do you know what debt is?"
Joshua, "no"

Often at our home you will find the kids having a yard sale and the other day Joshua and Lydia were having a buget meeting. A constant reminder that we are teachers at all times.

"Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." Dave Ramsey

or my favorite

"Live like no one else so later you can give like no one else." Dave Ramsey

Why all the Fireworks?

2009-07-05T15:05:00.002-04:00

Growing up, I always loved the fourth of July. We had a neighbor Jerry Brown who was a semi-truck driver. He would buy fireworks from all over the south, even the ones deemed "illegal" in Kentucky. He would put on quite a show for the neighborhood kids. Other years, we'd pile in the back of our neighbor's pick-up truck (it was legal back then) and ride to see a local firework show.

Even now, our family goes to a little tent in a parking lot of a local store and has a good time buying a few fun fireworks.

Why all the fireworks?

To celebrate the birthday of the United States of America. That is what we told our children yesterday.

However, there was so much more on my heart, more than I can share with children so young. The stories of people, real people, people living and dying today even as I write this blog post.

Like Monica Musa, of Nigeria. Her husband was killed by Muslims for being a Christian. His body was chopped into many pieces and burned with his Bible in the center of town. Or Hajara Magaji, who awake to the voices of folks outside her window saying, " we want to let you know that today you and your children will be killed." She and two of her six children escaped. The others were beaten and burned, along with 22 neighbors...for being Chrisians.

In India, in the past 5 years Hindus have beaten or killed more Christians and more houses and churches burned than in all other courntries of the world combined.

What about Colombia? Dora and Ferley Lilia were recently executed outside the small rural school where they were schoolteachers. The atheist FARC guerillas are radically opposed to Christianity-it makes it harder to convert young boys into being guerillas. So they seek to kill them all. This story is close to home because they were excuted in front of their three children who were hiding in the woods. Their middle child is Lydia, she if 4 years old.

Christianah Oluwasesin was a schoolteacher in Nigeria. She was giving a final exam at a girls school. After collecting all the backpacks to prevent cheating, a girl began to scream because there was a Quran inside and it had now been desacrated for being touched by a Christian...within minutes an angry mob had gathered outside and beat her to death with clubs.

In Pakistan and many other countries, Shariah law is the rule of the land. This Islamic law permits violence against Christians.

In Jordan, Rana and her husband both accepted Christ as her Savior...she was recently stabbed with a knife and her skull was crushed with a stone...by her father.

In China, it is illegal to hold Sunday School and parents are arrested for teaching their own children about the Lord. Or children can be removed from the home and placed in a state facility.

There are similar stories from Sri Lankan, North Korea, Cuba, Burma and so many other countries. Each month as I read my Voice of the Martyrs (www.persecution.com) magazine I am in tears thankful that I live in America.

So why all the fireworks?

My dad wore a shirt yesterday that read, "American by birth, Christian by the grace of God."

Being an American certainly does not make me a Christian. Only by grace have I been saved, through faith, it is a gift from God (Ephesians 2:8).

However, being an American allows me the freedom to express my gratitude to the Lord for His finished work of salvation.

For me the fireworks represent the freedom that I have to teach Sunday School (which I did today), to read the Bible and talk about Jesus with my children (which I did last night), to worship corporately in a church (which I did this morning), to talk openly about Christ (well, maybe not in our public school system-we may be fired for it but not beaten to death in the middle of the street).

I wake up to my neighbors irritating dog barking-not to the chants of my neighbors that my children and I will be killed. Lydia will probably never see me excuted for my faith in Christ. Steve will probably never be murdered and mutilated by our police for being a Christian.

This is why "all the fireworks"!

Doin' Nothing

2009-07-01T21:29:00.005-04:00

I once had a lady tell me "I could never be a stay-at-home mom, I like to be active...busy...I like to be doing something; there is no way I could just sit at home all day."

We all say things out of ignorance. I never used those exact words, but before kids...I wondered what do women who "don't work" do all day.

I have found out.

6:26 am I arise, 10 minutes late, which makes Steve late in getting in the shower-sorry honey!
Shower, dressed, make up bed,tidy up bathroom
Quiet time-Bible reading, prayer, memory verses
Kids wake up-breakfast for the family
Clean up breakfast and kitchen, tidy up around house
Brush 4 sets of teeth, comb 4 sets of hair, make sure 4 folks are dressed (this includes me and the kids-not Steve).
This brings us to 9:00 which is Speech Therapy for Katherine
10:05 leave home for errands which includes;
a hike at Beargrass Creek State Park
the bank -drive thru wouldn't do, we all get to go in!
two grocery stores-these were not the quick "run-ins", this was my monthly shopping at two stores
lunch
return home for "naptime" during which time I balance the checkbook, take care of our July budgeting items, make phone calls, check email, and read a chapter of my book for bookclub tomorrow night. Finally... I sit down on my sofa...I close my eyes to rest...3.5 minutes later Katherine is awake and my rest time is over.
I have just enough time to comfort katherine who woke up quite upset and complete Lydia's handwriting lesson before beginning dinner.
cook dinner
feed the kids...alone...Steve is working late
clean up dinner
Make sure everyone is still dressed and faces are cleaned...time to leave
I remembered that I forgot to pick up one item for the Strawberry Pretzel salad I am making for tomorrow night's book club...one more grocery trip on the way to church.
Church at 6:30. I helped out in the two year old class
Home by 8:15. Brush 4 sets of teeth, make sure 4 sets of clean PJs are on, medicine distribution, Bible story, lots of prayers, kisses and hugs
Mommy-Joshua time-reading with Joshua a little too graffic library book entitled Predators
Steve is still not home.

In the mdst of all of this I also took care of our garden, assited Katherine in the bathroom about 100 times (she is doing great-but pees all the time!), signed a petition for the absolutely ridiculous plan of our government to yet tax us again -this time our freakin' health care benefits, took advantage of many "teachable" moments with my children (aka discipline)-can't let that slide...that is one of the reasons I stay at home, and laundry-I honestly can't remember if I did laundry today or not..seldom a day goes by that I don't do at least one load...but the day is starting to become a blur...it is after 9:00pm

I am sitting on my sofa again...wondering why I am always so exhausted and why my legs constantly ache.

This was not a "bragging" of what all I can do in a day...I know folks who do more. This was simply a report of one of my days of 'not working' and 'sitting at home'.

Well, I have sat long enough, I need to go finish putting the groceries away and pack lunches for tomorrow's trip to the zoo.

Happy Fathers Day

2009-06-21T20:33:00.006-04:00

Me and my dad

Happy Father's Day to a few of the greatest dads I know!

Mini-trip

2009-06-20T21:42:00.008-04:00

Steve had a few days off so we went to Northern KY for a couple of days. One of the places we visited was Totter's Otterville. This was a terrific place hidden in the mountains. It has no web page and does no marketing. That is partly what makes it so nice, it was a small town, hands-on, interactive play-land for kids. Everything including an Animal Hospital, a grocery store, water tables, a dinosaur dig, a construction zone, ballet studio, a fishing pond and more provided hours of enjoyment for our family!
The Grocery Store

The dinosaur dig

The Animal Hospital (Joshua's favorite)

Katherine holding a very small frog that Joshua found in the grass.

Potty Time!

2009-06-11T14:23:00.002-04:00

One week ago I decided it was time to potty train Katherine, she turned two in April. The plan was to give it a try for a few days and see if she was ready. She was. Although she is still having many accidents, we have decreased from 7 to 4 pair of panties a day and I have not changed a dirty diaper in a week!

Can of 409 carpet cleaner $4.50
Package of very small panties $6.00
Package of pull-ups $15.00
A potty-trained 2 year old-priceless!

I believe we can always learn, there is always room for improvement. Although I have potty-trained two other childen I have learned so much more with Katherine:

1. Never put your toddler down for a nap in the Cool-Alert Pull-Ups. Evidently they get very very cold when the child urinates, which is a terrible way to be woke up from a nap.

2. Have a key to your children's rooms. Day two of potty training: Katherine is in little girl panties for the first time. She is playing in Lydia's room when Lydia decided to lock her door and close it behind her as she exited the room. One hour later Steve arrived and was able to get the door unlocked (she still had dry panties!)

3. Children can survive on suckers for breakfast...4 days in a row now...

This has been a successful first week, but we have many more to go. I think the keys to potty-training are time (Katherine went to the bathroom 9 times in the past 60 minutes) and patience.

Joshua turns six!

2009-06-08T20:58:00.007-04:00

Joshua is 6 years old! Now that he is six, he really wanted to have a "friend" party so we celebrated his birthday at the Louisville Nature Center. The party included animals brought over from the zoo...an elephant and lion.

Just kidding, however, there really were animals from the zoo, a rabbit and a turtle. After some time for the kids to play with the animals, his friends had the opportunity to go on a guided hike through Beargrass Creek State Park. This was followed by cake and ice cream.

Compromise

2009-05-26T21:21:00.004-04:00

Compromise. According to Webster's it is defined as a settlement in which each side makes concessions, or to meet midway

I don't like pets. Well, I do like cats, but I have a terrible allergy to them, so we can't have one. Steve and the kids really wanted a pet...they would love a cat, a dog, or a rabbit. Not me. Animals are messy and they stink (sorry to offend all you animal lovers).

We compromised and bought two hamsters. They stay in a cage and are relatively low maintaince. In addition I was assured I would not be responsible for cleaning the cage. Here is a snapshot of our day.

Katherine loves animals and is especially fond of cats. This is her trying to convince me to take this one home from the pet store. Lydia wanted a pot-bellied pig.

Here are the girls with there new pets. Everyone is so excited... well, almost everyone. I am still adjusting to my wonderful dining room now containing animals.

This is three hours later. Vanilla tried to kill Whitey. It was quite tramatic so we had to put them in separate cages. Joshua, trying to cheer me up, exclaims, "our dining room looks (and smells) like a pet store!"

What a wonderful opportunity to talk with our children about the ability to "meet midway."

Graduation Day

2009-05-19T21:18:00.005-04:00

We spent a week under the weather...but finally everyone is better and things are getting back to normal...as normal as life with three little ones!

Tonight Joshua graduated from kindergarten. Sometimes I feel like time is slipping away from me too fast...I want to hold onto every moment...which validated my decision to quit my job-today was my last day!

Anyway, as I was kneeling on my knees donning the monster truck tie on my very wiggly little guy I had a flash forward of one day straightening his tie on his high school graduation. I got a little teary-eyed and was a bit more tolerant of the wiggles than I typically would have been.

Big Brother

2009-05-07T21:27:00.002-04:00

We often encourage Joshua in his role as the Big Brother. We talk to him about be a protector of his little sisters, defending his sisters, encouraging them when they are struggling with something, and loving them-even when it is hard. These are not only traits to instill in a big brother but also a little boy who will one day be a husband.

Anyway, back to being 6 years old...he is also a teacher to them which is evident in the conversation I had with Lydia today. First, a little history, Joshua loves animals and reads and studies them all the time.

This morning we were going to Sugar and Spice Doughnut Shop.
Me, "Lydia you are made of sugar and spice and everything nice, does that mean you are made of doughnuts?"
Lydia (with a very serious face) "No, I'm made of ham."
Me "Ham? Why do you say that?"
Lydia, "Cause I'm made of meat."
Me, "Meat?"
Lydia, "Yes, if a meat-eater animal saw me, he would eat me, because I am made of meat, I guess ham."

Thank you God that Lydia has such a wonderful big brother!

You Are Special Today

2009-04-21T21:05:00.003-04:00

I did not hit the snooze button yesterday when my alarm abruptly interrupted my sleep at 6:15. I had a lot to do. It was one of those days that I woke up feeling behind. After doing my morning Bible Study and prayer time (which I have to admit, was more rushed than it should have been), I jumped into the shower and began planning every minute of my day which included but was not limited to graduation practice for Joshua, library, bank, 2 loads of laundry, balancing checkbook, sorting the mail/bills and creating treatment plans for tomorrow's work day...all by noon because I had to be at work at 1:00.

Obviously there would be no time to play with the kids today.

I came downstairs trying to figure out what I could prepare for breakfast that would be quick and not create a big mess. I walked into the kitchen and found this on the counter. The note reads "for mom today, Love Joshua."

In our home, it is a true privilege to eat on the You are Special Today plate. Being the mommy and the cook, I have never eaten on it.

It was more than a privilege for me...it was an answer to a prayer I had said that morning. Please Lord, during this crazy day, remind me of what is important to you and help me be a godly wife and mom.

He answered my prayer with a plate, a handwritten note, and a 5 year old boy who thinks I am special.

Party Time!

2009-04-12T21:27:00.004-04:00

Yesterday we celebrated Lydia's 4th and Katherine's 2nd birthay with a Pink Pig themed party (yes they make Pink Pig plates, napkins etc). We celebrated with our family and friends-thanks to everyone who came to celebrate this day with us.
Katherine likes to sing Happy Birthday! Notice the pig plates.

Pink Pig plates $3.50, candles $1.00, pizza for all our family and friends $50.00, the look on Lydia's face when she saw this cake...priceless.

Our neighbors bought Lydia a pink pig yard ornament! His name is Oinkey.

Among the many, many gifts received, Lydia got her first bicycle!

Lydia's 4th Birthday!

2009-04-04T21:23:00.006-04:00

Lydia's birthday was on Thursday, I can't believe she is four years old. We are having her party along with Katherine's next week, so for today-we just made it all about Lydia. First, she was able to choose what she wanted to wear -her favorite dress. She also had the privilege of choosing what we would eat for all three meals. In our house this is a privilege because typically they eat what I prepare with little input (for those of you who know of the Funnel analogy in parenting-our childen are at the small end of the funnel, we keep their world small). Anyway, for breakfast she chose pop-tarts with red sprinkles (we don't have any pink), for lunch she chose PB&J with blueberries, and for dinner chicken nuggets, mac n cheese, and cauliflower. All of this was served on our special Happy Birthday plate. Oh, she would want me to include her drink for lunch-mommy's Pepsi! The Lord blessed us with a gorgeous day so we played outside, went hiking (yes in the dress), made pink cupcakes, ate snacks all day, and read her favorite books. Actually, she read Pinkalicious to me...and it is a pretty long book. She has it memorized almost word for word. She ended her day with a bath of bubbles! All day she kept asking, "am I 4 years old now?" I would respond "yes". Then she would wrinkle her forehead and say, "hmm". I finally figured out that she was expecting to feel different now that she was four. We talked about how aging is a gradual process. By then I had lost her..she was twirling around the kitchen.

Licking the beaters...the best part!

A hike in the "forest"
Pop-tarts!

I wanted to post my favorite 4 memories of the past year but there are way too many! I decided to post the top 4 things I love (pronouned luuuuuuv by Lydia) about my girl:

1. Here sincere prayers, which can be lengthy at times as she thanks God for every pink thing she can think of.

2. Her motto "I love to smile and be happy" and how she lives this out daily!

3. Her love for pink

4. Her endless energy...if only I had a small portion of it!

Creator God

2009-03-29T14:53:00.009-04:00

On Saturday we spent the day at the Science Center. We enjoyed time in the Kidzone playing at the water tables, building skyscrapers, going into space, and even riding a bus driven by a 5 year old! We also saw the Imax movie, Animalopolis. When asked their favorite animal in the movies, Joshua replied the lions, Lydia replied the pink flamingos. There were no pink flamingos in the movie, in fact there were no pink animals. But being the ever optimist, she pretended that there were. The movie was great for kids but gave credit to the fictional "mother nature" for all of the beauties and wonders created by our God. It occured to me how pervasive the godless worldview is in our society, that an elusive mother nature would be more believable (and acceptable) to people than a Creator God who purposefully and deliberately formed each and every creature that takes a breath. It also saddened me that at such young ages our children are being indoctrinated into this meaningless existance. It also reinforced my belief that Steve and I have been granted a tremendous responsiblity to make His Name known to our children.
Thanks Grandma B for the free passes. Here are some photos of our day.

Grand Prix

2009-03-21T21:05:00.009-04:00

First, it has been so long since I updated because we have not had internet access at our home for a while. At this time, we seem to be up and running.

Last Saturday our church had an AWANA Grand Prix race. This is similar to the Boy Scouts Pinwood Derby. The dads, I mean the children each were able to carve their own race car. There were lots of rules with length, weight etc. Joshua and Lydia were both able to participate and our family had a lot of fun making the cars. Joshua's car had a large engine on the front. Lydia's car has a pink pig driving. Although they did not win tropies for overall speed (Steve is buying a book and a 6 point inspection kit next year... for the kids), they did win for design.

This is Lydia painting her car.

Joshua is proud of his finished product

The competition...

This is a picture of Joshua's car "Speedracer" in the lead!

The trophy presentation.

Pig Power won first place for novelty design. Speedracer won fourth place for design.

Lydia's First Date

2009-03-08T14:08:00.003-04:00

Another milestone for our family. Lydia went on her first date last Friday night. It seems like just last year that she was potty trained. I was not worried because her admirer was a true gentleman who knows how to properly treat a lady. I know this firsthand. Though he did drive a hot-rod yellow mustang... he assured me that her car seat was safely secured in the back! First he took her to Steak and Shake for a pink milkshake then it was off to Toys R Us (just like her mom she considers shopping a wonderful date night) where she found a pink bunny that she just loved, evidently he could not turn her big blue eyes down (I've tried to teach her how to bat her eyes when she wants something, but at 3 she just looks like she has something stuck in her eye as she squeezes them closed and open). Anyway she wore her favorite polka dotted dress (yes, I had to do an extra load of laundry to have it clean in time). We also fixed her hair with 5 clips-usually I don't let her wear so many when we are going in public, but this was a very special night. She was so excited, all day she asked questions such as "do you get in water on a date?" She told everyone she saw that her daddy was taking her on a date and then with the expression of only a 3 year old said, "...and I hab neber been on a date before!" The night was a hit, I think he asked her out again.

We will continue this, that way when she goes on her first "real" date (between 24-26 probably), she will know how a guy should treat a girl...and will never settle for less.

the Gate

2009-03-04T21:46:00.003-05:00

This week has been quite eventful. Last Wednesday Lydia fell down and hit the door frame in just the right place to cause a 1/2" laceration on her forehead just above her eye. After about 10 minutes of trying to get the bleeding to stop, I took a photo and emailed it to her dad (technology is great) he assured me that she needed stitches. She hardly cried and the doctor loaded her up with stickers and suckers.
Although, I could not stop that injury. I did stop another one this week. The other day Joshua and Lydia were pushing Katherine around in the laundry basket. She is tiny, so they were moving along pretty well. I happen to walk out of Katherine's room in time to see Katherine at the top of the steps, in the laundry basket with Joshua and Lydia behind her trying to figure out how to get the basket over the 1" tension rod of our baby gate. I calmly asked what they were doing and with faces full of excitement they told me they were taking Katherine downstairs to push her around some more. I asked, "how are you going to get her down the steps?" they replied confidently, "we are going to push her!" I hid my smile because this episode was as dangerous as it was funny. I explained to them why this was a really really bad idea. So they decided to carry her down...in the basket...each picked up one end and said something about teamwork. Needless to say, I did not let them do it. They were so very disappointed. Katherine was not too happy with me either...she was enjoying the ride.
If it were not for our gate...and the small tension rod at the bottom...I'd be posting pictures of a tiny 22 month old with a cast or two... or maybe matching stitches with her sister.

The Ghost at the Table

2009-02-20T20:28:00.003-05:00

This is one of the most disturbing articles I have read in a very long time...it is most disturbing after hearing comments from Nancy Pelosi, who has made it very clear she supports population control in our country...just another socialistic worldview of our current administration. Even if you agree with the road this country is on-read the article below.

http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=3235

Happy 90th Birthday

2009-02-14T19:37:00.005-05:00

My grandma is 90 years old and we celebrated with a big bash! I had relatives in from as far as California for this grand celebration. There were 5 generations present. My Grandma and Grandpa were married at 15 and had 6 children by 22. Today, she has 19 grandchildren (I am the youngest), twenty-something great grand-children, and 6 great-great grandchildren. If known for anything besides her big family it is her incredible cooking, the most famous being her dumplins, pies, and Christmas goodies (potato candy, PB balls, etc). Although, I like her stewed tomatoes and fresh green beans. She has passed these recipes on to the next generations as well. I am already teaching my children how to make her candies, one day I will have the privilege of teaching my grandchildren how to make them as well. And I can tell them stories about their "Mammie" who was born in 1919! Happy Birthday Grandma!

Money

2009-02-13T09:07:00.003-05:00

Money seems to be on the minds of everyone today. Everytime one turns on the tv, you hear our President or a member of Congress saying things that evoke a sense of fear in Americans (this is on purpose you see, because fear is the only emotion that causes people to give up their rights...but that is a topic for a different blog post). Anyway, everything is going up in price, from goceries, to gas and electric bills, to our children's preschool tuition. The only thing that has not gone up is Steve's salary. We know many folks in worse situations with a job loss or a cut in salary.
So what to do? Well, since we don't have access to or the power to spend money that belongs to other folks (like our President and Congress evidently have), we have to cut things out of our budget (which is what you do when you can't spend money that is not yours). Thankfully, we have gone through Ramsey's Financial Peace, so we have the tools to do this and our finances are what he calls "recession proof" (and this has less to do with our income and more to do with our outgo of money). However, words like recession, great depression, catastrophic, and economic disaster are words that our President is throwing around on a daily basis (by the way, with little proof...) and these words make me anxious. Not nearly as anxious as I get when I think about the burden our Congress is about to put on our family, my children's families, and probably my grand-children who will all be slaves to this debt. To put all this in perspective, I have some words of wisdom (I can say that because they are not my words) I meditate on (meaning when anxiety creeps it's ugly head I say these verses in my mind...or at times aloud). I wanted to share them with you.

Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. Ecclesiastes 5:10

Though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them. Psalm 62:10

Do not wear yourselves out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle. Proverbs 23:4

People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs. 1 Timothy 6:9-10

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you." Hebrew 13:5

There are many more verses... verses about not worrying about your money, verses about loaning money, verses about borrowing money. I could go on. But these are the ones that calm my fears after I have watched the news. If you have a Bible, look up "money" in the back. If you don't have a Bible...get one.
I hope to encourage those of you out there who are struggling, or mad, or anxious.

The Circus

2009-02-08T10:45:00.003-05:00

Well our friends were able to go home last Tuesday as their electricity came back on. It was great timing...on Wed morning Katherine woke up with a stomach bug, Lydia came down with it on Thursday evening, I got sick Thursday night, and Joshua came down with it on Friday morning. Steve took very good care of us, putting a whole new meaning on "being Doctor" !! The Lord kept Steve healthy...until we were all better. Last night Steve began getting sick. The good news (remember I am ever the optomist), we were healthy enough to go to the Circus. Each year my parents take all the grandkids to the circus. Either Steve or I go just to make sure they can keep up with them all (I am in no way implying that my parents would lose my 2 year old daughter last year while taking photographs of the other kids... only realizing she was gone when the overhead announcement was made about a "little girl" in pink who had lost her parents). Anyway, the elephant ride is a staple with our families so once again this year we climbed onto the 4 ton animal and rode slowly in circles for about 5 mintues. We actually rode a little longer than the others because our elephant pulled over to have a BM. It stunk. In the photo you can see Joshua and myself as well as Julia and Matthew, my brothers kids. Lydia said no way to riding an elephant and Katherine did not go this year. For those of you saying "why not?"...come spend an afternoon with me and you will see. (James Dobson assures me in his books on parenting that she will be a leader one day...so I continue on my course).

Touchdown!

2009-02-01T22:02:00.002-05:00

The Pittsburg Steelers scored a last minute touchdown to win Superbowl XLIII...actually they scored the TD with only 35 seconds left. I was busy with the children during the first half of the game, but from what I saw, it seemed a little boring. However, the 4th quarter was full of excitement! Now, for all my long-time friends...I have not abandoned my Packers just because Brett Farve retired...kinda...last year. The photo above was taken in January 2007, I was pregnant with Katherine and could not zip my winter coat, I was forced to freeze or to wear a Steelers jacket. I don't like the cold. Anyway, I did cheer for the Steelers even though their conservative offense drives me crazy (I like the risky plays Farve pulled off-or at least attempted). I cheer for them and my husband smiles. That is what is really most important.

It is only February 1st and history has been made two times this year already...the Steelers just become the first franchise in history to win 6 Superbowls (for my girlfriends who could care less about this, just use the information to impress your husband).

Ice!

2009-01-31T21:03:00.010-05:00

We returned from Gatlinburg just in time for a winter storm. The snow was beautiful...but then the ice came...and then more snow. I don't ever remember seeing ice covering everything like it did this time. I was amazed at the beauty of it. (Yes, I am a "the cup his half full" type person). There have been major power outages in the city so we have had a house full of friends and family. Here are photos of the kids eating icicles.

This is the bird house in our backyard.

Picnic anyone?

It was really cold so when the snow boots came off we enjoyed lots of fun inside!

We made snow cream with the kids...it takes alot of snow to feed seven children!
We played games...

and then we just got silly!

Blessings from the Lord this week:

We have electricity, phone, and internet!

Steve had an unexpected week of vacation (his office has no power)

The kids (and Steve) had lots of fun in the snow

Snow cream!

We were able to spend lots of time with family and friends who needed a place to stay

Validation that we did need a 4 wheel drive (this is really Steve's input...to convince me the extra money we paid for a 4-wheel drive was necessary)

Gatlinburg

2009-01-25T13:29:00.010-05:00

We are having a wonderful weekend in Gatlinburg. Steve's parents, siblings, and their children go each January. Joshua started counting down the days to Gatlinburg on December 26! Here is a snapshot of the events so far this weekend:

Taylor celebrated her 10th birthday

We made fruit roll-ups and although they did not turn out so well we had fun making them!

We made valentine cards...

Valentine cookies...
Here is Grandma with the grandkids.

...and lots of shopping!

Tomorrow we will visit the Aquarium...I am sure there will be more photos!

Katherine's New Word

2009-01-20T21:24:00.006-05:00

Katherine, who has very few words, has a new word...Snow! We have had some incredibly cold weather this past week and began this week with an inch or two of snow. The kids had so much fun!

Steve made a snowball for Katherine and she held onto it until time to come inside!

Lydia making snow angels...we have snow angels all over the yard!

The kids waiting for Steve to pull them around some more. Katherine looks quite uncomfortable but was loving this. Everytime Steve stopped (to catch his breath) she would sign "more".

Pinkalicious

2009-01-10T21:01:00.007-05:00

For Christmas Lydia received a book entitled Pinkalicious from my brother and his family. This book is perfect for Lydia. It is about a little girl who made pink cupcakes with her mom on a rainy day. She then eats so many...she turns completely pink! Pinkititis is the condition her doctor gives her. It is a great book, we read it many times everyday. Lydia has it memorized and reads it to Katherine as well. Anyway, today was a rainy day and Lydia asked if we could make pink cupcakes. I thought it was a great idea so we did. So far Lydia has no Pinkititis symptoms, but we will check first thing in the morning. Good thing her daddy is a Pediatrician, he'll know exactly what to do!

Joshua made white cupcakes with sprinkles.

Lydia enjoying her pink cupcakes, she kept asking for more, just like the little girl in the book. I honestly think she wanted to turn pink.

First Haircut

2009-01-09T13:41:00.003-05:00

Katherine got her first haircut today. I have been delaying this day as long as I could. I knew she was going to look so much older...and she does. The change was not as dramatic as I had anticipated, but her hair no longer hangs in her eyes. She did great. She sat up in the chair (actually it was a pink jeep) and was not a bit phased by a stranger combing her hair (which had tangles), water squirting in her face, the scissors, or the hairdryer! The ladies said she could be a Gerber baby with her big brown eyes. I think so, but I am totally biased!
Before

After

2009

2009-01-03T20:32:00.003-05:00

I have been pondering the past few days the question, "What will 2009 hold for the Baum Family?" Of course, no one but the Lord God really knows what this year will hold. "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." A verse I memorized years ago while contemplating which career path to take. I can't remember the reference, I am always bad at the references, and I am to tired to get up and look it up in the Word. Anyway, back to the topic of our upcoming year:

1. We hope to make a phone call to Dave Ramsey late in 09...our "We are debt free!" phone call. We have one more student loan to pay off and then we will be debt free except for our mortgage. What does this mean? Well first it means the Bimini Sunset Teak hardwood floors we have chosen will have to wait another year or so. For Steve, it means another year of Gazelle brand cinnamon rolls (those who have been through Financal Peace Univ. know what I am talking about). Otherwise, it means continuing the financial road we have been on for the past year. As Ramsey says, "we are living like no one else, so one day we can give like no one else."

2. Potty training. I love being a mom, I cherish being a stay-at-home mom. However, I hate potty training. It is the long-term benefit that gets me through. No more diapers (which helps the budget as well)! I will begin potty training Katherine this summer. She already likes to sit on the big potty, and insists on using toilet paper...maybe it won't be so bad after all.

3. Kindergarten. Joshua will begin school this coming fall.

4. Steve will be promoted from Assistant Professor to Associate Professor at the school of medicine. This does not change his job, but it should come with a pay raise (again, helping the budget).

This is what we have come up with thus far. Stay tuned to see what the year does hold!

Christmas

2008-12-29T20:51:00.009-05:00

Our family had a wonderful Christmas. We spend Christmas Eve at home most of the day, then we go to Laquita's house for dinner. Laquita and my mom grew up together-they were friends as little girls. Needless to say, Laquita is one of the most special people in my life. Christmas morning is spent with my parents. My mom cooks an awesome breakfast that we look forward to every year, then we open gifts. We then drive to Steve's parents for dinner and more gifts! It is a busy day for us. As I look at the pictures, I notice there are very few with Steve's family. Sorry Sharon-I'll try to do better next year with the pictures. The Saturday after Christmas we hosted my dad's family for my Grandma. I was the host so needless to say, I have no photos to post!

This is Laquita "Nani" with the kids.

Nani and me.

Lydia asked Santa for a Pink Pig Town...and as always, he delivered.

Joshua playing with his emergency vehicle set.

David, my brother, and his family, Elizabeth, Julia and Matthew.

Mom and dad with the grandkids.

The Advent of Christ

2008-12-22T15:12:00.005-05:00

The word Advent means "coming". Each morning our kids can hardly wait to open the next door on our Advent Calendar as they anticipate the "coming" of Christmas. At their young ages this serves many purposes. First, it makes the abstract concept of time concrete as they count down the days until Christmas. Secondly, it allows for repetition of the Christmas story. Children learn through repetition and in this busy season with so much talk of Santa, presents, and parties it is nice each morning to take a moment and talk about the "coming" of Christ and what that meant for the people of God 2000 years ago, and what it means for us today. As the children mature, we will include disussions about the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies and the second "advent" of Christ that we are anticipating. But for now, I am content to answer the questions such as "Did Mary really have a pink dress on?" "Did the shephards bring their sheep to Bethlehem or leave them in the fields?" and "What is Myrrh and why would a baby want it?"

The Christmas Season

2008-12-19T21:30:00.017-05:00

I have not been posting consistently lately. Once you read this post you will understand why. We have been very busy this month with lots of fun Christmas activities!

I love baking at Christmas time. I have learned to prepare some treats from the kitchen of my 89 year old grandmother (peanut butter balls, potato candy etc). A fun family treat to make is my peppermint bark. The kids (and dad) enjoy crushing the candy canes. This is a great time for discussion of why the candy cane is used to celebrate Christmas. I had planned to post a picture of the final product...but there is none left!

We always put up our tree and other decorations the Saturday following Thanksgiving. Here are the boys working hard on the tree.

Here is Katherine looking cute.

Each year we visit the Festival of Trees and Lights. The children like to look at the beautiful trees and train displays. This year they made Gingerbread Houses.

The girls are terrified of Santa. Joshua, being the courageous big brother gave Santa their requests.

Each year we go to my Aunt Diane's with my neice and nephew. She cooks hamburgers (they are delicious!), and we open presents, make a craft and watch a movie. The movie this year was Frosty the Snowman. The craft was Christmas necklaces.
Great fine motor work! (the OT in me could not resist...)

The evening would not be complete without snacks...popcorn and giant Santa cookies.

Since 1974 the KIDS Center has had a puppet show each year at their Christmas party. Joshua, Lydia, and Katherine were in awe.

This one has nothing to do with Christmas. I came downstairs the other day to find the kids in their swimming suits and goggles. Evidently they were at a water park on vacation... note the Christmas decorations in the background.I never know what I am going to walk into when these two are quiet for too long! At least this one did not involve blue goop, Elmers Glue, and rubber boots...

In addition to these activities, the kids also had Christmas parties at pre-school, we had a birthday party for Jesus at church (Lydia was a little disappointed that He did not show up), Joshua has had a concert at church, they have also had AWANA and choir Christmas parties. Tomorrow we have breakfast with Santa at a friend's house and baking with Grandma.

okay, I could not resist this last one. While playing Don't Break the Ice today, instead of putting the "red" man on top, Joshua put Mary and Joseph. He really wanted baby Jesus, but we can not find him...nor can we find Mrs. Clause and the Santa train. Last time I saw it the wise men were giving Baby Jesus train rides around the house.

Gingerbread cookies and Jesus

2008-12-06T14:20:00.003-05:00

Joshua has always loved to "play trucks". However, it is never just about driving hot wheels around the house. He creates very detailed and elaborate situations/events in which the cars participate. Today, it was in Bethelem about 2000 years ago! The traffic jam you see in the photos below are people lined up to see the new King, Baby Jesus (if only people were seeking him like that today...) anyway, they are in line to see Jesus...until Ms. Clause shows up on her train (also in the photo) with gingerbread cookies! Baby Jesus just could not compete and people stopped coming to see him, and waited for cookies instead (a pretty accurate reflection of folks today). In the second photo, if you look closely, you will see a police car at the stable. This particular police man had been hiding out all day to protect Jesus from the "bad king" (that would be king Herod). But at this time felt it was safe enough to come and visit Jesus (he also wanted a cookie). Now, although I was playing with Joshua and lining up cars, the story line is all his own, not prompted by me in the least.
And just for the record, Mrs. Clause shared cookies with Jesus and the others at the stable before serving the line of cars.
I love having a five year old!

Perseverance...

2008-11-30T22:41:00.004-05:00

Steve began the daunting task of the outdoor Christmas lights at 10:30am Saturday morning. He finished the task at 5:00pm after a trip to the store to buy more, numerous blown fuses, replacement bulbs that were non-compatable, frozen fingers, and a myriad of other obstacles. One of the character traits that I admire in my husband is that he is a man of perseverance...he finished the task. In the end, we all agreed it was well worth it. The house looks beautiful, especially at night.

It is difficult to tell from the photo, but he has an extension pole that he uses to hang the lights on the arch of the house, that prevents him from having to get on the steep roof.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T10:26:00.003-05:00

I am thankful for (in no particular order):
1. My Savior, Jesus Christ
2. Our three children are healthy
3. Dance Parties (we have lots of these!)
4. My husband
5. My extended families (mine, in-laws, and church family)
6. Room Time
7. The beach
8. The Freedoms we enjoy in America
9. The mall
10. Warm, gooey, chocolate chip cookies
11. The Bible
12. Make-up-especially mascara and blush

While writing this list (standing in Joshua's room, with a crayon on the back of a coloring page), the kids asked what I was writing so I explained to them this is a time to stop and reflect about things we are thankful for. They both wanted to write a list. These are totally unprompted:
Joshua is thankful for:
1. our house
2. that he is learning to read
3. that it is almost Christmas
4. that his Papaw took them to see Madagascar and let them spend the night

Lydia is thankful for:
1.her pink pig
2.her stuffed pumpkin
3.her cousins-Matthew and Julia
4.books

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Our Fall Tree

2008-11-21T20:35:00.004-05:00

Now that fall is here, our Galatians 5:22-23 tree has become the 2 Corinthians 5:17 tree. I wanted our tree to reflect the changing of the leaves outside. Each week the kids get to put on a leaf that has the name of a Bible character on it. We then read a story about that person each night. It is important for our children to see the people in the Bible as real folks who had real struggles and real sin in their lives. Two of the guys we have studied thus far are David and Moses, both were murderers-both felt justified in their acts..."The heart is deceitful above all things..." (Jeremiah 17:9). Yet God loved each of them, and through Him, they became Godly men who were able to do great things. In fact, David was called "a man after God's own heart." Just as the leaves are changing outside, so God changes the heart of man. Our theme verse is, Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Christmas Photos

2008-11-16T15:08:00.003-05:00

I love our Christmas pictures this year. The girls were excited to be in matching dresses. They all did such a great job at the portrait studio...it is truly amazing how motivating red slushies from Target can be! This one with the book was not even posed, the photographer just handed them a book and started snapping shots.

Fall Leaves

2008-11-15T22:40:00.004-05:00

The kids had a blast playing in the leaves, I must have raked this pile 10 times! There is a short video below, the resolution is poor because I took it with our regular camera.

Halloween

2008-11-04T21:30:00.006-05:00

We had a great halloween. The kids enjoyed trick or treating and we got loads of candy!

King of kings

2008-10-29T18:47:00.003-04:00

Many of my friends have blogs that are full of stories and other things that make me stop and think. Typically my blog is just fun stuff about our family and what is going on with us...and that is why I began it. However, every so often I like to post something that may not make you smile, but hopefully, will make you stop and think. This is one of those times. Also, this was not me in the story, I don't have the guts to do anything like this.

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read "Vote Obama, I need the money." I laughed.
Once in the restaurant my server had on a "Obama 08" tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference -- just imagine the coincidence.
When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.
I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.
At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.
I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

If you are reading this and disagree, that is fine. I thank our Lord that we live in a free country that is a democracy. Very few countries in the entire history of mankind can make that statement and we are blessed to be living in one of them. Obviously, everyone knows that we support McCain, but really, to keep this election in perspective, regardless who wins, ultimately, Jesus Christ is the King of kings and in control...always has been and always will be...November 4th can change many things..but not that.