Our Life

New blogHaven in the Hood

2009-03-30T00:00:00.005-05:00

We've moved and so has my blogging. Our life has taken us to the hood, visit us there at haveninthehood.blogspot.com.

Feel free to browse the archives, some of my favorite posts are here. Then come on over to the hood...

See you there!

More paint

2009-02-24T08:46:00.002-06:00

Off to do some more painting today. We found a house. It's nice and big and I'm really excited about it. Abby and I painted in the kitchen yesterday and today I'm hoping to get the attic (AKA the boys room) done so that Stephen and his dad can get the carpet down tonight. Anyhow, the house is down by the church plant. We love the location. We are excited to be a part of that community and get to know the youth down there. One of my young friends is excited about our new place cause he can walk to it (that was the point). Anyway, busy day today... painting and then Club tonight. It's the first Young Life Club of the year.

Another year older

2009-02-09T12:44:00.002-06:00

Mr. Brice turned seven yesterday, and I can hardly believe it. He is getting so big. Cherish the years, cause they fly by faster than you think.

Back in school

2009-02-06T08:37:00.002-06:00

Been hanging out at the schools lately, and to be honest, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed it. I am helping to facilitate a Women's Issues class at one of the alternative high schools here and it's been good. This particular school is my favorite to be in. I really love working with the kids there. I've connected with some old Young Life kids and have been making new friends too. I have three other leaders in that school right now as well, so our presence there is pretty significant. Staff and students are getting to know us and we have had many opportunities to share about Young Life. Our first Club will be on the 24th and I am super excited about it.

Today I'm going to a basketball game. The school started up a team this year and they play against other alternative schools in the region. I think it's a fabulous idea. Thinking of one of my young friends in particular... playing basketball (or being involved in other sports or extra activities) could make the difference of graduation or dropping out.

After the game, we have a meeting at the school we will be sending the kids too. It's a unique mixture between homeschooling and private school. Brice is going to start now and Trent will begin in the fall. We are all super excited about it, including Brice because one of his close friends goes there. I especially love the teachers, the way the school operates and the amount of involvement I am encouraged to have at the school. Many of the parents come in and volunteer several times a week, and once a month all of the families get together to pray. The Kindergartners in the school are together with a teacher and then the 1st through 4th graders are together and the 5th through 8th graders are in another class. For various subjects and activities the students will separate by grade, and then they all eat together and have recess together. Because parents help out and because all the kids bring their own lunches, tuition is pretty low in compression to other types of private schools. The kids all pray together each morning and I love the way Brice's teacher operates her class. I know that Brice will really thrive in the environment.

Anyhow, better get Brice started on his school work and get the house picked up before we leave. By the way... we are moving. We got our confirmation when a house inspector came by on Monday and told me that the windows down stairs do not actually meet regulation, and no one should be sleeping down there.

Must have been thirsty

2009-02-04T20:23:00.001-06:00

I caught my two year old licking water in the dog bowl today.

Cleaning or...

2009-01-28T13:21:00.004-06:00

We had the pastor and his wife over for dinner last Saturday evening and the dishes stayed piled on the counter until Monday afternoon. I know... but in my defense, Sunday was busy. I suppose we could have cleaned first thing Monday morning... but this was so much more fun...

A donut extinction

2009-01-23T15:30:00.000-06:00

I had quite the donut craving this morning. I know there used to be a drive through donut shop in Marion, somewhere near the Burger King. Apparently it's not there any more, I couldn't find it anyway. I also could not find the Krispy Kreme on Blairs Ferry by the Walmart. How long has that been gone? Do we even have a drive through donut gig in this town anymore?! I had to settle for draggin the rugrats into Donutland over off of Center Point with a windchill of "it's too darn cold for this" and buy my box of a dozen pieces of yumminess to go.

Nine meetings and two dinners in two days

2009-01-22T21:50:00.006-06:00

A team of Young Life staff joined me this week here in Cedar Rapids for what we called a "jump start". Our goal was to A, establish whether or not there is a need for Young Life to be a permanent presence in our community and B, to then seek support from the community. I had the honor of pairing up with my Regional Director and we had nine meetings throughout the city. All together the jump start team had about 25 meetings in the last two days. I am super excited about what God is doing and it is with thankfulness (and did I mention excitement?) that I report the following:
We have a Committee! (Hallelujah and Amen!)
We have new Leaders
We have new donations
We have two huge fundraisers in the works
And yes, we plan on going to camp this summer

Overall, the meetings were wonderfully and we had great feedback, support etc. I'm excited about where God is taking the ministry.

If you have no idea what Young Life is, check out our (badly in need of an update) website at cedarrapids.younglife.org.

If your interested, I'll probably be posting more about the jump start and our progress as we move forward. You'll also soon be able to get updates on our CR Young Life Facebook site (also soon to be updated... bear with me people).

Anyhow, the last two days were busy for me, but I enjoyed them. It was fun meeting with people and I'm excited about the partnerships and relationships we have. Plus, it was really neat to have other staff out here with us and meeting with people too. One of the coolest parts about the last two days is that at just about every meeting and gathering I had we prayed and people were praying for Young Life, for Cedar Rapids and for me and my family. It was just a neat thing to be covered in prayer like that and to have spent so much time praying and connecting with God over the last two days (something I can sometimes get away from during the busyness of life).

On another, but related note...

Hubby and I are seriously thinking about permanently attending and becoming involved in a church plant that we have been going to for the past month and a half or so. The location is right near downtown Cedar Rapids and the mission of this church is focused on reaching the community and neighborhood around it. The majority of the kids we aim to connect with through Young Life are also in the urban areas of the city, so our passions are very much in step with this church. Additionally, we are strongly discussing moving out of Marion and into the downtown Cedar Rapids area. I know, big changes for us, but you know what... it's all God. He has timed this all so perfectly and is making connections for us and opening doors that we just can't pass up. Maybe I shouldn't be writing about all this yet since hubby and I have not yet made the final decision, but I'll be sure to share more as we go along. It's been neat though... too see God paving this path for us and to hear pretty clearly what it is God is calling us to.

Anyhow, hubby should be home soon, and I know he's been waiting to hear all about today's meetings.

Announcing a new addition

2009-01-15T14:36:00.003-06:00

No, I'm not prego. We got a dog. A ten week old Augi. She is half Mini Australian Shepherd and half Welsh Corgi. She is the most precious puppy ever! We named her Miku. It's a Japanese name. The character Mi means beautiful and the character for Ku means sky. She is definitely beautiful and she has one blue eye. Anyhow, the boys love her and she seems to tolerate them. She is very well mannered and tempered. I think she is going to be a great family dog.

On another note... How's the weather where you are? It's cold here! (And that's an understatement!) We are staying in today, and yup, we've got the heat on. The boys are currently burning off some energy with the Wii. I sure hope spring comes soon!

Bye bye baby clothes

2009-01-08T17:09:00.003-06:00

I spent the last two days cleaning out the closets. I went through all my clothes and got my closet organized. I went through all the kids clothes too. It was sad to see some of my favorite pink outfits being boxed away, but it was equally fun to pull out new clothes for baby girl. I can't believe my little girl is out of newborns and 0-3 mos. I can't believe she is four months old already. 6 months seemed so far away, but it is sneaking up so quickly. I'll miss the baby days a ton, but I am excited about the sages to come.
Without tears, I managed to get the boys clothes done too. Most of Brice's clothes got moved to Tren't and Nevan's side of the closet and we gave a ton of size 18 mo to 2 T to my nephew. Anyhow, I feel good having finished the task.

Haven't been there in about two years... but I'm taking my sister to Watershed this evening. In fact, I better start getting the kids ready...

Happy New Year

2009-01-07T08:02:00.005-06:00

It all began with the gifts, two of them in particular. For my dear hubby, I wanted to get a 42" flat screen... a major upgrade from our 26" old tube TV that wasn't even going to work after the digital switch over. Anyhow, in order to get the 42", 1080 pixel LCD that I wanted (thanks dad for the tips cause I really had no idea what I was looking for), I had to work extra. A lot of extra. The second gift that contributed to the pre-Christmas hustle and bustle was for my mom. My siblings and I (with some help from my dad) brought my sister up from Texas as a surprise to my mom. My sister is mentally disabled and lives in a group home in San Antonio. My mom was really happy to see her when we all showed up at her house (all four of us). ...About as happy as Stephen was to come home from running an errand on Christmas Eve and find his new TV in the family room. :)

We had family over on Christmas Eve, and I sang at church earlier that evening. I prepared an easy meal and we spend a majority of the evening playing on the boys new Wii, which Stephen and I are finding we too enjoy very much. (Did ya know you can seriously get in shape with that thing. We have Outdoor Challenge and there's a whole weight loss/get fit program with it, but seriously... I broke a sweat the other day playing a few games of tennis with hubby.)

On Christmas morning we celebrated Jesus with our kids and then later that afternoon we went over to my parent's where the rest of the fam met us and we had one of the best Christmas's in a long time. It was so nice to have all of my siblings together, and all the grandkids had a fun time too. The next day we left for Texas and drove straight through... I'm sure you can just imagine our 18 hour trip. :) The days following our return were busy with both cleaning (a LOT of cleaning) and the excitement of new things.

So there ya have it... I think I'm all recuperated and can resume normal life (be seein ya around the blogesphere soon!).

I hope your holidays were blessed.
Happy New Year!

We have a tree

2008-12-12T07:26:00.002-06:00

Despite the loss of our Christmas box, we got a tree up. My mom gave a few ornaments and things and I picked up a tree topper and some more ornaments and bows at Walmart. I don't think it looks too bad.

*I think the three crooked candy canes came from the children's Christmas program at church Wednesday night and must have been put on the tree yesterday, by three little boys (judging on the height of their placement). :)

Yes, I'm still alive...

2008-12-08T20:15:00.001-06:00

Well, it's been a while huh. Life has been busy... still is... and will probably continue to be so through Christmas. Here's a little update...

Darci is laughing, Nevan still won't use the potty, there's snow on the ground and I've been working extra so that I can buy hubby's surprise Christmas present. Ummm... our box of Christmas ornaments, stockings, decorations etc. was apparently taken to Goodwill last spring when we moved, so that really stinks. My family is coming to church on Christmas eve to hear me sing, and I recently agreed to host my family's Christmas eve festivities so that my mom can focus on Christmas day. We are a little bit behind in school work, but should be caught up by the end of the week. I spent the weekend in Minneapolis with four girlfriends and had an awesome time. We "shopped till we dropped" on Saturday at the Mall of America, we saw Triple Espresso (absolutely hilarious!) and we went to John Pipers church before driving home on Sunday. Twas a wonderful girls weekend (well, five girls and Cletus anyway)! What else... I have my first home party for my business this Thursday, so I'm pretty excited about that. Oh, and last week I discovered that the grocery store is selling Egg Nog... yes, I have some of that delicious stuff in my fridge, two different kinds in fact. Well, baby girl is crying, I'm sure she missed me all weekend... did I mention that my weekend away was without any kids. :)

Who is Mary?

2008-11-21T00:05:00.000-06:00

This happened a while ago, but I was reminded of it and wanted to ~~write~~ type it down...

I was driving along one afternoon with three kids sittin in the back jabbering away. I usually tune out most of what goes on behind me, but when I heard the word "girlfriend", my ears perked right up. Trent was telling Brice that he had a girlfriend. Brice was not impressed, but Trent insisted that he did have a girlfriend. I really don't think he knows what a girlfriend is, but he must a heard the word somewhere. Figuring he wouldn't have an answer (because I seriously didn't think he had a girlfriend) I asked Trent to tell me what her name was.
"Mary" he answered in an "I told you so" type of tone.
I was shocked, and impressed, and worried all at once.
"Where do you know Mary from Trent?" I asked.
"Church." He replied, in the same tone and with an innocently serious little face.
Well I'll be!

Must a been a short fling, cause I haven't heard about Mary since.

New Pics

2008-11-19T22:47:00.003-06:00

New pics of Darci Annaliese HERE.

And new pics of the family HERE.

911, what's your emergency...The "funny" things kids do

2008-11-19T15:08:00.003-06:00

Luckily, Nevan is no longer "grassy" today. Unfortunately though, he has a "wunny nose".

My friends are always telling me that I ought to write down the things my kidos say. Last night I was with some gals and we talked about this very thing... recording the hilarious things that our children say. One of them talked about a blog she used to read that was one mom's diary of all those funny things. I think I'm gonna start keeping track of my children's funny moments here. Should be fun.

Here's one I 'll want to remember...
Last week I received a phone call from the Marion police station. "Is everything alright" the dispatcher asked? "Umm... yes" I stuttered. "We received a call from your home and wanted to make sure that you don't need any assistance." Humm, I wonder who could have called 911. When I questioned the boys, Trent said "the lady said it was an emergency." Brice said he just wanted to see what would happen. Good thing I answered the phone, otherwise we may of had a swat team outside.

A bilion things to do,but I can't seem to get these lazy bones a movin

2008-11-17T08:52:00.006-06:00

I have a billion things I would like to get done today, but I'm feelin a tad bit lazy. It's cold outside and all I wanna do is cuddle up with baby girl and stay in bed all day. We have a play group that meets at 10 AM on Monday mornings and I'm still debating whether or not we should go. I'm thinkin it might be a good kick start to the day though, since I don't seem to be gettin anything done yet. I'm not even outta my pj's yet. I do have a cup o' joe here with me and as honey says "it's a bold blend" so maybe I'll be feelin a bit more motivated in a few.
Let's start with a shower...

Oh my goodness, Nevan just "passed grass". (Cause I'm sure you wanted to know that.) The look on his face... priceless. Shocked even himself.

OK, headed to the shower now...

Checking in with the contentment scale

2008-11-14T22:11:00.008-06:00

Once a month our church has Family Night where they creatively introduce a verse and a topic for families to focus on. There's also music, dancing, puppets etc. (Yes, hubby goes too, and he's even been caught laughing and doing movements to the songs, which is an absolutely priceless sight. Seriously, can you picture my husband dancing children's choreography and shaking his finger in the air while singing "God is number one, yeah God is number one...! It's great.) Last month the verse was Proverbs 10:9 and the lesson was on integrity. Both Brice and Trent have memorized the verse (although Trent might miss a word or two, and he sounds so darn adorable trying to pronounce the word "securely"). It's been great because whenever they start acting up, or when I know they aren't telling the truth I ask them to recite Proverbs 10:9 and they know right away what I'm getting at. It's true... God's Word is a powerful thing. (It seems to be working better than any of my "or else..." threats anyway.)

This month we are focusing on contentment. I didn't realize just how much of an issue contentment is in our home until Family Night this last Wednesday. Since Wednesday evening we have discusses contentment A LOT. Tonight I took the kids up to Carlos O'Kelly's and we had to talk about how they needed to be content with what I ordered for them because we could have just stayed home all together. And yesterday we talked about being content with our time limits for playing on the computer because we could just say no computer at all (they never really though of it that way and Brice was much more grateful of his thirty minutes after our little talk). Since Wednesday, I've realized that a whole lot of my struggles with the boys are because they aren't content with what I am giving them, rather they are focused on what they aren't getting and can't have. I think that the whole focusing on contentment this next month is really going to be good.

On Wednesday they gave each person a contentment scale. So, we have been checking in with our scales and discussing the things we were and weren't content with throughout the day. We've had good conversations about contentment. If you don't already have one... you should invest in one a these handy scales. (Seriously, it totally gives you a WARNING and lets you know when your in danger of discontentment. Whoever came up with such a great tool? In all seriousness, the scale has been pretty neat to use.)

OK, so the boys aren't the only ones learning lessons. Integrity and contentment are things I too need to be reminded about (anyone else?). And in fact, sometimes when I am discussing and disciplining my children God brings to my mind times when I wander the crooked path or am comparing and coveting. (The whole contentment thing is a big one... There is always something more I want and think I need.) The worst is when I am reminded that I had recently done exactly what I am getting on my kids for. But, I do love how God uses my babies to teach me too. It definitely keeps me humble and helps me to be grace filled in my parenting.

We are on our way to making Philippians 4:11 a truth in our lives.

My Imagination Flies

2008-11-12T11:58:00.004-06:00

Check out my review of "My Imagination Flies" over at My Kids Blog.

Baby Brown is here!

2008-11-10T19:52:00.001-06:00

Congratulations Nathan and Kelly! He is beautiful!

Thank you,because I don't have enough to do

2008-11-10T18:34:00.004-06:00

I can't get the dryer to work. When I push the start button it makes this annoying buzzing sound at me, and for the life of me I can't figure out what's wrong. It could have something to do with a certain four year old crawling inside of it; I don't really know. It was working yesterday, but I just can't get it started today.

My living room floor has been decorated with markers. That same four year old that I previously mentioned colored all over the center of the floor last Saturday morning. The pretty cream colored carpet now has (not-so-pretty) brown circles all over it. Luckily, the markers are washable.

Someone (probably that same previously mentioned culprit) broke the toy bins. "But how can we clean, the thing is broken?" Toys all over the floor.

Can't put the toys in the bins... let's throw em down the sump pump. (Someone apparently thought it was a good idea. Although this time I think it was a younger brother; though possibly encouraged by the four year old.)

Winter is here

2008-11-07T20:22:00.003-06:00

The boys came running to me this morning, with much enthusiasm, to tell me that it was snowing outside. They were quite elated; jumping, singing and arms flaring. My reaction... Ugh. Need I say more. I like snow... on Christmas. Not now. Not ALL winter long (and then some). Oh how I hope this year is not as bad as last.

There are a few things that I do enjoy however, about this season...
I love me a steaming cup of hot cocoa (with marshmallows of course).
I love the smell and feel of the fireplace.
I love cuddling on the couch, with the kids, or hubby or even by myself (and I know I'm gonna love it with my precious baby girl too, not that I don't already cuddle with her all. the. time.).
I love Christmas cookies. (And I will continue to wake up at 5:30 AM and work out through the cold winter mornings just so that I can eat em!)
I love Christmas shopping. A lot.
I love making Christmas gifts.
I love Christmas music. Yes, I am one a them. I'll complain about the decorations and trees and isles of Christmas merchandise that are already in the stores, but you could have started playing Christmas music last month and I'd a loved it! (Now hubby is saying Ugh!)

Although I might be able to come up with a few more, I'm gonna have to cut this list off cause I'm starin at a shadow in the shape of a two year old who is supposed to be in his bed.

God loves him

2008-11-06T08:29:00.005-06:00

Thankful Thursday
Know that the LORD, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! Psalm 100:3-4

We had been out and arrived home after dark. Dad wasn't with us. Someone must have left the front door open, because when we pulled up to the dark house we could see right into the living where the light was on. I definitely felt afraid. But before I could even say a word, or even got the car into park, Brice said "let's pray mommy, before we go inside". We sat there in the car and he asked God for "no one to be in the house". Later that evening we were hanging out on the bed and Brice suddenly got quiet. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that he wanted to pray so that he could tell God thank you for taking care of us.

Although it can only be known between him and God, I am pretty sure that Brice (who will be seven in February) has accepted Christ. So, as you might imagine, I have something pretty awesome to be thankful for. Brice's salvation is such a huge victory for the kingdom. Thinking about the life I once had and the generations of unbelief, I am so thankful for God's love and grace, that He would bless my family with Himself. That He would give us new lives. Brice was just under three years old when my life was changed and I began my walk with the Lord. It is amazing and humbling for me to think about all that God has done in my life to prepare a way that my son would come to know Him. How much He must love him.

It has been a blessing to see evidence in Brice's life. He will tell you with no inhibitions that God made him and loves him. He will ask you with a beautiful innocence if you know Jesus. Unprompted and seemingly at random he will sit and read his "early readers" Bible and he gets so excited about the stories. And his prayers are so innocent and uninhibited. He has been an inspiration to my selfish heart. And I am thankful for that too.

CEL-E-BRA-TION time!

2008-11-05T10:53:00.004-06:00

Bubba (AKA Nevan) just went pee pee in the potty. He took off his diaper, announced that he needed to go potty and marched his little naked tooshie into the bathroom. It actually wasn't much that came out, but you should a seen how proud he was of himself. And I won't even try to hide it... I'm over here doin cartwheels (well not really, I'd probably break somethin). I am quite happy though. I know, it's a small success and it may not progress anywhere from here... but even the slightest possibility of no longer having to change and clean two year old poopies is something to celebrate. Can I get a wittiness.

Inspiration

2008-11-05T09:21:00.007-06:00

I don't like to discuss politics, but... I will say that our President is an inspiring man. God created me with a deep passion for the minority, the hurting, the poor and the underprivileged. Guess that's why I do Young Life. I know a bunch of teens (among many others) who are looking at things differently now, who now have a little bit more hope and who are now inspired to give thought to the possibility that they may actually be able to achieve anything they put their minds to. And I think that's a beautiful thing.

I woke up today with a little inspiration of my own... I got out of bed at 5:30, put on a pot of coffee, washed the dishes and then sat down at the table with hubby and dove into day one of The Patriarchs (a Beth Moore study we are doing in our Bible study class). After which I went outside for a jog. I think today is going to be a good day.

I am excited about this Bible study. I actually did this one three or four years ago, but I know there is a lot I can get out of it now. It's a very historical study, and I am not a huge fan of history. Historical facts excite hubby though, so I am excited about the things he will teach me and inspire me to learn.

Makin Diapers

2008-11-04T15:09:00.005-06:00

Tackle it Tuesday
Can you believe it... I'm making my own diapers! I'm no Martha Stewart or some great homesteader, but I do impress even myself from time to time.

Check it out, I just finished this one a couple minutes ago. It's a quick and easy design. I just started using snaps to make them instead of Velcro... love the snaps!

New Photos

2008-11-03T22:07:00.003-06:00

Uploaded a few new photos of Darci HERE.

And some pics of the kids in their costumes HERE.

We are in Lake City

2008-10-29T21:18:00.004-05:00

We didn't leave Cedar Rapids until about 9:30 PM last night, so didn't arrive here at Timber Wolf until about 7:30 AM this morning. We stopped at a gas station around 2 AM and the boys woke up while we were stopped. They did not go back to sleep until we got here. Needless to say, they took LONG naps this afternoon.

Tonight in the dining hall (luckily it was after everyone had finished eating) Nevan thought that the red lever was rather appealing and yes... he pulled it. And the fire alarm went off. That thing was LOUD. Scared him like nothin else, I guarantee he'll never do that again.

I love bringing Brice to these meetings. He always finds someone to buddy up with. This time it's an Area Director from Chicago. He even sat with his new friend during dinner and earlier before we got started they threw a football around outside for a bit. I love how family friendly and oriented Young Life is. And I love when other adults poor into my kids.

Our division's VP shared some scripture with us today. He read from Judges 7:1-4 and talked about how numbers are not always effective, but that the quality of our team is more important in this ministry. I really needed to hear that and plan to spend some time reading through Judges 6 and 7 and pondering it some more. I think that instead of feeling defeated and like a failure, I need to be thankful for the team we have in Cedar Rapids and realize that God can do great things through us no matter how few we are.

Before we left yesterday we actually had three new leaders over. From now until our jump start in January I really want to focus on training the leaders we have and covering our ministry in prayer. We are planning to meet weekly from now until then as a leadership team. Please keep Cedar Rapids Young Life in your prayers.

Beep beep, vroom vroom

2008-10-28T15:29:00.010-05:00

Tackle it Tuesday
Beep beep, vroom vroom, baby Brown will be here soon! Kelly's shower last Saturday was fun. I made her a diaper cake (scroll down for pics!), which I thought I'd post for Tackle it Tuesday.

Additionally, I finally uploaded my revised website.
You can check it out at mykidsoccasion.com.

Now I'm going to go finish tackling the laundry and getting us all packed. We are leaving for Lake Michigan tonight and will be back on Friday.

Feeling betterand praying for Addie

2008-10-24T22:34:00.006-05:00

Wow... did I have me a tummy bug! 3 AM trips to the potty, throwin up, the whole works. Luckily no one else caught this bug... I think it was actually a bad reaction to Tuesday nights sea food dinner at Red Lobster. Anywho, haven't blogged cause I was goin to bed pretty early the last few nights. Feeling better today. Good thing, cause I'm throwing a baby shower tomorrow morning.

Speaking of babies... I have a prayer request. A tiny little friend of ours had open heart surgery Thursday morning. Please pray for her recovery as well as for her parents. Visit Adelynn's Journey for updates on her recovery.

Going to go spend some time with hubby now (he just got home a bit ago). I think we are going to watch a show on hulu.com (awesome site by the way, they have all our favorites. And it's great cause the only time we can actually sit and watch something together is late in the evening.).

Too much "good" gone bad

2008-10-17T23:43:00.005-05:00

1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV) "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"—but not everything is constructive.

What is something in your life that was a “good” thing, but as in the verse in 1 Corinthians states was something that although good, was not beneficial or constructive for you?

This is a great question. As I sit here and think about all the things in my life that apply I am reminded that regardless of what I choose to write about now, too much of anything is neither beneficial nor constructive because it can begin to fill us in the places that only God should occupy. Too much of a "good" thing can enable that thing to become our source of happiness, content, stability or strength etc. If we are not relying solely on God for those things, we are living with a distorted view of who He is and who we are in Christ.

While I could tell you about a number of things I have overindulged in, I'd like to share that even serving in my church has in the past fallen into the category of "too much of a good thing". I spread myself so darn thin one season it's a wonder I didn't fall flat on my face. I was singin in the choir and on worship team, I was in like three Bible studies, I was on the kitchen team (and baking treats every weekend), I was very active in youth ministry, I served at a local soup kitchen and I said yes to anyone and everything else asked of me. It wasn't long before all that good turned into a whole lot a bad. Time with my family took a back seat, and ironically, so did my time with God, and my heart lost sight of the meaning and purpose behind all of my good deeds. Although serving is good, too much of it was definitely not constructive.

I NEED a get-a-way!

2008-10-15T23:51:00.009-05:00

Check out my video on 16 reasons why me (and one of my friends) should win a girls get-a-way cruise with Candace Cameron Bure.

In case you missed em...

#1 The laundry

#2 The dishes

#3 Cooking for 5 (every night)

#4 Something other than PB&J for lunch

#5 The toilet (I live with four boys)

#6 Not everyday of homeschooling is a good one

#7 Sometimes I don't get a shower in till the day is nearly done (if a all)

#8 Cleaning poop out a cloth diapers

#9 A screaming baby (who is otherwise perfect and great)

#10 Vacuuming

#11 Something other than Veggie Tales for entertainment

#12 The loud one

#13 The sneaky one

#14 The rambunctious one

#15 I never get dressed up

#16 Peace and quiet please!

I love all of my children dearly, but this full time mommy, nurse, maid, teacher, accountant, referee, cook, chauffeur (and the list goes on...), sure could use a break. And what better than a cruise, a friend and a whole bunch a God lovin women and some uplifting music for a little revitalization!

Check out other entries at the link above.

Explaining the difference between boys and girls

2008-10-15T11:55:00.005-05:00

Brice: How do we know the baby is a girl?
Mommy: Well, God made her a girl.
Brice: Maybe He made it a boy & we just put the wrong clothes on her.
Mommy: Ummm, well... boys and girls are different...

Outta the closet!

2008-10-14T09:57:00.012-05:00

Tackle it Tuesday
Back in August, Hubby tackled his closet... It's about time I tackled mine!

This was my closet...

All my maternity clothes came outta the closet
and I packed them all away...

And a whole lot of other clothes came outta the closet too.
Gonna take a trip to the consignment shop...

This is my closet now! I can find things!

Can I get a amen!

2008-10-10T12:46:00.004-05:00

Baby girl is sleeping through the night! And that's all I have to say.

I didn't shower today...

2008-10-06T20:38:00.007-05:00

We spent the day lazing about the house recovering from a very full weekend...

It was good to see you Darcy!

By the way, Darci's tummy seems to be doing better this evening. We had a rough morning, but a few more poopies later and things are lookin pretty good (baby girl seemed to of had an upset tummy since Sat. evening). Gonna have to watch what I eat! Oh, and Christina, thanks so much for the all-in-ones! I love em! And they work great!!

Me and my jeans

2008-10-01T15:47:00.002-05:00

I could seriously just sit and stare at her all day long.

Sometimes, I do... just sit and stare at my baby girl. She is so amazing. God is so good. It probably isn't on purpose (hubby is always quick to remind me it's just gas), but when I hold her and talk to her she smiles sometimes. I love that. And I love her smile. My baby shower is this Sunday and most of all I'm super excited about sharing ~~the most beautiful baby girl ever~~ (no, I'm not going to be that mom) her with all of my friends (especially those who have not yet met our precious princess (maybe I am that mom)). I already have her outfit picked out; a cute little dress I grabbed at Once Upon a Child (the best consignment shop for kids clothes and baby gear). I don't know what I'll be wearing yet... but I am back into my jeans!

And today... me and my blue jeans found ourselves stranded on the side of the road. Yup, we was in a bit of a pickle. Knowing that I really needed gas, I hurried to make it to the boys dentist appointments with the intention of heading straight to the gas station when we were done. By the end of our appointments, Darci was apparently starving and with her tiny little lungs decided to let us all know it... all I could do was think about how I needed to get her home and feed my poor little princess. I forgot to go to the gas station. Oops. About half-way home the van began to sputter... and then... it died. Grandma and grandpa came to rescue us.

Yesterday... my jeans and I were headed to Iowa City along with my brother Josh and his friend, Jessica (my other brothers wife) and my nephew to take the kidos to the apple orchard. Once we reached Iowa City I took a peek at the directions (for the first time) and discovered that we had gone the wrong way. I was supposed to have been on a completely different highway. Oops. To get there we needed to head all the way back to Cedar Rapids and then head out on Highway 30. When we got back to town we decided to go to CeCe's instead. The pizza was good. We will try to make it to the apple orchard next Tuesday.

Glad I can get my jeans on... but seriously, I must have forgotten to screw my head on!

Nursing and cookingyes, at the same time...

2008-09-26T21:53:00.004-05:00

I love my baby sling. I picked it up at Target for forty bucks, and it's totally been worth every penny. Miss Darci Ann loves it too. She fits inside like a tinny sweet pea snuggled in it's pod. At church, in a restaurant, on a walk, wherever I go I slip on my sling and tuck her inside. It's been ~~great~~ absolutely wonderfully amazing at the grocery store (with her in the sling I can still fit all three boys in a cart and my hands remain free) and one of the best things about my sling is that I can nurse her while she's all snugly in there too. Tonight I found myself with two important tasks needing to be accomplished; dinner and feeding the baby. My trusty sling allowed me to tackle both at the same time... With baby in the sling and hooked up to the "feeding tube" (as hubby calls em) I chopped onions, stirred the pot of ham and bean soup, baked some corn bread and made an apple coleslaw salad (I am totally lovin this meal planning thing!).

We wern't trying for a girl...But I like having one

2008-09-26T09:38:00.009-05:00

OK, everyone keeps congratulating us on "finally getting our girl". We really weren't "trying" to get a girl... we just wanted another baby. I will admit that I wanted a daughter, and did pray for one... But I did grow up in a house of four children, my aunt and uncle have four and my grandma had four too; I always wanted (at least) four of my own. I (we) would have been just as excited about another boy... in fact I was getting quite used to the idea of it because I was certain that I was carrying another boy. God though, he blessed and surprised us with a daughter.

Having a baby girl has been quite different from our boys...
Changing her diaper was actually kind of awkward at first. I suppose had we had three daughters and then a boy, that would have felt awkward too. Shopping has been really fun (at least for me)! Pink is so much cuter than blue (I'm just sayin). Using nick-names like sweet-pea and pumpkin isn't so "unmanly" for hubby any more. Dilemmas such as ear-piercing have come up (things we never realized we didn't see eye-to-eye on). I can now relate to the pressure hubby feels about being a good role model to his sons (oh my gosh, this little girl will be learning from me what it means to be a mother and wife). The boys brought a Care Bear to the hospital for their sister... I am so excited about playing games and with toys that I can relate to!

Different for sure, but wonderful in every way!

The Flickering Firefly Award

2008-09-26T09:31:00.003-05:00

Thank you so much Beth for the kind words and for presenting me with this very special bloggy award over at The Power of Your Love.

Diaper Changes

2008-09-25T00:03:00.000-05:00

Thankful Thursday
We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4

This weeks topic is change. When I think of change... (I've got a two week old at home mind you) I think of the tiny diapers that I change several times a day. Some are full and surprisingly stinky (given the precious and tiny baby girl they are coming from). These diapers take a number of wipes and it can be challenging not to spread the mess. Often times we end up needing a new outfit. These diaper changes are a rather unpleasant and time consuming interruption.

Other diaper changes are much more tolerable... less stink, mess free, one wipe and were done... back on track in no time.

In life (at least mine), things are constantly changing- nearly as often as I change diapers. Just when I think I've mastered things... or when I fall into a steady routine... something changes...

Most changes are unwanted and unwelcome; I have forgotten that each change, each newness in life is orchestrated by God.

We are meant for change.

As we are made new and made to become more like Christ we will experience changes both big and small; the unpleasant and stinky as well as the more tolerable and mess free.

Whatever they may be, whatever ~~diaper~~ change you or I am facing, God has His hand in it and will see us through.

Meal Planning

2008-09-24T12:31:00.002-05:00

I totally just signed up for e-Mealz. Thanks Chel and Molly!! I subscribed to the low fat any store option (shh, don't tell hubby we are eating low fat). I printed out my first week and hubby and I (along with Nevan and Darci Ann) have a shopping date this evening while Brice and Trent are at Wednesday night children's ministries. Anyhow, I'm so excited about this! It's really going to help me out a ton... And I'm sure the family will appreciate more than just omelets (yes, we had omelets for dinner last night) and peanut butter and jelly!

Gotta give a plug...

If you haven't already, go check out e-Mealz! They have several meal planning options to choose from and it's only $5.00 a month!

Back to Bloggin

2008-09-23T11:01:00.002-05:00

Tackle it Tuesday
This is part of my tackle... this post! I'm here, after two weeks of inactivity, I'm on the web bloggin and responding to emails and updating pictures etc. I totally thought I could keep up my blogging after bringing home Darci Ann... boy was I wrong. Both blogs have been lacking, but today I am turning a new leaf! I'm back in business! I was even on the computer a bit last night and got an article written and turned in for the WAHMZone.

I haven't completely ironed out my schedule, and I suspect most of my computer time will be after the kidos go to bed, but Tuesday mornings (when I don't have MOPS) work too cause my six year old has classes, baby is asleep and I can occupy the other two with a Veggie Tales video. :)

Anyhow, click on over to Trading in the Baby Belly for a baby update. And visit My Kids Blog for my post on Raising A Pretty Girl.

A tackle in the works...
The last couple weeks have been great; our Bible study class at church has been providing us with meals. We are pretty much done with that though and I've got to start feeding my family myself. :) I've never been great at meal planning and it usually isn't until nearly five o' clock that I know what I'm making. With a newborn however... I'm gonna have to start planning things out a bit more. So, I am tackling a weekly menu plan... I'll let you know how it goes...

Truth in the Word

2008-09-18T12:01:00.004-05:00

Thankful Thursday
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Looks like the last time I posted was on a Thursday... Life has been full, to say the least. So, this weeks topic is truth. I am so thankful for the Truth that has truly set me free. I can't imagine where I'd be without Jesus...

I am thankful for the truth of the Bible. I'm thankful for women like Mary, Martha, Ester and Ruth who teach me how to be the wife, mother and woman God has called me to be. I am thankful for Noah, who showed that even in the midst of world living in sin and chaos one can still stand firm in obedience to Christ. I am thankful for Daniel, because I know that even in trial God is with me. I am thankful for the words Jesus said, that I can turn to them in need and for comfort. I am thankful that for anything I might be facing or experiencing I can find truth and wisdom about it in the Word of God. And today, (as I marvel at the new life God has blessed us with) I am especially thankful for scriptures about family and parenting. Having a daughter has really caused me to think about my life... What kind of mother, wife and woman I am, because this precious baby girl will learn from me more than any other what it means to be each. I am thankful that in the pages of my Bible I can find the blueprints for raising my daughter... because on my own, I'm not sure I'd do a very good job.

A Baby is Born...

2008-09-10T22:44:00.009-05:00

Thankful Thursday
I will thank you forever, because you have done it. I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the godly. Psalm 52:9

God is good indeed. For this weeks Thankful Thursday post I am linking over to the birth story I just typed out, as God has just blessed us with a new baby...
A Baby is Born

New Blog

2008-09-07T09:17:00.001-05:00

Join us at Trading in the Baby Belly for pics and updates!

Tears of joy

2008-09-07T05:00:00.003-05:00

Eight months ago hubby and I found out that we were expecting (actually, I found out first and surprised him with the news... you can read about the thin plastic peed on stick HERE).
Anywho...

Eight months ago...
Delight, worry, joy and fear all rushed through me like waves across the shore. My thoughts became consumed by dreams of what it might be like, what the baby will look like, if it's a girl (oh my gosh would I know what to do with a girl), how will things change and how fun it will be to once again have an infant in our home.

Tonight (or very early in the morning)...
We will meet this precious child that has been growing in my belly. For the first time, I will be able see the face that's been hidden in my womb and touch the tiny toes that have been dancing beneath my skin. As these words flow through my fingertips those waves of emotion are rippling through me once again and I am anxious for this evening to come... to meet my child.

Dear little one, I want you to know...
Without ever having seen you, I love you.
I am filled with happiness by the thought of you.
Tears of joy blur my eyes.
I look forward to the first kiss that I will lay gently upon your soft skin.
You will forever be my child.
And I am honored to be your mom.

Addie's Angels

2008-09-06T12:51:00.005-05:00

July 1st was a day to remember. A dear friend of mine gave birth to her firstborn; a beautiful baby girl with Downs. Little Addie has made amazing progress since her birth and most recently... has even passed her hearing screen. She does need heart surgery, which is scheduled for December, but milestone after milestone she has been truckin along.

The Downs was not know until Addie's birth and came as a surprise to everyone. Through each trial and new experience, her parents have shown great strength and faithfulness. The past couple months have been an adjustment for them indeed, but they rely on God, and He is good.

They have found several helpful resources along the way and aim to be as prepared as possible for raising a child with Downs. One in particular that they have become actively involved in is the Hawkeye Area Down Syndrome Association (HADSA). On October 4th the HADSA is hosting it's third annual Buddy Walk, which is aimed at promoting acceptance and inclusion of people with Down syndrome and celebrating October; National Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

The goal of HADSA is to to provide education, support and advocacy to those individuals, their friends, families, and professionals in the Iowa City and Cedar Rapids area that are blessed by Down syndrome. Addie and her family can surly attest to the wonderful job they are doing in meeting their goal, and will be participating in the Buddy Walk. My family is also going to participate in the walk and as support to my friend, her precious child and HADSA, I am helping to raise support as well.

If you are are interested, please visit Addie's Buddy Walk team site Here.

Bummed and scheduled to be induced

2008-09-05T15:39:00.003-05:00

I had another appointment this morning. They decided that I should go into the hospital Sunday evening at 5 pm to be induced. I was really really hoping to go on my own by today, but I guess not. Mostly, I am bummed (bummed is probably an understatement since I spent most of the afternoon in tears) that my parents won't be here. I am trying to be excited and, as my mom said, focus on the positive, but I really am pretty disappointed.

If your wondering why I am being induced while my cute little baby counter says I have a few days yet...

We were never sure of the date of conception and had to have an early ultrasound that determined my due date to be September 10th. As the pregnancy progressed however, I measured further along than that. Having had some big babies (the last was 9 lbs. 14 1/2 oz.) the doc would rather be a tad early than a week or two late. Plus, I've got to make the four hours of antibiotics (since I tested strep-b positive) and so I'll have that administered first so there won't be anything to worry about there.

I'm not really up for writing anything more, but wanted to share that update. Please be praying for us... for a healthy baby and that I would trust God and His plan and be joyful despite my disappointment. And that natural or induced, labor would go well. I've never been induced before so am a little bit worried about that too. They agreed to break my water first before administering any meds... I'm really hoping meds won't be necessary.

That I may know Him more

2008-09-04T00:05:00.000-05:00

It has been soooooo fun to read all the responses to my BACKWARDS Works For Me Wednesday post. I can't believe some of the stuff you all have tried! To be honest, I haven't tried any of the suggestions... although I did have some spicy enchiladas for dinner (but I'm not in labor yet). I spent MOST of my day planning and organizing the next four weeks of homeschool lessons for the kidos. And I managed to get some housework done too. Needless to say there wasn't much time for conjuring up all the helpful tips and recipes (maybe tomorrow).

On to Thankful Thursday...

Thankful Thursday
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: … a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted…" Ecclesiastes 3:1-2

God has blessed my family abundantly with many seasons. Some have been joyous and filled with much happiness and others have been times of trial, sorrow and sadness. In either case, God has always been with us and His plan has proven it's goodness and perfectness time and again...

I am thankful for the times I have been blessed with friends and fellowship and yet also for the times that friendships have been scarce because through each, God has blessed me and brought me into a more intimate relationship with Him.

I am thankful for my husband and the time apart from one another that God took us through prior to marriage. While I longed to be with Stephen, God longed to teach my heart. During that season I learned much about God and His plan for marriage and His desire to be first in my life.

I am thankful for my brother-in-law and his passing. I had never known God's comfort like I experienced through the season of mourning. Nor had I ever seen two people so full of peace and faith. My mom and dad in-laws have been such an amazing witness to me and have challenged and taught me to trust God more... in any and all circumstances.

I am thankful for this baby I am carrying and the blessing he/she will be to our family. The season of pregnancy (despite my current uncomfortable state... and worry about being past due... or my parents not being here for the delivery) is one of my favorite and most cherished seasons. It's absolutely amazing to have a tiny life growing inside of me and being pregnant allows me to experience God in no other way. Life is so miraculous and beautiful and God, the author and creator of it all, has given me the blessing of life and life to care for.

I am thankful for this season of homeschooling (however long it lasts). I never imagined myself as a homeschooling mom, but I absolutely love it. I love the time spent with my children and the opportunities to teach them and watch them learn and grow. God has done a work in me through this season and also in my children. I am thankful for the lessons He is teaching all of us.

As the summer turns into fall each season of life also has a beginning and an end. God is faithful to carry us through to that end, in His perfect timing. And He is good to bring just the season we need in order to be perfected and refined. I am thankful for the seasons to come... I know God is not through with me yet and I feel so blessed that He should love me so much to change the seasons in my life in order that I may know Him more.

I'd like to have this baby now

2008-09-03T00:32:00.010-05:00

Works For Me Wednesday
BACKWARDS Edition
I just couldn't resist...
Nine months of the baby belly; I'm ready to try just about anything! Walking hasn't worked. Neither has "quality time" with hubby. With my last pregnancy someone told me drink raspberry tea... that didn't work either. Any suggestions? I'd like have this baby now... should I stand on my head while eating a banana or something? Any advice. (This post is mainly for fun, but I just might try a couple ideas if you've got em.)
*Note* I know... the baby will come when it comes. Even though I'd sure like to, I know there is nothing I can do to change the date that God has already ordained. But... who's to say His plan doesn't include a Reese's PB cup, spicy food, a labor shake or a box of Mac n Cheese (seriously, the whole box!). And yes, in the end... these sleepless nights (I was up at 2:30 am and then from 4:00 to nearly 6:00 am), uncomfortable waddling and please don't ask me to get up after I've ~~sat~~ plopped myself down... it's all worth it.

My cream soda was yummy,but the company was crummy

2008-09-02T20:18:00.004-05:00

The company was actually non-existent. I just got back from Coffeesmiths where I was going to meet my Bible study gals for a bit of casual socialization before we begin our new study. No one else showed up. Which is fine, (I almost didn't even go myself) but I was looking forward to what would have been my last evening with the girls (at least for a couple weeks) without diaper changes and feeding breaks.

Soon I will be trading this baby belly in for a car seat and nursing bras. Hopefully, really soon. The doc stripped my membrane today and instructed me to spend some "quality time" with hubby to try and move things along. He is having me come back in on Friday morning (if I haven't had this baby by then) because he's thinking I may need to be induced, we'll see what happens.

I think I'm gonna skip tackling this Tuesday, but I do have a wonderful weekend to share...

Did you know my hubby was working two jobs? Along with his day job he worked overnight three times a week. Twice a week he was traveling straight from one job to the next. Needless to say... on his evenings off he was exhausted and spent most of his time off in bed (including Saturday and Sunday afternoons). God is so good. In His perfect timing (which happened to be just before this baby's arrival) He has made it possible for hubby to no longer work those dreadful hours. No more second job. This past weekend was Hubby's first weekend off in... a really really long time. It was awesome having him as an "active" part of the family. We had a fabulous dinner (that we spent the afternoon cooking together) on Labor Day. We took a picnic lunch out to a walking trail and then did some walking (and the boys of course explored the forest a bit and played with dad down by the river) on Sunday after church. We walked up to the school playground and played some baseball with the boys. Dad mowed the yard and I swept the porches and walkways while the boys rode their bikes up and down the sidewalk. And we spent our evenings playing Uno together (Trent won twice in a row last night, he's so happy about that I'm sure he wanted me to share). I know, it doesn't sound like much, but it was an awesome weekend for us. I look forward to many more!

More than well donePlease take this bun outta the oven!

2008-09-02T12:28:00.005-05:00

I know... my baby counter says 8 days to go, but since I had been consistently measuring ahead of schedule... I think I'm done. This baby ought to be out... I'm more than ready for it!

I've got an appointment today at 2:30 and will hop back on the computer after that to give an update... share about our three day weekend... tackle my Tackle it Tuesday post... and visit all the blogs I've been so outta touch with this past week (I miss my bloggy friends).
(I have been keeping up My Kids Blog... so be sure and pop over there for some terrific articles from our awesome contributors.)

Until later...

The Places I've Been

2008-08-29T08:59:00.005-05:00

Been busy, but still been writin... just not here. Sorry. These are the places I've been...

Have you read my article this week over in the Family Zone?
I have a new post coming up at Homemade Homeschoolers.
And I've got a great post... I'll be off in a minute... featured in the sampler over at 5 Minutes for Mom.

No baby yet, and just seven days till my parents leave. The boys and I are gonna go for a LONG walk this afternoon.

Hubby's Tackle

2008-08-26T11:14:00.004-05:00

Tackle it Tuesday
I am oh so excited to be posting such a huge accomplishment for my unorganized, "I don't know how to clean" hubby...

It's been a tad over a week or two since this monuments tackle took place (sorry, Tuesday's just kept flyin by), but I think that this is still worthy of acknowledgement!

Hubby, after 6 months of being in this house, has finally tackled his closet! It's clean, it's organized, it's beautiful! He went through his clothes and finally took out everything (I've been saying for months) that needed to go. He organized his ties and even agreed that yes, his belts should be hung instead of heaped on the floor. His shoes are organized and his closet floor is clutter free! My eyes no long roll to the back of my head every time that door gets opened, and oh my gosh it's so much easier to get his clothes put away!

Farmer Lloyd

2008-08-26T07:59:00.004-05:00

I can't seem to get enough sleep! I went to bed at 8 o'clock last night (totally unlike me), and I'm still a bit sleepy eyed. I can only assume that my body is preparing itself for labor... which will hopefully come any moment now. I have just a short window before my parents leave and I really really don't want them to miss the delivery. Maybe I'll go for a walk today, or do some jumping jacks or something. lol.

Had my appointment yesterday. The baby dropped even more (despite that I really didn't feel like that was possible, and no wonder I'm on the toilet so much!). I dilated only slightly more since last week, so no real answers or time frame there.

Today I have to contact our pediatrician because while my doc gave the OK for me to go home, it's up to our pediatrician to decide whether or not baby can leave. The rest of our birth plan went over pretty well, however, I did get the... "Well, you do have the right to refuse anything, but we may caution you otherwise and or make you sign a waiver." That's OK, anything we decide will be an informed decision and I'm confidant that we are making positive choices for our little one. My mom has always taught me that medicine is a practice... I've never been one to just assume that what the good ol' docs have to say is absolute. Beside, there are old school docs, new age docs etc. and they differ in theory and practice amongst themselves even.

Our pediatrician doesn't administer antibiotics for ear infections (sign of a newer school of thought) and seems to be at least slightly green aware, so I'm thinking my conversation with him should go pretty well. At the very least, I was told that the hospital would be willing to release us (all) after the first 24 hrs. (if I signed a waiver) instead of staying for two nights/days.

I suppose I should of had everything lined up months ago, but it's only been fairly recent that I've been convicted of adapting a more natural way of living. It was only last spring that I made all the diet changes in our home... hubby commented yesterday on how he didn't realize I'd go from increasing our fiber to saving the Eco system in one summer. lol.

Over the past year hubby too has had some things stirring... he wants to become a self-sustaining farmer and has recently been doing a lot of research on it. When he first mentioned it a year ago I totally thought he was lunny and could not in any way picture myself in that life (I even joined in poking fun of the idea with some friends of ours over dinner one evening). Now... I think it's a wonderful idea and I'm just as excited about pursuing it as he is. It's neat how God has brought us both to the same page. Maybe in a few years I'll be bloggin about the chicken coupe out back, hangin the linen out to dry (which I've already been contemplating doin here) and delicious Lloyd farm recipes. We're already raisin a herd of our own... why not thrown in a few cattle as well.

Back in business!

2008-08-24T21:50:00.004-05:00

We mentioned in church this morning that I was in need of a new keyboard... should of know that in our group of techies and Rockwell employees that there would be a few "lyin" around. A couple people offered to bring one by for me, and I'm not yet sure where this one came from (it was left on our porch, probably while we were napping this afternoon) but it works great!! I'm logged into my own account and no more copy and pasting missing letters. Thanks so much for the keyboard!

-------------

So, hubby has returned, which has been wonderful (I think him being gone for a week did us some good - reminded us how much we love and appreciate each other).

No sign of baby commin out of this belly, but I did rearrange the nursery (AGAIN) this afternoon. I decided that I wanted my nursing seat to be in the back corner and next to a shelf where I could keep books and a beverage while I'm feeding baby. It was a practical rearrangement.

I have another OB appointment tomorrow and Grandma is taking the boys again and hubby will meet me there. I think I'll ask for a gown... or at least two pink pieces of paper this time.

Were gonna finalize our birth plan with my doc, which includes going home right after delivery (not quite brave enough for a home birth... but this will be the next best thing). I really want to recover in the comforts of my own home, especially since I am going for a natural delivery and recovery (at least that's the plan... after the disaster my epidural ended up being last time, plus, if you know me, you know how much I dislike meds anyway).

We also don't want the nurses taking baby and giving him/or her bottles and pacifiers or intruding on our (hubby and I) time to bond with our new addition. Not to mention I'm sure to eat better than I would at the hospital (have ya had the food there?!), and hubby won't have to starve. It will also be nice to minimize baby's exposure to all the not-so-green products, chemicals and such that a hospital uses. We want to introduce the cloth diapers right away, as well as our own (natural) diaper cream, lotions and soap and only as needed. I'm really excited to see what kind of a difference it all makes... healthier baby skin, less illness, a quicker (and uninterrupted - like my trouble with Nevan) response to nursing and less stress on me and baby. Plus, coming home right away will really be good for the whole family. The boys won't have to be "displaced" and will get to share in the experience and bond with their new sibling.

I'll be sure to let you know whether or not we are granted the official OK tomorrow, which shouldn't be a problem since I'm not high risk and have had three successful births w/o any complications.

Dis"a"bled

2008-08-23T15:30:00.003-05:00

Hubby is home.

My two year old dumped water onto my keyboard and seven of the keys are not working... one of them being the letter "a" thus, typing this is difficult, to say the least. Going to have to get a new keyboard (since I use the Mac the old keyboard from our old computer isn't compatible). Just wanted to let you all know... I'm not in labor, my computer is just disabled. I can't even log into my own desktop, because my password has an "a" in it (on the kids account right now). Hubby is on his computer, otherwise I would have used it. Don't even ask how I'm getting all these "a's" typed... you'll think I'm cra_y (missing that letter too). lol. Hope to be back in business soon. Untill then...

Let Go and Let God

2008-08-21T07:59:00.002-05:00

Thankful Thursday
"One of the definitions of “Peace” is: freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions."

Today's theme is peace, and I for one am very thankful for the peace that God offers.

It's a peace the surpasses all understanding and comforts when a brother-in-law suddenly dies. (His peace has been so evident in my in-laws and because of them, I too was able seek and accept peace in an unexplainable, unfair and tragic situation.)

It's a peace that overcomes fear, calms the soul and wipes away all anxieties. (After years of struggling, and only after wrestling with and ultimately submitting to God and accepting His peace, I have been anxiety free for about two years now.)

It is a peace that is perfect.
It is a peace that brings joy in the midst of sorrow.
It is a peace that guards and protects.

I have learned that to have this kind of peace, you have to let go.
Let go of yourself.
Let go of your plans.
Let go of control.

Cast your fears upon Him whose plan is perfect and just. Submit to the will of the One who created you, who loves you, who has a purpose for you and all that you endure.

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

I don't like the pink piece of paper!

2008-08-20T07:57:00.009-05:00

So, I dropped off the boys and went to my OB appointment yesterday and actually arrived a tad bit early so begun reading Raising Baby Green by Alan Greene (a book my mom-in-law just gave me). Anyhow, I was there for "an exam" and by a doctor whom I had never met before. There are three doc's in the office, and at some point they like us to meet each of them (just in case it's one of the other two who end up delivering the baby). Anyhow, like I said, I had never met this woman who was about to "exam" me...

"Good morning Tiffanie" said the nurse and we made our way to the scale. I gained a whole 1/2 a pound (I'm tellin you, this baby's gonna be a little one, unlike the last who was 9 lbs. and 14 1/2 oz.)! Then it was off for a sample (I always feel so awkward carrying my little cup of urine down the hall), and finally into the room. After taking my blood pressure, the nurse hands me a pink paper cloth. I look at her with a puzzled expression and she assures me that all I have to do is strip from the bottom down. Now, I have had my share of struggles with those hideous and revealing gowns, but I knew it'd be better than trying to cover up entirely with this... this... pink piece of paper. I did as told, tucked my undies outta sight and hopped onto the table - me and my pink piece of paper. I opened it up and it didn't take long to figure out that it was not in any way, shape or form going to cover me (I really am going to be exposing my backside). I tried a couple different techniques only to result in tearing that darn pink piece of paper right up the side. With one hand stretching the back of my shirt down, the other clutching two corners of the pink paper and my leg propped just right so to minimize exposure from the tear, I awaited my introduction to the doctor...

What seemed like forever and a day later the doctor strolled in. "how are you doing today" she asked me. "Do you mean aside from sitting here exposed with this ripped piece of paper that won't fit even half way around me? Good, and you?" She laughed, I snickered and we proceeded with my exam. The results - things are underway. I am thinning and starting to dilate (only 1-2 centimeters). I'm already full term, so any day is good, though stayin in there till daddy gets home would be ideal.

We discovered one other thing at the doc's office yesterday (aside from how much I enjoyed not having to tell my kids to "sit down right now" "stop arguing" and "don't touch that"), my hemoglobin is low and I now have to take iron supplements. Not really a big deal though.

Hubby is goneAnd I'm exposing my backside

2008-08-18T07:30:00.004-05:00

Well, hubby left yesterday and will be gone ALL week. If your thinking... wasn't he going out of town the last week of the month... don't worry, so was I! It wasn't until Thursday evening that he said something about leaving Sunday afternoon and I discovered that, oh my gosh, I have had the dates mixed up all. this. time. Oops. I'm like that. I mix dates up or completely forget things all together. Another example... my doctors appointment isn't today (like I thought it was), it's tomorrow. Glad I checked on on that, I once showed up for an appointment two weeks early. Anyhow, Grandma is going to watch the boys for me tomorrow because I get the whole strip down into nothin but a thin and way-to-small-gown that barely covers my frontside leaving the backside uncomfortably exposed routine. Should be fun.

As for today, I'm going to try and keep busy... I'm starting the boys on a unit study on babies and on Friday we will be taking a field trip to the hospital nursery (if I make it to Friday). Maybe we'll throw in a few extra projects this week to keep us occupied. Not that it's much of a surprise, but I cried when hubby left (a couple times). I have to tell you all how sweet he is though, He knew I'd have a rough time and he left me gifts all over the house. I got my first one before I went to bed last night - a really sweet card (and yes, I ~~cried~~ bawled some more). Can't wait to find today's surprise...

And a magnet begins my journey...

2008-08-16T09:14:00.006-05:00

Tell about one time in the past five years where you took a HUGE step of Faith in your journey with the Lord. What was the outcome?

Just short of five years ago I took the HUGEST step of faith in my life...

For as long as I can remember, it was as if I always knew there was something greater, and though I did not know Him, I believed that there must indeed be a god. Maybe that’s why I put it there, a “God Bless America” magnet on the back of my van. That magnet meant something to me, I cannot describe what or why, but when it was stolen (right out of the Wal-Mart parking lot) I was devastated. I wined over that thing for weeks. I know, it was just a magnet, but I felt like it was something more...

Having lived twenty-four years of a rather "colorful" past, life was spiraling to a hopeless halt and I began searching for something other than my seemingly pathetic existence. I had spoken with my Aunt a few times and mentioned my desire to maybe attend a church and my interest in finding out if god was really real. She sent me my first Bible as a birthday gift and I began to diligently follow the three-hundred-and-sixty-five day reading plan found in the back. I don't remember what book I was reading from that snowy November evening, but I closed my Bible and began asking this god if he would please just give me a sign. A sign so that I would know if he was actually there, if he could hear me, if he really did care about me, and that he actually wanted me to follow after him.

The next morning when I walked out to my van one look at that "God Bless America" magnet smacked right there on the the hood, and I knew. God had answered. I went to church that following Sunday and it was as if the pastor knew I was sitting there. As he came to an end he extended an invitation to anyone who had not already done so, that in the privacy of his or her own heart they would accept Christ and place their trust in Him. After further attendance, I noticed that the invite is offered just about every Sunday. None the less, it was that particular Sunday; the day before my twenty fourth birthday, that I knew I was being called. Right then and there, in the privacy of my heart, I told God that I believed in Him, in Christ, that I wanted to step away from myself and place my faith and trust in Him; that I wanted to know Him. As I prayed, my heart was overwhelmed by something so indescribably amazing, as if I were experiencing some other emotion, one unknown to this world and greater than any word our vocabulary can define. For a moment, time stood still, and I met Him.

As I stood to leave, a woman, who I would not recognize today, came over and laid her hand on my shoulder. With a tender voice and gentle eyes she expressed to me how wonderful it was that I was there. In a strange and comforting way, it was as though she knew, and that was when I knew… my life would never be the same.

For God so loved the world, He gave his one Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I stepped out of that sanctuary and into a new life, into a life of faith in Christ, into my journey with the Lord. The outcome... life. hope. freedom. family. love. did I mention life.

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:1-3

Aren't they the most adorable little things...Yeah, not when they lock us outta the car!

2008-08-15T17:11:00.005-05:00

Went to the park today...

And someone. somehow. managed to lock us outta the car (and yes, my keys were inside)! We spent about an hour longer at the park than this momma was plannin on. At least I already had dinner in the crock pot!

Ministries Matter

2008-08-14T01:02:00.004-05:00

Thankful Thursday
"I know this is a very different Thankful Thursday, but Harvest Ministry has been very close to my heart for many years…Spreading God’s Word and making Him known in the world is all that matters. So I am very thankful for ministries like Harvest…"

There are so many ministries to be thankful for, and so many reasons to be thankful for each one. Here are a few that are close to my heart...

Young Life - I have walked along side the "furthest out there" kids and watched them come to know Jesus... life change... radical life changes. Kids with no hope finding a way. Kids and adults building bridges, trust and friendships. MIA parents getting involved. Kids accomplishing things they never thought possible. Graduating. Getting jobs. Young Life is such an awesome ministry. Every kid, everywhere for eternity!

Voice of the Martyrs - Remembering our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ. Praying for them. For their families. Being thankful for our freedoms.

MOPS - Bringing moms together in Christ and in fellowship. Support and encouragement. Godly wisdom and friendships.

Aid to Women - So many women. So many young women. Choices. God. Life. Support and encouragement.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19

Tuna to the rescue!!Dinner on the fly!!

2008-08-14T00:20:00.006-05:00

Kids Corner Thursday
Kid Friendly Quick Dinner Recipes
It happens more often then I'd like (or can count for that matter). Kids and phone calls and errands and laundry and... Four-thirty, five o'clock rolls around and I've got nothin to cook. I forgot to thaw the meat and my family is doomed to starve (OK, not really, but there is that initial moment of panic). What in the world am I going to feed them? Although tempted to just order out, I begin rummaging through the cupboards...

Hummm, spaghetti sauce, a can of peaches and some Jello boxes (those have been there a while, I wonder if they ever go bad?). Things aren't looking so good for my famished crew of growing little men. Not to mention my (always ready to sit down for a good meal after a long days work) hubby. I'm frantically searching at this point, mac n cheese, pinto beans... I begin to move a few things around and finally, I make a glorious discovery. To the right of the canned veggies and behind the chicken broth sat two cans of tuna. Yup, they'll do, and my clan will still get their protein!

Open up those cans with our trusty no sharp edges can opener (which is great, but I really wouldn't mind an electric one, hint. hint.). Drain the tuna water into the sink, being ever so careful not to drip that smelly stuff on the counters or floor, cause then I'd have to break out the Pine-sol (which really isn't all that bad, cause I do love the smell of it after all), and then dump those puppy's into a medium sized mixing bowl. Add in...

mayo
bread crumbs, stuffing mix or quick oats
a tad bit of water
shredded cheddar cheese
and whatever you have lyin around (finely chopped onions, shredded carrots, relish, chopped fresh spinach, etc)

Seriously, no need to measure it all out... eyeball it. Mix it all up. Heat up a large skillet sprayed with cooking spray at a medium temperature and scoop round heaps of the mixture into the skillet. Squish em down with a spatula and cook for three minutes on each side or until each side is a fabulous golden brown. Ba da bing, ba da boom... gourmet tuna patty's.

Kids will love em and if you serve em up with some potatoes and a side of your favorite vegetable, hubby will never guess that not even an hour ago you hadn't the slightest clue what you were going to feed him. Whatever you do, just don't let him know that it was a choice cut beef roast you forgot to thaw and that instead of tuna he could be enjoying a hearty helping of pot roast (seriously, what he doesn't know can't hurt him, and why spoil his impression of the "has it all together" perfect wife, cause you know that's what he's thinking when you do manage to have dinner on the table). He'll probably assume you slaved away over dinner and thank you for having such a wonderful meal planned. "Why thanks honey, would you mind doing the dishes?"

A Day in the Life of a WAHM

2008-08-12T09:15:00.003-05:00

The youngest is at my ankles, Curious George is on the television, one is sitting (not so quietly) in time out and the phone is ringing. Caller ID reveals that I have got to take this call, so I scurry into another room shutting the door behind me in an attempt to minimize the less than professional ambience. Halfway through my - very important business - phone call one or all of my darling children begin ~~knocking~~ banging on the door asking for a snack, no wait, were they telling on each other... I think one was crying. At the other end of the room, hoping my client could not hear the chaos, I resume my – very important business - phone call. By the time I get off of the phone they of course no longer need me for anything and are all playing nicely in the living room, where, in the last five minutes they have managed to drag out every single toy from their room. It's going to be OK (I have to tell myself this often), their quiet, and I'm going to take this opportunity to send out those invoices I've been meaning to send all week.

Sitting down at the computer my inbox is flashing and of course, I have to check it (there could be something important in there). Twelve emails and four responses later... the kids are sounding a bit rowdy and the clock is beaming “lunchtime”. Peanut butter and jelly, grapes, crackers and a glass of milk. Wash up, clean up, it's time for naps. The oldest (since he no longer naps) picks out a few books, I set him up with a few coloring pages and activity sheets and I've got at least a good hour to get back to those invoices. Humm, I think I'll clean the living room first. Somewhere in the middle of gathering up all those toys, it dawns on me that I didn't switch the youngest into a diaper and he's sure to wet those big boy pants during his nap (if he hasn't already). I hurry in to change him... after which it takes another ten minutes to get him to lay back down. I notice some clothes on the floor and decide to take them down to the laundry, switching the loads while I'm there. It's been about a half hour now, but that's OK, I can achieve a lot in thirty minutes.

I tackle the invoices, check them off of my to do's and begin my next project which consists of finalizing a proposal to a prospective client (I also need to mail out those follow up letters, decide which advertising package I'm going go with and update some information on my website). I'm able to get a decent start before the kids wake up and we get ready to go outside and play in the sprinkler (which I had promised yesterday that we would for sure do today). I cut up some watermelon for a snack and help the kids change into their swim trunks and off we go. Somehow running through the sprinkler turns into rolling through the wet grass and sixty minutes later I've got a crew of wet kids painted in mud, grass and sweet watermelon stickiness. I take them inside for baths and when everyone is all cleaned up and smelling nice we pile onto the couch to read a book before I need to get into the kitchen and start dinner. In between chopping and mixing and boiling I kiss a boo-boo, call to check on my shipment of inventory that should have arrived today and recite the alphabet (what seemed like a zillion times) with my four year old. Dad comes home, dinner is on the table, the evening winds down, everyone goes to bed and I head back to my computer to finish up some work. Maybe work two jobs mom is a more accurate description than work at home mom.

Side note: The Carnival of Homeschool is up today! My post from Homemade Homeschoolers is featured at number 13.

Not a lot a sustenanceBut brunch was rather yummy!

2008-08-11T03:39:00.005-05:00

Did I already mention that I love garage sales!? Picked up this steal Friday afternoon for a whole two dollars (I know)! Can you see how clean it is!? I did have to wash it, but it looks pretty darn good now don't it! Used to have one just like it when my four year old was a baby and I'm tellin you, that thing cost more than two dollars! (BTW, it's a Johnny Jumper in case the you can't tell from the pic.)

Oh yeah, I have another little find to share... I feel a great need to give out some kudos to Fried Okra. She posted a recipe for banana bread french toast, and it was a huge hit for our Sunday brunch! OMG, it was absolutely scrumptious; one of my new favorite dishes (cause I do love me some breakfast)! We will be having this delicious dish again, and maybe even for dinner from time to time too (yup, we like breakfast in the evening here in our life).

That's all I have for now folks. I'll try to provide a bit more sustenance tomorrow (been busy with the business and My Kids blog). Plus, I have to get started on 60 custom birth announcements I said I'd have done by Tuesday (that's tomorrow isn't it, can I get some prayer).

Blueprints of a Wife and Mother

2008-08-09T12:06:00.005-05:00

What is one thing or cause that you are passionate about? (More specifically, something you feel that the Lord has burdened your heart with?)

I get pretty passionate about a lot of things (I'm kind of a jump in full throttle kinda gal)... youth ministry, homeschooling my children, singing, working with teen parents or struggling parents of teens, writing, martyred missionaries, single moms (and now going green)... Whatever it is I'm speaking out for or involved in though, God always reminds me that my family comes first. I'm not always good at it, and I don't always make the right decisions, but my family is my first passion. Becoming the godly wife that God has called me to be for my hubby and the mother that He has created me to be for my kids is top priority. God has shown me that no matter what else I do, being Stephen's wife and mothering my kids is something no one else in the world but me can do, and He has definitely burdened my heart with the desire to do it well. To be a good helpmate, wisely building my home and speaking in wisdom and kindness. Not only has He given me the passion, but the blueprints too! So many scriptures come to mind...

Proverbs 14:1
The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Proverbs 31: 10-31
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life...

Ephesians 5:22-24
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

1 Peter 3:1-6
...Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight...

Proverbs 22:6
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.

Creative Homeschooling:Cost Free Alternatives

2008-08-09T00:13:00.000-05:00

Homeschooling, I am finding, can involve a lot of spending. We pay for curriculum and everything that goes along with it. Every school supply, every manipulative, every poster and science project and field trip and printed handout and book… you get the point. To keep expenses reasonably within our budget, I have become pretty darn creative...

Read the rest of my post over at Homemade Homeschoolers.
(I'll be posting there regularly).

Confessions from a Pine-sol addict

2008-08-08T00:01:00.002-05:00

I dilute it (just a tad) and pour it into a spray bottle and I use that stuff everywhere! And yes, I really love the smell! If it were edible, I'd eat it. If I could get him to, I'd have hubby wear it as cologne (OK, maybe not, but I do love that smell). Sometimes I'll spray the counters just so I can smell that yummy cleanliness. There is no other cleaner that will satisfy, and the off brands just don't cut it, it's gotta be the original! Good thing the stuff works too! Cause if I had to use somethin else for the cleanin part, I'd probably be put away for sniffin Pine-sol in the closet.

I've got my Pine-sol fix yesterday (twice actually). My house is pretty clean. I feel like I could have this baby now and really be ready. There are a total of maybe four articles of clothing in the dirty laundry basket (a miracle indeed!) and I have tackled so many projects in the last week... Organized the boys clothes, my clothes and the baby's clothes, painted the front living room and downstairs, finished ALL the laundry (I know, already mentioned that, I'm just so darn happy about it), organized and rearranged my "office" and the school area, cleaned out the boys toys, organized the nursery (again), went through the tall stack of papers and mail and goodness knows what else, cleaned the front porch and took out the rug (or rather drug it as you might recall) and really (and intentionally) begun potty-training my youngest. (Seriously, who says bein a SAHM isn't work.) As if it were a divine pat on the back, I sporadically swung by a garage sale yesterday afternoon not two blocks from the house and picked up a bouncer and a car seat for a total of $8.00. That's right folks, eight bucks! And they ain't ugly. The bouncer looks brand spankin new and the car seat hardly looks used at all. For the life of me I can't figure out why they were so cheap... but I wasn't about to argue. We had given A-L-L of our baby stuff away after the last one. The only thing we really have left buy now is a playpen/bassinet. My shower isn't till after this baby belly pops, so trying to just get the absolute essentials for the time being. Bringing home the car seat and bouncer was so much fun. I washed the covers and while putting them back on, I had a moment and my eyes became blurred with tears. As if this belly weren't a sure clue, it sunk in for the first time; We are really having another child, and we are going to meet him/her soon. Boy or girl, I can't wait to meet this precious life that's been rompin around in my belly for the past eight months. My moment ended with this thought "hopefully hubby will get to meet him/her at the same time that I do"! Hubby is scheduled to be out of state for work at the end of the month (I know). And my parents are leaving town the week I'm actually due. Everyone is pretty much hopping for early... like in the next two weeks (I'd be OK with that).

I must confess, as much as I look forward to meeting this tiny blessing, I am a little nervous about bringing baby home. What is the transition going to be like? How will the boys react? How drastically is our daily routine going to change (I may be M.I.A. from Our Life for a bit, but I promise to post pics ASAP; I know your all dying to see if the baby belly is holding pink or blue in there). But really, so much is going to change. Right now everyone can walk on their own and even my two year old can put his own sandals on. They all feed themselves and we have an excellent nap and school time routine. Going to the store will require extra effort and much of my day will revolve around nursing the baby. Wow, a lot is going to change. What if I don't have time to Pine-sol the counters!?

So glad that God is constant.
That His plans are good.
That He leads the way.

- Relying on faith and surviving on grace.

Ice Cream, Family and... Hope?Just read the post...

2008-08-07T00:06:00.002-05:00

Thankful Thursday
Have you ever been to Cold Stone? OMG, how could one not be thankful for such yummyness!

Have you ever seen the anticipation of a six year old as he's mulling over which flavor to choose? I am thankful for my six year old and the excitement he brings our family.

Have you ever seen the eyes of a four year old light up as you hand him his cone? I am thankful for my four year old and the joy he brings our family.

Have you ever seen ice cream smeared on the face of a smiling two year old? I am thankful for my two year old and the laughter he brings our family.

Have you ever seen a father look so lovingly at his sons? I am thankful for my husband and all that he brings our family.

Have you ever seen the satisfaction of a woman, about to pop, after devouring a second helping of ice cream? I am thankful for this baby; a precious new addition to our family.

Trent asked "what's my last name" during dinner last night, and I was reminded of how thankful I am for my family and all the ways that God has brought us together, provided for us and given me hope in a life I once thought to be hopeless. My oldest two are adopted by my husband, but many don't know that and one could never tell. God is so good. He gave my sons a wonderful father. He blessed me with a husband I don't deserve. And he continues to bless our family with new life. I have great hope... for my marriage, for my children, for our family... and for some more ice cream (my favorite is cookies n cream of course).

In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3

A fresh coat of patience please...

2008-08-06T01:19:00.003-05:00

Sitting here marveling at the red wall I painted yesterday. I like it... it ads some life in here. I love color, you can do so much with a can of paint; change the mood and feel of an entire room. Would be nice if I could slap a coat of paint on myself from time to time and change my mood and feel. I could use a pretty shade of energy today and a dark coat of patience (cause the boys are already tryin mine). Speaking of those little monsters... would like to make them over in a nice shade of good behavior finished with a heavy layer of yes mom. Seriously, is it too much to ask that they simply answer with a "yes mom" and keep the monin and grownin to themselves? We have been working on this (with one of them in particular) for weeks now. It seems so silly that he ends up in trouble for a bad attitude and being disrespectful when all I wanted him to do was take his cup to the sink, or stop running circles around the house, or play nicely, or stop screaming, or give the darn toy back to his brother, or flush the toilet...

Going green...After a trip to the ER,Oh yeah, saw my OB too!

2008-08-05T00:06:00.000-05:00

Packed some PB and J and headed out to meet a friend at the park for a picnic, after which we had planned to venture over to my doctors office for a quick OB appointment. Nice little picnic, hear the baby's heartbeat, then home for naps and some school work; I had the day nicely planned. We got as far as eating our lunch before my plans were altered drastically. My four year old took a dive on the concrete under the pavilion and the next thing I knew blood was drippin all over and we were headed to the ER. Seein as I had an OB appointment that I really didn't want to have to reschedule, I called up dear hubby and had him meet us at the hospital. Off they went through the big glass doors beneath the red EMERGENCY sign. I ~~sped~~ drove away to make my appointment. Got there a tad bit late, but the timing was perfect in my opinion. I didn't have to wait in the lobby at all... by the time I was done leavin my sample the nurse called me into the room. The oldest and youngest were there with me (they have all been to almost every appointment, although this was the last time they could tag along cause at my next appointment I get to start wearin the pretty little gown that no matter how hard I try, just won't seem to cover it all). The appointment went well. Doc let my six year old place the doppler on the baby belly while the two year old held the speaker. HR is still in the 140's. Got some good news too, baby's head is down and I'm measurin about a week and a half further along (maybe, maybe maybe... early will be this baby)! We were outta there in less than 30 minutes and back to the ER where we hadn't missed a thing. An hour and a half later, we went home... One of us with a goose egg above his eyebrow and some glue holdin his injury in place. The wound was deep enough but since the diameter of it was pretty small the doctor decided to spare us the agony of stitches (thank goodness cause I don't think Trent nor I could of handled it). Hubby went back to work and we finally made it home. Didn't do any schoolwork, but while the kids napped, I went shopping (online of course). I think I'm ready to have this baby. While there are still purchases to be made, I think I can confidently say we have all that we need. Cloth diapers and covers, reusable nursing pads, natural and organic diaper balm and baby soap and baby bottles are a few of my latest buys. We are going green this time around. Too much trash in this house as it is. Can't imagine adding diapers, nursing pads, bottle liners and breast milk storage baggies to the mix. It will take a little extra work, but it will save trash and money, so I think it's worth it. Plus, the natural products and ingredients will be great for baby too! I am expecting less diaper rash and skin irritation this time around... I'll let you know how it goes. We are using cloth diapers made from organic cotton, hemp and bamboo and the diaper balm and other baby care products we will use are from Sum-Bo-Shine (and are all natural, certified vegan and cruelty free). With our two year old, we have started using organic wipes and he wears cloth training pants during the day. One or the other or a combination of the two has helped with the summer heat rash he was getting. Disposable diapers/pull-ups apparently do not allow the skin to breath well, and I'm sure there is a long list of chemicals in wipes - it's no wonder his little bottom had a rash. Anyhow, I'm excited to go the all natural route. It makes me feel healthy... speaking of which, our change in diet this summer has really benefited us too. You may have laughed at my lets get healthy enthusiasm, but I really think this has been my healthiest pregnancy yet. I've gained far less weight than with any of the others and overall I feel great. The boys have been healthy all summer and hubby is loosing weight. We eventually got used to the dramatic increase of grains and fiber and aren't spending as much time on the toilet as we were a few months back (in case you were wonderin).

Let it all hang out

2008-08-04T08:19:00.007-05:00

What is one thing that you absolutely love about friendships? Why? On the other side, what is one thing that you find absolutely difficult when it comes to friendships? Why?

I love that you can share anything with a friend. You can just let it all hang out... the good, the bad and the ugly. I love that you can laugh with a friend (I mean those uncontrollable giggles as if you were back in high school together). I love that you can share life with a friend; the sorrows and the joys. I love that my friends pray with me and for me. I love that even when I think I am, I'm not so alone. I love that God has made us for relationships. And I love that He provides us with relationships/friendships (and sometimes in the most unlikely places).

- Oops, that was more than one thing. -

Despite how great a thing friendship is... friendships can be so challenging to maintain. They take time (enough said, right). I can get so caught up in my own life and kids and seriously not speak to another soul all week. Maintaining friendships has to be deliberate, I have to make and schedule TIME (both with and without the rug rats). And let me tell you, that can be difficult.

Finally! I was wonderin where those nesting instincts have been hidin!

2008-08-04T00:04:00.008-05:00

I was gettin kinda lazy for a while there. I could keep up with dishes and overall the house appeared to be clean. But appearances can be quite deceiving. Had you looked a little closer, this is what you'd of seen... Piles (lots of them) of laundry (you can read more about my dirty laundry dilemmas here), layers of gunk laminated to the floors, dust bunnies literally living in and under every piece of furniture, showers and tubs in need of scrubbing and to top it off there was the unpainted living room with a wall 3/4 of the way de-wallpapered and drop cloths, paint and rollers sitting in the same corner they had been for the past, oh... three or four months (yes, I said months). I had so many, many projects that I really, really wanted to get done, but for the life of me could not muster up the energy to do em. On Saturday, I woke up with this refreshed burst of cleaning madness! After painting the living room (with hubby's help) I proceeded to scrub floors, sinks, tubs and toilets. I took up the ugly carpet on the porch (been wanting to rid that cute white wooden floor of it since we moved in) and my pregnant self dragged that thing out to the garage. I rearranged a few things downstairs and I swept the front walkway. My back did ache a bit (maybe a lot) on Sunday morning, but that didn't keep me down! After church I dropped off the family and I went shopping. I love to shop, but hadn't really been shopping in... I don't know how long (hubby's even been doing most of the grocery shoppin). On Sunday though, I went to wally world, Target (my favorite), Sears, Baby Gap, Toys R Us and I stopped by Game Stop to visit my brother. I picked up a few household items I've been needing for weeks (I forgot toilet paper though, again! Ugh!), and I got a few baby essentials. Came home and went to town in the nursery. Rearranged a couple of things, looked through the new outfits one more time and carefully placed my new buys. I also emptied the laundry basket that was sittin in the crib filled with business stuff I neglected to take downstairs and put away. And, speaking of laundry baskets... I'm almost done with the laundry too! Oh, one more thing, I brought home a pack of cloth potty training big boy pants for Nevan (yet another project I'd been too lazy to even attempt to tackle).

- Big exhale! -

I feel so accomplished.
Tackle it Tuesday, watch out... this mamas nesting!

It's a tough job, this mom thing...But dang it, it can be done!

2008-08-03T22:16:00.009-05:00

This morning it was bitter sweet goodbyes to lessons in parenting. For the last several months our Sunday morning adult Bible class has been going through a parenting "class" (if you will). We have awesome class facilitators who did a fabulous job of sharing the trials, truths and successes of their parenting adventures. I have taken so much away from the last couple of months, and though I am sad to be done with that topic, I know that my growth as mommy will continue. My journey through motherhood began in nothing short of sinking sand that nearly consumed me entirely. I have been a neglectful mom, a single mom and a mom who just didn't want the job. I loved my kids, but I wanted more, something different, to be successful, to have more fun. I was drowning in the what seemed an impossible life as mom. Five years ago, although I had hoped for it, I never actually thought that being mommy could be so fulfilling. Today I stand on solid ground and my job has new meaning; a revised description. My brother told me just the other day that I have really done a 180, I hope that one day he can see that it is Jesus. I am not a perfect mom, and never will be (I still take parenting classes too), and I mess up, and I get angry (too angry), but, I have learned that this is not a defeating job. It can be done, it can be done well, and it dang it, it can be fun! I hope to reach out to other parents and share with them the hope and joy and meaning I now have as a mom. There will be struggles, but there are also solutions and there is hope. I want to reach out to parents who need help, who need a break, who need answers or who just want to share and laugh with someone else who can relate. I want to help parents celebrate their kids (cause there's lots to be celebrated) and I want to help connect them to resources when they need help. Guess that's why I started the business. (That and I needed an outlet for all my crafty hobbies, cause hubby says they're kinda expensive to be doin just for the fun of it.)

Week 35But who's counting...No really, I had to look that upAnd I'm loosin my mind

2008-08-01T00:04:00.001-05:00

Large and in charge is what the baby belly is. This thing dictates everything from what I wear to how quickly I can ~~chase~~ waddle after that darn two year old who thinks it's funny to run around the house with no dang diaper on. Can't eat spicy, have to stand sideways at the sink, Should just move my bed into the bathroom and shavin my legs... well I'm wearin pants today... enough said. Apparently I'm lookin a little well done because people keep askin if I'm "due any day". Nope, still got five weeks and five days to go. But who's counting? Not me... no really, I only know that cause of my cute little counter in the sidebar. Ask me when I'm not starin at that baby twirl around and around and around (that thing makes me dizzy) and I probably won't have a clue. Which, is becoming the norm lately. I can't seem to remember a darn thing. I think I'm loosin my mind. Hubby was so sweet this evening; I was cooking dinner (a hearty helpin of meatloaf) and he sent our six year old to ask me if there was anything either of them could do for me. I though for a second (had to decide which one to pick). Why yes, yes there is somthin I need done. "Tell daddy to fix the (pause), the... (long break) um, the vacuum thing... the um (pause and rub forehead), the thingy came off". What the heck is that darn thing called! "Just go tell dad the vacuum broke." For the life of me, I could not think of the word B-E-L-T. Someone asked me the last name of one of my girlfriends not too long ago and it took me two days to remember. I have misplaced my keys more times than hubby has lost his in the last few weeks (and if you know hubby, that's darn near impossible). Totally missed my last OB appointment and had to reschedule for the next day. Forgot to take my son to his last soccer game, oops! And it took me three trips to the store to remember toilet paper (man was havin the kids bring me napkins getting annoying). Hope those braincells mosey their way back after this baby is born.
Have a great Friday (It is Friday isn't it)!

Bird poop and relationships

2008-07-31T08:55:00.006-05:00

I already posted this morning, but came across Thankful Thursday and couldn't resist...

It's my kidos who continually remind me of what it truly means to be thankful. I am reminded of how thankful Brice once was for bird poop; while driving to Texas we pulled into a rest stop where hundreds of birds swarmed overhead and the sidewalk was covered in white droppings, which that bright-eyed little boy found to be utterly fascinating. That evening in his prayers, he mentioned the poop. My children's prayers are always filled with gratitude for the simplicities of life and they always remember EVERYONE. Maybe it's an attempt to stall bedtime... but they list mom and dad, each other, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, friends, Sunday school teachers, the boy we met at the park, the lady who talked to them in the grocery store and the young man at the McDonald's drive-thru. People I often take for granted. Today, as reminded by my kids, I am thankful for every relationship God brings into my life. And I pray that I would treat each person with thankfulness and appreciation.

Sitting on the sideline, my head is spinning, but nap time is Oh so close!

2008-07-31T07:46:00.001-05:00

Went to the park and splash pad to meet some friends. While we were supposed to arrive at ten, we piled out of the car much, much closer to eleven o' clock. My son - who had gone to bed early the night before and attempted to wake me up at six o' freakin clock after I had been out gabbin with the girls till ten thirty and didn't hit my pillow till midnight only to wake up at two am for a trip to the potty and then struggle for the next half hour or so to get back to sleep (inhale) - decided that he would let everyone know the reason we were late was because mommy slept too long. Nice.

Where was I going with that title? Ah yes... Now, being that I am bearing a baby belly, I tend to just sit at the park these days... I know, what kinda fun is that? Kidos ask me to push them on the swing and I divert their attention to the slide. It's just that waddling after them through the wood-chips in my flimsy flops while getting unnecessarily hot, sticky, and exhausted is not my idea of a good time. So, I prefer to sit on the sidelines and let the kids run around like total hooligans. My mommy pals and I do our best carry on a conversation in between trips to the potty, kissing boo-boo's and administering an occasional time out. All the while, keeping tabs on who's where; Brice is on the slide, Trent is by the swing, Nevan is climbing up the slide, Brice goes down, so does Nevan, Trent is on the bouncy horse thingy, Nevan is at the top of the other slide (the one with the tunnel), where is Brice (pause)... there he is swinging from the monkey bars, Nevan should be out of the slide by now... looking, looking... standing up now... still don't see him, “he's over there” one of the other mom's point out. How'd he get all the way over to the splash pad? Bummer, now his shirt is wet. OK, there's one, there's number two... and there's three. Oh my gosh, my head is spinning, am I really about to add number four! The park is totally worth it though, cause two hours at the park means two hours of solid naps. Peace. and. quiet. Plus, it really was a good day...

I remembered the sunscreen.

They didn't take toys or food or sippy cups off of anyone else's picnic table.

Everyone ate their lunch, in a timely manner, and without my having to say sit down 20-billion times.

Nevan did not make a dirty diaper this week.

We didn't loose a single shoe.

There was no blood.

And no one threw a fit when it was time to leave.

The thin plastic peed on stick

2008-07-30T00:13:00.002-05:00

Reminiscing with the girls last night...

Bought it without him knowing and had that darn box hiding in the back of my closet for three whole days before pulling it out. Hubby was at work and wouldn't be home for hours, yet I crept about as if he could sneak up on me at any moment. I slid that box under my shirt and made my way into the bathroom. Safely behind the door I ripped it open and tore apart the packaging to reveal the thin plastic stick. I'll spare you the details and fast-forward two minutes... That thin plastic stick revealed a faint, but unmistakable blue plus sign. My heart was racing!

One would think I would have told hubby asap. But I had a plan. It was mid January and I totally thought that it would be super special if I could wait and surprise him on Valentines day. Two days later, I was gettin antsy. Determined not to spoil my fabulous and perfect Valentines surprise, I called up my best gal. We celebrated with shrikes and giggles and “oh my gosh, maybe it's a girl, what if you have four boys”. I explained to her my elaborate Valentines plans, and while she thought they were swell, and knowing me all too well, she assured me I wouldn't make it to the end of the week without telling Stephen about the baby belly.

I was half way through the first trimester already, so emotions were running a little higher than usual. Hubby and I were sitting together and I got all sappy lookin into those dark brown eyes and thinkin about the baby growing inside my belly. The tears started flowin. He looked at me completely puzzled and of course asked me what was wrong. Had it been morning sickness or some weird craving, I had my lie all ironed out. Completely unprepared for this particular encounter, I blurted out that I had written a poem about him and I just wanted to tell him that I loved him. Then, he asked to read the poem. I think I told him somethin like I was writing a song with it... it wasn't done yet... and I didn't want him to hear it till it was ready. Probably thought I was strange, but he just said OK and kissed me atop my forehead.

It was a special day. I had a sitter for the kids and we snuck off to The Olive Garden. Dinner was great (mostly because I didn't have to do the cookin OR the cleanin). We ordered dessert and the waiter brought out a small thin box wrapped with a bow and placed it in front of my dear hubby. “What's this?” I cautioned him to open it so that onlookers could not see. He slowly lifted a corner of the lid and peeked inside. Who would a thought a thin plastic peed on stick could bring a man so much joy.

About a month later, we had a nice Valentine's too. :) Didn't even make it to the end of the week.

I still have that stick. Is that weird? I have one in each of my kids boxes of keepsakes. The blue line does fade over time, but I kept em anyway. You know, I'm not really sure why. It's not like they're gonna want to frame em someday. The things we keep... but that's a whole other post. ( I think I have each of their belly button clips too.)

Carnival of Homeschooling

2008-07-29T08:28:00.005-05:00

I earned my Family Life merit badge in this weeks edition of the Carnival of Homeschooling. This weeks theme- The Boy Scout Edition hosted at Consent Of the Governed.

Takin out the trash

2008-07-29T08:19:00.002-05:00

Trash runs bright and early on Thursday mornings. If the cans aren't out by six thirty, your outta luck! Obviously, the key is to take out the trash ahead of time on Wednesday night. On a good week, the trash is ready and rounded. All hubby has to do is carry it out. Last week... not so much the case. Hubby scurried about half clothed on Thursday morning trying to beat the roar of the garbage truck. He made it just in time. Or so I thought. Granted that the kitchen trash went out, both bathroom cans as well as the one in the office stood untouched and remained full to the brim with all of our garbage. For days I was battling with those cans, smooching and squashing more waste into them while trying to keep things from spilling out onto the floor. All three of them looked as if they were going to burst, sending the papers and tissues and dirty diapers and who knows what else launched throughout the house. Yuck! Interestingly enough, my trash cans resemble my life. I've got cans for all the garbage in my life too. There is one for my irrational emotions, my frustration, my fear, anger and my bad behavior. If I neglect to take out my life's garbage, these cans also fill up and start spilling over (and that just isn't pretty). It's hard to see much else with trash everywhere, and it's difficult to maintain healthy relationships when I'm swimmin in my waste. Takin out my life trash is even more urgent than hubby beating the roar of the garbage truck nearing our home. And it's a continual process - sometimes by the minute might I point out. On a good week, I'm successful at dealing with my anger and frustrations instead of smooching them into the can until it explodes. On a good week I'll confess and seek forgiveness before things spill over into other areas of my life or relationships are damaged. Hope it's a good week.

Just roll me!

2008-07-28T02:38:00.004-05:00

My Random Thoughts
This Mommy's ready to pop. It's getting close, and I'm gettin anxious. It's been fun so far, but one can only stumble to the bathroom so many times in a single night. The tummy is noticeably larger and some of my maternity clothes have ceased to fit. The other day while antiquing with a friend, the woman behind the counter says to me "Due any day now huh?" "No." I reply. "Not till September." "What, you got twins in there?" Wow, do people realize that pregnant women have feelings too. Was she just making a joke? Cause she totally made me feel like a cow! Anyway, I feel like an old woman too. Been sleepin in and takin naps, always in the bathroom, can't seem to walk right, can't bend over and can't get myself up off the couch. Hubby just needs to roll me.

From Mess to Blessed

2008-07-27T22:49:00.005-05:00

What would be the title of a book about your life?

This is quite a thought provoking question. I think I will take answering it as an opportunity to share a bit (or a lot) about myself. Gonna get pretty personal here, so bare with me...

The title of the book about my life would be:

From Mess to Blessed
My life was nothing short of a mess; tossed in wrinkled heaps, while I desperately and unsuccessfully was trying to iron them out. Husband number one, it turns out, wasn’t half as bad as what I had gotten myself into the second time. Then, with two children and no job, life seemed absolutely hopeless. Most days it was my kids that kept me sane, kept me happy and fulfilled my sense of purpose. But, there were those other days when I longed for the freedom of years gone by; late nights, alcohol and a plethora of friends. When promiscuity fulfilled my need for compassion and my affirmation was confirmed by the party-goers I surrounded myself with. But then, although I could still wear my tight shirts and short skirts, it just wasn’t the same dragging two kids around.
Trapped; bound by another marriage. I did my best to protect myself and my children. Even if I could escape, would the scenario just replay itself again? Maybe number three would be even worse. As I laid there on the couch, hoping to get through the night unbothered, and staring at the door leading to the beds where those two innocent bodies slept, I imagined a life far beyond my reaches; it was happy and I was safe.
Some might blame my poor and irrational choices on the circumstances of my childhood. My parents divorced when I was in middle school. To say the least, my father was abusive. I can still remember those nights cuddled up with my brothers, seeking just as much protection from them as they were from me and listening to my mother weeping. I have vague memories of being whisked off in the middle of the night and waking up in the living room of those nice people; they had a daughter and she taught me how to make friendship bracelets. My father is in prison now. He raped a thirteen year old girl. My mom’s second marriage ended when “that guy” was caught molesting my sister. My sister is mentally disabled.
So there I was lying on the couch, saddened at how closely my footsteps resemble the path of my mothers, and longing for the life I could only dream about. I was without hope and unable to discern any meaning to this painful progression of existence. There has got to be something more. It just didn’t seem possible that this was all there was. And so, I began to search.
I met God that fall. Blind, sinful and shamed I heard Him call. In my dissolute state, God revealed Himself to me and my life was forever changed. His embrace filled me with hope and purpose. He gives me strength and endurance. In Him I find peace and assurance. His truths have paved a new path and His steadfast guidance has been my safe haven. How blessed am I to have been given all that I have after all I have been. Number three is God sent for sure. He has adopted my babies and God has blessed us with two more. It's strange to recall the life I used to live. But the state at which God accepted me in is so vital to my faith today. It is what humbles me when I begin to boast and what brings me joy in the midst of fear. It is where I find compassion for the lost and hope when faced with tribulation. It filters my interpretations and persuades tolerance. It constructs my image of God Himself and validates His worthiness of praise. Even now, when I stumble from God’s path He is merciful and without hesitation forgives me of my imperfections. This God that I have come to know loves me still, through my weaknesses and my sins. I am reminded again, how blessed we are, what a glorious Father we have.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17

Dirty Laundry

2008-07-25T09:21:00.005-05:00

Pulling and editing a piece from my old archives:

If my success at being a wife and mother were measured by my ability to maintain an empty laundry basket, hubby and the boys would need to start interviewing for my replacement. The times you have seen my house nearly spotless, had you looked downstairs, you'd likely find piles (and I mean piles) of dirty laundry overflowing from the baskets and more piles of clean laundry piled atop the dryer. This morning, I have three loads of clean laundry waiting to be folded and put away, while the laundry basket remains overflowing with socks and shirts of all sizes. I don't know that I'll never get used to, or be less overwhelmed by the amount of laundry a house hold of five consumes. And let me tell you, I'm not exactly looking forward to adding baby's laundry to the mix. My inability to stay on top of it often leaves me feeling like a failure and a clean house with laundry stacked high in the basement like a fraud. I am discovering how difficult it can be to remain in the healthy balance between being obsessive compulsive about the laundry and being careless and irresponsible. I think it is that way with a lot of things actually. Sometimes I have to take a step back; laundry and all else aside, what am I relying on for my worth and identity? While in a sense we are all frauds; battling the the sinful nature in our hearts, I must consider any images I intentionally attempt to portray of myself that may not be true of who I really am. It has been a challenging process; on one hand I would really like for my laundry to be done all of the time, but on the other, it never is; so which then should I portray, the person I strive for and hope to become, or the flawed and and mess of a person I really am? Who is the more secure individual- the one who displays confidence in her ability to become what she strives for, or the one who is comfortable in sharing her imperfections? Should I dress for success, or if I have none, should I stay in my jeans?

Now that I am a small business owner, this battle between my two selves seems all the more important to address. Good thing I'm a WAHM, no one can see me when I toss out the suit and the jeans and opt for my jammies!

Perspective

2008-07-24T21:08:00.001-05:00

I walk around, sometimes the view is breathtaking, other-times I just don't know how to go on. The sights seem terribly unbearable. The trials and sufferings are great and many. It's incomprehensible when a 5 month old dies suddenly, or when after six months a baby dies in the womb, or a son just 25 years old is found in an accidental death. Questions so complex and so numerous begin to consume all too easily. Why and what if overtake my thoughts. The path becomes dark and gloomy. It's harder to lift my feet. In the midst of my stumbling I come across a billboard, high and lit brighter than any other, as if strategically placed for me to see. It reads, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” My view becomes brighter, nothing around me has changed, but I am reminded that there is a greater purpose and a great God, bigger than the suffering, the sadness and the pain. He offers hope and peace that outweighs the questions and the fear. He offers love. He is love. The things I see, while I may grieve them, they are not so unexpected and not without a purpose.

A Network for Parents!

2008-07-24T08:34:00.001-05:00

Have you been over to My Kids Blog at mykids-blogspot.com? Check it out!

Um, where is my belly button?

2008-07-23T22:37:00.004-05:00

So this pregnancy has been unlike any of my previous in several ways. I could truly just go on and on about how different it is and how this time it really could be a little baby girl tumbling around in there. But I won't. I won't allow my self to get so ridiculously carried away, and I WILL be prepared to raise four (did I really just say four) boys. Anyway, I just wanted to share with the world my latest "difference". Earlier this evening my belly was on the move and it was when I lifted my shirt for better looky that I discovered the missing belly button. I have ALWAYS had an inney. And even at 9 months pregnant, it has ALWAYS been there. Today, I must sadly report that it is nearly gone. The whole darn thing has more than popped out, it's managed to flatten out too! And on that note... have a great night!

Homeschooling; An Unintended and Challenging Yet Fulfilling Adventure

2008-07-23T01:42:00.005-05:00

I wasn't homeschooled and I never had any desire to homeschool my children, yet here I find myself blogging about being just that; a homeschooling mom. The decision to homeschool was made largely because my son was having trouble in his Pre-K class. He was, at the time, in occupational therapy for a sensory disorder that was effecting several facets of his life. I was afraid he would be labeled in school and decided to bring him home for Kindergarten, giving him an extra year to grow and adjust. Kindergarten ended this last Spring, and we have moved onto 1st Grade Curriculum. I did not anticipate homeschooling long term, and after having "one of those days" I sometimes wonder why I am still doing it.

Do you know what I mean by "one of those days"? I'm talking about the days you wonder why you ever decided to homeschool. The days you think your kids won't make it to the next grade and might be better of watching Sesame Street than taking instruction from you. The days you close the books. The days you just want to crawl into bed and hide...

I have come to appreciate a regular routine. The kids know what to expect as well as what is expected of them, and there is less pressure on me when it comes to planning our days. Having a routine has really helped keep us on task. In addition to our regular routine, I spend some time on Sunday evenings planning out the week. I plan any field trips that we might take, I photocopy any necessary materials, bookmark pages and bind together lessons and worksheets. Being prepared ahead of time plays a huge role for us. When I haven't been prepared, well, let's just say it hasn't gone well. My son gets frustrated while he sits waiting for me to print things out or read over instructions etc. Being prepared also allows for more flexibility. When I have a lesson plan we can easily "catch up" if life interrupts. We do a lot of hands on learning too. This helps keep my boys engaged. Despite all of my efforts, "those days" still creep up on us. A bad attitude, a concept that isn't so easily coming together, multiple interruptions from a younger siblings, a difficult worksheet that leads to frustration or a an activity that just doesn't go as planned; I begin to wonder if it's really worth the effort.

It might not be until the end of the day, or maybe even the next, but I always remember how much I actually enjoy homeschooling and how many wonderful benefits it has given my son and our entire family. Some of the greatest rewards of homeschooling have been the time spend with my son and the celebrations we have over his achievements. It has been amazingly fulfilling to teach him and watch him learn and grow intellectually. Along with 1st Grade, we are now venturing into Pre-K with our four year old as well. It's fun to involve all of the boys in activities and doing so has taught our kids the value of helping one another to learn and achieve goals. They have also developed an interest in (and I might even say a love of) learning that I don't know they would otherwise have. At home we can make lessons fun and tailor them to the individual likes and interests of each of the kids. Being the "teacher" is also the best way to really know their strengths and weaknesses. And I can't tell you how important that knowledge has been even as we work on building positive character traits and behavior. Homeschooling has also provided a natural atmosphere for introducing life skills and concepts that I never would have thought to begin working on. And more importantly, homeschooling allows us to instill our family values without the pressures of competing with those they could potentially be exposed to in public school. Let me say now that I am not opposed to public schooling, and I had always intended to fully utilize the public schools, but life has taken our family down a different road. One that was unexpected and one that isn't always easy, but one that has proven time and time again to be the best for us... at least for now.

Found this over on Christina's Blog. Love it!

Not always #1and not three years old

2008-07-21T11:47:00.003-05:00

Over on the My Kids Blog I posted about Brice failing his swim lessons. It really was quite a profound moment for me. As I'm sure you know, I am so darn emotional that my eyes began to tear up as I read the words "repeat current level". I was the one who had to break it to Brice, and he too was rather surprised. He had been having so much fun and each day he would tell me all about how he could float on his back, swim under water and hold his breath for a "really long time". It was definitely an opportunity for growth in my parenting. Being honest about his failure and yet encouraging at the same time took effort. It was also rather humbling and took a couple of days before I was comfortable sharing the news with others. It's easy to tell grandma and grandpa about all of the boy's victories. I didn't realize how much pride was wrapped up in my kids success. Though my bubble has been popped, I am grateful for the opportunity to mull over the realities of life and to realize that my precious babies won't always be #1.

On another (and rather funny) note... Nevan has been quite entertaining lately. If you ask him how old he is, he will absolutely insist that he is three. Yes, he is only two. If you tell him , "no Nevan, your two" he will respond quite matter of factual, "no, I not two guys, I'm three". I have no idea where he ever got the idea that he was three. He doesn't think he's one, or four like Trent or six like Brice, he's three. It's the funniest thing since the Veggie Tales belly button song! However, it may make for a confusing and frustrating event on his next birthday.

Chasing montersand Nevan's special time with mom

2008-07-20T00:15:00.008-05:00

Sword in hand and an extra one tucked snugly into his shorts, my little guy cruises through the house searching for and vanquishing the apparent plethora of monsters we have lurking behind chairs and hiding randomly throughout our home. "ah ha!" He exclaims. "Got you monster. Ah ha!" "Come on Trent." He beckons to his brother with an outstretched arm, from which he is handing him a yellow plastic screwdriver (aka his sword). And off on their hunt they venture. Running through the house chasing monsters. How lucky I am to have such brave little tots. I don't know that I myself could charge into the face of a monster with such confidence and determination.

Brice and Trent spent Thursday and Friday at NCBC day camp, leaving Nevan and I two days of long overdue one on one time. If you have more than one child, or in my case are nearing a basketball team, it's always a good idea to spend one on one time with each of them. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular, they'll simply appreciate the time. Nevan was quite excited about our "special" days together. We had special pizza for lunch, we got special ice cream on Thursday, we went to work at the rec. center and had an extra special time and we even had a special burp contest while sharing a special Sierra Mist. All day Nevan kept calling me his buddy and I too enjoyed our special time together.

Changing plans- Living in the now-An unexpected picture of motherhood

2008-07-19T23:54:00.002-05:00

In light of a dear girlfriend of mine just having given birth to a precious baby girl with Down Syndrome, I have recently given much thought to the wondrous and incomprehensible miracle we call life. Ordained by God and all a part of His perfect plan, yet seldom in line with our own expectations and the way we think it ought to be. I was speaking with my mom yesterday about her adventures in raising my older sister who is mentally retarded. While on one hand she admits the difficulties and challenges, she was also happy to confess the fulfillment she never imagined possible as a young mom whose firstborn did not meet her expectations of motherhood. Some of the more difficult times would come when other moms were proudly proclaiming the milestones and accomplishments of their children. On a much smaller scale I can relate. My oldest son has a sensory disorder that delayed some of his motor development. In addition, he is ambidextrous and at six still hasn't figured out which hand to write with or which leg to use when kicking a soccer ball. Needless to say, he has not done terribly well in sports and for some time the sensory disorder was a large distraction to his daily routine and ultimately the leading factor in our decision to homeschool. Raising him has definitely not gone as I was "planning" it would for the nine months he tumbled around in my belly. I think of my friend and her response to having a daughter with Downs. She shared that one of the biggest hurdles to overcome was her own self pride. Like any parent, we desire a healthy and flawless child and often from the time of conception begin planning and dreaming of their grand success in life. When our plans abruptly and unexpectedly change it can often send us on a whirlwind. The thing to remember is that special needs or not, it's always going to be different than you envisioned it to be. And once you get past that, it's OK. My friend has adjusted really well to the change in plans, and she and her husband are truly the absolute perfect parents for little Addie. My mom also adjusted well and has raised a fine young and mentally retarded women. There are seldom answers when children are born with disabilities, at least not any that are truly satisfying. No real reasons to pinpoint and nothing that could have been done differently. It isn't always easy, but you press on; adjusting your plans to those intended by God. I am sure that my friend, my mom and many many others would agree that the why is far less important than the now.

For support, insight and inspiration, visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs.

It is what it is

2008-07-19T23:52:00.000-05:00

Boy or girl? Everyone wants to know. And everyone has an opinion. I have received so much advice and there are a lot of people who think they know what we are having based on how I am carrying, how my skin looks etc. It's kind of funny, we didn't find out because we didn't want to know, yet people keep trying to guess and tell us what they think it is. Most speculate that it's another boy. We will rejoice either way! While a little girl would be lovely, I am kind of excited about the thought of four boys too. (We'd be that much closer to our basketball team, right Grandpa!) Anyway, it is what it is and we will know soon enough. If you want to know, you'll have to come see us in the hospital. :)

Boy or girl, it's an active little thing! I am loosing sleep to the thumps and bumps beneath my belly. Even Stephen has experienced being awakened by the commotion in my tummy when it has been pressed against his back. The boys enjoy feeling the baby move. They think it's pretty cool and their faces are so cute when there little hands get catapulted by their unborn sibling. Nevan still thinks he has a baby too. Every once in a while we'll hear him telling the other boys not to touch his tummy because of his baby. He is awfully confused, for several reasons, but it's pretty cute.

We are no closer to deciding on names than we were the day we found out we were expecting. I'm sure it will come to us, even if it is the day before we leave the hospital; like with Nevan's middle name. This pregnancy has pretty much floated by. I can't believe we are only 2 months away from meeting our newest addition.

I think I live in a zoo!

2008-07-19T23:50:00.003-05:00

Over the fourth of July weekend we took a trip to Des Moines and visited the zoo. The boys had a ton of fun that weekend, and it was neat for them to see all the animals! They still talk about the elephants that danced and they were even pretty impressed by the peacock we got to see up close on the side of the walkway.

For me, the experience was quite amusing. Being at the zoo was much like being in my own living room. The monkeys were picking at each other. The sea lions swam around and around and around and around... The atmosphere was noisy. And there was a "funky smell" that lingered in the air.

Summer Swimmin

2008-07-19T23:50:00.002-05:00

"Go swimming today mom?" Is what I hear from Nevan just about every morning! He was so excited about the water he ran and jumped into the pool, fully clothed, shoes and all, the first day of Brice and Trent's swim lessons. I about had a heart attack! Running after him, I wasn't sure what I'd do when I got there. Am I gonna have to jump in? Luckily, Trent's swim instructor was right next to Nevan and picked him up for me. He wasn't at all scared, if anything he was afraid that he was in trouble. I was completely embarrassed! The first day of swim lessons, and all the other moms are just staring at us. It's made for a good laugh I suppose.

Now I keep him occupied with snacks. Other than that incident, swim lessons have been going really well. Brice is swimming in open water, doing flips and swimming beneath the surface. And Trent, he will be the first to proudly proclaim that he can put his face under water, and that he can float! They all really enjoy swimming.

We had a fun day out at Grandma and Grandpa's pool last week with their cousin Ethan. We were out there for a good three or four hours and while I caked the boys in sunscreen, I forgot to put it on myself until about half way through the afternoon. I was in bed pretty early that night, tired and sunburned. Oops.

About Our Life

2008-07-19T22:18:00.002-05:00

Welcome to Our Life! I will post about the kids and their amusing adventures. I'll discuss life as a homeschooling, work at home mom. I will share the blessings and trials God grants us. And from time to time I might just ramble on. Adventurously beautiful and beautifully messy, I hope you enjoy traveling through life with us.

Meet the Lloyd's

Cedar Rapids, Iowa
stephen.n.lloyd@gmail.com
tiffanie.lloyd@gmail.com

Stephen
Father and leader. Employed at Yellow Book USA. Enjoys disc golf and reading.

Tiffanie
Mother and teacher. Cedar Rapids Young Life Area Director. Small business owner. Enjoys music, writing and crafts.

Brice
Bright and energetic. Turned six on February 8th and is in 1st grade. Summer activities include soccer, baseball, swimming and reading.

Trent
Shy and compassionate. Turned four on April 23rd and is in Pre-K. Summer activities include baseball, swimming and learning to print the alphabet.

Nevan
Fun and outspoken. Turned two on May 21st. Summer activities include potty training and learning to count.

WAHM (work at home mom)
While I have been a stay at home mom for some time now, I have recently become a WAHM too. Not that staying at home isn't work, or a full time job of it's own for that matter. By WAHM I am referring to being a small business owner. I began My Kids Occasion in July 2008. After much advice from friends, I thought it was finally time to put all my hobbies and creative abilities to good use. Hopefully my friends haven't just been "being nice" and my efforts will pay off. I used to regularly keep up our family site, that was about a year ago. Now, with the business and the My Kids Blog I have reentered the blogesphere and will attempt to keep you once again, regularly entertained.