The Happenings of Team Forsythe

The Heart Matters...

2012-02-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

I've always loved Valentine's day... to me it has never been about the chocolates, flowers or mushy things (although -- those things are quite nice)... it was/is about showing love to others. I think this holiday is an awesome way to share "God"... because if God is love and Valentine's day is about love... then it must be about God... because God is love! I love seizing holidays and making them an opportunity to share more about Jesus with my kiddos... yesterday I couldn't help think about how the heart matters! In Jeremiah 17:9 it says that "the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked." When I sigh and wonder why my kids are such "difficult" children I am reminded that they have unregenerate hearts. They act out of a dirty heart... hence dirty actions flow forth... ALL the time!

Opening Valentine Love from Nana...

We started our day out with a treat from Nana and from Grampie and Grammie Weller. The kids think presents are the best... I love how the little things grab their attention and keep them busy for a few extra minutes... I take what I can around here!

Our pink-heart pancake cherry delight!

For breakfast I made some pink heart pancakes... At breakfast we talked about our hearts and the need for Jesus to give us a new heart. I told them that my prayer for (myself) and for them is... Psalms 51:10 "Create in me (them) a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me (Ethan and Eden)."

Little candy bags my Mom made for the kids..

To add to the sugar high... the kids were thrilled with their Valentine Candy bags my Mom sent.

Thanks, Mom (The pants for Ethan WERE perfect... thanks so much!!!)!

For lunch we had special Valentine's day heart P&J... amazing what a cookie cutter can do to add a bit of fun and excitement... it's the simple things! My kids don't need Disneyland as long as I have fun cookie cutters... ha!

After "rest" time... (sob)... looks like both my babies are nap free now -- for the record I am NOT OKAY WITH THIS (still need to work on this in my heart)... we made cookies.

Window Cookies..

I have always wanted to do window cookies... where you make a hole and melt a candy in the center. I texted my sister in law who did windows with candy in their gingerbread house at Christmas time for instruction. She gave me this brilliant idea of putting little foil squares underneath the candies... they peel off super easy!

Micah showed up in the middle of our decorating and helped us finish!

The kiddos are great cookie sprinklers!

Decorating sugar heart cookies on V-day is a must...

I just loved how they turned out... so bright and beautiful!

Don't you just love how the window cookies turned out? I do!

My Love surprised me with flowers... and DINNER... the dinner was quite unexpected because you see I had ALREADY made dinner for 5 people. Tuesday night is CTM dinner night and the whole team gets together for intentional fellowship/community/Bible Study. Last week I had asked if anyone had Valentine's Day plans? No one did so I told them I would make them a special V-Day dinner... Somehow my hubby forgot that when we went to the store and BOUGHT the special ingredients for dinner... and then he forgot again the night before when I put together the chicken packages.... so when he walked in the door and saw me putting them in the oven he said, "You might not want to do that... I canceled dinner." I had to examine my heart ... let me just say... I have uncooked chicken soaking in white wine sauce on a bed of spinach with garlic and feta... (amazing dinner if you ask me) been trying to find someone to come over for dinner tonight so it will not be wasted! I love how my hubby loves me. It is unconventional... I am a planner -- he is last minute. I stuck the chicken back in the fridge... swallowed, and we enjoyed our dinner out... I love him!!

I am thankful for days that remind me that the heart matters... We need God to give us a new heart... to allow Him to change us from the inside out. I am so thankful He is LOVE... I am so thankful we get to remember that on Valentine's Day....

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." Ezekiel 36:26

Redeeming Our Vehicle...

2012-02-13T20:09:00.000-08:00

A few months ago I mentioned to Micah that "maybe" we should sell our Suburban. We bought our Suburban when our African adoption was in the near future and we were planning on being at the school for many more years. We needed more room and a vehicle that would handle the dirt roads. The Suburban was an answer to prayer ... and the nicest car we have EVER owned. It has a hard decision to sell it, but we wanted better gas mileage and something a bit smaller. I spent a few hours cleaning it and getting it ready to sell. Then it didn't take any time at all to sell it ... we got what we paid for it. Then the journey to find another vehicle began. The kids and I were without a vehicle for two weeks... and at times it was difficult. We couldn't go anywhere, but it was okay because Eden and I were sick... anyhow!

My lesson in "redemption"

Well this past week we found another "ride"... it was in our price range, BUT we made the fatal error of looking at it at night. It looked like it needed vacuuming, but it seemed to be okay. I don't think I have EVER seen a car so dirty in all my life!!!!! Micah spent 4.5 hours on Friday disinfecting it with bleach. He scrubbed EVERYTHING... and it still looked AWFUL! On Saturday we had to run some errands... we were driving around in it... I finally ended up crying! It was awful... Micah and I learned a lot about each other during this car incident... we are coming up on 12 years of marriage, but we are still learning how to communicate and work things out. It finally clicked with me how we deal with hard things is completely opposite -- should have realized that earlier, but I didn't. I need to talk myself out of the pit -- in other words I have to talk circles around the pit, examine every angle of the pit, and process every single dirt particle in the pit... then I can slowly start to accept the pit and climb out of it. Micah doesn't want to talk about the pit... He simply admits that it is a pit and climbs out. He then decides to make the most of the pit. As I am processing out of the pit - I frustrate him because he has already acknowledged that it is a pit and doesn't want to go back in, but by me processing the pit he is pulled back in. Interesting huh? We finally acknowledged that we both were super bummed about the "new" wheels, but were going to work on redeeming it. Redeeming takes a lot of work... it is looking a whole lot better... and smelling a whole lot better. I cannot believe the places we found dirt and the quantity of dirt! We rented a carpet cleaner and spent another 4.5 hours Saturday afternoon cleaning the ceiling, the seats, the rugs and floor. The 6 buckets of dirt that came out of it looked like black tar. Ethan now calls it our "hotel" car, because he says it smells like a hotel (aka BLEACH).

The kids wanted to join in with the cleaning process so I gave them rags and brushes and had them clean the kitchen counters and floor.

They worked hard, too!

I am learning in counseling that God forgives us... not to just forgive us, but to build a relationship with us. He cleans out the old so that He can build something new... something better than we could imagine. That is redemption -- that is something to get excited about!

I wonder what He thinks when He peeks in us... is He totally grossed out and disappointed... or excited about the possibility?? I am sure He found more than 6 buckets of gross black tar in me... and probably still will... I am thankful He is patient in our redemption process (hopefully more patient than I was in our car's redemption)!

... Well - enough on that... here is some other highlights from our weekend...

My comic relief!!!

A funny: On Friday Eden came running out from her bedroom and exclaimed, "Look, Momma! I'm a bull!" She insisted that she needed to wear it to story time at the library... thankful I was able to slip it out of her nose BEFORE we entered the library!

Eden LOVES babies! She loves helping out!

Friday we babysat our little pal for a few hours. He is such a good baby. If I could get a promise that another baby would be like him... I might be able to have another kid, but knowing my luck -- another child would come out screaming and kicking like the other two!

Friday night is free night at the Children's Museum in Bozeman. We needed a break from car cleaning and so we took the kids... it was our first time there...

It was hard to capture a picture of Ethan playing... he was a whirlwind tearing all over the whole place -- exploring his heart out! He has (since) asked a 100 times if we could go back to the "museum"...

I would love to run a place like this... a big house of toys! It would be super funtastic!

I think we will be hitting this place up regularly on Friday night... I was so glad the kids enjoyed themselves so much... it was a moment where I was able to take a deep breath and think,

"we are going to make it... somehow!"

This morning the kids played tea party... this was BEFORE I gave them animal crackers to have with their tea... I came back later to find they had smashed the crackers into bits with a BAT and then smushed them into the freshly cleaned carpet... what in the WORLD!!!!

We are started on a new week! I am still fighting something -- cuz I'm EXAUSTED... maybe just "car" bug... I did spend all afternoon Saturday cleaning our car... then since we had the carpet cleaner I went ahead and cleaned most of the carpets in our house (maybe that is why I'm tired!!!!)... I'm trying to gain perspective and face the week... and my new vehicle!

I Miss Blogging...

2012-02-09T18:33:00.000-08:00

I really miss blogging. Blogging has been a way for me to reflect on my day... to highlight the good and be thankful for the moments as they happen. Waiting a week to go through pictures and think over the events of the week rob me of the daily joy of reflection. I guess I could do that on my own, but posting a blog entry kept me accountable to regularly reflecting and writing. My Mother - in - love read me a quote by someone and I wish I could remember the whole quote, but I do remember the gist of what was said and that was that this person wrote because he/she needed to! It was a way of life almost like breathing. I GET that, I write because I need to. I write because it helps me sort out my thoughts and get a grip on my emotions. It is therapeutic!

See the ROSY cheeks... She is almost over her cold... or as she told me when she woke up from her nap today, "Momma, the bad bugs left my body!"

This week has been another BLAH week for me. Crawling out of bed in the morning has been a chore. I feel unmotivated and uninspired. It is amazing how far a little bit of inspiration and energy go! I look at my kids running around the house full of life and fight to gain perspective over the piles of laundry, dishes, crumb-covered floors, finger-smeared windows, food-stained cabinets, and the path of disaster that was left in the wake of two kiddos... I know this is the life of a house mom, but when I caught myself with a calculator trying to figure out much I needed to make at a job in order to put my kids in daycare... I realized -- I need to think through some things!

I figured it was time to give Eden control of the glue bottle... after all it only cost 35 cents...

Our daily routine can absorb energy... turning opportunities into tasks and adventures into chores. Making small things special and seizing the moments as they happen can be missed in the ho hum of the day. I'm realizing that so much of life is perception. I can be filled with joy and peace choosing to go with the flow or I can be drowning in the details and unmet expectations.

The beginning of our Valentine's Day fun!

This week I have been trying to keep up with the high energy level of my kids, while having none of my own! They are curious, desiring to learn, eager to do projects, and NEVER satisfied! I'm trying to get organized! I've got curriculum books all over, food menus all over... and piles to organize all over... I JUST WANT TO SIMPLIFY... Micah shared the other night that "Intentionality must flow out of discipline." The more I have thought about this the more I agree. I need to be more disciplined with preparing for my kids ... (huh-hum... preparing for my LIFE). There are so many things I want to teach them, so many activities that I want to try, and subjects I want to explore. But I need to set aside 15 minutes a night to prepare for the next day... so that when the flood gates (the kid's bedroom doors) are opened I am ready. I need to focus on ONE thing at a time!

I thought parenting would be different. I'm not really sure what I thought it would be like, but I know I wasn't prepared for the all-consuming-ness of it! Especially now that the kids are almost finished with taking afternoon naps... *sigh* .... *sigh....SIGH....sigh*

I'm learning to seize small moments in time by going into my bedroom, closing the door, and "disappearing". It helps!

So enough about my attempts at surviving parenting...

here is what we've been up to the last few days...

"Look, Momma, my smile looks just like this!"

We are preparing for V-Day... We made some mailboxes and since then I have written Ethan a dozen notes. He is constantly checking his mailbox for new letters... when I informed him the "normal" mailmen only come once a day... he wasn't impressed!

(Eden's face is beautiful... I pray her heart will be as well!)

We are planning a Valentine's Day card making/cookie decorating party. I love V-Day!

The kids are into the game "Breaking the Ice". Paige (our favorite friend) got it for them back in the day and they can actually play it now. For the most part they play really well together.

It is nice to sit back and let them do an activity on their own... I just have to put in the "corner" ice.

I love catching their expressions and dialog as they play...

It is priceless...

Ethan has been going through my recipe books. He regularly brings me a picture and says, "Let's make this for dinner!" It is usually some sort of cookie, ice cream sundae or the like... Yesterday he brought me a cookie recipe and asked if he could make cookies.

Love the concentration tongue... cracks me up!

Every single time we bake together I talk to him about measuring spoons. Fractions were so hard for me to understand so I figure I will start early... I'm sure he doesn't "get it", but it is good practice.

I let him measure everything out by himself yesterday. He even poured the honey.

I even introduced him to the kitchen "power tool"... he thought that was marvelous!

Little Bit joined us 1/2 way through... just in time to get a snitch or two!

I am pretty sure that is why Ethan loves to bake with me... purely for the snitches!

I love how Eden says, "Can I have a snitch?"

This recipe was Sally Field's Kid's Bake um cookies recipe... and it was a simple! I liked that this recipe didn't call for eggs... so I wasn't too concerned about the kids snitching the dough or licking the beater...

Kid's Bake 'Em Cookies

1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chips

(cream the following together)
1/2 cup room temp. butter
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup honey

Mix dry with wet ingredients... but don't over mix. Bake at 300 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Suppose to make 2 dozen...

***I am trying to figure out how I can make an extra $50 bucks a month... to go to my internet fund (still not sure I really WANT to have internet... it has been nice not having it, too). I know so many of my friend have fabulous businesses on the side... so I'm trying to figure out my venue... I'm only drawing blanks... so if anyone has ideas shoot them my way!

Ups and Downs...

2012-02-06T11:28:00.000-08:00

This week I sent a text to Micah saying, “I’m gonna turn in myresignation…. I don’t get paid enough!” I don’t think anything could have prepared me for the moment when Iheard Ethan’s first cry… the first few months of constant crying, spit up andsleepless nights… Nor was I prepared for the first moment when he whispered, “Ilove you, Momma!” I feel likeraising kiddos is a constant rollercoaster of ups and downs. I have so many moments where I put upthe white flag and admit defeat… then in the next few minutes I am overwhelmedby love when I overhear some sweet exchange between Ethan or Eden… see thembeing kind to each other, or have one of them throw their arms around me andtell me that they think I’m the best Momma in the whole world… we had a lot ofups and downs this week!

Ethan found a book at the library that shows you had to paint things on rocks. He had all sorts of plans for what he wanted me to paint on his rocks... I smiled at him, but encouraged him to do it himself... that way he LEARNS how to paint like Momma!

I was delighted to see he finally gave in... and started to paint. The rest of the week I heard little comments like, "Yes, this is what artists do!" "Of course artists have paint on their clothes..."

Art work makes you thirsty!

In his mind he is totally an artist now... I'm pretty okay with that!

Our weeks flew by... in fact ... I felt like it was a catch up week. Little projects that needed to be finished... got finished or started. I went on a cooking spree using up the food in my fridge that was "turning"... I stood in the kitchen all day long one day and made an apple pie, salsa, mexican cole slaw, and banana bread... It was a full-filling day... "doing" gives me the false illusion that I have an A on my life report card. I'm figuring that out... and slowly trying to redo my thinking. The bursts of energy I have to complete tasks usually is fueled by insecurity... or thoughts that I am not okay... silly isn't it!? But I'm just trying to be honest and stop comparing myself to others and what they do or don't do!

Mexican Cole Slaw

You really should try this recipe!!! My friend, Caitlin, introduced me and I am officially hooked!
6 cups finely shredded green cabbage
1 red bell pepper diced
1 cup chopped cilantro
(dressing: mix together and pour our the top ingredients-- if you have extra green cabbage make extra dressing)
1/4 cup lime juice
1 T salad oil
1 t cumin
1/2 t garlic powder
1 t sugar
1/2 t salt

Trust me... it won't disappoint... I could eat this every day and it is delish as salsa too!

We had sunshine this week and then randomly woke up to snow. We were pretty delighted -- if it is cold out ... there should be snow. At least this is my theory! Eden has been sick all week so instead of bundling up and going out -- we brought the snow inside. This kept the kiddos busy for a long time and that is always a good thing for me!

I think Eden just sat and ate most of the snow... but Ethan was making muffins, cookies, and omelets... I'm pretty sure he talks all day long... and I even hear him talking in his sleep at night... I think he has twice the words in a day than I do...

There was plenty of this in our week... always is... sometimes I handle messes like a pro and other times I come unglued!!!! This time I took it in stride because it was NOT on the carpet!!! I find "down" times in my week come when I feel like all I do clean up disasters.... Seriously... do any of you have clean houses??? I sure don't... and it isn't from a lack of cleaning!

A major UP in our week was family day on Saturday! Home Depot had their Kid Workshop... seriously if you have a Home Depot close you need to check this out! We took both kids this time and it was fun.... (although, I did leave covered in pink paint... hum!)

The kids made little wooden keepsake boxes. They glued them together and then painted and decorated them. I let my kids do their own projects... it is never how I think they will or how I would do it... they are always masterpieces only a mother could love -- which makes its it WAY BETTER.

Next month the kids get to make a race car... WOW it's gonna be a long month... Ethan asks every 10 minutes if it is time to make the race car... "NOPE... you still have 26 days..."

On Saturday night we celebrated 1/2 birthdays. February 4th is exactly the 1/2 way mark between the kiddos 1/2 birthdays (Eden's is Jan 2 and Ethan's is March 6th). My Mom always celebrated our 1/2 birthdays growing up. Now that I am a parent I usually forget, but my Mom remembers... amazes me --she has 13 grandkids! She left a couple gifts for the kiddo's 1/2 days and I figured February 4th would be a FUN day to celebrate both kids! They thought it was a great idea too!

I mean who doesn't love cake, presents, and feeling special!

Eden got a bouncy ball toy. She loves it... I love this picture -- this is pretty much all she's done since she opened it. Amazes me how she knew what to do!

The other day I was holding her and she doesn't fit in my arms anymore. She is big... long and growing up. I can't believe she will be 3 this summer... crazy!

Ethan loves sugar... he just does! It has a horrible affect on him and so we question any time we CHOOSE to put him under the influence! On Saturday Micah needed to run to the hardware store to get some things... He was going to go with him until I mentioned I was going to work on the brownies for their party... Eden went to the hardware store and Ethan made the brownies... he is a pro at cracking eggs now... he was pretty proud of himself -- I was proud of him too! (Plus he is pretty good at licking the beater!)

Grampie and Grammie know Ethan...

Trucks are the way to his heart!

He was thrilled with the present.. I just love this smile! Pure excitement!

He hasn't let them out of his sight!

On Sunday I stayed home with my little sicky. Her cough sounds horrible and although she was happy I knew I couldn't put her in the Church nursery. We snuggled and watched movies... she is still pretty congested... hope she will be getting better soon!

There is some thoughts about our week... the ups and the downs. It is hard to parent toddlers. It takes so much energy. I'm not sure how Moms of 4 or 5 kiddos do it. I barely survive with 2 and at times struggle to stay above water! Micah didn't take my resignation... in fact he took me out to dinner and told me I was doing a good job and I was a good Momma... I guess I will get back to work this week... taking one day at a time -- through the ups and downs!

Where's Winter...?

2012-02-01T05:51:00.000-08:00

I was editing pictures this morning from yesterday... and found a strong strain of internet on my computer.... so I'm gonna borrow it while my neighbors' sleep peacefully in their bed!

It was a gorgeous day yesterday... makes me wonder where is winter????

We spent the morning at the Dino park... and ponds. We picked weeds,

Overturned every single rock...

Climbed hills...

and breathed the fresh air... it was so invigorating... I am thankful for days like this, but this year they are becoming the norm... we have HAD so MANY NICE DAYS!!!!

Our morning was great.... THEN for lunch we went to Micah's work. We try to go there for Tuesday lunches so that we can see Daddy and meet the students that he works with, but I'm not going to lie we mainly go to see Daddy! Yesterday was a humbling experience.. my kids decided to turn into terror children. We had trip to the bathroom for "instruction"... then it just WENT DOWN HILL. I wanted to curl up and die.... Micah was still in a meeting and so after temper tantrums and lots of LOUD crying... (sheesh -- kids can TURN ON the water works in PUBLIC!) I threw our lunch in the trash and drug SCREAMING and KICKING children out of a PACKED cafeteria... I just wanted to dig a hole into the ground and DISAPPEAR.... On the way home Ethan was hysterical that I threw his brownie in the trash... he couldn't believe it... in fact he has asked me why 100 times since then... he exclaimed, "I'm so sad at you right now I don't even want to play with you!!!" All I could think was -- "Wow... oh wow... WHAT JUST HAPPENED BACK THERE!!!!!!" The kids both took a 3 hour nap... that never happens anymore... maybe the sun and the dirt really wore them out!

Puffy Paint, Movie Night, and other Randomness...

2012-01-30T18:36:00.000-08:00

Ah, Monday night... how I lookforward to thee! I'm snuggled up at the library with my decaf coffee, laptop inmy lap, feet on the table... it is quiet, calm... refreshing. We had abusy week... I am realizing all our weeks are busy. Lots happened! Solet's get to getting... here are the pics and highlights!

I would like to start off with anamazing art project that we discovered this week. It is home made puffypaint! I am not sure where I found it (SORRY)... somewhere on the internetmoments before the library closed. In fact I only wrote down 1/2 thedirections ... so I used logical reasoning to fill in the blanks!

This project is a perfectexcuse for using lots of paint...

the more paint the BIGGER the puff in theend!

Ethan didsuch delicate painting I had to convince him to GLOB on the paint!

Here is the fabulous EASY recipe:
(It makes PLENTY... I only made 3 colors, but easily could have done more with a single recipe!)
1/2 cup flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
(food coloring)

Mix water with the above ingredients until it is a smooth paste. Divide up into containers (I saw some people used muffin tins (genius)) and then drip in a few drops of food coloring - mix. Paint on thick cardboard... when they are done painting (before it dries) pop the painting in the microwave for 30-40 seconds. It puffs... it is fabulous!

What a fun, CHEAP project! I think I was more excited about this than the kids...

But they got into it too! You should try it! I loved how the colors looked swirled together!

Isn't this a cool project? (The painting on the left is Ethan's... it is exploding geysers and a guy riding a skate board... and Eden's is on the right.... what happens to the ceiling if you leave the lid off the blender!)

We made an apple pie for daddy... Ethan and Eden love to help and thankfully they are good helpers....

While we are working there is a hum of talking... constant talking... Ethan has created more words of his own then some people say in a life time. He designs intricate plans for his next project and then describes every single line and circle with words I have no idea what they mean... his own little designer language. Eden still thinks the best way to communicate is a shrill scream or cry... I think I will take the strange language to that noise... any day!

Quiet moments are rare... the calm after they go to bed is deafening compared to the chatter that fills the walls of our home on a daily basis. One day I will probably miss this noise, but at this exact moment I am almost floating in the quietness! Ahhhhhhhh....

Saturday is our official family day... this week we had a movie night... Micah and the kids created the "movie theater" while I cooked dinner... their pillows and piles cracked me up... it was super cozy!

For dinner I stole inspiration from my sister in law. She posted a recipe for calzone rolls... AMAZING.... (here is her blog and the link to the recipe! -- check out how cute her kiddos are!!!) I should have used a bigger pan... oh well -- they still tasted good.... the cinnamon roll of pizza!

The goofball... "Momma, take a picture of me!!!" This Sunday afternoon while Micah and Eden slept Ethan and I slipped away to the public library for a special presentation on Stuntology... The guy (Sam Bartlett) did all sorts of tricks with simple household items.. like straws, nails, ping pong balls.... Each time he did a trick he explained how he did it. Ethan was enthralled. He kept looking at me with giant eyes exclaiming, "COOOOOL, Momma! Did you see that!!!?" Let me tell you... once we got home we tried all the straw stunts... thankfully... thankfully... some are too hard for him to perfect... just quite yet!

We are started on another week... more to learn, more to do, more to grow.... I will leave you with these pictures... they crack me up.... A. Eden doesn't use a pacifier AND B. Where did she learn to work out... I lock the door when I work out!!!!?

Lift um higher....

Feel the burn!

I wonder if she will have sore muscles in the morning?

Have a great last few days of January!

The Fun Stage...

2012-01-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

This morning I felt like Cinderella getting ready to go to the ball... it is amazing how special an evening off is when you are a mom of young kiddos. I wrestle with feelings that I am being "selfish" when I just want few minutes to read a book or a few seconds alone in my room (or bathroom for that matter) BY MYSELF... It is amazing how full a day can be... busy fingers, busy feet, and BUSY mouths... the touching, chatter, mess, chaos and clutter day after day become reality... the norm -- but there is a "remembrance" of what it was like BEFORE... It never crosses my mind to GO BACK before kids, but there is a longing for personal space, making it a day without finger painted clothes (most days the "paint" differs... food, paint, play dough... other unmentionables!)... OR being able to take a shower without being scared to death by an uninvited little peeper... Wouldn't trade Mommahood for anything, but evenings off sure make it easy to handle the day ins and outs!

A few months back I found a fun blog that had an AWESOME idea for making fun (changeable) puppets (here). I printed off the patterns and tucked them in my "later" file... this week was the week. Ethan wanted to put on a puppet show for his Daddy. I remembered these patterns and we got busy!

It took us a whole morning to cut out all the pieces to our puppets -- but the kids were fully engaged the whole time. Really this was a super easy project!!!

After all the pieces were cut out we went to town decorating them!

Ethan loved changing the faces... he would just giggle at the super goofy faces.

So... after nap time we took some boxes and made a puppet stage. Ethan wanted to make a space theme so I cut out space ships, rockets, stars and planets for him to glue on. I sewed the stage curtain and it looked great.

We brainstormed about a "plot" for his skit... but we didn't get very detailed... here is the actual skit he preformed for his Dad....

"Once upon a time there was a girl named "PeePee"... (a brief pause) We shall call her Eden. She blasted off into space and then came down to Earth again. She then drove her car side-ways. The End" Micah and I were trying not to laugh... He is sooo funny to us!

This past week I talked with a lady from our Sunday School class who home schools her kids. I asked her how she did it... and as we were talking she shared that they start by setting goals... and then figure out the best way to reach those goals (which curriculums to use, what activities to do... etc). I loved that thought. It made me start thinking about what are our goals? I am good at keeping the kiddos busy... trying to present them as many opportunities to be creative... but I have often wondered how I can be more intentional...?

This past weekend I bought a little Kindergarten workbook for Ethan. It has simple worksheets ... like tracing letters (learning to write), simple phonics, numbers, shapes... etc. He no longer takes a nap and so we have been spending time one on one every afternoon. Most of the time it is fun teaching him things... although I would have to admit there is a whole lot of silliness mixed in that "learning" time...

I have found that I haven't taught Eden as many things, but she seems to KNOW them. I will hear Ethan teaching her the colors and letter sounds (and LOTS of other things... let me tell you -- he is a TALKER!). Today as we were playing with our magnetic letters she held up the "K" and told me its sound. She was right. I started pointing to different letters and was AMAZED that she knew most all of the sounds.

I think Ethan has an astounding desire for knowledge. I have a hard time keeping up with him -- especially HIS PROJECTS. He would build things ALL DAY LONG if I let him. He brought me a magazine and showed me the pattern for making "funoculars"... He was so excited to make these....

Although I find that once we complete a project he is off to find another one... I seriously think I am creating a CRAFT MONSTER.... I just pray all the time we spend cutting, talking, and creating is exactly what he needs in this stage of life!

I see so many changes in both kids... we spend so much time "talking" about things. The chatter is constant in our place...

(I just love soap beards)

And clean kiddos... nothing is better than snuggling up with a clean, fresh smelling kiddo... not gonna lie... I give my kids baths every night... it is such a fun rhythm of our day!

Ethan's new picture look... I guess he is thinks his tongue needs to be seen in every single picture!

To afford Ethan's craft hobby... I took a box and designated it his "art box". I save lids, caps off of everything, plastic containers, small boxes... etc. He can do whatever with the items in his "art box"... I never knew trash could be soooo much fun. He spends hours arranging the lids, boxes... he is constantly begging to use the hot glue gun and is trying to convince me that he could use it by himself... I draw the line and he doesn't think that is cool! He designs submarines, planes, helicopters...

I found a book in the library that was making craft projects from recycled things... Ethan hasn't put the book down for days. He found this car-clip project and begged until I finally gave in.

We sorted through his car suitcase and found cars with missing wheels or broken pieces. Then the kids painted them, glittered them, and then glued "gems" on them. I hot glued them to magnets and a clothes pin.

They are perfect picture holders for the fridge. I really like them... A LOT!

Eden's first crush... Jonathan...

This week we spent a lot of time with friends. We served several meals this week and had several meals in friend's homes. I loved all the "people" time I got this week. Eden has a new crush, Jonathan. She is HILARIOUS ... She can say his name PERFECTLY... On Saturday we were running errands and as we were coming out of a store I could see Jonathan and HIS WIFE coming towards us. I pointed them out to Eden and she TORE across the street and THREW herself in his arms. When we told her than he had to go she stuck out her lip and drooped her WHOLE body... it was comical. She thinks he is pretty special... it is cute.

This up coming week... we don't have too many plans...

But I am sure I will see a lot of this....

and this... This is definitely the "fun" stage. See why I look forward to a few moments to myself on Monday night...? I can't keep up with them... I just can't...

Internet Detox...

2012-01-16T19:50:00.000-08:00

I have read that AA saysthat the first step in recovery is admitting you are an alcoholic... For somereason it is so easy to justify addictions... or things we give too muchattention, focus, or value (aka idols). For me the internet has been soimportant in my life the past 4 years. It has provided friends, support,community... a creative outlet, endless supply of ideas, recipes... the listcould go on and on! I never realized how much I was dependent onthe internet until we have been "without" the internet for the pastweek and a half. Monday night is my night off -- so it is going to be myinternet night... and that is just how it is going to be. I have soooomuch time (now)! I've gotten back in my studying mood -- researching somespecific "Ethan" issues, I taking a counseling class at church (withserious homework!), and of course I still have all my personal counselinghomework... I will forever be a student... Here are some pictures fromour week -- and some random thoughts!

My cute puzzle destroyer...

Eden Eve has officiallyentered the terrific twos... actually Ethan had more terrific threes thantwos... so I am thinking that Eden will probably follow suit? Who knowsreally right? She has this new attitude -- she wrinkles her nose andanswers with a nasty voice... I don't think so little one. We have hadMANY talks about true beauty... and how it comes from a beautiful heart. What I really love about this season is her voice... she is talking somuch and I'm discovering her little being and personality fascinating... Itis such an adventure watching Eden Eve bloom!

The puzzle WHIZZ in Action!

My oldest is always in a newstage of development. I often sit back in wonder and think to myself,"How am I going to deal with this????" I think he is going toout smart me in a matter of years (in fact he knows more about a car enginethan I do... I asked him how he knew all that stuff -- he exclaimed,"Popular Mechanics for Kids, duh, Mom!". I told him this weekhe wasn't allowed to grow anymore! He wrinkled his brow and in aconfident voice he said, "Momma, God makes me grow! I can't helpit!" I know! I know!!! Just stop growing! I pray Iwill be a good steward of his little brain.... I am constantly evaluating howto teach him, challenge him... all while enjoying every second with him. (He read his first sentence not too long ago... "The pig sat in themud.")

This week I am really gonna set aside time every day to write. I look at these pictures and am trying to remember what we did, but com'on it is my night off... my brain has gone into sleep mode!

We have been on a puppet kick... I will write more about this next week... (I can barely contain myself from sharing... it has been TOO MUCH FUN!)

(I love how Ethan draped his blue blanket on the stage for water...)

I noticed this week thatthe kids are entering a new stage of development... it is called the fun stage! We built a HUGE fort and theyactually played in it... before it would just get torn down and destroyed in amatter of moments... I remember building forts back in the day -- my brothersand I were serious fort pros! I can't help but brag... I still got madfort making skills!!!

I love how Eden catches the afternoon light... She is just beautiful!

Most of our time is spent on crafts... it is truly amazing all that you can do with paper, card board boxes, and selected items saved from the trash... If I give them a glue stick, scissors, something to write with and paper... they are good to go for the afternoon!

The craft pro... (the little bottle contraption is his new submarine)
Ethan wants to do"crafts" alllllllllllll day long. I pulled out the glue gunthis week. He was in awe! It seems like we have glued somethingevery single DAY! He constantly says, "Momma, we can just use the hot gluegun!" I am creating a MONSTER!

My crafters....

There are moments when they get in the zone... and I catch them absorbed in their "projects" and it just warms my heart -- I honestly love this so much! It is just fun!

Our NEW 50 cent thrift store find...
We had a FABULOUSfamily weekend! We found a new game at the thrift store -- I couldn'tresist it is an old school "Discovery Toy" peg puzzle... I rememberdrooling over their catalogs as a kid. I find different games from timeto time at the thrift store and it is just delightful. Ethan and I playedthis one for a LONG time Friday night. He had to make every single picture... Iwas down with that!

A Typical Evening Activity.

This weekend I was thinking about how much I love family time. It feels like we have SO MUCH time with each other. It took awhile to get used to not seeing Micah through out the day, but I realize we may have seen him through out the day the past few years, but we NEVER had this much time together... it is a delight! We spent Saturday re-arranging furniture. Eden is no longer in her crib. She is in a big girl bed. It kills me... I almost can't handle it...

Saturday night we went to a friends house for a little get-to-gether party... I made cream puffs... I had SERIOUS help....

I had SERIOUS snitchers on my hand... I wouldn't have it any other way!

I love cream puffs...

these were sugar-free except for the powdered sugar I sprinkled on top...

gotta remember that added plus!

Micah and Ethan were goofing around with his camera... Ethan thinks it is fun making "ghost" pictures... I really liked this one!

On Sunday I was making dinner andI looked over and saw Eden working on a drawing. I just loved how she wassitting... I loved her in her dress... I just wanted to remember it forever...

A friend's status on facebook (afew weeks ago) said,

"Love this quote from TheWell-Trained Mind: Every time you use the computer or turn on the TV, askyourself: What am I giving up? What will my child do if I don't turn onthe computer or pop in this video? Ahem.... does facebook count?" (Thanks, Lisa!)

I read this the day before I lost internet... I am thankful it wasrunning through my head -- I don't want to give up these special moments...each one is precious -- and I don't want to miss a single one!

Catch upwith you all NEXT Monday!

Our Weekend...

2012-01-09T18:53:00.000-08:00

Our sky was on "fire" Thursday night... I had my counseling session to get ready for (why do I wait until the last moments to get my homework done???) and so Micah took the kiddos away for a bit so I could concentrate... as they were walking out the door I gasped when I saw these colors in the sky... Could it be any more brilliant and beautiful? I love seeing the heavenly lights!

Our weekend was fun...

On the first Saturday of every month Home Depot hosts a kid workshop. Micah took Ethan and together they build this house bank. It is a pretty cool deal. Home Depot provides everything ... even the apron... for free! We figure this is a pretty cool opportunity for kid dates! Next month Micah will take Ethan --- when they finish I will bring Eden...

We figured Eden would be too little, but I think she could handle it and plus I think she felt a little bit left out since all Ethan has talked about (since) is his bank... Although, Eden wasn't totally forgotten... I took Eden shopping and let her pick out a new toothbrush and some nail polish. She picked purple... She got to push the cart and we bought some chocolate on the way out... Later we painted our toes. You know the basic girl things... One funny thing was as we were leaving the house she asked where Ethan was. I told her he was having guy time with Daddy and that she got to have girl time with me, she exclaimed, "Oh, Momma, that is a w e s o m e!" It is fun having special times alone with each kiddo! I am looking forward to my alone time with Ethan!

Since Ethan is really into his bank we figured it was time to talk about money and tithing. We tried sending money with him to put in the offering plate at children's church, but he would always come home with MORE money than he took... not sure how that happened... so we chatted with him about money and giving to God... he got hysterical -- he didn't want to give any money away because he is saving for a rocket... when we explained the importance of storing up treasure in heaven and not on earth he threw himself on the floor and cried, "I want all my treasure here on EARTH!!!! I don't want it in HEAVEN!"

We may have some theological issues on our hands... ;o) He is a funny kid!

The Home Depot apron is useful for all sorts of things... Ethan thinks it is perfect for wearing all the time... even while making fresh orange juice!

We are starting a new week... we don't have internet at our house anymore... I am at the public library and it is closing in a few moments... so I might be away for long period in between posts... but I will keep taking pictures and trying to share when I get chances!

But before I sign off... I will share our afternoon adventure with our friends...

The weather has been beautiful lately... the warmth is unusual for this time of year, but it is Montana and it could be below freezing tomorrow... so when the sun shines... we get outside!

I really loved the golden weeds and the bright blue sky... I thought it was BEAUTIFUL!

The kids played on the frozen river and explored the weeds... Eden ate all things gross...

I wouldn't expect anything less!

My friend and I tried to catch up in between kids falling and crying... it was a lovely afternoon...

I am thankful we live in such a beautiful place.... the library is closing... gotta sign off...

Defining Worth...

2012-01-05T13:32:00.000-08:00

Recently the kids and I started rereading "The Jesus Storybook Bible -- Every Story Whispers His Name" by Sally Lloyd-Jones in the mornings. I came across the line, "God saw all that He had made and He loved them. And they were lovely because He loved them. (25)"

And I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

That line stuck with me because lately I've been thinking about the origin of my worth... or should I say the things I think make me valuable, important, or maybe just OKAY! I focus a lot on what people think of me, what I do, or how I perform. To be honest sometimes I find I'm thinking these lies... "If I am a GOOD Mom -- then maybe I am okay?" "If I can be a GOOD Wife -- then maybe I am valuable?" "If my kid is doing well, then maybe I am doing well?" "If other people like me -- then I must be okay?" (They may seem like statements, but the question marks are intentional!)

What if I truly believed I was lovable because God made me (Period)? His love is the source of my worth -- He DEFINES my worth (PERIOD)! I want to understand this with all my heart (I'm not there yet), and I want that reality to trickle down to my kids... so that they understand that they are lovable and valuable because their worth is PURELY defined by their CREATOR!

"God loved them with all of His heart. And they were lovely because He loved them (Lloyd-Jones 26)."

"God looked at everything He had made. "Perfect!" He said. And it was. But all the stars and the mountains and oceans and galaxies and everything were nothing compared to how much God loved His children. He would move heaven and earth to be near them. Always. Whatever happened, whatever it cost Him, He would always love them (Lloyd-Jones, 27)."

Magical Light...

2012-01-04T15:40:00.000-08:00

I couldn't help notice...

the thrill and excitement in the midst of play...

and the beautiful afternoon glow...

New Year Wishes...

2012-01-03T09:41:00.000-08:00

I saw a comic strip on Facebook. Two dogs were talking. One dog asked, "What are New Years resolutions?" The other dog responded, "A to-do list for the first week of January." That made me laugh! It is funny how resolve can dissolve in a matter of days. Zeal for change gets lost in the daily routine. We forget, or give up.... or we fail ... I can't help but a appreciate the newness, the freshness a new year brings. It is nice to put behind a hard year and press forward. 2012 is going to be another year... a lot of the same old things, but a fresh chance to grow... and change!

An automatic dump truck is a PERFECT stroller...

A whole lot of "sameness" has been going on in our house. Christmas presents are still new and wonderful... although until yesterday... the boxes were still the favorite around here (until I broke them down and sent them to the trash... Ethan, my little hoarder, was beside himself with sadness... (I think he is over it today!).

The "best" pj pictures out of MANY!

Ethan absolutely loves his new pjs. The other night he told me, "Grammie made this for me because she loves me... aren't they fabulous?" I agreed, "Yes, Grammie loves you a whole lot... because you are wonderful and special!"

I do have one New Year's wish... I am working on a daily schedule... I need order in our day. The kids need order in their day. I love having an "artistic" flow in our day (realistically we usually do the same things every day) ... but this leads to the days blending together and not much intentionality at all (aka Mommy laziness -- if there is such a thing)... I want to be intentional with my kids... This has prompted me to do a lot of thinking on what our priorities are... getting rid of things we don't need and simplifying what we DO need! I've been asking the following questions:

What do I want my kids to be learning this year?

(Spiritual, mentally, emotionally, physically?)

How do I want them to change and grow this year?

(Spiritual, mentally, emotionally, physically?)

How can I best meet the "special" needs of my kids?

(Spiritual, mentally, emotionally, physically?)

Bascially asking myself... What am I doing and WHY am I doing it? I want what I do to be purposeful and pleasing to the LORD!

According to Ethan, "Please take a picture of the best mud pie in the entire world!"

The New Year reminds me that my kids are getting bigger... they aren't babies anymore... Making the most of time is a high priority... I want to enjoy my time with them as much as possible! Discipline can consume my days... I don't want to spend my whole day coming down on them... I want to play more, be more playful ... sing silly songs, be goofy... make chores fun -- not painful!

I don't know how to do this... this is just a hope and a wish...

Making an apple pie for Daddy...

There is nothing better than Apple Pie for breakfast... nothing!

Blueberry fingers...

A new "Rocket" Obsession... every week it is something new!

So we are three days into the new year... there is a whole lot of "sameness" going on, but it is okay... I want to be consistent and faithful to what God has called me to... EACH DAY! I want to grow and change this year... to continually be changing and growing... It is a fresh start... a new beginning and I am thankful for that!

2 Corinthians 5:9, "So we make it our goal to please the Lord,

whether we are at home in the body or away from it."

Review of 2011: Last Week of July - December

2011-12-31T12:47:00.000-08:00

***For the last 3 days of 2011 I want to recap our year...

Here is #3: Last week of July - December

This morning while I was working on these final picture collages, Micah came up behind me and together we began to look at pictures and talk about this past year. It has been a year like none other! We have seen God work in HUGE ways in our lives. He has rescued us, humbled us, and is currently rebuilding us! This last season of the year has been a period of hope and healing.

A day after I returned from Moldova, my dad and I began painting a mobile home that Micah and I had purchased. We repainted all the walls and the ceiling and moved in all in a weeks time.

It was C R A Z Y!

Our new little home was (probably) the last place I had ever imagined that I would live, but it is PERFECT! The first few weeks were complete chaos as we worked through boxes and piles... downsizing from a 4 bedroom house to a 3 bedroom trailer.

The kids went through so much transition with the two moves and their parents going on three different mission trips; all things considered they did amazingly well! I am so proud of them and how they have adjusted to their new home and our new life.

It has taken us awhile to get used to our new life... as well. We get weekends off... we have family time... we don't feel guilty for going hiking, taking a picnic lunch to the park, or going on vacation. It is nice being able to leave work... at work!

This fall we have done soooo many things! I love looking at the pictures and remembering all the adventures we have been. We often took a picnic dinner to the beach and played until late, or we would spend the morning at the water park or at the playground...

We went raspberry and huckleberry picking. We rolled down hills, listened to records, explored rivers, played, slept and ate... and played some more!

In September the big guy celebrated his 4th birthday. Can't believe he is 4 years old!

Time has slowed down. Life is simple... I remind myself to enjoy those simple things and simple times. To not rush to something else or to do things to prove I am worth something, but to just worship our Creator and appreciate His creativity. It has taken time to slow down...

He is creating beauty out of the ashes of our life. He has used the devastation to expose unbelief, idols, and incorrect theology (more in my life than Micah's... it seems God has been teaching Micah different things). He is using His community to build up, encourage, admonish, and love us. I am so thankful for the wisdom of my counselor and how she is speaking truth into my heart and mind. I am no longer trapped in confusion... and I praise God for this!

It has been a challenge for me to parent during a crisis. To be consistent and honest... while pointing them to God and continually reminding them that God is good! This morning at breakfast Micah read the story of Saul/Paul's conversion. We asked Ethan if He thought it was mean for God to blind Saul and Ethan exclaimed, "NO! Because God is always GOOD!" That answer was precious to me. He has been watching and observing us during this season of wrestling, tears, and questions... and it is encouraging to see he is "grasping" this truth... at least we pray he does!

When Naomi returned home to Israel after years away she asked her friends to call her "Bitter" because the Lord had dealt with her. I felt a lot like this at the beginning of the summer. Everything had come undone, everything was in pieces... but I see (now) how God was using a "hard" life situation to humble, tear down what was not of Him, and to begin something new.

It has been a process to think through this year. There are still so many questions, but I echo Ethan's words, "God is always good!" He has been faithful to us!!! He has brought us to this new place, for a new season and we trust Him for what He has ahead of us.

I am glad to say goodbye to this year... to know we are one year closer to being HOME with the Lord! I am thankful for all the memories, laughs, smiles and blessings He's lavished on us. I am thankful that He heard every prayer, caught every tear that fell, and has begun to bring life out of devastation.

Hope each of you has a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Review of 2011: May - July

2011-12-30T16:21:00.000-08:00

***For the last 3 days of 2011 I want to recap our year...

Here is #2: May - July...

A couple days ago I was going through my pictures... deleting and sorting and I realized that I took over 7,000 pictures in 2011. I had this wonderful idea to recap our year in picture collage form, but what I didn't even think about is the journey I would take to remember back through the year. Yesterday was a "kick in the stomach" so to speak. I cried a bit, felt sick all over, and could barely sleep last night. Around 2 in the morning all I wanted to do was FORGET about 2011, but it is now part of our history... and God is still making good of the ruins. Praise Him for that!

On May 1st I loaded the kids into the Suburban and drove out of the canyon I had called home for the past 7 years. I remember this moment like it was yesterday. I was numb. The Suburban was on auto pilot. I didn't cry and I didn't look in the rearview mirror... once. The kids were abnormally calm and quiet... Ethan had a temperature of 105 and Eden's was 104. A day before I had listened to President Obama talk to the survivors of the tornados that had twisted through the country. He promised that the nation would stand beside these people and do whatever it took to help them through this devastation. Those words echoed in my mind... did anyone realize a tornado had torn through my heart, mind and soul? There was nothing left standing... I was numb.

We moved into the MBC Dorms... we unpacked and made a new home.

I was numb for the next couple weeks. But the kids were reeling from the move and sorting through their feelings in the only way kids know how to communicate -- acting out. Eden cried/screamed A LOT! Ethan just wanted to move back to his old house.

Again, I coped by filling our days with crafts and outdoors adventures... We explored our new town finding the library and taking note of their story times; we found parks and played at different ones each warm day we had; and we baked A LOT! Our favorite place was a little river a ways behind the dorm.... we played there almost every single day.

We went on hundreds of picnics and got dirty... EVERY SINGLE DAY! Some days we even had to take two baths!!!

Nana Rose came for a visit... and it was perfect timing! She brought out a playful side of Ethan that I had never seen before. He loved his time with her (Eden did too, of course, but I think this trip was HUGE for Ethan)! We kept busy while she was visiting...

Another vivid memory I had during this time is the number of rainbows I saw! It felt like every single day there was a beautiful bow stretching from horizon to horizon... whispering hope... reminding me of God's promises ... We splashed in a lot of puddles...

We found Bozeman beach.... and a water park in Belgrade! Whenever it was even a tiny bit warm... we found water... we splashed, squished, and everything in between. Each and every single day was a reminder to breath in and breath out!

Bozeman is one of the most beautiful places I have ever lived! Everywhere I looked I saw beauty! The clouds were different every single day... the flowers were bright and PLENTIFUL! There were many evening that Micah and I looked at each other during a walk, breathed in deeply, and exclaimed how thankful we were for this new season of life! As the land burst forth with the spring beauty we felt our hearts were awakening from a long, cold winter... everything was becoming new and beautiful!

Eden celebrated her 2nd birthday... life was beginning to settle down and

life was beginning to be "normal"...

The 4th of July was a highlight in our summer... it was an incredibly fun-filled day! We went hiking, had a picnic at the lake and stayed up super late to light sparklers and to see the big fireworks!

Even though life was happening, I felt like my heart was in a coma... Often I found my eyes watching the kiddos play in the dirt, while my mind was miles away. I felt like I was a ZERO... I had just received a F for ministry... I mean how do you fail in "ministry"???... and yet here I was... wrecked. About this time I got a call from my Mother in Love... Her friend, John was going on a mission trip to Moldova. At that time there were no other females on the team and he felt strongly that the team needed a female. He thought of me. When Rose told me this... I laughed! Like Sarah (in the Old Testament), when she was told that her barren body would bare a son... She laughed... it was impossible. That is how I felt. I was washed up... and yet this call felt like I was on the beach with Jesus and He was restoring me. He chose ME... He wanted me to go on a mission trip. I did go and while I was there I laughed, I cried, I laughed, I cried... and cried. It was an adventure... a tangible taste of GRACE!

Some more food for thought... I forgot about our Fajita pizza!!! Yum...

Review of 2011: January-April

2011-12-29T14:05:00.000-08:00

***For the last 3 days of 2011 I want to recap the year...
Here is #1: January - April...

I have heard it said that it is always darkest right before dawn... not sure where that expression came from, but it is fitting for the beginning of our 2011! Last year at this time we were in agony... trying to sort through the confusion mixed with our emotions... Although the death of "our dream" had begun months -- even years before, the whole process was a gradual/slow/painful death. Thinking back to our college days and the evening we spent dreaming about our life together... a wilderness/discipleship ministry is where we imagined ourself for the rest of our days. Another Prof had said to be a fragrance where ever you are called... and have the wisdom to leave before you begin to stink. No matter what we tried, how hard we tried, what questions we asked, thoughts we came up with... it was met with opposition... we began to wonder if we were beginning to stink. We realized we were becoming sick, in need of mentoring, encouragement, feeding... we were starting to stink.

Even now it is hard to look at pictures from this time. It was dark, lonely... the most painful season of my life. Now that I am in counseling I realize how sick my mind was... I was trying to survive... I was DOING all the right things, SAYING all the right things, but I was dying on the inside! I tried to hide the tears from the kids... we dove into activities, had adventures and HONESTLY this blog kept me alive. I had something to report... something good to write about... memories to record... good things to think about and be thankful for -- It was the life in our house! I am thankful for each of your comments, prayers... notes of encouragement and support.

Each one was VALUABLE!

During these months Ethan was attending preschool a couple days a week and loved it! Eden and I had special moments when we had the house to ourselves. The kids drew, made messes, played outside... got into LOTS of trouble... Ethan started (for the 5th time) to become potty trained... We finally were successful (although lately.... again... I would beg to differ!)! We took several trips to Bozeman... looking at houses - apartments, jobs... sorting out if a move would work.

While Micah led a group of students to Denver for Spring Break the kids and I went to Reno to visit Grampie and Grammie... it was a wild week... ending with a flu bug, BUT before the flu bug... we played in the snow, went to several different parks, Ethan got to ride a ferris wheel with Grampie... and we visited the cousins for a few fun-packed days... it was a bright spot in our spring... and a nice time to get away from the home that had become a dark prison.

We are thankful that we learned a valuable lesson during this dark time and that is WE CAN'T SURVIVE WITHOUT COMMUNITY! Nor do we ever want to be in another place where there is a lack of accountability, review, and support... it was a hard lesson to learn. It is the darkest before dawn... I know this post is probably depressing... and it should be it was an extremely DEPRESSING time! But know the morning light will pierce through the darkness... there is HOPE and that is more than I could say during this season of life...

As I was going through all the January - April 2011 pictures... I found some pictures I had taken of things I baked, cooked and made... I think in another life I will be a food photographer.... or a chef...

A Merry Christmas...

2011-12-26T11:11:00.000-08:00

We had a beautiful Christmas.

Micah was home... and all throughout the day I just found myself smiling...

there was happiness and contentment deep inside my heart.

I guess the best way to describe it was that I was

THANKFUL!

Thankful that we are so blessed, loved, and taken care of!

Christmas Even we went to the Candle light service... the kids were so cute... I caught a couple pictures before my camera battery died! It ended up being our only Christmas Service because Eden woke up Christmas morning covered in puke. She seemed okay through out the day, but I didn't want to pass on the germs... and it was nice to just stay home for Christmas morning!

We had more gifts this year than ever before... it was almost overwhelming!

We try to keep the main focus of Christmas a celebration of Jesus' birth... we don't want it to be all about presents and what we GET... but that what we ultimately GOT... JESUS CHRIST... and He is all we need! It is hard to communicate that to kids, but truly as Ethan and Eden's parents that is what we want them to learn and know with all their hearts! It is so easy to be selfish and self-focused!

Our Christmas morning started out with a breakfast pie... yum! I have to share the recipe... it was easy and delicious! You start with a roll of refrigerated crescent rolls and lay them in the pan as the bottom crust... then you pour the following ingredience on the crust:

8 oz cooked ham or sausage

1 cup frozen hash brown potatoes (which I TOTALLY forgot to put in!)
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell peppers (I used red and yellow)
1 4 oz can sliced mushrooms, drained (I used a couple handfuls of fresh mushrooms - I sauteed them with the onion and bell pepper)

5 eggs mixed with, 1/4 cup milk, salt, and pepper (sprinkle each) and pour over the rest of the ingredients... sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes.... sooo good!

We made our traditional monkey bread birthday cake for Jesus... and sang to Him! Ethan and Eden were more than happy to blow out the candles...

Then we opened presents... the kids were over the top excited!

My Mom made these PJs for Eden... aren't they BEAUTIFUL?!

Eden's expressions just made me smile... she is so animated and dramatic!

We want to thank all our wonderful friends and relatives that flooded our home with packages and gifts containing delightful things...

THANK YOU SO MUCH!

My favorite part of Christmas was looking across the room and seeing my Love... I am so glad he is home - safe and sound! When Eden first saw him she cried out, "Oh Daddy! You are home!!! I missed you so much!" She ran to him and threw her arms around him... so precious!

A princess for my Princess!

One of my favorite Ethan quote was when he was opening up this box from Uncle Adam and Aunt Kim-e... it was wrapped in a pull-up box and when he saw it was a pull-up box he exclaimed, "Oh no! Not pull-ups!" I think he was relieved to find it was actually his very own treasure chest box!

I really want to thank my parents for coming and staying with us while Micah was gone. The kids were sad to see them head home this morning (and so was I).... they made our Christmas special with lots of fun gifts! My Dad (once again) did several home improvement projects (pictures to come) and my Mom sewed them PJs and lots of little doll clothes for Eden's new babies... They washed hundreds of dishes, read stories, folded laundry, played games, colored, rolled out play dough and were patient during all the kids melt-downs, moments of pure selfishness, temper tantrums, and all their sibling arguing! We are so glad they came... they made our Christmas very, very special! Wish they lived closer! Hope you all had a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS... we sure did!

Birthday Happenings...

2011-12-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

It has been a quiet day... thus far...

My tomato ripened during the night! This tomato plant has been through a lot. I bought it in May. In June a little critter chewed off the stem... there were 4 green tomatoes on the branch. But it came back to life... in August and after a move it got knocked off its stand and the stem full of green tomatoes broke off! It grew back... and this is the first red tomato on this plant... on my birthday of all days! Talk about perseverance...

Last night a friend and neighbor brought over gifts for the kids. She gave Ethan a little lego Lightening McQueen. He LOVES it! He has put it together and taken it a part 100s of times! I think Legos is something I need to invest in... perfect for his little mind!

This morning Ethan started making different kinds of cars with his lightening McQueen car. He made a limo, Mater, a dump truck... etc. I was amazed by his little creative mind!

(My friend brought Eden some play dough... and I am kicking myself that I didn't get a picture of her playing play dough with Grampie...)

In the middle of our morning we made a few box houses out of some of the boxes that have been flooding into our house! Amazing how many gifts we have around our tree this year! Boxes are so much fun and full of all sorts of potential. They make perfect houses, garages... hours of fun and play!

At one point I caught Eden playing with Baby Jesus. Her dialogue just made me smile. If you notice Baby Jesus is going for a ride in the donkey cart. She makes me smile...

In the midst of all our happenings... I would describe this birthday being characterized by anxious waiting... around 1 I got a text than Micah was ALIVE and back in the country... now my fingers are crossed that he will make all his flights!

But all in all it has been another simple day...

and I can handle that!!!

Day Before Blues...

2011-12-23T20:40:00.000-08:00

I had a rough day today... I was being so strong -- handling it all in stride without Micah here and then this morning I was exhausted! The kids woke me up around 2... and then cried on and off the rest of the morning. I am sleeping with Eden so my parents can have the master bedroom and her cry was haunting. I don't like that! The shrill pitch of it woke me up from a deep sleep... and then for the next few hours I lay there with my heart beating. When she would quite down I would hear Ethan moan and bump into the wall... I prayed... asking God to give them good dreams and restful sleep... about the 4th time Eden cried out and Ethan hit his head on the wall... I went over to her crib and scoped her up and brought her to bed with me. I just wanted her to be close... I wanted to comfort her... Around 6 the two of us fell into a deep sleep... Ethan woke us up a bit after that.

Needless to say I was EXHAUSTED and emotional this morning. I am done with Micah being gone!

Beautiful birthday flowers from my awesome hubby!

Amazingly God knew I was sad... exhausted... so when a friend asked me to coffee I jumped on the opportunity. It was good to be out of the house... she surprised me with birthday presents... when I got home... I was greeted with flowers. Micah had sent me a beautiful bouquet of flowers and chocolate covered strawberries... I need this little pick-me-up... I have my fingers crossed that Micah and Eli will come home on time tomorrow... It is the only thing I want for my birthday!!

(Here is a peek at my Birthday treat...

I made it tonight so it would be amazingly moist tomorrow...

can't wait!)

Thank you God for Your encouragement and love... You know what I need!

Smiles All Around...

2011-12-22T18:07:00.000-08:00

Even though Ethan is only 4 years old -- he quotes movies! "Smiles all around, now let's get out of here!" is a line from the movie Bolt and I hear that about 20 times a day...

Every time he quote it I can't help but SMILE...

I've been trying to keep a smile on my face, but it has been a long haul without Micah. Every time we are apart like this we agree we can never, ever do it again... then we do it again...

crazy us!

The past week we've been working on Christmas presents...

and just a few days ago I got them all mailed (miracles do happen)!

The kids worked hard on ornaments for all their Uncles and Aunts... I was going to put a note in the boxes that said, "Hanging the ornaments on your tree is optional"... they were ... um ... colorful!! Let's just say there was so much color and glitter on each one that there was no way you could tell what the picture was! But I reasoned if it was from my nephew or niece it would be on the Christmas tree (1/2 of the ornaments on my tree are from Sam and Seth - and I love um!!)

Christmas Fudge... YUM!

I got through my annual fudge-a-thon... I made enough for all my family members! My favorite kind was a dark chocolate merlot! It was fabulous! I tried some at a farmer's market and knew I had to give it a go! I think next time I will try a drier merlot, but this one was mellow and soft... ah!

In the midst of Christmas making we have been waging wars at the table. For some reason the kiddos feel like it is their right to "hate" anything I set in front of them. Not sure if it is a "missing Dadda" thing or just that good old sin nature rearing its ugly head. I've tried to get creative... but some little guy has gone to his room several times a dinner... It is not okay to complain about food in this house!

Unfortunately, little Bit follows whatever her brother does... so I often hear, "This is N A S T Y!"

Oh, my nerves... let me tell you!

Eden reading stories to Grampie!

Grampie and Grammie have been a HUGE blessing... they have been helping out a lot!

17 days without Micah has felt like an eternity and I have so enjoyed their company!

Can't tell if there was more glitter on Eden's face or on her project?

Miss Eden... loves decorating her face as much as her art work...

If only he could be this focused on eating his veggies?

And Mr Ethan gets so focused when he is working on a project!

The fabulous "Simulator"...

Ethan checked out a movie from the library on firer fighting. There were some simulator airplanes that the firemen used to learn how to put out an airplane fire. Ethan felt it was very important to make one.

Grammie helped Ethan build this giant "simulator" airplane.

Amazing what you can make out of cardboard boxes!

A future floral designer?

Only 2 days til Micah gets home... we are decorating the house for his arrival... I can't wait!

Coloring with Grammie!

But while I wait I'm trying to keep the kiddos busy with lots of different projects!

It is kinda working, but I am tired!

So "smiles all around"... now it's time for me to get out of here and get the kiddos to bed!

Christmas Ornaments...

2011-12-19T09:15:00.000-08:00

We made salt dough ornaments last week. I used this recipe:

1 cup flour

1 cup salt

1 cup water (add slowly)

bake at 100 degrees for 3 hours or so.

It was a simple project and it went well.

So many of our project borderline on complete mayhem and chaos...

I have a love/hate relationship with doing craft projects with my kids.

THEY LOVE ACTIVITIES... and I have to remind myself that mess is okay. It usually cleans up. I chant to myself that this is GOOD and OKAY as dough is flying through the air, smashing into the carpet... and going into the littlest one's mouth. My patience level varies on the day and on the amount of sleep I had the night before! I think, "This hopefully won't destroy our house and it won't kill them!"

I was intrigued by how much Ethan is growing up. He worked so hard at this project and instead of smearing all the colors together like he normally does... he painted one color at a time and his ornaments looked great! I loved every one!

I love it when our projects keep them busy and focused.

There is less mayhem and chaos that way!

In all truth, the mess can be extremely cute!!!!

So here is my favorite ornament... painted by Ethan... I love covering my tree with these beauties... They are such special signs that Christmas is almost here!

Grampie's Birthday

2011-12-17T07:32:00.000-08:00

My Dad and Mom are here for a visit! I am so thankful they have come. It isn't as lonely without Micah! Yesterday was my Dad's birthday -- so of course we had to celebrate! I think he is 45 years old... something like that! Happy Birthday, Dad! Thanks for coming!

House Tour: Confession Wall

2011-12-13T13:26:00.000-08:00

So... I have a little confession to make... hum... my parents are coming this week and so I need to "confess" before they get here and see in person my beautiful new wall. Well, technically it is a few months old, but when I mentioned to my Dad that I was thinking about doing a chalkboard wall he told me it was the worst idea in the world... soooo I took his advice to heart and went with a white tongue and groove paneling, but when Micah and I started to hang up the paneling I said, "PLEASE, please, PLEASE could I do a chalkboard wall! I think it would be perfect here!" He said, "I really don't care... do what you like." Isn't he wonderful? We took back the paneling and for a fraction of the price I got paint for a magnetic/chalkboard wall! Once again I forgot to take "before" pictures...

But you can kinda see the wall behind these incredibly cute kids,

this handsome boy,

And these adorable kiddos again! I know it is hard to see the wall because their cuteness is distracting, but if you try you can see parts of the wall....

We bought a thin board, nailed it to the wall, and added trim. I followed the directions and after a few days of painting and drying the beautiful magnetic chalkboard was finished!

I have no regrets (Don't worry, Dad, I have a fudge peace offering waiting for you!)! I think it is marvelous. Ethan and I use it to work on sounding out words (in fact I have some big magnetic letters in my Amazon cart online... hoping to order them for Christmas... better get on that!) ...

Eden uses it to do her thing,

...draw on walls...

she had that down pat before I got this wall up!

I absolutely love this wall... it makes me happy every single time I walk by it... I've always wanted to live in a fun artsy place... this makes it feel more like that! Big kids are more attracted to this wall than my kiddos... what can I say? I think it is a perfect fit in our home!

Thoughts about CTM...

2011-12-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

The past few days I have been glued to the computer every chance I get. I usually like to wait until the kids are in bed or taking a nap, but this morning was an exception! I have to get the Certain Truth Ministry newsletter in the mail!!! Each newsletter takes hours upon hours to complete (And more hours than you can imagine once you add children to the mix!!!). It takes focus... and attention to details (thankfully my Dad and Mom were my editors). I love to write, but let's face it -- I suck at punctuation, concise sentences, and proper grammar... I done teached school good, but not that good!

Thankfully most of you don't read my blog for a shining example of sentence structure!

Eden fending for herself!

This morning the house got messier than I even imagined while I was typing away!!! The kids managed to sneak all the nativity pieces out of the living room and into Eden's crib! All their toys mysteriously came out of their organized status and have found new "homes" ALLLLLLLL over the house! It amazes me how resourceful kids are when they want to be, and how stubborn they are when it comes to clean up time. I am thankful that I don't have too many times when I leave them unsupervised...

In the past few days my heart has been engaging with Certain Truth Ministries... and I am excited to share my thoughts about this ministry we have embraced. Certain Truth Ministries is the product of a discipleship relationship between my husband and Eli. Almost 5 years ago my husband was discouraged with his understanding of discipleship (or how he was discipling students) and so out of the passion in his heart to grow and learn what it means to disciple others -- he formed Imago Dei (made in the image of God). Imago Dei didn't fit in any boxes... it was sort of a ministry team. Not just for the sake of ministry, but to learn the heart of God. He met with a group of students every Tuesday night and poured out his heart, thoughts, while studying the Word of God. Eli was in his first Imago Dei group. As a result of the discussion Eli went on a mission trip over Christmas break... and later he learned about Pastor David in Africa and during his summer break traveled to Africa. He came home with a desire to rebuild Pastor David's orphanage that was destroyed in riots.

The new orphanage: the children's home

In the past few years Eli has become a part of our family. Micah joined with Eli in raising money for the orphanage... one thing led to another and thus came about CTM. When we left MWSB our adoption paperwork became invalid. All the money we spent up the that point was gone... it was sad... still is sad. But I remember that Micah made a comment,

"If we can't adopt from Africa, why don't we let Africa adopt us?"

Certain Truth Ministries' main focus is the orphanage in Kenya. We support them each month and that money is used to feed and clothe the children and pay for staff to run a school that gives the orphan kids an education as well as other local kids that can't afford the government education. The money that CTM has raised has rebuilt the orphanage, brought in fresh water from the mountains, and bought cows and sheep.

I have no idea where Certain Truth Ministries is going, but that is also the main reason why my Love is in Africa right now. One of his main desires is to engage his heart with the people of Africa and gain a vision for the direction of CTM. He has lots of questions to ask and people to meet! I am excited to hear all about what he is seeing and learning!

I can't help wonder if we will end up in Kenya or Uganda? Where ever we are, one thing I know for sure is that Africa has our heart!

Sandra Waldner: CTM's first missionary! She is serving in Uganda

I guess I say all these things because I am overwhelmed at what is happening in our life... that we get to be a part of all THIS! It is a blessing and a gift... and it all came out of a heart of discipleship. I am so thankful for my husband's faithfulness, his faith, and his determination to know God's heart.

Those are my thoughts about Certain Truth Ministries... when the kids wake up I'm taking the newsletter in to be printed... if you are not on our mailing list and would like to know more... just let me know!

***I borrowed all these pictures off of Eli's Facebook page... thanks Elias!

Sunday Thoughts...

2011-12-11T13:04:00.001-08:00

For this morning's Sunday School class Ethan memorize Proverbs 3:4-6. All week long we have been working on the powerful words, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight." Also this week I have been working on the Certain Truth Ministries newsletter. Ironically my husband quoted this verse in his article... As I've been meditating on this verse... it has really made me think!

After church we went hiking around our favorite little ponds....

The water is mostly frozen... the frost was beautiful...

and it was surprisingly warm...

Ethan tried and tried to break the ice with rocks, but it was frozen solid...

Eden tried to break the ice (too)! At one point I worried she was going to fall in... and later on when she wandered OUT ON THE ICE I really thought she was going to fall in!!!! (talk about a near heart attack... I thought I was going to go for a "rescue" swim!!!)

As a parent I find myself instructing all the time.... ALL THE TIME! I wonder when they will listen, when they will learn... when they will TRUST ME! A few weeks ago I realized that I demand perfect behavior out of them instead of understanding that it is my job to INSTRUCT! They disobey because they need to learn HOW to obey... their sinful hearts need a Savior. This realization is changing my parenting style. I now discipline to teach, to instruct not to gain perfectly behaved kiddos... I desperately want them to acknowledge God in all their ways!

My kiddos lean on their own understanding all the time. They don't trust me... their hearts are fully rebellious bent on going their own way (99% of the time)... As I see this in them it reminds me to pray that God will work in their little hearts making them soft toward Him... I am just like them... I lean on my own understanding A LOT... just yesterday I was stewing about some thing... The more I thought about it the angrier I became - until I realized that I have a choice to STOP cultivating bitterness and instead choose to trust my Father with all of my heart! This "situation" is His concern not mine... I choose to trust... I choose to lean on His understanding and not my own!

We found a giant pile of rocks and Ethan immediately climbed right to the top... I was watching them climb, slide, and throw rocks and my mind drifted toward control.

Why do we all want control? My kids constantly want control.

If I say, "Please don't throw rocks over your brothers head!"

Eden will choose to do what I asked her not too... most of the time!

See how the rock barely missed Ethan!!!! I think about how God gives me boundaries... He does so because He loves me. He doesn't do it to ruin my fun... He does it for my SAFETY and the safety of others. I tell Ethan and Eden all the time that when I tell them something, limit them to something, or take something away it is not because I am mean... it is because I am aware of what they are not. "Please trust me!" Boundaries are a good thing. I am learning how to set boundaries for my kids - I have realized that I've let them have way too much control - because I was uncertain about my parenting. Now I am realizing that whether what I say is fair... it is what goes...

They learn... I learn... we grow together. I pray that together we will, "Trust in the Lord with all our hearts, that we would not lean on our own understand but in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will make our path straight!"

Staying Busy...

2011-12-10T19:25:00.001-08:00

I'm not doing very well with this whole missing husband thing... I miss my friend. I listened to a sermon by Mark Driscoll on marriage (here) and it was interesting. Made me think, but more than anything made me want to listen to it with Micah and talk about it! Mark and his wife wrote a marriage book and it is coming out in January... I wanna read that!

Well... the kids must know that Micah is gone as well. They are doing well, but I can see that they notice his absence. Ethan has gone back to wetting his pants... we go through a season where he doesn't wet his pants for months to a season where he wets them all the time. Today he wet them 4 times! I have a hard time being patient. I got really angry with him today and that bothers me. It is just pee... it washes off... why does it bother me so??? Why do I let it get to me!?

Last night we went to a little church movie night. There is a church that is actively involved in our trailer park. They fixed up the play ground, offered school supplies for the kiddos in the park, hosted a halloween trick or treat event, and invited families to come "shop" free toys for Christmas. I think it is awesome that they are bringing the love and light of Jesus to my neighbors... encourages me to do the same. Last night they were showing the Veggie Tale Little Drummer Boy at their church. It was a good excuse to get out of the house... the kids loved it! I enjoyed talking with the pastor and his wife. Would love to get to know them better!

This morning the kids played... It made me laugh listening to them play "Doctor." All I could think was, "There is some crazy medicine going on in my living room!" This afternoon they both took naps and I started winter cleaning. I have a huge pile that needs to find another home... and a giant bag of trash... it feels good! (Plus there are many more piles to go through... we are simplifying life... again!)

After dinner I loaded the kids up and we went Christmas light looking! The moon is full and beautiful (guess I missed an eclipse this morning, bummer!) The kids were wild with excitement and Eden screamed at the top of her lungs, "CHRITHMAS LIGHTS!!!!!" 10 million times. It was hard finding lights... we will have to go out again... because this is one of my most favorite Christmas tradition!

We are staying busy, but I feel my husbands absence... A LOT... please pray that God would be directing his steps, keeping him safe and giving him wisdom/discernment!

Momma Brags...

2011-12-09T12:03:00.001-08:00

If you try hard and are creative you can read, "I made a book." Ethan is into spelling words. He sounds things out and then brings them to me saying, "Does this say...?" I am so thrilled to see him developing in this way. He loves languages and I need to be diligent about teaching him MORE! This post is mainly for me... to remember my little guy and how he is growing up so fast!

Some words he has spelled entirely on his own... fun, sic (sick), amen, Esin (for Ethan... haahaahaheee)!

Distraction Blessing...

2011-12-08T13:02:00.001-08:00

Micah left for Africa this morning... we won't see him until Christmas. My friend, Elyse invited the kids and I over for Christmas cookies and The Charlie Brown Christmas Story this morning. She had the wisdom and insight to think about us earlier this week and knew that I would need a distraction... I did. In our married life Micah and I have spent different times apart... most all of them have been for mission trips. I love that we are able to do this, but I dream of when we can again do mission trips TOGETHER!!!! (I'm pretty convinced we will end up in Africa at some point...) I had quite a few tears this morning... I don't like being away from my best friend!

So... cookies and Charlie Brown was a PERFECT distraction blessing! Elyse put it all together... all she asked was for food coloring and sprinkles... which I left at home on the counter with my cell phone! (Where is my head?... hum maybe on it's way to Africa with my heart???)

The kids had a blast... they love projects! Elyse use to be a preschool teacher and so she is a master with kiddos. So patience, kind, and gentle. I love it! She always has the best preschool advice or activity up her sleeve!

This morning was a gift...

She had these fun glasses... I bribed the kids with gum... to get them to stand together...

I thought they were awfully cute... It is fitting look for children of a Librarian... (oh wait... he is not a Librarian... he is a Cognitive Specialist... heeee heee!)

So... the count-down begins... 17 days!

Decorating the Christmas Tree

2011-12-07T08:56:00.001-08:00

Last night we got around to decorating our Christmas tree! I love getting out the ornaments ... it is fun seeing the different ornaments and remembering where they came from! The kids are the perfect age for wonder, excitement, and thrill!

Ethan was really into decorating... He was so careful to put the ornaments on the branches...

Eden was into piling them on one branch... then taking them off... and doing it again...

My favorite part was that right in the middle of decorating they got the bean bag

and started to jump...

and jump...

and jump! These pictures crack me up... I love the energy of my kids... and wish I could sprinkle some on my tired mind and body for a bit of a pick-me-up...

they have "living for the moment" down pat!

After decorating and their bath they were freezing so they sat by the stove... I caught this moment and it just warmed my heart... what cute kiddos...

Here is our Christmas tree for 2011!

I think this is one of my favorite trees of all time... I love how tall and skinny it is... perfect for our living room ... it is easy to tuck in the corner out of the way of my wild-active children!

I am looking forward to spending many evenings... room lights off, tree lights on, a cup of tea, a blanket, jammies... and some peace and quiet... tis the season... and I love it!

deep breath...

2011-12-05T08:42:00.001-08:00

I need to take a deep breath this morning... it has been a morning and it isn't even 10! It was hard to drag myself out of bed this morning. The extra cold, below freezing temps didn't encourage me to bounce out of bed bright eyed and bushy tailed. But never-the-less I got out of bed and got ready to work out. Eden started to cry... really cry... then she got quiet again so I plugged in my treadmill and bam - I blew a fuse. I tried to figure out which fuse it was, but I even though I flipped all the bedroom fuses... NOTHING... I called Micah - he had a bit before he had to open the library so he DROVE home to figure it out. He did... it took him 10 seconds... I should have taken it as a sign from the Lord to go back to bed, but I didn't listen... Eden was in a clingy, crying mood... so I got them a snack, milk, put on a movie and went back to working out. After I finished I got breakfast ready... and everything seems to be going wrong... I am just clumsy today... I dropped the milk (it SPLASHED everywhere), I cleaned it up, only to drop it again! The coffee pot overflowed, the kids were whining... had to take a break for a "teachable moment" with Ethan (it was for disobeying... NOT for locking me outside when I took the trash out... oh YES that did happen this morning!!!!)... dropped the milk again... not a good day. The third milk dropping made me cry out... "Lord, please help me keep an eternal perspective and to live this day in THAT reality!!!" In all reality I really have it easy... we have food, clothes, a house, freedom... it is easy! Days like this remind me that it is not that bad... my bad day is blown fuses, clingy/crying kids, and dropped milk? Huge huh?

Lord, teach me to keep my eyes on you! Help me to be thankful in these hard moments! And help me choose You instead of giving into discouragement, frustration, and anger...

I needed a deep breath... now I can go clean up the milk, do the stack of dirty dishes, start the laundry, clean the bathrooms, continue to hug on my kids... and have a heart that is focused on what is eternal... not temporal...

"I consider that our present sufferings are NOT WORTH comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Rom 8:18)

So "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Heb 12:2)

Tis the Season...

2011-12-03T19:55:00.001-08:00

Micah's departure to Africa is fast approaching... It is hard to believe he is going to be gone most of December - I really wanted to get our Christmas tree before he left... so in the midst of preparing for his trip we took most of the day to wander through the woods looking for the tree.

It is funny... Micah and I had a long marriage-bonding-strengthening discussion about getting a tree this morning. Do we just go down to the grocery store and pick out a tree for $40 or do we buy a $5 permit and cut one down just outside of town? The last 7 years we have been spoiled - we just went in our backyard... found a tree and cut it down... I love the whole "getting a tree" experience

(except for the middle part when everyone is crying and you can't agree on the perfect tree... happpppppens every year!)

Well, we decided to get the $5 permit and take the morning to find a tree... well... we also had to add a $10 saw... so this tree is now up to $15 dollars! But the kids were pretty excited!

They were all smiles until their fingers got cold... and their feet got tired... then the meltdown came... tears... oh the tears... we trudged back to the car without a tree...

And warmed up their little bodies, fingers with some hot cocoa and lunch...

I was especially impressed with our bagel p&j sandwiches... aren't they pretty?

Looks like a fancy dessert to me!

We hiked down a few more trails, drove to a few different locations... talked about how we should have bought the $25 tree at Home Depot... discussed how we could sell our permit to someone else... and about when all hope was gone Micah stopped at one more place.... we let him look by himself - he came back a few minutes later saying he found one... and wanted us to come look!

I told him it was marvelous... I could see it shining through the forest and I hadn't even laid my eyes upon its boughs... CUT IT DOWN! Well... we had to muster up enough energy for the cutting down picture... so we trudged through the snow once again... I loved the unique tree... We cut it down - Eden lost her shoe on the way back to the car - so I carried her, the boot, and a bunch of branches for our table center piece... and the saw back to the car... wow - what a day!

We toasted with hot cocoa and did the victory tree dance - while Micah tied it on the roof...

Somehow we felt like we conquered the world with this years hunt... And as you can see from this picture... we laughed a bit on the way home... oh my silly husband!

Big Kids...

2011-11-30T08:10:00.001-08:00

I am still in shock that we took a trip with the kids... and it was PLEASANT! In all my experiences traveling with my kiddos it has HARD (to say the least). They get thrown off their schedules... they react, won't sleep, get cranky, cry, act horribly... and STRESS me out. This trip they were FUN to be with! We enjoyed our 20+ hours in the car... we took our naps or missed our naps without major breakdowns and tears... it was a blessing. I am liking this older kid phase... A LOT!

Papa Bill emailed me this picture of Ethan that he took while they were at the park... I really like it!

Ethan Cade... 4 years old...

Eden Eve... up a tree...

Eden Eve... 2 years old...

Our Thanksgiving Trip...

2011-11-28T19:48:00.001-08:00

***I've been experiencing blogging blah... So for those of you who are wondering where I have been... this update is for you!***

A Happy Momma!

For our Thanksgiving break we took an impulsive, spontaneous trip to Colorado to visit family! The trip both ways went super well. This trip gave me hope that traveling with kids

can ACTUALLY be fun...

Dadda and his little girl!

We had beautiful weather! I had to laugh that I packed snowsuits, gloves and boots...

we sure didn't need them!

On Thanksgiving we spent the day with Micah's dad, brothers and their families. There was lots and lots of energy, activity and wildness! And I must mention INCREDIBLE food... fabulous food!

The next few days we spent at Nana's house! I love being related to this family - they are loads of fun. There were spontaneous dance parties, wrestling matches, lots of food, more food, and deep, rich and meaningful conversation! The kids played hard! And to be perfectly honest... I didn't see them much!

Isabelle, Ava, Eden, Eme, Liam, and Ethan

They were with their beloved cousins (all pictured above)

Being loved on by Aunt Jen!

It feels good to be loved! Being with family is a blessing... one we don't take for granite... we are so far away from both of our families... just being able to get together and enjoy each other is a gift... I haven't laughed as much or as hard as I did this past weekend in a L O N G time!

I couldn't help but throw in a picture of the other Forsythe family... I just love this picture! It was spontaneous... and may have ended up on their Christmas card!

Now we are back home... back to reality... I love this picture of Ethan because it captures our feelings quite well... worn out from the wild week we had... tired - but oh so happy and thankful!

It was a blessed Thanksgiving!

Snow, Snow, Snow...

2011-11-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

I am so thankful that the snow held off coming until November this year... For the past few years having snow in September made for some really, really long winters! This week we got a few more snow flurries... making it a winter wonderland outside!

Despite the low temperatures Ethan wanted to be outside playing... everyday. He is getting really good at snow angels!

Eden joined him a few times and she is working on her snow angels... they look more like modern art at this point in time... but A+ for effort! Micah thinks she looks like Ralphy from the Christmas story Movie in this picture...

I can't help it... I want my kids to be warm enough!

I watched from the window and a few times even ventured out to the porch to take some pictures... Ethan: "Momma, take a picture of me throwing snow in my face!"

I need to dig out my snow suit... hum!

We didn't do too much this week... I'm still trying to recover from the flu bug... this one was a nasty one... I finally started to feel more like myself on Thursday.... I could tell I felt better because I starting attacking projects with a vengeance!

On a side note: I love my kids eyelashes...

Aren't they beautiful?

Snow play is the best... wears out this little boy and that is HARD to do... his energy is incredible. Yesterday while he was playing he came to the porch and rang the doorbell. When I came to the door he EXCLAIMED, " Momma, I need HELP! I found the biggest icicle in the WHOLE world and I need help getting it down!" I sent Micah!

Ethan was pretty excited about this giant icicle... he even brought it inside with him!

Thanksgiving Thankful Thought #6: While editing these snowy pictures I was overwhelmed by how thankful I am for a warm"ish" house... a newly fixed wood pellet stove (just in time for the really cold temps), warm woolen socks, and hot tea! I feel like this month of thanksgiving is passing quickly so I will have to make up for it by being thankful for the rest of the year... because we do have a LOT to thank God for!

Weekend Bliss...

2011-11-13T19:05:00.000-08:00

Our weekend was full of activity, energy and people! Here are some highlights...

(from Left to Right: Melanie, Paige, Bethany... and me)

On Friday: A whole bunch of worlds collided... Bethany was visiting - I met her in Moldova and we (Kasie and I) are trying to convince her to move here and attend MBC... (keep your fingers crossed). She is a dear and I got to see a bit of her this weekend - which was a TREAT! Melanie (Kasie's cousin and a student from MWSB's class of 2011) is a sweet one! And of course PAIGE!!! None of these girls had ever met before but we had a blessed day of fellowship, laughter, shopping, and mint chocolate chip milkshakes... it was fun!

On Friday Night: Paige watched the kiddos and Micah and I got to go out on a date! I love dating my husband... I would do it more often if given the choice, but I sure enjoy the moments we get. We spent several hours working on our Marriage "homework" from our Marriage Sunday School class. It was fun to talk about our marriage - our relationship... we shared pizza and a giant cookie for dinner... it was good (the cookie and the conversation)!!

On Saturday: It was a snowy, cold morning but we bundled up and headed to Kasie's house for brunch! Kasie made these DELICIOUS scones and Melanie cooked up some yummy eggs. Micah and the kids watched a movie while Paige slept on the couch... and the rest of us sat around and talked about God - our lives... it was so refreshing... I love mornings like this!

When we got home we made raspberry snow cones with the fresh snow...

Ethan thought that was a very good idea!

On Sunday: We took Paige out to lunch (we splurged and took her to Costco for hotdogs!!!! I know - aren't we the BEST!???)

Paige filled the last 4 days with goofiness, fun, and laughter.... plus lots of art work and imagination. Last night we laminated a dozen pieces of her art work so that Ethan and Eden will be able to play with it long after she is gone... which is now - *sob* - She left this afternoon!

(We miss you already, Paige... and YES I am BLOGGING about it!)

This evening we watched Busytown Mysteries, ate popcorn and were pretty quiet... it was a weekend full of life and blessing... too much fun!

Thanksgiving Thankful Thought #5: I am so thankful for memories. Our life is rich with moments that we have seized and made the most of... I am so grateful for all the people that make these memories special, unique, and perfect... I love being able to remember all that makes our life the life that it is! We are blessed!

Paige is Here!

2011-11-10T20:48:00.000-08:00

Tuesday night I got a call from Paige (our dear Nanny)... She said, "Can I come visit you guys TOMORROW?" Yes please! Ethan was thrilled... he made cards and the duck craft in the above picture for his dear Paige... he stood by the window and watched for her all day wondering why she was taking sooooooo long to get here.

Paige is here now... and we are all thrilled. We are getting our "play" on! Paige taught me a lot about parenting the year she was a part of our family. She showed me how to be silly, goofy, and how to really play with the kids. We miss her... Ethan misses her the most because she was his playmate and together they could play like none other!

Today we made slime... Here is the recipe:

3/4 cups warm water + 1 cup white glue + a few drops of green food coloring

pour into another container containing

1 1/3 cup warm water + 4 teaspoons Borax

let sit for 1 minute without stirring.

It was pretty cool stuff... I wanna try this again because it didn't seem to have the right consistency, but it was still fun. I loved watching the kids play with it. I think it help that Paige was right there with them encouraging their little imaginations.

love

Paige

and am so thankful for the gift of her presence this week... How fun is that!

(One funny story from today.... Paige was making Ethan some origami from orange paper. He handed her a piece of green paper and asked her to make him some greenigami...)

Thanksgiving Thankful Thought #4: I'm thankful for friends who love me and stick by me through thick and thin. Paige has been with me during the very darkest days of my life and she still loves me... I am so thankful!

Simple Days...

2011-11-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Toasts with chocolate milk is about as creative as it is getting this week... we've been having mornings of "nothingness"... Momma is sick... kid chaos continue, the organized world of our home has ceased for this week. Laundry is piling up, the dishes are staying contained... but barely... Yesterday the house was so filthy I forced myself to clean... sweeping and vacuuming was about all I got done. The kids dusted. I take for granite what I do on a daily basis... until I can't do it. Things go down hill FAST!

I've been seeing a lot of this from my chair... I sit, drink ginger ale and pray for this sickness to pass... it has not been fun! I am feeling a bit better today... I feel so guilty for being sick... it is hard to let myself rest and be still... and to not feel bad for doing it! This too shall pass.

Thanksgiving Thankful Thought #3: (I'm behind on these thankful thoughts) I am thankful for the health I normally have, but take for granite! Being sick reminds me of the strength, energy and life that I normally have... the life God has given me. I am working on being thankful for rest... ironically "studying rest" is my homework in counseling this week... go figure!

Ethan's Prayer and Statement!

2011-11-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

Ethan's prayer yesterday morning, "Dear God, please help us have a better day today... we got off to a rough start yesterday." Out of the mouth of babes...

After a ROUGH afternoon with Ethan today out of the blue he started being really, really, really sweet to me. I mean we had been going head to head - battling the wills all day long and so I asked him, "Why are you being so nice to me all of a sudden?"

He responded, "Everybody needs a lot of love!"

(I just love these sleeping pictures of him... melts my heart!)

First Snow Day...

2011-11-06T14:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we woke up to snow!

The first thing Ethan said was, "Can we set up our marble set?" This summer when I put this set away I told Ethan we wouldn't get it out until it snowed... he remembered and he asked! More like pleaded. I was okay with it. We had the whole day to play... so we set it up!

He even built his own little marble maze...

It was a great first snow day of the season... we played mostly inside...

venturing outside for some snowballs...

some snow nibbles....

snow angels... and catching flakes on our tongues...

We played forts, made olive/pepperoni pizza...

And ended our evening with a funny movie... Ethan is at that age where he gets the funny things and his laugh makes me laugh... I'm still recovering from my dance with the flu... my tummy is still off... and I am still tired... BUT...

Thanksgiving Thankful Thought #2: I am thankful for our little house. I am thankful that it has become a home and a place where we are making so many memories. I am thankful for this snow day... games, laughs... and just being together in a warm place. I cherish days like this so much. Just wishing Micah was here!

A Change of Plans...

2011-11-05T09:52:00.001-07:00

Our bags were packed... maps printed... coupons clipped... excitement was off the charts - we were heading to a Seattle wedding of some dear friends. 4:45 I woke up... got in the shower. Micah started the car and packed up the bags. We were getting ready to get the kids up and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. I had to lay down. I told Micah something was WRONG! He felt it too. He turned off the car and the flu hit us... HARD. Well... Micah not as hard as me. I couldn't move for the next 10 hours except to puke, puke, and puke. I have never had a flu so painful as this one... it felt like it was in my nerves. I could barely text some friends and ask for help. I knew Micah needed to go to the wedding without me... because he is officiating the wedding... so he HAS TO BE THERE! Around noon a friend came and took the kids and Micah left for Seattle without us. I just cried. It is a couple days later... the wedding will take place in a few hours... I won't be there. I didn't get to see my dear friends, it hasn't been the weekend I had been planning since summer time... there are no pictures of the Woodland Park Zoo... there are no hugs from friends... I still don't feel 100%... I texted Micah, "Aren't you glad this isn't our real home?" Sometimes... often - plans change. It is sad... it hurts... it is confusing, but this isn't our real home... I keep whispering that to myself... hopefully I will believe it! While I keep whispering that to myself... I am unpacking, cleaning up after the flu... and trying to figure out what to do to keep the little ones busy... pray for us today, okay?

A Gray Fall Day...

2011-11-01T07:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I couldn't help but notice how gray the sky was... when we first ventured outside it was warm, but shortly after we began our trek around "our" little ponds it started to get chilly and the skies started spitting little water drops... it seemed "dark"...

Even though it was gray... I hardly even noticed the gloominess because my kiddos seemed quite colorful!

It may have been their colorful outfits... or the contrast between the dreary day and their energy full play!

I found the lighting was nice for taking some fun pictures of the kids... so I clicked away!

I just love this one of Eden!

And this one too... WHAT IS SHE DOING? Just cracks me up!

Last night I read in a book the importance of finding the beauty in every place or situation... It was refreshing to be outside in the chilly air... and delighting in the colorful bundles that ran around my feet... it was a fun little "hike"... rain, gloom and all!

***Thanksgiving Thankful Thought #1: I love learning from my kids. They teach me so much about how God loves me and how He is long suffering with me. My kids may be a lot of work and require sooo much out of me... but it doesn't change my love for them... it just endears them to me all the more! They have changed me... and I am thankful!

Weekend Highlight...

2011-10-31T12:35:00.000-07:00

I forgot to mention... MY FAVORITE PART of the weekend. Friday night Ethan wrote his name for the first time on his own. We have worked and worked on letters... and Friday night something clicked. He sounded out his name and wrote it. Then he sounded out and wrote Dad, Mom... and lots of Hs. All he wants to do is write letters. He is ready to learn how to read. I need help?!?! What curriculums/programs would you guys recommend to start teaching him how to read...??? He is ready and EAGER!

Weekend Blessings...

2011-10-29T09:50:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of Eden... everything about it... the way she is sitting, the concentration, the way her hair twists up into her hair clip... the light coming in the window... and especially the way her pointed toes are poised on the floor. This picture captured a moment, but even more than that it captured a feeling of contentment. This week I have been counting blessings and being thankful for so many things throughout our days! Being conscious of blessings reminds me of how much God loves me and how He daily provides for our needs and many, many, many times our wants!!!

On Friday we helped a family pack up their moving van... I pray we were a blessing. I was blessed watching my kids haul out toys, pillows, (light stuff) to the moving van. They were so eager to help. Saturday morning a friend from Augusta brought us a HUGE box of groceries (Thanks, Teresa!). It blessed us... I love how we can be a blessing in other peoples' lives and in so many ways be blessed by others! It is truly a beautiful thing!

Also this weekend we went to a harvest party. I found out about it last minute so we rushed around finding costumes. Eden wore Ethan's costume from last year (remember)... I love looking back in time and seeing how much different life was... just a year ago!

Ethan wanted to go as a robot... that was pretty easy... Micah spray painted this box and Ethan made the buttons... He wanted to wear his striped hat so we didn't have to make a helmet...

Eden was tickled pink that she got to wear the sacred Ming-Ming costume... Ethan has worn this a lot this year.... I couldn't believe it fit her!

We had fun at the harvest party... the house was packed with college kids... after braving it inside for awhile we found the bonfire outside...

Ethan thought the fire was the best part... I just enjoyed watching his excitement.

It was a blessed weekend... filled with lot of home project and catch up work... good to catch our breath before this busy week!

***Looking forward to TOMORROW... the beginning of November and a season of intentional THANKSGIVING! Praise God from whom all BLESSING flow!

Our Creative Play Projects...

2011-10-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

On the way home from Church on Sunday Micah talked about how he had observed in Ethan a desire to build things. He had noticed that anything that gave Ethan options for building... legos, lincoln logs, and blocks Ethan spends hours building, creating... constructing. This comment made me think. We do a lot of craft projects... but they are always pretty structured. When Ethan was younger I tried unstructured crafts/creative times and it just didn't work.

This week I tried the unstructured creative times again. It has been delightful. I gave Ethan scissors, a stapler, paper punches, markers/crayons, and glue and he has spent hours creating and building all sorts of things out of simple materials... old magazines, cardboard straps, paper... He is very creative!

Eden comes and goes and I always have to keep an eye on the scissors... and glue... for some reason she thinks glue smells good... Oh dear, Eden!

Before I had kids I dreamed of times like this.

I love being creative and now I love seeing creativity in my kids... it is a fun thing!

Another project I tackled this week is this push pin toy. I have seen things like this on other blogs and so I took the idea and made it with stuff we had around the house. Although, I did buy the colored rubber bands and tacks with a money back voucher... so they were free.

Ethan has really enjoyed this simple game. He pushes in the tacks and connects the rubber bands and then looks up and asks, "What is that, Momma?" It is a fun game... and I think it encourages that "building" part in Ethan.

I am stocking up ideas for house games... this sheet of ice indicates that winter is near and we are going to spend a lot of hours in the living room playing games and simple indoor activities.

(Eden saying, "Cheese!")

This is a unique season for us... we play, talk, laugh and play more. I am very thankful I get to be involved in these kiddos' lives for this time... it is a blessing!

Discipleship #2: Reading God's Word

2011-10-25T12:45:00.000-07:00

Reading the Bible is a priority in our home. There is no substitute for the rich words of scripture... I understand this... I also believe in the importance of engaging little minds and hearts in a way that God's truth is communicated and understood. Since I was in high school I have been collecting Children Bibles. I love the pictures... the simple truths of the stories. As a family we have established a set times in our day to read Bible Stories... every single morning at breakfast and before bed. I read to them in the morning and Micah reads to them at bed time. It is amazing how fast we go through the BIG Bible story books... There are many times I get all choked up as I read these simple stories... God's truth is powerful and I continually pray that these times plant seeds in my kiddos hearts. Here is a review of the different story books I have and use!

This story book I found at the thrift store (an amazing place to find Children Bible story books!). We are currently reading through this one in the mornings. I enjoy it. It reads more like a Bible and the chapters are short... perfect for little one's attention spans.

Here is one of my first Children's Bible. I bought it on sale at the Barnes and Noble by the San Francisco Wharf. I was visiting there with my high school Art Club. It is kinda special to me! This one has a lot of words and so I probably won't read this one to them until they are older!

This is a Bible story book my mom read to us. I always loved looking at the pictures... and it is sentimental! The reading sections are short and have good questions. I actually bought my copy in England while I was on a mission trip.

Here is our newest addition to the collection. I picked this one up at the Christian bookstore and am so excited to read through it with the kids. I have read several pages and I think the illustrations are incredible and the thoughts intriguing. Anyone have any thoughts on this one?

My favorite Children's Bible of all times is this one... Every Story Whispers His Name The Jesus Bible Storybook Bible. It takes me back to my college Bible classes that were taught by Prof. Lubeck. This book makes me cry... every single chapter! It shows how every story in the Old Testament is pointing towards Jesus... wonderful, beautiful... and convicting.

This one is my second favorite... it is by David Helm. It shows the BIG PICTURE of scripture... our need for a Savior and does an excellent job of taking individual stories and weaving them together as one BIG STORY. I love the illustrations by Gail Schoonmaker.

In the my Bible Story collecting I have come across PURE HERESY! The ones above are NOT MY FAVORITE! I would never, never recommend stories by Kathleen Long Bostrom. I disagree with how she tells the stories. Like for instance Adam and Eve were BORED in the garden that is why they ate the fruit... seriously? They had communion with God and a beautiful sinless garden... I hardly believe that is reason to be bored into sin... come'on! The Children's Bible Treasury does a horrible job of telling the stories... in fact it rewrites them all. For instance... a storm at the tower of Babel made the people scatter, Jacob was given the choice to marry Leah or not... he was not tricked. He was mad but decided to do what he should do, and Potiphar's wife didn't seduce Joseph she just kept telling lies to Potiphar until he believed her and threw him in jail. I understand being sensitive to your audience, but I also believe that it is important to teach WHAT the Bible says - Most of the Bible stories are crazy/wild, terrifying stories... Noah's Ark???! I don't believe in changing the story line. When I was reading the Children's Treasury I spent a lot of time - saying, "Oh wait... that is not how the story goes..." then telling the right story... until I was fed up and quit reading it to them... it was not worth my time or energy! The last one in the picture... just isn't one of my favorites... I didn't appreciate the liberty it took to add "fiction" to the text.

With all of these I made the "mistake" of not reading them before hand... but I thought that was okay because I think it is good to teach your kids to THINK about what they are reading (especially if you are reading a text outside the Bible that is about the Bible)... I want them to ask, "Is this story lining up with what God's Word says...?" I have a huge responsibility to TEACH my kids what scripture actually says - so they know!

I have enjoyed these Bible stories. They are super short. The top one is Bible stories and the second one highlights heros of the Bible... I love the music that came with them!

I have a ton of Bible stories books... I read them to the kids all the time. I want God's word to be cemented in their minds and hearts. It is amazing how much reading these simple stories impacts my heart and mind. I have learned so much... especially answering my 4 year old's theological questions... sure makes me think of how to explain things!

I started reading to them with these board books... while they were nursing...

Now, if we are in a hurry and time is tight... they still beg for me to read their Bible story in the morning... I figure it is okay to be late because you are reading God's Word! If you make God's Word a priority in your life... they will too!

Easy Painting Project...

2011-10-25T08:11:00.000-07:00

I love easy! This art project was easy! A friend introduced me to The Imagination Tree Blog (THANKS, Jen A!). It is marvelous... I am pretty sure I got this idea off of this site... be careful looking at it... it will suck you in and consume many hours if you let it! It has the recipe for a million hours of play and I have a list going of things I want to do with the kids... I get a lot of my ideas and recipes from there (Like: Edible Finger Paint and Homemade Paint! Like I said... it is marvelous!

I used our regular craft paint... thinned it with water and acrylic paint thinner to make it soupy enough for dipping. I loved collecting circle objects from all over our house... It is a good way to talk about shapes... and God's love! Back in the day, there was a song I sang in Sunday School that talked about how God's love is like a circle... a circle big and round. There is no ending to a circle and that is how God love is... never-ending! As we were stamping I sang the song... Ethan looked up at me and exclaimed, "That is the song you sang to me as a baby!!!" He is a trip!

The kiddos stamped a dozen pictures... I'm not gonna lie... I did a couple myself!

Art is fun... play is needed. We learn and grow through both... try this project - it is easy!

Love From Japan...

2011-10-24T08:30:00.000-07:00

No one told me how exhausting, humbling and GOOD counseling would be. I look forward to it, cry all during it, and leave refreshed and encouraged... with lots to think about. These past weeks have been hard as I renew my mind, focus on truth, and grow in grace. This past week a lot of heavy things took place... my mentor told me that my homework this week is to ask God to show me the love He has for me! I can love others, tell others how much God loves them, but somewhere there is a disconnect and it is hard for me to truly believe that God LOVES ME... and that other people love me too!

A few days ago a package arrived from Japan... my sister in law stuff the box so full of treats that it literally exploded when I cut it open. Amidst countless clothing items I found these little molds. They are egg molds... you boil an egg, peel it while it is still hot, then put it in the mold for 10 minutes... I have a thing for funky, fun things like this... it is creative, easy and just exciting... guess there is still a whole lot of kid wonder left in me!

This morning we tried them out... the kids thought they were pretty cool. I have a feeling we are going to be eating a lot of eggs around this place!

Thanks, Daniela for your love... I hope you hear how this blessed us, blessed me... I feel loved! And for the rest of you... plan a trip to Japan so you can get one of these cool egg molds... it will be worth your trip... hee hee!

"There's a Baby in my Tummy!"

2011-10-22T19:41:00.000-07:00

Just to clarify... I am not pregnant!

This morning we were getting ready to leave the house. Eden came to me and asked if she could put her baby in her tummy. I helped her tuck the baby inside her coat and then she ran around saying, "I gotta baby in my tummy, I gotta baby in my tummy!"

Micah trying to be support said to her, "I'm so proud of you, Sweetie!" I looked at him with a questioning look and he quickly added something about how glad he was that she was happily married or something to that nature. I have no idea where she got this idea... but it was interesting! Ethan is totally obsessed with me having another baby... he has decided that our next baby is going to be a boy and he is going to teach him to walk and play with him... to be exact he is going to toss him up into the air and catch him... hum!

Micah said that he took her to the car and told her the baby had to come out so she could fit in her seat... Micah said he heard a LOUD groan. He looked over and asked her if she got the baby out and she smiled and said happily, "YEAH!" When we all had gotten in the car Micah and I looked at each other with the look, "Did that just happen?" It made us laugh... crazy kids!

Fall Work Play...

2011-10-21T20:59:00.000-07:00

I am just loving all this fall weather! We have cold days, then perfectly wonderful days... then rainy days... it is unpredictable, but beautifully wonderful. It was suppose to rain today... and yesterday I was noticing that the leaves around our tree needed to be raked!

But YESTERDAY we had things to do. We had some wonderful new friends come over for some play. It was so good... play groups to me are so essential because it allows my kids to learn to serve other (something they are not good at yet... selfishness is prominent right now!), to share their toys and to be gracious hosts. In order to learn these things we need these teachable moments. I am SO thankful for these kiddo's Mom... Jen, you bless me! Thank you for constantly challenging me to love Jesus more!

Yesterday afternoon and this morning I attended a leadership conference with Micah. It was FABULOUS! But again... no time to rake the leaves and I knew rain was coming! While the kids slept this afternoon - I cleaned up the yard, drained hoses, put away our hanging swing, cleaned up toys... etc. Then when the kids woke up I got out the rake!

I got a pile started and then asked the kids if they wanted to jump in! Ethan was very timid at first, but his sister led the way... she instinctively knew what to do and dove in the pile!

After Ethan saw that it was "safe" he joined her in the play...

I think leave jumping/laying/playing is an essential thing to do in the fall...

We didn't play too long, but long enough to throw leaves...

be amazingly adorable and cute in the leaves...

And get buried over and over again!

Micah came home while we were raking and it was extra exciting helping Daddy!

With hesitation we finally decided to bag up the huge pile...

The kiddos were super great helpers... and as we were making our way into the house... the rain started! Thank you Jesus for holding off the rain until the leaves we safe and dry in the garbage bags! This is one of those amazing jobs where you get to sandwich play with work... how fun!

Couldn't help adding this pic! I thought it was super cute!!!

A Surprise Field Trip...

2011-10-19T15:43:00.000-07:00

Today we headed outside to play at the park... as we stepped out the door I could tell it was not a "play at the park" day! It was cold... that brisk, chilly fall air that announces that winter is right around the corner! I knew I hadn't dressed the kids warm enough and so we headed to the library! Little did I know that they had a special guest visiting the library... a police officer!

The police officer talked about his uniform and all that goes on his belt around his waist. Then he took the kids outside to see his police car! Eden immediately climbed in the back seat and didn't want to get out... I just pray this is the first and last time she sees the back of a police car... thank you VERY MUCH!

The friendly police officer gave them a badge, a frisbee, and a bracelet! Talk about getting the "hook up!" The kids thought that was pretty cool!

They even got to make their own police CB radio... They have been playing policeman all afternoon... It was a pretty special unplanned moment in our morning!

A Peek at My Garden...

2011-10-19T08:27:00.000-07:00

I walked down garden memory lane this morning...

Here is my garden fall 2009... just months after Eden was born. It was an amazing garden... all I really did was plant seeds... I didn't really have time to tend to it like I wanted to, but the harvest was incredible! Reminds me of the verse in 1 Corinthians 3:7 "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow!" I know this is talking in a spiritual sense, but it really came alive to me as I watched God grow up my neglected plants...

In the summer of '10 I planted hundreds of seeds and plants all over the yard... and I saw my largest harvest that fall... beans, tomatoes, potatoes, carrots, spinach, lettuce, squash, quarts of strawberries, pints of raspberries, TONS of flowers... all sorts of colors and varieties.

The yard truly was gorgeous... it was also that fall we finished the last rock wall... completing the landscaping ... ironic really! This past summer I heard that the woman who lives there now picked raspberries for over an hour one morning... John 4:37 came to mind, "Thus the saying 'one sows and another reaps' is true."

Here is my garden this year. I almost had one of those "I wish I was back in Egypt" moments this morning as I looked through pictures of my old plants and past gardens. They really became my friends and companions... They taught me so much about God and illustrated truths from His Word. But as I look at this years "garden" I have to smile. I have enjoyed these pots... their happy colors - the way I diligently moved them from shadows to sun, from cold to the warmth inside. I dropped some, kicked over others... but still the little seeds have grown!

Yesterday we harvested some of our basil. The kids did a great job pinching the leaves instead of pulling them and then we made pesto for dinner! Because they helped they both were eager to eat the finished product... surprisingly Ethan said it was "wonderful."

Some friends came over for dinner and it was a delight to share with them our "harvest"... the work of our hands. I am such a huge fan of pesto and fresh is the only way to have it!

Here is the recipe I used:

2 cups fresh basil leaves

1/2 cup parmesan (I just used the already grated parmesan cheese - you know the stuff you buy to sprinkle on your spaghetti! I'm sure the "real" stuff would be better, but I'm cheap!)

1/2 cup olive oil

1/3 cup walnuts

3 medium cloves garlic

a sprinkle of pepper and salt

Put the nuts in a food processor and pulse a few times - add the garlic pulse a few more times... add the leaves and cheese and run the processor while dripping the olive oil into the mixture... sprinkle with pepper and salt... take a lick.. it is that good!

I always freeze the extra and use it all through out the year in the sauces or soups I make... delicious!

Thank you, Lord, for Your provision this year...

You are the one that makes things grow!

All in a Day's Play

2011-10-18T08:16:00.000-07:00

I love how the play in our house is getting more creative and lively. Imaginations are running crazy and brings me much joy and delight... and yes, this is a normal house... so to clarify I am talking about those small/short moments of bliss that are intermixed with the fighting, yelling, and moments of training/teaching/discipline.

Yesterday they made a doctor's office out of stools and blankets. It was a tight squeeze but them both "fit" in there for short periods of time... usually seconds because that was about all Eden could handle before springing up and running around wildly!

At one point Ethan asked Eden to lay down on the ground a be a puddle... so he could jump "over" her. I wasn't watching but I heard this conversation...

Ethan: "Lay down, Eden, and be a puddle I am going to jump over you!"

Eden: "Okay, Ethan!"

a moment later...

Eden: "Umpth" (as Ethan landed directly on her back) "You hurted my back, Ethan!"

Ethan: "It's okay, Eden, it will heal!"

Lessons From My Daughter...

2011-10-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

What I see: Mornings are hard for Eden!!! I have learned that the best thing to do is to scope her and her basket full of things out of bed and carry her to the living room, hold her in my arms and just snuggle for about 5 minutes. I don't rush this process, I have learned not to skip this little routine in our mornings... in fact I find that I enjoy it.

What I am Learning: Mornings are hard for me too. If given the choice I would lay in bed for hours slowly waking up/dozing in and out of sleep. I don't get that privilege... in high school my school started at 7am for crying out loud. In college I always had 8 o'clock classes and now my son gets up before the sun does! I find it is so important to curl up on God's lap for 5 minutes or more and just be still. To quiet my heart and find my grounding before the early morning routine plows through the stillness and quietness of the early morning hours.

"In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation." Ps 5:3

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Ps 90:14

What I see: Emotionally she needs a lot... she is at that stage where I can understand about 95% of what she is saying and the other 5% I have to guess, guess and guess... until I get it right. She gets frustrated when I don't know what she means and DELIGHTED when I finally figure out what she wants or "needs". I have learned to be patient, kind and FIRM with her. I don't allow her to have a spoiled... I get everything I demand... there are many times throughout the day when she spends "quiet" time in her bed after she unleashes an academy award winning temper tantrum... she is learning she doesn't get milk every time she demands it... or whatever else she is asking for. I constantly speak to myself and say, "You are the parent! She doesn't run this house... you do!" She is a strong little girl... and I love it!

What I am Learning: I see Eden engaging with the world around her. She sees the world from her limited perspective and so the decisions she makes for herself seem logical. Of course ice cream after breakfast makes complete sense... it tastes good, it is sweet... WHY NOT!!!? As her parent I am constantly weighing what is good and best for her. I won't let her eat ice cream after breakfast because it is not BEST for her... it doesn't mean that I am a horrible, mean Momma (although my kids argue with that!). I met with my mentor this past weekend and she told me that I ask "why" too much. She told me that why questions always end up frustrating her and she challenged me to ask "what" questions instead. "What should I do about that NOW?" Who am I to contend with God? Why do I think I know better than He does... who am I question what He is doing or HOW He is doing it... it may be painful and I don't understand, but that is just because my perspective is so limited!

"Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow." Ps 144:5

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecc 3:11

What I see: She is quirky... see that basket of things? She is always encumbered by her "things"... she has to have 15 bracelets on her wrist, her bucket or purse of animals, her box of books, a stuffed animal or baby, and her blanket. I watch her struggle with the heavy load of things, but she insists that she "needs" them. At night the basket is with her when she sleeps and even during our snuggle times in the morning she wants her things to be on our lap or very close to our chair. When we go places she wants to take everything with her... I don't let her. She can take her blanket, but that is it. I worry, "Is this how hoarders start out?" "Is this healthy?" "Should I intervene - should I take these things away from her?"...

What I am learning: Then I wonder how many times I climb up into Jesus' lap with my basket of things I insist I NEED to carry around... worries, bitterness, anger, frustration... all little boxes in my basket. I wonder if He looks down at me like I look at Eden and just thinks, "I wish she wouldn't burden herself with all these little trinkets that don't have any value!" "She clings to them, but I wish she could just set them down so she could enjoy the world around her so much more!" The verse that comes to my mind constantly as I watch my little girl is Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." I want rest... I want to set down my basket of things that burden me and find His rest and peace!

This little girl teaches me so much. I see myself in her actions, emotions and determination. I have learned and AM STILL LEARNING to be patient, kind and gentle with her. To listen even when I don't understand and she is getting frustrated. I have learned to be still - to stop what I am doing get down on her level and look into her eyes when she is whining and emotional... to sit with her... to calm her and to be strong and stubborn.

I have come a long ways so there is hope for this little girl...

I know there will be hard times ahead for her and I pray that God will be kind, gentle and patient with her... I know He will be! I am thankful for how He is using her to teach me so much about Himself... He is so kind, gentle and patient with me!

A Winterizing Weekend!

2011-10-16T18:42:00.000-07:00

As I type it is pouring rain outside... can't help but think if we were still in the mountains - this would be snow........ hum! Glad I am not in the mountains... with that said...

We see signs that winter is right around the corner. Our little home has been cold, really cold and in the back of my mind I know that it is going to be WAY colder when it gets below zero! This weekend we tackled some winterizing projects.

Eli was here and he and Micah worked on sealing the doors... don't ask me what they are doing in this picture. Micah would kill me if he knew I put it up here... they have a strange relationship - I don't ask questions. They sealed outlets... and talked about other ways of making the place warmer! They also hauled over 400lbs of pellets into our house for our pellet stove... BUT when they tried to turn it on it didn't respond... so we will have to figure that out!

I got out the sewing machine and sewed draft snakes for the outside doors and quilts for the bedroom windows. I just have a few windows left. These window blankets will hopefully help block out the cold... I also have those plastic window kits to put up...

This afternoon I stuff the draft snakes (or giraffe snakes as Eden would say) with beans and while I was at it I sewed a few bean bags for the kids.

It kept Ethan busy for a while...

Tonight for dinner we had our Sunday tradition: popcorn, pretzels, and apples. This time I put a few drops of almond abstract in the dough and when they came out of the oven I brushed them with melted butter and dipped them in cinnamon and sugar... it was a perfect end to a busy weekend. I am thankful we got a few of these winterizing projects done!

Time Out!

2011-10-15T14:58:00.000-07:00

Last night there were many tears... buckets of tears. And they weren't from the kiddos... they were mine. The dam broke and I just couldn't stop crying... There has been some hard relationship stuff on my plate and something inside of me just needed to cry...

Micah had left to go to college group and I loaded the kids up and told them - let's go get ice cream... something rich and chocolate-ly. I have been trying so hard to stick to our monthly food budget and last night I just didn't care. We were going to splurge and buy ice cream!

Amazingly the kiddos were perfect shoppers... no opposition... Ethan begged for chocolate and Eden begged for pink (strawberry)... we got both. Micah was home when we got back - he decided to stay with us... with the kids tucked in bed - I had a small bowl of chocolate and cried some more. This morning there has been many more tears - it is the way life goes in a fallen world... I need a time out to collect my thoughts... but for now a small bowl of chocolate goodness goes a long ways... hum!

Thankful Thoughts...

2011-10-13T19:13:00.001-07:00

As the weather shifts and the leaves start to fall from the trees I always become contemplative and begin to mentally think through all the things I am thankful for. Thanksgiving is right around the corner... it is my favorite holiday. I love remembering all the things that God has done in our lives and for us! This afternoon the kids were up early from rest time and we (okay in reality) I was sorting through their bedroom and cleaning up the toys. Several times I heard my Mom's words, "There is a place for everything and everything should be in its place" come out of my mouth during the toy shuffle/clean up! I now understand why she said that to me all the time... she should be proud of me now... I finally get it! As I sorted and dug through the piles... throwing away bits and pieces... sneaking away broken toys... I found myself thinking, "We have too much!" I often look around my house and wonder, "What can I get rid of? We have too much!" Once order was restored to the toys I began on the kids' closets. Eden has more clothes than any girl should... not even sure she will wear all that she has... I am filled with thanks. As I sorted and folded, pulling out the 18 months - now too small... I only found one outfit that I actually bought for her. All the others have been given to us. I was thankful.

Our lives are rich. I am thankful for the little things in our life... the beauty around us, the simpleness of our days, the constant reminders of God's faithfulness and provision.

He has been so good to us...

I am thankful!

Discipleship #1: Responsibility

2011-10-12T08:11:00.001-07:00

I have been thinking a ton about parenting, discipleship as a parent, and discipline. The main reason we moved to Bozeman was to be able to focus on discipling our kids. Our ministry demanded too much time, too my energy, too much everything. I noticed that I was surviving in the areas I cared the most about... being a wife and a Momma. I was mentoring (not really) 8 girls... I say not really because I was spread so thin my main goal in my meeting times was to not fall asleep... listening was optional (kinda/sorta joking). Dreams I had of parenting/ discipling were put on hold or sloppily executed for Ethan's first 4 years... I regret that. Where do I go from here? ... How do I make up time? ... These are thoughts that have been on my mind and in my heart... these past 6 months. Parenting is a huge responsibility... a big gift... I am a steward of a precious human being made in the image of God... I don't take this lightly at all!

I often read Deuteronomy 11:18-21 that says...

"Fix these words of Mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the day s of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth."

And wonder how am I teaching my children? More things are caught then taught and how is my life being an example to them... what am I teaching them? I want them to know and love Jesus... I have studying and spent hours looking for tangible ways of discipling children.... I am a visual, artistic person and so I have to be able to see, touch, taste, explore a concept before I understand it... So I am developing ways to discipling my children and so once a week I want to share the Bible studies and activities I am doing with my kids... maybe it will be useful to you if you are a parent on the discipling journey!

We never dreamed that Ethan would have troubles adjusting to social settings. Never thought about it. He interacted fine with college kids, but really didn't consider that going to a structured setting would cause so many issues and problems. He is a compliant kid and very obedient (for the most part) at home - he tries so hard to please... so when he started to get kicked out of Sunday school and/or we started receiving bad reports about him - we were dumbfounded. One Sunday School worker told my friend, "I've never had a kid like Ethan in all my life - I had no idea what to do with him!" So lately we've gone back to our family structure. We've spent hours talking with him about being a part of our family... the privilege and the responsibility. He is to honor us as his parents and one way of doing that is by honoring his Sunday School leaders and those who we entrust with his care. One aspect of being apart of our family is responsibilities. The last couple weeks we have established chores. He doesn't get paid or rewarded, but instead we are teaching him that it is his responsibility to pitch in and help out the family. I made him a chart... it hangs on the fridge and when he does his chore he can put a smiley face magnet by it.

He absolutely delights in doing his chores (as of right now... we enjoy what we get!). He does them well... he has thought of a bunch of chores I didn't put on the list and he thinks I should make a new list. There are other responsibilities that he enjoys like pulling in the trash can from the curb on trash day... setting the table... and many more.

The Outline of our study is as follows:

God Designed us to work:

Genesis 2:15 "The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it."

We all share the work load:

2 Thessalonians 3:6-10

Focusing on 2 Thess 3:10b "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

We Work to Please the LORD, not man.

1 Corinthians 10:31 "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

A Fall Day...

2011-10-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

For the past couple weeks Ethan has been asking me if we could make gingerbread men.... or as he would say, "Men cookies." On cold mornings I am all about a warm oven... some how it takes the chill out of the air. So we made the dough, let it chill

then rolled it out. I used a recipe out of the book, Teach Me To Do it Myself by Maja Pitamic.

1/4 cup butter + 1/4 cup brown sugar + 2 T corn syrup (heat on stove until melted). When cooled add to 1 cup flour, 1/2 t baking powder, 1/2 t ground ginger, 1/2 t cinnamon, and 1 T milk. Chill for 30 minutes, then roll out to 1/4 inch thickness... cut and bake at 325 for 10ish minutes. I liked this recipe because it was a small amount. We don't need cookies around the house... that is for sure!

We dug through all our cookie cutters (we have a lot) and found all the leaf, pumpkin, and acorn cutters. Perfect for fall!

I am loving this stage of life... Eden is old enough to participate without sticking EVERYTHING into her mouth... that stage lasted WAY too long for her... and me (and she still eats play dough by the handful!) Ethan has always been a great little worker. He amazes me with his attention span and diligence when given a project to complete... which makes it even harder for me to imagine why in the world he has so much trouble in Sunday School...

I tell them often how much I love them... and enjoy them.

While the cookies cooled we grabbed some plastic bags and went out to collect fall treasures. It was a bright and perfect FALL DAY... I am so glad we did... because it is soggy and wet out there this morning... with more rain on it's way!

After swinging, picking up every twig, dead leaf and other questionable treasures we headed back inside to decorate and eat lunch.

I had some left over candy from Ethan's birthday cake and so we cut it up and they frosted and put more candy on each cookie than I thought possible, but they were overjoyed and delighted with sugary morsels....

At one point I looked down at the colorful cookies and noticed a dandelion that Ethan had picked me... right in the middle of the cookies... it made me smile. I love childhood!

We made a tray of cookies for the neighbor guys... Ethan left them on their door because they weren't answering... moments later they came out and Ethan yelled to them, "We made those for you guys... Happy Fall!" It is a happy fall... our favorite time of the year!

2 Create Before 8. . .

2011-10-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

Ethan woke up with the art-itchies. He is dying to make a cement truck... so before 8 we got out the paints, boxes, tubes and such for him to paint. When they dry we will be assembling something that hopefully looks like a cement truck!

Eden woke up and when she saw the paints it took everything to hold her off so she could finish her breakfast. When the last spoon of oatmeal was barely in her mouth she was begging to paint! They both painted enough pictures to send to all the grandparents... they were busy. At one point Eden asked if she could have more ranch? It took me a moment to figure out that she wanted more white paint. . . that made me smile!

It amazes me how much we get done before 8. I often wish my kids weren't early risers. It makes my morning more complicated... because I am not a morning person! A few weeks ago I resolved to get back on a disciplined schedule and so that annoying alarm goes off in the early minutes of the 5 o'clock hour. . . not my favorite time of day! BUT I am a better mom when I get up, exercise, and spend time in God's Word BEFORE the day begins!

Wow, it is only 10... and I am ready for nap time ;o)

A Normal 36 Hours?

2011-10-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

I really am thankful for the life that God has given me. . . Everyday is a new day - and there is no guarantee what the next day will look like. Every morning I always wonder what new adventure God will take us on. . .

Yesterday it seemed like a normal morning...

we ate breakfast -

read our Bible story

and began our day.

***Ethan and I were up early and made this delicious pumpkin crumb cake for breakfast... OH MY GOODNESS... I would not be a friend if I didn't share the recipe with you! Ethan did all the measuring. . . all the licking. . . and all the snitching - I love baking with him!***

By dinner time - this is what our house looked like. I stopped counting at 12. . . and just kept making trays of nachos. It is fall break in some college arenas and they all collided in our living room! I couldn't have been more thrilled. I knew several were headed this way and I was thinking of planning something formal, but this was much better! Almost like a surprise party. . . except I was the host (a host that had to slip away to the grocery store to get enough food to feed them all) Thankfully I'm still use to cooking for 20+ college kids.

Truly, I wouldn't want another life - I miss the Wednesday night Bible studies. . . the mass of bodies, the deep conversations over the hum of excited voices and laughter. I love this age and still dream about having some sort of hospitality house to host travelers and people in seasons of transition. For now. . . I relish the college kids that come and visit!

This morning, as the bodies were still spread out around our house. . . we had some other visitors. . . this time kids. There were dirty diapers, wet pants, mushed banana in the carpet, juice spills, bumped knees, but the kids are BOTH taking naps this afternoon so I know it was exciting for them. Micah and I have really been praying for Ethan lately. So much has been on our heart and I couldn't help but smile when I overheard this conversation

he had with his new friend:

R: I'm afraid.

E: Don't be afraid R! You know what you need to do when you are afraid right?

R: No

E: When you are afraid you should pray and God will help you not be afraid. You know how to pray don't you?

R: "silence"

E: Let me pray for you! Dear Jesus help R not be afraid. Amen! See now you don't have to be afraid Jesus will be with you.

It made my heart smile. . . he is listening! This past 36 hours was not what I expected,

but it has been a party. . . an exciting adventure!

Toesicles

2011-10-06T12:56:00.000-07:00

This morning we were trying to get out of the door. Everything that can happen happens. . .

it is like a grand comedy. . .

I was getting Micah's camera ready so we could deliver it to him and I overheard this conversation

Eden: "HAPPY SHOOOES! I want my HAPPY SHOES!"

Ethan: "No, Sweetheart, you can't wear your sandals! It is cold outside! Do you want your toes to turn into toesicles?"

She insisted. . . He assisted. . . and we finally made it out the door!

Rainy Morning Play. . .

2011-10-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

We haven't used finger paint in quite awhile and when I found a different recipe online (here) I wanted to try it! It was super easy. . . As I was cooking it I noticed the smell. . . and it wasn't pleasant so I put in a few drops of peppermint extract and it immediately made it smell quite nice. . . Since it is rainy and overcast today - I thought this would be a perfect pick-me-up activity.

The kids had been busy playing in their bedroom. I got the stuff animal bucket out and they haven't played with them in a while. . . so they were quite busy and it provided time for me to make the paint and set up the art area.

(If you don't have little trays like the ones in the pictures - I would highly recommend them! They are a few bucks at Michaels and worth every cent (you can also go to their web site sign up for weekly offers and get a 40% of coupon!). . . The mess is contained. . . it also helps define their work area!)

The kids loved this project, they do every time! And I enjoyed watching them as I studied and sipped my coffee at the counter. . . (my coffee was especially good today - Micah brought me home some Peppermint Mocha creamer last night!!!) I love rainy days!

The Morning War. . .

2011-10-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

The 4 year old in this house woke up fighting. He refused to eat breakfast, he cried, he argued, he fought. . . he was ugly - VERY ugly. I wanted to hold him. . . have him transform into an itty-bitty baby and just fall asleep in my arms. . . to turn back time - to set more boundaries, to redo his early years. . . but I'm realizing there is grace - not perfection, but grace.

How do I parent this little guy? How do I teach him to love and respect God and others? I find there are more questions in my head than answers - so many prayers prayed almost continuously begging for wisdom, patience and grace. I have taught a lot of kids, been around a lot more and never met one quite like Ethan. He has humbled me more than anything else in life - realizing on a daily basis I don't even know what to do! When I do research on his behavior, his learning style, on signs that I see he falls more in the "special needs" category. Before I would have slapped the label "needs more parenting" or "his parents don't have a clue - they need to discipline more" or something else that would be highly judgment and convicting enough to make me turn and repent (or SHOULD make me repent). . . now I have experienced differently. I am learning I have to parent differently, to undo some of the behavior I allowed. . . these aren't new thoughts - I have been mulling and thinking about these things for a long time. I figured a lot of you, my dear friends, are teachers.

You might have some ideas and suggestions for those kids that don't fit in the box.

He is smart - super smart - but underdeveloped in social skills and some motor skills. I have been working on writing with him and realized I need to do more tactile activities. . .

like drawing in the sand, play dough, fingerprint... we aren't quite ready for a pencil.

I'm constantly evaluating or thinking through my ability to teach him. . . Can I? Would it be best for him? If I can make learning fun or a part of our day it is enjoyable. . . if I add structure he becomes difficult, distracted, and CHALLENGING. I continue to remind myself that he is only 4. . . it is time for him to play and discover the world through that avenue, but I long for a Sunday where I can take him to Sunday school and when I pick him up hear something positive. . . something encouraging instead of a long list of his behavioral disruptions and the action that was taken. AHHH... who wants to hear that. . .??? It is humbling!

After the morning war. . . there was a lull in the fighting, then he emerged from his room a different kid. We talked and baked some granola bars (here), we played trains, played chase, read books, and looked for craft ideas online. I made him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for dinner so there wasn't a fight. . . and the evening slowed down until it was bedtime. Tomorrow is a different day. . . and I am thankful for that.

My other little one was pretty mild today. . . she sat in my lap a lot. . . gave me lots of hugs and kisses. I have parented her a bit different from the beginning - funny how you learn the second time around. She has her days, AND I was extremely thankful this wasn't one of them!