This is my Caleb, 7, who had to learn the "Preamble to the Constitution" in his 1st grade class. I am impressed! I was in 8th grade when I had to recite this in front of my class.
His hair has the "low flow" look.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thoughts from the Laundry Room
This morning I hear the hum of the dryer, and it's calling me to work. Mondays are my "Aftermath Day". When Jarrod leaves for work, and the kids leave for school (which, by the way, I am LOVING year-round school), I usually sit down here at the computer and get myself psyched for a day of cleaning.
Last night we went to our church's once a month Sunday night "Encounter" worship service. It was our first time to go, and the kids were like, "Why are we going to church at night??" "How long is it going to be? Is it going to be boring?"
I wanted to say, "Yes, it's going to be the most boring, dreadful thing we've ever made you do. Hope you're miserable." JK. Instead, I tried to assure them that it's for families, and just a time to worship God, etc. They couldn't wrap their sweet little heads around it, so I just told them to wait and see.
This generation has virtually no concept of life as WE knew it, growing up in the 70s and 80s:
Sunday morning,
Sunday night,
Wednesday night.
That was our world, for most of us who grew up in church. It baffles me to put myself in their shoes, and wonder why they are asking such questions? But, such is life.
Well, afterward we asked them if they had a good time; afterall, it's a pretty rockin' church.
2 out of 3 said, "Yes". Not a bad percentage. I won't name names on the 3rd.
However, Caleb brought such joy to my heart when he said, "I loved it! I almost started to cry one time." WOW!! God is speaking to my 7 yr. old!
Lately, all three have been asking so many questions about Jesus, Satan, Heaven and Hell. As a mom, I just pray for wisdom at the right time. They are little sponges, and I don't want them to soak up ANY lies from the evil one. I want them to be soaking up the TRUTH.
3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Last night we went to our church's once a month Sunday night "Encounter" worship service. It was our first time to go, and the kids were like, "Why are we going to church at night??" "How long is it going to be? Is it going to be boring?"
I wanted to say, "Yes, it's going to be the most boring, dreadful thing we've ever made you do. Hope you're miserable." JK. Instead, I tried to assure them that it's for families, and just a time to worship God, etc. They couldn't wrap their sweet little heads around it, so I just told them to wait and see.
This generation has virtually no concept of life as WE knew it, growing up in the 70s and 80s:
Sunday morning,
Sunday night,
Wednesday night.
That was our world, for most of us who grew up in church. It baffles me to put myself in their shoes, and wonder why they are asking such questions? But, such is life.
Well, afterward we asked them if they had a good time; afterall, it's a pretty rockin' church.
2 out of 3 said, "Yes". Not a bad percentage. I won't name names on the 3rd.
However, Caleb brought such joy to my heart when he said, "I loved it! I almost started to cry one time." WOW!! God is speaking to my 7 yr. old!
Lately, all three have been asking so many questions about Jesus, Satan, Heaven and Hell. As a mom, I just pray for wisdom at the right time. They are little sponges, and I don't want them to soak up ANY lies from the evil one. I want them to be soaking up the TRUTH.
3 John 1:4 "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth."
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
My Brag Blog
I know, I know, I know...I'm supposed to be desperately cleaning my house, but I just had to post my sweet little kiddos!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
A Tap on The Shoulder
There are times when you just NEED God to tap you on the shoulder and whisper, "See, I am still here, and I love you more than you know."
This morning was one such morning. I had to take Jarrod to catch the Park-n-Ride bus at 6:30a.m. (That's a whole other blog). We arrived in plenty of time, so we kissed good-bye, and off he went to get in line. As soon as I begin to drive away I felt this grinding either in the engine or who knows where. Thankfully, I was still in the parking lot, so I called him and pulled up by the bus. Then I realized it was the back tire...flat! So, here is my Knight in Shining Armor, on the ground at the bus stop changing my tire. I helped as much as I could, but you have to understand, I was NOT dressed for the occasion; ie: jammies and bed-head.
Well, he finished just in time to get on the bus before it pulled away! I texted him as I pulled away that he was my hero, and I drove off wondering, "How in the world did the tire go flat? It was completely fine pulling into the parking lot. Oh well. I'll go get it fixed later this morning."
So, la la la, here I go back home, hoping the kids are still asleep. As I am driving down the main road, I come up to a huge wreck, complete with fire trucks, ambulances, etc. and the paramedics are trying to get people out the badly wrecked car. I called Jarrod just to tell him I am passing a wreck, and he says, "Well, that's the reason for the flat tire." WOW. "God, thank you for Your protection!" We hang up, and about another 1/2 mile up the road, as I'm heading toward my overpass, I see a police car blocking the whole 3-lane road with his car. So, I began to exit and saw 4 police cars, ambulance, fire truck on and under the overpass! There was another terrible wreck!! I called Jarrod back and said, "You won't believe this, but Paseo is blocked right where I need to go. Another bad one!"
I fully believe that God gently let the air out of that back tire in the parking lot to protect me and remind me that He has a purpose for my life today! Because lately He knows that I've been questioning Him-if He even cares about me, our family, our circumstances.
And so, there are two morals to this story:
#1-Learn to recognize God at work in your life- in the smallest of details.
#2-Brush your hair and get all of your clothes on (ahem) before going into public. It could very well save your dignity someday!
This morning was one such morning. I had to take Jarrod to catch the Park-n-Ride bus at 6:30a.m. (That's a whole other blog). We arrived in plenty of time, so we kissed good-bye, and off he went to get in line. As soon as I begin to drive away I felt this grinding either in the engine or who knows where. Thankfully, I was still in the parking lot, so I called him and pulled up by the bus. Then I realized it was the back tire...flat! So, here is my Knight in Shining Armor, on the ground at the bus stop changing my tire. I helped as much as I could, but you have to understand, I was NOT dressed for the occasion; ie: jammies and bed-head.
Well, he finished just in time to get on the bus before it pulled away! I texted him as I pulled away that he was my hero, and I drove off wondering, "How in the world did the tire go flat? It was completely fine pulling into the parking lot. Oh well. I'll go get it fixed later this morning."
So, la la la, here I go back home, hoping the kids are still asleep. As I am driving down the main road, I come up to a huge wreck, complete with fire trucks, ambulances, etc. and the paramedics are trying to get people out the badly wrecked car. I called Jarrod just to tell him I am passing a wreck, and he says, "Well, that's the reason for the flat tire." WOW. "God, thank you for Your protection!" We hang up, and about another 1/2 mile up the road, as I'm heading toward my overpass, I see a police car blocking the whole 3-lane road with his car. So, I began to exit and saw 4 police cars, ambulance, fire truck on and under the overpass! There was another terrible wreck!! I called Jarrod back and said, "You won't believe this, but Paseo is blocked right where I need to go. Another bad one!"
I fully believe that God gently let the air out of that back tire in the parking lot to protect me and remind me that He has a purpose for my life today! Because lately He knows that I've been questioning Him-if He even cares about me, our family, our circumstances.
And so, there are two morals to this story:
#1-Learn to recognize God at work in your life- in the smallest of details.
#2-Brush your hair and get all of your clothes on (ahem) before going into public. It could very well save your dignity someday!
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
2 Down, 1 To Go
No...not "pounds", although we are working on that, too.
What this title refers to is how many kids Jarrod and I have told about the "Birds and the Bees".
Yep, yesterday, I had to have "the talk" with Anna Mary. I've put it off, and put it off, hoping it would just go away, but since she has recently had to begin wearing deodorant, and was begging for a bra, I couldn't ignore it any longer. No, she doesn't NEED a bra quite yet, but if it makes her feel like a woman, what the heck! I took a HUUUUUGE breath, and began my disertation.
What this title refers to is how many kids Jarrod and I have told about the "Birds and the Bees".
Yep, yesterday, I had to have "the talk" with Anna Mary. I've put it off, and put it off, hoping it would just go away, but since she has recently had to begin wearing deodorant, and was begging for a bra, I couldn't ignore it any longer. No, she doesn't NEED a bra quite yet, but if it makes her feel like a woman, what the heck! I took a HUUUUUGE breath, and began my disertation.
Hey Moms, if you need a book to guide you with your daughter...Hats off to the American Girl book, The Care and Keeping of You! Anna told me what pages she wanted me to read to her (whew, that made it easier), and of course, she was goofy and giggly the whole time. When I got to the whole, "Where babies come from", which is NOT in the book, she was sufficiently repulsed. She wouldn't let me say "the word"...she made me SPELL it every time I had to use it!!! It was hilarious!
Why in the world am I writing about this, anyway? Well, because we ALL have to deal with it someday, and my parents never told me in plain English. Jarrod and I had decided waaay back that WE would be the ones to inform our kids, not the school system or their friends. However, when yesterday rolled around I was like a nervous school kid about to give my first speech in front of my class. At least Anna's silliness helped break the tension, and she is now as informed as a 9 yr. old should be. AND she wore her little sports bra to school for the first time!
Oh my gosh...and when she told Jacob she has a bra now, you should have seen the disgusted and confused look on his face!! Here we go! Hang on and enjoy the ride.
Why in the world am I writing about this, anyway? Well, because we ALL have to deal with it someday, and my parents never told me in plain English. Jarrod and I had decided waaay back that WE would be the ones to inform our kids, not the school system or their friends. However, when yesterday rolled around I was like a nervous school kid about to give my first speech in front of my class. At least Anna's silliness helped break the tension, and she is now as informed as a 9 yr. old should be. AND she wore her little sports bra to school for the first time!
Oh my gosh...and when she told Jacob she has a bra now, you should have seen the disgusted and confused look on his face!! Here we go! Hang on and enjoy the ride.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Next Up?
The "Bonnet Story" has come and gone. Now I must tell you about my newest venture...POTHOLDERS.
Ok, this was not my idea. My sweet little Anna Mary informed me that her class is doing an Economics study (BTW- shouldn't that not matter until High School?!?), and they each have to choose something to make AND SELL by June 13th. So, she came home from school a couple of weeks ago and told me that she's selling potholders; ie: "Mom, you have to make 15-20 potholders!!" Oooh, me hates school projects.
Ok, says I.
Well, you know perfectly well that Mom's put it off, even unknowingly, until the clock begins loudly ticking in your brain and you get that frantic flutter in your heart. I mean, it's not like we have nothing else to think about, or do, or go to. Well, this time I have all week to work on this, but Anna is NOT getting off scott-free- what does that mean, anyway??
Yesterday I cut, and cut, and cut, and cut. Mind you, this is with some crappy scissors because my fabric scissors have vanished since "The Bonnet Story"!! I decided to make a "sample" to see how easy or hard this would be. "Hmm, not too bad. Oops, I sewed one side of the potholder on backwards. Oh well, that one's for us!" Next sample... "Dang! I don't have enough trim for all 16 potholders!" A trip to WallyWorld, and I'm back in business.
So, when Anna Mary got home from school I set her in front of the sewing machine, showed her how to "quilt" the lines across all of these squares of fabric, and she away she went. I had to stop putting my hands all over the machine and fabric and just let her sew, for Pete's sake!! She did a great job!! However, after ONE was finished, she disappeared outside, and I didn't see her again until supper time. Alrighty, then, only 13 more to go. I think I'll duct tape her to the chair today and tell her that I'll take her for an ice cream cone if she finishes all of them by tomorrow night! That's not bribery, is it?
Ok, this was not my idea. My sweet little Anna Mary informed me that her class is doing an Economics study (BTW- shouldn't that not matter until High School?!?), and they each have to choose something to make AND SELL by June 13th. So, she came home from school a couple of weeks ago and told me that she's selling potholders; ie: "Mom, you have to make 15-20 potholders!!" Oooh, me hates school projects.
Ok, says I.
Well, you know perfectly well that Mom's put it off, even unknowingly, until the clock begins loudly ticking in your brain and you get that frantic flutter in your heart. I mean, it's not like we have nothing else to think about, or do, or go to. Well, this time I have all week to work on this, but Anna is NOT getting off scott-free- what does that mean, anyway??
Yesterday I cut, and cut, and cut, and cut. Mind you, this is with some crappy scissors because my fabric scissors have vanished since "The Bonnet Story"!! I decided to make a "sample" to see how easy or hard this would be. "Hmm, not too bad. Oops, I sewed one side of the potholder on backwards. Oh well, that one's for us!" Next sample... "Dang! I don't have enough trim for all 16 potholders!" A trip to WallyWorld, and I'm back in business.
So, when Anna Mary got home from school I set her in front of the sewing machine, showed her how to "quilt" the lines across all of these squares of fabric, and she away she went. I had to stop putting my hands all over the machine and fabric and just let her sew, for Pete's sake!! She did a great job!! However, after ONE was finished, she disappeared outside, and I didn't see her again until supper time. Alrighty, then, only 13 more to go. I think I'll duct tape her to the chair today and tell her that I'll take her for an ice cream cone if she finishes all of them by tomorrow night! That's not bribery, is it?
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
The Bonnet Story
I finished the "Little House" bonnet for Anna Mary's oral report today in record time! I have NEVER used a real pattern to sew before. My sewing consists of things made up in my mind, or the straight lines that make curtains. Anything intricate scares me.
However, in an effort to make Anna think I really can do anything, I bought the pattern and began reading the instructions in "sewing language" on Monday night. What does "notch" mean? Or "Grade the seam allowance"? Yikes. Or "interfacing"? I remember that word from when my Mom used to sew dresses for us girls. Oops! I didn't buy interfacing.
Hmmm, I need something stiff to make that brim on the bonnet stay in place. Cardboard? Nope, can't be washed. Cardstock? Nah, same thing. Ok, I'll just cut an extra piece of the fabric and starch the heck out of it until it's stiff enough. Voilà!! It worked!
Tuesday morning I spent about 3 hours sewing it all together. When I turned it around and looked at the finished product, I thought I heard angelic voices telling the world of my accomplishment!
When Anna walked in the door from school and I saw her face light up at the sight of my incredible handiwork, I knew all was well in my little part of the world.
Monday, June 2, 2008
20 years?!?!? No Way!!
Well, we are back from Jarrod's 20th HS Reunion, and it was a blast!! I worried about my weight for nothing, of course. The only thing all of us cared about was spending time together and laughing...a lot!!
Saturday night was the "adult dinner" at the Olive Tree Bistro. It was such a nice restaurant, and Jarrod, the "natural leader" emceed it. It was great to see his 20 or so classmates relive a lot of great memories and have the bond of Jesus Christ 20 years later! Jarrod and I kept saying to eachother, "Can you believe that we are all grown-ups now, all over the country?" Some have experienced the death of a spouse, fiance, or child; some have stayed in the same town for the past 20 years, others have moved numerous times, or have 5-6 kids...Amazing. I think Jarrod and I DROVE the furthest, although a couple of people flew the furthest.
Sunday afternoon was the family BBQ at a park close to J's hometown. We went from about 30-35 people Saturday night to 80 people on Sunday: yep, the "products" of the class of '88 made up the other 50 people. Everyone had a great time hanging out and, as expected, Jarrod and one of the teens got into a whipped cream fight. Good times!
The biggest part of our trip actually happened 2 hours into our drive TO Kansas. Car trouble. ugh. We had our car in the shop the whole week prior to this trip for a major tune-up, and got it out the night before we left. Then, 2 hours after leaving ABQ we noticed we had no A/C. So when we got to Amarillo we found a repair shop. After about an hour, bad news: the compressor was locked up and the belt is bad... $1300 bad. Well, we don't do credit cards anymore, and we DIDN"T have that kind of money to put into it (nor is the '97 Caravan even worth fixing for that price), so we sat in the van (in the HOT weather) and prayed. Then we rented a car so that we could make it to Kansas without breaking down on I-40 with three kids and a dog.
Yes, all 6 of us piled into an '08 Chevy Impala and drove out of Amarillo 3 hours later. We decided to forget our troubles for a couple of days and just enjoy the Reunion and our friends and family. The kids and Cookie did amazingly well.We picked up our poor little van in Amarillo on Wednesday morning, in the rain, and began driving (windows down because we have no a/c now). However, there were many prayers being offered up on our behalf, and the Lord kept the weather just perfect- overcast and cool until we drove over the Sandia Mountains and entered ABQ!!!
Now comes the fun part: waiting on God to provide a new van for us. We've committed to not have a car payment, #1-car payments mean more debt, which we are really trying to eliminate, and #2-we couldn't afford a car payment even if we wanted to.
So, the moral of this blog?
Proverbs 3:5-7
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own
understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
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