Sunday, December 12, 2010

Road Trip

Last weekend our family took a quick road trip to Buffalo NY to visit some family. We all had a wonderful time. Mapquest says it should take us 9.5 to 10 hours to get there. Well, it took us 13. My older son got car sick, my youngest son cried for about 6 of those 13 hours. We drove through horrible weather. But we were thankful to get there safely. My kids were thrilled to see all the snow. Every time they were near the snow they just had to play in it. I was wishing I had some proper snow gear for them. We arrived very late Friday night. We had a busy day on Saturday playing in the snow with family. And we headed home Sunday after church. Our drive home wasn't as dramatic inside the car but outside the car was miserable! We witnessed two car accidents on our drive. Both in PA, on the same road, about 5-10 mins  from each other. We did pull over to help the one we were closest to and thankfully the woman was fine (but her car was totaled) :(  Lucinda suggested we pray for them so we did. :) We had a wonderful time with our family! We would love to do it more often. But I told Jake I wouldn't be willing to go again unless we stayed longer than 3 days (2 of those days spent driving). Thank you for a wonderful trip Buffalo!

 The big kids in the snow.




 We went into town with some family and saw a real reindeer. It was very interesting. We learned that reindeer and caribou are the only two types of deer that both male and females have horns.

 Jake's standing next to the mound of snow. I was trying to get a picture to show how much there was!

 A LOT of snow!

 On the ride home Bella (our schipperke mix) found a new favorite spot to sit.


And so did Fiona (lhasa apso)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

The Jesse Tree

 A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1

Has anyone heard of this? The Jesse tree advent project? I heard about it for the first time last year. I think we'll try to do it this year. Here's some links to the sites I've been lead to by friends:

http://sojournkids.com/2009/11/the-jesse-tree-an-advent-celebration/

and

https://www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=1628

Enjoy this advent season with your family!

The winds of change

Every week a long time friend and I chat on the phone for a few hours. It's always such a welcome change of pace. I love putting my boys down for naps and sit with my feet up while venting and listening to her vent about different troubles we've been experiencing in our lives. A few weeks ago when we spoke on the phone it just happened to be my birthday. We were saying how we don't feel this "old"! (I turned 27 but still have the mind set of a younger person. I'm not sure how old but I certainly don't feel almost 30!) When I was a kid people who were 30 were ancient! Clearly I was wrong. Well, today my nephew turns 6 (Happy birthday, G!)! He is 8 months older than my oldest. I can't believe how fast these past few years have gone. My daughter is learning to read. My 2 oldest children are memorizing bible verses. My youngest is starting to say a few words (like Dada, Mama, Cinda, Titus, Thank you, yes, up and a few others). Its fun to see the changes the Lord is making in them but it makes me sad as well. Before my husband and I got married I said "I want to be done having kids by the time I'm 30." And we had discussed having 5 or so children. I guess I better get on with it, huh? We only have 3 children and I'm 27. So that would mean 2 or so more kids in the next 3 years. Another little glitch, our house is only 1,000 square foot with 1 bathroom. Its already frustrating to live in this little house with 5 of us. The thought of bringing 2 more in makes my head spin! My daughter has said many times "Mom, we need to move into a house with more bathrooms!" And she's right. We do. But we will need to pray for the Lord's guidance in this. We are so blessed I hope I don't come off as anything but thankful. I am thankful I guess I'm just feeling extra old today. I don't feel like I've done anything in the past 27 years. Okay so I got married at 19, my first child was born when I was 21, my second child was born when I was 23 and 26 when my youngest was born. I guess I've done something. And I know, my life isn't over yet and being a wife and mom is a great job to have. I wouldn't trade it for the world! And there's nothing I would rather be doing.

Okay, back on task. I am thankful for my wonderful life. I am extremely grateful for my family. And what a blessing my family and friends are to me.

So here's my question. Why do I still feel (and sometimes act) like a younger version of myself? When will my age hit me? Does anyone else feel younger than the actual number age they are? I know I'm not alone here, folks.

 My Lucindarella
 Princess Lucindarella and the brave knight Tine
 Me and my precious gifts.
 My fantastic husband and our youngest Thanksgiving morning.
At Chuck-E-Cheese to celebrate my nephews 6th b-day.

What a wonderful life!

My Mom had a plaque on the wall when I was a kid. It comes to my mind when I'm feeling guilty for sitting on the floor with my kids instead of cleaning, doing the dishes or laundry. Take time with your children. They are your job for this short time. Raise them in the grace and admonition of the Lord, pray for them and leave the dishes till later. :)

Babies Don’t Keep
by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton
Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing, make up the bed,
Sew on a button and butter the bread.
Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,
Lullabye, rockabye, lullabye loo.
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due,
Lullabye, rockaby, lullabye loo.
The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo,
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo,
Lullabye, rockaby lullabye loo.
The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow
But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs;
Dust go to sleep!
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Monday, November 29, 2010

More to be thankful for.

Thanksgiving morning my daughter got up and had puffy, goopy eyes.



But thanks to CVS having holiday hours we were able to get her a homeopathic remedy. And it worked like a charm!
Thanks CVS pharmacy! You saved Thanksgiving! :)

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Being Thankful

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34


What are you thankful for? 


I am thankful for the Lord's forgiveness that I don't deserve. 


I'm thankful for His death on the cross to save me from hell. 


I'm thankful that my lovely husband is home for the (long) weekend! (he's been gone for days with work).


I'm thankful for my family and my dear friends.


I'm thankful for heat and fuzzy socks.


I'm thankful for silly questions my kids ask, quiet times alone with my husband, one on one time with my children.


I'm thankful for precious phone calls with my wonderful friend. 


I'm thankful for almond milk, pumpkin pie, soy cheese and red wine. 


I'm thankful for the roof over my head, warm blankets and ceiling fans. 


I'm thankful for my husbands dedication to his job (no matter the abuse he may receive). I'm thankful for his deep love for us that he puts up with said abuse for our sake. (What a wonderful man I married!)


I'm thankful for my kids being old enough to clean up their own things (although it doesn't happen often).


I'm thankful for reading time with my family. 


We all have so much to be thankful for. Why do I complain so much?


Have a happy Thanksgiving with your family and friends!

The climber

Thanks to this:


 And this:


 Aaaaaand this:


 We live like this:


 But he always seems to find a way to live on the edge (so to speak...)


My mom says she prays for Titus every morning for his safety. Cause this boy *loves* living on the wild side!    (Or he just enjoys giving his mom a heart attack every day) :p

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thanksgiving fun!


Today the boys and I had the pleasure to join Lucinda for her Thanksgiving day celebration at school. All the teachers were so great to allow Valentine to join in all the games and crafts. It was so fun to watch all the little Indians and Pilgrims run around and play together. What a sweet day of fellowship!




The hat didn't stay on long :)



 Game time!



 Lucinda's turn to be "it" :)

 What fun we had!


Snack time!

 Holding hands in line :)

 The tire swing is a favorite!

 Lucinda "hiding" with a friend.

Craft time.

He was pooped!