Thank you so much for praying for our sweet Elizabeth today. The surgery went well and she did great. She is such a brave little girl. She teared up a little on the way to the surgery center this morning. She told us she was scared…who wouldn’t be? I would’ve given just about anything for my little girl not to have to endure this. She did great in post-op and we even got to come home earlier than expected because she was doing so great. When we went back to see her in post-op, she said, "Did they take out my tonsils?" She wanted to go in the bathroom and check out her new throat. We opted to eat a popsicle instead!
Now we have 7 days of pain medication ahead and lots of liquids to keep her hydrated. Pray that we can keep the pain tolerable for her so that she will be able to drink plenty of liquids and eat lots of popsicles.
I normally am not someone who worries or who is anxious, but when you’re ready to send your sweet little six year old into surgery, all kinds of thoughts start racing through your head. As I prayed last night, God reminded me that she’s really not mine anyway and that I just needed to trust Him. God can take such better care of our children than we can anyway. I know that the chance of complications are slim, but Derek and I have been in that small statistic category several times. Somebody has to be there. So I continued to remind myself, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” I was also reminded (thanks to the words of Neil Anderson) that I needed to take every though captive to the obedience of Christ and that an anxious person is a double-minded person and a double minded person is unstable. So this morning, my all was on God’s table including my sweet baby girl. And God’s peace which passes all understanding filled me and sustained me as she went into the nurses and doctor’s care.
Thank you again for praying! Our God is good. I praise Him for the children He has given us. It takes times likes these to realize just how very precious our three blessings are.
Blessings to you in the New Year!
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
One Scared Little Girl
Pray for our sweet Elizabeth. Her tonsillectomy is Monday (tomorrow). She told me today, "It is one scary day for me." She's asking details about how do they take them out, how do they put me to sleep, etc. She just now said, "I'm scared about tomorrow." She's normally very brave, but today "scared" describes her best.
Pray for her Monday morning that all goes well and that she has a very speedy recovery. I love that girl more than life itself and I would do just about anything to avoid this surgery, but it is necessary.
Friday, December 26, 2008
No Surgery Today
Elizabeth was feeling better last night, so the doctor said let's try to do the surgery. We got up this morning, got ready and the vomiting started again. (sorry for the nasty details)
Anyway, the surgery's been postponed.
Anyway, the surgery's been postponed.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Prayer Request
Pray for our sweet little girl Elizabeth Friday morning at 8:30 a.m. She is scheduled to have her tonsils removed, however she came down with a stomach virus Christmas Eve. We are meeting with the surgeon in the morning to try to determine if she's healthy enough to have the surgery.
Pray for wisdom for us and the surgeon and that if the surgery does happen that all goes well and that she has a quick recovery!
Thanks so much!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Merry Christmas
We want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! We didn't send cards this year. In some ways it was an attempt to simplify our December, but it was also a sacrifice on some level. We have always sent Christmas cards, but this year we decided to put the money we'd invest in purchasing cards and buying stamps towards something else. We have decided to sponsor a sweet little girl in Nicaragua named Sandra. She is 7 years old and is new at the orphanage. You can visit the Chosen Children website for more information or to sponsor a child in 2009. This orphanage is run completely on child sponsorships, so they try to get 11 sponsorships per child to better support this orphanage.
Family News:
Our lives are good. We just returned from a fabulous trip to Disney. It was a great way to celebrate Christmas and time with family.
Stephen is in 3rd grade and loves history and science. Matthew is in 1st grade and loves math and girls. Elizabeth is in kindergarten and she's just there for the relationships. She's all about her friends.
Derek and I continue to try to balance work, church, family, etc., but we have no complaints. God has been so good and faithful to us! We love living in Tennessee and being close to family. We love our church and our church family. I went to Zambia this past summer and had the trip of a lifetime. God softened my heart in an incredible way for orphans. Derek traveled to Nicaragua for the 3rd year and his heart is united with the Nicaraguans. He will be returning to Nicaragua in May for another mission trip. God is teaching both Derek and I a lot about freedom in Christ as we sit under the teaching of Dr. Neil Anderson. Galatians 5:1 says "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." As we celebrate the coming of our Savior, let us be reminded that He came to give us life and life more abundantly. We can live in freedom because Christ came to set us free, not just free from death, but free from the chains of this world and Satan. May we live 2009 in complete freedom and obedience to Christ!
Thank you for the many cards and updates we've received already. As a family, we will pick at least a card a day and pray for your family beginning January 1st.
Merry Christmas! May Jesus become real to you in everyday life and be all that your family needs in 2009!
It's Worth It
So, we have been gone for 7 days. We totally disconnected...no internet, no email which is huge for Derek and me. So, if you posted some huge bloggy news while I was gone, please send me an email, otherwise I just won't know.
Where were we? We were at the happiest place on earth. While there Derek says, "If this is the happiest place on earth then why are all these kids crying and all the parents frustrated?" Here's why, because Disney has marketing geniuses working for them. Seriously though, we had a great time with only a few meltdowns. Elizabeth melted down on day 1 because we made her ride Expedition Everest (roller coaster). We made the decision that we would not make her ride Tower of Terror. Our plans were to make them ride everything at least once. That plan went out the door day 1. Anyway, Matthew melted down about the weather. "It's too hot. It's too cold." It was never just right for Matthew. Stephen had a meltdown declaring, "Why is nobody being nice to me?" To which I had absolutely no mercy, because we were at Disney World on his birthday so "nobody" is surely too strong of a word especially when at least 25 people wished him a happy birthday! I had a meltdown because I had shin splints on day 2 of the trip. Derek doesn't have meltdowns. He's steady Eddie and even Steven...seriously!
Now, this is what my Tuesday will involve.
This is what 7 days of laundry for a family of five looks like...and I've done 3 loads already!
But let me tell you, it's worth it. Sunny 85 degree weather for a week. Magical family memories that will last a lifetime. It's why we spend the money every year to return to sunny Disney World. We love it! We already can't wait to go back!
Pictures coming soon....
Where were we? We were at the happiest place on earth. While there Derek says, "If this is the happiest place on earth then why are all these kids crying and all the parents frustrated?" Here's why, because Disney has marketing geniuses working for them. Seriously though, we had a great time with only a few meltdowns. Elizabeth melted down on day 1 because we made her ride Expedition Everest (roller coaster). We made the decision that we would not make her ride Tower of Terror. Our plans were to make them ride everything at least once. That plan went out the door day 1. Anyway, Matthew melted down about the weather. "It's too hot. It's too cold." It was never just right for Matthew. Stephen had a meltdown declaring, "Why is nobody being nice to me?" To which I had absolutely no mercy, because we were at Disney World on his birthday so "nobody" is surely too strong of a word especially when at least 25 people wished him a happy birthday! I had a meltdown because I had shin splints on day 2 of the trip. Derek doesn't have meltdowns. He's steady Eddie and even Steven...seriously!
Now, this is what my Tuesday will involve.
This is what 7 days of laundry for a family of five looks like...and I've done 3 loads already!
But let me tell you, it's worth it. Sunny 85 degree weather for a week. Magical family memories that will last a lifetime. It's why we spend the money every year to return to sunny Disney World. We love it! We already can't wait to go back!
Pictures coming soon....
Friday, December 12, 2008
Friday News
No school today because of snow! Did we sleep in? Oh, until about 6:15.
Elizabeth dropped a metal stocking holder on her toe this afternoon and the nail pretty much popped right off. Yuck! Praise the Lord Derek was home to administer first aid. I am so incredibly queasy when it comes to blood or dangling toe nails. Today we had both.
We are praying that her toe is not broken and that her nail will grow back!
Enjoy the pictures!
Elizabeth dropped a metal stocking holder on her toe this afternoon and the nail pretty much popped right off. Yuck! Praise the Lord Derek was home to administer first aid. I am so incredibly queasy when it comes to blood or dangling toe nails. Today we had both.
We are praying that her toe is not broken and that her nail will grow back!
Enjoy the pictures!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
It's Cold!
Any of you that know me well know that I do not like cold weather. So many were excited about possible snow today, but I know that with snow comes very cold weather. I know some of you are surprised because after all I am a Michigan girl, but my body prefers much warmer weather...like 78 or 80! Since winter has officially arrived in Tennessee (we had snow flurries today), I will spend the next 2-3 months with a very cold nose, cold fingers and cold toes. Even right now in my 72 degree house, my feet are freezing.
This morning though as I thanked God for so many things, I thanked him for our house and for heat. There are memories etched in my mind from Africa and then these pictures from Derek's trip to Nicaragua. Take a minute to look at them.
Derek was able to help build a "plastic house" for this family. It's not much, but it's better than some. They were also able to build a bed for them, so that they wouldn't have to sleep on the mud floor.
This morning though as I thanked God for so many things, I thanked him for our house and for heat. There are memories etched in my mind from Africa and then these pictures from Derek's trip to Nicaragua. Take a minute to look at them.
We live in abundance! We are so blessed!! We are richer than millions of people around the world, simply because we have a house.
Derek was able to help build a "plastic house" for this family. It's not much, but it's better than some. They were also able to build a bed for them, so that they wouldn't have to sleep on the mud floor.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Parenting is Hard Work
We feel like we have officially gone back to school. Surely we have since we spend at least 2 hours a night on homework. Stephen is struggling in grammar. His grammar is tough...there are things I don't even remember very clearly...this is the object of the preposition and all kinds of sentence structure stuff. I don't know that I diagrammed sentences until I was in high school. I will say that Stephen is excelling in Bible, history and science. I think after 3rd grade, he could teach Old Testament Survey...seriously. Sometimes I don't know the answer and I actually have to go look in the Bible to find it. How fun that is though!
Matthew is doing pretty well overall. His reading and math have improved. He is an eager learner, so he's definitely the easiest regarding homework. He still firmly holds the belief though that mom and dad don't know anything, because Mrs. W. has been doing math for over 50 years and she's older than you... and so on.
Elizabeth is doing exceptionally well in math. That's her strength, a huge surprise to all of us. She cannot learn phonics or spelling to save her life. It's pathetic. They've recommended speech therapy at this point. We hope once her tonsils are removed and she gets some teeth, the speech will improve. She cannot say "the" no matter how hard she tries. We are looking into some speech therapy.
Anyway, the real point of this post is to share Matthew's prayer journal. Maybe I'm invading some childhood privacy, but he left it on the table. I just love this!
Matthew is doing pretty well overall. His reading and math have improved. He is an eager learner, so he's definitely the easiest regarding homework. He still firmly holds the belief though that mom and dad don't know anything, because Mrs. W. has been doing math for over 50 years and she's older than you... and so on.
Elizabeth is doing exceptionally well in math. That's her strength, a huge surprise to all of us. She cannot learn phonics or spelling to save her life. It's pathetic. They've recommended speech therapy at this point. We hope once her tonsils are removed and she gets some teeth, the speech will improve. She cannot say "the" no matter how hard she tries. We are looking into some speech therapy.
Anyway, the real point of this post is to share Matthew's prayer journal. Maybe I'm invading some childhood privacy, but he left it on the table. I just love this!
Here's the translation.
Elizabeth will marry Callan.
My stomach will feel better.
Mary Chandler will marry me.
Stephen will marry Leah.
Mary Chandler will love me forever.
I will be perfect.
Sounds like good prayer requests to me!
Monday, November 10, 2008
Mary's Story
You may have thought that I wouldn't post about Africa again, but today I will. This post has been in my mind for awhile, but I just haven't been able to write about it yet.
Meet Mary...16 year old Zambian. (She's on the left in the white shirt)
On Monday morning at Camp Life, they divide the kids according to school and ages into groups. I had mostly 11-14 year old girls. One of the counselors from last year wanted several girls from my group because they were in her group last year....no problem. So they did a swap. They took a couple of my girls and then said "Mary, this is Auntie Alicia". Mary was very quiet and 16 years old...the oldest in the group.
She didn't seem very interested most of the week and I really thought, "I'm not getting through to her. She's sad that these girls are all younger than her and not in her class. This really isn't fair. And so on..." Then, on Thursday, we went into the village with the Evangecube. Mary became a leader and a star. She grabbed that evangecube and started sharing with almost every adult we met. I was impressed.
When I had my one on one time with Mary, she said everything was fine at home. Maybe it is, but you just never know. Some of these kids have such horrible stories that when someone says everything is okay, you kind of wonder. On Friday after lunch we were singing as a small group (we were very close to saying our good-byes) and Mary wasn't singing. My initial thought was just to leave her alone. If she was going to be a stick-in-the-mud, well that's hard to change. But with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I walked over to her, away from the girls that were hugging me while we sang, and went and put my arm around Mary.
She started weeping, not crying, but weeping. She wept on my shoulder for almost 10 minutes. What did I do? I cried with her and held her. There were no words that would make things better. My heart softened incredibly to Mary that day. I don't know why she wept...was her home life that bad? was she sad I was leaving? I really didn't know and I didn't feel like I was supposed to ask. My white t-shirt didn't come clean. There is Zambia dirt and tear stains on that shirt. I washed it twice and then decided, the dirt could stay. It could be a reminder to me that wounds run deep, even when we try to put on the smile or put up the wall and pretend that all is okay. Sometimes we need to talk things through, sometimes we just need someone to hold us or sit with us while we cry. The verse in Romans 12 "weep with those who weep" came alive that day. There was nothing else to do, but weep.
I love this quote from Kay Warren's book Dangerous Surrender
"But by holding her in my arms, wiping the tears from her face, looking deep into her eyes, crying with her, and speaking of Jesus' unquenchable love for her, Jesus became real and visible. I made him real to her by being his hands and feet, by acting the way he acts, by loving the way he loves, by showing mercy and compassion, by giving the very best I had--Jesus Chrsit in me."
I hope that's what I did in Zambia and I hope I do that in my day to day life here in Tennessee as well.
So many are hurting. Life is hard, but God is good.
Meet Mary...16 year old Zambian. (She's on the left in the white shirt)
On Monday morning at Camp Life, they divide the kids according to school and ages into groups. I had mostly 11-14 year old girls. One of the counselors from last year wanted several girls from my group because they were in her group last year....no problem. So they did a swap. They took a couple of my girls and then said "Mary, this is Auntie Alicia". Mary was very quiet and 16 years old...the oldest in the group.
She didn't seem very interested most of the week and I really thought, "I'm not getting through to her. She's sad that these girls are all younger than her and not in her class. This really isn't fair. And so on..." Then, on Thursday, we went into the village with the Evangecube. Mary became a leader and a star. She grabbed that evangecube and started sharing with almost every adult we met. I was impressed.
When I had my one on one time with Mary, she said everything was fine at home. Maybe it is, but you just never know. Some of these kids have such horrible stories that when someone says everything is okay, you kind of wonder. On Friday after lunch we were singing as a small group (we were very close to saying our good-byes) and Mary wasn't singing. My initial thought was just to leave her alone. If she was going to be a stick-in-the-mud, well that's hard to change. But with the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I walked over to her, away from the girls that were hugging me while we sang, and went and put my arm around Mary.
She started weeping, not crying, but weeping. She wept on my shoulder for almost 10 minutes. What did I do? I cried with her and held her. There were no words that would make things better. My heart softened incredibly to Mary that day. I don't know why she wept...was her home life that bad? was she sad I was leaving? I really didn't know and I didn't feel like I was supposed to ask. My white t-shirt didn't come clean. There is Zambia dirt and tear stains on that shirt. I washed it twice and then decided, the dirt could stay. It could be a reminder to me that wounds run deep, even when we try to put on the smile or put up the wall and pretend that all is okay. Sometimes we need to talk things through, sometimes we just need someone to hold us or sit with us while we cry. The verse in Romans 12 "weep with those who weep" came alive that day. There was nothing else to do, but weep.
I love this quote from Kay Warren's book Dangerous Surrender
"But by holding her in my arms, wiping the tears from her face, looking deep into her eyes, crying with her, and speaking of Jesus' unquenchable love for her, Jesus became real and visible. I made him real to her by being his hands and feet, by acting the way he acts, by loving the way he loves, by showing mercy and compassion, by giving the very best I had--Jesus Chrsit in me."
I hope that's what I did in Zambia and I hope I do that in my day to day life here in Tennessee as well.
So many are hurting. Life is hard, but God is good.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Monday, November 3, 2008
Friendships
Top Row: Jack, Katie, Rachel, Mark, Graham, JT, Brian
Bottom Row: Kathleen, Shelby, Jill, Molly, Shannon, Me
Bottom Row: Kathleen, Shelby, Jill, Molly, Shannon, Me
I love how God orchestrates friendships in my life. Sometimes they just happen unexpectedly. Sometimes it takes a long time for that friendship to be deep rooted, other times it's almost instantaneous.
A mission trip together...those people become your instant friends, because you definitely don't want them to be your enemies!
My Zambia group however, they're not just friends. I love them like family and I love them all for different reasons.
Jack and Kathleen...well, they're just an incredibly, godly couple. They have incredible love for one another and for others. It just makes me happy to be around them.
Bupe (Brian)...I already loved him, because his wife is a very dear friend, but Brian made me laugh at least once an hour. He's completely transparent and goofy at times (in a funny way) and I just loved that we got to share this trip together.
Jill and Shelbi....love, love, love this mother/daughter team. I hope that Elizabeth and I can have that close of a relationship when Elizabeth is a teenager. They are just fun! They make me smile, because they love to have fun!
Molly...she's the niece of Jack and Kathleen. I so enjoyed getting to know Molly and seeing firsthand what a huge impact this trip to Zambia could have on a teenager's life.
Mark and Rachel...they didn't travel with us, they went the week before, but we still got to know them at our team meetings. I love that they've put their yes on the table and they're willing to serve however God leads.
Katie and JT (Johnny) and Graham...they are the sons and daughters of Jack and Kathleen. To see firsthand the love this family has for one another was inspiring. It gave me hope for our family of five. I hope someday our kids look at us the way these three look at their parents. They love them, it's obvious!
Shannon...well, we do not seem like we belong together and I don't mean that in a bad way (one example, she wears camo, I do not). We're just very different, yet I could not have asked for a better roommate. I love Shannon like a sister and I would do anything for her. I love that God brought our hearts together through a trip to Africa that changed both of our lives forever!
I love how God orchestrated each of these friendships. They kind of came out of the blue, because I didn't even know that I needed their friendships, but I really do. They all hold a very special place in my heart and even though we aren't having dinner together every night or making pb and j every day like we did in Zambia, it's always great to see them even if only for a short amount of time.
Saturday night was one of those nights. It was somebody's 50th birthday...not mine, so we had a Zambia reunion. What great fun! It was also just a reminder to me how incredibly blessed I am. A reminder that God knows what I need, even when I don't. He knows what friendships I need and He picks the ones that are best for me!
Monday, October 27, 2008
Randomness
Three reasons why I voted early for "LIFE"---Stephen, Matthew and Elizabeth.
Join me in praying for revival for our nation. I pray that next Tuesday our nation is shocked by the winner and that the polls and the liberal media are proved WRONG! If not, then I pray that Obama has a "come to Jesus meeting" and that he realizes that life truly does begin at conception and that it's not "above his pay grade" to know that. Search the Scriptures, it's clear. It's not open for debate.
We are surprising our kids with a trip to Disney for Christmas if Mrs. Claus can keep her mouth quiet. Santa however will have no problem because he could very easily take a secret to his grave. Seriously, he could work for the Secret Service or be a spy and no one would ever know. We're not going to tell them until we pick them up from school and then there will be a "package" for them with clues. Not sure what all is going to be in there, but that's the plan. I'm so excited to surprise them. I hope they get excited when they find out, otherwise Mrs. Claus will be so disappointed.
The funny of the day....Last night, we were studying Matthew's spelling words for the night and he had both its and it's on the list. I was asking Derek if "its" without an apostrophe is really a word. We're having this discussion and I'm trying to think when you would use its in a sentence and Matthew says "62 is better than you". I'm looking at him like "What conversation are you having?" Then he says, "Mrs. W is 62 and she's knows. She's older than you. She's not wrong." I dropped the conversation, but was still perplexed. Well according to webster.com, Mrs. W. is correct and I'm wrong. I give you the vocabulary lesson of the day.
Main Entry:
its
Pronunciation:
\ˈits, əts\
Function:
adjective
Date:
circa 1507
: of or relating to it or itself especially as possessor, agent, or object of an action
going to its kennel, a child proud of its first drawings, its final enactment into law
Join me in praying for revival for our nation. I pray that next Tuesday our nation is shocked by the winner and that the polls and the liberal media are proved WRONG! If not, then I pray that Obama has a "come to Jesus meeting" and that he realizes that life truly does begin at conception and that it's not "above his pay grade" to know that. Search the Scriptures, it's clear. It's not open for debate.
We are surprising our kids with a trip to Disney for Christmas if Mrs. Claus can keep her mouth quiet. Santa however will have no problem because he could very easily take a secret to his grave. Seriously, he could work for the Secret Service or be a spy and no one would ever know. We're not going to tell them until we pick them up from school and then there will be a "package" for them with clues. Not sure what all is going to be in there, but that's the plan. I'm so excited to surprise them. I hope they get excited when they find out, otherwise Mrs. Claus will be so disappointed.
The funny of the day....Last night, we were studying Matthew's spelling words for the night and he had both its and it's on the list. I was asking Derek if "its" without an apostrophe is really a word. We're having this discussion and I'm trying to think when you would use its in a sentence and Matthew says "62 is better than you". I'm looking at him like "What conversation are you having?" Then he says, "Mrs. W is 62 and she's knows. She's older than you. She's not wrong." I dropped the conversation, but was still perplexed. Well according to webster.com, Mrs. W. is correct and I'm wrong. I give you the vocabulary lesson of the day.
Main Entry:
its
Pronunciation:
\ˈits, əts\
Function:
adjective
Date:
circa 1507
: of or relating to it or itself especially as possessor, agent, or object of an action
going to its kennel, a child proud of its first drawings, its final enactment into law
Monday, October 20, 2008
To My Creative Friends
We're thinking about taking the kids to Disney the week before Christmas. This will be their Santa gift. (No, absolutely we normally don't spend this much money on Santa gifts...it's just a good deal and I've always wanted to go at Christmas time)
Any creative ideas about how they receive this gift early and that they shouldn't expect anything else from Santa except for stocking stuffers.
Leave me a comment if you have an idea.
Thanks!
Any creative ideas about how they receive this gift early and that they shouldn't expect anything else from Santa except for stocking stuffers.
Leave me a comment if you have an idea.
Thanks!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Hooray, Hooray, It's Saturday!
I'm thankful today because
I got to sleep until 7 a.m.!
Derek is coming home from Nicaragua this afternoon. We have missed him terribly and can't wait to see him and hear about his trip!
God spared my dad's life this week. He had a mild heart attack this week and it could have been so much worse, but God still has plans for him here.
My parents are in a great Sunday School class at church. I saw church happen this week as the class poured out their love at the hospital, through phone calls, emails, etc. This is how the church family should function. They should love so deeply that when a church family member is hurting, they offer to come home early from their vacation if need be. As I watched this all unfold this week, it challenged me to make sure that I am loving others more than myself. Would I offer to come home early from vacation? Would I drop everything to run to the hospital to be there in time of need? The bar has been set high, but I can guarantee that my parents know they are loved and that this Sunday School class "did church" this week and that Christ is smiling down on them.
God creates families in all different kinds of ways. Through family, through church, through adoption. When God blessed us with Matthew and Elizabeth, he blessed us with incredible birth grandparents. Tears came to my eyes this week as my boys received cards and money from Ken and Jeanne. They were congratulating them on their baptisms. Let me just brag a few minutes on Ken and Jeanne (paternal birth grandparents). They have embraced our family...not just us, but Stephen as well. They consistently send cards to all three kids for each holiday. I don't think Jeanne ever misses one. My kids get so excited to receive this mail. I'm amazed at how God unites hearts. Sometimes it's people that you don't expect. Sometimes he uses a trial (infertility in our case) to bring incredible blessings. We are not just thankful for Stephen, Matthew and Elizabeth, but for the "extra family" that came with them. Thanks Ken and Jeanne! You're the best!
What are you thankful for today?
I got to sleep until 7 a.m.!
Derek is coming home from Nicaragua this afternoon. We have missed him terribly and can't wait to see him and hear about his trip!
God spared my dad's life this week. He had a mild heart attack this week and it could have been so much worse, but God still has plans for him here.
My parents are in a great Sunday School class at church. I saw church happen this week as the class poured out their love at the hospital, through phone calls, emails, etc. This is how the church family should function. They should love so deeply that when a church family member is hurting, they offer to come home early from their vacation if need be. As I watched this all unfold this week, it challenged me to make sure that I am loving others more than myself. Would I offer to come home early from vacation? Would I drop everything to run to the hospital to be there in time of need? The bar has been set high, but I can guarantee that my parents know they are loved and that this Sunday School class "did church" this week and that Christ is smiling down on them.
God creates families in all different kinds of ways. Through family, through church, through adoption. When God blessed us with Matthew and Elizabeth, he blessed us with incredible birth grandparents. Tears came to my eyes this week as my boys received cards and money from Ken and Jeanne. They were congratulating them on their baptisms. Let me just brag a few minutes on Ken and Jeanne (paternal birth grandparents). They have embraced our family...not just us, but Stephen as well. They consistently send cards to all three kids for each holiday. I don't think Jeanne ever misses one. My kids get so excited to receive this mail. I'm amazed at how God unites hearts. Sometimes it's people that you don't expect. Sometimes he uses a trial (infertility in our case) to bring incredible blessings. We are not just thankful for Stephen, Matthew and Elizabeth, but for the "extra family" that came with them. Thanks Ken and Jeanne! You're the best!
What are you thankful for today?
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Pulling Weeds
***Update***
I have great parents! Guess who came by and aired up the wheelbarrow tire and took the lawnmower battery home to charge it? They did! I'm so thankful to have them living here in town!
Well, today I pulled weeds that have needed to come out since July...seriously. Some of the weeds were as tall as my waist. I'm sure the homeowner's assocation was close to sending us some kind of ordinance violation for overgrown flowerbeds.
Here are some lessons I learned.
- I got mad at Adam and Eve. If they would've made a better choice, there wouldn't be any weeds in my flower beds. Then I remembered that sometimes I make bad choices and it affects others.
- If God were to call Derek home to heaven anytime soon, I would be moving out of this house. The yard is too big and I can't handle the work. I don't know how to trim or edge and the lawnmower battery died and I have no clue what to do about that. Instead I pushed a riding lawnmower from my yard into the garage. The wheelbarrow tire needs air...not sure what to do about that either. Derek can deal with it later. (I know I sound completely helpless. I suppose I could google these items and figure out how to fix them, but then I wouldn't be able to whine about it)
- What is the purpose of picker weeds...is it just to remind us that Adam and Eve sinned?
- How in the world do you keep bermuda grass from taking over your flowerbeds? Seriously, if someone has an answer, please leave me a comment.
- My hair does not like damp, misty weather. It is very frizzy to say the least. I'm glad no one stopped by to visit.
On a more serious note, I really did learn two things while mowing the yard and pulling weeds today.
Sometimes, I let weeds grow in my spiritual life. I don't ask for forgiveness from my kids when I yell at them. I don't make things right immediately with my hubby after a disagreement, because I was right after all. He should be coming to me...really, that is just pride. Whether he's right or I'm right, the right thing to do is to make things right with one another. (Go see the movie Fireproof if you need a reminder just how important this is.) Sometimes I let a thought linger too long. Sometimes I covet my neighbor's house or car or vacation. Sometimes I'm jealous of someone's talents or gifts.
Then before I know it, the weeds have taken over and I can't even see any value in myself. I've lost focus and my identity in Christ is hidden by a forest full of weeds. So I bow the knee and admit my mistakes to God. He starts refining....pulling those weeds out of my life and sometimes it hurts. Just like sometimes I snap the root of my shrub because the weeds are intertwined in those roots, sometimes the refining hurts oh so much and I wish I would've never allowed the weeds in the first place. I hope that I'll remember the lesson and next time, I'll get rid of the weed immediately.
The other thing I learned is that sometimes you can't see the true person because of weeds. As I weeded my waist high weeds, I found a tomato plant that I had given up on. I figured it had died since I hadn't taken care of it...no water, no fertilizer, very little sun because it was hidden by weeds. Well, guess what, there were three beautiful ripe tomatoes on the vine. I picked them and Matthew will be very happy to have some tomatoes tonight. Sometimes I judge a book by it's cover. It's hard not to. I went to a college where the men all looked sharp. Collared shirts every day, pressed pants, dress shoes and their hair never touched their ears. So when I meet someone with long hair, earrings and tattoos all over their body, it just throws me for a loop. (I have issues, I know. Legalism...it's a post for another day) Anyway, one of the nicest guys I know has lots of tattoos. He loves Jesus and is an incredible guy. Another one, has earrings in both ears I think, and he loves Jesus a whole, whole lot. On the flip side, there are a lot of collared shirt wearing, earring free, tattoo free guys who don't love Jesus and I'll pick the one that loves Jesus over the one that doesn't. So, this is just a reminder not to judge a book by it's cover! When you pull back what you might think are weeds, you might be surprised at what you'll find!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
"They Need to Come Out"
Those were the exact words from the ENT today. We got "official" word today that Elizabeth's tonsils need to come out. The surgery will be over Christmas break, since the doctor said the recovery would be 7-14 days of misery. You have to love that prognosis. He also told me that I would have to become the wicked witch because she has to drink lots of fluids and she's not going to cooperate. Lovely...how's that news to brighten your day?
But, it needs to be done. Her tonsils are huge...they have always been huge. I am not kidding either. Just take a look sometime if you're that interested, but I'll spare you the details of a picture on the blog. We can improve her quality of life by getting them removed...that means a better night's sleep for her and no snoring. :-) She already has a great life if you ask me. She's always the happiest in the family, she complains the least and has an incredibly high pain tolerance...that is unless you hurt her feelings.
If you have any advice about pre-op, post-op or tips on making kids drink plenty of liquids when they feel terrible and don't want to cooperate, let me know.
But, it needs to be done. Her tonsils are huge...they have always been huge. I am not kidding either. Just take a look sometime if you're that interested, but I'll spare you the details of a picture on the blog. We can improve her quality of life by getting them removed...that means a better night's sleep for her and no snoring. :-) She already has a great life if you ask me. She's always the happiest in the family, she complains the least and has an incredibly high pain tolerance...that is unless you hurt her feelings.
If you have any advice about pre-op, post-op or tips on making kids drink plenty of liquids when they feel terrible and don't want to cooperate, let me know.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
They Did It!!
Our boys were baptized on Sunday and there were no surprises! I say that because Matthew told Pastor Reagan a couple of months ago that he would do the backstroke when Reagan baptized him just to be funny. We explained to Matthew that there is a time to be funny, but your baptism is not one of those times. Thankfully, this time he listened to us. Derek and I were both nervous that he would decide to do something silly.
We're proud of our boys and our sweet friend Rachel! We hope that God blesses their lives beyond all that they can ask or think!
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Love Notes
My kids like to give us notes/cards at random times...which is good I guess. I just sometimes wonder why they choose this method of communication rather than just telling us what they're thinking.
The funniest note ever given to me was from Stephen several years ago. It was a post-it on my pillow that I found when I went to bed. This is what it said, "Dear Mommy, You are mean. Love, Stephen" Several things are humorous about that. If someone is mean, I probably wouldn't refer to them as "dear" and I probably wouldn't sign the note "love". But he made his point. That day I wasn't mean (I probably am on some days). I was just being a mommy and he didn't like it.
Here's the note Derek and I received last night.
It's hard to read, so let me fill you in. "I was not the best I could be. To say sorry, I will (after I get home) turn all the socks inside out, and I will make your bed. And I promise I will bring my folder home."
This probably needs some explanation. We gave all the kids an illustration last night about how to take your socks off so that they're not turned inside out. (It's a pain when you do wash to turn all the socks right side out. Their wives will thank me someday. Thanks to Mom J. because I have probably never had to turn Derek's socks right side out) Anyway, why he's making our bed...who knows? But he did make it this morning for us. The folder issue...well, let's just say we have two absent minded boys that consistently forget to bring their school folders home. Also, notice that it's "from" Stephen this time instead of "love" Stephen. Is there a hidden message? Probably not.
Seriously, they all crack me up! The joys of being a parent!
The funniest note ever given to me was from Stephen several years ago. It was a post-it on my pillow that I found when I went to bed. This is what it said, "Dear Mommy, You are mean. Love, Stephen" Several things are humorous about that. If someone is mean, I probably wouldn't refer to them as "dear" and I probably wouldn't sign the note "love". But he made his point. That day I wasn't mean (I probably am on some days). I was just being a mommy and he didn't like it.
Here's the note Derek and I received last night.
It's hard to read, so let me fill you in. "I was not the best I could be. To say sorry, I will (after I get home) turn all the socks inside out, and I will make your bed. And I promise I will bring my folder home."
This probably needs some explanation. We gave all the kids an illustration last night about how to take your socks off so that they're not turned inside out. (It's a pain when you do wash to turn all the socks right side out. Their wives will thank me someday. Thanks to Mom J. because I have probably never had to turn Derek's socks right side out) Anyway, why he's making our bed...who knows? But he did make it this morning for us. The folder issue...well, let's just say we have two absent minded boys that consistently forget to bring their school folders home. Also, notice that it's "from" Stephen this time instead of "love" Stephen. Is there a hidden message? Probably not.
Seriously, they all crack me up! The joys of being a parent!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
God Did Exceeding Abundantly
O taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:8, 15, 17
Susannah's surgery went very well. Praise God!
You can read more here.
www.roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com
Words cannot express the joy and hope in my heart! God has moved mountains for this family and this little girl in particular. He is going to use them in a mighty way!
Susannah is a walking miracle...there is no other way to describe her. God allowed Charlie and Leslie to arrive in China at just the right time. They fought hard to get her out of China and into a hospital here in the States. Her blue toes and fingers are now pink!
We had faith and we asked that the mountains be moved and God moved them! I am so thankful to Him for His goodness!
Continue to pray for a speedy recovery. We are praying that she'll be home by October 12th, her 3rd birthday.
Susannah's surgery went very well. Praise God!
You can read more here.
www.roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com
Words cannot express the joy and hope in my heart! God has moved mountains for this family and this little girl in particular. He is going to use them in a mighty way!
Susannah is a walking miracle...there is no other way to describe her. God allowed Charlie and Leslie to arrive in China at just the right time. They fought hard to get her out of China and into a hospital here in the States. Her blue toes and fingers are now pink!
We had faith and we asked that the mountains be moved and God moved them! I am so thankful to Him for His goodness!
Continue to pray for a speedy recovery. We are praying that she'll be home by October 12th, her 3rd birthday.
Pray for Susannah Today
Today sweet Susannah will have open heart surgery. Pray that there will be no complications. Pray that they'll be able to do two procedures instead of just one (this will prevent a second heart surgery in less than a year). Pray that she'll recover quickly and she'll be able to come home before her 3rd birthday (Oct. 12th). Pray for the surgeons and nurses that will be in the room (5o people!). Pray that the family would have strength and peace as they wait all day for word from the surgeon (10-12 hours). Pray that God would be glorified through it all!
She is one sweet and special little girl!
But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Thy works. Psalm 73:28
Monday, September 29, 2008
I Am Going To Get Baptism
I want to briefly share with you my Matthew's testimony. This spring he told us that he prayed and asked Jesus into his heart and that he wanted to be baptized. We talked about it briefly, but then left it alone to see if he would bring it up again because we wanted to make sure that his decision was solid. He continued to talk about it and in May we visited my in-laws church in Pensacola. They sang one of Travis’ songs. “You changed my name when you called me forgiven, You changed my name when you called me redeemed”. You just never know if your kids are listening and paying attention or if they’re daydreaming through the whole service. Well, Matthew was obviously listening because this is what he wrote. (see attachment, but I’m providing an adult version because this is the kindergarten version)
God you changed my name. I am going to get baptism to show people I like you and I praise you and I accepted you too.
I love that God spoke to him through this song. The power of worship is incredible even in the lives of our young children.
Both of my boys will be baptized on Sunday, October 5th during the 9:15 service. Matthew told us on Saturday that he wants to be baptized in both services. I told him that I didn’t think that was necessary. He then went on to say that he wants everyone to know that he accepted Jesus and “there are people who go to the second service”.
He gets it! We need to tell everyone about Jesus! Yea God!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Our Mountain Moving God
Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15
Today we are rejoicing with Charlie and Leslie. You'll have to read her update and then see the precious pictures of Susannah.
O taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:8, 15, 17
We give God all the glory!
Thank you, Father for hearing our cries!
He is so good, even when we can't see it sometimes, He is still good. Today, we see His goodness. Today we rejoice and scream "Yea God", because truly God has moved some mountains that needed to be moved.
Click on Susannah's picture to link to their blog.
Today we are rejoicing with Charlie and Leslie. You'll have to read her update and then see the precious pictures of Susannah.
O taste and see that the Lord is good. How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. Psalm 34:8, 15, 17
We give God all the glory!
Thank you, Father for hearing our cries!
He is so good, even when we can't see it sometimes, He is still good. Today, we see His goodness. Today we rejoice and scream "Yea God", because truly God has moved some mountains that needed to be moved.
Click on Susannah's picture to link to their blog.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
She's Changing Her Mind
Elizabeth announced at breakfast this morning.
"Actually mom, I changed my mind."
Me: About what?
Her: I want to be an explorer.
Side note (Previously she's wanted to be a cheerleader and a mom, although we haven't had this conversation in probably four months)
Me: What kind of explorer do you want to be?
Her: You know I'll have lots of friends with me, just like Dora.
And there you have it. It's all about the friends, even at 6 years old!
"Actually mom, I changed my mind."
Me: About what?
Her: I want to be an explorer.
Side note (Previously she's wanted to be a cheerleader and a mom, although we haven't had this conversation in probably four months)
Me: What kind of explorer do you want to be?
Her: You know I'll have lots of friends with me, just like Dora.
And there you have it. It's all about the friends, even at 6 years old!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
A Broken Heart
If through a broken heart God can bring His purposes to pass in the world, then thank Him for breaking your heart. Oswald Chambers
I really don't want to have a broken heart, but I do. First my heart breaks for all the orphans in Zambia. Then it breaks because so many of the Christian leaders in Nicaragua are facing extremely difficult trials right now. Then it breaks because friends marriages are falling apart. Then it breaks because some friends have lost a father very tragically. Then it breaks because my friends C and L can't bring their baby girl home from China...at least not yet. Then it breaks because another friend is desperately wanting to get her child from another country and nothing is happening, she's heard nothing and her heart breaks. Then it breaks because friends have family members with Alzheimer's and I can tell you first hand, it's a horrible disease. And the list could go on and on...
My heart is broken because life just isn't fair. But God is good. Even when we can't see it, God is good!
I've read Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren (incredible book). Derek and I have put our yes on the table, even though we don't know what that means. Right now it means God has surrounded me with people who are hurting, people who have broken hearts. Sometimes I just think I can't handle it all, but it was never mine to handle. God just wants me to bear part of their burden with them. To shoulder part of it and lift their load just a little. He can handle it all, but He chooses to involve me every now and then.
From Kay Warren: God is longing to seriously disturb you about His world. He's searching for men and women, young people and old people, people of every race and from every tribe, who will recklessly abandon themselves to Him and surrender to His purposes...regardless of whether you can see where that yes will take you. My challenge to you is to say, "I don't know exactly what the question is, God, but my answer is yes!"
Will you decide to say yes to God, even before knowing the full implications of what that yes may mean for you?
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:15, 17-18
I really don't want to have a broken heart, but I do. First my heart breaks for all the orphans in Zambia. Then it breaks because so many of the Christian leaders in Nicaragua are facing extremely difficult trials right now. Then it breaks because friends marriages are falling apart. Then it breaks because some friends have lost a father very tragically. Then it breaks because my friends C and L can't bring their baby girl home from China...at least not yet. Then it breaks because another friend is desperately wanting to get her child from another country and nothing is happening, she's heard nothing and her heart breaks. Then it breaks because friends have family members with Alzheimer's and I can tell you first hand, it's a horrible disease. And the list could go on and on...
My heart is broken because life just isn't fair. But God is good. Even when we can't see it, God is good!
I've read Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren (incredible book). Derek and I have put our yes on the table, even though we don't know what that means. Right now it means God has surrounded me with people who are hurting, people who have broken hearts. Sometimes I just think I can't handle it all, but it was never mine to handle. God just wants me to bear part of their burden with them. To shoulder part of it and lift their load just a little. He can handle it all, but He chooses to involve me every now and then.
From Kay Warren: God is longing to seriously disturb you about His world. He's searching for men and women, young people and old people, people of every race and from every tribe, who will recklessly abandon themselves to Him and surrender to His purposes...regardless of whether you can see where that yes will take you. My challenge to you is to say, "I don't know exactly what the question is, God, but my answer is yes!"
Will you decide to say yes to God, even before knowing the full implications of what that yes may mean for you?
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:15, 17-18
Still Praying for a Miracle
Please continue to pray. I am posting it here, so you can read of their desperate situation. We need a miracle! We need God to move some mountains! He is able!
Why is He so far away?
My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Psalm 22:1-2Why has God left us? Why when we put our "Yes" out there on the table and when we followed when He called. Today we went back to the hospital and her oxygen mask was not even working. She was in distress. Cindy finally convinced the nurses to look at it, but we still ended up fixing it ourselves. They just left her lying there with it not working and saying it was fine. Her poor ayi did not know what to do. She loves her very much and is doing her best. She is very attentive to her needs......So then they (the orphanage folks) came downstairs later and told us the doctor (she is not a real doctor and has only a high school education accd. to our guide) said An Yanwen had to stay in the hospital until Monday. Then we get passport photo and passport a few days after that.I do not believe we will leave this dreadful, cruel place with our daughter. I can't imagine leaving her here but they won't give us legal rights to her. It is completely out of our hands. We have tried all angles here in China and from the US. Kun*ming is impossible. Anywhere else and we might be able to get her some help but not here. The US doctor cannot do anything.It is hopeless today. It is impossible. I don't understand why God is not working but I can't see Him or feel Him at all. I am not His person for this journey. I am not strong enough and I have no strength left right now.We need your prayers. I can't even find words to pray today, nor does my mind want to be still. She needs your prayers. She is fighting so hard but she is very tired and sick. She is fascinated with this photo of her brothers that Charlie pulled out of his wallet.
Why is He so far away?
My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but Thou dost not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. Psalm 22:1-2Why has God left us? Why when we put our "Yes" out there on the table and when we followed when He called. Today we went back to the hospital and her oxygen mask was not even working. She was in distress. Cindy finally convinced the nurses to look at it, but we still ended up fixing it ourselves. They just left her lying there with it not working and saying it was fine. Her poor ayi did not know what to do. She loves her very much and is doing her best. She is very attentive to her needs......So then they (the orphanage folks) came downstairs later and told us the doctor (she is not a real doctor and has only a high school education accd. to our guide) said An Yanwen had to stay in the hospital until Monday. Then we get passport photo and passport a few days after that.I do not believe we will leave this dreadful, cruel place with our daughter. I can't imagine leaving her here but they won't give us legal rights to her. It is completely out of our hands. We have tried all angles here in China and from the US. Kun*ming is impossible. Anywhere else and we might be able to get her some help but not here. The US doctor cannot do anything.It is hopeless today. It is impossible. I don't understand why God is not working but I can't see Him or feel Him at all. I am not His person for this journey. I am not strong enough and I have no strength left right now.We need your prayers. I can't even find words to pray today, nor does my mind want to be still. She needs your prayers. She is fighting so hard but she is very tired and sick. She is fascinated with this photo of her brothers that Charlie pulled out of his wallet.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Praying for a Miracle
Please join me in fervently praying for Charlie and Leslie and their baby girl Susannah. They are in China right now trying to bring her home, but she is very, very sick.
You can read more details here at their blog.
http://roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com/
"Nothing is sweet or easy about community. Community is a fellowship of people who do not hide their joys and sorrows but make them visible to each other in a gesture of hope. In community we say: "Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs--but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care."
From Lewis Smedes, "How Can It Be All Right When Everything is All Wrong?"
You can read more details here at their blog.
http://roomforatleastonemore.blogspot.com/
"Nothing is sweet or easy about community. Community is a fellowship of people who do not hide their joys and sorrows but make them visible to each other in a gesture of hope. In community we say: "Life is full of gains and losses, joys and sorrows, ups and downs--but we do not have to live it alone. We want to drink our cup together and thus celebrate the truth that the wounds of our individual lives, which seem intolerable when lived alone, become sources of healing when we live them as part of a fellowship of mutual care."
From Lewis Smedes, "How Can It Be All Right When Everything is All Wrong?"
Monday, September 15, 2008
Nature vs. Nurture
***Update****
Just in case you need to know that are children are not completely academically challenged, Matthew did well on his tests on Friday (100, 95 and 85). Stephen's progress report has all A+'s, one A and one A++ (didn't know that was even possible).
I'm posting about Africa again soon, but today I need help.
Let me share with you briefly about my three children.
Elizabeth definitely has the gift of encouragement and she is happy 98% of the time. She said to me yesterday, "I'm so glad you're my mommy." What a doll!
Matthew is happy and just loves people especially girls. He loves to make people laugh.
If you need an interpreter, "I am not going to stop taking pictures of Hannah Montana, only if she agrees to marry me." Not sure what pictures he's taking, but whatever. He's always good for a laugh.
Onto my firstborn, Stephen, here's the nature vs. nurture question. Let me point out that he is incredibly sensitive towards others. He loves old people and babies. I don't think he gives anyone at church or at school grief. But onto our home life....Stephen is a pessimist down to his bones. He can see the worst in every single situation. I can guarantee that if we told him we were leaving for Disney tomorrow, he would have something negative to say about that. He also tends to be more of an introvert and he seems moody, to me at least. So he has two optimistic parents and we have our days, but I wouldn't consider us moody people. So, what's a parent to do when they have a child that consistently is in a bad mood and sees the worst in everything? We need some help. We are worn out. Trying to teach him to focus on the positive has not been successful, at least not so far. We've memorized some verses. We've prayed. We're still worn out. Send us an email, post a comment, say a prayer...do something. If you have someone in your life that is like this, give us some tips, we are struggling. We love Stephen and he is incredibly smart. He could probably do just about anything he set his mind to, but somewhere along the way, he'll probably give up and quit because he'll focus on the negative. We want to be the best parents we can be and help mold Stephen into a godly young man, but our current attempts don't seem to be making any difference. Help us out or this mama might be buying a one way ticket to Hawaii or Zambia.
Just in case you need to know that are children are not completely academically challenged, Matthew did well on his tests on Friday (100, 95 and 85). Stephen's progress report has all A+'s, one A and one A++ (didn't know that was even possible).
I'm posting about Africa again soon, but today I need help.
Let me share with you briefly about my three children.
Elizabeth definitely has the gift of encouragement and she is happy 98% of the time. She said to me yesterday, "I'm so glad you're my mommy." What a doll!
Matthew is happy and just loves people especially girls. He loves to make people laugh.
If you need an interpreter, "I am not going to stop taking pictures of Hannah Montana, only if she agrees to marry me." Not sure what pictures he's taking, but whatever. He's always good for a laugh.
Onto my firstborn, Stephen, here's the nature vs. nurture question. Let me point out that he is incredibly sensitive towards others. He loves old people and babies. I don't think he gives anyone at church or at school grief. But onto our home life....Stephen is a pessimist down to his bones. He can see the worst in every single situation. I can guarantee that if we told him we were leaving for Disney tomorrow, he would have something negative to say about that. He also tends to be more of an introvert and he seems moody, to me at least. So he has two optimistic parents and we have our days, but I wouldn't consider us moody people. So, what's a parent to do when they have a child that consistently is in a bad mood and sees the worst in everything? We need some help. We are worn out. Trying to teach him to focus on the positive has not been successful, at least not so far. We've memorized some verses. We've prayed. We're still worn out. Send us an email, post a comment, say a prayer...do something. If you have someone in your life that is like this, give us some tips, we are struggling. We love Stephen and he is incredibly smart. He could probably do just about anything he set his mind to, but somewhere along the way, he'll probably give up and quit because he'll focus on the negative. We want to be the best parents we can be and help mold Stephen into a godly young man, but our current attempts don't seem to be making any difference. Help us out or this mama might be buying a one way ticket to Hawaii or Zambia.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Meet Lucy
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Happy Grandparent's Day!
We thank God for the family He has given us.
Here's Great-Grandpa Carey in Michigan
And here's Mr. Ken and Ms. Jeanne in Michigan (Matthew and Elizabeth's birthgrandparents). They have been good to all three children and Ms. Jeanne never forgets to send a card to them for each holiday. She is so good! We are so thankful they're part of our family.
We love you all! Happy Grandparent's Day!
Here's Great-Grandpa Carey in Michigan
Here's Great-Granny in Florida.
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And our vacation buddy grandparents. They go with us year after year, even though they'd secretly rather go on a cruise.
This is regular Nanny and Papa. (the name...who knows? The others are not irregular just in case you're wondering)
And here's Florida Nanny and Papa.
And here's Mr. Ken and Ms. Jeanne in Michigan (Matthew and Elizabeth's birthgrandparents). They have been good to all three children and Ms. Jeanne never forgets to send a card to them for each holiday. She is so good! We are so thankful they're part of our family.
We love you all! Happy Grandparent's Day!
Friday, September 5, 2008
We Have A Disease
History and Symptoms: The transition to a Christian classical school has been hard for Matthew. Well, not really, he's happy and content. It's been hard on his mama, because the teacher keeps telling me how behind he is on reading and math. Yes, thank you. I've figured that out. Unless God gives us a miracle, the struggle with reading will not disappear overnight. However, we did get an 85 on our spelling test, a 100 on our history test, and we would've had a 100 on our Bible test if he hadn't forgot to write his name on the paper. He is so absent-minded. Here's some of the symptoms. They were copying a title from the board the other day. Cherokee Hills. He wrote slliH eekorehC and then for his name he wrote wehttam. He's never done that before, but it concerned his teacher. She obviously hasn't had Matthew in class long enough yet, because Matthew does what Matthew wants and he likes to be difficult just to make life exciting. Any of you that have taught Matthew or observed Matthew, you can completely relate? I'm thankful for his teacher's many years of experience though, otherwise Matthew may have already been kicked out! He's having trouble copying sentences from the board. I explained to her that he never had to copy sentences from a board in kindergarten. Elizabeth is already copying things from the board (3 weeks into kindergarten), so you can see that Matthew is at a disadvantage, but he'll survive because he's all about some competition.
Diagnosis: Is he behind or possibly dyslexic? I think he's just behind and creative. Yes he reverses some of his letters and can't read as well as his other first grade friends, but he was never taught to read the way they were taught. That's part of why we made the switch.
Matthew made his own diagnosis when he declared to his teacher yesterday "I am word blind." Not number blind, just word blind. If the word's too big, he can't see it. This is reading according to Matthew. Poor Mrs. W., I'm sorry, but this is just the beginning of what you're going to experience with Matthew.
Cure: Lots of prayer. Lots of patience. Lots of reading. Lots of phonics and spelling rule flashcards (which mama doesn't even know or understand for that matter) Will daddy please hurry and get home soon?
Side Effects: Mama's learning phonics and spelling rules. I never knew why sometimes "y" says i and sometimes it says e like in by and baby, but did you know that there are rules as to why this happens? I've learned more about the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee than I probably ever did. I can now sing the twelve tribes of Israel in order of their birth. I know that on the 7th day, God westid. (okay, I already knew that, but not spelled this way) I will have all the 7 days of creation down for sure by the end of next week. I get the seas and land and the sun, moon and stars mixed up. Elizabeth has it down already. Ah, to have the mind of a child.
My mom laughed today when she picked Matthew up for a sleepover and I had papers and books spread all over the kitchen table, but no kid was to be found. I was checking homework...seriously!
We are very happy at the school. Don't misinterpret my post. This is what we signed up for and I am thrilled at what my kids have already learned. To God be the glory!
Diagnosis: Is he behind or possibly dyslexic? I think he's just behind and creative. Yes he reverses some of his letters and can't read as well as his other first grade friends, but he was never taught to read the way they were taught. That's part of why we made the switch.
Matthew made his own diagnosis when he declared to his teacher yesterday "I am word blind." Not number blind, just word blind. If the word's too big, he can't see it. This is reading according to Matthew. Poor Mrs. W., I'm sorry, but this is just the beginning of what you're going to experience with Matthew.
Cure: Lots of prayer. Lots of patience. Lots of reading. Lots of phonics and spelling rule flashcards (which mama doesn't even know or understand for that matter) Will daddy please hurry and get home soon?
Side Effects: Mama's learning phonics and spelling rules. I never knew why sometimes "y" says i and sometimes it says e like in by and baby, but did you know that there are rules as to why this happens? I've learned more about the Cherokee Indians in Tennessee than I probably ever did. I can now sing the twelve tribes of Israel in order of their birth. I know that on the 7th day, God westid. (okay, I already knew that, but not spelled this way) I will have all the 7 days of creation down for sure by the end of next week. I get the seas and land and the sun, moon and stars mixed up. Elizabeth has it down already. Ah, to have the mind of a child.
My mom laughed today when she picked Matthew up for a sleepover and I had papers and books spread all over the kitchen table, but no kid was to be found. I was checking homework...seriously!
We are very happy at the school. Don't misinterpret my post. This is what we signed up for and I am thrilled at what my kids have already learned. To God be the glory!
Here's a picture, just because he's so stinkin' cute and goofy! These are his homemade 3D glasses.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Is Your Marriage Worth the Fight?
I know it's wacky Wednesday or wordless Wednesday in the blog world, but somehow that doesn't seem fitting for me today.
It's a hard week. Some of you know why, some of you don't, but it doesn't really matter either way. Sometimes we just have hard weeks. They keep us humble and remind us how much we need God and each other.
Matthew is struggling in school and that makes me sad. His reading is just not where it should be, so we're doing extra work at home. I'm trying to teach him to read phonetically which is a joke because I didn't learn this way. Derek knows all these rules about when a vowel makes a certain sound and when it makes a different sound. All I'm certain of is that I never learned that. Maybe the i before e except after c, but that's about the extent of it. So basically you have the blind leading the blind. I guess Matthew and I are going to learn phonics together. Hooked on Phonics, we may be looking your number up soon!
What's really consuming my heart today though is something different. I'll survive my difficult week and Matthew will survive first grade. This is my overwhleming concern today. Marriage. There are marraiges struggling all around us, even within the church walls. My heart is broken for these couples. Men, women and children who are being wounded deeply by struggling marriages, broken marriages, shattered dreams, lost hope. The list goes on and on. Marriages are being attacked by a very real enemy, Satan and his army.
1 Peter 5:8-10 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
I love that right before this verse, we are instructed to cast our anxiety (cares) on Him because He cares for us. He cares more than any relative, best friend or pastor ever could. We are His children and as Pastor Tom would say, "I am His favorite." We are all His favorite, we just don't live like we believe that!
I also love John 10:10 that tells us that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus came to offer us more than this world can offer. We can have hope and victory through Christ, not in and of ourselves.
What is Satan using to steal and destroy your marriage? Is it pride, unfaithfulness, materialism, the comparison of others, unrealistic expectations, the stresses of life, selfishness (focusing on myself more than on others), anger, unforgiveness, bitterness? The list could go on and on. There are lists just like this all throughout Scripture. Our flesh is weak and our heart is deceitfully wicked. We can only overcome through Christ's help.
This email is not directed at anyone in particular. It's really directed at all of us, because no marriage is safe. Satan wants to destroy each and every marriage. He is patient and he will wait for just the right opportunity to attack...he will wait for that opportunity to attack when the most damage can be done.
My heart is broken for those who are hurting today. I prayed for marriages today. I wept as I thought of those that are shedding tears today because they feel like they're at the end of their rope. For the men and women where this is the very life that they're living right now. They are trying to decide if their marriage is worth the fight. I can't fix the problem. I don't have all the answers, but I can love my neighbors, my church members, my friends and family.
I John 3:18 Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
So, my question is to you, is your marriage worth the fight? Are you ready to battle a very real enemy? Your marriage may be incredibly strong today, Praise God, but listen, none of us are exempt. The attack for us may be coming tomorrow or next week or next month.
We need to stand firm and do what is right and then, I love v. 20, God will soon crush Satan under our feet!
Romans 16:19-20 I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
We will rejoice together when that day comes! I'm praying for you and your marriage!
It's a hard week. Some of you know why, some of you don't, but it doesn't really matter either way. Sometimes we just have hard weeks. They keep us humble and remind us how much we need God and each other.
Matthew is struggling in school and that makes me sad. His reading is just not where it should be, so we're doing extra work at home. I'm trying to teach him to read phonetically which is a joke because I didn't learn this way. Derek knows all these rules about when a vowel makes a certain sound and when it makes a different sound. All I'm certain of is that I never learned that. Maybe the i before e except after c, but that's about the extent of it. So basically you have the blind leading the blind. I guess Matthew and I are going to learn phonics together. Hooked on Phonics, we may be looking your number up soon!
What's really consuming my heart today though is something different. I'll survive my difficult week and Matthew will survive first grade. This is my overwhleming concern today. Marriage. There are marraiges struggling all around us, even within the church walls. My heart is broken for these couples. Men, women and children who are being wounded deeply by struggling marriages, broken marriages, shattered dreams, lost hope. The list goes on and on. Marriages are being attacked by a very real enemy, Satan and his army.
1 Peter 5:8-10 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
I love that right before this verse, we are instructed to cast our anxiety (cares) on Him because He cares for us. He cares more than any relative, best friend or pastor ever could. We are His children and as Pastor Tom would say, "I am His favorite." We are all His favorite, we just don't live like we believe that!
I also love John 10:10 that tells us that the thief comes to steal, kill and destroy; I came that they may have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus came to offer us more than this world can offer. We can have hope and victory through Christ, not in and of ourselves.
What is Satan using to steal and destroy your marriage? Is it pride, unfaithfulness, materialism, the comparison of others, unrealistic expectations, the stresses of life, selfishness (focusing on myself more than on others), anger, unforgiveness, bitterness? The list could go on and on. There are lists just like this all throughout Scripture. Our flesh is weak and our heart is deceitfully wicked. We can only overcome through Christ's help.
This email is not directed at anyone in particular. It's really directed at all of us, because no marriage is safe. Satan wants to destroy each and every marriage. He is patient and he will wait for just the right opportunity to attack...he will wait for that opportunity to attack when the most damage can be done.
My heart is broken for those who are hurting today. I prayed for marriages today. I wept as I thought of those that are shedding tears today because they feel like they're at the end of their rope. For the men and women where this is the very life that they're living right now. They are trying to decide if their marriage is worth the fight. I can't fix the problem. I don't have all the answers, but I can love my neighbors, my church members, my friends and family.
I John 3:18 Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.
So, my question is to you, is your marriage worth the fight? Are you ready to battle a very real enemy? Your marriage may be incredibly strong today, Praise God, but listen, none of us are exempt. The attack for us may be coming tomorrow or next week or next month.
We need to stand firm and do what is right and then, I love v. 20, God will soon crush Satan under our feet!
Romans 16:19-20 I want you to be wise in doing right and to stay innocent of any wrong. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.
We will rejoice together when that day comes! I'm praying for you and your marriage!
Monday, September 1, 2008
Labor Day
In honor of Labor Day, we're doing nothing!! It's 1:30 and almost everyone still has their pajamas on and we may keep them on until tomorrow morning.
Last week was a busy week, so it's sometimes nice to have those days where we do absolutely nothing. It seems that it's a Herbie Movie marathon at our house today. We've already watched Herbie Fully Loaded and now we're on to Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.
Last Monday, my mom and I froze about 20 dozen ears of corn. It was an all day affair. Well my dad has a friend down the road who has cows and who knew that cows love corn cobs. I wouldn't know that because I am a city girl. Dad took the 20 dozen corn cobs down there with the exception of a few. We saved those so that my kids could go feed the cows.
Now, even though I'm a city girl, my parents have relatives that own farms. (Mayfield, KY and Paris, TN) So, I have actually fed a cow before as well and here's what I remember. Their tongues are very long and feel like sandpaper. The other problem with cows, the flies like to be around them and I don't like flies or any bug! I was born a city girl and a city girl I will always be!
Thanks Elvis (really, that's his name) for the opportunity to feed your cows. At the rate that Spring Hill is growing, there won't be any cows left in Spring Hill in a few years.
Last week was a busy week, so it's sometimes nice to have those days where we do absolutely nothing. It seems that it's a Herbie Movie marathon at our house today. We've already watched Herbie Fully Loaded and now we're on to Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo.
Last Monday, my mom and I froze about 20 dozen ears of corn. It was an all day affair. Well my dad has a friend down the road who has cows and who knew that cows love corn cobs. I wouldn't know that because I am a city girl. Dad took the 20 dozen corn cobs down there with the exception of a few. We saved those so that my kids could go feed the cows.
Now, even though I'm a city girl, my parents have relatives that own farms. (Mayfield, KY and Paris, TN) So, I have actually fed a cow before as well and here's what I remember. Their tongues are very long and feel like sandpaper. The other problem with cows, the flies like to be around them and I don't like flies or any bug! I was born a city girl and a city girl I will always be!
Thanks Elvis (really, that's his name) for the opportunity to feed your cows. At the rate that Spring Hill is growing, there won't be any cows left in Spring Hill in a few years.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Things You Probably Don't Need to Know
Elizabeth lost another tooth, this time on the bottom. She was eating nuts at school and the tooth went down with the nuts, so we have to leave the Tooth Fairy yet another "I swallowed my tooth note." Good thing, the tooth fairy is flexible!
Elizabeth also informed me that today they had trapel (chapel). She then asked me, "Did you know that Latin is dead?"
Matthew is tired of saying "thou shalt". (They are obviously learning the 10 commandments). We are working on his handwriting because it is terrible. He came home today and said, "I saw someone else's paper and they did a better job than me, so I'm going to work hard and do a way better job this time." It's all about competition with him.
Stephen is thriving at school and asking me questions that I just don't know the answer to. Maybe I need to go sit in a 3rd grade classical classroom. He asked me again about the Minoans and the Mycenaeans and the Greeks and I just don't know. Who's the history whiz out there that we can call when we need answers?
It's also exciting when I pick up Elizabeth to hear them quoting Psalm 23. This was our focus of Camp Life (Zambia). We sing "The Lord is my Shepherd, He gives me everything I need" on the drive home. I hope that these biblical truths are finding deep roots in their hearts. God promises that His Word will not return void!
That's the scoop on school!
Elizabeth also informed me that today they had trapel (chapel). She then asked me, "Did you know that Latin is dead?"
Matthew is tired of saying "thou shalt". (They are obviously learning the 10 commandments). We are working on his handwriting because it is terrible. He came home today and said, "I saw someone else's paper and they did a better job than me, so I'm going to work hard and do a way better job this time." It's all about competition with him.
Stephen is thriving at school and asking me questions that I just don't know the answer to. Maybe I need to go sit in a 3rd grade classical classroom. He asked me again about the Minoans and the Mycenaeans and the Greeks and I just don't know. Who's the history whiz out there that we can call when we need answers?
It's also exciting when I pick up Elizabeth to hear them quoting Psalm 23. This was our focus of Camp Life (Zambia). We sing "The Lord is my Shepherd, He gives me everything I need" on the drive home. I hope that these biblical truths are finding deep roots in their hearts. God promises that His Word will not return void!
That's the scoop on school!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Seven Things
I got tagged by Ashley.
Here's some random information you may or may not need to know.
7 things I want to do before I die
1) Go back to Zambia and stay for a month
2) Learn Greek (maybe go to seminary)
3) Watch my children fulfill God's call on their lives
4) Travel the world with Derek
5) Finish scrapbooking my kids' baby books (HA!)
6) Write more encouraging notes to friends and family
7) Leave a great legacy (not famous, just great)
7 things I can do
1) Say my abcs backwards
2) Sing row, row, row your boat backwards (do you see a pattern?)
3) Play the piano
4) Listen to James MacDonald sermons and learn something new every single time
5) Handle any kind of roller coaster ride
6) Enjoy ironing if I have something good to watch on TV
7) Always see a different way (sometimes a better way) that things could be done
7 things I cannot do
1) Go a day without thinking about Africa
2) Think about how old my children already are without getting sad
3) Anything athletic
4) Stay patient with my children for 7 days straight
5) Catch up on my scrapbooking
6) Change a tire
7) Ride the Disney teacups more than twice in a row
7 things that attract me to my man
1) his love for God
2) his patience with the kids
3) his passion for missions
4) his sarcastic sense of humor
5) his patience with me
6) his work ethic
7) his even-tempered personality
7 things I say most often
1) Hurry up
2) It's time to go
3) We're waiting on you
4) How many times...
5) Really?
6) Just a minute
7) Life is not fair
7 celebrity crushes (in no particular order)
???? No idea...so sorry.
Opt out
7 People to Tag
Lorinda
Tabitha
Heather W.
Leighann
Dori
Kyla
Melissa
Terri S.
Becky
and anyone else reading this who hasn't already been tagged!
Here's some random information you may or may not need to know.
7 things I want to do before I die
1) Go back to Zambia and stay for a month
2) Learn Greek (maybe go to seminary)
3) Watch my children fulfill God's call on their lives
4) Travel the world with Derek
5) Finish scrapbooking my kids' baby books (HA!)
6) Write more encouraging notes to friends and family
7) Leave a great legacy (not famous, just great)
7 things I can do
1) Say my abcs backwards
2) Sing row, row, row your boat backwards (do you see a pattern?)
3) Play the piano
4) Listen to James MacDonald sermons and learn something new every single time
5) Handle any kind of roller coaster ride
6) Enjoy ironing if I have something good to watch on TV
7) Always see a different way (sometimes a better way) that things could be done
7 things I cannot do
1) Go a day without thinking about Africa
2) Think about how old my children already are without getting sad
3) Anything athletic
4) Stay patient with my children for 7 days straight
5) Catch up on my scrapbooking
6) Change a tire
7) Ride the Disney teacups more than twice in a row
7 things that attract me to my man
1) his love for God
2) his patience with the kids
3) his passion for missions
4) his sarcastic sense of humor
5) his patience with me
6) his work ethic
7) his even-tempered personality
7 things I say most often
1) Hurry up
2) It's time to go
3) We're waiting on you
4) How many times...
5) Really?
6) Just a minute
7) Life is not fair
7 celebrity crushes (in no particular order)
???? No idea...so sorry.
Opt out
7 People to Tag
Lorinda
Tabitha
Heather W.
Leighann
Dori
Kyla
Melissa
Terri S.
Becky
and anyone else reading this who hasn't already been tagged!
Favorite Foto Friday
We love amusement parks!!
I'm craving a roller coaster ride, but it'll have to wait until next year!
I'm craving a roller coaster ride, but it'll have to wait until next year!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Are You Smarter????
On the 40 minute commute to school, which by the way should only take 20 minutes, but oh the joys of a growing city with lots of schools. Anyway, Stephen starts talking about the Minoans and the Mycenaeans (yes I had to look up the spellings) and I'm thinking, I have absolutely no idea what he is talking about. Where did he read this, hear this, learn this, etc.? Well he learned it at school this week. I don't know if I ever learned about the Minoans and the Mycenaeans and if I did, obviously it's lost somewhere in my brain because the story he told sounded like a first to me. So I'm thinking, "Hmmm...my third grader is smarter than me".
Then Matthew's teacher sends home a note saying, ask your child about creation, about worker bees, about longitute and latitude. So Matthew goes on to give us a thorough explanation of all of the discussion assignments.
According to Matthew,
"Did you know that the worker bees are all womans?"
I'm thinking to myself, "Well now, that doesn't seem very fair"
He goes on to give us many details on honey bees that quite honestly, I just don't know. What did I learn in school?
Once again I'm thinking, "This kid is going to be smarter than me soon."
Then he says, "The boy bees just help the queen have babies."
Well isn't that just lovely. That surely doesn't seem fair!
Tell me it isn't so!
Then Matthew's teacher sends home a note saying, ask your child about creation, about worker bees, about longitute and latitude. So Matthew goes on to give us a thorough explanation of all of the discussion assignments.
According to Matthew,
"Did you know that the worker bees are all womans?"
I'm thinking to myself, "Well now, that doesn't seem very fair"
He goes on to give us many details on honey bees that quite honestly, I just don't know. What did I learn in school?
Once again I'm thinking, "This kid is going to be smarter than me soon."
Then he says, "The boy bees just help the queen have babies."
Well isn't that just lovely. That surely doesn't seem fair!
Tell me it isn't so!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Picture Perfect
Just in case you think that my kids always smile for the camera and always have great days, I wanted to share this. This gives you some insight into our "real lives".
Today is chapel day (tie day). Stephen thinks he looks like a business man, Matthew cannot believe that they're asking him to wear a tie and Elizabeth's shirt is bothering her to be specific "it's itching me". So here's how mommy sent them out the door this morning.
Stephen's old enough to cooperate, Elizabeth has the smile but not the concept to look at me since I'm the one holding the camera and Matthew, well Matthew is just upset about his tie.
Today is chapel day (tie day). Stephen thinks he looks like a business man, Matthew cannot believe that they're asking him to wear a tie and Elizabeth's shirt is bothering her to be specific "it's itching me". So here's how mommy sent them out the door this morning.
Stephen's old enough to cooperate, Elizabeth has the smile but not the concept to look at me since I'm the one holding the camera and Matthew, well Matthew is just upset about his tie.
Monday, August 18, 2008
A Day of Firsts
Today was the first day of school for Stephen, Matthew and Elizabeth. After day 1, third grade, first grade and kindergarten seem to be going well.
My trip to the grocery store was very lonely. I almost stopped at Publix and asked for a cookie in honor of Elizabeth. We go so often, they know she prefers sugar over chocolate chip. And then our house was incredibly quiet. There have been very few days in our house since 2000 where we haven't had a baby, a toddler, or a preschooler making a bunch of noise. Something about the last one heading off to kindergarten does make you kind of sentimental, even if you're not a sentimental kind of girl.
Elizabeth on the other hand transitioned well. She walked right into her class, sat down and said good-bye. She was ready for her new adventure. She made lots of friends which is no surprise since she is a social butterfly. Unfortunately she doesn't remember any of their names.
Matthew told his teacher that they never had to raise their hands at his other school. (He's very convincing, even though it's not the truth! Scary!) He also informed us that his teacher is old. I said "You didn't say that to her, did you?" If you know Matthew you know he says whatever he thinks. Thankfully, he did practice some restraint and didn't say that to her. Just so you know, she is older. She started teaching in 1969 before I was even born, but she seems as sweet as can be. Surely she can handle Matthew!
Stephen seemed to have a good day. My only way of knowing this though is his one word answers to my questions and the fact that he didn't complain about school. If there's anything to complain about, he'll complain. So since we didn't have complaints this afternoon, I assume that means we had a good day.
The only other exciting news to report about the day is that Matthew complained because I put a note in his lunch. I thought I was doing a good mama thing this morning by writing my kids notes. Isn't that what we're supposed to do to "make their day"? Well it appears that it's not cool in 1st grade. He said the kids made fun of him because he got a love note. I promised not to write anymore unless he asks me to. He insisted and so did Stephen that no one else got a note in their lunch. That is hard for me to believe. I thought this was good mama etiquette. So then I ask Matthew tonight, "What do you want in your lunch tomorrow?" and he says "The same thing as today, WITHOUT the love note." It broke my heart!
Here is a picture of them this morning. Elizabeth just lost her other front tooth last night, so now she has a beautiful 6 year old, all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, SMILE!
My trip to the grocery store was very lonely. I almost stopped at Publix and asked for a cookie in honor of Elizabeth. We go so often, they know she prefers sugar over chocolate chip. And then our house was incredibly quiet. There have been very few days in our house since 2000 where we haven't had a baby, a toddler, or a preschooler making a bunch of noise. Something about the last one heading off to kindergarten does make you kind of sentimental, even if you're not a sentimental kind of girl.
Elizabeth on the other hand transitioned well. She walked right into her class, sat down and said good-bye. She was ready for her new adventure. She made lots of friends which is no surprise since she is a social butterfly. Unfortunately she doesn't remember any of their names.
Matthew told his teacher that they never had to raise their hands at his other school. (He's very convincing, even though it's not the truth! Scary!) He also informed us that his teacher is old. I said "You didn't say that to her, did you?" If you know Matthew you know he says whatever he thinks. Thankfully, he did practice some restraint and didn't say that to her. Just so you know, she is older. She started teaching in 1969 before I was even born, but she seems as sweet as can be. Surely she can handle Matthew!
Stephen seemed to have a good day. My only way of knowing this though is his one word answers to my questions and the fact that he didn't complain about school. If there's anything to complain about, he'll complain. So since we didn't have complaints this afternoon, I assume that means we had a good day.
The only other exciting news to report about the day is that Matthew complained because I put a note in his lunch. I thought I was doing a good mama thing this morning by writing my kids notes. Isn't that what we're supposed to do to "make their day"? Well it appears that it's not cool in 1st grade. He said the kids made fun of him because he got a love note. I promised not to write anymore unless he asks me to. He insisted and so did Stephen that no one else got a note in their lunch. That is hard for me to believe. I thought this was good mama etiquette. So then I ask Matthew tonight, "What do you want in your lunch tomorrow?" and he says "The same thing as today, WITHOUT the love note." It broke my heart!
Here is a picture of them this morning. Elizabeth just lost her other front tooth last night, so now she has a beautiful 6 year old, all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth, SMILE!
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