A Post for Derek

15 years ago today, we said "I do". I'm sure we had no idea the struggles or the joys we would face. Through all of it, God has been faithful!

I love you Derek because....
you make me laugh
you're consistent (steady Eddie)
you make our kids mind even when I'm losing my mind
you always finish what you start
you rarely complain about anything at all
you never complain about a terribly cooked meal or a messy house
you live your life with integrity
you're not a fighter because you like peace...Lord, help us if we were both fighters!

I love you because you love me even though I'm an unfunny, inconsistent, complaining fighter that doesn't know how to get our children to mind without losing mine in the process!

I love you because you love the Lord and because you love those that are poor, needy, and fatherless.

Psalm 82:3-4 Do justice to the weak (poor) and fatherless; maintain the rights of the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy; rescue them out of the hand of the wicked.




Happy Anniversary!

A Proposal

Matthew is in love. He wrote a note to Mary Chandler and this is what it said, "I wrote this early, but will you marry me?" The note did not get delivered because he writes about one every two weeks, but he's consistent with his choice for a wife. Ha!

Of course, we would be happy with this and if I believed in arranged marriages, we'd set it up. We would love to be in-laws with this family because we love them dearly.

And We're Out

The kids pooled their money last night and ordered pizza for the family. The boys decided they are tired of all the work and want things to go back to "normal". Of course, normal has now changed because we know they are capable of so much more. Their chore list will increase, but it won't be what the last few days have been. I was just happy to be able to vacuum my floor and mop the stickiness off of it...it was probably peanut butter. :-)

They have agreed to pack their lunches except for the peanut butter part. I'm happy about that because I just don't enjoy packing lunches. Everyone wins!

The other night Stephen made hot dogs for the family. Derek just sat at the table and told Stephen he wanted ketchup and mustard. Stephen made his hot dog and didn't complain, which is amazing in itself.

I think the lesson has been learned. Initiative...seeing what needs to be done and doing it! We'll see if it sticks, otherwise we might be on strike again.

BTW I assume the anon. comment from yesterday is Big Nanny! Yes, Derek and I did eat at J. Alexanders and it was oh so yummy. I didn't want to even consider a night of hot dogs, pb and j, cereal or mac and cheese. You need a real meal every now and then!

Strike Two

This morning, Matthew says, "How much more days do we have to do this?"

I didn't have an answer...I really don't know. I know that I haven't packed lunches in 3 days and haven't cooked in two and it's kind of nice. I haven't washed dishes or unloaded the dishwasher. I have done a couple of loads of laundry, but I haven't folded any of them. They wait on the bedroom floor for the kids to come home.

We're mean....I know.

What's for dinner?

I had to leave early for church so I had some cheese and crackers and diet coke at church.

The family...we've decided Stephen's old enough to use the microwave, so they had hot dogs from the microwave. Hot dogs are gross enough, but then cooked in the microwave. But Elizabeth said, "Yea, it will be something hot", since last night's meal wasn't.

Matthew's decided that he's very tired. I guess the stress of school, homework and housework is wearing on him. Maybe that is strike two...one more to go.

We'll hang in there for a few more days. I haven't packed a lunch the past two mornings and it's been very nice.

If at the end of it, they've learned some initiative then it will be worth it!

Strike One

So, Stephen decided that housework isn't that much fun. Two more to convince. Right now, they just think it's great fun packing their lunch, doing wash, scrubbing toilets, etc. We'll see how long it lasts.

And here was the sandwich Elizabeth made for Derek. This was dinner last night. A little heavy on the jelly. :-)

Initiative

"Seeing what needs to be done and doing it."

So we've started a new devotional series at our house where you focus on one virtue a month. Check it out at http://www.familytimes.org/

So one of last night's discussion questions was about "What if the parents stopped doing things around the house for a week? What would happen?" Well, you and I know the logical answers to those questions, but a 9, 7 and 6 year old think that would make for an awesome household. So, we (Derek and I) officially went on "partial strike".

Stephen did a load of wash last night, the boys cleaned the bathrooms, Elizabeth cleaned out the coloring book/crafting drawers (there are three of them), and on the list goes.

This morning they packed their lunches all by themselves and there is peanut butter everywhere....on Stephen's shirt, on Stephen's pants, on Matthew's shirt, on Matthew's pants, on Elizabeth's blouse, on Elizabeth's skirt, on the door handle, on the bathroom cabinet knobs, on the counter along with a bunch of grape jelly. They cleaned it up and went to school wearing some extra peanut butter this morning.

When they get home from school today, there are piles of clothes in their bedrooms that need to be folded and I'm assuming they're serving us cereal for dinner or that we're going out to eat.

Life could really change at this house and I just might end up with a clean house out of the deal. We'll see how long it lasts...

If they learn some initiative, then it will all be worth it!

A Little Late

Easter 2009
It was a blustery day! You should see the pics of my hair and Derek's hair...or maybe not!!

Hands Off!

Does anyone have any creative ideas?

Two of the three kids cannot keep their hands to themselves. Whether that's just having to touch your neighbor or hit your neighbor, they can't resist. We are constantly saying "keep your hands to yourself".

Elizabeth had a sweet little boy in a headlock a couple of weeks ago at church because she can't keep her hands to herself. Whether she was showing love or power, I don't know.

Matthew was in the school office today because he can't keep his hands to himself. He and his buddy are playing agent spies and I guess you have to hit one another to show that you're killing the bad guys.

And the worst place for two kids with physical touch issues...the school ride home with a van full of 5 kids.

Just in case you were wondering, Elizabeth won't be dating until she's 21! Ha!

What's a mom to do?

Nothing

I got nothing...really.

I could tell you about the conversation the kids had regarding chickens and people. They decided that people don't lay eggs and that chickens are good for nothing.

Or I could tell you that Elizabeth had a big disagreement (drama!) with a friend because the friend told her that red is a boy color. (Elizabeth had on red.)

Or that we're planning another Disney vacation, after all it is the happiest place on earth!

Or that our weekend is all about spring cleaning and there's much to do.

Or that one of Elizabeth's front teeth is finally showing it's way through the gum. She lost these teeth last summer.

Or that I'm longing to go back to Africa, but that won't happen until next year.

But none of that really matters, so if I don't make it back on here before Easter Sunday...remember, He is risen!!

That's the only thing that really matters. Christ died and rose for us. It's only because of Him that we can truly live.

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Wordless Wednesday for Big Nanny