Lamppost Academy

Valentine's Giveaway WINNER & COUPON

2010-01-17T11:18:00.003-06:00

True Random Number Generator

Min: 1
Max: 209
Result:
127
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

Congrats to Amy16323! I will be emailing you for your mailing address so we can get your gift to you!

As a THANK YOU for everyone who entered, Whimsical Wares is offering 25% off any item in their store. Just enter code "WHIMSY" in the comment section & 25% will be refunded through paypal. Thanks to everyone for entering!

Valentine GIVEAWAY!

2010-01-09T15:35:00.006-06:00

Enter for your chance to win this wonderful VALENTINE'S DAY gift set from Whimsical Wares! Gift set includes 2 travertine tile Valentine's Day custom coasters and 2 hand-etched wine glasses! A great way to celebrate with someone you love!

Here is how you enter--you can have up to 3 entries by following below directions:

1) Visit Whimsical Wares etsy store and view the other items for sale http://www.etsy.com/shop/ruthie5573

2) Leave a reply to this post on my blog with your email address AND one other item that you would like to have from Whimsical Wares store.

3) For a second entry, subscribe to be a FOLLOWER of my blog by clicking on the link at the top right corner of my blog. Leave a 2nd reply saying that you are a follower and you will be entered in the contest a 2nd time--increasing your chance to win!

4) For a 3rd entry, write a post on your blog about this contest & leave another post on my blog with a link to your blog entry.

A winner will be chosen by random number selector program on Sunday, January 17.

GOOD LUCK!

Reptiles

2009-11-25T12:41:00.002-06:00

Pictures from a recent birthday party for a friend. The kids held all kinds of snakes, a turtle, lizard, bird, alligator, scorpion, tarantual, and other creepy creatures!

Starting to look a lot like Christmas

2009-11-18T06:19:00.003-06:00

We visited our local Bass Pro Shop yesterday and the Christmas decorations are everywhere! The kids hoped to see Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas, however Santa is available only in the evenings right now. We did get to see him in his green Bass Pro shirt walking around working, but he wasn't very friendly--maybe he wasn't in the Christmas spirit without his red jumpsuit. We had fun walking around and seeing all the animals and other goodies though. And the kids got to have some 99 cent candy at the little store.

Noccalula Falls

2009-11-18T06:08:00.005-06:00

We went to Noccalula Falls last week to camp-out. We had prepared the kids for the waterfall, train ride, and all the other things we'd get to do once we got there; however, we were disappointed that everything was temporarily closed while they set up Christmas lights. :( We did get a little peak at the lights on our way into the campsite Friday night and they looked gorgeous! I had no idea we had such a pretty place to see lights so nearby. Saturday morning we were able to get out and walk across the bridge and see the Falls. We hope to go back sometime soon when the park is open.

Our dog waiting for us while we looked at the Falls--she's in the driver's seat. :)

Road Trip

2009-11-07T17:12:00.009-06:00

We took a road trip this week to Anniston. Kevin had a job nearby, so we loaded up the RV and made an adventure of it. We visited the Anniston Museum of Natural History and it was AMAZING! The last time I visited was pre-children, so it was a lot of fun to experience it through the eyes of my kids. Their favorite was the African Exhibit. It was really good--there were tons of real animals (dead, of course) in very natural settings. KK was SO excited to see a real cheetah--we had to visit it several times before we left. The Reptile Exhibit was also really good. We even had a close encounter with some alligators that attacked the glass when my kids walked up...it was a bit scary, but also hilarious because they kept trying to attack them over and over again! After the museum, we rode by the cemetery where my grandparents and great-grandparents are buried and took some pictures. I had the unusual opportunity of knowing my great-grandparents through my entire childhood and part of my adulthood. They were precious Godly people that were really special. I miss my grandmother most of all...she would have loved my kids. She only met KK when he was a few weeks old...she was at the hospital with health problems and got to hold him for a few minutes. She passed away a few weeks after that and I'm so sad she never got to know them. But, what a blessing to know we will see her again one day! And I also wonder if there are windows in heaven...if so, she's smiling down on us and watching my children grow.

These Alligators were trying to attack!

JC sitting atop a real tortoise shell

The Egyptian Exhibit

KK is one happy camper seeing a cheetah!

Leopard

This hyena was huge...the picture doesn't do it justice! I had no idea they were so big!

Ha ha! One of our favorites--the naked mole rat! :)

This elephant was really cool. There was an arrow in the display that was shot by tribesman in an attempt to kill the elephant for its ivory. It didn't kill the elephant but made it really sick and somehow the museum got ahold of the elephant and was able to put it to rest & preserve it for the museum!

Another trip back to see the cheetah AGAIN

Really cool display showing how venom comes out of fangs

huge lizard (monitor)

Authentic Friendships

2009-10-26T11:37:00.000-05:00

Thought this was good...

Healing Choices: Authentic Friendships

By Rick Warren | Thursday, October 22, 2009 | 2:12 PM EDT

From PurposeDriven.com

In our Devotionals series, Pastor Rick Warren discusses the Bible passages that inspire him the most. Today's Devotional is based on this passage:

“But if we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other. Then the blood of Jesus, God’s Son, cleanses us from every sin. If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:7-8 NCV).

In Biblical fellowship, we should experience authenticity.

Authentic friendships are more than superficial, surface-level chit-chat. They involve genuine, heart-to-heart, sometimes gut-level, sharing.

These friendships develop when we get honest about who we are and what is happening in our lives. They develop when we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.

Unfortunately, this level of authenticity and intimacy is the exact opposite of what we find in many churches. Instead of an atmosphere of honesty and humility, we often become involved in pretending, role-playing, politicking, superficial politeness, and shallow conversation. We begin to wear masks, keep our guard up, and act as if everything is rosy in our lives. These attitudes are the death of real friendship.

It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship. The Bible says, “If we live in the light, as God is in the light, we can share fellowship with each other . . . If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves” (1 John 1:7–8 NCV).

The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light. We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. But in God’s light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.

Of course, being authentic requires both courage and humility. It means facing our fear of exposure, rejection, and being hurt again.

Why would anyone take such a risk?

Because it’s the only way to grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy. The Bible says, “Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed” (James 5:16 MSG).

Human Contact in a Facebook World

2009-09-27T16:26:00.011-05:00

An article in today's paper really makes me ponder modern-day relationships. Long gone are the days where we'd have to wait weeks or months to hear from our loved ones through a telegram or the mail. It is amazing that we can instantly communicate with people across the world with the click of a button on our computer. As much as I love modern-day conveniences, I also think there is a personal aspect that is lost through my daily surfing on Facebook and blogs. I quickly feel out of touch when we travel somewhere for just a few days without Internet access--not to mention being away from home for just a few hours without email access! Yet, what am I really missing? A Facebook status update from someone I haven't seen in 20 years?

While I love staying in touch with friends and their day-to-day lives, my close friends will continue to be close friends whether or not I am on the Internet. While I furiously surf the web and update my Facebook status, I wonder what I might be missing of greater importance. Like investing further in the lives of the people who share the same house as me--the children who are watching cartoons behind me while I'm trying to find friends from high school on the computer. Or, more importantly, spending time with my husband! My son recently asked me "how come you're always on the computer mom?" Whoa, that's a wake-up call! How often do I tune out the people I love the most and instead choose an empty relationship with online people I don't really know?

Does that mean I will no longer blog or jump onto Facebook? NO! It just means that I'm finding some irony in my choices...and the choices of others. How easy it is for us to think we have deep and meaningful relationships with complete strangers or people whom we've never met in person--all through the internet or email. What a easy place for us to hide--we can be whoever we want to be with people we don't really know, people we don't talk to face-to-face. They don't have to see the yuckiness of our own lives. Yet, on the other hand, I see some some people think it is completely okay to spew their personal relationships and private details all over blogs and Facebook--what are they thinking? What happened to privately seeking help professionally or through true friends verses the public forum of 400 facebook "friends?" I am rambling...but here is the article that is really worth reading...

We still must have human contact

Two girls from Australia were recently trapped in a storm drain. They had a cell phone with them that had a connection. The two girls chose to update their Facebook pages to convey their status as being stuck in a storm drain and in need of help. They never used the cell phone with a connection to actually place a call for help.

Ridiculous, but it raises the question about how social media are changing not only the way we communicate, but what we communicate.

The other day, I was on my Facebook page while at work during my usual post-lunch motivational delay. During that time of day, most posts from at-home parents are about the need for nap times and most posts from those at work are also about the need for nap times. But on this day, one of my Facebook friends, a woman I went to high school with (but was not close to then nor now) put up a string of posts just minutes apart outlining that her husband took their baby and left her. The angst of the posts struck me deeply. Watching her self-worth diminish through her string of comments set off my internal alarms. This woman was not in a good place. She needed help, but her other Facebook friends were responding with superficial responses about getting a drink or a better husband. Only one or two responded they would pray for her. But they were all posts. Given the short timing, I did not get the sense that anyone was calling this person.

I was truly concerned for her well-being and safety. I considered all the options. Did I want to call her? That seemed an intrusion, and, regardless, I did not have a phone number. Did I want to post a serious response on her page? That seemed more of an addition to the problem. Finally, I sent her a private e-mail through Facebook stating I was concerned and giving her a list of area counselors who might be able to meet with her on short notice.

After agonizing about this exchange, her next posts within 30 minutes were the following:

* He’s at his parents
* I’m in carpool line and about to run out of gas. Great.

Someone responded they should get their children together for a playdate. Nothing else was said.

A few days later, a post appeared that she and her husband could get through anything together if they stayed a team. By the end of the whole saga, I was not sure what most horrified me—that Facebook was her chosen medium to announce the breakdown of her marriage, the casual and playful responses of her other Facebook friends, or that the whole incident was treated the same as my post that sneezing while your mascara’s wet makes for a bad start to a day.

Would this woman have really walked into a room of 400 friends and acquaintances and made the same proclamations? Would they have responded like they did online if she had? I don’t think so, I think the safety (and distance) of the computer erases emotions and emotional growth.

It’s easier to text someone you know at a social function than speak to someone you don’t. It’s easier to send back a quick and angry em-mail than to call to resolve a conflict. It’s easier to post a critical comment than to engage in actual conversation. In taking these easy ways out, we are losing the ability to learn how to govern ourselves—both in real public and in public forums like the Internet.

The electronic exchanges fail to establish a set of social norms that translate to in-person contact. Were those same exchanges to take place in real time in front of a group of others, the room reaction would dictate future behavior….

We need to ensure that those coming of age in this instant-messaging era still know how to communicate well and in person. The computer screens and cell phones provide a layer of protection when 'speaking' out and lack of regulating feedback.

Ultimately, I believe in her anguish, my Facebook friend was reaching out for comfort in the only way she knew how. How sad, though, that the first thought for a connection was through the Internet. Electronic hugs have not been invented.

Crying on your computer just makes it wet. Human contact is still a necessity and, perhaps, even more so in this electronic age.

--Abigail Lounsbury Morrow The Birmingham News September 27, 2009

Eight ways to recognize a friend

2009-09-24T07:19:00.001-05:00

Eight ways to recognize a friend

Posted using ShareThis

The Sacred Path

2009-09-05T21:35:00.005-05:00

We have all faced such moments--times when we recognize anew that we are called to a journey that will shape us and change us. The journey has the potential to heal us or harden us. It will harden us if we attempt to do an end run around the desert, valley, or craggy peak where God compels us to walk. It will soften, break, mold, and heal us if we choose to take sorrow and suffering by the hand and walk by faith into the damage of our past, the struggles of the present, and our fears of the future.....

God promises us redemption, but his sacred path leads us away from safety, predictability, and comfort. Any attempt to fly over the dangerous terrain or make a detour to safer ground is doomed because it will not take us to God. Instead, it leads to a host of other idols that can't provide us with the confidence of faith, the dynamic of hope, or the passion of love we so deeply crave.

-Dr. Dan Allender in his book The Healing Path

Space & Rocket Center

2009-09-05T13:49:00.007-05:00

What a fun trip! We went to the Space & Rocket Center this week and had a blast!

Laying in a simulator

Darth Vader

KK with a stealth bomber

Kev seeing what it is like to drive a moon rover

WOW! The boys had so much fun climbing the rock walls & rapelling down

Kev riding up the Sling Shot ride

The kiddie version of the sling shot...they liked it!

Camping

2009-09-05T13:17:00.005-05:00

Some pics from our various summer camping adventures...

One of my all-time fav pics of MG--laying on the merry go round after a swim in the lake

Playing at a campground park at Wind Creek

The boys hanging out on the merry go round

After a swim in Lake Martin

One of the most unexpected things to see when driving through rural Demopolis, AL--a tin man and other bizarre creations made out of bales of hay and scraps of metal. We felt a little like we were driving through the Twilight Zone!

Bunny

Monster truck

Barons Game

2009-09-05T12:54:00.005-05:00

I am waaaayyy overdue in updating my blog! Here are some pics from earlier this summer from a minor league baseball game. KK's entire baseball team was recognized and they got to walk out on the field before the game. It was our kids first experience at a baseball game and we stayed until the very end to see the fireworks.

KK looking suave in his sunglasses

Nothing better than a baseball game and a big salty pretzel

It was free jersey night and they kids got a Baron's jersey

Getting My Feet Dirty

2009-08-24T20:11:00.008-05:00

I climbed over a chain-link fence this summer--bare footed. My toes frantically tried to grip the wobbly metal like monkey fingers. My brain thinks I am still young and lithe, like a panther. Yet, my body does not jive with my brain's assessment. I am sure the sight of a 36-year old mom quavering on top of a fence was comical to anyone passing by. Thankfully I made it to the other side of the fence safely, yet very ungracefully.

As a child, I ran barefoot all summer long. I remember the gentle tickle of grass on my feet as we ran barefoot playing hide and seek, tag, and red rover with neighborhood children. And I remember the heat of the Alabama asphalt on my feet as we ran down street after street chasing the ice cream truck. We spent summers climbing trees searching for the shed skin of cicadas high in the tree branches. I remember getting to pick a watermelon out of my uncle’s garden one summer. My cousins and I were joyous as the adults cut slices for us to eat on my uncle's back deck. The ripe fruit juice covered our bare arms & legs and we were sticky for the rest of the day, with dirt and watermelon seeds covering us.

I loved my messy, sticky, wild and adventurous childhood. Therefore, it would seem logical that I would want similar experiences for my children—squishing barefoot through mud, climbing treacherously high trees, having sticky fingers and feet all day long. Yet, my agenda includes safer things, neater things—like soccer lessons, ballet, or playing in the driveway (no mud there).

One of the things impressed upon me this summer was how the Lord often places people in our lives to shake us up a little. One of these people for me was a sweet friend (yes, she’s the one that had me climbing the chain-link fence). One evening this summer, she and I walked to her neighborhood park, with our 5 kids in tow. To get to the park, we had to walk through a field that was full of mud from a few rainy days we had that week. There was also a little creek at the back of the park in a wooded area. I was immediately certain the water was infested with water moccasins and all kinds of other deadly creatures. I was silently praying my children would have NO interest in the creek. To my dismay, my children are forever drawn to water and mud.

I was shocked as my friend’s children happily jumped barefoot into the muddy little creek. My friend did not bat an eye—she was not whipping out hand sanitizer or forbidding them to explore the creek. In fact, she was encouraging it! I stood on the little bank of the creek wondering, WHO is this woman? Her son waded into the depths and caught tadpoles and a crayfish. Her daughter got her shoe stuck in the muddy water. My friend patiently dug through the mud to retrieve the shoe and then rinsed it in the creek water. She then patiently tended to my daughter who was covered in mud and crying. I just stood to the side trying to avoid the mud and diligently watching for snakes in the murky water.

We were all covered in mud by the end of our excursion, but we washed off in the creek as best as we could. We were sweaty and muddy and still had to walk quite a way to get back home—pulling a wagon of children, a bucket of tadpoles, and at least one child who was crying most of the way (my child). Adding to the adventure, we climbed the fence on the way back into her backyard-- the wobbly fence that almost cost me my life and a few toes.

After we got back to her house, we rinsed off again--this time with a water hose and soap. We scrubbed little feet one after the other unable to eliminate the mud stuck in toe crevices and under toenails. My precious friend then served us dinner. I don’t remember everything we ate, but I think there was a delicious salad somewhere in the mix. More importantly, I remember feeling loved and encouraged and alive. As the breeze gently blew through the screened-in porch, I could hear the muffled laughter of our children wafting through the air and a dog barking in the distance.

After dinner, I watched in amazement as my friend grabbed a container of gasoline and proceeded to make a bonfire in the backyard. Again, I was stunned and wondering WHO is this person? Ironically, our daughters were in the same ballet class. I had no idea that Moms scaled fences, waded in mud, or could use a gasoline can to start a fire.

We roasted marshmallows and made s’mores as the sun set. And I was truly thankful for the wonderful love that my Savior has for me--through a friend giving me and my children a night of adventure and surprise. And how He used it to rekindle the flame of adventure in my own heart—a desire to put away the hand sanitizer every now and then and let my children be wild and messy and free. Heck, I may even get a little wild and get my feet muddy too!

Back to school sale - Ecostore USA

2009-08-03T07:32:00.002-05:00

BACK TO SCHOOL SALE

You have got to check out this AWESOME BOGO sale at ECOSTORE USA!!! This is a great time to stock up on affordable eco-friendly products!

Winner Winner Winner Winner!

2009-08-01T08:31:00.003-05:00

I used the random number generator to select a winner for the Eco-Friendly Giveaway for a $25 gift certificate to Ecostore USA and the WINNER is:

Entry #89 - Courtney Stoffel

CONGRATULATIONS COURTNEY!!!

Little Chefs

2009-07-21T21:52:00.003-05:00

KK spent the entire day yesterday with sweet friends. He had a blast playing and even got to help make Cherry Crisp! It was yummy! Good job little chefs!

Baseball

2009-07-21T21:32:00.003-05:00

Eco friendly giveaway! Win $25 Gift Certificate to ECOSTORE USA!

2009-07-11T19:39:00.010-05:00

Ecostore USA contacted me to review some of their products. I was happy to take them up on their offer to send me free products! I am also excited to announce that I am giving away a $25 gift certificate to Ecostore USA. These products are truly wonderful! As a mom, it is nice to find a company that offers chemical- free products at affordable prices! Ecostore's product line includes household cleaners, body and baby care, and pet products--all plant-based and chemical free! I have loved using Ecostore's coconut soap and baby shampoo. The coconut soap has gentle coconut milk and strands of coconut that helps exfoliate and replenish the skin. I was pleasantly surprised the bar of soap easily worked into a rich moisturizing lather, unlike many other eco-friendly products on the market. Likewise, their baby shampoo is very rich and worked into a nice lather, leaving my child's skin feeling very soft. I am so excited to have found such cost-effective and quality products without compromise the health of my family or the environment! See below to enter the contest to win a $25 gift certificate to Ecostore USA.

HOW TO ENTER:

1) Visit Ecostore USA 's website and view their line of products
2) Leave a comment on my blog, including your email address and 2 products you'd like to have from Ecostore's product line

It's that simple! Be sure to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. The winner will be chosen by random drawing on July 31, 2009. You must be 18 or older to win and a resident of United States.

You can also follow Ecostore on their blog and on Twitter

Snakes, Water Park, and Ice Cream

2009-07-11T18:33:00.011-05:00

On Friday, we had a fun day at a new water park in Gardendale. MG would not get in the water and only wanted to be held...she finally decided to shoot some of the water guns. The boys ran right in and had a blast. They also played in the adjacent playground. Today we went to Oak Mountain State Park to see a snake show. We paid our entry fee and drove the 6 miles into the Animal Wildlife Center and were disappointed to find the snake show was canceled. However, we were in for a snake show of our own! We saw a HUGE rattlesnake at the base of a pine tree with its head poking up watching birds at some nearby bird feeders. As we watched the rattler, I happened to catch movement out of the corner of my eye. Low and behold, there was a rat snake slithering up the branches of a tree above the rattler! Truly a freaky moment! We later cautiously hiked down a gravel path, making the children walk in the center of the path as Kevin and I scanned the edges of the path closely. Wouldn't you know we'd see a 3rd snake??--a king snake coiled up in some leaves at the edge of the path! We later drove to the petting zoo at Oak Mountain and thankfully did not see any more snakes!

JC was so sweet to hold MG's hand and take her through the water--she finally decided to give the water a try!

Sister still cautious about the water

Boys shooting a huge water gun

I got a picture of him with his tongue flicking out--gross!

MG and Daddy heading into the petty zoo...MG is holding a goose feather that she found

What better way to end a day with ice cream at a birthday party?

4th of July

2009-07-04T22:43:00.007-05:00

Our sweet friends invited us to a 4th of July get-together and monkeyball tournament. We had lots of good food and fun! I think my kids had at least 4 pieces of cake & 2 bowls of ice cream each...along with a yummy dinner. The sugar overload kept them awake to see the 9pm fireworks. It was a wonderful and fun-filled day!

The kids got busy right away playing with toys in the yard

KK & Sam trying to play badmitten

The "Battle at Bull Run" monkeyball tournament...I won 3 games--congrats to Kevin for winning the whole thing!

Group pic of the kids...MG wouldn't sit for the photo...she was too busy playing. :)

Waiting for fireworks

KK took pics and video of the show

Blueberries

2009-07-04T22:35:00.003-05:00

For the past 3 years our sweet neighbor lets us come over and pick blueberries. We always come home with full bellies and buckets of berries. This year we also discovered blackberries nearby.

MG eats as she goes

Our week

2009-07-02T20:16:00.011-05:00

This week we've traveled through Montgomery, Troy, and Tuscaloosa. We bought an RV last weekend and enjoyed taking it on our first camping trip to Deer Run RV Park in Troy. It was certainly a great place to start our camping adventures. It was very clean and nice, with a bath house, laundry room, swimming pool, and lakes for fishing. We had a great time and the kids enjoyed spending the night in the camper. We also discovered some new playgrounds on our trips to Montgomery and Troy. Our favorite stop this week was the Children's Hands On Museum in Tuscaloosa. It was awesome and we will definitely go back again soon!

Walking down the path towards the swimming pool

KK having fun jumping in

3 peas in a pod...they all slept in the top bed over the cab

The museum in T'loosa--awesome!

JC at the fishing site of the museum

Daddy showing his skills

MG getting ready to drive the boat

The boat was really neat...it simulated the sounds of a real boat

Paging Dr. Singleton...and Dr. Singleton...and Dr. Singleton!
The hospital was one of their favorite places at the museum! They loved it & I could hardly get them to leave!

JC and Mads taking care of a newborn

The boys making some great scientific discoveries

A shot to the head is always nice! Sweet MG could not stay away from "George"...she had a 30 minute screaming fit when we left the monkey behind to go home!

How about a shot inserted in your mouth while the other doc uses the stethescope to listen to your hipbone?

Ahhh, MG connecting and bonding with George...she is still talking about George and the museum!

Dr. KK goes above and beyond by typing his own medical records

Mommy goes on a rampage to scare her children and husband senseless....
obviously MG isn't fooled

Pretty frightening...but the husband snaps a picture & is obviously not scared

JC was only momentarily fooled...obviously Mommy is the only senseless one!

"I whistle while I work"

JC caught the big one

MG in the Japanese exhibit

KK in the mirror house

Gigi Party

2009-06-07T22:18:00.004-05:00

We love Sheila Walsh's Gigi series of books and DVDs at our house! MG watches one of her Gigi DVDs every night before bed. I love that the focus is on being God's little princess and how Gigi is loved dearly as His daughter. Gigi is not some fairy-tale princess that is perfect. Like all of us, she is flawed and has things go wrong in her little-girl world. Our local Christian Bookstore had a Gigi Princess Party this weekend and we had to attend! Sweet and Sassy was there painting fingernails and giving the girls' hair a "princess bun." Here are some pics.

MG having her fingernails painted

Here she is getting her hair done...she also got a glittery purple star painted on her face

Check it out!!!

2009-06-07T21:44:00.007-05:00

Check out this awesome opportunity to win the new Oreck Halo vacuum cleaner at the Short Pump Preppy blog. I have been drooling over this vacuum cleaner and would love to have one of my own! Not only does it have a HEPA filter and amazing cleaning abilities, but it also has a really cool UV light that kills germs and bacteria. Go check out the blog to find out more about this neat vacuum and enter for a chance to win!

New area farmer's market

2009-06-05T22:00:00.003-05:00

Valleydale Farmer's Market

Money saving tips for families

2009-06-01T15:50:00.003-05:00

Examiner.com article on saving money for families

Princess fairy party

2009-05-28T11:36:00.008-05:00

We had such a girlie fun day yesterday morning! MG and her friend were invited to a Princess Fairy Birthday Party. The mom did a wonderful job organizing the party! It was so sweet--the girls had fairy cakes, mermaid salad, butterfly sandwiches, and sipped on tea out of tiny little tea cups. They also went on a scavenger hunt for missing fairy babies and made a butterfly craft. It was such a treat to see the girls have so much fun!

MG and MR heading up the driveway to the party

Pouring her own cup of tea

Carefully taking a sip--no worries it was served cold

Enjoying a fairy cake

MG trying on the birthday girl's princess shoes

Every girl got to blow out a sparkle birthday candle--MG thought this was so special!

And our little princess using her best manners

Admiring her butterfly craft

Heading home with an armful of goodies including a fairy baby and fairy bear

Graduation

2009-05-17T19:13:00.008-05:00

Our KK had his Kindergarten graduation ceremony yesterday. There were 4 children in our homeschool group that graduated. It was a really sweet ceremony and a lot of fun for all the kids.

The boys with their friend HC

MG just loves HC!

Switching his tassel to the left

Some of his work from the past year

Enjoying cake

Recital

2009-05-17T19:00:00.000-05:00

MG's ballet recital was a few weeks ago. Here are some pics.

Beach Trip

2009-05-16T19:12:00.002-05:00

On our recent beach trip, we had a blast visiting the Northwest Florida Zoo and also the Gulfarium. At the zoo, we went on a train ride through open plains with llamas, zebras, and other grazing animals. It reminded me a lot of the movie Jurassic Park, with gates that slid closed as the train entered the area. Thankfully, there was no T-rex to chase after us, but we did have a close encounter with an ostrich that came in for a closer look--about a foot from the back of the train where we were sitting. Another big hit with the kids was hand-feeding the giraffes. Watching their long dark-colored tongues extend out and wrap around leaves from our hands was a lot of fun. We also purchased food for the petting zoo animals. We enjoyed feeding goats, cows, and rabbits.

A white peacock? I've never seen one of these!

The alligator pond had fishing poles where you could feed the gators...we missed the feeding time, but it would be a lot of fun!

A closer look at the Komodo Dragon

The ostrich that came close to our train

The tongue on this cow kind of freaked me out!

We were able to see the dolphin and sea lion shows at the Gulfarium and they were very interactive and fun to watch. There were also alligators, various birds, tropical fish, sharks, and stingrays. There is also an area where visitors can touch horseshoe stingrays and other sea creatures. We had fun, but some of the shows were kind of long for the kids.

The announcer at the Dolphin Show was really loud...see the kids plugging their ears

Let Me Hold You Longer

2009-05-07T19:05:00.005-05:00

As I wiped scribbles of red marker off the window trim and glass panes this afternoon, I happened to think that I'll probably be sad to see all the signs of childhood gone from my house one day. No more sticky fingers to wipe, no more little fingerprints smeared across walls, no more juice boxes crushed and left on the floor.

We waited 8 years before having children and I longed to be a Mom for most of those years. I never could have anticipated the unconditional love I would one day feel nor the unimaginable frustration over the sticky fingers and wall smudges.

Yet, I already feel a sadness resonating in my heart for the day when I no longer make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches (without the crust) every single day for lunch. And what will I do when I find the soles of my shoes are finally free from green play dough crammed in every groove?

The busyness of having little ones makes it impossible for me to remember these days well. I realized this recently when we were watching old home movies. I had already forgotten the little nuances and cute sayings my kids had 18 months ago. MG's chubby baby legs and round cheeks made us all laugh when she popped up on the TV screen. I wish all these sweet memories could be etched in my mind forever.

Today the boys were barefoot in the front yard climbing trees--fully in tune with the adventurous spirits that God has given them. MG kicked off her sandals and ran through the damp grass reaching her arms high to scale the Bradford Pears with her brothers. Her chunky little feet and thighs are slimmer these days. KK is becoming long and lean and starting to look like a "big boy." I guess that happens when they are 6. And JC doesn't wet the bed anymore. He can also carry on a conversation that lasts well into 3 days--my most talkative child! I wish these days could last forever, but I thank the Lord that I've had some clarity of mind to at least record some of our fun times and I can always go back and reminisce with my children about the ways they are changing and how God is shaping them.

I've shared this poem before, but wanted to share it again. I just love it.

Let Me Hold You Longer
by Karen Kingsbury

Long ago you came to me,
a miracle of firsts,
First smiles and teeth and baby steps,
a sunbeam on the burst.

But one day you will move away
and leave to me your past
And I will be left thinking of
a lifetime of your lasts…

The last time that I held a bottle
to your baby lips
The last time that I lifted you
and held you on my hip.

The last night when you woke up crying,
needing to be walked,
When last you crawled up with your blanket,
wanting to be rocked.

The last time when you ran to me,
still small enough to hold.
The last time that you said you’d marry
me when you grew old.

Precious, simple moments and
bright flashes from your past-
Would I have held on longer if
I’d known they were your last?

Our last adventure to the park,
your final midday nap,
The last time when you wore your favorite
faded baseball cap.

Your last few hours of kindergarten,
those last few days of first grade,
Your last at bat in Little League,
last colored picture made.

I never said good-bye to all
your yesterdays long passed.
So what about tomorrow-
will I recognize your lasts?

The last time that you catch a frog
in that old backyard pond.
The last time that you run barefoot
across our fresh-cut lawn.

Silly, scattered images
will represent your past.
I keep on taking pictures,
never quite sure of your lasts…

The last time that I comb your hair
or stop a pillow fight.
The last time that I pray with you
and tuck you in at night.

The last time when we cuddle
with a book, just me and you
The last time you jump in our bed
and sleep between us two.

The last piano lesson,
last vacation to the lake.
Your last few weeks of middle school,
last soccer goal you make.

I look ahead and dream of days
that haven’t come to pass.
But as I do, I sometimes miss
today’s sweet, precious lasts…

The last time that I help you with
a math or spelling test.
The last time when I shout that yes,
your room is still a mess.

The last time that you need me for
a ride from here to there.
The last time that you spend the night
with your old tattered bear.

My life keeps moving faster,
stealing precious days that pass,
I want to hold on longer-
want to recognize your lasts…

The last time that you need my help
with details of a dance.
The last time that you ask me for
advice about romance.

The last time that you talk to me
about your hopes and dreams.
The last time that you wear a jersey
for your high school team.

I’ve watched you grow and barely noticed
seasons as they pass.
If I could freeze the hands of time,
I’d hold on to your lasts.

For come some bright fall morning,
you’ll be going far away.
College life will beckon
in a brilliant sort of way.

One last hug, one last good-bye,
one quick and hurried kiss.
One last time to understand
just how much you’ll be missed.

I’ll watch you leave and think how fast
our time together passed.
Let me hold on longer, God,
to every precious last.

Check me out on Examiner.com

2009-05-01T15:24:00.002-05:00

Okay, so I've been applying to every job under the sun since Kevin lost his job over a month ago. Well, I have a few part-time jobs now--one being a local parenting writer at Examiner.com. CEO Michael Sherrod describes examiners as local experts who have a voice, knowledge and an opinion... Think of an Examiner like a blogger on steroids. Examiners will have the tools, platform and exposure to not only report, but build a community of others who share their passion.

Ok, so I'm a blogger on steroids, so be it. Check me out here and please follow me weekly as I figure out this and the other adventures in my life.

Publish Post

Fresh air fund in need of host families for summer 2009

2009-05-01T12:01:00.004-05:00

Are you looking for something productive to do with your summer? How about pouring yourself into the life of a child for a few weeks this summer? The Fresh Air Fund has been serving the New York community since 1877 by giving inner-city children, ages six to 18, the chance to make memories and experience the joy of a summer vacation by bringing them into the home of a warm and loving host family. The children often are from low-income families that can not afford to send their children on a summer vacation. Find out how you can make a difference in the life of a child here.

Double Birthday Party

2009-04-25T14:19:00.007-05:00

This year we combined the boys' birthdays since they are about one month apart (well, technically close to 2 months, but whose counting!?) We had a super hero theme (surprise, surprise!) I couldn't believe how hot it was outside even though we had a morning party! We all had a lot of fun in spite of the heat.

Honey Bee Tour

2009-04-23T13:11:00.004-05:00

AK telling the boys a story about a possum

The beekeepers

Showing us what they do if they are swarmed by bees--using smoke will keep them away

Some of the crew hanging out on the hill

We were able to see bees at work in a hive. We had to go inside the garage away from the outdoors because bees kept coming and trying to get inside the hive.

We learned that boy bees do not have stingers, so they are safe to hold.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-13T14:35:00.009-05:00

We had a fun trip to Nana & Pappy's house for Easter. The boys got nerf guns and MG got a fun bee hop game that all 3 of them love to play! We had a nice dinner on the Chattahoochee River Sunday and the kids got to hunt eggs too. JC found the silver egg & won a huge basket full of toys and candy. MG's favorite part was sitting in the Easter Bunny's lap (aka the Easter "Nunny").

MG eating her first Peep--she said "Bye bye chicken in the mouth" after she ate it!

Gearing up for the egg hunt

JC with the winning basket and silver egg

MG and her "nunny"

JC's caterpillar that he found late Sunday afternoon...he is totally unafraid of creatures!

MG's Playdate

2009-04-13T13:01:00.002-05:00

Here are some sweet pictures of MG and her friend MR on their girlie playdate a few weeks ago! So sweet!

Our New Piano

2009-04-05T17:00:00.003-05:00

We got a piano this weekend. A family at our church was giving it away to anyone that could come pick it up. We found some movers that could do it for a reasonable price and the rest is history. Here are some cute pictures of the kids playing it.

Super Heroes

2009-04-04T20:08:00.006-05:00

We had a fun Super Hero birthday party this afternoon for our friend Anderson. The kids played in their backyard in the bouncer and had lots of sword fights. We also had pizza and birthday cake and ice cream and then the kids took turns swinging at a Superman pinata. KK actually burst it open with his Super Hero strength! :)

Heading to the party--Batman, Supergirl, and Robin

Super Daddy!

Super 2-year olds

KK claimed the massive hit that busted open the pinata!

The Big Day

2009-04-04T19:51:00.004-05:00

KK had a nice surprise on his birthday...Nana and Pappy came up to visit! They brought both boys their birthday presents (even though JC has another month for his b'day)...and they even brought a special surprise for MG--a supergirl costume! They enjoyed watching JC play soccer and especially enjoyed the antics of Coach Rob. :) We made cupcakes and both boys enjoyed their life-like lion cubs from Nana and Pappy. KK also got a surprise from his friend Sam--a white power ranger! And, one of his friends also stopped by with balloons for all 3 kids. It was a special day! I can't believe my baby is 6!

Bibleman and Bible Times Costumes

2009-04-04T19:14:00.003-05:00

This week was KK's 6th birthday and he got to open a present each day leading up to the big day. The first day, he opened a Bibleman costume. He saw it in the Lifeway catalog a few months ago and asked for it for his birthday. He carried the catalog around with him and kept reminding me of pages 10 and 11...those were the pages with all the Bibleman stuff. :) Daddy also did school a few days this week with KK and one day they dressed up in similar clothing from Bible times. Both boys looked really cute! Daddy did a good job!

Bibleman

We All Need "Grace-Healed Eyes"

2009-03-16T16:15:00.003-05:00

...I understand better the dangers Jesus discussed so incisively in the Sermon on the Mount: how quickly we accuse others of murder and neglect our own anger, or of adultery and neglect our own lust. Grace dies when it becomes us verses them.

As Helmut Thielicke wrote:

'Jesus gained the power to love harlots, bullies, and ruffians...he was able to do this only because he saw through the filth and crust of degeneration, because his eye caught the divine original which is hidden in every way--in every man!...First and foremost he gives us new eyes....

When Jesus loved a guilt-laden person and helped him, he saw in him an erring child of God. He saw in him a human being whom his Father loved and grieved over because he was going wrong. He saw him as God originally designed and meant him to be, and therefore he saw through the surface layer of grime and dirt to the real man underneath. Jesus did not identify the person with his sin, but rather saw in this sin something alien, something that really did not belong to him, something that merely chained and mastered him and from which he would free him and bring him back to his real self. Jesus was able to love men because he loved them right through the layer of mud.'

We may be abominations, but we are still God's pride and joy. All of us in the church need 'grace-healed eyes' to see the potential in others for the same grace that God has so lavishly bestowed on us. 'To love a person,' said Dostoevsky, 'means to see him as God intended him to be.'

(From What's So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey)

Day Out With KK

2009-03-15T15:21:00.007-05:00

Today was a "date" for me and KK. He had decided that he wanted to pick up a cheeseburger and take it to the park to play, but the rainy weather scrapped that plan for us. Instead, I thought maybe he'd like to go bowling...so I asked him what he thought and he could hardly contain himself through church this morning--he was SO excited! However, he had a change of heart after church when he remembered the ESPN bowling shows that we've watched on TV. He remembered the audience and sports commentators watching the professional bowlers and said "Mom, I've changed my mind...I think I'll be embarrassed at bowling." Once I reassured him that there was definitely NO audience at the bowling alley to watch us, he was good to go! I'm starting to wonder how he's going to do with the whole baseball scenario this summer--I think I'll skip telling him the part about the "audience" of parents that'll be watching him play baseball!

The Mads Goes to the Dentist

2009-03-15T15:16:00.004-05:00

The Mads had her first dentist appointment this week. Mrs. Barbara, the dental assistant, was fabulous! She let MG's bunny and piggy also put on bibs and get their teeth cleaned too. I had no idea that I would get to sit in the dental chair and hold MG. It made it so much easier for her (and Mommy :) This dentist takes a picture with the kids on their first visit. Mrs. Barbara kept telling MG to smile and she kept opening wide...so there were no smiles for this picture, but she sure does a good job opening wide!

Another Camp Out

2009-03-07T19:49:00.002-06:00

The boys still haven't had their fill of camping out in the backyard. I think they'd live out there if we'd let them! Their friends got to come camp out with them tonight...we roasted hot dogs and made smores. We had a blast...hopefully everyone will sleep good tonight!

The Boys

2009-03-05T19:57:00.002-06:00

The women are ruling the roost! All the men in our family are outside tonight. No, I did not kick them out of the house (although I'm tempted to do that from time to time!). Kevin bought a tent today and had to immediately set it up in our backyard to "test it out"--well, the rest is history. They have spent the entire afternoon and evening hours outside with Daddy playing in the tent, rebuilding the fire pit, and gathering sticks. I think I even saw them pounding on their chests a few times as JC announced repeatedly that Mommy can't sleep outside with the boys. The last time I checked on them, they were curled up in their sleeping bags and watching Super Friends on Kev's laptop. I think this is just the beginning of many male-bonding excursions for our household. When Mads gets a little older, she and I can paint toenails and watch girlie movies. Here are pictures of the last time I checked on the boys...hopefully all 3 of them will sleep good tonight!

Snow!

2009-03-01T11:53:00.006-06:00

Super Hero Party and a Hair Net

2009-02-28T17:45:00.004-06:00

We went to a Super Hero Party this afternoon and we took along Flash Gordon, Robin, and Super Grace...poor MG has no super hero costume of her own, so she wore a mask and we hooked a baby blanket to her shirt for a cape. As we were leaving the party, Robin was turned to stone by the music of the ice cream man tinkling throughout our neighborhood! He was literally frozen in place and could not move until he saw the truck! So, Daddy got out some cash & let the kids get a treat...a very rare treat since the ice creams are $2 a piece!

Little super heroes ready for a party!

Double the super power!

Wes and MG enjoying their cake!

Pretty super heroes

The boys enjoying Batman ice creams and MG having a bunny

JC modeling his hair net from our Publix tour yesterday...

Forgiveness

2009-02-25T21:40:00.002-06:00

I have often said, 'I forgive you,' but even as I said these words my heart remained angry or resentful. I still wanted to hear the story that tells me that I was right after all; I still wanted to hear apologies and excuses; I still wanted the satisfaction of receiving some praise in return--if only the praise for being so forgiving!

But God's forgiveness is unconditional; it comes from a heart that does not demand anything for itself, a heart that is completely empty of self-seeking. It is this divine forgiveness that I have to practice in my daily life. It calls me to keep stepping over all my arguments that say forgiveness is unwise, unhealthy, and impractical. It challenges me to step over all my needs for gratitude and compliments. Finally, it demands of me that I step over that wounded part of my heart that feels hurt and wronged and that wants to stay in control and put a few conditions between me and the one whom I am asked to forgive. -- from Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

...forgiveness is an act of faith. By forgiving another, I am trusting that God is a better justice-maker than I am. By forgiving, I release my own right to get even and leave all issues of fairness for God to work out. I leave in God's hands the scales that must balance justice and mercy....Though wrong does not disappear when I forgive, it loses its grip on me and is taken over by God, who knows what to do. Such a decision involves risk, of course: the risk that God may not deal with the person as I would want...I do so because the Gospels make clear the connection: God forgives my debts as I forgive my debtors. The reverse is also true: Only by living in the stream of God's grace will I find the strength to respond with grace toward others. --from What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey

Pharisee

2009-02-25T08:04:00.005-06:00

pharisee - a sanctimonious, self-righteous, or hypocritical person. (dictionary.com)

I have recently been convicted of how pharisaical I am in my own life. How quick I am to judge others that don't think the same way as I do. How I tell my children to be kind to one another and in the next breath, I'm impatiently yelling at them. How I angrily judge nonbelievers for their unwise choices...when it is only by the grace of God that I am changed. I don't think it is a coincidence that I am reading through Romans right now. This is what I read this morning:

No One is Righteous

What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. As it is written:

'There is no one righteous, not even one;
there is no one who understands,
no one who seeks God.
All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.
Their throats are open graves;
their tongues practice deceit.
The poison of vipers is on their lips.
Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.
Their feet are swift to shed blood;
ruin and misery mark their ways,
and the way of peace they do not know.
There is no fear of God before their eyes.'

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. (Rom 3:9-19)

Grace

2009-02-24T14:12:00.005-06:00

The gospel is not at all what we would come up with on our own. I, for one, would expect to honor the virtuous over the profligate. I would expect to have to clean up my act before even applying for an audience with a Holy God. But Jesus told of God ignoring a fancy religious teacher and turning instead to an ordinary sinner who pleads, 'God, have mercy.' Throughout the Bible, in fact, God shows a marked preference for 'real' people over 'good' people. In Jesus' own words, 'There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous person who do not need to repent.'

[Jesus' parables]... were not merely pleasant stories to hold listeners' attention or literary vessels to hold theological truth. They were, in fact, the template of Jesus' life on earth. He was the shepherd who left the safety of the fold for the dark and dangerous night outside. To his banquets he welcomed tax collectors and reprobates and whores. He came for the sick and not the well, for the unrighteous and not the righteous. And to those who betrayed him--especially the disciples, who forsook him at his time of greatest need--he responded like a lovesick father.

I know that my self-image at the end of the day depends largely on what kind of messages I have received from other people. Am I liked? Am I loved? I await the answers from my friends, my neighbors, my family--like a starving man, I await the answers.

Occasionally, all too occasionally, I sense the truth of grace. There are times when I study the parables and grasp that they are about me. I am the sheep the shepherd has left the flock to find, the prodigal for whom the father scans the horizon, the servant whose debt has been forgiven. I am the beloved one of God.

Excerpts from What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey

The Valentine's Day Massacre

2009-02-15T18:56:00.005-06:00

We had friends over this afternoon for a Valentine's Day Monkeyball Tournament--we jokingly called it the "Valentine's Day Massacre." The kids had a blast playing in the backyard while the adults rotated playing monkeyball. We ordered pizza and ate some yummy chocolate cake! Kevin also won the entire competition--whoo hoo! And I actually won a few games too!

The Three Amigos!

This is my favorite--little brother JC is loving being a "big boy" and hanging with the older boys

This sweet girl had a special request to have a picture made in the playhouse!

The traditional picture of the winner kissing the m'balls--Kevin finally had a turn to win!

Valentine's Party

2009-02-13T19:57:00.003-06:00

We had a fun Valentine's Party this morning with friends. The kids had lunch, played, made a cute place mat, and exchanged Valentine's Day cards. It was a lot of fun for the kids and the moms! We are so thankful for our friends!

Grace

2009-02-13T15:17:00.005-06:00

Right now I'm reading What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancy. I could not have picked this book up at a more perfect time in my life. I thought this was good and had to post it:

Many years ago I was driven to the conclusion that the two major causes of most emotional problems among evangelical Christians are these: the failure to understand, receive, and live out God's unconditional grace and forgiveness; and the failure to give out that unconditional love, forgiveness, and grace to other people...We read, we hear, we believe a good theology of grace. But that's not the way we live. The good news of the Gospel of grace has not penetrated the level of our emotions.

In the opening of his book, Yancy shares a story from one of his friends that works with the destitute in the Chicago area. This friend was confronted by a homeless and sick prostitute who had no money to buy food for her two-year old daughter. This woman was in a wretched state and through sobs and tears related how she had been renting out her daughter to men for sex. She was making more money that way than prostituting herself. When he asked her if she'd ever thought about going to the church for some help, she looked at him with naive and raw shock and said "Church! Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They'd just make me feel worse."

I thought the prostitute's response was very revealing. Often the church is misunderstood by outsiders who think they have to have their "act together" before coming to church. And certainly not all churches lack grace...I have experienced grace time after time within the church. It seems so easy for us to accept the grace and forgiveness of the Gospel in our own lives; yet, when it comes to extending it to others (like the prostitute), we recoil in disgust and judgment. Our own Bible recounts story after story of Jesus hanging out with prostitutes and the worst of sinners, but so often we lack the same humility and grace as Christ. It is easy for me to forget it is ONLY by the grace of God that my life circumstances were different from the prostitute. Had things been different, I could have made the same horrible decisions in my own life. Oh, how I need to remember that truth on a daily basis!

Sort of Camping Out

2009-02-09T18:42:00.008-06:00

We got a wild hair last night when we were burning leaves in the backyard--we wanted to cook hot dogs and marshmallows over a fire! So, today Kev ran out to the store and picked up all the stuff to cook out. It was too windy to burn leaves. The wind kept swishing burning leaves up into the air. We didn't think it would be a good idea to catch our neighborhood on fire, so we resolved to building a fire inside one of our cook pots. It actually worked great and it was a lot of fun. Now me and the boys are itching to get out and go camping! We just have to work on convincing Daddy! :)

MG getting leaves for the fire

Smores! YUM!

Holy Batman, We're Finished with Kindergarten!

2009-02-09T14:16:00.003-06:00

I can not believe we have been officially homeschooling for over a year! We finished our Kindergarten curriculum last week and have started 1st grade! Woo hoo! As a reward for a job well-done, we gave KK a new Batman costume. His old one is tattered and worn from him wearing it almost daily! He was very excited that his new costume also has "muscles!" JC was excited that he got the hand-me-down costume, so they can now be Batman together. :)

Goldilocks

2009-02-05T19:11:00.003-06:00

I took the boys to see the play Goldilocks today at our local children's theater and it was so cute! It was JC's first play and I think he had a lot of fun sitting on the front row with friends. The play was a different twist to Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I was pleasantly surprised that the theme of the play was applicable to our daily life--respecting other people's things and obeying. We had an incident in Wal-mart this week where both boys caused a mess in the store because they disobeyed and touched things without asking, so I think the play reinforced what we're all learning at our house this week! And there was repentence and forgiveness at the end of the play as well!

The play began with Goldilocks getting into her mother's jewelry box and playing with her father's guitar--both items she was told not to touch. She ultimately breaks one of her mother's favorite earrings and a string on her father's beloved guitar. Goldilocks then decides it would be best if she took a walk in the woods to avoid the consequences of her misbehavior. Alone in the woods, her curiosity continues to get the better of her when she takes a baby bird from his nest and also takes acorns from a squirrel's home. She is scolded by the animals and returns the baby bird to it's mother and also the acorns to the squirrel.

Goldilocks continues on her way to mischief by entering the Bear Family's home without knocking. I loved that the Bear family in this story has been chosen to be on a reality TV show! The producer's voice pipes in over the speakers every now and then to give the impression they were being taped 24/7. As the traditional story goes, Goldilocks eats the porridge and breaks baby bear's chair. However, her identity is caught on tape by the reality show and baby bear becomes a sleuth to track down Goldilocks and confront her with the error of her ways. When she is caught by the Bear family, she is truly remorseful and asks for forgiveness. The Bear family forgives her and encourages her to return home and confess her misdeeds to her parents as well. I loved that we were reminded of how to be good stewards of other people's things...not to take something without asking and not to touch without asking either! A good reminder for me as well--how often I don't respect or take care of what God has given me!

The boys slipping on stage for a quick photo!

A Masterpiece!

2009-02-05T18:59:00.003-06:00

KK and I got the paints out this week and worked together on copying a Monet painting (insert hysterical laughter here!) While we were busy with our masterpiece, MG was busy with some artwork of her own...body art!

The finished product...

Convicting!

2009-02-02T17:20:00.000-06:00

Love this Song!

2009-02-02T16:46:00.001-06:00

Party Time!

2009-02-02T09:06:00.005-06:00

Our sweet friends invited us to a Super Bowl Party this weekend. The kids had big fun playing games. The excitement started with Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes and then moved on to a Football Training Race where the kids had to run to run and touch different chalk lines and back. Then they had a Football Muscle Race where they stuffed their shirts with balloons to see who had the most "muscles." We enjoyed yummy chili, hot dogs, apples with homemade dip, chicken wings, spinach artichoke dip, and topped it all off with some "football" cupcakes! The Daddys stayed and watched the entire Super Bowl...I'm sure they were able to focus on the game more after the wives and kids left! Thanks again for inviting us sweet friends!!!

Enjoying popcorn

Gearing up for "Head, Shoulders, Knees & Toes"

In position for the "Toe the Line" Race

Muscle Race

Papparazzi

Enjoying "football field" cupcakes

Cheesecake and a Robot

2009-01-22T20:24:00.006-06:00

Sadly the state of our economy is forcing a lot of big-name companies out of business this year. Places such as Circuit City and Linens N' Things have already gone bankrupt. I was sad to recently read that some of my favorite places are struggling...like The Gap, Starbucks, and...[gulp!]...The Cheesecake Factory! A recent article on Forbes.com predicts that these retailers are just a few that will be closing stores or going out of business this year. Howard Davidowitz, chairman of the New York-based bank Davidowitz & Associates, gives his opinion that things will only get worse as our government continues to spend money when we are already deeply in debt...it seems like a no-brainer that you DON'T spend money when you're in over your head. But, that seems to be the way things are going as our government spends more, prints more money, and drives the value of the U.S. dollar down. The jobless rate is at a 26-year high, we've reached a historic decline in housing prices, and a record number of foreclosures. This is just in the United States. The recession is a global phenomenon.

Hearing all of this can quickly send me into despair! It reminds me of something that happened a few summer's ago. My husband woke up at 2am one morning with severe pain in his right arm. I woke up to find him sitting at the computer googling articles about heart attacks. I immediately told him to get dressed and drive himself to the ER! I had 2 sleeping children and was 8 months pregnant with our third, so I nervously waddled back to back to bed, praying every second that he would be okay. However, in the midst of the prayers, my brain kicked into high-gear and I deduced that he was probably having a heart-attack in his car and would most-likely die enroute to the hospital or immediately upon arriving. As I lay in our bed at 2am, my brain had already jumped to the conclusion that I was either going to be a widower...or the caregiver of 3 small children and a disabled husband.

Fortunately, his pain was due to a pulled muscle, but it is interesting how quickly our minds can travel down a road that hasn't even happened and may never happen! I can quickly go the same route with our country's financial problems...thinking about what would happen if Kevin lost his job...foreclosing on our home....living in our parents' backyard in a trailer. Or what if we're hit with a famine as some very godly Christian leaders have predicted!? And yet, in the midst of my spiral into despair Jesus whispers to my soul... In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)....and do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear....Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life (Mat 6:25,27). Sweet Jesus reminds me that He is in control of whatever happens...it has already been planned. The thought of financial devastation and ruin sends me into a true longing for Heaven...what a wonderful promise that this life is not all that there is!

Our nation has undoubtedly been prosperous and I, for one, have taken it for granted. It's hard not to when we're bombarded with clever marketing and we look out our window to see our neighbor driving by with the newest sports car. Not only that, but how often do we come across someone begging for food in our middle-income neighborhoods? Sure, I can drive downtown and see poverty or homeless people, but poverty is personally not a daily reality to me. Not because I'm heartless or because I choose to turn a blind eye, but because I'm not seeing it around me daily, so I'm instead consumed by the task at hand and caring for my children. By God's grace, my daily life is not consumed with where our next meal will come from at this point in time. But, things could quickly change for any of us.

I am reminded of the recent movie Wall-E. The movie was really boring, but it was pretty revealing. The movie is about the destruction of the earth. Humans fail to keep the earth clean and waste builds up over the years, leaving the planet uninhabitable...the pollution keeps the sun from reaching the surface, so no vegetation can grow. The humans build an elaborate spaceship and go to live in outer space until Wall-E and the other robots can make the Earth habitable again.

After 700 years in outerspace, the humans grow very reliant on the machinery around them and suffer severe bone loss from living in microgravity and consuming liquid food. The humans become extremely obese and unable to walk. Even the spaceship is controlled by computerized autopilots instead of the human captains. The extremely fat humans ride around all day on motorized vehicles and have constant entertainment in front of them...televisions are affixed to their vehicles and they spend their entire waking minutes video-chatting with friends, playing computer games, or watching their favorite movies. Constant entertainment. A liquid milkshake is plopped in front of them several times throughout the day...the people never have to lift a finger. The sad thing is that they miss the beauty around them. None of the spaceship occupants ever realize that they are surrounded by gorgeous swimming pools and a resort-type atmosphere. And yet I'm reminded how often I'm sitting in front of my computer instead of admiring the beauty around me--my family.

These humans have constant entertainment at their fingertips...they are basically fat, dumb, and happy. This movie was eerie to me because it is not far off from what our American society has actually become...lazy, fat, over-stimulated. We are always looking to our next "fix"...our next "high" through media outlets, food, drink, relationships, entertainment. But nothing in this material world numbs our pain forever or satisfies our deepest longings.

When I feel sad or depressed, I often find myself going to the computer to numb my pain--where I can plug into a world to connect with my best-friend from 7th grade or my neighbor down the street. I can temporarily forget the cares of this world. Or I can go online and shop...a mindless sort of shopping where money seems to be "free"...it's all digital and no cold-hard cash is changing hands to make me feel like I'm really spending money. I think we all have addictions ...places or people or things that we run to when this world seems to be "too much." And all our Heavenly Father desires is for us to run to Him...to fall into His lap--not just because this world is too much, but because we love Him and want to know Him. He is the only one that can satisfy.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 1 Tim 6:10

Surely every man walks about as a phantom; Surely they make an uproar for nothing;
He amasses riches and does not know who will gather them. Psalm 39:6

Whoever loves money never has money enough;
whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.
This too is meaningless. Ecc 5:10

President Obama

2009-01-22T12:44:00.002-06:00

My pastor's blog recently linked a wonderful article, in which he calls both "Biblical and gospel-driven." The article, written by a pastor at a Mississippi church, suggests ways to pray for our new President. Please take the time to read this and pray for our new President.

http://fpcj.blogspot.com/2009/01/pastors-perspective_20.html

Just Fun Pics!

2009-01-14T18:45:00.004-06:00

These are some cute pics we took of the kids when we were at my parent's house for Christmas. It's taken me this long to sit down and upload them!

I'm Waaayyy Behind on Posting These Christmas Pics!

2009-01-14T18:23:00.005-06:00

Captain America!

Thrilled to get a Flash costume!

Watching Pappy put the piano together

Playing her new piano

MG loving her Pappy

Christmas at Uncle Mark's house

MG loving her Papa

Christmas at Aunt Kim's

Our Little Ballerina

2009-01-06T13:41:00.002-06:00

This morning as I was trying to wrangle MG's little 2-year old body into her leotard, tights, and ballet shoes, I wondered if we'd made a mistake by signing her up for a ballet class. She pitched a huge fit because she didn't want to put on her cute little ballet clothes! She wanted her normal every day wardrobe--pants and a shirt. Everything was a big meltdown and she kept trying to tear off her leotard. I think she spent 45 minutes crying before we left...she moved on from her fit about her leotard to other more important things--like dribbling her orange juice all over the floor and screaming.

Things didn't just look bleak inside our home, but it was pouring down buckets of rain outside. Getting three kids in and out of the car in the rain and maneuvering through traffic is a big ordeal for me. By the grace of God, we survived the meltdowns and the road trip to the dance studio. We arrived early to finish our paperwork and MG got to watch another class...she kept asking to go in, so I knew that was a good sign. When it was time for her class, her teacher Ms. Laura gave each girl a star wand and MG never looked back...she dashed into the room laughing and running around with her wand. She was too cute! Here is a picture of her class--we sit behind a mirrored wall (so the girls can't see us), so the pictures didn't turn out really good, but you can tell she's having fun!

Random

2009-01-05T17:13:00.005-06:00

These are some sweet pictures of the kids that were taken in my parent's yard when we were visiting for Christmas.

Christmas Day

2008-12-25T08:39:00.007-06:00

Merry Christmas!

The boys checking out the power rangers in their stockings...waiting patiently for MG to wake up

JC playing his new drum

KK checking out his new guitar

Mads finally gets some bubbles that she can blow herself

MG giving her new baby a kiss

The boys checking out their Batcave

Daddy gets "working man gloves" from JC

The boys both spent their own money to buy something for MG...they both picked out matching dolls

MG trying on new dress-up shoes

Using her oven mits to wash dishes :)

My favorite gifts--from my boys

Our favorite gifts:

We discussed our favorite presents over breakfast...KK's favorite is his DC Super Hero movie that features his favorite super hero, Flash Gordon. JC's favorite is his new White Rhino Power Ranger. Daddy loves his new working gloves and reading light from his boys. My favorite are my coffee mugs from my boys and also a candle that KK gave me...they knew I needed a new candle & coffee mugs. :) I also love the coat rack Kevin gave me and some new shoes. I think Kevin's second favorite gift would be his Monkeyball shirt. He also got a guitar lesson book to hopefully learn how to play his acoustic.

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T15:19:00.004-06:00

Mads adores bunnies and has a few she sleeps with...she was excited to get one more. :)

JC was so excited to see what his brother bought him (with his own money)...a police costume!

KK is excited with what JC bought him--a red ninja action figure!

They ditched Batman & Robin to become rescue men

Cookie Party!

2008-12-23T17:27:00.005-06:00

Today we went to a cookie party at a friend's house. The kids enjoyed painting on their decorations. KK wasn't quite sure at first and whispered in my ear "Mommy, we can't eat paint." Fortunately, the "paint" was just food coloring, powdered sugar, and milk. :) It was a lot of fun for the kids and the Moms had fun visiting and snacking on some yummy food!

A Surprise Christmas Visitor!

2008-12-15T13:18:00.007-06:00

I laid down for a catnap this afternoon and awoke to a big mess in our schoolroom! I knew my creative KK must be in the middle of an important project....here is the evidence...

And he had a very cute sign on his door that gave me a hint of his hard work...I love how he sounded out the words and came up with this on his own!

And our cute little visitor stopped his busy work long enough to wave and say "Ho Ho Ho!" I like how he cut out a beard, mustache, and "fur" for his sleeves...I'm sure I'm probably out of Scotch tape after this endeavor!

Nativity

2008-12-13T14:36:00.004-06:00

We enjoyed walking through a live nativity earlier this week. It was one of the coldest nights of the year and super windy, but we enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies afterwards.

Christmas Parade

2008-12-06T12:09:00.010-06:00

We bundled up this morning in our warmest winter coats, hats, and mittens and met some friends at a local Christmas parade. We found a great parking spot and opened our trunk so the kids had a front row seat. KK's favorite thing was watching the marching bands...KK loves the trumpet and JC is fascinated with drums (maybe he'll take after his Uncle Jason!) JC said his most favorite part of the parade was watching a horse expose his waste on the street right in front of us....then a fire truck ran over it! So, I think the "disgust factor" made it a winner for JC! Gross! After the kids ate their body weight in parade candy and moon pies, we walked to a local coffee shop for hot chocolate. We had a lot of fun and I think this parade is a definite must for on our to-do list for next year too!

It was a challenge keeping 4 boys from running into the street! They were having
a boxing match with their gloves!

The kids looked so cute all bundled up! JC doesn't like pictures so he is MIA.

We couldn't figure this guy out--maybe Elvis Claus!???

No parade is complete w/o the Good Neigh Bear (I used to work at State Farm!)

The kids enjoyed seeing the Hummer and the marching Army Reserve

MG eating her moon pie!

A big highlight for the boys--sitting on a police motorcycle!

Duel of the Lion and Wolf

2008-12-06T12:00:00.003-06:00

The boys took a break from their usual super hero costumes and dressed up as a wolf and lion. Growling ensued and they engaged in a serious battle! It was quite humorous!

School Stuff

2008-12-04T11:40:00.005-06:00

We enjoyed studying Jewels and the kids enjoyed eating rock candy and learning about all the different jewels and how they form. We're studying Butterfly now and learning all about the life cycle of a butterfly. The kids painted butterflies this morning.

Rock candy was a hit!

KK's monarch butterfly that he drew

Mads thinks she's such a big girl...she makes a big mess!

JC's favorite color is blue so he chose to make a blue and white butterfly

KK chooses to make a red and black butterfly since those are his favorite colors.

JC decides to make grass like his brother

KK's finished product

JC working on the sky

Loving this Book!

2008-12-01T11:54:00.005-06:00

I've started re-reading one of my favorite books, Parenting by the Book, by John Rosemond. The book begins with him explaining how our culture has fallen away from the biblical child-rearing of our Grandma's day and slipped into a more humanistic approach. This new approach, he says, shifts from the biblical truth of the total depravity of all humans into the false belief that children are fundamentally "good." This new Postmodern Psychology leads parents to place the child's self-esteem as the most desirable character quality, thereby leaving out personal responsibility for a child's actions.

He says that parents today are more stressed with 2 kids than our grandparents were with 10. I can't help but wonder why this is? I know that having more kids eventually works out to having built-in babysitters with the older kids keeping the youngers, but the beginning stages of having a bunch of little ones would have been extremely difficult. I mean, they probably didn't use any form of birth control, so children would likely be closely spaced...having 7 kids under age 10 would probably be very normal for those days. Not to mention the lack of modern conveniences back then--my great-grandmother used to spend an entire day scrubbing clothes in her wash tub, putting them through the ringer, and then hanging each item on the clothes line to dry. She also grew her own vegetables and cooked all meals from scratch. So, does that seem easier than today? Why would we be more stressed with all our modern conveniences and less children around our feet?

One of the reasons Rosemond gives is that all the psycho-babble makes us confused as parents. We worry that we're warping our children if we tell them "no" or set consequences....or what will happen to our little ones when we, as depraved beings, scream and shout at them!? We wonder what we've done wrong when our children continue to disobey and act like little criminals! I just love Rosemond's common sense and wisdom as he addresses these issues:

"Grandma also knew that she could not be a good enough parent to guarantee that her children would never do anything despicable, disgusting, or depraved--that the power of their choosing was more powerful than the power of her parenting. She knew that to be the case because the Bible told her so."

He notes that the only perfect parent there is or ever will be is God, our Father, yet his first two children, Adam and Eve, failed miserably:

"What, pray tell, did God do wrong that caused his first kids such pronounced obedience issues?...Grandma...knew there was no psychology behind the Fall. It happened because human beings possess what animals do not: freedom of choice, including the freedom to choose wrongly. If a perfect God could not raise children who were perfectly obedient, what chance do you have?...No matter how good a parent you are, your child is still capable on any given day of doing something despicable, disgusting, or depraved.

Did you catch that? No matter how "good" we are as parents, our children will still stray...they will still choose to be little rebels at certain times! I don't know about you, but that is so freeing to me as a parent. Yes, it's also scary because I can't control how my children will behave or who they will become at 30-years old. But, it does free me to realize they need the Lord just as much as I do. Not only that, but He will use the moments of my failure to point us all to Christ. What a picture of God's grace to fail as a parent and then humbly ask our children for forgiveness. Yes, I need to be obedient to the Lord and consistently set limits and discipline my children. But, I also need to trust that the Holy Spirit is at work...in spite of how I "feel" on a certain day or how badly my children behave. He is still alive in us as Moms and we need to rest and trust that He will carry out the good work that He's started in us (Phil 1:6). I will end with one of my favorite verses from 2 Peter 1:3 that says "His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness." I have to say AMEN to that!