Bloggling Brooks

Hmm, I Don't Get It

2009-08-12T13:56:00.002-05:00

I find it strange where in a world of Jon and Kate Plus Eight and Duggars people think we are strange for choosing to have 4 kids. For all you 4th, 5th, and 6th plus kids out there I sure am glad your parents decided to have you. For all you offspring of 4th, 5th, and 6th plus children aren't you glad their parents decided to go ahead and have them.

If Mama Can't See It Then Mama Can't Take It

2009-08-11T14:50:00.005-05:00

My boys have outsmarted me. Like all siblings, I would assume, my children seem to LOVE to fight with each other. They have come up with some crazy off the wall things to fight over, who gets what chair at dinner time. The older two bicker about who gets to drink out of the coveted red cup... I am not at all sure what magic that one cup holds but they seem to know something that has escaped me. They fight over toys of course and my solution to that has been, if you are fighting over it I don't care who started it I take it away. It helps cut down on the arguing in the matter at least somewhat.

Like I said my 2 and 3 year old sons have come up with a way to get around this little rule of mine. Their solution? They have taken to squabbling over an imaginary treasure chest. Yes, you heard right, imaginary treasure chest. I am talking yelling and tears being shed over the dumb thing. From both of them. Today Isaiah took said chest out of his little brother's hands and swallowed it. This caused tears and tattling on Elijah's part. It took me a full minute to realize that Isaiah indeed did not need to be rushed to the emergency room for ingesting a foreign object because it doesn't exist. I wonder if one can gather up all the make-believe treasure chests that exist in this world and throw them in the trash... would two little boys resign themselves to the fact that there are no trunks left and thus end the fighting?

It's the Unexplainable, the Unfathomable... It's Bedtime

2009-04-29T19:07:00.003-05:00

I don’t know if you have weeks like this but this has been THE week for our kids not wanting to sleep. Actually I think this goes all the way back to a couple of weeks ago when we were at my parents house and they were coming up with every excuse they could think of to delay bedtime. In fact, I don’t think our generation blames near enough of their problems on their parents ;0) so I’m just going to go ahead and say this is all Nana and Papa’s fault since it started at their house.

I have made some amazing discoveries about bedtime just in this last week however. I thought I would share a few of them with you. Children really are marvelous little people and I am always surprised with the way their minds and bodies can work.

For instants, it is fascinating to me how a four year old can develop, right at bedtime, a sudden unquenchable thirst. Water is suddenly like sugar to her and she cannot get enough.

In the same category as this drinking phenomenon is the way a three year old can take 10 minutes to drink two ounces of water. There is swallowing involved the entire time so you know they are not just playing or stalling hoping for just a few more minutes out of the confinements of their bed. They are actually taking five full minutes per ounce of water.

All of my potty-trained children have this strange medical condition in which they develop sudden bladder infections sending them to the bathroom every 20 minutes, just at nighttime. In the morning… they are cured! Again, this is just the potty-trained kids. Fascinating!

My middle son has a handy little talent in which he can squeeze out the tiniest little bit of poop any time the situation requires it. The threat that he will be in trouble if he does not really go poop after he, of course, suddenly just has to go 10 minutes after the lights are out has cultivated this talent in him. We are thinking of taking it on the road.

I don’t know, maybe it’s their bedroom. It really does seem to be a magical place. One where pacifiers disappear into an abyss, a land where toys suddenly sprout wings and fly up to the top bunk. This is a room full of invisible laughing children, and they are not my own children, just ask them, none of them were laughing or talking.

I’ve also come to realize that bedtime is not just a time that brings out the spectacular in children, but in grown men as well. I will forever be in awe of how a tired overworked father can, out of the blue, obtain the energy of two-two year olds during the bedtime routine and suddenly think that this would be the perfect time for a wrestling match followed by a quick gymboree class.

Bedtime really is a extraordinary experience!

The One In Wich My Daughter Tells It Like It Is

2009-04-26T16:55:00.000-05:00

Jarrod wants me to sing a song with him at church in a few weeks. It is a beautiful song and I LOVE singing with Jarrod. I am a bit apprehensive though. My last attempt at public singing was a wreck. With me freaking out a few notes into it and for the rest of the song singing Jarrod's harmony part along with him. It was at my sister-in-laws wedding of all places… sorry Laurel.

After quickly realizing that my vow to never look another sole in the face ever again was going to be somewhat of a challenge, I resolved to never sing in public again. That would have to do.

But then Jarrod asked so sweetly and there were the beautiful brown puppy dog eyes, and oh, what’s a girl to do. Besides it really is such a fabulous song. I told him as long as we could practice a lot, and I mean a whole, whole, singing it in your sleep, lot, I would maybe think about considering singing with him at church.

So family trips in the car now consist of one song being played over and over again as Jarrod helps me struggle through my part. Today was no exception. But you know kids; we had not yet pulled out of the garage before the requests began. My precious daughter, who will now and forever be known for her blunt honesty asked, “Daddy, can we listen to that song that mommy can’t sing?”

Jarrod, bless his heart, tried to suppress his smile and said, “I’m not sure if this is the one she is talking about but we’ll see.”

He scanned through the tracks, our song began, and Elyse smiled contentedly. “Yes, that one!” Thanks Elyse

Darn my husband with his beautiful brown manipulative eyes, and his overpowering flattery, would you believe I am still considering singing in public with him in a few weeks?

I am also considering making a slide show of the pictures of Elyse sitting on the potty at two years old looking through a magazine and showing it at her senior prom.

What To Expect When You Are Expecting Your Fourth... Because This Stuff Just Aint In The Book

2009-04-24T16:38:00.006-05:00

May not be suitable for men or children... some content may be considered gross or offensive. I am a little bit sorry. But mostly I don't care. I am pregnant and tired and so quite frankly my new motto is... I Just Don't Care!

When pregnant with her fourth you can expect the once modest young lady to, in the middle of a crowded restaurant, reach down and unbutton her "fat jeans" (even though she is only at 6 weeks gestation). You can also expect for the gentleman who is sitting a few tables over... who obviously has never spent time in the presence of a pregnant woman before... to have the nerve to look at now relieved and comfortable pregnant lady in bewilderment. The pregnant woman, however, can expect to wipe that shocked look off of the poor man's face with a look of her own. Perhaps one that says, "I'm fat, I am actually keeping this meal down for once and am therefore now bloated... do you want a piece of me?"

I at least had some luck with that approach.

It has been a while since I read the book, but to my best recollection I do not remember the part where it tells you to expect a new part of your body to completely rebel and shut down every single day. So far I have had problems with my upper back, my left big toe, migraines, something about scar tissue (if you've had multiple c-sections) getting mangled up in the dermis (the layer of connective tissue below the epidermis) Yep, didn't make sense to me either, but it causes abdominal pain like you wouldn't believe. And last night I actually thought my right boob was going to explode. No I didn't just expect it to I think I even remember at one point begging God to make it happen in hopes it would give some relief.

Here is the best and perhaps strangest thing you can look forward to when you are expecting your fourth child. In the midst of a playful wrestling match turned violent between your sons, and what I swear can only be Pre-premenstrual syndrome from your 4-year-old daughter. With yelling, tears and emotional breakdowns happening throughout the entire home... you can expect to look around and think, "Man I can't wait to have another."

Bath Time Fun

2009-04-06T19:13:00.004-05:00

Bath time took an interesting turn tonight... I had my nearly two year old playing contentedly in the tub while I assisted my older two in brushing their teeth at the sink. With one eye constantly on him and one eye on the progress of the older children I noticed Elijah stacking his toys along the back ledge of the bathtub. You know how they are at that age, always putting their toys in buckets, stacking them. Assured that he was okay I turned my thoughts back to the sink ant the task at hand. All the while keeping tabs on the bathtub. Once all the teeth were sparkling white I went to retrieve my clean prune of a son from the bath water and was horrified to discover that it was not his toys but... what better way to put this... his "waste" that he was neatly lining up side by side along the edge of the tub. Haven't had trouble with poo-poo in the the bath water since my oldest was just under a year old and I mistook what she had gotten expelled into the tub for the spaghetti meat sauce I was washing off of her. Kids always seem to keep you hopping (and fishing in the bathwater).

Tiny Talk Tuesday: Monsters and a New Baby

2009-03-30T21:31:00.005-05:00

Elyse (4) leaned over part way through the movie Monsters Vs. Aliens and said glumly, "I wish I had super powers so I could save the day."

Isaiah (3) a few days after he heard the news that we were having another baby, the excitement was still high and the kids had about a million questions but this one caught us off guard as it was stated with such heart felt wondering "Are we going to keep Elijah?" (Elijah is of course his little brother)

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Photo Story Friday Make Way For Baby

2009-03-27T23:20:00.006-05:00

And while you're at it make way for mommy, she's gonna need a little more room to squeeze by. This is what comes from deciding that your family does not feel complete and trying for one more. I am happy to say that after only 3 1/2 months of trying we are expecting baby number 4. I am dismayed to announce that baby number 4 is code for you are going to look like humpty-dumpty in 8 short weeks.

In an attempt to keep my very excited 4 year old daughter up to date on the baby's growth I started out telling her the size of the baby each week. You know, "this week the baby is the size of a poppy seed, now it's the length of a nail head..." all this has resulted in the weekly question on Elyse's part..."What is the baby today?" My poor child thinks her sibling is metamorphosing into all kinds new things in it's quest to finally become, and Elyse has her mind firmly made up on this, a baby sister.

Yesterday I told her it was the size of a bean, prompting this reaction from her. "Why is our baby a bean? I like beans, can we have beans for dinner tonight?"

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Monday Madness from Mouths of Babes: My Thoughts Exactly

2009-02-08T21:50:00.003-06:00

A few years ago we had moved halfway across Texas to work in a group home as house parents to Jr. High and High School kids. We had only been there 4 months when we found out we would need to be finding a new job. The rules of the particular place we were at were that you could not work there and have more than two biological kids. So when we found out we were pregnant with our sweet Elijah we were told "Congratulations! You'll be missed." The arrangement that we made with our employer was that if we found work elsewhere we would be allowed to leave even if she had not found a replacement for us. In turn if she found somebody else we would need to leave regardless of our situation.

We spent months looking nonstop for another job with no luck. (Well nothing that would pay the bills) We were stressed, overwhelmed and occasionally wondering where God was in all of this.

One evening, here I am six months pregnant, knowing that at any moment not only would we be out of a job but, be homeless as we lived in the home we were working in... it had been a particularly emotional and stressful day. Elyse, who was 2 at the time was very fond of the song God is so Good, thanks to Veggie Tales. She walked around the house singing the words, "God is so good, God is so good, God is so good, he's so good to me" all the time. This particular day as she was seated at the dinner table waiting for the food to be served. She started in on her beloved tune but this time was a little different than all the others. Out of her mouth came the words that I had been silently and un-admittedly singing in my own head for weeks, even months.

"God is Okay..." was sung with such heart and feeling. My husband and I shared an amused look, which I dare say showed just the slightest a hint of agreement in it.

Well said, my funny little girl. I suppose if it’s in my heart I might as well tell it like it is. Leave it to the children to do so.

Still moving over to blogglingbrooks.wordpress.com

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Who Done It, Ain't Gonna Cut It.

2009-02-04T18:24:00.006-06:00

My oldest son cracked me up at Thanksgiving this year. The cousins were all together at my parent’s house. There are ten of them seven years and under so any chance to get the bunch outdoors is okay with us. It had been a full day as most thanksgivings go, lots of fun, lots of laughter, and very few fights, that alone being a holiday miracle.
Several of the oldest cousins had been contentedly playing outside for a while when it started to sprinkle. I was preoccupied with Elijah inside and had not noticed the rain coming in to ruin all the fun. My brother had called the kids in to wait out the weather.

A few minutes later I saw Isaiah and his cousin Seth heading back out the door. I called Isaiah back in and told him he could not go back out yet because it was raining. Immediately Isaiah piped up with the first line of defense.

"No it's not." And then quickly realizing that with one glance out the window, that could obviously be shot down, he took another approach. "Seth did it!"

I have to be honest; I looked for a lesson here in this anecdote. It was a cute story and surely there was something to glean. Shifting blame, perhaps, not taking responsibility? I dove into the bible to see what the word had to say about responsibility, I didn't have much to learn here. Sure it's a good lesson but I don't struggle too much with trying to blame others, in fact I tend to blame myself for most things that go wrong. My husband and I have a continuing conversation, whether the kids are acting up, he's having a bad day, his order came out wrong at a restaurant. I say, "I'm sorry." Jarrod says, "what for?" "I don't know, I just thought maybe I needed to be sorry." He teases me and informs that I don't need to be sorry for everything.

Now, I am way off subject here... sorry!

As I was reading through the normal lessons that spring to mind in the area of shifting blame, still looking for a springing board I got the ever so gentle tap on the shoulder from a very wise man. (God in case you didn't get that) He reminded me of a lesson I need a lot in my life right now and once again, one of my kids helped bring it to my attention. Sure it was funny that Isaiah was trying to blame his innocent four-year-old cousin for bringing on the rain that was showering down on their parade. What's not quite as humorous is what was behind his motives. Isaiah had decided he wanted to play outside and he was looking for any excuse he could find for why Isaiah should get to do what Isaiah wanted to do. Trying to convince me it wasn't even raining, accusing his cousin in hopes that he could still go out and have some fun, and phooey on Seth.

Why do I fail to see the humor in this? My children are such glaring image of me sometimes. I do not like the reflection much these days. I want what I want and try my best to come up with all the reasons why I think it should be given to me. With not much concern for anything else going on around me. Who cares if somebody else ends up in time out as long as I get my time outdoors? Sure I’ll continue to think Isaiah’s declaration of “Seth did it!” as funny. It was very cute at the time! But I’ll continue to look at my often child like behavior and see if I can’t make it just a little closer to that of a budding woman of God.

I'm Moving!! I can now be found at blogglingbrooks.wordpress.com I have moved all my old posts over and will begin posting there in the future. So if you would like to, follow me!

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I Will Feel No Eagle

2008-12-30T11:20:00.009-06:00

When I am in a good routine... which I have not been lately, I do "school with my two older kids on weekday mornings, just for a few minutes.

Here is my favorite thing they learned during our school time this year...

Elyse (age 4)

Isaiah (Age 3)

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God gives again

2008-12-21T17:37:00.004-06:00

More of God's Christmas blessings to our family include a Wal-Mart gift card for $25 left anonymously on my husbands desk at church on Wednesday and a $50 Wal-Mart gift card from a couple in our church given to us this afternoon.

Since we have been blessed with a little bit extra lately we decided to go out to eat after church today which we hardly ever do. Several members of our church were at the restaurant when we showed up and they were all gone by the time we were done eating. (We are always the last to leave the church). When Jarrod went to pay for our meal the cashier told us it had already been taken care of. Man God is good!!!!

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Tiny Talk Tuesday: It Gets Strange Around Here

2008-12-16T13:39:00.004-06:00

I overheard a conversation Elyse was having with God one day. I missed part of it. Here is what I did catch.

"Dear God... (and then she faded out for a minute, and then...) Do you hear me God? No buts God, no buts."

I can't imagine what he must have been saying but from the side of the conversation I did hear it sounds like God might need to spend some time in Time Out!

Isaiah asked to watched a movie the other day. It took his daddy a minute to figure out which one he was requesting when he asked very clearly for - The Lizard of Pause. After my husband caught on, together they enjoyed, The Wizard of Has (veggie tales).

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The LORD is righteous in all his ways and loving towards all he has made.

2008-12-10T13:59:00.006-06:00

We moved 21 months ago to a tiny little town in Texas where my husband took a job as a part time youth pastor. He felt like that was what God was calling him to, but the part time job comes with part time pay (the church is VERY good to us though) So he also works construction full time but in this part of Texas wages are pretty low. My husband is a very generous person. I am not... God has taught me so much in the past 21 months. The county we live in is among the 25 poorest in the country. WOW! But man do these people know how to give. And it has been a lesson to me in giving out of your need. I am far from where I want to be in this area but I know God is just getting started with me.

I have already shared about our youth group coming together to bless us but the truth is God meets needs and often times our wants so often I have sadly lost track of all the times it has occurred. I thought I would post from time to time when he does provide for us, for my own record. And because I think you will not be able to help but be blessed when you see the hand God has in our life. It has been awesome, and at times even humorous just how God has chosen to bring about his good gifts.

Today at story time I was looking at all the adorable kids up on the steps in the library singing their songs and dancing to the beat. Like any good woman I was much more distracted by cute outfits then I was the movements of all the preschool dancers. I noticed that my 4 year old, who is about to quickly pass up her 4'10" mother, was also about to outgrow her adorable corduroy overalls. And she just started wearing them. And the fact is she is growing so quickly that 3 months into her 4th year she is outgrowing all of her 4T outfits. Isaiah, on the other hand, at 3 years old is starting to have to share clothes with his 19-month-old brother who is growing into all the 2T things that Isaiah has not quite outgrown. He's way to skinny for most of his 3T pants but 2T are just too short.

"That's it", I thought. “We need a shopping spree!” And with the presents we have hidden away in the laundry room there is little extra in the budget this month for extras. "God", I said, right there in the middle of the library. "We need a Wal-Mart gift card, that's all there is too it." And with that settled I got caught up once again in watching my baby try to keep up with the motions to the songs as my bigger kids smiled and giggled their way to the end. When I loaded up the children in the car to head to McDonald's to play with our friends as we do every Wednesday. My friend Jess pointed out an envelope left on my car window. Then she had to get the envelope for me as it was smack dab in the middle of my windshield and I did not feel like mounting the hood of the car to reach it. I thanked Jess, made a short joke about myself before she had a chance and got in the drivers seat. Inside the envelope was my requested Wal-Mart gift card (for $100) and an Unsolicited McDonald's gift card. Now story time and McDonald's is in a neighboring town 20 miles from where we live so I really only know my little group of friends there that we spend every Wednesday with. Not to mention they would be the ones who would know how invaluable a McDonald's card would be. I know it's from them. And it blesses me to no end that they thought of me this Christmas. But I am beyond blessed that before I had even formed a request to my heavenly father for something so specific he had already set things in motion to give me a good gift. (Matthew 7:11 - If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!) Merry Christmas to my family from the one whom, after already having given the gift of his son to us, still finds great pleasure in giving us more than we can think or ask. (Ephesians 3:20) Now if I could just get that mansion I have been praying for...

Have you ever

2008-12-07T20:18:00.002-06:00

I got this from Jenn's blog... I thought it looked like fun! Would love to hear what you have done! Mine are in bold

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - WORLD (Nope, but going to Disney Land next months.... WOOOO HOOOO!)
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris (But only if Paris, Texas counts)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked (not really but I did get picked up on the side of the road and driven to a gas station after running out of gas)
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language (my best friend and I made up our own language when we were younger and my dad and I made up our own sign language until we realized we could use the time we were investing in making up the signs to learn the actual signs)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung Karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Seen the Lincoln Memorial in person
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92.Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Totally copied a post from someone else’s blog.
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Back to the Basics of My Life

2008-11-01T14:39:00.001-05:00

Hey everyone! I am trying to get back to some basics in my life... taking care of my husband, my children, and my house. I love to blog, to have a record of what goes on around here and to update friends and family. I also love to read other people's blogs... Unfortunately when I do this I get sucked into the bloggy world and everything else around me goes unnoticed for WAY too long. So if I don't come by and see you for a while or can't comment on your blog right away please don't be offended. I am just feeling a need to keep things simple and prioritized around here and the whiny voices of my children and mound of dirt on my living room floor are reminding me just what those priorities really need to be right now. Please keep reading and commenting if you like though and I'll catch up with you when I can! Thanks!

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Tiny Talk Tuesday: Here is what Bella had to say!

2008-10-28T09:00:00.004-05:00

These are some of the funny things my 4 year old Bella said this week.

1. While sitting alone in the bathroom on the potty, "Dear God, please help God to take the poo-poo out of me. (This was not the first time she had prayed this). And help me to hold it all the time."

When I asked her why she prayed the second part she replied, "so I don't go in my car seat." Which she had done on a long road trip recently.

2. After I put a blanket over her one cold morning she said, "Ahh, I could get use to this!"

3. Asking her usual question first thing in the morning

Bella: "Where are we going today?" (she loves to be out and about)

Me: "Nowhere."

Bella: "Where are we going when you change your mind?"

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To a Man Who Deserves More Credit Than I Can Give

2008-10-23T16:04:00.001-05:00

This month is Pastor’s Appreciation month. If you haven’t yet, be sure to do something to let your pastor know what you think of him. (Unless of course you harbor negative feelings and then, please, keep it to yourself. They get enough negativity.) Anyway, my husband and I were talking the other night. I was commenting for the hundredth time about how I hadn’t ever been your “typical” pastor’s daughter. I never went through any major rebellion, didn’t ever want to reject the church. Though there was plenty of hurt I had to witness through the years by individuals here and there, on the whole I didn’t see the church as some horrible entity that existed to ruin my life.

I have often wondered why this was. How did we turn out different then some other PKs? Granted my parents were good disciplinarians, good parents but that did not guarantee that we would grow up wanting to follow God and be involved in the church. (Yes, I am aware that we are not the only pastor’s kids that turned out “good” but I also know plenty that did not.) All this to say that I think I have begun to realize that I owe so much of where my personal relationship with Jesus is to my parents, not just because they helped introduce me to Him, but because I do not recall it ever being forced. My relationship with the Lord was just that… mine! They helped guide me as all good parents do but I took it from there. As my pastor and the head of our family, a huge amount of this gratitude goes to my dad. I had the privilege of knowing from experience that my brother, sister, and I came first. Before the church, we were my dad’s first responsibility. We had to learn that other’s needs came before our own desires, with vacations cut short to head home when a parishioners father passed away, a good movie interrupted when a crisis came up. But when it came to attending to our needs, whether spiritual, emotional, or relationally, we ALWAYS came first! For that I want to say thank you to my father. Though he may not be my pastor at the moment. He will always be the one that Shepherd my heart towards the greatest love of my life, the Lord. And continues to help guard my spirit with his prayers and by an example of the most faithful man I have ever known. Thank you daddy! I love you and appreciated you more than my clumsy words could ever express.

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Quick Catch Up

2008-10-22T14:47:00.005-05:00

I have been majorly absent from the blog world these days. I have been working hard on getting my house, kids, and life organized, in order and more pleasant. Details on how this is going will be coming soon to a blog near you. Sorry that I have not kept up with all my favorite blogs... or my own for that matter.

We are doing really well though. Last week we went to Arlington for my husband to attend a Youth Conference. He really enjoyed that. We got to see one of our former foster kids!!!! (In fact it was this very one.)Which was so incredible. We have not seen any of them for about 18 months. One of them lives not too far from the Dallas area so we went to his football game and dinner after. What a TREAT! And we stayed with a good friend of mine that I have known since I was 5. It was the first time our husbands had met and the first time Ginger had ever seen Hoss. So it was quite exciting to get to spend some time with them. And very nice of them to let us take over their beautiful home for nearly a week. Thanks Ging!

We were there during our 5 year anniversary so we celebrated a few days early with dinner at a nice restaurant while N's brother watched the kids. My husband casually mentioned on the phone to his sister that we had planned to go to California for our 5 year anniversary (where husband grew up, I've never been) but that things just hadn't worked out that way and we obviously would not be going. The day after we got home from Arlington we had an anniversary card in the mail from my sis-in-law letting us know that the family was pitching in to send N and I to California. They are arranging child care and taking care of everything else. WOW!!!! I mean great Big HUGE WOW!!!!! We are not sure yet when we are going but it is something to look forward to, VERY forward to... and we are. I promise to catch up with all you follow bloggy friends real soon. My house, and kids, and all are coming together slowly but surely and I am trying to stay on a good track with that. Pray for me, I'll either dig my way out of this mess or get buried in it. LOL.

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Wordful Wednesday: Manipulation Comes in Small Packages

2008-10-08T19:15:00.005-05:00

Hoss cracked me up tonight. I put all the kids to bed and was in the kitchen cleaning (because what else would I be doing with a few hours of down time). It was quiet for several minutes and then I hear my 17 month old begin saying over and over, "I go potty, I go potty."

No, I am not some super human rockin' mom who has her third child potty trained before he is 18 months old. That poor youngster is lucky to get his diaper changed more than twice a day. The kid has, however, seen this tactic be used on occasion by his big brother or sister to get themselves out of bed. So I guess Hoss thought he'd give it a try.

N had the kids this weekend by himself (because I am spoiled rotten and he is just that good) and said Hoss tried to pull off something similar. He is not allowed free reign of the entire house. He can't come into our bedroom, bathroom, the kitchen, or guest room without permission. (Not the easiest task to train here lately by the way) But N was back in our bathroom and Hoss comes wondering in saying, "I go pooh-pooh, I go pooh-pooh". Again, if it works for Bella and Buddy why shouldn't it work for him!

Is it wrong that I am somewhat frightened by the brilliance of this kid? I mean we were a little surprised when, at 15 months he started speaking in complete sentences. “I get down?” “I need help.” (Okay so ‘I get down?’ is a sentence fragment but the kid was 15 months old, cut him some slack.) But the fact that, at such a tender age he is trying to figure out a way to use his advanced verbal skills to manipulate his parents… well, I am in awe and slightly queasy. Wish us luck!

For more Wordful Wednesday visit Seven Clown Circus... all the cool girls are doing it!

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I've Been Tagged: More crazy facts.

2008-10-06T23:01:00.003-05:00

A fellow blogger, with a cool blog I am happy to now know exists, tagged me. Here are the rules and some craZy little things about me.

1. I have seen EVERY episode of Friends at least 3 or 4 times. Many of them MANY more times than that. (and could probably beat the pants off of anybody at Friends Scene It.)

2. I wear size 1 in shoes. That's right a child's size 1. My 4 year old daughter is currently only 4 sizes behind me.

3. I use to have a birthmark in my eye. (in the white part to the left of my iris.) It actually went away a couple of years ago, very strange.

4.I had 11 of my baby teeth pulled by the dentist. Not all at once. The most I had done at once was 4. They just would not come out on their own. Even when my permanent teeth would start coming in those baby teeth just wanted to hang on!

5. I was 16 years old when I lost my last baby tooth.

6. I only weighed 12 pounds when I was 2 years old. (I have the medical records to prove it) My kids all weighed 14 pounds at around 6 months.

7. I have only ever kissed one guy. (and yes it was my husband, you would not believe how many people get hung up on and confused by that)

The people I have tagged are: (all fabulous blogs)

Random Thoughts
Boondock Ramblings
The Munchkinheads
Why Me?
Outriders for Christ
No Ordinary Moments
Schnickelfritz and Turtle

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Monday Madness from Mouths of Babes: Say What?

2008-10-06T21:43:00.004-05:00

Tonight I had the opportunity to listen to my children at play. How much I learned from their little conversations. I got to see first hand what their sweet little hearts must struggle with daily. I witnessed shear human nature and was amazed by how well they must work to control their wills.

I took the older two up to the church to set up for my MOPS meeting tomorrow night. They played at one end of the fellowship hall while I decorated the other end. They were "playing house" Bella was the mommy, Buddy, her little boy. And at some point they changed their roles making Buddy the man in charge, with Bella in his care. Things came out of their mouths, attitudes I have never myself had to deal with as the real authority in the house, as they were "acting" like little kids. Conversations that went something like this, “Take me to Sea World right now!”
Or this one…

“Now sweetie, come over hear and sit down.”

“I don’t want to!”

Oh those things so would not fly in their real worlds. Now don’t get me wrong, my kids are kids they misbehave, have bad attitudes sometimes, have even let me know they did not want to do what was being asked of them but never in such a yucky tone. And they have certainly learned that one does not win a trip to Sea World by demanding it… a trip to a nice little chair in a corner all alone, yes. But Sea World… not so much!

I wondered for a moment if they had perhaps picked this attitude up from somewhere. But we don’t have television just DVDs that I know every line to and can recite in my sleep. I know all of their friends and have not heard them talking to their parents in that manner either. So it was doubtful it had been picked up anywhere. I have deduced that there must be a struggle within my kids to say what they are really thinking but somehow they manage on a semi-regular basis to control their attitudes and respond in an appropriate manner. I could learn a lot from these little guys. And I have to say, if this really is what is in my kids hearts from time to time, this desire to tell me what they are really thinking. I’ve got some pretty good kids… if I do say so myself.

Now I should probably go back and reread my own first post, The Humbling of a Super Mom as that last statement sounded incredibly arrogant!

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Photostory Friday: Long Lost Friends

2008-10-03T00:03:00.005-05:00

I got an email tonight from an old friend. A friend that I have not seen in 20 years. My family moved from Wyoming to Texas in 1988 and I left behind many little friends, one of the best being April. She attached a picture of us as little girls at her 6th birthday party. Weren't we cute. (That's me on the right)

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

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Wordless Wednesday: A Few of My Favorite Things

2008-09-30T22:33:00.005-05:00

For more Wordless Wednesday visit 5 Minutes for Mom

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Monday Madness From The Mouths of Babes: Manners With Hoss

2008-09-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Like so many parents of my generation we have taught our children sign language early on. Our kids all three started talking ridiculously early (they do come by it naturally) so we have not gotten past "more". They just start talking and then what's the point of teaching them to sign.

So Hoss use to sign more when he wanted more food and then he learned how to say please. Learning a new way to get food... after all that really is all Hoss is usually after, and there was no longer a need for the "more" sign. When Hoss asked for food. (And by asking I do mean screaming) After being corrected we would say, "How do you ask?" Hoss would say "Pees," because that's what gets him the food.

Then Hoss learned Thank You and then came the confusion. Now Hoss is a bright little boy but this whole correct response, correct way to ask for things, got to be too much for him. So sometimes asking "what do you say?” got us a "Pees" and sometimes it got us a "Tane Too". More recently though the confused little boy, who just wants his food, has taken to signing more, while saying thank you, all the while meaning please. And since he's adorable with those dimples and that big gap in his teeth and the huge brown eyes. And of course the fact that he's doing the best he can, and as far as he knows, he's asking the right way. I give the boy what he wants, which is of course, ALWAYS food!

This got me to thinking last night about how I ask my heavenly father for things. Or rather how I think I have to ask. As much as my son's good intentions tug at my heart and get him SO MANY things, I'm guessing God's got the whole patient and loving parent thing down a whole lot better than me. So is it really that necessary for me to approach him at just the right time, with just the right words? Or can I simply say my pees and tane toos and depend on a loving Father to give me the desires of my heart. Which ironically enough often times involves food.

Out of the mouths of babes...

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