They're growing up so fast!

I can deny it no longer...Pictures don't lie!

As I was looking through these pictures I took this afternoon with the kids outside after their jogathon, my first thought at this one was, "This one's not too bad!" I pulled it up to look at it closer and was amazed by the crows' feet around my eyes! I've never noticed them before! But I have to say pictures don't lie...they're really there! I am getting old! Sad but true...it's time to start acting like a grown up!

A helpful URL to check out

http://www.sonicwall.com/phishing/

This is a link to a really helpful online quiz to educate yourself about phishing scams and spam. It gives you your score at the end and then points out the things to look out for in the scams that you may or may not have missed. Yes...I got 100% accurate on it...not sure what that says about how much time I spend on the computer, but at least Brent doesn't have to worry about me giving out our credit card numbers to anyone I don't know...unless it's a really good deal I can't pass up! I'm only kidding...

When I'm an Old Lady...

When I'm an old lady, I'll live with each kid, And bring so much happiness...just as they did. I want to pay back all the joy they've provided. Returning each deed! Oh, they'll be so excited! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

I'll write on the wall with reds, whites and blues, And I'll bounce on the furniture...wearing my shoes. I'll drink from the carton and then leave it out. I'll stuff all the toilets and oh, how they'll shout! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

When they're on the phone and just out of reach, I'll get into things like sugar and bleach. Oh, they'll snap their fingers and then shake their head, (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

When they cook dinner and call me to eat, I'll not eat my green beans or salad or meat, I'll gag on my okra, spill milk on the table, And when they get angry...I'll run...if I'm able! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

I'll sit close to the TV, through the channels I'll click, I'll cross both eyes just to see if they stick. I'll take off my socks and throw one away, And play in the mud 'til the end of the day! (When I'm an old lady and live with my kids)

And later in bed, I'll lay back and sigh, I'll thank God in prayer and then close my eyes. My kids will look down with a smile slowly creeping, And say with a groan, 'She's so sweet when she's sleeping!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Random thoughts this morning...

Just a hodge podge of things to say this morning...

It's 28 degrees here--a very heavy frost is covering the ground. At first glance it looks like snow. It is way too early to be thinking about snow!

We had a group of students over last night and had a great bonfire! We made a firepit and roasted hotdogs and had smores. It was such a clear night, too! The best part? After I came back from taking the students back to campus, Brent built the fire back up and the 2 of us sat around the fire and talked for hours! And amazingly enough, I only thought about what I would do if a wild animal came out of the woods a couple of times. I would say after 4 years of living here, I'm adapting rather nicely to country life. And after such a great evening, I'm actually preferring the country life...now if we could only get the mall a bit closer!

Hannah got in the car Wednesday afternoon without her barrette...her bangs were in her face to the tip of her nose. We've been telling her that if she didn't take care of her long hair better, we would force her to get it cut. I reminded her of that (rather emphatically) on the way home, and much to my surprise she said she wanted it cut! I actually tried to talk her out of it, but she was adament! So Wednesday afternoon, I cut her hair and the struggle to grow her bangs out has ended. I like her hair both ways. She looks so much older than 6 with it long. Now, she looks like Dora again--the way every 6 year old dark-haired girl should look! And she loves it! She's bouncing all around swinging her hair back and forth. And loving the lack of tangles and the ease of doing it in the morning!

Hannah woke up yesterday morning with a strange rash on her face. It was only on her face. It was warm to the touch and almost scaly. I put some anti-itch medicine on it, and it seemed to change it. She cried when she found out she had to stay home from school. I'm not sure if it was because she couldn't show off her new hair do or if she really likes school that much! The rash got progressively better as the day wore on. The only thing I can think of that she had to eat that was different was Sunny Delight. She's never been allergic to anything before, but she drank quite a bit of Sunny D at dinner Wednesday night. Any thoughts? A couple of the students said they were allergic to anything that has Vitamin C added to it--Sunny D being one of them. Regular orange juice with natural Vitamin C is fine for them, but anything from concentrate or "fake" causes them to break out in a rash, too. Anyone ever seen anything like this before? I'm on my way to wake them up for school...hopefully it hasn't come back! I'll try to get a picture of her hair if her face isn't all splotchy!

Happy Friday! I'm curling up with a big ol' cup of coffee and having my devotions while I watch the frost melt away...

Daniel turns 9!

I'll post more pictures of Daniel's birthday in the next couple of days. He is so into Star Wars and this is the best cake I could come up with for him...It's supposed to be a light sabre if you couldn't tell. He was thrilled with it!

Ready for church

Collecting for a centerpiece

Hannah's been bringing her leaf collection to me for the last few days and it's been pretty sad. She's just been getting the green little leaves off our weeping willow tree. So I've been telling her that I'd take her into the woods and show her how to find the really pretty ones. Thursday when they came home from school and the homework was all checked, we decided to go for a hike. I had the idea to scatter real leaves around the table for a ladies' fellowship I was having that night so we went looking for beautiful leaves...they are everywhere around here right now! I can't believe how pretty the colors are this year! Makes me love living here even more!




The fruits of our labor...there are a ton of fallen white birch trees in our woods right now. I got the idea to try to peel some of the bark off for an added accent and the entire piece came off in my hands! So the base fo the centerpiece is a big piece of white birch bark. On my way out of the woods I noticed a big patch of moss growing, and it looked just like the kind in the bags I always buy for flower arranging. I wondered how difficult it would be to pry off the rock it was growing on and was quite surprised that it came off in one huge piece without any extra effort. I loved how it turned out! I usually don't go to this much trouble for the Thursday night prayer and shares, but this was so much fun to put together. I need to do this type of thing more often...I really enjoy it and loved the outcome.

Some of the cutest pics ever, I must admit!

I took Sarah outside to get some pics this afternoon with the beautiful trees in our yard. I didn't get many good shots of the trees, but I do have to say of the 26 pics I took, there were a few that were a bit too precious to keep to myself! They're so much better if you know her...you can really see that mischievous sparkle in her eye in some of these.

I do have to say this is her, "Mom...come on...you know we both want a good game of chase and fall down giggling and tickling...come get me!" look.
Sarah loves to touch anything and everything outside. I wasn't the least bit surprised when she wanted to touch the branch of leaves I pulled down into her reach...but I was a bit surprised when she reached out with her tongue to taste the leaf! I can't believe I caught it in a picture, too!
I laid down in the grass to get a better angle of her...she climbed into my lap, and this is the angle I managed to get! Gotta love those cute pudgy cheeks!

She must always stop and touch flowers especially. she doesn't pick them...just touches them.

More pics from around the house

Around the house...well, the kitchen

Are you as confused about Labor Day as I am?!?

Brent and I were talking last night about what Labor Day is and neither of us knew what we were celebrating. So I googled it...one of our family's favorite past times, and was surprised to see that it really celebrates nothing. The entire nation gets a day off just because! I was wondering if they could give us a day off sometime in March, too, because there's nothing to celebrate in that month either!Here's what Wikipedia says about Labor Day in case you were wondering:

Today, Labor Day is often regarded as a day of rest and parades. Speeches or political demonstrations are more low-key than May 1 Labour Day celebrations in most countries, although events held by labor organizations often feature political themes and appearances by candidates for office, especially in election years. Forms of celebration include picnics, barbecues, fireworks displays, water sports, and public art events. Families with school-age children take it as the last chance to travel before the end of summer. Some teenagers and young adults view it as the last weekend for parties before returning to school. However, as of late, schools have begun well before Labor Day, as early as July 24th in many urban districts, including major southern cities in the United States such as Atlanta, Miami, and Los Angeles. In addition, Labor Day marks the beginning of the season for the National Football League and NCAA College Football. The NCAA usually plays their first games the week before Labor day, with the NFL traditionally playing their first game the Thursday following Labor Day.

So happy Labor Day...which if I understand it right really means happy day to be lazy and do nothing day! I think I'll take that to heart!

First Day of School!

No way...

People often comment about how much Sarah looks like me. This pic from last Sunday proves, without a doubt, she's trying her hardest to look like her daddy! It's all in those smiling eyes, I tell you! She has the darkest brown eyes, like Brent...and she even squints them up when she smiles...No way...she's more like her daddy than her mommy! But that will only serve her well in life. Unfortunately she acts more like me, which will be to her detriment, I'm afraid! :-)

Six month update

Brent and I have been diligently working to lose weight by participating in Northland's Fit for Service wellness plan. We've just finished our second quarter, and we both achieved gold level again this quarter. As of our weigh-in for the end of July, I've lost 47 pounds and Brent's lost right around 60. (When I asked him how much this morning, he said he'd have to look it up, but it was around 60) We're not on a diet, but have rather changed our lifestyle to eat less and exercise more. Brent's doctor gave him some great advice at the beginning of the program--"The best exercise we can do is to push away from the table!" We don't deprive ourselves of our favorite things, but eat much less of them when we do have them and weigh (ha-ha!) the choices more carefully. We both marvel at how slow the treadmill seems when we warm up at 3.5 miles an hour which used to be the max we could do! Now that speed doesn't even get our heart rates up! I tease Brent about being the "poster child" for the program because he has changed so drastically. One guy on campus walked by him the other day and jokingly asked Brent if he'd seen Brent Griffin because he needed to talk to him! It's encouraging to actually weigh less than we did when we got married. While it's been really nice to see the pounds come off, we both still have more to lose. I'll keep you updated--probably again at the end of the third quarter.

Adorable Sarah!

I picked up this dress at a friend's yardsale on Friday. I don't think it could have looked cuter on Sarah! She wouldn't leave the hat alone, but she loved having it on. Everytime I'd call her name she'd give me her cheasy grin because she knew I had the camera. She'd stop playing, flash me the "happy face" and then be off to play again. She's definitely the ham of the family!

This one is my favorite I think! She's on her way to the "happy face" but not quite there!


And thought I'd leave you with one last "happy face!"

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_gallo_shows_underwater_astonishments.html


This is an amazing video my husband showed to the kids and me. It's totally amazing to see how the Lord has made animals so well...amazing! Unfortunately, this company does not give the Lord His due honor for making all things. However, it's still fascinating to watch and easy to see there's no other explanation than an all powerful and all wise Creator. The deep sea part at the beginning is interesting, but stay with it, because once they start showing the video of the octopi (pl for octopus?) it's incredible!

I'm a blubbering idiot at times, I tell you!

I managed to do it again! I totally lost any sense of composure in church this morning when we sang this song that is relatively knew to me. I was surprised to see that the writers are from the late 1800's-early 1900's because I had not sung it until recently. It is one of those songs that is so easy to sing. The melody is rich and tuneful so it's very simple to focus on the words since you don't have to stumble through the notes. I know it shouldn't be true, but if a song is hard to sing I usually end up thinking more about trying to figure out the notes and where it's headed. This is definitely not that way...It's been stuck in my head a good chunk of the day. The tune that we sang in church today is an alternate melody by Ben Nyce that's on the Northland recording, "Complete in Thee." (I think I've got that right!)

I love the thought that my salvation is complete in the Lord. His blood has given me pardon and the power to live a victorious life! As one who is complete in Him, it's not just my needs that He supplies, but as our gracious heavenly Father, He gives us so many of our wants, too! The last verse is when I started blubbering...just picturing the awe and wonder as all the chosen ones from every tribe and tongue stand before the Lord knowing that we are complete in Him. It's truly unfathomable...the utter joy of knowing that I will be allowed to spend eternity with my Lord because of His work on the cross...yeah...I wasn't the only one touched by the song in church today...there were lots of tears on lots of faces. Great song, but an even greater truth!


Complete in Thee! no work of mine
May take, dear Lord, the place of Thine;
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And I am now complete in Thee.

Refrain:
Yea, justified! O blessed thought!
And sanctified! Salvation wrought!
Thy blood hath pardon bought for me,
And glorified, I too, shall be!

Complete in Thee! no more shall sin,
Thy grace hath conquered, reign within;
Thy voice shall bid the tempter flee,
And I shall stand complete in Thee.

Complete in Thee— each want supplied,
And no good thing to me denied;
Since Thou my portion, Lord, wilt be,
I ask no more, complete in Thee.

Dear Saviour! when before Thy bar
All tribes and tongues assembled are,
Among Thy chosen will I be,
At Thy right hand, complete in Thee.

Is it any wonder...

...that Sarah gets a bath after just about every meal?!? At least she enjoys her food!

Sarah's loving the swing, Great Grandma!

Sarah loves to swing...today I remembered to send Daniel in for his camera so we could post some pics for the family! Thanks for the swing, Great Grandma--It's a favorite! She didn't want Daniel and Hannah to stop it for the picture though!

Leave it to a boy to find a different way to use every part of the swingset other than what is intended!

Sarah was a bit tired this afternoon while she was swinging and was almost lulled to sleep by the back and forth motion.

Hannah lost her other front tooth the other day. She actually pulled it out herself. Any hints anyone for growing bangs out gracefully?!?

Can you believe we still have a tree in bloom?!? I have no idea what kind it is, but I thought it would make a pretty background for this picture...Next time, we'll try it before we let Sarah swing so she'll cooperate a bit better!

My little mommy

I went looking for Sarah the other day quite afraid because it was so quiet. I found her playing with the other kids in Hannah's bedroom. Each one was doing their own thing. Hannah was coloring, Daniel was on his gameboy and Sarah had taken her baby doll, put her in the doll highchair and was feeding the doll her sippy cup. I thought for sure Hannah must have put the doll in the chair for her, but Sarah did it on her own. It's interesting to me to see the maternal instincts kick in so early. I think she might be starting this even earlier than Hannah did. Sarah was fussing the other day because she didn't want to finish her breakfast and wanted down to play. In an effort to appease her, Hanah gave Sarah her babydoll to play with. When I went to get Sarah down from her chair, I noticed she had fed the rest of her breakfast to the babydoll...resourceful, too...messy, but resourceful!

Sarah's latest shenanigans...

One of Sarah's favorite things to do lately is sneak into the pantry (which the kids always manage to leave open) and sneak the cereal out. I often find her carrying the bag around eating it by the handfuls...she doesn't need the box, no...she leaves the box...I guess the bag is easier to carry? Today I found her camped out in the hallway helping herself. When I asked her what she was doing, this is the look she gave me...it's her fake smile...it's what she does if you ask her to smile...and she does it often to try to get out of trouble, too! Did I mention she's turning into twice the handful that Daniel and Hannah were combined?!? We're in some serious trouble. She's much brighter, more observant, and catches on much more quickly than even Daniel did...did I mention we're in trouble?!?
Sarah's also got a huge independant streak. She really wants to feed herself now with silverware. However, she hasn't quite got the hang of using a fork yet. She tried and tried to get the scalloped potatoes onto her fork AND into her mouth, but to no avail. So she gave up and stuffed the food in her mouth while holding her fork with her other hand...don't try to take the fork away no matter how little she's using it! I guess it makes her feel better to hold it and pretend to be able to use it while she smooshes the food all over her face...some days we are just so proud of our kiddos!

The day we've all been waiting for!

Hannah has been adamant about growing her hair out for a very long time because she wants to be able to have curls. Last night I decided to give the good ol' sponge curlers a try. She loved every second of it...especially when I took them out this morning and she saw all her curls! Her hair is so thick that many of the curls were still wet this morning so I had to curl them with the curling iron. She was so patient, too! She loved it so much and everyone's reaction to them at church I'm afraid we may have started a new thing!


I took several pictures, and her eyes were goofy in every one. So I told her to try to smile with her eyes open more, and this is what I got! I guess she can't open her eyes without sticking her tongue out or something! BTW...her other front tooth is so loose it'll be out in the next couple of days. I love it when kids lose both of their front teeth at the same time! As if she could get any cuter! :-)

Some things I've discovered...

My kids have been with my in-laws for the last 2 weeks so I've been able to sneak away for some bike rides on my own in the evenings, and I'm loving it! The other day I road 6 miles! I know that's not really that far in the grand scheme of things, but realizing how out of shape I am...well, let's just say, I thought it was really, really far!

Riding by one's self on the back roads around here is great because it's totally quiet and gives you a lot of time to think and ponder. I've put together a list of just a few of the things I've discovered while on these get aways of mine:

1. It’s really a great thing to hear the clicking of your bike as you coast down the hills with the wind blowing through your hair…it’s not such a good thing to have to ride your bike back up said hills!
2. It’s really a great thing to have back country roads to ride on with nary a car around…it’s also a good thing to have wide open roads to swerve all over as your bike wobbles from side to side as you struggle up those hills!
3. It’s really a great thing to be able to get a few steps even while riding your bike on back country roads…it’s a better thing to get even more steps as you walk your bike up those back country hills!
4. It’s really a great thing to have wide open country roads to ride your bike on and take in the different aspects of nature…it’s not such a great thing to have a bear cross right in front of you and be so winded from riding up the afore mentioned hills that you can only utter a slight gasp!
5. It’s really a great thing to get extra protein in your diet while riding your bike on the back country roads…it’s not such a great thing to pick bugs out of your teeth for days!

I'll be sure to add more as my experiences broaden my perspective...right now I'm just trying to get over the fact that we're close to the middle of June, and I was really wishing I had remembered my jacket before I left for my ride tonight! Who would have guessed?!?

Some reflections on heaven

We received word today that a dear, kind, godly man from our church in Chicago went home to be with the Lord recently. His health has been failing so his death wasn't necessarily a surprise, but it provided an opportunity to really reflect on heaven.

Wednesday night at church we sang the old hymn, The Sands of Time are Sinking. I love so many of the new songs we have started singing, but there's something about the words to the old hymns that are so sweet and meditative if one takes the time to notice them. I was struck by the last stanza Wednesday night as we sang it, and then again today while I was thinking about Mr. Johnson being in heaven.

We often think about going to heaven and the joy we will have as we "explore" all the wonderful things that await us. I like to imagine talking with all the different Bible characters and many of the saints who have earned a place in history for their walk with the Lord, but I have to agree with the hymnwriter that we will be so taken with our dear Bridegroom that we won't even be aware of other things. Can you imagine the compassion and love we will feel for our precious Savior as we gaze upon his nail-pierced hands? Oh that I would live for the Lord with just a touch of that passion that we will feel when we view Chrsit for the first time and our heavenly life begins!

Here are the words to the last verse:
The bride eyes not her garment,
But her dear Bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory,
But on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth,
But on His pierced hand,
The Lamb is all the glory
Of Immanuel's land.