It's been a wonderful week-end and great start to a new week. Finally, the sun is starting to peek through the clouds, and that always makes all of us happy!
On Saturday, we had a nice lazy family day where we all piled into the car and headed south. Somewhat of an agenda, but no real hurry. We stopped and explored an old, dirt road. We watched four turtles sunning themselves on a log in someone's pond. We stopped at a flea market and I refrained from buying a wooden box even though Kev said that I could - and I loved it. Willpower baby. We had a yummy lunch, and we stopped at the ocean and looked for starfish. After we came home - tired and happy - a family nap was in order. And then in the evening I was lavished with sweet cards, snuggles and kisses, and Mama's favorite candy. One couldn't have asked for nicer gifts.
We've been dreaming about land and a place of our own. God is reminding us to be content and to be still. Our boys are content if they see contentment in us. Outside play takes more effort and more imagination - often a drive - but it's not impossible.
We interviewed with U.S. Center for World Missions this afternoon, and Kev travels to Pasedena, California in June for further training. God continues to affirm what we are doing and continues to challenge us to trust Him with our all. He is good.
I saw my girls this morning. The kids got outside play and much worm digging took place. A chicken is cooking, the boys are napping, the house is as clean as I care for it to be. Daddy doesn't need to make phone calls tonight. A walk is in order. Salamanders to be found. Boys to be snuggled. Beds to be tucked into. Snuggles with my man. And sleep, blessed sleep, for this chubby Mama.
A good day.
Crossing Over
Well.....
This weekend we did the unthinkable. The thing that I said (actually, we both said) that we would never do. We crossed over into the realm of what I always said was totally uncool, and because I planned to be cool forever - this would just never do!
Well, you know - things happen.
You grow a child. Then another comes along. Then, well Heaven's to Betsy, another's on the way. And before you know it........
Not sure why the picture copied so small, but you get the picture. Yep. We crossed over into the realm of "minivan-dum." We're growing, the price was right, and man alive, we are the biggest pack-rat-inest family that I know. We practically live in our vehicle, so this was the next logical step.
Anyone want a supercool Saturn Vue? It just doesn't suit us anymore!
.......But we're still cool.
This weekend we did the unthinkable. The thing that I said (actually, we both said) that we would never do. We crossed over into the realm of what I always said was totally uncool, and because I planned to be cool forever - this would just never do!
Well, you know - things happen.
You grow a child. Then another comes along. Then, well Heaven's to Betsy, another's on the way. And before you know it........
Not sure why the picture copied so small, but you get the picture. Yep. We crossed over into the realm of "minivan-dum." We're growing, the price was right, and man alive, we are the biggest pack-rat-inest family that I know. We practically live in our vehicle, so this was the next logical step.
Anyone want a supercool Saturn Vue? It just doesn't suit us anymore!
.......But we're still cool.
On Parenting - "The Ultimate Adventure".....
Leslie Fields, mother of six and author of Parenting Is Your Highest Calling: And Eight Other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt (WaterBrook, 2008) has written a deeply thoughtful, provocative theology of parenting....
See what ya'll think of this. The quotes I posted yesterday are from this same book.
“Even in my weakness, I am living out before my children the most essential truth of our lives: all of us are in severe need of this glorious and merciful Savior.”
How does a weary parent, trying hard and failing often, clearly and practically manifest that truth – that we all desperately need a Savior -- to her children?
I think we can stop pretending that we’re perfect, or even that we’re trying to be perfect in front of our children. That leaves so little room for God.
What I want most for my children is that they would be dependent upon God. I can’t make them God-dependent, but I can live out my own dependence on God. I can do this by letting my kids see my fatigue at times, my mistakes, my limitations, even my tears---and my fears! Let them see some of that, as is age appropriate.
I remember one time when my husband had been gone for 2 weeks. I was exhausted. My five sons were fighting and tearing the house apart. They wouldn’t listen to me, and I just lost it. I just broke down and cried in front of them. They stopped, stunned. Suddenly they had a very visual display of the impact of their behavior! They quit. They apologized and things settled down.
Now, I didn’t plan that. In fact, I plan for the opposite—that I’ll always be in control, I’ll always have the right answer and response . . . but if you’re superwoman all the time, they’ll not see your need of God. Don’t be afraid to just be human! Let them see you pray when you’re afraid, when you fail. Let them see your sadness at your own sin. Let them hear of your own struggles to live righteously.
We can’t bring our children to faith ourselves---this is God’s work. But we can show them what it looks like to live as a servant of God.
The truths of God’s word have brought so much freedom to my parenting life! I’m freed from the tyranny of unrealistic expectations of parenting----that we’re going to have happy happy homes, happy happy children, we’re going to be happy and fulfilled all the time! God never promised any of that.
Now, I know that our children come to us not to make us happy, but for the much greater purpose of serving God. No matter who they end up being, no matter their choices, they are here for God’s great purposes. I’m freed as well from thinking that my children will become who I make them. That’s not only an impossible burden to carry, but it’s simply unbiblical.
My whole view of parenting has shifted, from how I feel about parenting, to what is real and true about parenting. Knowing these fuller truths doesn’t magically erase all the guilt and worry, but much of it has faded. I’ve learned to lean far more on God than myself.
It’s time to get honest about parenting. Its amazing work, and it’s very hard. But I think we’re making harder than it needs to be. We’re carrying around a lot of myths that are making this role nearly impossible. You CAN be the parent you want to be. Not by DOING more---our parenting to-do lists are long enough. Not even by BEING more---but by believing more!!
Believing that your children are gifts and blessings. That they were given to you to teach you how to love, to enlarge your heart. They’re NOT given to make us happy and fulfilled all the time. And they were NOT given to make you always feel guilty.
Ultimately, our children are for much more than us. They’re here for greater purposes than fulfilling our dreams and our needs. They’re here for God’s purposes. Every one of our children is on her own spiritual journey with God. And, amazingly, we get to be a part of it! The weight of guilt and failure is gone-----the adventure returns!
IT's good. Goooooood.
See what ya'll think of this. The quotes I posted yesterday are from this same book.
“Even in my weakness, I am living out before my children the most essential truth of our lives: all of us are in severe need of this glorious and merciful Savior.”
How does a weary parent, trying hard and failing often, clearly and practically manifest that truth – that we all desperately need a Savior -- to her children?
I think we can stop pretending that we’re perfect, or even that we’re trying to be perfect in front of our children. That leaves so little room for God.
What I want most for my children is that they would be dependent upon God. I can’t make them God-dependent, but I can live out my own dependence on God. I can do this by letting my kids see my fatigue at times, my mistakes, my limitations, even my tears---and my fears! Let them see some of that, as is age appropriate.
I remember one time when my husband had been gone for 2 weeks. I was exhausted. My five sons were fighting and tearing the house apart. They wouldn’t listen to me, and I just lost it. I just broke down and cried in front of them. They stopped, stunned. Suddenly they had a very visual display of the impact of their behavior! They quit. They apologized and things settled down.
Now, I didn’t plan that. In fact, I plan for the opposite—that I’ll always be in control, I’ll always have the right answer and response . . . but if you’re superwoman all the time, they’ll not see your need of God. Don’t be afraid to just be human! Let them see you pray when you’re afraid, when you fail. Let them see your sadness at your own sin. Let them hear of your own struggles to live righteously.
We can’t bring our children to faith ourselves---this is God’s work. But we can show them what it looks like to live as a servant of God.
The truths of God’s word have brought so much freedom to my parenting life! I’m freed from the tyranny of unrealistic expectations of parenting----that we’re going to have happy happy homes, happy happy children, we’re going to be happy and fulfilled all the time! God never promised any of that.
Now, I know that our children come to us not to make us happy, but for the much greater purpose of serving God. No matter who they end up being, no matter their choices, they are here for God’s great purposes. I’m freed as well from thinking that my children will become who I make them. That’s not only an impossible burden to carry, but it’s simply unbiblical.
My whole view of parenting has shifted, from how I feel about parenting, to what is real and true about parenting. Knowing these fuller truths doesn’t magically erase all the guilt and worry, but much of it has faded. I’ve learned to lean far more on God than myself.
It’s time to get honest about parenting. Its amazing work, and it’s very hard. But I think we’re making harder than it needs to be. We’re carrying around a lot of myths that are making this role nearly impossible. You CAN be the parent you want to be. Not by DOING more---our parenting to-do lists are long enough. Not even by BEING more---but by believing more!!
Believing that your children are gifts and blessings. That they were given to you to teach you how to love, to enlarge your heart. They’re NOT given to make us happy and fulfilled all the time. And they were NOT given to make you always feel guilty.
Ultimately, our children are for much more than us. They’re here for greater purposes than fulfilling our dreams and our needs. They’re here for God’s purposes. Every one of our children is on her own spiritual journey with God. And, amazingly, we get to be a part of it! The weight of guilt and failure is gone-----the adventure returns!
IT's good. Goooooood.
Life
I had my second appointment with my new midwife yesterday. It was long, and the whole little family came. The boys were busy but good for us. It took most of the morning with going over old records, getting blood work done, checking the stats of me and the babe. She says we've got a live one in there - she could barely follow him/her in order to check their heartbeat. Kev and I looked at each other - oh no - another one! :0) It's all good! Hard to believe I'm in my fifth month - almost halfway there now. It still doesn't seem completely real to me, and there are days when I think that I've already reached my maximum capacity, so what in the world am I thinking in bringing another little life into this world?
But I am quieted and I am stilled. It's not about me - and it's not about my capacity and capabilities. It's all about Christ and His sole sufficiency!
While the boys were playing quietly this morning I read in the Psalms about acquiring wisdom and with wisdom seeking to acquire understanding as well. I'm to take hold of it and guard it - "for it is my LIFE!" Wisdom and understanding need to be at the heart of all that I do; and when I prize these two things the results will be "grace" and "beauty." (Psalm 4) Who doesn't want a Mommy who is gracious with her speech and life and who is full of beauty on the inside? This is my prayer.
This blessed me today:
"We have to accept the reality that there is much uncertainty in parenting. Parenting is very much a walk by faith rather than by sight. God has planned it this way. Rather than relying on ourselves and our capabilities, we are constantly thrown upon the throne of God, feeling helpless and overwhelmed.
That is right where God wants us---at his feet. So the source of so much pain in parenting, sends us to source of the greatest solace---God himself.
Loving God with all our heart and soul and mind is our highest calling.
“If I pursue God first as my highest call and am satisfied in His love, then I am freed not to love my children less but to love them rightly.”
When I focus on loving God first, then it seems to set everything in a clearer perspective.
I can resist the constant temptation to see my children as extensions of myself, which gets me into a lot of trouble!
I can resist the temptation to find my identity, significance and purpose through my children instead of through Christ."
When I get this order right—loving God first—an amazing thing happens. I have so much more love—the right kind of love!-- to offer my children. I have less pride, more understanding and patience to offer".
Good, eh? I didn't write it, but Jesse's awake, and I'm too tired to link to this lady. More to come on her at another time......She's over on my right sidebar under "Good Stuff" - "A Holy Experience."
But I am quieted and I am stilled. It's not about me - and it's not about my capacity and capabilities. It's all about Christ and His sole sufficiency!
While the boys were playing quietly this morning I read in the Psalms about acquiring wisdom and with wisdom seeking to acquire understanding as well. I'm to take hold of it and guard it - "for it is my LIFE!" Wisdom and understanding need to be at the heart of all that I do; and when I prize these two things the results will be "grace" and "beauty." (Psalm 4) Who doesn't want a Mommy who is gracious with her speech and life and who is full of beauty on the inside? This is my prayer.
This blessed me today:
"We have to accept the reality that there is much uncertainty in parenting. Parenting is very much a walk by faith rather than by sight. God has planned it this way. Rather than relying on ourselves and our capabilities, we are constantly thrown upon the throne of God, feeling helpless and overwhelmed.
That is right where God wants us---at his feet. So the source of so much pain in parenting, sends us to source of the greatest solace---God himself.
Loving God with all our heart and soul and mind is our highest calling.
“If I pursue God first as my highest call and am satisfied in His love, then I am freed not to love my children less but to love them rightly.”
When I focus on loving God first, then it seems to set everything in a clearer perspective.
I can resist the constant temptation to see my children as extensions of myself, which gets me into a lot of trouble!
I can resist the temptation to find my identity, significance and purpose through my children instead of through Christ."
When I get this order right—loving God first—an amazing thing happens. I have so much more love—the right kind of love!-- to offer my children. I have less pride, more understanding and patience to offer".
Good, eh? I didn't write it, but Jesse's awake, and I'm too tired to link to this lady. More to come on her at another time......She's over on my right sidebar under "Good Stuff" - "A Holy Experience."
Feeling Naggy
I feel like I've been a drill-sargeant naggy mommy lately, and I hate it. Not even sure why; I've just been a crab. Came across this post during naps today and was encouraged. Lord, give me healing words of love and encouragement. Help me to seek out and remark on the good things and overlook the little irritants.
Mother Love is Hard to Explain
By Daring Young Mom on Wednesday, April 22,
Last night I found myself trying to explain to a 15-year-old girl, who has “issues” with her own mother and doesn’t plan on ever having kids of her own, how I feel about my own kids. I’m not sure how the conversation got to this place. I’m sure she didn’t ask me, “Hey Kathryn, please pour out your heart’s deepest feelings to me about motherhood.” I just wanted to tell her. I started talking and it all came spilling out.
When I’m blogging or even talking about my kids, I often share their funny quirks or the difficulties and challenges that make motherhood a struggle. It’s fun to whine about the hardships and to share never-a-dull-moment anecdotes.
The real sweetness of being a mom sort of gets stuck in my guts sometimes. It comes out at night when I’m watching them sleep or in those moments when I stare at them in wonder and think, “How was I so blessed to have a hand in creating you, in growing you cell by cell and now experience by experience?”
I told my teen friend that the love I have for them is strange and hard to explain in words. For a while they were literally a part of my body like baby “Kip” is right now, inside me, tearing things up and sharing my blood, food and the air I breathe. Then suddenly these people came spilling out and *snip* their body was their own. They still need me in many ways but every minute they get a little more independent, a little more sure that there is a world beyond my reach, a world they will discover and I will never truly understand.
I love watching them grow but there’s a part of me that sneaks into their rooms each night and just wants to smoosh them and cuddle them so tightly that they somehow meld back into me and never go off to school or karate lessons again. And they have no idea how I feel. They won’t until they have kids of their own.
They have a blend of Dan’s face and mine. Because we made them. When they say or do something that one of us would say or do, it just furthers my sense of claim on them. They are mine. Isn’t it obvious? There’s something so primal and possessive about my motherly feelings. They stem from the deepest places and they show themselves in the quiet times, the times I have a chance to breathe and stop doing motherhood and just enjoy feeling and being it.
It’s the day-to-day fights over whether pants and shoes need to be worn in public places, whether we should wipe stray paint on our new school clothes or if throwing rocks at the walls in the living room is a good game that these feelings get buried and my inner nanny/drill sergeant takes over. Those are the fun stories to tell my friends, who sympathize with me and share war stories of their own.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve talked with my mom friends about the other feelings that are brewing, the love feelings that don’t really have a name. Maybe they’re too close, too personal to share casually over a hotdog at the mall. Maybe we don’t know how to talk about them. Maybe we can sense the same feelings in each other and we don’t need to put them into words. It’s enough to know they’re there.....
But my kids need to see this too! They need to see these feelings and this love for them lived out in front of them way more than they need to hear the nagging. Show me Father. Give me Your grace - Your love....
Mother Love is Hard to Explain
By Daring Young Mom on Wednesday, April 22,
Last night I found myself trying to explain to a 15-year-old girl, who has “issues” with her own mother and doesn’t plan on ever having kids of her own, how I feel about my own kids. I’m not sure how the conversation got to this place. I’m sure she didn’t ask me, “Hey Kathryn, please pour out your heart’s deepest feelings to me about motherhood.” I just wanted to tell her. I started talking and it all came spilling out.
When I’m blogging or even talking about my kids, I often share their funny quirks or the difficulties and challenges that make motherhood a struggle. It’s fun to whine about the hardships and to share never-a-dull-moment anecdotes.
The real sweetness of being a mom sort of gets stuck in my guts sometimes. It comes out at night when I’m watching them sleep or in those moments when I stare at them in wonder and think, “How was I so blessed to have a hand in creating you, in growing you cell by cell and now experience by experience?”
I told my teen friend that the love I have for them is strange and hard to explain in words. For a while they were literally a part of my body like baby “Kip” is right now, inside me, tearing things up and sharing my blood, food and the air I breathe. Then suddenly these people came spilling out and *snip* their body was their own. They still need me in many ways but every minute they get a little more independent, a little more sure that there is a world beyond my reach, a world they will discover and I will never truly understand.
I love watching them grow but there’s a part of me that sneaks into their rooms each night and just wants to smoosh them and cuddle them so tightly that they somehow meld back into me and never go off to school or karate lessons again. And they have no idea how I feel. They won’t until they have kids of their own.
They have a blend of Dan’s face and mine. Because we made them. When they say or do something that one of us would say or do, it just furthers my sense of claim on them. They are mine. Isn’t it obvious? There’s something so primal and possessive about my motherly feelings. They stem from the deepest places and they show themselves in the quiet times, the times I have a chance to breathe and stop doing motherhood and just enjoy feeling and being it.
It’s the day-to-day fights over whether pants and shoes need to be worn in public places, whether we should wipe stray paint on our new school clothes or if throwing rocks at the walls in the living room is a good game that these feelings get buried and my inner nanny/drill sergeant takes over. Those are the fun stories to tell my friends, who sympathize with me and share war stories of their own.
I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve talked with my mom friends about the other feelings that are brewing, the love feelings that don’t really have a name. Maybe they’re too close, too personal to share casually over a hotdog at the mall. Maybe we don’t know how to talk about them. Maybe we can sense the same feelings in each other and we don’t need to put them into words. It’s enough to know they’re there.....
But my kids need to see this too! They need to see these feelings and this love for them lived out in front of them way more than they need to hear the nagging. Show me Father. Give me Your grace - Your love....
A Pet Update!
There has been quite the turnover of pets in the Booker household as of late! Lucky for us, our boys handle death and the setting free of things quite nicely. Otherwise, there'd be plenty a tear around here!
So, let's see.....
First we had the bait fish....."Fishy." He lasted for a couple of months. Not too bad for someone who knows nothing about fish and for a fishy who was destined to have a hook in his back but for lack of an extra bait trap he was pardoned. Anyhoo, he got the "Ick" so I'm told - which is brought about by stress, I guess. Well, when we changed Mr. Fishy's water a few days prior, Jesse caught the poor thing in his bare hands and gave it a squeeze or two. That was probably pretty stressful! So, after a proper fishy funeral we gave him a flush when he went belly up. And that was the end of Mr. Fishy.
We also had two froggies: "George" and "Georgia." Well, methinks George was the Alpha Frog and wouldn't let poor Georgia get any of the crickets that we put in the cage. Hence, poor Georgia keeled over while George stayed as wild as ever.
Here is when a "deal" came into the mix. We sent poor Georgia to her watery grave out in our backyard and gave George his freedom along with her. In exchange, we went to the pet store and came home with two Comet Goldfish. Their names: "Comet" and "Goldy." Classic.
On our way up to the County this week-end, we also caught four red bellied salamanders and tons of worms. We let the boys love on them for about four days, and once they got a little lethargic, we convinced kidlets to let them free in Grampy's backyard "to catch when we come up to visit again!" Smart, eh?
And today, Daddy and Kaden went on a day long fishing trip and came back with three little salamanders: two red backs and one pure red salamander that might be a newt. Not sure on that one. Kaden also brought home some sort of beetle for Sir Jester....but he might be dead already. Those pudgy fingers are none too gentle.
Oh, and we also have about a dozen crickets waiting to be lunch for any new frogs that we may find on our walks this week.
Good times. Good times.
**Update: As of this morning - Tuesday, April 28 - we are down one salamander. He's loose in the house. New rules have been established. No more carrying around our pets. Joy.
So, let's see.....
First we had the bait fish....."Fishy." He lasted for a couple of months. Not too bad for someone who knows nothing about fish and for a fishy who was destined to have a hook in his back but for lack of an extra bait trap he was pardoned. Anyhoo, he got the "Ick" so I'm told - which is brought about by stress, I guess. Well, when we changed Mr. Fishy's water a few days prior, Jesse caught the poor thing in his bare hands and gave it a squeeze or two. That was probably pretty stressful! So, after a proper fishy funeral we gave him a flush when he went belly up. And that was the end of Mr. Fishy.
We also had two froggies: "George" and "Georgia." Well, methinks George was the Alpha Frog and wouldn't let poor Georgia get any of the crickets that we put in the cage. Hence, poor Georgia keeled over while George stayed as wild as ever.
Here is when a "deal" came into the mix. We sent poor Georgia to her watery grave out in our backyard and gave George his freedom along with her. In exchange, we went to the pet store and came home with two Comet Goldfish. Their names: "Comet" and "Goldy." Classic.
On our way up to the County this week-end, we also caught four red bellied salamanders and tons of worms. We let the boys love on them for about four days, and once they got a little lethargic, we convinced kidlets to let them free in Grampy's backyard "to catch when we come up to visit again!" Smart, eh?
And today, Daddy and Kaden went on a day long fishing trip and came back with three little salamanders: two red backs and one pure red salamander that might be a newt. Not sure on that one. Kaden also brought home some sort of beetle for Sir Jester....but he might be dead already. Those pudgy fingers are none too gentle.
Oh, and we also have about a dozen crickets waiting to be lunch for any new frogs that we may find on our walks this week.
Good times. Good times.
**Update: As of this morning - Tuesday, April 28 - we are down one salamander. He's loose in the house. New rules have been established. No more carrying around our pets. Joy.
A Week-end in the County.....
.....and why it soothes my soul. Oooh, let me just count the ways!!!
:: A 2 hour drive north while kidlets sleep, coffee in hand, with nothing to look at but trees.
:: A pee pit stop at the Mt. Katahdin overlook...running up into the woods with Kaden and finding 4 salamanders and huge worms to entertain the boys for the rest of the trip.
:: Sleeping in every morning until 8:30 or 9:00 while the grandparents play with the kids.
:: LIVING outside in our wellies and getting sunburned and filthy.
:: Wading in the stream out back and floating wooden boats down it.
:: Four-wheeling for hours and stopping to fish at the river.
:: Bonfires and hotdog roasts.
:: Antiquing with Mom while the boys watch the kidlets.
:: Visiting with family in that slow, easy way.
:: People popping in for coffee, because that's just what you do!
:: Petting freshly hatched baby chicks.
:: Sitting outside in lawn chairs while listening to Hank Williams.
:: Remembering to just stop and truly savor life.
Ahhh, bliss!
:: A 2 hour drive north while kidlets sleep, coffee in hand, with nothing to look at but trees.
:: A pee pit stop at the Mt. Katahdin overlook...running up into the woods with Kaden and finding 4 salamanders and huge worms to entertain the boys for the rest of the trip.
:: Sleeping in every morning until 8:30 or 9:00 while the grandparents play with the kids.
:: LIVING outside in our wellies and getting sunburned and filthy.
:: Wading in the stream out back and floating wooden boats down it.
:: Four-wheeling for hours and stopping to fish at the river.
:: Bonfires and hotdog roasts.
:: Antiquing with Mom while the boys watch the kidlets.
:: Visiting with family in that slow, easy way.
:: People popping in for coffee, because that's just what you do!
:: Petting freshly hatched baby chicks.
:: Sitting outside in lawn chairs while listening to Hank Williams.
:: Remembering to just stop and truly savor life.
Ahhh, bliss!
I am In Love.....
And Sarah is my hero. No joke - I mean it. Although, I'm a little frustrated because your maternity pants rock, but they're all two inches too highwater for me!
As of today, I have solidified my choice of midwife practice and hospital for baby #3....and it turns out that all three kidlets will be born in different places with different people delivering them. That's okay, right?
Ever since we've moved home, I've been stressed out of my tree because I really really did not want to deliver this baby in the same hospital where I delivered Kaden. I know that this could be a completely different birth experience, and that no two deliveries would be alike, and I would have someone different deliver this baby, and I could maybe even possibly have a fantastic experience there etc. etc.
But, to be honest, I don't even want to entertain the thought. Kaden's birth was just way too traumatic for me. I get nauseaus just driving by that hospital and am having a hard time getting past that, so I've been praying and searching for an alternative route.
WELL!!!!
Really long story short - thanks to some legwork by Sarah - and some mass amounts of praying on Kev's and my part, the Lord has led us both to a hospital and a midwife practice that I am very much in love with. The hospital is a half hour drive away - it was a 45 minute drive for Jesse - so this is no big deal. It's very small, which I like. Each room is decorated differently and made to be very cozy. Each room has it's own shower, and whether I use it or not, I want the option without having to walk down the hall. There is a tub where I can both labor and deliver in if I so choose. And what sold me - hands down - is the nurse saying multiple times "We are known for letting the women write their own birth stories."
They are also very family friendly. There are no visiting hours - family and friends can come whenever I so choose. The recovery rooms don't just have a chair for Kev to spend the night in with me - he'll get his own bed. AND - sometime during our stay, after the baby's birth, we will be given a special meal to share together to celebrate our "accomplishment!"
They know how to "sit on their hands" and wait, they don't do anything just for routine purposes - no automatic I.V.'s, no external belly monitoring for extended periods of time, they don't even offer epidurals, and they are known for being patient, for listening to the moms, and for willing to wait things out. All VERY important things for me.
And today, I met the owner and founder of the midwife practice down the road and she completely sold me on the deal. I took her my records from both boys and she said that she is perfectly comfortable having me as a patient, AND if the same thing were to repeat itself she would not rush to induce like what happened with Kaden. She said she would watch me closely, but she is a huge proponent of waiting and letting the body take care of things when it's ready. She is right across the board with us on SO many things - she is a proponent of all things natural and homeopathic, she knew of all of the crazy supplements and things I was taking for Jesse and she approves and will even write prescriptions for them, there was absolutely no pressure on different tests, shots, and procedures, and she was just so so awesome.
Like I said, I'm in love. I am just so happy and so relieved and so thankful. Even if the end of my pregnancy goes ka-put I feel very confident and secure in our decision of who will take care of us, and Kev feels the same. Thank you, Jesus!
As of today, I have solidified my choice of midwife practice and hospital for baby #3....and it turns out that all three kidlets will be born in different places with different people delivering them. That's okay, right?
Ever since we've moved home, I've been stressed out of my tree because I really really did not want to deliver this baby in the same hospital where I delivered Kaden. I know that this could be a completely different birth experience, and that no two deliveries would be alike, and I would have someone different deliver this baby, and I could maybe even possibly have a fantastic experience there etc. etc.
But, to be honest, I don't even want to entertain the thought. Kaden's birth was just way too traumatic for me. I get nauseaus just driving by that hospital and am having a hard time getting past that, so I've been praying and searching for an alternative route.
WELL!!!!
Really long story short - thanks to some legwork by Sarah - and some mass amounts of praying on Kev's and my part, the Lord has led us both to a hospital and a midwife practice that I am very much in love with. The hospital is a half hour drive away - it was a 45 minute drive for Jesse - so this is no big deal. It's very small, which I like. Each room is decorated differently and made to be very cozy. Each room has it's own shower, and whether I use it or not, I want the option without having to walk down the hall. There is a tub where I can both labor and deliver in if I so choose. And what sold me - hands down - is the nurse saying multiple times "We are known for letting the women write their own birth stories."
They are also very family friendly. There are no visiting hours - family and friends can come whenever I so choose. The recovery rooms don't just have a chair for Kev to spend the night in with me - he'll get his own bed. AND - sometime during our stay, after the baby's birth, we will be given a special meal to share together to celebrate our "accomplishment!"
They know how to "sit on their hands" and wait, they don't do anything just for routine purposes - no automatic I.V.'s, no external belly monitoring for extended periods of time, they don't even offer epidurals, and they are known for being patient, for listening to the moms, and for willing to wait things out. All VERY important things for me.
And today, I met the owner and founder of the midwife practice down the road and she completely sold me on the deal. I took her my records from both boys and she said that she is perfectly comfortable having me as a patient, AND if the same thing were to repeat itself she would not rush to induce like what happened with Kaden. She said she would watch me closely, but she is a huge proponent of waiting and letting the body take care of things when it's ready. She is right across the board with us on SO many things - she is a proponent of all things natural and homeopathic, she knew of all of the crazy supplements and things I was taking for Jesse and she approves and will even write prescriptions for them, there was absolutely no pressure on different tests, shots, and procedures, and she was just so so awesome.
Like I said, I'm in love. I am just so happy and so relieved and so thankful. Even if the end of my pregnancy goes ka-put I feel very confident and secure in our decision of who will take care of us, and Kev feels the same. Thank you, Jesus!
Good Beginnings
Just want to write a little quicky on how I was awakened today.
The boys all clambered into bed with us and proceeded to have "boy club" talks on what we were going to do for an adventure today. Life has been spinning a little bit out of control lately, so we decided to take a break from it and go on an adventure. While they planned it and wrestled with Daddy - they know better than to do that with me first thing in the morning - I rolled back over tried to catch an extra couple of minutes.
Finally, they all snuck out to make some breakfast together, and I immediately fell back into a deep, deep slumber. And this is where it gets cute. I was awakened out of the deepest of sleeps by Kaden crawling up onto me and excitedly playing me "London Bridge" with his saxophone that he just taught himself, and by Jesse shoving a handful of pineapple pieces into my mouth and wiping his slimy little hands down my cheeks!
Now is that a way to wake up, or what? Music and breakfast in bed! It's like a five star resort around here!
The boys all clambered into bed with us and proceeded to have "boy club" talks on what we were going to do for an adventure today. Life has been spinning a little bit out of control lately, so we decided to take a break from it and go on an adventure. While they planned it and wrestled with Daddy - they know better than to do that with me first thing in the morning - I rolled back over tried to catch an extra couple of minutes.
Finally, they all snuck out to make some breakfast together, and I immediately fell back into a deep, deep slumber. And this is where it gets cute. I was awakened out of the deepest of sleeps by Kaden crawling up onto me and excitedly playing me "London Bridge" with his saxophone that he just taught himself, and by Jesse shoving a handful of pineapple pieces into my mouth and wiping his slimy little hands down my cheeks!
Now is that a way to wake up, or what? Music and breakfast in bed! It's like a five star resort around here!
Resurrection Rolls
This time of year it's always fun to do lots of Easter activities with the kids. Anything to help bring the lesson of Jesus' death and resurrection closer to home is good for me. And if it's tasty - well, that's just a bonus.
Try this easy sneezy recipe with your kidlets.
Resurrection Rolls Recipe
(each item represents how Jesus' body was prepared for burial)
Large Marshmallows
Melted Butter
Sugar/Cinnamon mixture
Can of Crescent Rolls
1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles. The rolls represent the linen wrapping used in covering the dead.
2. Dip and roll one marshmallow (representing Jesus' body) into melted butter The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.
3. Roll the marshmallow in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. The mixture represents the spices used in burials.
4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle. Fold and pinch the edges tight. Put each crescent-wrapped marshmallow on a slightly greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake the rolls as directed on he package. The oven represents the tomb.
When cooked, the marshmallow melts leaving only the puffed crescent roll.
This demonstrates how Jesus rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen wrappings.
These are surprisingly tasty. ENJOY!!!
Try this easy sneezy recipe with your kidlets.
Resurrection Rolls Recipe
(each item represents how Jesus' body was prepared for burial)
Large Marshmallows
Melted Butter
Sugar/Cinnamon mixture
Can of Crescent Rolls
1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles. The rolls represent the linen wrapping used in covering the dead.
2. Dip and roll one marshmallow (representing Jesus' body) into melted butter The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.
3. Roll the marshmallow in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. The mixture represents the spices used in burials.
4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle. Fold and pinch the edges tight. Put each crescent-wrapped marshmallow on a slightly greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake the rolls as directed on he package. The oven represents the tomb.
When cooked, the marshmallow melts leaving only the puffed crescent roll.
This demonstrates how Jesus rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen wrappings.
These are surprisingly tasty. ENJOY!!!
Boyz.......
In the past few weeks, my boys really seem to be coming into their, shall we say, "boyhood" much more than they ever have before. A certain wildness has begun to characterize them like never before. Suddenly more than ever, certain "noises" strike them as uncontrollably hilarious, they find it hysterical to strip down to their undies and diaper and streak through the house at top speeds, and the newest development in the Booker household is that of the "Boys Club" where no girls are allowed.....except for Mama if they so choose to give me the secret password!
A couple of nights ago, the family activity of choice was for the THREE of my boys to set traps in the kid's bedroom and see if they could get me when I walked in "unknowingly." Most of the traps were silly, and I totally saw them coming. But the one that sent Kev bent over backwards in hysterics was pulling a rope to have their basketball hoop fall on Mama's head....ahem...in my "delicate condition".....I didn't quite see the hilarity in this one! OH the joy.
Me thinks maybe - just maybe - a wee girly might reset the balance a bit.....
HOWEVER - I MUST say that the perks of being in a household of all boys is quite lovely in many ways. Kaden told me just a couple of days ago that one of his most favorite things to do in the day is to get in bed and snuggle with me first thing in the morning. How precious is that? And Jesse is very much into showing me his brute strength lately by randomly ALL throughout the day coming and giving me "stong huks!" - (Strong Hugs!) Melt my heart. Life is good.
I can handle the wildness, I guess.
A couple of nights ago, the family activity of choice was for the THREE of my boys to set traps in the kid's bedroom and see if they could get me when I walked in "unknowingly." Most of the traps were silly, and I totally saw them coming. But the one that sent Kev bent over backwards in hysterics was pulling a rope to have their basketball hoop fall on Mama's head....ahem...in my "delicate condition".....I didn't quite see the hilarity in this one! OH the joy.
Me thinks maybe - just maybe - a wee girly might reset the balance a bit.....
HOWEVER - I MUST say that the perks of being in a household of all boys is quite lovely in many ways. Kaden told me just a couple of days ago that one of his most favorite things to do in the day is to get in bed and snuggle with me first thing in the morning. How precious is that? And Jesse is very much into showing me his brute strength lately by randomly ALL throughout the day coming and giving me "stong huks!" - (Strong Hugs!) Melt my heart. Life is good.
I can handle the wildness, I guess.
It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
For my boys and I at least.......
Tis the season for bugs and creepy crawlies! Whoo-hooo! We have been waiting, I tell you. And this day - as I type - we have not one, but FOUR treasures gracing my cupboard space. A strange sort of beetle that I have yet to discover the name. Her name is Georgia....but Kaden pulled one of her legs off by accident, and she kicked the bucket a couple of days ago. No tears shed though, for on our walk two days ago, we found a sweet little wooly bear caterpillar who now resides with dead Georgia.
And THEN!!! Last night on our way home from support raising, at around 9:00 at night with two very tired kidlets, Daddy joined in on the action and stopped the car in the middle of an old country road so that I could jump out and catch us two little froggies! Oh the excitement that abounded! We put them in an old coffee cup for the rest of the ride home and those frogs were nuts in there - they almost escaped through the hole twice. Once we got home to the lobby, one did escape and started hopping down the hallway! Friday night excitement, I tell you! So, now we have two little "WOGS!!!" as Jesse likes to scream at them: George and Georgia (in honor of Missy dead beetle).
Oh the joy! It's the first thing on their minds in the morning. While I was still in bed today, I heard them laughing hysterically because one got loose and was hopping all over the kitchen!
Now, we are watching and waiting for frogs' eggs and salamadars that will soon join our fun little stash of counter decor. And shortly after that there will be crayfish and more caterpillars to turn to moths and worms and bugs and - oh - maybe a baby kitten thrown in there too! Who knows!
I did say that we were embracing the chaos!
Come on over and meet the new family!
* * * * * *
(Man - if it's a girl, she'd better not be woosy........)
Tis the season for bugs and creepy crawlies! Whoo-hooo! We have been waiting, I tell you. And this day - as I type - we have not one, but FOUR treasures gracing my cupboard space. A strange sort of beetle that I have yet to discover the name. Her name is Georgia....but Kaden pulled one of her legs off by accident, and she kicked the bucket a couple of days ago. No tears shed though, for on our walk two days ago, we found a sweet little wooly bear caterpillar who now resides with dead Georgia.
And THEN!!! Last night on our way home from support raising, at around 9:00 at night with two very tired kidlets, Daddy joined in on the action and stopped the car in the middle of an old country road so that I could jump out and catch us two little froggies! Oh the excitement that abounded! We put them in an old coffee cup for the rest of the ride home and those frogs were nuts in there - they almost escaped through the hole twice. Once we got home to the lobby, one did escape and started hopping down the hallway! Friday night excitement, I tell you! So, now we have two little "WOGS!!!" as Jesse likes to scream at them: George and Georgia (in honor of Missy dead beetle).
Oh the joy! It's the first thing on their minds in the morning. While I was still in bed today, I heard them laughing hysterically because one got loose and was hopping all over the kitchen!
Now, we are watching and waiting for frogs' eggs and salamadars that will soon join our fun little stash of counter decor. And shortly after that there will be crayfish and more caterpillars to turn to moths and worms and bugs and - oh - maybe a baby kitten thrown in there too! Who knows!
I did say that we were embracing the chaos!
Come on over and meet the new family!
* * * * * *
(Man - if it's a girl, she'd better not be woosy........)
A Booker Kind of a Week-End
It's been a busy few days, so this week-end was a welcome respite.
I left my mostest fave down vest and car keys at the Bar Harbor Inn where I stayed when I went scrapbooking, so on Friday, we had a really great excuse to head to the ocean again. We lounged around the house all morning and then loaded into the car around the time I hoped Jesse would konk out for a snooze. We found a new, cheap, and super cool coffee shop in Ellsworth where we split some soup and bagels for lunch - delish - and then we headed onward.
It was such a gorgeous day at the ocean - really the first that we've had since we've been home. (The week-end that I went scrapbooking was beautiful, too, but I was too focused on my work to enjoy the weather). So, we just spent the whole rest of the afternoon walking along the trails and the shoreline collecting shells, throwing rocks into the water, searching for treasures, rolling down grassy hills, and just going along at the boy's pace.
It was lovely. I love this time of year where when we play outside I'm constantly reminded to slow down and to look at the world through their eyes. Jesse wants to collect every stick. Kaden wants to turn over every rock in hopes of a worm or a bug or a salamander, and there is just absolutely no rush whatsoever.
I love that.
We spent an awesome evening with friends on Saturday night enjoying delish food, guitar playing by the guys, and a little Wall-E with the kidlets. Good times.
And today is supposed to be the Mommy's Monday that I host each week. But, just about every Mommy was away for the week-end and feeling the need to be nesting in their own homes this morning. So, we are all cozied up inside our little abode right now, too. It's 11:00 and we're ALL still in our p.j.'s...well, actually the kids are running around like hoodlums in their undies. Daddy made eggs and homefries for breakfast. And we're just chillaxing.
Plans are being made for a nature walk and some grocery getting a bit later in the day....and it's aaaaallllll good.
Happy Monday!
I left my mostest fave down vest and car keys at the Bar Harbor Inn where I stayed when I went scrapbooking, so on Friday, we had a really great excuse to head to the ocean again. We lounged around the house all morning and then loaded into the car around the time I hoped Jesse would konk out for a snooze. We found a new, cheap, and super cool coffee shop in Ellsworth where we split some soup and bagels for lunch - delish - and then we headed onward.
It was such a gorgeous day at the ocean - really the first that we've had since we've been home. (The week-end that I went scrapbooking was beautiful, too, but I was too focused on my work to enjoy the weather). So, we just spent the whole rest of the afternoon walking along the trails and the shoreline collecting shells, throwing rocks into the water, searching for treasures, rolling down grassy hills, and just going along at the boy's pace.
It was lovely. I love this time of year where when we play outside I'm constantly reminded to slow down and to look at the world through their eyes. Jesse wants to collect every stick. Kaden wants to turn over every rock in hopes of a worm or a bug or a salamander, and there is just absolutely no rush whatsoever.
I love that.
We spent an awesome evening with friends on Saturday night enjoying delish food, guitar playing by the guys, and a little Wall-E with the kidlets. Good times.
And today is supposed to be the Mommy's Monday that I host each week. But, just about every Mommy was away for the week-end and feeling the need to be nesting in their own homes this morning. So, we are all cozied up inside our little abode right now, too. It's 11:00 and we're ALL still in our p.j.'s...well, actually the kids are running around like hoodlums in their undies. Daddy made eggs and homefries for breakfast. And we're just chillaxing.
Plans are being made for a nature walk and some grocery getting a bit later in the day....and it's aaaaallllll good.
Happy Monday!
news, News, NEWS!!!
Wait for it.
Wait for it.
Well, now! What in the world is this?????
We are pleased and proud to announce that we have another baby on the way!!!
How far along you ask? Well, he/she is about this big:
and is due right around October 11. My very first Fall baby. Hmmm. We shall see how we do through the winter months of feeling cagey with a baby - if they are anything like my other two - who screams all the blessed day long! I am praying for a happy one. Maybe I didn't pray hard enough for the other two! :0)
More to come later on our thoughts and ponderings, the boys' reactions - Jesse screamed "HI BABY!!!" at the sonogram machine during our visit. It was pretty cute! etc., etc. For now, we just wanted to share our news with the world.
Usually I wait a little longer - until about fifteen weeks or so. I'm only about eleven and a half now. But, Kev oh so graciously asked the other day: "Soooo. How long do you think you're going to be able to hide that paunch?!" Therefore, this time, we are sharing with the world a little early....I don't really have much choice! :0)
Suffice it to say - we are excited and happy. And we are psyching ourselves up to "embrace the chaos!" This is my new theme in life!
Wait for it.
Well, now! What in the world is this?????
We are pleased and proud to announce that we have another baby on the way!!!
How far along you ask? Well, he/she is about this big:
and is due right around October 11. My very first Fall baby. Hmmm. We shall see how we do through the winter months of feeling cagey with a baby - if they are anything like my other two - who screams all the blessed day long! I am praying for a happy one. Maybe I didn't pray hard enough for the other two! :0)
More to come later on our thoughts and ponderings, the boys' reactions - Jesse screamed "HI BABY!!!" at the sonogram machine during our visit. It was pretty cute! etc., etc. For now, we just wanted to share our news with the world.
Usually I wait a little longer - until about fifteen weeks or so. I'm only about eleven and a half now. But, Kev oh so graciously asked the other day: "Soooo. How long do you think you're going to be able to hide that paunch?!" Therefore, this time, we are sharing with the world a little early....I don't really have much choice! :0)
Suffice it to say - we are excited and happy. And we are psyching ourselves up to "embrace the chaos!" This is my new theme in life!
Tea for Twenty!
We had our very first Mother's Tea this morning, and for the first time of ever having done this sort of event, I think that it was a rousing success! Twenty Mommies were able to make it, there were no major glitches, and I think that overall the goal was accomplished of having them come and be refreshed and leave with a renewed sense of purpose that we are are doing as Moms is viewed in the Lord's eyes as something that is of utmost importance.
I know of at least ten who were not able to come because of child care - or lack thereof, at least three who had to work, and a few more who had sick kidlets at home, so I think with each time, this has potential to grow bigger and better.
I'm posting just a couple of pictures, but they really don't do justice to the cozy little atmosphere that we had with china teacups and saucers, candles, and individual teapots for each table. We had delish little finger foods, we played some silly games and gave away lots of fun prizes, and a sweet older Mama shared with us from her heart and had many of us in tears. So sweet.
We've learned a few things to make it better next time, we got some good ideas from the ladies of topics they would like to have covered in the future, and we're revving up for a summer event that will most likely take place on a Saturday so that hopefully there will be some Daddies out there who will be able to cover for a couple of hours so more Mommies can make it.
.....And next time the tea will stay hot. We promise.
I know of at least ten who were not able to come because of child care - or lack thereof, at least three who had to work, and a few more who had sick kidlets at home, so I think with each time, this has potential to grow bigger and better.
I'm posting just a couple of pictures, but they really don't do justice to the cozy little atmosphere that we had with china teacups and saucers, candles, and individual teapots for each table. We had delish little finger foods, we played some silly games and gave away lots of fun prizes, and a sweet older Mama shared with us from her heart and had many of us in tears. So sweet.
We've learned a few things to make it better next time, we got some good ideas from the ladies of topics they would like to have covered in the future, and we're revving up for a summer event that will most likely take place on a Saturday so that hopefully there will be some Daddies out there who will be able to cover for a couple of hours so more Mommies can make it.
.....And next time the tea will stay hot. We promise.
A Young Mother's Tea
I'm not really sure who even reads this blog....or who checks out my facebook page. BUT - just in case there might be someone who hasn't heard of this fun little event taking place on Wednesday morning, this post is for you!
A friend and I are hosting a wee get together for any young mom in the area - or out of the area, for that matter. Any mother who has young children is welcome to attend. We want you to come and just take a break with us and enjoy sweet fellowship and fun food with other moms. You spend all day every day serving the ones that you love most. Now is your chance to come and be served by US!!
Normally, I am ALL about bringing your kids with you - it's easier, it's more cost effective, AND it's a fun chance for them to all play together anyway. But for this one event, we are asking that you find someone to care for your children for those two hours - and we promise (we pray!) that it will be worth it!
We have a really fun atmosphere donated to us for the occasion, we'll be serving coffee and tea out of beautiful teacups and saucers, we'll have tons of fun finger foods, random prizes given away, and a "seasoned veteran mom" will share some encouragement and truth with us that what we are doing is important!!!
Mothering matters. It is the highest of callings - and it is so easy to forget and be discouraged amidst the season of diapers and sibling fights and the mundane same old same old. The entire goal of this little get together will be for moms to leave with their tanks completely filled up - physically, emotionally, and most importantly spiritually. II Timothy talks about the older women teaching the younger women. Maybe older moms feel that they have nothing of importance to share. Maybe some of us come across acting like we have all of the answers. Either way, God tells us that we need each other, and we don't do it enough. I think this will be a pretty fun way to live out some practical Scripture.
So if you can come and bring a friend - it'll be awesome! If you can't come, please pray for us. Pray that women are blessed, that some unsaved Mommies come and are exposed to the Lord and to a whole new community of women, and that, above all, Christ is honored and lifted up during these two hours.
Here are the stats:
When: Wednesday, March 25 - as in TWO DAYS!
Where: The Light House Christian Cafe - 453 Wilson St., Brewer
(Attached to Vacationland Village Inn)
Time: 9:00-11:00
A friend and I are hosting a wee get together for any young mom in the area - or out of the area, for that matter. Any mother who has young children is welcome to attend. We want you to come and just take a break with us and enjoy sweet fellowship and fun food with other moms. You spend all day every day serving the ones that you love most. Now is your chance to come and be served by US!!
Normally, I am ALL about bringing your kids with you - it's easier, it's more cost effective, AND it's a fun chance for them to all play together anyway. But for this one event, we are asking that you find someone to care for your children for those two hours - and we promise (we pray!) that it will be worth it!
We have a really fun atmosphere donated to us for the occasion, we'll be serving coffee and tea out of beautiful teacups and saucers, we'll have tons of fun finger foods, random prizes given away, and a "seasoned veteran mom" will share some encouragement and truth with us that what we are doing is important!!!
Mothering matters. It is the highest of callings - and it is so easy to forget and be discouraged amidst the season of diapers and sibling fights and the mundane same old same old. The entire goal of this little get together will be for moms to leave with their tanks completely filled up - physically, emotionally, and most importantly spiritually. II Timothy talks about the older women teaching the younger women. Maybe older moms feel that they have nothing of importance to share. Maybe some of us come across acting like we have all of the answers. Either way, God tells us that we need each other, and we don't do it enough. I think this will be a pretty fun way to live out some practical Scripture.
So if you can come and bring a friend - it'll be awesome! If you can't come, please pray for us. Pray that women are blessed, that some unsaved Mommies come and are exposed to the Lord and to a whole new community of women, and that, above all, Christ is honored and lifted up during these two hours.
Here are the stats:
When: Wednesday, March 25 - as in TWO DAYS!
Where: The Light House Christian Cafe - 453 Wilson St., Brewer
(Attached to Vacationland Village Inn)
Time: 9:00-11:00
Scrap-a-dee-doo-dah!
Just got back from a glorious week-end of scrapbooking in beautiful Bar Harbor with lovely friends. I am a "task oriented people person," so this week-end was just perfect for my little personality. I was able to accomplish something that has been hanging over my head for months - getting caught up on my albums - while enjoying sweet fellowship with some wonderful women.
Part of me feels like I was gone forever, and the other part of me feels like it was just a blip and now I'm back home and ready to step back into life again. This little hiatus was just the thing that I needed, and now I feel completely refreshed and rejuvenated. It has been almost two years since I have been away from all of my boy loves. Crazy.
They are all sleeping right now....but I cannot WAIT for them to wake up!
THIS is why I love little getaways once in awhile. They make me realize afresh and anew how truly full my life is and just how much love I have waiting back home for me. I am refueled and refreshed and ready to pour back into them again. Awesome.
And the amount of pages accomplished? No journaling, mind you - just the pictures with the borders, stickers, titles etc - but STILL!!!
101!!! That's right.
Part of me feels like I was gone forever, and the other part of me feels like it was just a blip and now I'm back home and ready to step back into life again. This little hiatus was just the thing that I needed, and now I feel completely refreshed and rejuvenated. It has been almost two years since I have been away from all of my boy loves. Crazy.
They are all sleeping right now....but I cannot WAIT for them to wake up!
THIS is why I love little getaways once in awhile. They make me realize afresh and anew how truly full my life is and just how much love I have waiting back home for me. I am refueled and refreshed and ready to pour back into them again. Awesome.
And the amount of pages accomplished? No journaling, mind you - just the pictures with the borders, stickers, titles etc - but STILL!!!
101!!! That's right.
Life
Wow....I'm really rotting at this whole posting thing lately.
Lots of little things happening lately. Mostly just life stuff. I'm finally starting to feel like I know what I'm doing at work. It's definitly not my LOVE sitting in an office by myself and working with numbers, paying bills etc. I actually find it quite funny that this is what I am getting paid to do, as I don't really have a sweet clue of the bills and money happenings in my own home! If Kev were to kick the bucket, I know where he keeps the file of "our life," but other than that - things wouldn't go south pretty fast!
Ah well. My work is only a few hours a week, it pays some bills, and I love the school. One couldn't ask for a nicer atmosphere to work in. This is the place where Kaden spent two days each week the first year of his life - in a little swing, exersaucer, or johnny jump up! The Lord knew that we needed to have Kaden first - Jesse would have lasted ten minutes in that tiny space before he would've freaked out, and I would've gotten fired! :0)
For our family day last week, we all went ice fishing on super slippery Green Lake. Jesse was not impressed at his lack of ability to stay standing, so I pushed him around on a sled. I took one nice digger that Daddy got a good picture of AND stuck my entire boot right through a hole in the ice, but other than that, we stayed relatively dry. We had hot chocolate and played around on the ice until naptime. One of our bait fish lived to see another day, so he is now our pet "until he dies," says Kaden. And his name.....wait for it...."Fishy." Of course.
We had a wonderful friend from Pennsylvania come and visit us for a long weekend this past week. He was sort of like a surrogate uncle to the kids while we lived out there. I fear Kaden may have sucked him dry, but he seemed to have a good time.
We took him to the coast, as he had never been there before - in 20 degree weather. It was FREEZING but beautiful. We fed the seagulls, and one POOPED on my head! That's a first! It felt like someone threw a rock at my skull! Both boys were quite the gentlemen as they proceeded to double over laughing hysterically before Kev would wipe it out of my hair for me! Good times! :0)
And now we are in the throes of support raising. It's been a slow start, but I do love getting together with people that we know and love and just hanging with each other for a few hours, sharing food and our hearts with them. It's been really nice reconnecting and building our team. There's always some wonderful encouragement right when we need it!
I'm off to scrapbook for the weekend with some friends, and I CAN'T WAIT! It has been well over a year since I even touched a photo. I have grand plans for what I hope to accomplish - 1,400 pics give or take. We shall see. We shall see.
And today, we are just hanging home - two boys with colds and their Mommy. A slow, lazy day of making bread, reading Little House on the Prairie, watching an occasional show, and maybe some painting...maybe even a baby to snuggle if friends want to enter the germ house!
Happy Wednesday!
Lots of little things happening lately. Mostly just life stuff. I'm finally starting to feel like I know what I'm doing at work. It's definitly not my LOVE sitting in an office by myself and working with numbers, paying bills etc. I actually find it quite funny that this is what I am getting paid to do, as I don't really have a sweet clue of the bills and money happenings in my own home! If Kev were to kick the bucket, I know where he keeps the file of "our life," but other than that - things wouldn't go south pretty fast!
Ah well. My work is only a few hours a week, it pays some bills, and I love the school. One couldn't ask for a nicer atmosphere to work in. This is the place where Kaden spent two days each week the first year of his life - in a little swing, exersaucer, or johnny jump up! The Lord knew that we needed to have Kaden first - Jesse would have lasted ten minutes in that tiny space before he would've freaked out, and I would've gotten fired! :0)
For our family day last week, we all went ice fishing on super slippery Green Lake. Jesse was not impressed at his lack of ability to stay standing, so I pushed him around on a sled. I took one nice digger that Daddy got a good picture of AND stuck my entire boot right through a hole in the ice, but other than that, we stayed relatively dry. We had hot chocolate and played around on the ice until naptime. One of our bait fish lived to see another day, so he is now our pet "until he dies," says Kaden. And his name.....wait for it...."Fishy." Of course.
We had a wonderful friend from Pennsylvania come and visit us for a long weekend this past week. He was sort of like a surrogate uncle to the kids while we lived out there. I fear Kaden may have sucked him dry, but he seemed to have a good time.
We took him to the coast, as he had never been there before - in 20 degree weather. It was FREEZING but beautiful. We fed the seagulls, and one POOPED on my head! That's a first! It felt like someone threw a rock at my skull! Both boys were quite the gentlemen as they proceeded to double over laughing hysterically before Kev would wipe it out of my hair for me! Good times! :0)
And now we are in the throes of support raising. It's been a slow start, but I do love getting together with people that we know and love and just hanging with each other for a few hours, sharing food and our hearts with them. It's been really nice reconnecting and building our team. There's always some wonderful encouragement right when we need it!
I'm off to scrapbook for the weekend with some friends, and I CAN'T WAIT! It has been well over a year since I even touched a photo. I have grand plans for what I hope to accomplish - 1,400 pics give or take. We shall see. We shall see.
And today, we are just hanging home - two boys with colds and their Mommy. A slow, lazy day of making bread, reading Little House on the Prairie, watching an occasional show, and maybe some painting...maybe even a baby to snuggle if friends want to enter the germ house!
Happy Wednesday!
Been Awhile.....
I just realized that I have been off the radar for quite some time now. I seem to go through phases of posting daily and sometimes multiple times daily...to people wondering if I've died because of the length of time that goes between posting!
I haven't purposefully become a hermit. I think that's just how I get sometimes when my life feels a little bit out of control and when there is so much change going on that I don't quite know how to process it all. I am quite a creature of habit, and I love when my life has a somewhat predictable routine. I talk big about "bringing on the change," but when it actually happens, it throws me for a loop until I can find a rhythm again.
Needless to say, there's pretty much nothing about our lives right now that looks like it did a few weeks ago. Well - that's not true. Kev is still leading worship at our church, and things are going really well there. AND - a huge blessing to us is that our landlord has guaranteed us another year here with our rent staying the same if Kev helps out a few hours a week marketing the hotel. So, those things are steady and stable. Two huge things for which I am thankful.
Pretty much everything else though.......whew! The winds of change are upon us. And it's good - it's all very good. It's just a lot to wrap my brain around. Whenever our family goes through a season of change - which seems to happen a lot with us - I always find myself really thoughtful as we process through all of the new.
It is during these somewhat stressful times of change that the Lord reminds me afresh and anew of my great need for Him, of the necessity of making time, and of the need to be still amidst the crazyness to hear His still small voice calling me and wooing me back to Him. He knows my heart. He knows what needs to be done. He knows what I need, and he knows the needs of my family.
He promises me just what I need for today. The light He provides for my path is just enough to see ahead for the next couple of steps. That is enough.
"He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in his bosom, and He shall gently lead those that are with young." - Isaiah 40:11.
I haven't purposefully become a hermit. I think that's just how I get sometimes when my life feels a little bit out of control and when there is so much change going on that I don't quite know how to process it all. I am quite a creature of habit, and I love when my life has a somewhat predictable routine. I talk big about "bringing on the change," but when it actually happens, it throws me for a loop until I can find a rhythm again.
Needless to say, there's pretty much nothing about our lives right now that looks like it did a few weeks ago. Well - that's not true. Kev is still leading worship at our church, and things are going really well there. AND - a huge blessing to us is that our landlord has guaranteed us another year here with our rent staying the same if Kev helps out a few hours a week marketing the hotel. So, those things are steady and stable. Two huge things for which I am thankful.
Pretty much everything else though.......whew! The winds of change are upon us. And it's good - it's all very good. It's just a lot to wrap my brain around. Whenever our family goes through a season of change - which seems to happen a lot with us - I always find myself really thoughtful as we process through all of the new.
It is during these somewhat stressful times of change that the Lord reminds me afresh and anew of my great need for Him, of the necessity of making time, and of the need to be still amidst the crazyness to hear His still small voice calling me and wooing me back to Him. He knows my heart. He knows what needs to be done. He knows what I need, and he knows the needs of my family.
He promises me just what I need for today. The light He provides for my path is just enough to see ahead for the next couple of steps. That is enough.
"He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in his bosom, and He shall gently lead those that are with young." - Isaiah 40:11.
Making Time
Came across a poem yesterday that I love. So good for me.....this mother who struggles with always wanting to accomplish things, who has a hard time just sitting and "being;" yet, who so desperately doesn't want to have any regrets.
* * * * * * *
Time is of the Essence
Now is the time to get things done,
wade in the water,
sit in the sun,
squish my toes
in the mud by the door,
explore the world in a boy just four.
Now is the time to study books,
flowers,
snails,
how a cloud looks;
to ponder "up,"
where God sleeps at nights,
why mosquitoes take such big bites.
Later there'll be time
to sew and clean,
paint the hall
that soft new green,
to make new drapes,
refinish the floor -
Later on....when he's not just four.
* * * * * * *
So good......so good
* * * * * * *
Time is of the Essence
Now is the time to get things done,
wade in the water,
sit in the sun,
squish my toes
in the mud by the door,
explore the world in a boy just four.
Now is the time to study books,
flowers,
snails,
how a cloud looks;
to ponder "up,"
where God sleeps at nights,
why mosquitoes take such big bites.
Later there'll be time
to sew and clean,
paint the hall
that soft new green,
to make new drapes,
refinish the floor -
Later on....when he's not just four.
* * * * * * *
So good......so good
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