The other side of our Thanksgiving weekend

Friday morning we got on the road a bit quicker, maybe because we had a lot farther to go. We stopped in Athens for lunch at 5 Star Day, of course and the headed up to the lake. We did really well in the car, watched movies, read books (the kids and I read the Quiltmaker's Gift and I read Bringing up Boys.) Ben and Milly beat us by about 30 minutes. We made a quick turn around back into the car and headed off in search of a 'hike' and a waterfall. Also known as going on an 'adventure.' It was really fun! We ended up going up after 2 waterfalls. The first one there was another family around to take our picture. It was pretty squishy around the waterfall, H wanted to get in the water! They piddled around, continually moving around and wanting to get to different parts. The boys also really liked chunking rocks in the water. The kids ran all the way back down the path. When the got to the bottom Ek immediately plopped down to play in the dirt. We got back in the car and headed to the next one. This one was a bit harder to find but so worth it. It was very hidden in the trees, had a bigger fall, well not really bigger like taller but more water falling over. The rocks were great for climbing too. L rode in a backpack on the first one and got frustrated after being there a while. I don't think it was uncomfortable, I think it was just she wanted to play. She had much for fun at the second. Oddly at the second one, someone had stacked rocks to make a grill. Who? What? On the way back I was helping Ek and we ran all the way back down again. The she plopped down again to play in the dirt. We headed back to the lake to fix supper. Our adventure was really fun. I think the kids had a great a time. Then a bit of drama began. We planned to spend the weekend at the lake but after we gave all the kids baths, the water didn't turn on. Dad said he was worried we might run out of gas for the furnace or wood for the fire but never thought we'd fun out of water. How strange. Thankfully we had the heat and electricity. I didn't think to be thankful for these yesterday but today I am. We packed up Saturday morning and came to Athens. The downfall is Ben and family couldn't come. The rest of the weekend we mostly played around the house... countless games of go fish with Ek, various games of ball with H, countless games of kitchen, watched L sit in her favorite chair, and just spent good ole time together. Ek, mom and I did make a pretty big shopping trip to Target and Barnes and Noble to get some more Christmas shopping done, I can't wait to get in there are wrap them. And I got a haircut. While on our way home today, Monday, Ek said, "I'm sure glad Mrs. Spivey game me the day off from school today, I sure needed it after yesterday and the day before and the day before that and the day before that." I guess that says it all. I am truely so thankful for our Thanksgiving weekend.

T Day

Since J's family lives so close to each other, the big holidays of the year are spent together on the day and usually up at the family farm. I really do look forward to these days, it is a wonderful group of people. Ek really looked forward to it this year too, she has become very comfortable in her own skin and was anticipating fun times with her second cousins. We got up and moved very slowly, not on purpose, and got J's parents around 11. We made our way to the farm around noon and played a bit before lunch. Lunch as amazing. Everything you could want in a traditional thanksgiving lunch. I went ahead and ate 2 pieces of EJ's fried chicken before we went. Ek was so ready to go outside to play and nervous to go alone due to the farm dogs. I went out with her and the train that Doug's class built was hooked up to Derek's Gator and the kids were ready to go. They rode and rode around the farm with a stop by Dog's where they go to see chickens, cows and pigs, jump on the trampoline and play basketball. L proclaimed over and over while H and Davis were jumping, "i ona ump, i ona ump." and she held her own quite well. L was also the only of my 3 to pet the new puppies. H kept saying, "i don't like dogs." sigh. We went back to J's parents for dinner and the kids played and played, well after H woke up. Ek said it was her best Thanksgiving ever. There's something to be thankful for.Yes, that is J's plate still on his lap finishing up while riding.Really H? I hope he finds this amusing today...

Thanks! part 2

Thanksgiving morning I decided to organize a list of ordinary things from the first hour of my day that I am thankful for as organized by time.

1:05am my washing machine. I woke up on the couch and remembered my favorite jeans are dirty and I wanted to wear them to Thanksgiving lunch. I am so thankful that I didn't need to get out a wash board. 1:09am my cozy bed. 6:37 my H who loves to snuggle even if it is in my bed. 6:40 H's puppy who has given my sweet son more comfort than I'll ever know. 6:51 my baby monitor that lets me hear my sweet L's voice calling, 'ma-ma, ma-ma.' 6:54 a crib big enough to hold all 3 of my children when they can't wait any longer for their morning hugs. 7:03 that L has learned youngest of all our kids how to hug and kiss. 7:16 Ek's whiny voice. What?! Only when it says things like this, "Daddy, you said you were going to get something to drink and then come back to snuggle." 7:17 speaking of, so thankful for days off from work so J can snuggle. 7:18 my dryer, remember the jeans? 7:20 ESPN sportscenter. Ok that one is not for me. 7:25 Antibiotics and cough syrup. 7:30 Eggos and bagels. Ok, coffee and tea, too. 7:37 Thanksgiving Day, that reminded me that the ordinary things of my day are wonderful, especially when the revolve around the wonderful people I get to spend those days with.

This is H's attempt to take a picture of Ek, he had the camera facing him. Oh, H. :)

Thanks!

I have been thinking for days of a clever way to speak of my thankfulness on this Thanksgiving eve. I couldn't. There are just too many things to be thankful for. Two scriptures come to mind: Psalm 106:1 Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his steadfast love endures forever. Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and to him are all things, to him be glory forever. Amen.

I am so thankful to know the One to whom I am thankful to. And I hope to live everyday in great thankfulness to Him. I look forward to pondering and praying on this tomorrow as a designated thankfulness day.

I do look back over the last year and I am so thankful for another year to enjoy these three. I love to see L's squishy cheeks!

Bouncing L

I'm not quite sure what the game was and it was even less clear in person, but my point is clear... L did not yet receive the memo that she is the "baby." She wants to be every bit as big as her big brother and sister. I guess the appropriate age to get a trampoline is when the child is walking because L is loving ours. She is getting a good bit more stable on her little legs which is not evidenced in this picture, but she is having fun.

Sometimes

Ek did not have school today, but H did. I took this as an opportunity to get Ek to say my old song and dance for me.

me "Ek, tell H how you obey your teacher at school."

Ek "H, I listen and smile, I do what ever she tells me to do. When she says its time for calendar time, I go right over"

H "I obey Mrs. Alicia sometimes."

me "Ek, tell H how you play with your friends."

Ek "H I be kind to my friends, and only say kind words. I let them choose what game we play"

H "Only say kind words? I do that sometimes."

me "Ek tell H how you do your work."

Ek "H, I always do all my work quietly at my table."

H "I do all my work sometimes."

At least he's honest. I was telling Mrs. Alicia this conversation when she was loading him into the car and she said at carpet time today she was telling them all that she hadn't had to move anybodies name yet to the uh-oh color and for them all to be very good. She said H turned to his friends and said 'we need to be good so Mrs. Alicia won't have to move our names' over and over until she looked at him, then he looked at her and said "We're going to be good." Ahhh, nice to hear.

Ek's request

Ek requested that I write about the Nutcracker. She had practice today and I do think she is enjoying. Well actually she did say it is her favorite thing right now. The practice schedules are a bit confusing and the girls end up having a good bit of playtime while awaiting their turn, but when its their turn you'd better be ready. Ek said today she was doing to "smile and listen." It is quite fun watching all these little girls with hair in buns, in their black leotards and pale pink tights running around. One little girl said while waiting, 'some girls are in the green room playing Monopoly, you can come too, anybody is welcome!' hilarious. Ek was excited tonight because they finally got to practice with the 'real candle.' She said they said not to turn it on though and she obeyed. She also said she heard a gun go off during the mouse scene and she sure hoped it wasn't pointed at Caroline or Leah. hilarious. Oh I can't wait for the curtain to open.

Its a wrap!

I just wrapped my kids Christmas presents. long reflective pause. My how they have changed me. Its not even Thanksgiving yet! I guess I wanted to make sure I got them what they wanted. Oh I hope they don't change their mind! And its just so fun to be able to get them presents. I really am so thankful. So now I just want to make sure they don't see them. So I wrap. But now, if H finds them they will be unwrapped! He was on the counter this morning at 6:30 looking for lollipops in the cabinet! I told him if I find him up there again every lollipop is going in the trash. We'll see if her remembers that threat. So the presents I have bought, I'm still working on H's, are wrapped, in the coat closet and awaiting the child proof door knob lock that I will get next Wal-mart trip. Oh I hope they don't find them.

Oh, H

H was very proud to exclaim as we pulled out of his preschool's parking lot today that he did not have to go to Time Out today. Whew, that is a good day. I told him I was so proud of him I could almost cry. I don't know why, but I was a bit overwhelmed by that moment, he is such a good boy and I just want him to live up to his potential. His response, "Sometimes parts of me make you cry and sometimes parts of me make you happy." Well, that is true. I do love him.

Thanksgiving Feast

Today was H's preschool Thanksgiving feast, or really a snack as the director informed us as we were about to make our plates. L and I went with him, of course, and it went pretty well. Ok ok it was very tiring. They both did pretty well until the stage enticed them. It had a bunch of grown up musical things and I was so nervous for them to go up there, so every 2 mintues I had to get L and she would scream, not sweet L?!, yes sweet L. I didn't include in the below post about her fit- pictching, I blame it mostly on H. They were side by side on their backs screaming for a Dum-dum today. Wow, how quickly did I digress? Where was I? Oh yes, the stage. So L kept screaming every time I would get her off and H wouldn't eat anything and then he kept trying to tip his chair back and I told him not to and tried to hold it down, but that made him scream... until he did tip it back to the ground and he really screamed and then I felt like I won the great mom award for the day. Then L was upset because she thought I was going to break her cookie into 2 peices and I didn't break H's, oh yeah, she notices these things. So I made a fast break for the car and I was writing this blog in my head when H says, "Mommy that was really fun having lunch with you and all my friends." The end.

Baby L

L is extremely fun to have around. I am just so thankful and blessed to have her as my little girl. She is a very complex person but I'd like just to describe her a bit. She is so smiley! All it takes is a glance her way and she just lights up in a smile. She loves to wander around the house and find things to get into. And find them she will. She especially loves to find a sippy cup that has juice in it, much sweeter than her milk. She commonly is toting around a purse and is always happy to find a baby. She does not like at all for things to be taken from her and she also tends to covet others possessions, I know this because she will scream, 'MINE' until the situation is resolved or she is distracted. sigh, that is sometimes quite tiring. She is as friendly as can be. She is known to speak to everyone in the grocery store usually with a 'hey!' and a 'bye-bye.' She even sometimes will double greet if we see the same people on more than one aisle. It is like public service, it brings so many smiles. There are a few, a very few that she will go to. She has learned 'uh-huh' and 'uh-uh,' and has begun using then in such situations. She loves her pacis and her lovies, she does not mind going to bed and does not mind lying in bed after she wakes up for a bit. She has in the last week dropped her morning nap. I am so grateful for more time to be with her, but I do now require more help around the house. Oh tonight she put her shoes away all by herself, ok with J telling her too, it was so cute, after she put them away she ran back to give him a high five. She is loving beginning to run, it is still not very smooth, kinda bouncy, sooo cute. She loves the trampoline and is even beginning to hold her own with big bro and sis. And last week she went down the slide for the first time by herself, she isn't sure how much she likes it until she gets to the end. Today she landed about a foot off the slide on her bottom, paused, smiled and jumped up to do it again. Like I said, she is extremely fun to have around.

With love to Wal-mart

L and I made a trip to Walmart this morning to buy 2 of my favorite things- new organizational things and gifts for my kids, Christmas gifts that is. Seeing Thanksgiving on my calendar next week got me anxious, good anxious I add, to mark a few people off my list. It was fun! I got new scooters for everyone, a Barbie glittery one for Ek that claims it is 'sporty and chic,' just what every girl needs, a Razor scooter for H, and a Princess ride-on for L. Now the problem is I have weeks to wait to see them go! I am a very impatient present giver. Ok, and the new organizational things, I had a Tupperware party several weeks ago for a really sweet friend and I got so much stuff, so exciting, but I had to rework some cabinets to fit it all in! So I reorganized my craft cabinet and I must say, I think it is the best yet. I don't know why it feels so good to have cabinets straight and tidy, but I must say again, it does! I think there may be a spiritual application here, I feel so much better when my insides are straight. HA!- but true. Speaking of... we had a great last Bible study today, I felt very catapulted into the Holiday season, especially with my new Bible under my arm. Oh I do pray it will be the best yet, full of love. That is my biggest request and desire, to love well. Mom told me she heard a sermon several weeks ago about 'and these three remain, faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is love.' The preacher said the reason love is the greatest is because in Heaven it is the one that will remain. So my new focus is love. Wow this has been some paragraph, from Wal-mart to Love. Hum, I guess I was at Wal-mart because of love though. true, true.

In other news. I got a play by play of the playground activity from both of my children today. I can't say they have ever given details like this, I will try to recreate as best as I can remember... first H: 'so I played in the house, but not with Mitchell, and not with Tucker, and not with Jack and Jack, well maybe with Mitchell, and then I went and got into the cars, and then I played in the sandbox, and then I went to the swings and then Jack- but not the other Jack- we rode cars into the swings, it was so much fun...' side note, the swings are tire swings and the cars are those little tikes Flinstoneish cars, I can imagine that was pretty good fun. Now Ek: 'we were on the playground and the teachers yelled "K4 line up!" and AJ said, 'i'm not going to line up, we just got here,' but he ran over there anyway and it was just Mrs. Stephens class, so we chased him round and round the playground, and then I saw Caroline so I stopped to play with her, and then we were singing Little Sally Walker and Aj doesn't like that song, well he doesn't like to sing it but he doesn't mind if we sing it, so we sang it.' I love details! Ya know as I write this I guess both of those conversations are kinda like my blog, random and full of details. Gracious, what will they be like!? I'd better be careful.

She loves a purse

Back in August I went to buy EJ a new Vera Bradley purse for her birthday. L was with me so I handed her a tiny one to hold while I looked... well when I went to check out, she wouldn't let go. I do not blame her one bit, I wouldn't have either! I bought it. I know it was a great lesson to teach her. "A small scream and the purse is mine!" Aunt Holly sent me this today, and I do not judge this mother a bit.

I'm glad I did and I would do it again! At least L didn't have to ride down with the groceries!

Don't worry

Andy Stanley preached a great sermon several weeks ago that I listened to this morning on my ipod while out on a brisk morning jog. He preached from Matthew 6:24-34 about worrying. Of course I'd heard the passage before, I'd actually been thinking on it the last week or so, but I love how he makes it make sense in my life today. Pastor Stanley said we can easily see where our devotion is because that is where our worry is too. We do not worry about the things that don't matter. We worry about the things that we care the most about. And of course that God is much greater and able to care for all areas of life. It has just been a wonderful test in my heart today as I think about my life, think about my worries and think about the future. Do I really trust? Where am I worried? Is God there? Has He been there? I can count on it. And I love too that he reminded that we have work to do, that Jesus especially didn't set the example of being a slacker and waiting on God to come through. God has given us roles to play and He is there with everything we need including the faith and hope to see it through.

Whew!

God had big plans for us today. We went to church at 9:15 to pray, then J was off to usher while I was off to the nursery. From church we went straight to McRae where we were greeted by a very large gathering of extended family who were very hungry and ready to eat a wonderful meal (I am still boggled after all these years in the Williams family as to how EJ's fried chicken is so much better than the rest of the world's) and great time of fellowship. The kids had a wonderful time and Ek definitely won a game of hide and seek when she hid for at least 10 minutes under our feet at the dining room table without ever being found. Then we were back to Dublin for a 4:30 Nutcracker practice. H, L and J all slept in the car while Ek danced. Then quickly off to Macon for volunteer celebration dinner at Church. Wonderful time there, so wonderful to eat with dear friends and then sing and worship, play a bit of indoor soccer and then head home. The kids were slow to fall asleep, in fact H choose not to. ha! He enjoyed watching the moon on the way home, it was so big and bright he kept wanting to call it the sun. Oh did I mention J was on call. Praise God all the eyes in the area stayed status quo and didn't need doctor's advice today! We were gone for just over 12 hours from our home but it felt like a weekend! Monday morning is approaching very quickly, I'm not sure if I'm ready. I know God will be there though... I'll need His strength.

Nice day

Our church did a great thing today. That feels nice to say. We served lunch to the neighborhood that our little chapel is in. Well not, the whole neighborhood, but we would have. We put fliers in the hands or the mailbox of every home asking how many plates they would like to pick up today, then we fixed lunch and visited with those who came to get their plates. With the extras we also served the sheriff's department and the police officers who were on duty. It was really fun to all be together serving and really fun to just give lunch away. The kids had fun piddling around the church, there was only one other little boy there so they got great attention and encouragement. Ahhh, it was a nice afternoon.

We also got to go see our sweet neighbor B play basketball at the school. She did so good and it was great fun. It is such a wonderful environment out there. The head master was in charge of the clinic and he knew every girl by name, that was so refreshing. H had a great time sitting with the big boys, he tried really hard to be big too, he had that great pursed lip look, his shy, coy, trying not to smile look. tee-hee-hee. Ek loved it too, she had great fun sitting right behind B, she even wore her cheer leading outfit so she would look the part while cheering, her idea even.

One more funny-- last night Ek came down at 4:45 and tapped on my forehead to wake me up asking to crawl in. Since J was so close to me I told her to go to his side because there was more room. She went around and J put her in between us. I was surprised at that choice so I leaned up to see how much bed was left... H was there. HA! So glad L can't come down yet. I really debated going and getting in one of their beds, but I didn't, and we made it until the sun came up.

Ducks

Ek requested on the way home from school, first of course to play with friends, but then while waiting for friends to arrive, she requested to play 'ducks.' Which clearly seen in the pictures meant playing in the puddles from a nice steady day of rain. It was quite warm too, which helped me give a 'yes.' They had a great time. L kinda looked at me when I put her down like 'really? can I?' They jumped, splashed, sat down in and rolled around in the great big puddle that gathers at our mailbox. When I started getting cool we stripped down and put on dry clothes. Then Susanne and boys came and wanted to play outside again, sooo wet again, but great fun.

Thanks for the mess!

I had a great fun mid-day today. I went to Cat's to cut out dresses and monogram them so I could come home and sew them together. She was going to make hair bows with Darla and Susanne after the boys were done with school and I couldn't resist returning to play some more after I picked H up. I made great progress on the outfits for my girls and helped Darla cut one out too. When we were all there, we had 9 children, since Ek was at school. They played so well, had great fun, even L. Cat is really gracious with her machine and her talents and her home. When it was time to go, we offered to help clean up saying her home was a disaster. She said she was so grateful to have friends come to play that she didn't mind the mess a bit. Oh, perspective. I have pondered on those words the rest of the day. I need a new plaque to hang on my laundry room door and I need one that says, "Thank you Lord for my mess." My mess represents some amazing people the Lord has given me. I'd take my mess over clean everyday than be without them. I hope I don't trip over something while on my way to bed tonight, but if I do, even then I will rejoice.

Mac and "Cheese"

I had no idea there were so many ways to eat Mac and Cheese. Today at lunch, I took note.

There is the one noodle on the spoon method... and the single fisted...

the double fisted...

the upside spoon...

the face in the bowl...

I confess I did miss the opportunity to get the picture of the double handed bowl to the mouth drink attempt method, I could not recapture it because I think it proved unsuccessful.

This little face is trying to distract me from seeing what the left hand is doing-- it did not, I saw the bean being dropped.

All in all, a great lunch. Say "Cheese!"

Short Term Memory

I started several months ago swimming at the fitness center once a week on Tuesday mornings. Several weeks into this new thing in my life I was walking through the pool area to get to the locker rooms and the light to the hallway was off. I flipped the switch beside the door and the lights went out. uh-oh. Even worse, when I flipped them back on, they didn't. An old man in the pool exclaimed in a gruff voice, "You gotta be kidding me." He was not pleased. As I was saying over and over "I'm so sorry!" I ran to get Jay, the personal trainer working. I told Jay and he said, "oh, noooo." Gracious. The lights take like 15 minutes to turn back on. I went to the locker room and looked for a window to crawl out, there wasn't one. So I got my swim in... in the dark.

This morning I walked through to find the hallway dark again. I didn't touch a thing. I changed and got into the pool to swim. 10 minutes later a man in his 40s got out of the pool and yep, flipped the switch. Dark. I didn't say a word. He said he was sorry and quickly exited to the locker room. Within several minutes 2 old men came in. One was explaining to the other how the lights come back on like he knew well. They changed clothes and walked past to get in the pool. They kindly said "good morning" and one asked what I was doing in the dark. As they were walking to get their kick boards one said to the other while laughing, "I was in here one morning when some young girl did the same thing." Ahhh, he didn't remember it was me. I guess maybe it was because it was dark. Ha ha ha. I think I'll make signs for the switches today to put up next week: Do not touch these switches, trust me, I learned the hard way.

Created for Love

I have had a theme of thanksgiving in my thoughts over the last years since I have had children at how God has created us as people so uniquely designed for relationships. His Word points to it so clearly and we can also see it so clearly in how we live our lives. I think it first struck me when caring for infant Ek, she didn't just like me and decide to stay, she didn't have a choice and needed me with all her life. If she was hungry, all she could do was cry. We so desperately need each other. We also need the One who sustains our lives now. I was Ek's provision from God for life. Sea turtles' mothers are not there when their eggs crack open. I am so thankful I was there when Ek breathed her first breath, it was loud and beautiful. Oh I am so thankful. This leads to the next thought, John 13:35 'By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.' Oh Lord, I would just love to love well. Help me to start with my children, even when they disobey.

A few more pictures of the wedding. I love my mom so much, I am just so thankful for her. And I hope the boys received our love in being there. Mom kept saying she wouldn't have missed it for the world, she wanted to love them for Denise. That is just not normal, she has some great Love in her. There is a great song of Jonathon and Lisa's that talks loving like you are loved. Isn't that awesome, we love because He first loved us. And we should love others like we know it. Thats what she does.

A Review in Pictures

What a great weekend!! Just a few pictures to remember it by... It was so cold! From the in my face laugh I got from a Chicago native I could tell that I clearly looked like a tourist from the south, but from the look of the smile on my face I certainly did not care. High of 40, overcast and drizzle, maybe even a snow flurry here and there. brrrr, I shiver thinking about it. No I didn't care a bit how I looked with my scarf on my head!

I loved being with my aunts, uncle and cousins! Ok so 6 women and my uncle Neal. He is very used to this situation since he has 4 girls, he grins alot, shakes his head a lot and is so generous and kind. Friday night we were trying to get everyone moving in the same direction to get to the 66th floor of the Sears tower for appetizers (so fun!!!) and literally the garage attendants said, "Good luck sir" in all seriousness to Neal. Hilarious. Oh we laughed so much. So much that not only my stomach is sore but my back is too.

Yes I did feel this light off the ground. I am so grateful to the Lord for the provision of a quiet weekend. Quiet? No wrong word, but right concept. I didn't make much of a decision this weekend. I didn't even know I had missed lunch on Saturday. I don't know what time I went to bed on Saturday night. ahhh. It was refreshing.

I'll have to come back to post pictures of the actual wedding, I did go, my camera did not. Ok so a big reason I went was to build relationships right?, and I did! I got to especially know my very tall Fulford cousins a bit better and I am truly soooo grateful for that. Oh, I need to go request their friendship on facebook.

Off

In the morning I am flying to Chicago with my mom and aunt to support my cousin as he marries his bride. It is really tough to leave my kids and I'm not just saying that so they can hear. I pray the Lord will use the time to build relationships between me and my mom and aunts, us to these cousins and in the kids to their wonderful grandparents. J will be at an meeting all day Saturday which he is excited about as well. So I go with purpose, not just to see Chicago, shop and eat some good food but to look for opportunities to speak truth and encouragement and I hope to come home energized for relationship building with my own children. I really do miss them already. Oh Lord please strenghten us this weekend.

Victorious Testimonies

J and I shared our testimony last night at Wed night Bible study at our church. I began by saying it was teetering on the edge of my comfort zone although teaching the Word is not, go figure. That was until the Lord reminded me of this verse: Revelation 12:11 "And they have conquered him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death." It was truly an awesome thing to proclaim victory of God in my life through the lens of that verse, knowing what a profound impact that can make. It was also great for pondering in my own heart what God had done and I sit in great thankfulness today. It was also really great to sit beside my husband with bright spotlights and a microphone to hear his testimony and thought that our pastor in Texas will never have to bop him on the head for not telling his family how God had transformed his life. Ok, now I'm off to go pack for Chicago.

H's "Things"

I wrote several weeks ago about all of H's things and the saga has continued. He did package them for several weeks in a basket for easier carrying, as if that isn't funny enough, but there is more. Several more have added to the bunch, a glowing green frog. The Aflac duck was missing for several days under the red chair in my living room. But one more moment was last week a tiny little orange water gun was a part of the mix, it was a prize that he won at church, and he didn't ever even put water in it. It is maybe 3inches by 3 inches. Well last week at 4am, H comes to our room and to J's side of the bed, "Daddy I can't find my water gun." I cannot believe J went to his room to find it, but he did. Forty-five minutes later, giggle, giggle, J is called back to H's room because his pinkie finder is stuck in the hole of the water gun. J may of needed an extra scoop in his coffee that morning. Oh, H. Its good to know who has the highest status though, but puppy does look awfully tired.

Pick Putl

Saturday afternoon my home was quite a buzz with all 5 home and Mopsey and Pops here too. I walked through the kitchen to find Ek sitting at the counter writing. She showed me a piece of paper that said "pick putl." Huh, I thought. "This is what I want for my 7th birthday," was her explanation. oooo, kayyyy, I thought. what is it sweetie? "A pink poodle." It still makes me laugh out loud. I will try with all my heart to keep this piece of paper forever, but just in case I'm putting it here. I'm not promising a putl though.

October 31st

Here is is Nov 2nd and I realize I forgot to write about our even festivities of Oct 31st. It was a bit confusing but much better this year to explain to Ek why we do not trick-or-treat. I even got to hear her tell a friend at school with all confidence but humility that we do not celebrate Halloween. So, I purposed to make it a fun family night. I was going to make homemade pizza but there was a bbq dinner at school so we picked up plates after school and we ready for supper. When all woke up from naps, we jumped in the car to run to Wal-mart to buy a new family game. I chose with the kids imput and we returned home. We rode bikes around the neighborhood. We ate dinner. We took our baths. We greeter our one trick-or-treating friend from school who was quite a Wonder Woman with her ballerina friend-- Ek gave them candy and closed the door giggling. We played our new game, Candyland Castle over and over. Pops and Mopsey arrived. Daddy came home. The kids went to bed. We had a wonderful day that I could settle in my heart, we had great conversations with the kids about why we made the choice we did, they giggled and smiled and had a great evening. It was a great family fun day.

Grateful

We had an awesome day. Mom and Dad are here which makes my kids beyond excited. We had a great day of fellowship and play. We watched a terrible football game and it didn't ruin anything. This morning Dad called the adults together around the Word to encourage and pray. We spent about an hour speaking Truth to one another and petitioning for our family. I am just so overwhelmed today by the legacy they are leading our family into. They are modeling for us humility, serving, giving time to other, giving resources to others, encouraging, spending time with each other, speaking Truth to each other, praying for one another, surrendering all we have to the Lord, living simply, valuing the eternal valuable, teaching others the Word, caring for others, I could go on. I am just so blessed. And amazed. At how great our God is. How He has poured life into us. How he has turned our thoughts toward Him. How he has opened our eyes to His mercy and grace. I am just so grateful to Him. So grateful to be His.

This is just one recorded snapshot of the day. Ek was working on a new puzzle we got just to work on during the game. We were all a bit too zealous, though, and we were done before the first quarter was over. Did I say I watched the game? I didn't really. We also rode bikes, of course, ate lunch at Brians, Ek, Mopsey and I planned a trip to Disney, Mopsey played with the kids on the trampoline and swing set, we explored 2 partially built houses, and of course we spent a lot of time playing and smiling and giggling.