Monday, June 28, 2010

James 1: 12-15

"God will bless you, if you don't give up when your faith is being tested.  He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.  Don't blame God when you are tempted!  God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn't use evil to tempt others.  We are tempted by our own desires that drag us off and trap us.  Our desires make us sin, and when sin is finished with us, it leaves us dead.  Don't be fooled, my dear friends.  Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens.  He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.  He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth."

Well, thank goodness for this good news, huh?
Are you tempted by anything?
Of course you are.  
This passage from the Bible says you are.
But, what do you do with it?
What are you doing with it right now?

What if I told you I was tempted today?
Tempted by food.  Ice cream.  Cheetos.  Cookies.  Strawberries.  Popcorn.  
Did I eat some of these things?  Yes.

What if I told you I was tempted by bad thoughts about someone?
Would you think bad thoughts about me?
What if I told you I was a gossip today?
Were you?

I recently found some notes Chad took on a sermon from last March.  At the bottom of the notes he wrote, "to avoid temptation- we need to be more decisive early."
Hmm... makes sense.  
I need to make more of a conscience effort to say, "I'm going to not participate in that kind of conversation today."  Does that mean I need to pull away from certain people?  
Maybe.
Will that make me a better person?
Probably.  
Or, "I'm not going to eat ___ today." 
It might make me skinnier, too!
Sometimes temptations are so hard to avoid.
Like the conversation I just had with Chad- "I'm driving by Sonic.  Want me to get something?"  
Dang.  
Temptation=1.  Me=0.
Try again tomorrow.
______________________
On another note, it's so tempting to write things about my kids on every blog post.  So, I'm giving in once again (geez, what kind of person have I become!) and showing you our favorite 7 year old and the big hole in her mouth!



Thursday, June 24, 2010

feeding the horses

We've started this tradition of feeding our horses every summer.
Are they really OUR horses?  
No. 
But, we like to call them our's.
Shh... don't tell the real owners.
First, we drive over to their "field"-
wouldn't want to give our location away 
in case someone else got this idea that our
horses could become their horses.


Next, we get the bag of large carrots we brought
and walk through what Jada referred to the other
night as our "tent."
 Next, once we got through that clearing and out into the opening, we walked along the path until we found a good spot to coax the horses to us.
We were only able to persuade two of the horses to come
up to the fence.  The lighter colored one was the obvious
dominant one.  
I love this picture because before I took it, the bigger, lighter colored horse stomped her feet at the smaller, dark colored one- which seemed like she was letting the darker colored one know that she (darker) was getting in the way of a yummy snack of carrots.  And the darker one looks like she's closing her eyes saying, "You don't see me standing here. Do, do-do."  The lighter colored one looks annoyed. 
 The girls were scared/excited to hand the horses their half carrot at a time.  And, it WAS scary seeing those chompers!
Trey seemed to think the carrots were for him.  
gross.

What a fun, family thing to do.
I (heart) doing things that are free!
Then, despite Chad's efforts to get us all to walk the long way around to the car, all of us girls whined enough about the bugs and getting eaten up that we turned around and headed back to the van.
Swatting away the real bugs and some imaginary ones, too.
Finally, it looked as if our simple activity of feeding our horses had come to a close...
...and that's when we heard the grumbles, cries, and moans of three very tired, very thirsty, overly busied little bodies from the back.
Ah... I love summer.
Don't you?

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

MY little piece of heaven

It's wheat dust blowing around and sticking to you- so much so that you have the dust in the back of your throat for a day.

It's standing out in the hot, hot June Kansas sun for hours and hours.

It's driving along in the wheat truck with my dad or another relative, feeling all farm-girlish. 


It's sitting in the combine watching them "mow" the wheat as I used call it.

It's climbing into the wheat truck to play in the wheat kernels finding bugs and chewing the wheat until it's gummy.

It's HARVEST.
Next to Christmas, it's my favorite holiday.
I'm sure there's something nostalgic about it- 
it reminds me of my parents and extended family when we were all younger.  The women taking out containers of sandwiches to the field where my cousins and I were playing, riding, sitting.  They're some of my very favorite memories.

And now, I get to share harvest with MY kids.  This was Jada's first year of riding in the combine.  She loved it!  Good thing Robert and Jon don't mind the girls being in there with them.  In fact, I've heard they kind of like it.  Maybe next year will be Trey's first summer of harvest.  He already says, "tractor."

Chad's piece of heaven would probably be 
sitting at a KU basketball game.
My Mom's piece of heaven would probably be 
buying up all the items in an antique store.
My Dad's is his Canada fishing trip.
Kara's piece of heaven would probably be 
getting pampered at a day spa.
Roy's piece of heaven would probably be 
sitting next to Chad at the KU basketball game.
And my piece of heaven is... 
harvest. 

Monday, June 21, 2010

Father's Day

On KLOVE last week I heard they were challenging listeners to describe their father in 7 words or less.  The prize you'd win, if you were picked, was a 7 day cruise for your father and a person of his choice.  "Would MY father like to go on a cruise?" I thought.  Not too long after hearing this I got pictures from my dad from his Canada fishing trip.  
No, my dad wouldn't enjoy a cruise because I'm pretty sure they wouldn't let him fish off the cruise liner in the ocean.  
My dad would rather drive 18+ hours to Canada-
Then, drive some more to get to a small engine plane like this one: 
  -where he and his cousin fly who knows how much longer to a lake where they tent, canoe, cook, play horseshoes and washers , drink, laugh, eat, and feel a little piece of heaven for 10 days. 
*no cell phones
*no communication with humans
*just the two of them catching a few of these:
over 1,500 between the two of them!
 Who wouldn't want this view?
I know I can't give my dad anything that would compare to this.  But, I do love seeing how he loves my family.
Instead of writing in to KLOVE the 7 words that describe my dad, we made a card for him that has 5 words/phrases we thought of.
good combine driver
silly
yummy jerky maker
good tractor driver
huggable

_______________________________
Thinking about Chad's dad, Roy, I thought, "Hmm... yes, he WOULD love to go on a cruise!"  But, sorry Roy, I didn't enter you in the contest either.  I can imagine, though, all the stories we'd hear about your adventures on an ocean liner.
I can't imagine a better father-in-law than Roy.  He's very knowledgeable in many things, but so fun, too.  Who wouldn't love a Papa that teaches his granddaughter the, "I'm a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world..." song?  

So, some words we used to describe Roy included:
yummy pancake maker
silly song maker
huggable
busy bee
hard worker
_________________________

Happy Father's Day, Dad and Roy!

Saturday, June 19, 2010

SEVEN

This beautiful girl turns 7 today!
*creative*
* independent*
*energetic*
*gorgeous- especially her eyelashes*
*helpful*
*smart*
*the best biggest sister*
*crafty*
*reuser, recycler, reducer*

Happy birthday Gracie Girl!
Can't wait to splash around at your birthday party!
We thank God that he gave us you.
We love you so much!
 
  

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

That I know.

I'm reading this book right now.

Oh. My. Gosh.  I'm only on page 97, but it's great.
And here's one reason why.
Page 2 states:  "Fact, her whole body be so full a sharp knobs and corners, it's no wonder she can't soothe that baby.  Babies like fat.  Like to bury they face up in you armpit and go to sleep.  They like big fat legs too.  That I know."
Ahh... finally someone likes it when you have a little fat on your body.
I'm thinking about framing this and putting it above my mirror in the bathroom. 

Monday, June 14, 2010

Pop Quiz

What can I say?  
I'm a teacher.
I give tests.
Or... pop quizzes?
What IS the difference anyway?


Here is a pop quiz for you concerning what I've learned this summer so far.
See if you can get 100%.  
What would that be Slate Creek teachers?  An E?  P?
Yeah, I'm confused, too.


1.  I have the loudest son in the:
a. library
b. bank
c.  grocery store- any store.. you name it.
d. all of the above
(d- it's only funny when we're NOT at the library)


2.  When I ask my children to close the door behind them, it really means:
a.  close the door behind you
b.  close it half way
c.  leave it wide open
(c- God usually sends me back into the house for something I forgot.  That's when I get to see the door has been left wide open.)


3. The food that makes me feel pregnant again because I CRAVE it, is:
a.  the chocolate/pb rice krispie treats at Target
b. spring rolls from Bangkok Thai restaurant
c.  oatmeal with chocolate chips in it
d. all of the above
(d- I do NOT mess with my internal need for chocolate)


4.  At the dinner table each night, the look on my kids' faces that makes them look like Chad and I have taken away all their toys, must mean:
a.  I'm a horrible cook
b.  they are picky eaters
(it's a toss-up)


5.  The sweetest sound I can think of is:
a.  naptime
b.  the sound of my children singing/humming
c. the fan in the bathroom that drowns out all other noises
d.  5 minutes of not answering questions 
(b- although I do love my quiet alone time, I love hearing the songs they make up, or have just learned)


6.  The one thing I look forward to the most each summer that might not happen this year:
a.  cleaning out the basement
b.  landscaping
c. harvest
(c- cleaning the basement?  I try not to.  Landscaping?  That takes money.  No, no, no... harvest ranks right up there with Christmas for me.)


Soo... how did you do?  


One quote Gracie said today that melted my heart: 
"No FAIR!  A long time ago there were kids 
that got to sit on Jesus's lap!"  
*sigh*


One sweet picture taken today:






Saturday, June 12, 2010

naughty climber

He's climbing.
And doesn't always know how to get down.

All before 11 a.m.
Is this what having a boy is going to be like?

Thursday, June 10, 2010

stinky

went to kickboxing this morning.
the butt crack of dawn, as we might say in my earlier years.
(sorry Grandma if you're reading this)
the grossest thing about my time there wasn't how much I was sweating.
it wasn't even that I could smell my stench 15 minutes into it.
it was definitely the fact that I could smell my hands in the car on the way home.
with the windows down.
I borrowed boxing gloves from that place this morning.
they were obviously used.
I've washed my hands.
twice.
sang the ABC's while I washed them so it would be extra long.
they're still stinky.
gross.

Monday, June 7, 2010

I remember sitting on top of the ice cream maker when I was little.  It made me feel big... important.  

Now we have an electric ice cream maker.  It's loud, and it screams at you for about 45 minutes.  Oh, and instead of actually making homemade ice cream from scratch, we buy a mix. Chad likes to make it from scratch better.  I like the easy lazy way. 
the ice cream maker
 
the ice
the mix
the helper
    the process
the prize
the checkmark  
 

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Let's Pretend

Let's pretend for a minute.
Let's pretend that there was this mom who woke up every morning with a smile on her face.  She was overjoyed to see her children awake and happily playing together.

Let's pretend that this woman played with her kids all day long doing what they wanted to do- nevermind the agenda that was on HER mind.  (Dusting the house, washing the blinds, cleaning out the car, scrubbing the bathroom.)


Let's pretend that she runs into her husband's arms the moment he came in the door.  She gives him a kiss, "How was your day?", supper is almost ready.


Yes, let's pretend she actually MADE supper.


Let's pretend that the kids were well behaved at the supper table.  Everyone waited for each other to sit down to pray, and then let's pretend they all talked cheerfully about their day.  Because, after all, it was perfect the whole day, right?


Let's pretend they laughed, and had fun all evening doing things from their "summer list," because they were being intentional about how they spent their time.


Sound like your day today?  Or yesterday?  
Nah, not mine either.


And while I do love summertime with my kids- it seems that each summer is a new experience.  This summer we have three kids who can walk by themselves.  Two kids who feel fairly comfortable in the swimming pool by themselves.  One parent who works during the day away from home.  Oh, how I miss that man when he's not here.


Certain events that happened last week made me want to be more intentional about something else this summer.  Putting God's love in my heart.  I mean, it's there.  I just don't use it to it's full potential.  Deuteronomy 6:5-9 says:
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your strength.
These words that I am giving you today
are to be in your heart.
Repeat them to your children.
Talk about them when you sit in your house
and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.
Bind them as a sign on your hand 
and let them be a symbol on your forehead.
Write them on the doorposts of your house
and on your gates."

I'm not a good pretender.
Yes, I did spend most of my childhood pretending
with my dolls and Barbies.  But, now is not the time to pretend to be a strong Christian.  I need to show my children that I love the Lord.  And the Lord says I need to raise my children up loving Him.  

Last week I heard a mom say over and over to her son, "Do the right thing."  Today I heard a woman speak at Amy's baby shower about raising your son to be a man of the Lord.  That's pretty powerful.  

So, I'm not pretending to be that perfect mom, wife, friend- like the one I described above.  But, I'm hoping I can be like her sometime throughout my day- and show that Jesus is in my heart. 

Be the mom who, when she wakes up, hears the devil say, "Aw crap.  She's awake."


Thursday, June 3, 2010

spies

Nothin' gets past these spies.
They're sneaky,
and quiet,
and oh so pretty in their spy dresses.
These spies can spot what they're looking for from the porch, in a bush, or by the tree.

I spy with my little eye...
something that is YOU!

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

the "farm"

We went to a friend's house in the country.
The girls wanted to know what kind of animals were at this farm.
They learned that some "farms" don't have animals.
These friends live in the country with barns, a creek, fresh spring water, lots of open space, an old farm house they are remodeling, dirt roads.... need I go on?  Doesn't it just sound like a place for a mom?

I loved it. 
I loved being in the open spaces.
I loved seeing the kids having a great time with new friends.
And I loved hearing that one of my favorite boys still wants to marry my Gracie.
It's an arranged marriage I believe in.

But, one other thing this farm has is mulberries.
The kids picked them off the trees and were allowed to bring them home!
Beki, you're seriously going to love having me in the family someday. 
We'd be at your door all the time with fresh muffins in a basket!  HA!
I could attempt to put mulberries in them.



Thank you, Beki, for 
letting us come over today!