Blogging my way through weaning and getting Ethan to sleep in his own bed:
I thought I'd make you all suffer with me. (Ooops that's not speaking in faith). Michael is out of town again so I am putting Ethan in his own bed and weaning him. ALL AT ONCE.
DISCLAIMER: Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT heartless, I promise. In fact, I feel horrible for him! This is AWFUL! But I severely need my body, sleep and bed back. I really really do. I have shared it with him for16 months and I am tired and worn out. And no, I am not doing this all at once with no warning. He was weaned down to only nursing overnight and he was sleeping by himself half the night. Now I am just working on putting him to sleep in another room and w/o nursing. Hopefully I won't get too much hate-mail for this now... (see why I need that book Denise? lol)
Anyway....back to making you suffer with me....
10:00 put him to bed after nice bath and massage with lavender lotion. (him, not me, unfortunately!)
10:05 went and told him everything's okay
10:15 went and told him again. patted him.
10:30 went again. he is quieting down some..I think I actually angered him more this time by going in there. :-(
[Posted with hblogger 2.0 http://www.normsoft.com/hblogger/]
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Fasting from Negative Thinking
Pastor Gregory Dickow is holding his second fast from negative thinking. I didn't know about the first one, but I am participating in the second one. He sends an email each day with the thought we are fasting from. If you are interested, click here.
I really identified with today's fast. It is a thought I have struggled with from time to time. Here is what he says:
Thought 14
Today, we are fasting from the thought: “I feel like a fake; I feel like a hypocrite.”
For centuries, the devil has been weaving defeat and condemnation into people’s minds by getting them to feel like they’re not really saved, or they’re saved, but they’re not the person they pretend to be in public. Stop letting the devil rob you of your joy and peace through this lie.
We all at times have felt like hypocrites. We say we believe, then we sometimes doubt. We say we love God, but feel at times numb. We are supposed to “walk in love,” but we feel like hurting someone sometimes. Anybody been there besides me?
Paul the apostle knew this battle, and today we’re going to join him in victory.
He said, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” (Romans 7:18)
Here is the secret to overcoming the feeling that you are a hypocrite or a fake:
1. Recognize the battle that you’re in. Your spirit (inner man) is holy and wants to do what’s right. Your flesh, however, doesn’t. One translation said, “I have the desire to do what’s right, but I cannot carry it out.” Jesus also said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Before we’re done, your spirit is going to win this battle!
2. Realize that you’re not alone in the battle. EVERYONE deals with this. The fact that you realize you want to obey God, but are honest enough to admit you often fail, is NOT hypocrisy. It’s “truth in your innermost being.” (Psalm 51:6) The part of you that doesn’t want to obey God is not the real you – it’s your flesh.
3. Don’t worry about what other people think of you. Only the “self-righteous” think they have it all together. They think they are better than you. They think that you’re weak and they’re strong. But truly honest and humble people realize the battle and understand your struggle. Look to Jesus as your High Priest. That means, He goes to God with His blood, and says, “Father, this one has been cleansed by My blood. This is your child, and they are holy NOW because they are washed.” He goes to the Father on our behalf and paves the way for us to be forgiven, accepted and righteous—IN HIM. Also, Hebrews 4:15 says, “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things, AS WE ARE, yet without sin.”
4. Take off the mask. You don’t have to be “Miss Perfect” or “Miss Never-look-flustered” or “Mr. Always has it together.” There’s something liberating to just be able to be transparent, and not have to pretend you have it all together. That doesn’t mean, you go out and sin deliberately. It doesn’t mean you throw all caution to the wind. It means, you humbly admit, like Paul the apostle in Romans 7:19, “For the good which I have a mind to do, I do not: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I end up doing.” He’s not making a bad confession here. He’s making an honest one. THEN...
5. Declare your victory in Christ! Romans 7:22-23 Message Translation says, “I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”
6. It’s ok to need a Savior! Paul asked: Who can deliver me from this condition? Romans 7:25 says, “The answer, thank God, is that JESUS CHIRST CAN AND DOES...”
7. We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says you can serve God, now, even when you feel like a fake. Believe what God says about you, and don’t bow down to what your flesh and the devil try to tell you about your weaknesses, contradictions and mistakes.
THINK IT & SAY IT:
I recognize that I am in a battle between my spirit and my flesh. I will no longer give into the lie that I’m a fake or a hypocrite. I have a flesh trying to control me; but my spirit truly wants to obey God. I yield today, to my spirit, by yielding to GOD’S WORD.
Jesus Christ has delivered me from the wickedness of my past and my flesh. I am forgiven. Everything in me that doesn’t want to obey God IS NOT THE REAL ME. The real me is made in the image of God, and is more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ my Lord!
Let’s talk more tomorrow!
Gregory Dickow
I really identified with today's fast. It is a thought I have struggled with from time to time. Here is what he says:
Thought 14
Today, we are fasting from the thought: “I feel like a fake; I feel like a hypocrite.”
For centuries, the devil has been weaving defeat and condemnation into people’s minds by getting them to feel like they’re not really saved, or they’re saved, but they’re not the person they pretend to be in public. Stop letting the devil rob you of your joy and peace through this lie.
We all at times have felt like hypocrites. We say we believe, then we sometimes doubt. We say we love God, but feel at times numb. We are supposed to “walk in love,” but we feel like hurting someone sometimes. Anybody been there besides me?
Paul the apostle knew this battle, and today we’re going to join him in victory.
He said, “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” (Romans 7:18)
Here is the secret to overcoming the feeling that you are a hypocrite or a fake:
1. Recognize the battle that you’re in. Your spirit (inner man) is holy and wants to do what’s right. Your flesh, however, doesn’t. One translation said, “I have the desire to do what’s right, but I cannot carry it out.” Jesus also said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” (Matthew 26:41) Before we’re done, your spirit is going to win this battle!
2. Realize that you’re not alone in the battle. EVERYONE deals with this. The fact that you realize you want to obey God, but are honest enough to admit you often fail, is NOT hypocrisy. It’s “truth in your innermost being.” (Psalm 51:6) The part of you that doesn’t want to obey God is not the real you – it’s your flesh.
3. Don’t worry about what other people think of you. Only the “self-righteous” think they have it all together. They think they are better than you. They think that you’re weak and they’re strong. But truly honest and humble people realize the battle and understand your struggle. Look to Jesus as your High Priest. That means, He goes to God with His blood, and says, “Father, this one has been cleansed by My blood. This is your child, and they are holy NOW because they are washed.” He goes to the Father on our behalf and paves the way for us to be forgiven, accepted and righteous—IN HIM. Also, Hebrews 4:15 says, “We do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things, AS WE ARE, yet without sin.”
4. Take off the mask. You don’t have to be “Miss Perfect” or “Miss Never-look-flustered” or “Mr. Always has it together.” There’s something liberating to just be able to be transparent, and not have to pretend you have it all together. That doesn’t mean, you go out and sin deliberately. It doesn’t mean you throw all caution to the wind. It means, you humbly admit, like Paul the apostle in Romans 7:19, “For the good which I have a mind to do, I do not: but the evil which I have no mind to do, that I end up doing.” He’s not making a bad confession here. He’s making an honest one. THEN...
5. Declare your victory in Christ! Romans 7:22-23 Message Translation says, “I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”
6. It’s ok to need a Savior! Paul asked: Who can deliver me from this condition? Romans 7:25 says, “The answer, thank God, is that JESUS CHIRST CAN AND DOES...”
7. We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 says you can serve God, now, even when you feel like a fake. Believe what God says about you, and don’t bow down to what your flesh and the devil try to tell you about your weaknesses, contradictions and mistakes.
THINK IT & SAY IT:
I recognize that I am in a battle between my spirit and my flesh. I will no longer give into the lie that I’m a fake or a hypocrite. I have a flesh trying to control me; but my spirit truly wants to obey God. I yield today, to my spirit, by yielding to GOD’S WORD.
Jesus Christ has delivered me from the wickedness of my past and my flesh. I am forgiven. Everything in me that doesn’t want to obey God IS NOT THE REAL ME. The real me is made in the image of God, and is more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ my Lord!
Let’s talk more tomorrow!
Gregory Dickow
Abide in Me
After reading Susan's post about Andrew Murray's On Prayer, I "ran" to half.com and got myself a copy. I started reading it and realized that Andrew Murray writes in the form of a daily devotional. On Prayer is a compilation of 6 books. The first is called "Abide in Christ." I have been greatly blessed by this book and I am only on chapter 7. Each chapter is so wonderful that I have been reading and rereading them and meditating on each one and the verses he talks about. I wanted to share some of what I read today....(the italics are mine)
Murray starts Chapter 6 out with 1 Corinthians 1:30
Of [God] are ye in Christ Jesus, who was made unto us wisdom from God, both righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.
"The whole Christian life depends on the clear consciousness of our position in Christ. Most essential to the abiding in Christ is the daily renewal of our faith's assurance, 'I am in Christ Jesus.' All fruitful preaching to believers must take this as its starting point:'Ye [are] in Christ Jesus."
"The same love and delight with which the Father watched over the beloved Son Himself, watch over ever member of His body, everyone who is in Christ Jesus. What confident trust this faith inspires, not only as to the being kept in safety to the end, but also especially as to the being able to fulfill in every point the object for which I have been united to Christ."
"The God who has chosen me and planted me in Christ has thereby engaged to secure, if I will but let Him, by yielding myself to Him, that I in every way be worthy of Jesus Christ. ... How it would quicken the sense of dependence and make me see that praying without ceasing is indeed the one need of my life - an unceasing waiting, moment by moment, on the God who has united me to Christ, to perfect His own divine work, to work in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure. "
"Would to God that believers would cease looking most at their old natures, and complaining of their weaknesses, as if God called them to what they were unfitted for!"
"From eternity Christ and I were ordained for each other; inseparably we belong to each other. It is God's will; I will abide in Christ. It is of God I am in Christ Jesus."
Hallelujah!That makes me want to dance. :-)
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Adoption news
We got word from our lawyer today that Brittany's adoption is going to court on June 18th at 1:30!! My ex said he sent all the paperwork and it should be at the lawyer's today. As long as that is filled out correctly with no problems, Brittany should be a Lynn in just a few short weeks!!
UPDATE: Ex did NOT get the paperwork notarized. We are NOT in the clear yet. The lawyer sent it back to him. Please pray that it is done quickly and correctly this time!! We need to have it done by the court day. In the lawyer's hand and all correct!!
Monday, May 26, 2008
Thank you
Patriotic Song "Thank You" Military Tribute
Thank you, especially, to Kyle Morris and Grant and Ryan Husky
representing not only America, but Our Finest Hour Church
10 Reasons NOT to homeschool
Ten Reasons Not to Homeschool
by Jim Muncy
January 12, 1995
Why send your kids to public schools rather than homeschool. Here are ten good reasons
10. Skill development: Public schools do a great job of teaching children to sit down and shut up while the teacher engages in crowd control and mindless administrative duties. The ability to put one's mind on hold, sit there and do nothing is a skill that will be in high demand in the competitive marketplace of the future.
9. Lack of ability: I couldn't teach my own child--I don't know how. After all, anything meaningful in life can only be taught by those properly trained and certified to do so.
8. Financial aspects: We can't financially afford to homeschool. Without the school based health clinics, how could we afford to keep our children supplied with condoms and birth control.
7. Goals 2000: I want my children to learn all the correct stuff. Given how fast history changes, I want to be sure they are up on the most recent version.
6. Scheduling benefits: Staying on the same schedule as everybody else has its benefits. That way, when we go to Orlando, we can make sure that we spend our time waiting in lines rather than wasting it on all those rides and attractions.
5. Close friendships: I like the fact that my children are spending so much of their time with people not in their family. I would much rather my children's closest friendships be outside the family rather than within.
4. Separation of church and state: As long as we keep church and state separate, then the more time I can keep my kids under the control of the state, the less time they can possible be under the harmful influence of the church.
3. Socialization: What possible better way could there be to give your children the social skills they will need as adults than to stick them with children their own age all day. Besides, the best influence on your child is the one randomly assigned to the seat behind him or her in home room.
2. Class size: Learning can't occur in groups of less than twenty students. There is nothing quite like being lock-stepped through material with thirty other students to really develop within a person that true love for learning.
1. Class pace: I want my child to know how to learn at the proper pace. If a child can't keep up with the class, then it serves that child right to be left behind in the dust. If the child is learning too fast, then he or she needs to learn to slow down. And besides, what gives any child the right to assume that he or she can learn things he or she wants to learn rather than what the board of education decides should be taught for any given grade level. Anything learned at the wrong time might just as well be left unlearned.
by Jim Muncy
January 12, 1995
Why send your kids to public schools rather than homeschool. Here are ten good reasons
10. Skill development: Public schools do a great job of teaching children to sit down and shut up while the teacher engages in crowd control and mindless administrative duties. The ability to put one's mind on hold, sit there and do nothing is a skill that will be in high demand in the competitive marketplace of the future.
9. Lack of ability: I couldn't teach my own child--I don't know how. After all, anything meaningful in life can only be taught by those properly trained and certified to do so.
8. Financial aspects: We can't financially afford to homeschool. Without the school based health clinics, how could we afford to keep our children supplied with condoms and birth control.
7. Goals 2000: I want my children to learn all the correct stuff. Given how fast history changes, I want to be sure they are up on the most recent version.
6. Scheduling benefits: Staying on the same schedule as everybody else has its benefits. That way, when we go to Orlando, we can make sure that we spend our time waiting in lines rather than wasting it on all those rides and attractions.
5. Close friendships: I like the fact that my children are spending so much of their time with people not in their family. I would much rather my children's closest friendships be outside the family rather than within.
4. Separation of church and state: As long as we keep church and state separate, then the more time I can keep my kids under the control of the state, the less time they can possible be under the harmful influence of the church.
3. Socialization: What possible better way could there be to give your children the social skills they will need as adults than to stick them with children their own age all day. Besides, the best influence on your child is the one randomly assigned to the seat behind him or her in home room.
2. Class size: Learning can't occur in groups of less than twenty students. There is nothing quite like being lock-stepped through material with thirty other students to really develop within a person that true love for learning.
1. Class pace: I want my child to know how to learn at the proper pace. If a child can't keep up with the class, then it serves that child right to be left behind in the dust. If the child is learning too fast, then he or she needs to learn to slow down. And besides, what gives any child the right to assume that he or she can learn things he or she wants to learn rather than what the board of education decides should be taught for any given grade level. Anything learned at the wrong time might just as well be left unlearned.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
~~Blush~~
ummmmm I guess I forgot about the other uses for the word memoir.
Mea Culpa.
I now officially un-name my friends morbid.
Sorry guys. :-)
I am the morbid one.
LOL!
A rather morbid tag
My friends have been participating in a rather morbid meme. It is about writing your own memoir. I am of the mindset that Christ will be returning before I "kick-the-bucket" so to say, but I will play anyway. ;-)
First the rules...
1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want.
3. Link it to the person who tagged you and to the place of origin.
4. Tag five more bloggers, with links. (my friends have broken tradition and gone with two, as will I.)
1. Write your own six-word memoir.
2. Post it on your blog and include a visual illustration if you want.
3. Link it to the person who tagged you and to the place of origin.
4. Tag five more bloggers, with links. (my friends have broken tradition and gone with two, as will I.)
5. Leave them a comment and invite them to play.
I thought this would be difficult. I even put it off for a few days, to think about it. However, in my nighttime musings last night, it came right to me! And it was PERFECT!
Saturday, May 17, 2008
All About Me
My friend Susan did this and I decided to join in too!
I am - Daughter of the Almighty, a Wife, a homemaker and homeschooling mom of 4 here on earth, one awaiting us in heaven.
I want - to constantly be closer to God.
I have - more than I ever imagined.
I wish - I was more on top of things.
I hate - ants.
I miss - my grandmother.
I fear - not.
I feel - not so hot at the moment.
I hear - children chattering.
I smell - pizza in the oven
I crave - more alone time for prayer and Bible Study.
I search - for more of God, daily.
I wonder - why God made mosquitoes.
I love - my family and friends, dearly.
I dance - in the rain.
I sing - when cleaning, driving or showering.
I cry - not as much now that I am not pregnant.
I don't always - get what I want done.
I wish - (another I wish?) my house was already ready to sell.
I fight - to get The Word out.
I write - not as much as I should.
I never - eat Beets.
I listen - to what people don't say.
I need - my Saviour.
I am happy - with my life.
Anyone else want to play?
I am - Daughter of the Almighty, a Wife, a homemaker and homeschooling mom of 4 here on earth, one awaiting us in heaven.
I want - to constantly be closer to God.
I have - more than I ever imagined.
I wish - I was more on top of things.
I hate - ants.
I miss - my grandmother.
I fear - not.
I feel - not so hot at the moment.
I hear - children chattering.
I smell - pizza in the oven
I crave - more alone time for prayer and Bible Study.
I search - for more of God, daily.
I wonder - why God made mosquitoes.
I love - my family and friends, dearly.
I dance - in the rain.
I sing - when cleaning, driving or showering.
I cry - not as much now that I am not pregnant.
I don't always - get what I want done.
I wish - (another I wish?) my house was already ready to sell.
I fight - to get The Word out.
I write - not as much as I should.
I never - eat Beets.
I listen - to what people don't say.
I need - my Saviour.
I am happy - with my life.
Anyone else want to play?
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Problem with my header
Any of you style sheet or blogger experts out there...I am having a problem with my header. I can't figure out how to get it centered. I can get it centered on one screen resolution, but it will not carry over to others. I have tried to add different tags I have found by googling the problem but none have worked. Does anyone have any ideas for me? (do I sound pathetic enough???)
BTW, I had no idea that I even had this problem until I looked at my blog from a different computer. Then all of a sudden the header wasn't centered! Sorry to all of you who have been seeing it like that all along. :-)
BTW, I had no idea that I even had this problem until I looked at my blog from a different computer. Then all of a sudden the header wasn't centered! Sorry to all of you who have been seeing it like that all along. :-)
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Multimedia message
On our way to KC
Well I’ve got my cell phone, PDA, MP3, Portable DVD, Camera, Britty’s Nintendo DX, a receiver for the MP3 and Michael and Britty’s cell phones. Are we missing any gadgets? Oh yeah, we have Ethan and Kaedra (the star of the show) too. We are on our way to
…..Planning on reporting good news later tonight!!
Receiving a multitude of Blessings and expecting nothing less than a miracle,
'·.(`'·.¸(`'·.¸ * ¸.·'´)¸.·'´).·'
«´* Kahri *`»
¸.·(¸.·'(¸.·'´ * `'·.¸)`'·.¸)·.¸
Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see. CS Lewis
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Monday, May 12, 2008
Blog Party! WOOHOO!
I am joining the 5th Annual MommyFest Blog Party!! It sounds like a lot of fun, there are lots of prizes and fun new people to meet. (of course they are fun, they are at a party, right?) Click on the link above if you would like to come along to the party! The more the merrier.
Okay, for my introduction:
I am Kahri, rhymes with starry, and I am wife to Michael and mother of four wonderful children here on earth, one awaiting us in heaven. As you can see, I am a believer. In fact, I am a blood bought, born again, spirit filled, bible believing, overcoming child of God. (aka a Jesus Freak) So, if that doesn't sound like your cup of tea, be sure to stay and read awhile...maybe you will get saved. heehee. (You have to admit, I warned you...)
We have a miracle story with our daughter Kaedra. You can read about it here.
We reside in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, at least for the moment. We are expecting to move at a (soon) unknown date to an (as for now) unknown location. My hubby is training to be a club manager for Sam's and we will move wherever he gets his store. We are looking forward to this next chapter of our lives. We know God has great things in mind for us!
We homeschool our children. We have been homeschooling them since the beginning and plan on homeschooling them until the end. We use an eclectic set of books and ideas. You can read more about our homeschooling resources and journey at my homeschool blog.
I have lots of hobbies but hardly ever get to them, especially since having my son who is 15 months old. I am hoping to start them up again soon! I love to read, cross stitch, pencil puzzles, crochet, do calligraphy, paint, sew, and most other types of crafts. I don't watch TV, I only read Christian books, I don't really keep up with the news, so I could be considered pretty odd.
I like to call it peculiar, as you see from the title of my blog. Peculiar, in the bible, means "set apart." I feel that we were set apart to show forth the praises of Him. The verse above is the verse I live by. And glory do I feel "called out of darkness", Hallelujah! But that is for another post, another day.
Anyway, feel free to look around. Our "cast of characters" are pictured in the top left corner. I blog about all sorts of things. I am not a consistent blogger; I blog a few posts one day and then none for a week, but I do love to blog. It's a great way to keep in touch with friends.
Hope you enjoyed your visit! Thanks for stopping by... Leave me a comment and I will come and visit you!
Quick Book Review
I recently read Homeschooling Take a Deep Breath - You Can Do This! by Terrie Lynn Bittner. I have meant to review the book, but have been really busy and have not taken the time. Of course, now the book is overdue at the library, so I am going to write a really quick review before I jump in my car and take it back.
I really enjoyed this book even though it was geared more towards the new homeschooler. However, although I have homeschooled for 8 years, I still learned many things and found myself nodding in agreement at many of her points.
I like this quote:
"Remember that your hardest job isn't teaching your chldren, it's parenting them. If you have done a good job of parenting, teaching is already a part of your day. Any good parent is naturally a good teacher."
I think that is true in more ways than one. If you have diligently parented your children and taught them the ways of your household, it will also be easier to teach them. If your children already know that you don't like to be interrupted, and won't interrupt you under threat of (I can't think of anything funny here that won't sound like child abuse, so you fill it in) it makes it so much easier when you are explaining their lesson. If you have already worked with your children about staying on task in their everyday life, staying on their schoolwork will be easier too! (I say this as pure hypothesis because my children, ahem, some of my children, are not good at either of those things. YET. We are working on it)
I have never kept a homeschool journal. I never really saw the need for one and frankly, thought it would be one more thing to try to remember every day. However, I love her idea of using the journal as sort of an accountability partner. (my word, not hers) By writing in your journal what went right and what went wrong (she has a rule that you always need to have more rights, though) you have a quick overview of the day and you can seek to make changes. She has you circle the one thing that went the worst and try to troubleshoot that area. I love that idea! I have downloaded a journal onto my palm pilot for just such a purpose. I think it will be great to see the successes and get ideas for how to make things better on a daily basis.
Anyway, for those of you that feel the need to read EVERY homeschooling book out there (like me) I would highly recommend this one. I skimmed parts of it where I felt I did not need any ideas (although I still learned some great things from those parts as well) and other parts I hung on every word and even took notes. :-)
Now I'm jumping in my car....
Thursday, May 08, 2008
13 Things I have learned as a mother
1. Patience:
It's funny. I seem so patient now. I can't even remember not being patient! But when I see my prayer journals from the Brittany's first year, my repeating prayer was for patience. I also talk to people from that time and they remember me needing patience. Somewhere along the way, I got it! I am not perfect, by any means, but I usually am very patient with my kids. (I admit it, my patience does not always spread to random children. But if I love the kids and/or the parents, I usually have patience)
2. How to laugh:
I'm sure I laughed once or twice before I had children, but I know it was nowhere near the amount I laugh now that I have four! My kids are so funny to me and we laugh all the time.
3. Social Skills:
I used to be afraid to be in large groups or anywhere where I had to speak or attempt to be social. I was pretty much a home-body. I liked my family, my hubby's family and that was it. Having children changed it in two ways. 1. I could "hide behind" my kids. I mean that both literally and figuratively. When carrying Brittany, people didn't usually notice me, they noticed her. That took all the pressure off of me! AND I could talk about her, so that took the pressure off the conversation. 2. I had to get out more because I couldn't rightfully be a hermit with kids. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone so I could meet their needs. Then I eventually learned to be more social myself. :-)
4. Unconditional Love:
That one just came along for free with the first child.
5. Unselfishness:
So much more fun to go buy things for the kids than for me! So much easier to think about others when they are all around you. No time to worry about myself!
6. The art of saying no:
Before kids I had a tendency to become overextended. After kids, I learned to prioritize and say no to preserve my sanity. :-)
7. The wonderful-ness of family:
I was an only child. I didn't see my dad much (he worked out of town) and my mom and I had a very rocky relationship. I really didn't get the whole "family" thing until I had my own. We are VERY family oriented and one of our nurses said we were the closest family she had ever seen. I'll take that. ;-) We are pretty tight as a family unit and usually do things together.
8. Joy:
It is sort of ironic that I didn't really live a joyful life until I lost my son, Jacob. I bought myself a plaque after his death that says "Joy comes in the morning." I read that to myself everyday. Sometimes several times a day. I chose joy as my goal. Now I see joy as a major part of my personality and life. I can't stand the feeling when I lose my joy. That is probably singlehandedly the most changed feature in my life since having children.
9. Bribery:
Never really had a need for it before kids.
10. way too many medical terms:
Could have lived without them, but they were a package deal with Kaedra.
11. Friendship:
It changes the whole dynamic of friendship to have friends who love your kids. And friends whose kids you love. And kids that love your friends. And friends' kids that love you. (you get the idea)
12. Gibberish:
Isn't it amazing how we can decode what our 15 month old just said through a mouth full of chips and no discernable consonants? And yet they get this HUGE GRIN when we know just what it is they want. That's success in my eyes.
13. The sustaining power of God:
God has so many facets and aspects but His power to sustain us through anything really comes through when you have children....children gone to be with him too soon, medically challenged children, day long tantrums, sibling rivalry and endless calgon moments....He keeps us through it all.
Check out other Thursday Thirteens
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Emily's Birthday Pics
Emily decided to have her family party as a pajama party. And she wanted grilled hamburgers. So we had a pajama/cookout. LOL!
Homeschooling Quote
"I homeschool because I've seen the village...and I don't want it raising my kids."
Michael's 40th B'day
He wanted a fajita dinner so we grilled everything for the dinner (except the cake). It was AWESOME! Best fajitas ever!!
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Busy busy busy
I apologize, I am way, way, way behind on answering emails. If you have emailed me, rest assured it is in my pile of 33 emails I need to answer. And someday, I may even get to it. No, really, I will try to get to my email soon. It just seems like a HUGE insurmountable pile at the moment.
Okay, I finally found my cord for Brittany's camera and I can download the pictures from Michael's b'day, Emily's b'day and random other events. Expect those posts to be coming sometime soon too.
We have a garage sale coming up at church on Saturday and I am trying to sort through virtually everything I own so I can get rid of a lot of it. I have a living room that is a fire hazard right now and needs to be taken care of before Saturday!
Next Tuesday we are FINALLY heading to Kansas City for Kaedra's evaluation. We do not know when her expansion surgery will be scheduled but it is usually soon after the eval. We are going to suggest not putting in the rib they took out last year until they have to replace the rib that she still has in there. They should probably be replacing that in the next year or so, which would be a "big" surgery so we are just going to suggest that they do both "big" surgeries at the same time. Anyway, we will see what they say to that. ;-P
Michael is finally home for a few weeks. He leaves again at the end of May for a week.
We need to start packing because when we move it will be quickly. We were reading the info yesterday and we will most likely have less than a month from the moment we find out there is a store opening that we are interested in, until we will need to be moved out there. So, I need to get a lot of stuff done asap, so I don't need to do it last minute.
Gotta go give Ethan a bath and put him to bed. I will be back at some point. :-)
Okay, I finally found my cord for Brittany's camera and I can download the pictures from Michael's b'day, Emily's b'day and random other events. Expect those posts to be coming sometime soon too.
We have a garage sale coming up at church on Saturday and I am trying to sort through virtually everything I own so I can get rid of a lot of it. I have a living room that is a fire hazard right now and needs to be taken care of before Saturday!
Next Tuesday we are FINALLY heading to Kansas City for Kaedra's evaluation. We do not know when her expansion surgery will be scheduled but it is usually soon after the eval. We are going to suggest not putting in the rib they took out last year until they have to replace the rib that she still has in there. They should probably be replacing that in the next year or so, which would be a "big" surgery so we are just going to suggest that they do both "big" surgeries at the same time. Anyway, we will see what they say to that. ;-P
Michael is finally home for a few weeks. He leaves again at the end of May for a week.
We need to start packing because when we move it will be quickly. We were reading the info yesterday and we will most likely have less than a month from the moment we find out there is a store opening that we are interested in, until we will need to be moved out there. So, I need to get a lot of stuff done asap, so I don't need to do it last minute.
Gotta go give Ethan a bath and put him to bed. I will be back at some point. :-)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Jacob's Birthday
In honor of my son Jacob's birthday (who was born at rest on 5/5/03)
Hard to imagine him as a 5 year old. More thoughts on that at a later date....
Jacob's Birthday last year
Hard to imagine him as a 5 year old. More thoughts on that at a later date....
Jacob's Birthday last year
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