The Simple Things

A laundry pile is a great place to read books!


Yesterday was a day for me to appreciate the simple things. The last two months have been so busy, frantic and hectic that I haven't been able to enjoy the everyday things.

Yesterday was spent baking cookies, folding about 10 loads of laundry, reading books, coloring, making beds and playing soccer and tag. Faith, Bella and I stayed home ALL DAY! We just enjoyed each other's company with the added benefit of getting lots of things accomplished.

Who knew just being a normal mom could be so much fun! I've missed it!

Thank you, Lord, for the simple things - for the things that make life full and rich!

Thank you for a beautiful home that I have the privilege of cleaning,

beautiful kids I have the privilege to raise to love You,

an amazing man I have the privilege to be married to,

and the time to enjoy all of them! I love you, Lord!

Why make the bed when you can play peek-a-boo!

A Sigh of Relief!

(deep breath) aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

That's more like it! I feel like I can breath again! Such a great burden is off my shoulders!

The last two months have entailed endless meetings, studying new curricula, more meetings, scheduling, more meetings, structuring ministries, meetings, writing job descriptions, more meetings, training, typing, changing the schedule, meeting, changing the schedule again, planning, more meetings . . . you get the picture.

Life has been out of control! I kept telling myself, "Just make it to September 10, girl, than everything will be in place, and you can chill out a little."

Well, due to the flu, September 10 turned into September 17, but I've made it! Yesterday was the big kick off for our "Family Times" ministry. This is a family-style Sunday school, that is taking the place of our regular Sunday school while we wait for the construction to be complete on our new rooms. It went really well! It really did! The Power Point worked, the drama team had all of their lines memorized, the crowd participants were funny, the DVD worked, the singing was good . . . we actually pulled it off! All of our hard work was actually producing fruit! Yee Haw!

What was even more gratifying than just "pulling it off" was the fact that I received two affirmations (so far) from parents who loved it and said they couldn't wait to come back next week! Woo Hoo!

I think all of the time away from my family, all of the tears, all of the blood and sweat, might actually be paying off!

I've Been Tagged!

Somehow I became involved in a game of tag I never even knew I was playing . . . I didn't even have the chance to yell out "Not It!"

Anyway, my sister-in-law Michelle tagged me and now I have to name 5 things about myself that are wierd or crazy. Here goes (in no particular order):

1. I'm a picker. I pick at my own face AND I can't stand it when my kids have eye or nose boogies, or wax in their ears . . . I am always drawn to pick at them until they are clean - kind of like an ape - yikes!
2. I can't leave the house without make up on. Even after my water broke with Faith's pregnancy, I took a shower, but wouldn't get into the car until my make up was on. I'm too afraid for people to know what my face really looks like (especially after all that picking!)
3. I hate wearing shoes - I go barefoot whenever I can. My feet actually hurt when I have to wear shoes - especially tennis shoes - ugh.
4. Ice Cream is my friend - that and homemade chocolate chip cookies. I need them to survive any stress or crisis. They make me happy.
5. I don't dust. Really - maybe once - perhaps twice a year I'll haul out the Pledge and go to town - but that's it. When you come to my house, take off those white gloves, and don't look too close.

OK, now it's my turn to tag someone . . . OK Kent and Shelly . . . your turn to reveal your quirks.

Missing big sister!

Now that Faith is big stuff and is going to Preschool, we have participated in the world-wide ritual of carpooling! Faith is so excited to get the chance to ride in Jake and Austin's cars! What fun! She doesn't even need a carseat - which makes her feel oh so grown up! Here's a great picture of Faith in her huge backpack waiting for Jake's mom to pick her up!



Then there's Bella . . . she just doesn't know what to do with herself when Faith leaves. Here's a picture of her crying and pointing out the window, "Thay (her version of Faith), Thay, Thay go bu by."



Poor baby!

Ode to the Babysitters

Our babysitters can't be beat
to have them over is a treat

Katie, Macy, Sue and Grandma
Deserve a long day at the day-spa

For all the times they come to play
With Faith and Bella for the day

I know little girls can be a hand-full
But these sitters don't put up with their bull

Instead they love and play and care
And teach my girls to be nice and share

Thank you to the faithful few
Who love my girls through and through

Your kindness won't soon be forgotten
Thanks for spoiling my girls rotten

This beautiful picture was taken by one of the best babysitters ever - Katie! She used her babysitting money to buy a new digital camera, and now when she babysits, she has photo shoots with the girls. She just sent me this beautiful picture of Faith! Thank you Katie!

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I'm basking in it . . . the light, that is - you know, the light at the end of the tunnel?

I wasn't sure I'd ever even see it much less be basking in it.

I've been so overwhelmed with work lately, spending hours upon hours and days upon days preparing for the kick off of our Children's Ministries on September 10. I kept saying to friends and family, "If only I can make it to September 10 alive and not in Pine Rest, everything will be fine. I can do it! I can make it to September 10." Well as of this post, it is September 13, and I am alive and well . . . well, sort of well anyway . . .

Sunday morning at about 4:00a I awoke to that little feeling in your stomach that tells you something isn't quite right. At about 6:00a that feeling was confirmed with a hasty trip to the restroom . . . I'll leave it at that. ANYWAY, at about 7:15a I had to call my pastor to let him know I wouldn't be coming in, and we decided to go ahead with the Nursery and Preschool kick offs, but postpone Sunday school for another week. After that, I made three brief phone calls to the coordinators of Nursery, Preschool and Sunday school to let them know what was going on, and then I went peacefully back to sleep.

That may not sound like that big of a deal, but for those of you who know me well, you know it is! You see, I'm the kind of person who always takes on more that I should, I have issues with delegating jobs out, and I just put too much on my own shoulders . . . well . . . no longer! This is the first year that I have committed, passionate, invested teams for each area of Children's Ministries.

It was so wonderful to make three phone calls, and know that everything would be taken care of. No rushing around, no anxiety, no making my husband do a bunch of stuff that I wasn't there to do . . . the teams took care of everything. It's like The Three Amigos! The great thing about amigos is that you can lean on them . . . and that is just what I did!

I want to give a big "shot ot" (shout out) to my awesome amigas who put many hours (volunteer hours, by the way) to make this year's kick off a breeze: Natalie, Laura, Lisa, Val, Heather, Angie, Julie and Kim! I love you girls! Good work! I couldn't be basking in the light at the end of the tunnel with out you!

Faith's First Day of School

Here she is! My sweet little 4-year-old! I can hardly believe that she's old enough to go to school - but she assures me she is!

Wednesday was technically her first day of school, but that was just a visiting day - a day to meet her wonderful teacher, see her cool room and meet a couple of the kids from her class.

Today, however, was the real thing! She had her little backpack on (OK, huge backpack - on her anyway) and was all ready to go. She had her outfit all picked out ahead of time - a skirt, of course, and she had her mind made up that Rar, her bear, was coming with her. "He really wants to see my class, Mom. He'll be lonely without me."

Here she is with her wonderful new teacher, Mrs. Konyndyk. You can see from this picture that Rar is still with her at this point! I was so afraid that we were going to have a power struggle over the whole 'Rar can't go to preschool with you' thing . . . but all Mrs. Konyndyk had to say was, "Wow, Rar looks like a really special friend, and we sure wouldn't want him to get lost here at preschool. You better give him to your mom. I'll bet she'll take wonderful care of him." And then . . . . . . . . she just handed him to me, gave me a kiss and a hug, and was off doing things with her classmates. "Later Mom! I have things to do!"

Faith had a terrific first day of school, and left no detail behind when telling me about it! She's already learned "All about Africa and zebra's . . . did you know you can tell zebras apart by their stripe patterns?"

I am so excited that she's so excited! And I'm at peace knowing that her teachers are going to love her and be patient with her, and teach her all sorts of new things from a "God made that" perspective! What a gift!