Homemade Goodness

Friends, I have been thinking about you and praying for you.  A few of you have shared your frustrations and struggles with me lately about being good moms/wives, raising kids, stay-at-home struggles vs working struggles...etc.

I understand feeling the time crunch and wondering if I am using and managing my moments wisely.  Since I work full-time for three months in the fall, evening dinners have become important to our family....that is the time where we regroup and hear stories from the day.  We call these times POW-WOWS....everyone is free to tell about their POW (low points in the day) and their WOW (fab moments) and then we just chat about it all.  Some of my favorite FUN moments come from hearing how we all process the events in our days.  We can use these moments for teaching, correcting, bonding, laughing, and loving....and these things are invaluable.  Whether you work for income or not, you WORK HARD....don't forget to play hard and laugh hard with your family too.  I can so easily become consumed with correcting issues, picking up messes, and planning for tomorrow that I forget to enjoy stuff.   When I do that I feel like everything is falling apart because nothing is ever DONE.  Here's the challenge: MAKE A HOME... create an environment of safety, peace, security, love, compassion, silliness, grace, growth....etc....etc...in the middle of the UNDONE LIFE.

NOTHIN' SAYS LOVIN' like giving 100% to raise your kids, support your spouse, 

and create a place of homemade goodness....this takes a great care-er (see that word?....CAREER!) (Aren't words incredible sometimes?!  Funny noises that make sense :)  

"Your greatest contribution to the kingdom of God may not be something you do, 

but someone you raise." ~Andy Stanley 

You May See A Stranger

It was a busy day at work....that's great, though...I would much rather be busy than bored.  The mid-day chime was "One Enchanted Evening".  I was singing it quietly on the way back from getting the mail and I rounded a corner and a man walking toward me was singing it too....so, we glanced at each other, laughed, and sang a little louder...."you may see a stranger....across a crowded room..."  A spontaneous duet with Ron Hultman from the Registrar's Office....funny :)

When I look across crowded rooms now, I don't see a "stranger"...I see Brad (of course, there is always the question of which is stranger :) Isn't it fun to make eye-contact across a crowded room with your spouse!?  They know your looks....so you really don't have to say words...they just "get" your faces...  I am thrilled that Bryan Adams' new album comes out tomorrow...so I was listening to one of his new songs "She Knows Me" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slZKHSKvQuY
A SWEET, FUN SONG  and thinking about how it applies to my marriage :)

I know a lot about Brad...we met in 1992 briefly when his PR team came to my church to perform....we took a trip with our college choir to Israel in 1994-95 during the Christmas and New Year's Holiday...(during the trip I made a note in my journal that I thought I could marry someone like him :)

Hey, thanks GOD...you read my mind....and my journal...you're sneaky wonderful! 

He had just graduated college and came back for the trip because he had helped plan it as a senior and he really wanted to go. I was a freshman that year and he was the older guy who helped me carry my luggage around Israel and saved me a seat on the bus.  We went on one date when we returned from the trip and then he decided he wanted to go back to Israel and work with the missionaries there (I made quite the impression, I guess...ha!  NO, he has a huge heart for Missions :), so we really did not talk much...if at all, for a couple years.  He worked in Israel for a year...I was busy with school, auditioned and made a PR team which kept me busy travelling almost every weekend and all through the summer months my junior and senior years.  He got a job leading worship at a church in town and working for Youth For Christ and when I graduated, I got a job in Wilmington, IL as a QMRP, Qualified Mental Retardation Professional (love that title :)  I attended the church where Brad led worship and we were great friends....that dated sometimes...I knew I loved him, but it took him a little longer to figure it all out. I actually decided to move home to Indy in 2001 to attend Butler University for my Master's degree, but Brad decided that would be when he would declare his undying love for me and came down to Indy to talk to my dad about marrying me.  We were friends for quite a few years before we finally married on 02/02/02...the most ROMANTIC way to spend Groundhog's Day, right?!....EVERY YEAR :).  We've been through a lot since then....job changes, moves, kids, adoption...life can be so busy and sometimes we test that marriage box to see how long it can run on empty.

I may know him well, but I will never be finished knowing, understanding, and loving him.  It is not his job to make me happy....sometimes I forget that.  It is my job to choose happiness for myself and to add things to the marriage box that he can open and enjoy.

Putting the Unity Back in Community ~Tera Lyn Dorr

Yesterday was PARMA DAY....our new church was able to get pretty involved this year.  We walked in the parade...handed out info for our church....candy....and invitations to our evening event, hosted kiddie games in our parking lot, took people on tours through our newly renovated building, made lots of popcorn and sponsored a showing of "Facing The Giants" for movie night.  I am really liking this small town feeling....it is so similar to what I remember as a kid visiting my grandparents.  

Ever read E.E. Cummings' poem, "anyone lived in a pretty how town" ?   That one is crazy how it makes me feel....I don't know why the words bring me to tears because they are so abstract.  BUT, I interpret his intent to be messages like...love like children (as in CAPTURE LIFE...don't boil love down to some definition that is as simple and insignificant as a clanging cymbal/bell...could that thought have come from the Love Chapter in 1 Corinthians 13?...oooo, what if? they have not love...wow, I wonder if anyone has ever thought of that before?)...be someone to someone (value people....make sure they know you care...joy in their joy/sorrow in their sorrow) ...everyone is someone....don't forget to remember the reason WHY in the busy times....it's kind-of like Ecclesiastes, but in the context of a community of people.....If you read it, I wouldn't focus too much on understanding every word because I don't think E.E. Cummings means to tell the story as much as he means to paint the story with word pictures....Anyhow....

I like my PRETTY HOW TOWN...It's my, HOW PRETTY! town.

Two girls from our youth group catching up with the band for the parade...Savannah said, "Mom, this is the last year I will be walking with the church."....YEP, she will be marching next year...marching right into adulthood....gulp! :)

Hanging out with people from two other churches in Parma in the "church section" of the parade route while waiting for it all to begin.

Annie Fullerton putting the joy in "rejoice in your afflictions"....though her battle is still raging, she has already proven her victory.  What an inspiration!  I was thrilled when I found out she wanted to ride in the parade with us.

Sisters....sisters.....there were never such devoted sisters.....ha!  Waiting in line at the Fire Station for burgers and dogs....watching kids put out "fires" in cutout houses with the fire hoses....that was entertaining to watch!

Karly was all about the theme of this Parma Day Harvest Festival.....CORN!

Our church parking lot play zone :)

Toward the end of the movie, Kassi told me she wasn't feeling well.  I checked her and she felt really hot, so I took her home and checked her temp.  I checked it three times because I couldn't believe the reading....she was at 103.7...I gave her some Ibuprofen quickly.  She was complaining of an extreme headache and she said she couldn't keep her eyes open and everything was looking blurry....actually she said, "My eyelids feel like rocks...I can't lift them!" (Even when she is sick, I love her drama!)  She was very lethargic....it scared me a little bit, so I thought I should probably take her to the ER.  Since Danielle had had Strep Throat earlier in the week, I had been watching for symptoms in the other girls just in case, but Kassi's symptoms seemed way more extreme than her normal response to Strep.  So, I called Brad and he agreed we should go.  We were blessed to have my mom visiting us this weekend so we could leave the other girls in her care.  When we got to the hospital, Kassi's temp was at 101...I was happy it was decreasing.  They decided to give her some Tylenol in addition to the Ibuprofen I had given her and her temp completely subsided.  Then, she became completely hyper and annoying!  She was playing the "copy everything mom does" game. You know that moment when you are at the ER because you thought you were putting the emergency in ER and then your kid starts acting like themselves again and you are like, "WHAT!  WHY AM I HERE after this extremely long day!!!???" They ran a Strep test for her....but, it was negative....so, 4 hours later we left with inconclusive results.  They are treating her with an antibiotic since Danielle had Strep.  They thought she might be at the beginning of it and the test wasn't sensitive enough to read it....

BUT, WHO KNOWS!

Yes....this is Kassi being a WALRUS with her popsicle after her fever broke about 2 HOURS before we were able to leave the ER....ANYONE want to call me the waaaaaaaambulance?  

The number is whine-one-one :)

Cupcakes With a Twist

Danielle had Strep Throat earlier this week, so Brad and I took turns tag-teaming who stayed home during the time she needed for her antibiotics to take effect.  I was talking with her about school and looking through some of her homework papers...she is a very artistic child and her mind is so interesting to me sometimes.  I caught one answer that has made me laugh for a few days.  Danielle is in 3rd grade now and she is starting into some story problems for her math class.  So, there was a problem....let's say it said, "Danielle was having a party and invited a bunch of friends.  She took 15 cupcakes to the party and all her friends ate one.  She ended up with 2 cupcakes left over.  How many friends did she invite to her party?"  Actually, I really like that one....it has an added twist, BUT ANYWAY....then the question said, "How would you solve this?"  They meant for her to write out the equation she would use....like 15-2=13 people at the party-1 (Danielle)=12 friends....see I made that one too hard :)  BUT, Danielle wrote...."I would use my brain." in the space they provided her :)

I Have A Sister In Iraq

This is the letter “N” in Arabic. I read that this symbol is being used to brand Christians in Iraq who are being persecuted and murdered by ISIS terrorists. They are using the letter “N” because it stands for Nazarene...remember, Jesus was from Nazareth.  I read about this today and it hit me pretty hard because I grew up going to Nazarene churches, participating in Nazarene youth events, and I even attended a Nazarene University.  I've had tons of t-shirts over the years that have said Nazarene on them...our youth group was even called CLUB NAZ....and a bunch of my girlfriends my freshman year of college had shirts made that said Olivet Nazarene University on the front and  "Not Your Average Damsel In Distress" on the back.  

I NEVER HAD TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT WEARING THAT TITLE.

BUT, I HAVE A SISTER IN IRAQ.  

Gracious Father,
you are our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
We ask that you would protect
our brothers and sisters around the world
suffering for the Name of Jesus.
Please be with Christians in Iraq
as they flee from persecution,
and face horror unimaginable.
Comfort them in their grief with your presence,
deliver them from evil.
Give wisdom to world leaders responding
to the Islamic State.
As you provided for your people
wandering in the wilderness,
provide Iraqi Christians with their needs.
Enable emergency relief to be received
swiftly and without hindrance.
Thank you for the forgiveness of sin found only in Jesus,
may all of your people know of this provision
and cling to the Cross of Christ.
Thank you that neither death nor life,
nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,
nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate your people from
your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Give Iraqi Christians and all Christians,
by the work of your Holy Spirit,
the strength to endure to the end, looking to Jesus,
the founder and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is seated at your right hand.
We ask these things knowing that you can do
immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
Be at work for your glory and the good of your people.
In Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.

(This prayer was written by Dave Miers)

The Path Of Life

 I read part of an interview with Andrea Bocelli today...for some reason what I read connected in my mind with the Book of Ecclesiastes.  It resonates with questions like....what makes anything in life worth something....or, life itself, worth living?  

There really isn't anything new under the sun....except that we are new to everything under the sun...right?  It is about everything under the sun being seen through new eyes that want to find GOD in it all and walk in the places he has for us ....that is the newness....that is the adventure...to be led by faith.  

Here's what I read:

Bocelli: In my opinion, the only way forward in this world is with faith, which not only explains the reason for life but also fills it with joy and hope. Faith transforms what would be a tragedy into a marvelous story with a happy ending. If all of this is reflected in my singing, how happy that would make me.

Bocelli: I will carry on singing until my voice allows me. Many years ago I learned from my mentor that one cannot make serious plans more than twenty-four hours in advance and I have always followed this precious advice. It is also matched by the words of a famous Italian film director who once said: "We have many plans for the future; it's a pity that very often our future has such different plans for us."

Help us to be wise and walk in the newness of this life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjNfkbQr5zc

Must. Have. Pretty. Paisleys.

Last week I had an appointment and the lady who was working on some of my paperwork had these really cute glasses on...they were like these black frames and then they had a really subtle paisley design on the sides.  I am going to need some reading glasses soon....too many years of staring at a computer screen.  I realize I could just keep increasing the font size, but I work with some confidential data, so I don't really want people who are a MILE away to be able to read my screen :)  ANYWAY, I decided to ask her where she got her glasses.  So, I told her they were super cute and asked where she got them.  She hesitated for a bit and then said, "From my eye doctor".....HAHAHA!  DUH, I know that, so then I had this awkward battle going on inside.  Does she not want to tell me where she got them?  Did she not understand my question? Should I keep pressing?  Yes....I continued the questioning....so I said..."and where is your eye doctor?" (meaning what store/office...ya know).....she said, "Jonesville."  That was one of my favorite AWKWARD conversations of all time....I never got the answer I was desiring, but I just learned a new word today that is related to that situation.  It is called swagger jacking....like, hijacking someone's swagger...so, she must have thought I was doing that.... :P

My boss shared some findings from a study that was completed with college students.  They were asked to spend about a 30 minutes just looking at Facebook pages for all their friends and after the 30 minutes the researchers asked them some questions.  What they found was pretty interesting to me, but not really surprising, I guess.  They found that these students felt depressed....kind-of weird, right?....but, when you think about it, it makes sense.  They felt like the people they were reading about had way more interesting lives than they did....better stuff and deeper relationships....they started to experience envy and it affected them emotionally.

What we often do not consider when we are reading blogs, or Facebook updates, or Twitter feeds is that we are only viewing the HIGHLIGHT reels.  There are plenty of deleted scenes in everyone's day that don't make the final cut :)  We need to be cautious of becoming envious....envy means we are not celebrating God's goodness in another's life because we are too busy comparing....and, if we are comparing, we are probably ignoring God's goodness in our own life.  I know I am guilty a lot of times.

But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But, if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.  But you, man of God, flee from all this, pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.  ~1 Timothy 6:6-11

Nutmeg, If You Please

I love fall for so many reasons, but I think I start to be ruled by scents and flavors during the fall....isn't that weird?  I start craving things like a pregnant woman (precision of language...as if I were a pregnant woman :)...like the other day I was planning to meet Brad at Wendy's for lunch, but, before I knew it, I realized I was in the parking lot of Steak 'n' Shake.  On the way to Wendy's I started thinking about Steak 'n' Shake's fall S'Mores shake and SUDDENLY I was there.  "Uhhhh....Hi Babe....change of plans....I'm at Steak 'n' Shake." :)

I decided to say HELLO to fall by making some pumpkin ice cream....it was an experiment.  No, it wasn't homemade this time, (thinking about that makes me want to make some more homemade blueberry ice cream...YUM!) but, the pumpkin had GREAT FLAVOR too!  I cheated and picked up some...

And some.....100% pumpkin (use half the can)

....add a little brown sugar, as much cinnamon as you like...nutmeg, if you please :) and the softened Butter Pecan ice cream....blend and refreeze.....my family loved it (and it was SUPER easy)!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT IS THE FIRST DAY OF FALL!.....REALLY? 

DOESN'T SHE HAVE THE PERFECT EXPRESSION?!

As Long As It Is Called Today

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.  But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.  We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.  Hebrews 3: 12-14

Mother Teresa said, 

"I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is sending a love letter to the world."

If one looked at the book of this life being made would there be evidence enough for it's author to be named?  Through the lines of each page and the passion embraced, could readers grasp the call of my faith?  My pen on this day has made such a strange mix of phrases...some rhymes in meter.... I pray that this plot and it's outcome is not simply my own desire to entice the reader...

BUT

a chance to express each day's faithfulness to the blessed author of life...

LORD, write this book in RED.

Let each step this character takes, by your own words, BE LED.

When Mom Is Gone

Tonight, mom went to the store and let's just say sometimes we do some crazy things... 

(but, shh don't tell mommy).

HAHA! I shot daddy with a flashlight!

I don't know about you, but I like chocolate moose tracks ice cream.

Well, this is my fundraiser for school and Savannah and dad are debating between chocolate covered cherries and beef sticks. 

POP QUIZ

Can you guess which one dad wants? 

Did you guess correctly? 

Dad wants the beef sticks.

Just some ideas for when your mom is gone :)

~McKenna Foster

You Slay Me

SLANG INTERPRETATION:

 I am totally overwhelmed with something like laughter and/or affection for you.

GOD'S VERSION: 

I open God's Word and find it to be a double-edged sword that cuts straight to my heart because 

HE LOVES ME.

IT IS LIVING AND ACTIVE

God's word can never die...when He speaks it is TRUTH and it is POWER and it is LIFE.  It will always be living and it will always be revealing TRUTH and piercing through OUR BLUR to show us exactly what lies beneath the gray.  If we want our words and actions to result in life-giving power, we HAVE to be in HIS WORD.

I have always thought it strange that the Bible talks about this double-edged sword as being able to divide the soul from the spirit.  In my mind, I have kind-of assumed these were one in the same...but, I recently read a devotional that explained it in a new light for me.  The reading said the Word of God has to cut the natural part of us, the soul we are born with, from the supernatural spirit that is born in us through Christ.  The sword has to be incredibly sharp and precise to do that for us.

So, there's the thoughtful, "Why must it do that?" and then, there is the feeling....

"OUCH....THAT HURTS!"

I recently had to have a biopsy due to a spot on my skin that concerned my Dr (it ended up fine, but)....I felt the pain of that one because it needed to be 

TESTED.

Ever wondered the difference between a trial and a test?  I have.  I think the double-edged sword is a good example of the TESTING that God administers.  When the sword penetrates though soul and spirit....the natural part of our desires and motives are cut and our spiritual thoughts, intentions, the heart of our motives are laid bare...this is the point where our TRUE SELF is revealed.  The reason it is necessary is that we can become really good....great....even expert level deceivers.  We can deceive OURSELVES we are so good at it.  See why the sword has to be so sharp...it has to cut our real self from our "self"...sometimes we even think we are one in the same, right? Does that make any sense to anyone but me?

Only GOD'S WORD can cut through our own deception to judge the thoughts and motives of our hearts.  PRAISE GOD it is not the final judgement!  Wouldn't you want to know if there was no living marrow in your bones if you had access to your cure?  

The WORD CAN WOUND us when we are tested, 

and LIFE CAN LEAVE SCARS from trials....

A lot of people argue that GOD wouldn't do anything to us that causes pain...obviously, so much pain is due to our fallen nature and the state of our broken world....but, I am not sure I am in that camp that says "God would never..."  because I don't know that HE is as concerned with our pain tolerance as we think HE is.  NOT that I think HE is out to torment us, but I think pain is one of HIS tools to make us HOLY.  We are the ones who choose to identify all pain as EVIL. If it is evil, why the need for the sword, why the fire to purify us, why do we become more like Christ in our suffering if pain was not a means to a GLORIOUS END?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyUPz6_TciY

You can't see what it is doing....BUT, it is doing something GENUINELY GLORIOUS!

Think Fast....Which Movie Is This From?

"Yes! Fight and you may die.  Run and you will live at least awhile. And dying in your bed many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance, to come back here as young men and tell our enemies that they may take our lives but they will never take...."WHAT?  WHAT WILL THEY NEVER TAKE?

So, Brad had a friend text him this week from the airport.  He was getting ready to fly home from a business trip and he texted...."Sitting across from Mel Gibson at the Tuscon Airport, for real!"....so, Brad responded to him, "Nice, Yell FREEEEEEEDOM!".....I so wish he would have.  I played that one out in my imagination a few times this week and it really made me laugh.

Brad and I thought that was an interesting situation with the Scotland vote this week...but, we didn't think about that until later.  It is wild sometimes how much our culture is influenced by our TV shows and movies....but, we rarely know much about what is happening in our world's current events.  I know I need to pay more attention to and pray more attentively for my world.

AMEN!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kjMaYqhQnw
(hear the bagpipes? :)

I Don't Care Too Much For Money

We had four giddy girls spend the night last night after the dance :)  I tried to casually work the post-dance conversation around to "were there boys there?"....BUT, I don't think they noticed.  Well, they noticed my question for sure, but they only danced with each other....according to their "stories" anyway...but, there were no inconsistencies in their stories....not that I performed a full-fledged interrogation.

Maybe I have been emphasizing the importance of "playing hard to get"....too much...(just kidding) I don't think there is too much you can say to encourage cultivating good friendships and not rushing into relationships... there's always time for boys, LATER!  We have been watching 19 Kids and Counting with the girls.  I doubt that we will handle their dating/courting relationships the exact same way, but I think it gives them a lot to think about as the couples on the show talk about their boundaries and why it is important to have accountability.  One of Savannah's friends got asked to dance by a boy and she told him "later", but she thinks he may have thought she said "never" because the music was so loud :P Oh, Dear!

Savannah has a friend who never likes wearing dresses.  She had bought one to go to the dance, but was feeling really self-conscious about it.  Then, she found out one of their other close friends was planning to wear the exact same dress.  Those two issues fed her insecurities and she decided against going.  While at the game, we ran into her and encouraged her to go to the dance anyway and have an outrageous time and then come to our house after...we talked about how accessories can really change the look of a dress, SO SHE DECIDED TO COME and wore her converse shoes and a cardigan sweater with her homecoming dress....geek is chic!  She had a great time!

It's not about the dress!

Before Homecoming....

After school was all about the hair, make-up and nails.  We were serenaded by the soundtrack from High School Musical....CeCe's pick :)  I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Rachel for coming and working on hair :) Savannah was pumped to have her own "Stylist"....and now that I think about it that was perfectly in line with this year's Homecoming theme....Hunger Games....HA!  

THAT GIRL IS ON FIRE!

And this is how to make a $6 dress look like a million bucks....

wear it with confidence and smile perdy!

I had sooooo many good picture ideas, but we ran out of time....I am glad I got this shot, though.

Vanner and CeCe....it wasn't long ago I posted a pic of them with flour all over their faces.....

they clean up nice! 

Grandma, we love the necklace....it was perfect! Thanks for sending that surprise!

Rachel's hair masterpiece :)

I remain confident of this....Psalm 27:13-14

BEFORE OUR HOMECOMING

I look at this picture and think about how many times I will get to do this all over again!  

OH, THE GOODNESS!

The God of Every

I am in one of those moods.....it is a grateful-mess, really....and I am still listening to the Piano Guys and allowing myself to be moved :)  This song is fabulous....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgaTQ5-XfMM

JUST THINK.....THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE 

WANTS A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU.

.....I think today is a good day!

(I know this sign has an error...but, I still like it)

WE WAIT FOR THE THINGS WE VALUE...

HE'S LOVED YOU EVERY MOMENT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME.

Leaving SHY-town

We received the results of the auditions last night for Vannah, Kenna, Kassi, and Danielle... who all tried out for Keeper of the Tales, Center Stage Jackson's Youth Theatre fall production.  Obviously, with five daughters, I am always hoping that some of their interests will align for the sake of our busy family schedule.  So, I was thrilled that those four wanted to try out and were willing to devote the next couple months to that as their extra-curricular activity (besides other school stuff)....BUT, I also knew that with 4 trying out, there could be some that made it and others that didn't....so I had to give them (I think, three) pep talks about how we would handle that if it happened.

Vannah, McKenna and Kassi all received a part, but Danielle did not.  I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF THEM, however, this time I am going to brag on Danielle A LOT :)

When Danielle moved in with us she HATED...well, really, WAS TERRIFIED to say anything in front of people...she really had a fear of being singled-out or in the spotlight.  She would say she couldn't do a bunch of things because she was "too shy"...and she would tell us about all the people who had told her that.....she totally thought that label defined her.

 She is a quiet child, but she has a lot of great ideas and thinks/ problem solves in unique ways....we really didn't want her to always feel like or BELIEVE she was too shy to express herself...so, there have been some places along the way over the last two years where we have really challenged her to try to put the SHY label behind her.  I have seen so much improvement in her confidence level.  She actually wanted to try-out for the play and she did well...a cold read is a little hard at her reading level to get her words out and the right emotion out at the same time, BUT I am so impressed that she didn't listen to the little voice inside her that sometimes tells her she is TOO SHY to try.  IF YOU ONLY KNEW!  AND, she did not fuss AT ALL when she found out she didn't get a part.  What a blessing it is to see your kids overcome their fears and handle situations that life brings at them.

 Today, Danielle's class was presented with the new opportunity to have one classroom blogger each day and Danielle popped her hand up in the air first and was the first BLOGGER for her 3rd grade class...she was pretty proud of herself and so am I :)

(Here's one of Danielle's blog postings from the day)

We're reading Einstein the class Hamster. Einstein is a funny Hamster ha...ha...ha.I got a good shot of Mr.Sharp.

UPDATE

Brad and I had to divide and conquer tonight, so he was planning to take the 3 girls to play practice and I was taking Karly to gymnastics.  We let Danielle decide where she wanted to go and she decided to hang out with daddy and the girls that were going to play practice.  At the end of practice, the director told Danielle there was one kid who decided not to accept the part they were offering her and he offered the part to Danielle :)

I could'a written something like that :)....only the end would have been....with tears.

But, light works too :) 

It's Picture Day

All the outfits are already laid out for the morning because IT'S PICTURE DAY!  The one day where the essence of our children being in THAT GRADE is captured...this picture makes or breaks the entire year :)  (Just kidding)...I love comparing their school pictures from year to year and looking at how much they grow up....how they change....but, the girls, not so much.

I guess it is just a mama thing....

I was thinking today how, as a parent, I have such a privilege to RAISE five girls ...BRING THEM UP...INSPIRE THEM TO TRUE BEAUTY... BLESS THEM.  I often think of my mama role in ways related to the responsibility factor (which it is)....

BUT, 

I need to focus a little more on the privilege of parenting.....capturing their moments of success, listening to their hopes and dreams, making sure they know I believe they are beautiful for all the right reasons....inside-out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VqTwnAuHws

Sometimes it takes a while to figure out what really makes us beautiful because we have to push through so many lies to get to a place where we understand what GOD sees as beautiful....I love that the Piano Guys cover this song by completely uncovering the piano and creating beautiful sounds from what is on the INSIDE....

that's pretty symbolic if you think about it :)

And This Is How I Feel....

I WONDER which kind of bread would make the best pillow.....but, I don't....yawn.... really ca...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I had a marathon day....work...play auditions for 4 of the girls, ipad training session and setup for Kenna....(uhg, technology), shopping with Vanner for make-up and final Homecoming Dance (YEAH!  Her first fancy dance!) accessories, planning a pre-game/post-dance party for Vannah and her friends so we can try get some crazy friends in fancy dresses pictures.

Used too many words....walked too many places....thought too many thoughts for one day.

Almost forgot to B.R.E.A.T.H.E...

BELIEVE, REST, ENJOY, ABIDE and TRUST HIM in EVERYTHING

(I borrowed some of that concept from someone named Aretha....that's good stuff, Aretha! :)

And all the sleepy little sheep say, AMEN!  Do sheep count sheep?  Weird thought.  Night.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n01-5SQFa8

Where's My Backup

I was walking across campus today to carry our files to a different office and pick up the mail and the bell tower started to chime at noon.  I was expecting the normal hourly chimes, but it chimed the song, "My Favorite Things" from The Sound of Music.  That was so fun!

There's been so much turnover in my office over the last year and throughout the summer that now I am the second oldest person in the office....I just realized that the other day when someone made a joke about middle-aged women...(first I chuckled...and then I thought, "WAIT!") I opened my mouth for my rebuttal to defend all my people while looking around the room for backup :)  

WHERE'S MY BACKUP?

I'm feeling a tiny bit seasoned :)

Maalox and nose drops and needles for knitting,

Walkers and handrails and new dental fittings,

Bundles of magazines tied up in string,

These area few of my favorite things...

Cadillacs and cataracts and hearing aids and glasses,

Polident and Fixodent and false teeth in glasses,

Pacemakers, golf carts and porches with swings,

There are a few of my favorite things.

When the pipes leak,

When the bones creak, 

When the knees go bad

I simply remember my favorite things,

And then I don't feel so bad.

Hot tea and crumpets, and corn pads for bunions,

No spicy hot food or food cooked with onions,

Bathrobes and heat pads and hot meals they bring,

These are a few of my favorite things.

Back pains, confused brains, and no fear of sinnin',

Thin bones and fracture and hair that is thinnin',

And we won't mention our short shrunken frames,

When we remember our favorite things.

When the joints ache,

When the hips break,

When the eyes grow dim,

Then I remember the great life I've had, 

And then I don't feel so bad.

(I like those lyrics....Julie Andrews sang that for her 69th birthday in 2007)

We shouldn't let getting older get us down, ya know....it's too hard to GET BACK UP :)

Sign Me Up For The God Squad

We took our little squad to Culver's this weekend....Kenna got a corn dog and she was peeling it off of the stick.  I was making fun of her for destroying her food....she said, "Some people are claustrophobic, others are scared of heights, I fear food on wooden sticks!" LOVE THAT!

Karly got to attend her BFF, Caroline's, B-day party today.  We are attending two church services on Sunday mornings since we opened the Parma church and, since we are about to begin construction at the Jackson church, we have changed up Sunday School times a little bit so the kids attend the church services with us.  KARLY was so antsy-pantsy all day....."what time's the party?"...."when will this be done?"...."how much longer?"..."Please, can we leave now?"....like more than 20 times :)  Caroline's mom said before they started skating they made a promise to each other that they would not use the "walkers" today...she said they barely made it around the rink 4 (at the most 5 times) the entire time, but they were determined.  She said when one would fall....the other would wipe out on purpose just to be laying on the ice together and then try to help each other up :)  I love that they stuck with each other the whole time even though they really didn't go very far.  I bet the majority of their time was more about helping each other up than it was about skating, you know what I mean?!

I mentioned before that I was thinking about the challenge of going the second mile for people this week.  Sometimes you just don't know how to do it because you don't know the needs that people have, but this week God has given me so many opportunities to be made aware of real needs.  I am thankful for that.  Knowing is half the battle (for the God Squad :)

The reason I am all about the God Squad right now is that we just finished up youth group for tonight and these 4 young men that just started attending are TOTALLY inspiring me!  After helping an older gentleman work in a neighbor's yard, they made plans this week to be guys that will go the extra mile for their community in the name of Jesus....and they are calling themselves THE GOD SQUAD... See the sign they made.....

They also made a really cool video to explain what they are doing and why...they used the song "God's Not Dead" in the background of their video 

(kids these days, right?! :)

God has MARVELOUS ways of pouring out HIS BLESSINGS!  Who would have thought two 8th graders, a 9th grader, and a 10th grader would team up to share the goodness of GOD'S LOVE with Parma, MI?  We should never doubt GOD, HE will always come through....and, most of the time, we will be blown away with His strategies.  

We pray for GOD to move in mighty ways and HE sends us THE GOD SQUAD :)