Cool Giveaway

Go visit 5 minutes for Mom and check out their new giveaway!!

I don't want to give it away but it's something very cool from Best Buy!

Ain't that the Truth!

A few weeks ago Seth told someone "If there's a mess, I can find it!"

He's never spoken such true words in his life. That child was made to be messy. He could probably make a mess in the tub while he's trying to get clean!!

Here are some pictures as examples of his fine work...

This is one of my favorites... the blue paint day!

I think this one explains itself...

One day I couldn't find him...
he was on my bed with the can of nuts I had gotten for a party!
Oh, the diapers that followed :o)

This was while we were camping...

At one of Josh's birthday parties...

Making brownies with Daddy as a surprise for Mommy...

Got caught playing in my mascara...

He's not really messy in this one but I couldn't help but throw it in...

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of the time he...

~ Smeared Black paint all over his bedroom floor!
~ Dumped Coffee all over the kitchen!
~ Smeared diaper cream all over himself and the bathroom!
~ Finger painted at Grandma's with chocolate frosting!
~ Finger painted at our house with Chocolate frosting!
~ Unwrapped all the Christmas presents under the tree!
~ And many, many more...

Thank you God for such a healthy little boy who keeps me on my toes!!

Really, how do they know?

I've noticed some funny things on food packages lately...

Cake from Safeway ~ "The moistest cake you've ever tasted!"

Wow, how did they know??


Grandma's cookies ~ "Now softer than ever"

Because before they were so hard??


Land O'Frost Brown Sugar Ham ~ " America's Favorite 1 lb. Lunch Meat"

But they couldn't compete in the 1/2 lb. contest??


Philadelphia Cream Cheese ~ "Consumers Prefer the taste of Philadelphia"

Over what??


Sarah Lee Pie ~ "America's Favorite Pie"

Really, all Americans??

Ever feel like this??

The older my kids get... the dumber I am ;o)

Strength beyond words

My Mom is such a strong woman! How blessed I'm am to be her daughter! She had her double mastectomy and was doing just fine. Then she got a call saying they hadn't taken a clear margin around the tumor. So back she went for more surgery... taking more skin, putting in the chemo port and getting started on the reconstruction process.

That second surgery really knocked her for a loop! She is starting to bounce back now though. On Thursday I took her to check out wigs. It was so much fun seeing her in lots of different styles and colors. We tried blonde, brown, redish and even pink... for more on that story, you can check out her blog here.

She did get some wonderful news this week... she is now cancer free according to the pet scan!!

It's been so cool to watch her walk this path. I'm not sure how she has done it. God truly has blessed her with such courage and strength! What a wonderful testimony she is to those around her!

I appreciate all your prayers and ask you to continue to pray as she is starting chemo in the next couple weeks!!

Trustworthy

A few weeks ago Josh came home and I could just tell something happened at school. He had this look like he needs to tell me but he was afraid he'd be in trouble. It's usually nothing big but he still has to spill his guts! I was the same way as a child... hard on the kid, great for the parents!

Anyway, I guess at some point during the day his teacher turned out the lights to get the attention of her class. When she did, the kids all screamed. As the lights came back on she said "Anyone who screamed when the light went off needs to move their tag to yellow." Josh got out of his seat and walked to the back of the room alone. Not one of the other students got up. I wonder how many of us adults could have done the same?

As the day went on Josh thought about his actions and his honesty. He went up to the Teacher's desk and asked "Do you think I could please move my tag back to green since I was honest?" His teacher, being the understanding woman she is said "I think that's a great idea... thank you for being honest."

Then a couple weeks later I got an email from his teacher. She said Josh was going to be presented with a character award in the upcoming assembly. She invited all of us to attend but asked us to keep it a secret from him. I was so proud and had tears in my eyes as I read it. The character pillar for that month just so happened to be trustworthiness!

So Mommy, Daddy, Grandma, Papa, Sherry and his brothers all came! He was so excited to see all of us sitting in the back when he won the award. He also got a coupon for a free shake at Red Robin. It was a proud day in our house and we realized just how closely our children are watching and learning from our character every day!!

Sorry, the pictures were out of focus or I would have added them ;o)

Through the eyes of a 3 year old

Seth was singing I'm a Little Tea Pot for us earlier this week...

I'm a little tea pot short and white
Here is my handle, here is my stuff
Tip me over and pour me out

I think it might work :o)

My husband and I have a high school small group in our home each Tuesday night. Last week Seth asked us when the "High School Musicals" would get here! He sure keeps us laughing!!

In Loving Memory of Peggie

My mother in law, Peggie, passed away this morning about 3:45. It's been such a long hard road but we're so glad God has taken her in His timing. We know that she is no longer suffering and in pain. She is dancing like a teenager... something she said she couldn't wait to do when she got to Heaven.

Thank you all for the prayers you've prayed over our family. We know we couldn't have gotten through any of this without the love and support of each of you!!

Please continue to pray for us and the whole family as we continue this week to walk this road.

Here's Grandma Peggie doing what she did best... loving on her gandkids!

Jeff's parents together at our house for Easter 2006

Peggie at her house - Thanksgiving 2006

Christmas at Peggie's house 2004

Where do I start?

Life has been crazy here! Since my last post we've had my Mother in law go into a hospice care center, my Mom had a double mastectomy and my BIL and SIL along with 4 kids came home from South East Asia. It's been a whirlwind and I'm still trying to catch my breath!

My Mom is doing great since her surgery on Thursday. She is full of jokes which helps her and the rest of us cope with the whole thing. I'm so proud of her! As she woke up from surgery she told my Dad and I, "I did my best you guys!" Then a little while later when my sister, Aunt, Dad and I were there she said, "I'm going to be a survivor!" It was so special and brought all of us to tears. It's been neat watching my Dad take care of her. He holds her hands during walks and tends to her every need. What a love the two of them still share after 28 years of marriage!

My Mother in law has declined so much in the last week. She is getting very confused about what's going on around her. She can't really keep track of time. It's so hard to watch. On Sunday night we took the 7 grand kids down to basically say their goodbyes. We honestly thought we might wake up the next morning to a call that she had passed in the night. For some reason she continues to hang on. It's only a matter of time though. We just know she's in so much pain and pray that she will be released from it soon. God knows and we just keep reminding ourselves of it!

My house has been filled with laughter, tears and lots of people over the last week! We have had a total of 11 people... 4 adults and 7 kids ages 3-7. It's been so much fun and we've really enjoyed having them here. It's been such good bonding time for all of us. We sure miss seeing them after 6 months apart. Tonight will probably be their first night in their rental home and we're going to be so sad not to have them right down the hall from us!

I have some very special shout outs to make...

Julie & Karina - Thanks for the yummy dinner you brought last night and tonight... what a blessing to have such wonderful friends in our lives!

Shalee - Thank you for the wonderful prayer you sent my way for my Mom's journal! She was so touched when she opened the book and saw over 25 prayers from women around the world!

Please pray with me...

Well, today has been a rough day. One week ago today, my Mom found out she has stage two breast cancer. Not words anyone wants to hear about their Mom. She is going to have an double mastectomy on Wednesday the 17th.

It was discouraging but right away I knew how my Mom would handle it... with laughter, tears and faith.

She has a wonderful sense of humor and I'm blessed by it all the time. I don't know how she comes up with half the funny things she says but I'm glad she does. It really creates a great environment around our family! There have been many jokes about just having a double because what's the use of a uniboob? Or tonight she told me "This is going to be a lot of weight off my chest!" It cracks me up to think that she is so silly in a time that most people wouldn't come out from under the covers. What a nut!

It's also been a time of crying and tears. We've all been sad and struggling to keep it together. It's such a part of being a women. I don't know the words to say but I know that just hugging her and crying about it is sometimes just as powerful.

Then comes the Faith... what a strong woman of faith! She's already wondering what God is planning to teach her and all of us around her through this trial. It's truly amazing to watch. I haven't heard her once question why this is happening or what God was thinking. In fact, she quoted something my Dad always says "It's going to be neat to watch God work this one out!"

So please be in prayer for her! She is so special to me and I love her so much. I can't imagine life without her by my side. It's going to be awesome to travel this new path with her and see how God works it out. How He teaches us each our own lessons. I pray that we will all walk away stronger and more faithful than ever before!

My 3 year old put it best this morning when he said "God's the Man!" I know He's got a plan and I can't wait to see it unfold in our lives!!

Saying goodbye

It's been a hard road watching my Mother in law deal with cancer. I've known her since I was a little girl, about 5 years old. When I was young my parents worked together at a camp each summer and we went to the same small church. My sister and I grew up calling her Aunt Peggie. She did a little bit of everything at camp... cooking, counseling, office work, laundry, sword drills and so much more.

Now I'm married to her son and she is my Mother in law. It's amazing how much more you get to know a person once you're related! We have a good relationship and I'm glad. I wouldn't say we've always gotten along or seen eye to eye but I enjoy being around her. I look up to her because she is such a Faithful woman of God. She does her Bible study daily and can quote scripture off the top of her head. She truly has hidden God's Word in her heart. Plus, I love her because she raised my husband and helped shape him into the wonderful man he is today!

Just tonight I watched her as we visited. She has slowed down, content to sit in her chair. Her smile has faded as the pain has crept in. I learned how to give her medicine through the new feeding tube that was put in earlier this week. I was glad that I could help. It must be so hard for her not being able to eat on her own. I can't even imagine!

I can tell she still enjoys having the grandkids around and longs to be on the floor playing with them. I sat there thinking back to a time when she could easily carry one of them on her hip and push another on the swing outside. Now she's able to hold the baby for only about 2 minutes at a time with help. Her body is tired and she struggles just to hold a conversation.

It makes my heart so full of sadness when I think about my children growing up without really, truly getting to know Grandma Peggie. I know she wishes she could be here for the important things in their lives... graduation, weddings, births of their children. However God has a different plan and we have to trust that he knows what He's doing.

It's hard to watch her decline but I have a peace knowing that soon it will end and she will be with her Heavenly Father. Pray for all of us that our hearts will be prepared. That we will pull together as a family and really enjoy these last few days, weeks or months!

Finally... pictures

Well, these pictures are mostly for Aunt Tina because she's just dying to see the little guy and his room. It's hard being thousands of miles away! So the rest of you will just have to put up with me bragging on the little guy :o)

This is Jacob in his bouncy seat... he loves it!

This is Jacob on the day he first learned to roll over...
It was a big day in the house and we all celebrated!

This is Jacob chilling out in his boppy pillow.
He's very serious sometimes.

This is a shot of Jacob's bedroom.
The letters don't look straight in the picture but I think it's the angle I was at.

Here's another picture from his doorway.
We finally found a spot for the horse my Uncle made!

Here's one more shot of his room

This is something you won't see often but when you do... look out!

Hey... I'm still here!

Hey everyone ~ I'm still here! I just wanted to write a little note to let you know all is fine with our family. We're just trying to get back into the swing of things here. Life can sometimes be crazy with three kids, as many of you know. I'll post some new pictures and good stuff soon so stay tuned :o)

Giving it away

Let me just list some of the things I've been up to lately...

~ Taking care of 3 rowdy little boys
~ Working part time for our church preschool program
~ Selling Avon
~ Running a playgroup
~ Helping in Josh's classroom
~ Running a high school small group
~ Cooking, cleaning, laundry... I could go on and on :o)

You get the picture! So as I was looking over some of these things I realized that I was doing way to much and not doing a very good job at any of them. I've decided it's time to say no and just focus on the most important things in life... my family.

I'm only going to have these kids in my home for a short time. I need to make the most of my time with them. I want to teach them the things they need to know about life. I want to take time to just sit with them and read. I want to love on them as much as possible!

I'm giving up playgroup and told Josh's teacher I can't help in the classroom this year. Hopefully this will lighten my load some. I think it will be nice to just take a breather and focus on my kids and church preschool. Pray that I will have the courage to say no when other opportunities arise. It's hard for me but this is the season I'm in and I need to live in it!!

First grade... a world of difference!

The title pretty much tells the story for me. Josh started school a few weeks ago. He was pretty excited and ready to go back. Thank goodness!

I don't know if you all remember but last year we almost had to drag him crying each day. It broke my heart and I almost gave up! I was ready to take him to counseling because of it.

This year he has said things like "I'm glad I don't have to go to that baby Kindergarten again." Or "Good thing I already know my way around this school." It's too cute!

It's been such a blessing to watch him grow and enjoy school. Now he wakes up and asks if he can go to school each day. I can't wait to see what 2nd grade holds for us!

Our trip

We're back! It was a crazy whirlwind trip and we made it. We got to Palm Springs around 1:00 on Saturday and Jeff got me settled in the room. He then took off to set-up with the rest of the guys and they had a trade show and then a meeting. I didn't see him again until almost 7:00. In that time I visited the outlet malls, got some lunch and watched a movie in the room.

From about 7:00 until 11:00 we were downstairs in the dinner/celebration event. It was nice and they recognized Jeff for all he had done with and for the company. I was glad they took the time to make him feel appreciated after all he has done around there. He's been with them for almost 10 years now!

It did pay to gamble a little because Jeff won just over $100 the first night and about $20 the next day. He tried a couple different slot machines and his theory really does work... As soon as you hit something and make a profit or as soon as you loose the most you're willing to loose, stop right then. Otherwise you will sit there and waste away all your money. You have to know going into it that it is what it's called, a gamble. You have to be willing to loose and not feel guilty about it. That's why we always set an amount and stick with it. So anyway, it was nice to win some money to help pay for the gas and a couple meals!

We got back home around 2:00 on Sunday. It was nice to just get-away and be with Jeff. A casino is not where I would have picked but hey, it was free and the hotel was really nice! So a girl can't complain, right?

A little get-away

Well, Jeff and I are getting away for the weekend. It won't be a big trip and Jeff's going to have to do business while we're there but it's still going to be fun. We'll be away from home and the two older boys. We haven't been away from the kids since Seth was about 6 months old. It's going to be great but it will also be sad not having them with us.

Hope the rest of you have a wonderful weekend and I'll see you on Monday. Before I go I'll leave you with this picture...

Because what would a nap in your swing be without Mr. Carrot Head??

The Line of Life

On Friday I sat in the pick up line at school waiting for Josh. There was a fairly long line in front of me but nobody was behind me. I sat watching the birds, parents, kids and the crossing guard. I was in my own little world thinking about my day.

When I looked back in my rear view mirror I noticed a line had formed. There were probably 10 or more cars behind me. I started thinking about how many times I'm sitting in the "line of life" just daydreaming and a line starts to form behind me. People just watching and waiting. Wondering what my next move will be. How I will handle a situation or what I will say when my patience is being tested. How will I react when life is tough or if it will change when life is going good.

I hope I set the example in my life that God has asked of me. I hope when people are rude, I answer them in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. I hope when I'm tired and feel like I can't do it anymore, I continue to show that the Lord is my strength. I hope when the rain comes I get out my umbrella and let the drops roll off watching for that next ray of sunshine to peek through the clouds! That I continue to praise in the good times and bad.

Titus 2:6-8 (NLT) ~ In the same way, encourage the young men to live wisely. And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teachings. Teach the truth so that your teachings can't be criticized. Then those who oppose us will be ashamed and have nothing bad to say about us.

Random Thoughts

1. How does a family of 5 have so much laundry?

2. Why do I feel like my clothes don't fit even though I've lost weight?

3. How come we have so many spiders when the bug guy was here about 2 weeks ago?

4. Is Jacob going to be one tough kid or what? Living with two big brothers gives him lots of bumps and bruises!

5. Why do people get cancer?

6. Why does God ask people you love to move half way around the world?

7. Why do Jr. High and High school boys feel like they can fart anywhere, anytime in front of anyone?

8. Where do my kids put all that food they eat?

9. How was I blessed with such wonderful friends and family??

You know... bologna birds!

Today on the way home from school Josh said "I think I would eat these kinds of birds... Turkey, Ostrich and Bologna."

I just started cracking up laughing thinking of a bologna bird. Then I had to explain where bologna really came from without getting too descriptive.

It gives a whole new meaning to "When pigs fly!"


Yes, I did sing this little song in my head when checking my spelling... "cause Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A.

We have our Winners!!

What a fun contest this has been. I got 140 comments this time! Thank you all for playing along. Unfortunately, we can only have two winners this time. Maybe I'll do another one again soon.

And the winners are...

Paulette for the Avon Body Wash

Kylin's Mom for the Votive Holders

Congratulations!! I'll be emailing both of you in just a few minutes!!

Dog Days of Summer Giveaway

Updated - This contest is now over. I will not be accepting any more comments. Please come back later to see who won. I will also be emailing all winners. Thanks for playing along!

Woohoo... it's that time already. Shannon is hosting the Dog Days of Summer Bloggy Giveaway. I figured I might as well join in and give away a couple things. They're not big but hopefully two lucky people will enjoy them!

See below for the items I'm giving away and the rules...

Hallmark Expressions Votive Holders (brand new in box)

Avon Naturals Body Wash in Peach and Raspberry

Rules...

~ You do not have to have a blog to win however you must have an email address where I can contact you.

~ You must be a U.S. resident.

~ The only way to enter is to leave a comment by Thursday night.

~ Please be clear if you would rather win the body wash or the candle holders.

~ Friday morning my boys will each pick a name out of a hat, one for the Avon and one for the candle holders.

Adventures with Boys

On Wednesday night I decided I was sick and tired of not having food in the house and went to Walmart. It was kind of crazy thinking since Jeff was at the hospital with his parents and I had all three boys by myself! Anyway, the whole shopping experience was overall pretty good. We didn't have too many issues in the store. It was outside where somehow it all went downhill...

I opened up the van and put the two older boys in. I left Jacob on the cart and started loading groceries. All of a sudden Josh yells "Seth is peeing!" I ran around the van to see Seth with his pants down to his ankles peeing out the van door. Unfortunately, I had flip flops on and stepped in it... not good! I spanked his bottom, got his pants back on and made it very clear that we never ever pee in the parking lot like that!

Later I'm telling the story and I said "I was just thanking the Lord that it didn't get on the car next to us. I would have stayed around to apologize to the people!" Josh said "Well, Seth isn't big enough to spray his pee that far but I am." I told him he better not even think about it!

Oh, the joys of living with and raising boys!!

A New Generation

About a week ago we had a potluck/preschool meeting at my friend Brooke's house. Several of us brought our families along. It was a great time of fellowship while we ate.

Then it was time to get serious and into our meeting. So the 4 guys took all 13 kids and went to another room. Three of the men are Dads and the other one hasn't had any children of his own yet. I have to tell you that they did such a good job. We only had a couple of interruptions but overall they kept them quiet and entertained. I was so proud of them and the way they handled everything! Great job Jeff, Dustin, Wes and Kenny... you guys are awesome!!

When I was growing up my Dad loved to play with us and help take care of us. Once in a while my Mom would have a girls night and Dad would keep us home. I remember a few summers when Mom went to women's camp and my Dad even did our hair! He was a truly amazing and caring Father to my sister and I. We loved hanging out with him and thought he could do no wrong!

However, some of my friends just didn't have this kind of relationship with their fathers. The Moms did most everything for them and that's just the way it was. Dad's just didn't take the time for their kids.

I've also heard my husband and my Mom talk about their Dads. That generation was completely different. They were seriously in the mind frame of "children are to be seen and not heard!" Dads just didn't spend quality time with their kids.

Now I look around and see Dads (and Grandpas) in the mall, at church, on playgrounds, at school... I could go on and on. It makes my heart so glad when I see these Dads playing with their children, teaching them lessons and tenderly showing direction in these little lives. What a great way to show our children God's love in action!

So Dads, thank you for all your hard work! We couldn't do it without you guys!!

Cool new giveaway...

Kelley is doing a fun giveaway over at her blog. You only have until tonight at 10:00 to get in on it.

What are you still doing here?? Get over there and get registered already!!

Being content

Lately I don't know if I have the baby blues or what. I've decided that I should make a list of things that are getting me down and then try and see the positive in each of them. Maybe it will help me to be a little more content and thankful for my life!

Negative ~ Medical Bills

My prayer ~ Thank you God for providing me with health insurance that at least covers most of the cost. Also, thank you for providing the doctors to care for my family!


Negative ~ Kids driving me nuts

My Prayer ~ Thank you Lord for giving me these wonderful gifts. Some women may never get the chance to experience having their own children. Please give me the strength and wisdom to raise them the way you would want!


Negative ~ Summer Heat

My prayer ~ Thanks God for giving me a home and car with AC so I can keep my family cool!


Negative ~ Rude People

My prayer ~ Lord, please help me to remember that you created each of us and you love us all the same. Help me be patient with those around me and always show your love!


I'm feeling much better already! What's getting you down lately??

Seth's Birthday Pictures...

Here are the pictures from Seth's Birthday Party that I promised. Let me explain that it was a cowboy party so some of the pics make sense. He had an absolute blast and so did we!

The Birthday Boy with his cake

This is a rocking horse my Uncle made for him

We're talking human hair, a real saddle and fur to make it more real

His cake said "Happy Birthday Cowboy!"

Yummy cake and ice cream!

Hitting the pinata in the backyard

Checking out his new bath toy with Natalie

Our Melting Pot Date

Way back in April Shalee asked us to join her in the Sadie Hawkin's Date Night. I told her I would willing participate since I already had a date planned that same night.

We went to the melting pot with my BIL and SIL. It was a celebration of our 7th Anniversary and their 8th. What a fun and exciting night for us. We also did our personal goodbye gifts that night since we knew they would be leaving soon for South East Asia as missionaries.

Here are a few of the pictures I took that night. I'm so glad we got to spend that time with them before they left. What wonderful memories we made!!

Jeff and I getting cozy in the booth

Jon and Tina getting in some snuggle time, too

Mmmmm, sure looks tasty

Hey... no public displays of affection you two!!

Happy Birthday Seth

Seth turned 3 last Friday and I wanted to write a post about him. Unfortunately I never got around to it with all the party planning and birthday stuff going on. He is an amazing child and I thought it would be fun if I just listed some words that pop in my head when I think of him...

1. Energetic
2. Fun
3. Loving
4. Sweet
5. Mischievous
6. Silly
7. Imaginative
8. Happy
9. Friendly
10. Ornery

Just an example of our life with Seth. The other night we told the boys to get their PJ's on and head to bed. Here's the conversation we then had with Seth...

Seth ~ "I had a dream."
Daddy ~ "Oh yeah, what was your dream?"
Seth ~ "The angel told me to watch a movie before bed."
Me ~ "Wow, he did, huh?"
Seth ~ "He did tell me that!"
Daddy ~ "Did he have a name?"
Seth ~ "The angel's name is George Bush."

It was all I could do from rolling on the floor laughing! He's is so silly and has such an imagination these days!!

I'll post some pics from the party in the next post :-)

Adventures In Nursing...

It's been such a joy to nurse my third child. The first two just never got it but Jacob just seems to have no problem. I just love feeding him and looking at his precious face! It's amazing that God created such a special bond between a Mommy and her baby!

Here's where it gets interesting though... Josh and Seth! It's been funny to see their reactions to the whole nursing thing. I don't try to hide any of it from them because I don't want them to feel like it's a secret or naughty thing. It's just a wonderful and natural part of life and one day they'll understand that.

Here's a conversation I had with Josh (almost 6) recently...

Josh ~ Wait a minute!
Me ~ What?
Josh ~ You mean to tell me that both of those things work?!
Me ~ Yeah.
Josh ~ Ugh, I thought only one of them worked!

He just cracks me up some days!!

Lots going on...

I feel like it's been forever since I posted anything on here. I'm so sorry! I've been busy taking care of three kids, a house and a husband which is more important.

Today is the two week mark since Jacob was born. It's already going too fast! We're both doing great and haven't had to make too many adjustment in the house. Seth and Josh are great big brothers and just want to love on him for the most part. We just have to remind them of how small he is still. I know they are just trying to figure it all out for themselves!

Here are some pictures of what's been going on...

Here Jacob is at about 8 days old

This is him getting washed up. Not his first bath but just washing up.

He loves laying in his boppy all snuggled up

Big Brothers in the hospital bed with him

Josh's shirt says "biggest brother" and Seth's says "big brother."
Thanks Grandma for those cute shirts!

Caught Seth trying to sneak strawberries out of the fridge...
not sure where his pants were??

It's A Boy!!

It's a boy and he's finally here!!

Jacob Austin
June 5th at 1:23pm
7 lbs 13oz

He surprised us all with his weight! We were expecting around 6 lbs.

He's a very good baby and is doing great already!!

His brothers sure are having a blast with him...

No Baby Yet

Well, I still haven't gone into labor. I know what you're thinking... "Well your due date isn't until the end of June!" Now to some of you that may seem about right but I'm spoiled. With both boys I had them 3-4 weeks early and got used to it. I'm getting to the point where they were born and am getting impatient. I know it will happen in God's timing but I'm getting anxious!

Please pray for my patience... not that God would teach me patience because I learned my lesson when praying that prayer :-) But that God would provide me with patience! I'm getting hot and tired and just want to be done. I can't wait to meet this new little guy!!

I know several of you have asked and no we still don't have a name for him yet. For some reason we just can't get it together and choose the name! I think maybe we're all going to be surprised!!

Any ideas?

We would really like to have this baby on May 29th. It just seems to fit our schedule and works out well with the other birthdays in the family. Seth is June 29th and Josh is July 29th, so see it would just flow. My doctor already said if I went into labor she's on call that day and would not stop me. So we're looking into ideas on how to get labor started. I've been having contractions for the last few weeks but nothing that's the real deal. If anyone has any ideas leave them in the comment section. Can't wait to hear what you've got to say!!

Ain't no probably about it!

Yesterday we were driving along and the boys were listening to the Kindergarten Bible CD we have. A song about Noah's ark came on. It's goes something like this...

"Who built the Ark? Noah, Noah. Who built the Ark? Brother Noah built the Ark."

All of a sudden from the back seat I hear Josh say "There ain't no probably about it... Noah did build the Ark!"

I started cracking up laughing. He thought where the song said "Brother Noah built the ark" that it really said "Probably Noah built the Ark." He doesn't play around with his Bible stories people!!

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This morning as he was walking into class I heard his teacher ask if he had done the pledge yet. He said no and she said "you're on this morning." So I stuck around to hear him. He got to go to the principals office and say the pledge over the PA system for the whole school to hear. There were two other kids saying it with him but of course I only heard him :-)

Crazy Accident

Earlier today my Mom, sister, the boys and I were all driving down the freeway. All of a sudden my Mom is slamming on the breaks and my sister lets out this awful yell. I wasn't sure if we were going to hit another car or what was happening. It really scared me. Then I saw it... a man in a small SUV had rolled right off the the freeway at lease three times my Mom said. The SUV then started just rocking back and forth in the middle of the freeway until it came to a complete stop. When we got up to where it was you could tell the man had hit his head on the front window and looked to be unconsious at that point.

Unfortunately, we were unable to stop and assist him because of the lane we were in and the fact that we were on the way to a doctors appointment that was pretty serious. Several others jumped out and were headed over to help the man.

My boys were very upset about what they had seen and I could tell they wanted to do something. I asked them if they wanted to each say a prayer and they said yes. Here's how they prayed...

Josh (almost 6) "Dear Jesus, please be with that poor man who just had that horrible accident on the freeway. Bring the paramedics to help him right away. Amen."

Seth (almost 3) "Dear God, please take care of the guy who crashed. Help him with his fishing pole. Make him better. Get the police. Help him get back to the road. Jesus name, Amen."

Now, I'm not sure where the fishing pole part comes in but it was important for him to mention that to God and I didn't question it. It's amazing how they pray and how they say whatever is on their little hearts!! I'm glad God listens and hears all of our prayers... big and small!!

Is it the heat or what??

Several things I've noticed since the heat started rising around here...

~ I'm loosing my patience with my children more often than usual

~ My boys are eating like crazy

~ I can't get enough ice in my cup to satisfy my cravings

~ I can't stop thinking about how good Cherry Lime-aids are

Have you guys been noticing changes along with the summer weather??

Things I want to do meme...

Brooke has tagged me for another meme. It's all about things I want to do before my life is over. They can be big or small. So here goes...

1. White Water Rafting
2. Go on a cruise
3. Visit Hawaii
4. Take the family to Disney World
5. Learn a new language (it would probably be Spanish)
6. See Seth and the new baby accept Christ as their Saviour
7. Do something unexpected and shock everyone!
8. Read more
9. Trust more
10. Not worry so much about what others think of me
11. Loose 30 pounds and keep it off
12. Help hurting children... not sure exactly how yet
13. Own my own successful business

Some of these probably seem really weird to you but I guess that's all I could come up with.

If you haven't done this one yet, consider yourself tagged for it!!

Praying for my Mother-n-law

Today was my Mother-n-law's gamma knife procedure. She came through it without any problems. Now we'll just have to wait and see what God has planned. We're praying that it will help her facial muscles, swallowing, eating and breathing. Thank you all for your continued prayers for our whole family! We know God has a plan for what's happening!!

Happy Birthday Mom

I wanted to give you a shout-out yesterday Mom but didn't get a chance.
Hope your birthday was wonderful and lots of fun!!

Happy Mother's Day

I've been trying to decide what to write about my Mom. There were a few things that popped into my head and I think I'll share. First of all, my Mom is a blast to be around! When we were growing up we always had fun and laughter in our home. Don't get me wrong, we had our very serious moments and it wasn't all fun and games. Everyone learned to pitch in and help out.

One thing I can think of is a saying she used to use... "I will trust you until you give me a reason not to. When you break that trust, you will have to work hard to earn it back." It really made me stop and think when I had to make a choice in life. Not only would I have to live with the consequences of my actions but I knew my Mom would be disappointed. Plus, it taught me to trust those around me.

Another thing I remember is talking with her about whether or not God was God and why we believed what we do. I accepted Christ as my Saviour at the age of 5. I grew up in church and around Christians but as kids do at some point, I questioned our Faith. I remember her saying "I believe with my whole heart that God is very real and His son died on the cross to save us. If I get to the end of my life and find out that it was all for nothing, then what have I really lost? I've been a great person, followed rules, treated others well, had Faith in something I couldn't see and just lived life with a wonderful perspective. I have absolutely no doubt about what we believe though!" That was powerful for me and I don't think I've questioned it since!

One other thing I remember is her love and heart for others. No matter what others were dealing with, she was there! She is an excellent listener and gives wonderful advice. However, if you choose not to take her advice she is never offended and continues to pray for the situation.

Now that I watch her with my kids I'm amazed all over again. She's never too busy to get on the floor and play or run around in the grass with them. She takes time to listen to their stories. Reads as many books as they can listen to. Talks with them about Jesus. Helps with the purchases of their clothes, shoes and overall needs without me ever asking. Watches them so we can have date nights once in a while and never expects anything in return!

I'm sure you can tell but I think she's one special Mom and I can't imagine living life without her by my side!! Thank you Mom for all you do for me and all those around you!!

Tagged for a Meme... 7 things about me

Shalee was chasing me and I couldn't get away fast enough. She caught me and tagged me for this meme. Hope you enjoy reading a little more about me...

1. I have never put any kind of coloring in my hair! It totally scares me to think about what could happen to my blonde hair!!

2. I never thought I would have three boys... ever... in... my... life!! I always dreamed of having girls. Don't get me wrong... I love my boys!!

3. Growing up my nicknames were Snuggle-Bug, Curious George, Stace, and Stacer-Dacer.

4. I can touch my tongue to my nose. Maybe someday I'll actually post a pic of this : )-

5. It just hit me the other day that my husband and I have been together for 10 years. Married for 7 of them!

6. I love Mexican food and could probably eat it every day of the week!

7. The other day I decided to try on my pre-pregnancy capri pants. I tried on two pairs and actually got them buttoned. I'm not saying it wasn't tight. Plus, I would never actually wear them like that but I got them on people!! Hopefully that's a good sign that I'll be back in them quickly after the pregnancy is over.

Now I'm supposed to tag some friends to play along... Jennifer, Brooke, Boomama, Jodi and Holy Mama.

My friend Julie already posted 34 wonderful things for her birthday. Happy Birthday Julie!!

Say What??

The other day I heard my almost 3 year old saying something when he got upset...
"Dand it!"

I asked him what he had said and he gladly repeated it "Dand it!"

He was saying "Dang it!"

I then realized that I had let it slip out a few days before that and hoped he hadn't caught it.

Seriously, they are always listening, aren't they??

50 days to go...

Did you see that? Did you see the little pregnancy ticker at the top?? It says only 50 days to go!!

I'm really hoping it doesn't take that long but 50 days doesn't really seem that bad!!

I wanted to update and let everyone know that I saw the endocrinologist yesterday. He said my levels are off but not bad enough that he wants to treat me right now. In fact, treating me at this point could put the baby at more risk than not treating me. He did say he wouldn't be surprised if I end up with Graves disease or Hoshimoto's after giving birth. I also have a goiter on my thyroid that he wants to ultrasound after I've delivered.

I'm not real worried about it because I know it's in God's hands! In fact, I'm praying that maybe the whole thing will amazingly go away after I deliver the baby!!

Updates

Just wanted to take a minute and update everyone on a few things...

~ Jeff's Mom is seeing a doctor today to talk about the feeding tube they will be putting in. Please pray for her in this area. She's very uncomfortable with the idea but I think it's the best thing they can do for her right now.

~ I saw my OB today and we talked about all the contractions I've been having. She checked me and thank goodness I have not started dilating yet! She just wants me to keep an eye on it and take it easy.

~ The endocrinologist's office called and said there was a cancellation and they could get me in tomorrow morning at 10:15. That's an answer to prayer because they originally said it would be June 6th before I could get in!

~ My little sister is back in the hospital with her thyroid condition and graves disease! Her heart rate was up as high as the 140's! They have finally gotten it down around 110 today. They ordered a new kind of treatment that includes potassium and iodine and will last for about 24 hours. She will have to stay in the hospital until she's doing better overall. Please pray for her!!

Cool Mommy Contest and Giveaway!

Addie sent me over to this site where they are giving away all kinds of cool prizes for Moms!! Go check it out and see if there's anything you're interested in participating in! Top prize includes an ipod nano and some chocolate. Sounds pretty cool if you ask me!!

Stepping out in Faith and Watching God Provide

I'm not sure if I have mentioned it or not but we're in the middle of a building/giving campaign at Church. It's been an awesome experience to see God working in people's lives! Last week we had a Church leadership event. Each of the leaders were asked to prayerfully consider giving big and stepping out in Faith, trusting God will continue to provide. Jeff and I felt called to a certain amount and we went with it. It is going to be a stretch but we know when God calls you to give you better do it! We can never out give Him!!

Earlier this week the air conditioner in my van went out. Let me just tell you that no AC at the beginning of summer in AZ is NOT a good thing! A friend suggested we call the dealership and see what kind of warranty we still have. I hadn't even thought of that because we bought the van used from a private party not the dealership. So Jeff called and they said "Yes, you're still covered up to 60,000 miles!" We took it in on Tuesday and they not only fixed the AC but several other things as well. The total we had to pay at pick up... $00.00. Isn't God good??

Also, this week our freezer stopped producing ice and was making a horrible noise. Again, ice is very important here in AZ. Especially being pregnant... I have to have lots of ice in my drink! We talked about it and decided that we probably didn't still have a warranty on it since we bought it in 2005 but Jeff called to check anyway. We found out that we have a warranty until 2010! They are coming out at the start of next week to fix it for us. The cost will be... $00.00!

I'm so amazed that God is providing. I know I shouldn't be because He's never let us down before. I'm convinced it's because we stepped out in faith and trusted Him!!

Okay People, Let's Name This Baby...

That's right, we still don't know what to name this new little baby boy!

I remember when I was pregnant with our first son, Joshua. We just knew that was his name and we called him that for months before he was born. It was so exciting!

When I was pregnant with Seth we just couldn't decide. His name was going to be Benjamin or Bradley. Then after he was born I couldn't make up my mind. I remember someone from the hospital calling our room and saying "You do realize if you want to take this baby home today we have to know his name." I just laughed at them. Somehow the name Seth came up and it stuck.

This time I just can't figure it out. We've started a pattern that now we can't break though. All of our names either start with 'J' or 'S'. If that's not bad enough we all have a middle name that starts with 'A'. It wasn't until the other day it hit me that all of our middle names end with 'N'. What were we thinking??

So here are the names we're considering and I'd like to take a vote.
First Name...
~ Jacob
~ Joseph (Joey)
~ Jordan
~ Jesse

Middle Name...
~ Aiden
~ Arthur (after my Dad)
~ Andrew
~ Austin

So leave your vote in the comment section. If you have any other ideas feel free to leave them as well. I can't wait to see what everyone thinks!!

Baby Update...

I thought I would give everyone another baby update. Yep, it's been another month already! I saw my PA yesterday. As you can see by the ticker above, I'm 31 weeks and 1 day. I feel pretty good and have only gained 11 pounds total. My doctor said the baby seemed to be head-down. The heart beat was in the 150's.

I did however find out that my thyroid counts are all messed up again, indicating hyperthyroidism. She want me to see a specialist soon. Also, she said it would be nice if I could have another ultrasound to make sure everything looks great with baby. I see my regular OB next Thursday and we'll see what she thinks about the whole thing.

Pray for baby and I as we go through these next few weeks of pregnancy!! I'll keep you updated.

Birthday Meme...

I found this fun and interesting meme on Kelley's Blog...

Go to Wikepedia.com and enter your birthday (month and day only)

List 3 Important Events that occurred this date...
~ 1976 - British Pound falls below $2 U.S. for the first time
~ 1991 - Iraq releases all Gulf War prisoners
~ 2006 - Three 6 Mafia become the first African-American hip-hop group to win and Academy Award and play at the ceremony.

List 3 Births that took place on this date...
~ Marsha Warfield - American Actress (I only remember her from reruns of Night Court)
~ Teena Marie - American Singer (Don't know if I actually know any of her songs)
~ Jake Lloyd - American Actor (Played in Star Wars Episode 1 as Anakin Skywalker)

List 3 Deaths that took place on this date...
~ John Belushi - American Actor
~ Richard Kuklinski - American Hit Man "The Iceman"
~ Patsy Cline - American Singer

List 1 Observance or Holiday that takes place on this date...
~ Learn from Lie Feng Day in China

Tag a few friends to play along...
~ Jodi
~ Jen
~ Brooke

So long, Goodbye, See ya later, Until next time...

How do you say goodbye? Today was one of the hardest days of my life. Yep, it was the day I had to say goodbye to my sister-n-law. It was tough saying goodbye to my BIL, Jon and the four kids but it was especially hard to say goodbye to Tina! We have been sisters now for 7 years and we've become best friends! I don't know how many times we've been told we're like Lucy and Ethel.

I know God has called them to reach the people in South East Asia and I know He has a plan for their lives! I'm trusting Him to watch over them and protect them as they start this new journey! I'm reminded of a couple verses...

Mark 16:15 ~ Go into all the world and teach the good news to all creation.

What a wonderful example of following God's orders as Christians. I know He doesn't call each of us to go into all the world because some of us are just called to go into our own neighborhoods. He has a plan for each of our lives.

Genesis 31:49 ~ May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent from one another.

I actually found a really cool necklace that says this verse. It's like those friendship necklaces that split in the middle. I kept half and she took the other half as a reminder of our friendship and the love the Lord has for each of us.

Please be in prayer for them as they follow God's calling! We trust that He is going to use them in a mighty way to reach people that don't know Him!!

Win a purse contest...

I know all of you ladies love purses out there! While I was at Shalee's today I found this little bit of info about a contest to win a purse. Go here, check it out and enter to win. We'll see who the lucky girl will be!

Updates...

Well, I've got some updates on things that were going on around here...

Josh saw the orthopedic specialist and they said everything is completely normal. He's just got the brains and wants to be an inside kid. It doesn't really matter how he's running and eventually he'll decide whether or not it's important to be involved in sports. The only thing they saw was that he's flat-footed and double jointed. Praise God nothing is seriously wrong!

My MIL saw her oncologist on Thursday and got some good news and bad news. The good news is the top half of the tumor has not grown since the last MRI. The bad news is the bottom half has. That is why she is talking so weird right now, having such a hard time swallowing and her face is drooping. The want to do a gamma knife radiation treatment to see what will happen. They are tentatively planning that for Thursday of this week. Pray that all will go well with that.

The Goodbye party was a big hit. The weather was so beautiful... must be because I prayed about it all week! We had a great turn out of 50 adults and 33 kids. We had a chest set-up for cards and donations and people were very loving and generous in their giving! I don't know if I have permission to say how much was raised but it was a nice amount! We can't wait to see what God is going to do through them in South East Asia in the coming years!!

Well, that's about it for now. Hopefully I'll have time to post more this week. I have a few things planned but just have to find that camera/computer connector thing!

Not what I wanted to blog about but oh well...

I really wanted to do a post about Josh loosing his first tooth but I can't find the camera cord thingie that you use to download them from your camera to your computer.

So we'll just go with this silly story that popped in my head this morning. When we were first married we lived in an upstairs apartment. It wasn't super nice but it was home and at that point we didn't really care.

One night while cooking dinner I saw a tail sticking out from under one of the cabinets. I freaked out and screamed. Jeff came running in and here's the conversation we had...

Me ~ "There was a huge tail sticking out right there."

Him ~ "Oh, you found our pet lizard, huh?"

Me ~ "Pet lizard... are you insane? You knew that thing was living in here and you didn't say anything or try and get him out?"

Him ~ "Well, I just figured he wasn't really hurting anything so he could stay."

Me ~ "It needs to go like now! You have to catch it and get it out of here!!"

Him ~ Tries for a while and then says "I can't get to him right now but he'll be out as soon as I can find him."

Me ~ "Fine!!"

The next morning I get done with my shower and grab my towel. I start drying off and then all of a sudden that stupid lizard jumped off into the shower. He was hanging out on my towel!! I screamed and all but there were no conversations to be had because Jeff had already left for work. You better believe I called him though and told him all about it.

Well, I trapped him under a box and taped it to the floor. Jeff took care of him when he got home and we never saw that thing again!

Let me just make it clear... we will never have a "pet lizard" in our home!!

I can't keep up any longer...

I just feel like my life is going crazy!! Here's a few of the things rolling around in my head today...

First of all, I want everyone reading to know I do like men. That last post was not something I personally wrote but was an email I got and thought was funny! Sorry to any men (Wes) out there that I may have offended :-)

The next thing is the departure of my BIL and SIL to South East Asia. They leave in two weeks... two weeks people!! Can you imagine all the stuff we're trying to cram into the next two weeks?? We've got a goodbye party on Saturday. I still need to do all the shopping for that! We're also trying to figure out how to celebrate four of our kid's birthdays before they take off. What would you do if you had only two weeks left with someone special in your life??

Also, I know I mentioned Josh's feelings about school lately. I took him to the doctor last Wednesday and they took blood and did x-rays. He was pretty brave about it. The funny part was, he thought the vile that held the blood was the needle that would draw the blood... can you imagine? The test results came back and he has a high level of red blood cells and his soft tissue is swollen. They are sending us to a Orthopedic specialist as the next step. We also have to find a pediatric psychologist so we can talk about his anxiety issues. Pray that we can get to the bottom of all of this soon!

My MIL is still not doing well. Although she was up and at our house on Saturday to celebrate Easter with us. I can't believe she's still getting around with as much pain as she's having. She will have an MRI done on Wednesday and the results will be back Thursday. We are all waiting to see what it shows. I think we all kind of know what to expect but we're not trying to get ahead of God. He knows what the future holds for her and all of us!!

Oh yeah, and my thyroid levels are off again this month. My doctor is concerned and wants me to retest so we know what's going on. So far I've had two bad tests and one normal one. I can't figure out what's going on : )

Also, today is my Grandpa's birthday so I wanted to say "Happy Birthday Grandpa!!"

This was probably all really boring but I just had to get it out... this is my place to say what I need to say, right??

Training for Men...

Fall Classes for men...
Registration must be completed by Monday August 6 , 2007
Note: due to the complexity and difficulty level of their contents, class sizes will be limited to 8 participants maximum.

Classes begin Monday, August 20 , 2007

Class 1 ~ How To Fill Up The Ice Cube Trays
Step by Step, with Slide Presentation.
Meets 4 weeks, Monday and Wednesday for 2 hours beginning at 7:00 PM.

Class 2 ~ The Toilet Paper Roll -- Does It Change Itself?
Round Table Discussion.
Meets 2 weeks, Saturday 12:00 for 2 hours.

Class 3 ~ Is It Possible To Urinate Using The Technique Of Lifting The Seat and
Avoiding The Floor, Walls and Nearby Bathtub?
Group Practice.
Meets 4 weeks, Saturday 10 :00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 4
Fundamental Differences Between The Laundry Hamper and The Floor.
Pictures and Explanatory Graphics.
Meets Saturday at 2:00 PM for 3 weeks.

Class 5 ~ After Dinner Dishes - Can They Levitate and Fly Into The Kitchen Sink?
Examples on Video.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours beginning at 7 :00 PM.

Class 6 ~ Loss Of Identity -- Losing The Remote To Your Significant Other.
Help Line Support and Support Groups.
Meets 4 Weeks, Friday and Sunday 7:00 PM.

Class 7 ~ Learning How To Find Things -- Starting With Looking In The Right Places And Not Turning The House Upside Down While Screaming.
Open Forum .
Monday at 8:00 PM, 2 hours.

Class 8 ~ Health Watch -- Bringing Her Flowers Is Not Harmful To Your Health.
Graphics and Audio Tapes.
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 9 ~ Real Men Ask For Directions When Lost -- Real Life Testimonials.
Tuesday at 6:00 PM Location to be determined.

Class 10 ~ Is It Genetically Impossible To Sit Quietly While She Parallel Parks?
Driving Simulations.
4 weeks, Saturday noon, 2 hours.

Class 11 ~ Learning to Live --- Basic Differences Between Mother and Wife.
Online Classes and role-playing .
Tuesday at 7:00 PM, location to be determined.

Class 12 ~How to be the Ideal Shopping Companion
Relaxation Exercises, Meditation and Breathing Techniques.
Meets 4 weeks, Tuesday and Thursday for 2 hours ! Beginning at 7:00 PM.


Class 13 ~ How to Fight Cerebral Atrophy -- Remembering Birthdays, Anniversaries and Other Important Dates and Calling If You're Going To Be Late.
Cerebral Shock Therapy Sessions and Full Lobotomies Offered .
Three nights; Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 7:00 PM for 2 hours.

Class 14 ~ The Stove/Oven -- What It Is and How It Is Used.
Live Demonstration.
Tuesday at 6:00 PM, location to be determined.

Upon completion of any of the above courses, diplomas will be issued
to the survivors.