I went but I wasn't happy about it!

I went because I was their only source of transportation.  It is what Moms do.  We load up a vanful of sweaty, sticky children and make our way across town to the cheapest place to swim...Papa and Grandma's!  We hastily pop a couple bags of popcorn and throw a bag of licorice in the "Mom bag".  We turn around and bark at the little ones who can't seem to be nice...in front of their friend...and we smile kindly before turning around in our seat to carefully back out the driveway.  We don't want the friend to think we are crabby and goodness knows we don't want to back up into something amid the distracted thoughts about bickering children and why am I bothering to go to all this trouble!  It is not our goal to be disliked by friends of our children...but somedays...it just happens that we don't win the Mrs. Congenialty Award every day.
I went because I knew they needed to work out some energy in a cool place.
I went  because I knew I could spend some time reading and studying and planning while I sipped my freshly made glass of iced tea.
I went because I was the only adult available for direct supervision.
I went because I knew the dishes would still be in the sink...waiting for our return.
I went because I am the Mom and that is what Moms do in the summer.  I sat at the table with my tea and my bag full of Mom fun...and then realized...it wasn't so bad out!  The humidity had let up and a breeze filled the air.  I finished a project! I took time to be thankful...and happy...that the children wanted to go swimming!  Sometimes you just have to go...happiness will follow...because you put others first.

The best little snickerdoodle cookie maker I know!

She did it...all...by...herself!

Except for the last pan...she forgot to set the timer...I, thankfully, am paying attention!  I chuckle...it must be a gene that all females in our family have..

".the will always forget the last pan gene"...I didn't have to teach it!

"How do they taste?" 

"Wonderful!"

Hibernating in the summer!

A picnic lunch on the familyroom floor, movie, and paddle ball competition. 

First, decorate your paddle. 

Second, try to hit the ball with the paddle. 

 Third, be aware that that little ball will rebound off the floor and hit...somewhere!

"Mom, how can we keep from getting a sliver off these?" asked Ash.  I don't know, don't touch the edge.  "Man, how can we fix this?" asked Ash showing me the little ball now detached from the elastic string. 

Um, you don't...some things never change down through the years!  However, I don't remember getting slivers when we played with paddle balls.  But then again, I never got to color and decorate the paddle. 

I just know I won't be using the paddle as a paddle...I don't want a sliver!

Today is a lazy day.  With church tonight, it is time for a break from the summer fun that has kept us cool each day.  I haven't heard our children say they are bored!  They changed the wording the other day..."There is nothing to do!"  We quickly solved that by doing chores.  I am thinking next time...they won't admit to that thought out loud!

Playdough fun. Little House on the Prairie. Baking. Nail polish. Laundry.  It was an eventful afternoon!

"The best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time." A. Lincoln

I read this quote tonight and thought of my dear friend.  I am so thankful that we can have the assurance as children of God, that He sees beyond what we can see.  He knows what is ahead.  He has a purpose in every circumstance.  He allows us to know what we need to know at the right times.  He gives us people to help us along the way.  He loves us.

All we need to do is trust and obey...one step or one minute...hour...day at a time.

"Many things about tomorrow...I don't seem to understand...but I know Who holds tomorrow...and I know Who holds my hand."

A Fun Day With Friends

Water fun, sunscreen, silly kids, big imaginations, lounging Moms, working Dads, festive snack, and yummy supper equals a full day and very tired family members! We are thankful for "iron sharpening iron" type of friends.

If you were wondering what a nine year old thinks...she'll tell you...sometimes!

"It is not fair.  Alisa only has to use her hands, eyes, and ears when she plays the piano.  When I play the recorder, I have to use my hands, eyes, ears, and mouth.  That is alot of hard work!"

As to the reason for certain songs played during SkyConcert 2010, "Why would they choose songs that aren't patriotic?  There are lots of those, and they are good songs!  That was a stupid song and we had to mute it!"

Concerned that I had remembered everything for our patriotic sundaes, "Mom, did you bring all the accessories?"

Happy Fourth of July!

Firecrackers popping, children hollering, ice cream melting, and rain falling!

**With the threat of rain, the increased humidity, and worn-out kids we opted to stay in the air conditioned comfort of home and watch the parade and fireworks on t.v.  It was fun to hear a couple of the interviews and watch how they prepare for the fireworks.  Over 4,000 shells are fired off tonight!  The kids are falling asleep already...there is no way they would have made it downtown and back!** 

My answer to making a whole pie...

goes with the whole fruit is not dessert thought.  I cut the pie dough with a cookie cutter and baked the pieces. Then everyone can build their own style of pie. Last night, I cooked the pie dough pieces on the griddle on top of the stove...worked great!  The house didn't heat up with the oven and the dough was crispy.  I think we could come up with a pie buffet at this rate...and no soggy crust if you don't eat it all the first day.

Freedom...Liberty...Independence...

Our forefathers fought for the freedom to worship God.  They founded our nation on principles from God's Word.  They sacrificed their lives to be able to follow God's Word and protect those freedoms. True liberty was secured on the cross by God's only Son.  We have the freedom to make that choice, because God has allowed man to have that free will.  God has continued to bless the work of those men and women who founded and fought for this nation, so we have the freedom in this country to follow God's Word.  We don't have to cower in fear of that freedom being take from us.  

One day we all will stand before a just God...and give an account of what we have done with all our freedom.  God has blessed us with many liberties in our land.  Do we remember...that He has the final say?! 

"...One nation under God...indivisible, with liberty, and justice for all."

"We on this continent should never forget that men first crossed the Atlantic not to find soil for their ploughs but to secure liberty for their souls."

~Robert J. McCracken

A practice in perseverance!

We are glad we practiced that character trait...it was worth this smile!  But it wasn't easy these last few weeks!  It was also an opportunity to practice many other fruits of the spirit.  Leadership can sometimes fail, but that doesn't mean you stop doing what you committed to do! 

It has gotten hotter.

The fans have gotten distracted!

The team has disintegrated.

An absentee father (oddly enough...he had the job of overseeing this league...volunteer position we have been informed) all of a sudden showed up and took over...for two weeks.  He wasn't there last week...so Ted had to fill the gap again.  A couple parents got fed up and just stopped showing up.  We were left with three players.  Well, by the end of the third quarter we only had two players.  Thankfully, the players on the other team were good sports to help fill the gaps in on our team roster.  Mr. Father decided to try to actually coach the boys tonight...their last game.  They had no idea what he was saying.  His boy gave up and sat out the remainder of the game with his mother.  The game ended with no goalies...three on three. 

Only two purple players saw it through to the end of the season...and truly earned a trophy.  But all is positively fair in AYSO...so everyone wins...and gets a prize...in the mail?

They talked. We listened. Then he challenged!

We are trying to challenge our children at home when they speak these two words..."I'M BORED!" 

It is summer!!!  It is beautiful out.  We have wonderful privileges and advantages that many people do not have.  Maybe that is the reason...too much stuff...too many things to do...never satisfied...?!

I have to fight down the aggravated feelings that tend to bubble quickly to the surface...every time I hear these words!  I wonder what grief those words bring to our Heavenly Father's heart! 

As we sat chit-chatting before the start of our children's program last night, a couple different children made this statement.  Ted and I looked at each other and said..."Hmm...let's talk about this a little bit!"  Ted looked up some Scripture verses to challenge their thinking and I drew on the board.  It hit me...we live in the state of Illinois...but several of us have traveled to other states already this summer...so I drew the "state".  Can you imagine...children saying they were bored at camp or at grandparent's houses?  Uh, Paul was is prison!!!  We explained that "state" isn't just where you are...but can be how you are.  Ted was able to use some examples from our day up at the hospital to point out how much we have to be thankful for each day.  Ted asked several questions...because...Questions stir the conscience!  Accusations harden the will!

They were listening and wiggling uncomfortably in their seats.  In the past, we have talked about how God expects us to think a certain way...Phil. 4:8, "...think on these things!"  It matters what we think!  Three verses later...God used Paul to teach us about contentment!  I could hear my father's words echo down through the years..."God doesn't have different expectations for children...Even a child...It's not a kid thing...It's a sin thing!"  We talked about what God says in His Word.

We all struggle with wrong...sinful...attitudes of the heart!  But how often are we willing to confront each other about them?  When we hear our children say different things, are we willing to take time to teach them what God's Word says and challenge their wrong...selfish...sinful..."stinking thinking"?  Um...word of warning...Are you willing to deal with it in your own life too?  You can't expect those watching you to change...if you don't change first!  He challenged the kids to try not to say, "I'm bored!" for a whole 24 hour period, but rather, think of the many things for which they should be thankful.  He promised that he would not say, "I'm bored!" for a whole week. 

Be honest...as adults, we say it too!  Did you stop to think what you were saying?!  It sounds awful. 

Um...we did last night after we heard "I'm bored!" more than three times...plus, what we have been hearing at home.  Our children won't learn...if we don't teach them!  God's Word can and should challenge our "stinking thinking"...but we have to be willing to open His Word, read it, and do it! 

A sure cure for boredom!

What does it spell? FUN

FUN!  That is what parents can and should have...away from their children...every now and again!  It is so easy for us to pour ourselves into our children and their wants, needs, and whims.  Did you know that you can have fun without them!  Gasp!  Remember back when you were dating!!!  It wasn't all about children back then...and it shouldn't be all about them now.  Husband and wife came first...God created that relationship first!  He told us to leave...our parents...and cleave to each other...not to our children! 

We love our children.  They each are a blessing.  We are thankful for them.  They live in our home...they do not rule our home, our lives, or our schedule.

So often parents neglect the most important relationship that we have...our spouse!  "Yes, but the children need..."  The children will be fine and don't need what (or all that) you think they need.

The children are going to leave someday...that relationship is temporary.  The one relationship that is "till death do us part" is that of husband and wife, and more time should be poured into that! 

We rode along, walked, and talked UNINTERRUPTED.  As a wife and mother, that is my biggest struggle when our children are around us...keeping tuned in to what my husband is doing or saying.  As hard as I try to keep up with four other people...my ears and brain can't handle so many different voices and distractions.  Someone always gets ignored or interrupted when I get distracted.

Ted and I held hands when we walked.  We laughed.  We were just...together...and it was nice!  We tried hard to think of the last time we had done this...um, it had been forever ago...and we were due!  With all the changes and storms in our life in the past few months, God has been gracious in providing some more time for our family to be together...something we didn't have alot of on a daily basis.  Now...we also have a little more freedom...to do things on the spur of the moment...and we took time out for just us. 

Can you tell...I read through the notes from my bridal shower and our wedding ceremony?  The kids and I were looking through the books on Tuesday.  I looked through the scrapbook of all our wedding information.  There was alot of wisdom shared with me by some very special people!!!  I am so thankful for the notes they passed on to me to keep...to be reminded...over and over again!

It wasn't all fun and games.  Ted had some tests to see how his lung function is.  He has 50% lung capacity...there hasn't been any change over the last few months.  Praise the Lord!  As I sat watching and waiting, I was convicted by my lack of drive some days...I have 100% lung capacity and Ted can run circles around me.  What excuse do I have for not doing more?  How often we take our healthy bodies for granted!  Just go spend a day walking around and waiting around at a hospital such as the UW...and you will think twice about whining and complaining about how bad you think you have it!

We went up and met a new doctor.  Things are stable and there isn't any different treatment than what he is already doing.  We are thankful for the health that Ted has and for the medical team up in Madison being willing to talk with us.