Monday, March 26, 2012

a ramble

There is so much more value in doing the dishes than just getting them clean. Last night I asked the bigs to help me dry and put away and we had the best conversation. They are growing up so fast.

It's a bad idea to make a loaf of beer bread on a chilly Sunday afternoon when everyone else is busy or sleeping. Just saying I should have doubled my workout this morning.

The sunrise is ABSOLUTELY gorgeous, blues and purples and pinks. I am tempted to wake the littles to see it, but I am not that stupid :)

Saturday was beautiful. It was near 80 degrees. We played outside all day, got sunburned and then yesterday it barely made it past 40 degrees. Only in South Dakota...

Nora begged to cook yesterday. She made the best banana bread. She used LOTS of chocolate chips, because they are "very yummy and good".

We put the for sale sign up again. We are praying for someone who will love this house as much as we do to come and look at it. If we can sell, we may be able to move to the farm and, according to the kids, buy a lot of animals. I should go see that movie where the family buys a zoo. Perhaps then I will think twice about moving :)

Maleah reminded me that I told her I would play a duet with her for her recital. I spent all weekend practicing with my left hand in the treble clef. I wrote all the notes in and I still can't play as fast as her. Why do I pretend I can do these things?

When the truck was in the shop we needed it almost every day for something. Now that it's home and we paid the gigantic bill we haven't driven it once. Isn't that the way it goes?

Gavin has been begging to sit up front in church. For as long as I can remember we have sat in the last pew. Our church is very small so the last pew is actually not that far away but still...So I gave in and sat in the second pew on Sunday. As we were leaving church my mom looked at me and I looked at her and our eyes widened. "It's a whole 'nother world up there". My kids are very used to being in the back pew. It didn't help when Pastor started the service off giggling and saying, "you are throwing me off", either. We'll see if we do it again. I think I will wait to see what the kids say.

It's Monday, which in our family is sorta like a Saturday and a Monday with a Friday twist. Dad has the day off, the kids have a regular schedule and I don't have a sub call...yet.

Happy week, my friends. I have been a terrible blogger as of late and I can't say that it will improve anytime soon. Life is more than a computer screen :).

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Wax Museum SD History

A few years back the 4th graders at our school started this project and it is a very cool way for the students to learn about SD history. Anyway, each student picks a person, place or thing to write a report and make a poster about. Then for the monthly reading rally they dress in character and parents and students go around and "push a button" on the poster to hear the wax figure come to life and tell their story. It is a bit of work but the kids enjoy it and so do the spectators.


After a bit of research, Maleah chose Amanda Clement, who was the very first woman umpire. Her story is interesting. Her brother played baseball in the early 1900's and before one game they were waiting on the umpire who never showed. Her brother volunteered Amanda, whom he said was a pretty good ball player and could take the guys place. She was only 16 then, but she went on to umpire for 5-6 years and paid for her college education. Anyway, Maleah slid (pun intended) into character with her speech and I videoed it for grandma,dad and you. The sound is pretty bad, but you get the main idea.

Monday, March 19, 2012

First Boat Ride of 2012 Quotes

Nora, "Mom, what COLOR is the water?"
 Maleah: "It's really windy and Nora's hair is blowing in my face."
 Gavin: "Dad, can I drive?"
 Addi: "We go fast, daddy. I can see the back of the town from here."
The whole family enjoyed the ride, although we pretty much fill the boat up :)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Pisteuo

Did you know the word pisteuo, to believe in Greek, appears in Matthew and Mark ten times each, in Luke nine times, but in John ninety-nine times? NINETY-NINE, that's like almost a hundred. I have read before that John's purpose was evangelistic. He wrote to produce faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God.

So what does it mean to believe? The local high school cheerleaders chant, "We believe that we will win!" at games. I guess you can say that to believe means to hope against all odds. But I agree with the author of Deeper into the Word, Keri Wyatt Kent (my newest Kindle Fire download), that this is not the belief that John speaks of.

The author says;
To be a believer is not to consider yourself His biggest fan. Rather, it means you stake your life of his claims; his proclamation of divinity, his assertion that he can forgive sin, his radical statement about being "the way, the truth and the life." To believe is not just to give intellectual assent, but to stake your life on the premise that such truth will save you.
Pisteuo means not only to believe but to place your confidence in something, to rely upon it. It is often translated "commit to," or commit to one's trust."
Belief does not simply change our mind about God, it changes who we are. We are filled with life- not just for eternity but for now. Belief means we live differently, because we live fully.

I believe.

I participated in a Bible study awhile back with some awesome friends. (really miss you guys) It was a Beth Moore study called Believing God. We learned about Godstops. A "Godstop" is any means by which God goes out of His way during your day to make Himself known to you.

Recently I have been experiencing some of these Godstops. They have been real, consistent, and continue to strengthen my faith. I would like to share just a couple of them with you.

We got the news from the dentist that Maleah would need braces. We also got the estimate of what it would cost. I got scared. I prayed. I got a second opinion. It was still scary. I prayed about it. Then Ryan came home from work and told me about a year long contract he was thinking about signing. It would be a small raise. Guess how much? Almost exactly what the braces would cost. Godstop.

Gavin had been begging to shop at the mission Haiti store uptown. (A local business was having a thrift sale and all the proceeds went to Haiti.) So I grabbed the cash in my purse and a shopping we went. We spent about a half an hour looking at stuff, picking out things we couldn't live without, we got some new things, some new to us things and something for everyone. We got to the checkout and I pulled my cash out. I had exactly the amount that the total was, thirty-seven dollars. Kinda weird, but no big deal. So we came home to show our bargains. Gavin was showing his father the FCA New Testament Bible he got. They read a story and the Bible verse together. Later, Maleah wanted to go up and shop for a bit. Dad took her. When he came home he had the biggest grin on his face. "Do you know what verse I read out of Gavin's new Bible before I left?" It was Psalm 37. Cool, huh? Yes, I spent $37 and I Ryan read Psalm 37. Coincidence? Nope. Guess what? Ryan found a wall hanging with that verse on it at the sale. It stared him down and he just had to bring it home to me....Godstop! Do you know what Psalm 37:4 says?
"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."
Which may mean nothing to you, but to our family, in our present situation. It means a lot. All of a sudden we looked at each other and just laughed. We have been crazy worried and stressed about "things" in our life and this verse just reminded us that as long as we keep the Lord in our life and believe and delight and trust in Him our life will change for the better. Whatever the Lord desires for us will be in our hearts and because He loves us, enough to sacrifice his one and only son, He will provide for us not only our needs, but our wants, too. Is not that AMAZING?

Ryan was snapping photos of things for Grandpa to sell and Nora had to get in on the action! Don't worry Grandma, we won't sell Santa!

Tuesday, March 06, 2012

The obligatory I haven't blogged in too long 10 list...

Yesterday I needed three of me. I had a Dr. appointment and I got called to sub, twice.

That pretty much sums up how this winter is going. It's as crazy as the weather. I just got back from a short run and I feel like I may have heat stroke, something told me to turn around after a mile and a half. I am glad I did. I was way overdressed and my goodness it's almost 70 in the sun! WOW.

I know I have been neglecting the little blog. It's a bit dusty and all the corners have cobwebs. I am online everyday, I just feel like I don't have time or worthwhile words to post. Here is a brief update of what is going on in Mommyville;

1) My mom is getting married. MARRIED!!!!!! This event planning has pretty much taken over everything in my life at this point. The lucky man is from just East of Sioux Falls and he has swept my mom off her feet, quite literally. I am extremely happy for her, although it will take some getting used to having her in a different city and not in church every Sunday. I have been spoiled. The wedding is in April and will be a gorgeous, blessed union of two amazing God loving people. I can hardly wait.

2) Our piano broke. Middle C just came right off. Which means Maleah is practicing on a keyboard that is VERY LOUD. We are in search of a (nearly free) piano if anyone knows of one. The smaller the better :)

3) Gavin (8) is aspiring to be a chef or at least a baker. He has made cookies twice in the last week. He has learned the difference between T. and t. and now knows how to fluff flour. He also loves making supper. He has made barb-ques, chili and eggs and pancakes. He loves to be in the kitchen about as much as loves to watch football. He helped me make chili the other night for the preschool chili cook off and we won 1st place in our category. He got his picture taken and everything. He was so pleased!
4) Uncle Glenn showed the girls his false teeth. Addison was scared of him but Nora says, "that's what happens to old people, they are just like babies!"

5) Dad and the girls went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Gordon and Uncle Glenn yesterday and the decided to take the boat out. It was quite the adventure. You will have to ask the girls about it, their rendition of the event is quite hilarious. Let's just say old gas and no oar makes for a interesting boat ride.

6) Ryan has applied for the twelve month work every weekend position in his department. It will make for some changes around here. Some good some not so good. We made a list of cons and pros and he decided to turn in his application. We'll see if he gets the job and then we will plan a lot of during the week camping trips, I guess :)

7) I have been busy driving the kids to the dentist, orthodontist, preschool and games. I have subbed enough to make me feel like a professional and help out a bit with the budget. I can't believe how quickly February went. I think I am getting old. The days are spinning past me faster than I can cross them off the calendar.

8) Yesterday on the way home from the doctor I saw thousands of geese flying north. It was quite the sight. People were pulled over on the interstate taking photos. If that isn't a sign of spring I don't know what is.

9) We are still trying to sell our place. I haven't done anything but word of mouth. We are 'on the fence' about moving and I truly believe that if it's God's plan it will get done no matter if I hire the best Realtor or not. Well, that, and I am cheap.

10) What are you doing at your computer? Get outside and sit in the sunshine today and get some vitamin D. It's way good for you :)

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Sunday, March 04, 2012

Camo

How cool is it when you match your bedspread without even knowing it?