Some find it hard in this day and age to parent their children. Dilemmas like how do we discipline, how do we handle this, what should we do about that keep parents from standing firm in disciplinarian tactics. This swaying back and forth causes a doublemindeness from the parents, resulting in confusion in the child which in turn becomes aggrivation in our children. We need to have set boundaries, rules, regulations, rewards and punishments. We also need, as Pastor Steve relates in the text below, to feed our children's spirit man, to create a hunger in them for God and His word.
"Touch Your Child's Spirit
Most parents want to be good parents; they just don't know where to start! Good parenting can be overwhelming. Now you can become your child’s spiritual guide in steps. The goal is to gain so much more than your child’s obedience—but to gain their heart. Gray reveals how to begin:
Realize your child is more than a body. He or she is a spirit being with a personality who lives in a body. The inner spirit is the center of life and must have guidance.
Become the authority by earning your child's respect. Have a standard and stick to it.
Change your child's appetite and create spiritual hunger by adding spiritual things to his "diet." "
Pastor Steve Gray, Kansas City, MO.
Pastor Kevin has been preaching the same thing to us at our church and it is working. We are seeing single moms with little or no parenting skills come in and apply these teachings to their children and we are seeing these families transform before our very eyes! We are seeing parents who are simply just struggling with the how's, why's, should I's and shouldn't I's and applying this to their parenting skills is bringing about results like they wouldn't have believed.
It is a process to get out of old mindsets and old habits but you just have to keep on keeping on. Don't give up or get discouraged! Remember process is all about stages...
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Things I have discovered since my last post
* My teenage daughter's worst behavior is way better than most teenagers best behavior (according to what I saw today when I was out).
* I am very, very excited to welcome a new family member into the ranks...don't go thinking ahead of me! My brother is getting married!
* I am the very proud mom of the best ever pot!!! Jellybean was in a play and she was the pot in "The Skipping Pot".
* I am trying very hard to not hate our car but somedays I have discovered that I am failing miserably! No one can figure out why it keeps stalling; we need to get new tires on it and a new CV joint before we can go anywhere other than work and church and I am missing out on several things I am not happy to have missed!!!
* I really enjoy my new job!
* I miss some of my old friends-a lot! It has been ages since we have been able to get together with some of them.
* I love going to school and writing essays (go ahead; call me a nerd...)
* I love playing volleyball.
* It doesn't take that long for you to get back into the swing of playing-even after 18 years. (has it been that long?!)
* It has, apparently, been a long time since I was in high school. It doesn't really seem that long though.
Time to make supper and off to church...perhaps more later.
* I am very, very excited to welcome a new family member into the ranks...don't go thinking ahead of me! My brother is getting married!
* I am the very proud mom of the best ever pot!!! Jellybean was in a play and she was the pot in "The Skipping Pot".
* I am trying very hard to not hate our car but somedays I have discovered that I am failing miserably! No one can figure out why it keeps stalling; we need to get new tires on it and a new CV joint before we can go anywhere other than work and church and I am missing out on several things I am not happy to have missed!!!
* I really enjoy my new job!
* I miss some of my old friends-a lot! It has been ages since we have been able to get together with some of them.
* I love going to school and writing essays (go ahead; call me a nerd...)
* I love playing volleyball.
* It doesn't take that long for you to get back into the swing of playing-even after 18 years. (has it been that long?!)
* It has, apparently, been a long time since I was in high school. It doesn't really seem that long though.
Time to make supper and off to church...perhaps more later.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Ah the innocence of youth...and the singing of what one hears...
Today I was singing a song with Jellybean & Bug, one that we had learned at church. It goes, "Take the limits off. Take the limits off...release me" etc., etc. As I was listening to the kids Bug says "Take the minutes off. Take the minutes off" and something following that was too mumbled for me to hear.
I started to explain to him that those weren't quite the words when Jellybean piped up and said, "Ya! It's 'Take the minutes off. Take the minutes off...Belief me...'."
It reminded me of a time when we were small, coming home from Tae Kwon Do and my brother sang a song with some pretty goofy wording in it...don't know if he'd be mad if I said or not, so I chose not but...
...I almost burst a blood vessel trying not to laugh(at the kids or the memory of my brother)...almost.
I started to explain to him that those weren't quite the words when Jellybean piped up and said, "Ya! It's 'Take the minutes off. Take the minutes off...Belief me...'."
It reminded me of a time when we were small, coming home from Tae Kwon Do and my brother sang a song with some pretty goofy wording in it...don't know if he'd be mad if I said or not, so I chose not but...
...I almost burst a blood vessel trying not to laugh(at the kids or the memory of my brother)...almost.
The Pied Piper
Jellybean is in Grade 3 this year and I am sure most parents know what that means...recorder time!!! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am just kidding, somewhat. I think it is great that they have the opportunity to learn music and to feel a sense of accomplishment and I think it's great that I bought stock in Advil a LONG time ago...just kidding again.
Yesterday on our walk home from school Jellybean perfomed for us her vast knowledge of the recorder (how to make it sound like a bird) and Bug decided that he was going to use it as a shofar (sp?). Needless to say we walked home one after the other like we were following the pied piper but the city workers who have been digging, bumping, grinding, beeping and filling the street in front of our house thought it was great.
Yesterday on our walk home from school Jellybean perfomed for us her vast knowledge of the recorder (how to make it sound like a bird) and Bug decided that he was going to use it as a shofar (sp?). Needless to say we walked home one after the other like we were following the pied piper but the city workers who have been digging, bumping, grinding, beeping and filling the street in front of our house thought it was great.
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Tidbits from Pastor Terry
Class this week has been interesting to say the very least. Last night I felt like I was in the midst of a fireworks display; the proverbial light bulb moments were going off faster than I could compute at times.
The course this week is "How to Study the Bible" and I must confess that before stepping foot into class I thought briefly, "how interesting can this class really be?" How fleeting that thought actually was because it came alive from the very first 5 minutes of class.
We were handed our brand new copy of Strong's Concordance and Vine's Dictionary, a little overwhelming in their weight and size initially but I think they have both become two of my new favorite books.
Here are some tidbits that really spoke to me from yesterday's class:
-most of the gospels are still considered Old Covenant because Jesus hadn't died yet and therefore, the authority in His name had not yet been given.
-I had always been taught that Old Testament doesn't "really" apply to us because of the new covenant brought through Jesus. I was told, "We aren't under the Law." but here is something to think about. Pastor Terry said that if the New Testament doesn't introduce a new law regarding something then the old law still stands (tithing for example).
Take a look at the 10 commandments. In Romans 13:8-10 we are given a new law that replaces the 10 commandements; we are no longer bound to follow the law of the 10 commandments. Why? Romans 13:8-10 provides us with a new law regarding that. The 10 commandments were intended to get people to walk in love but we don't need those rules as Romans 13:8-10 (Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”[fn1] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.) replaces it with this basic law: What would love do?
Love would not murder, love would not commit adultery, love would not steal...
The 10 commandments were intended to change the people from the outside in whereas Rom 13:8-10 changes people from the inside out. Therefore, I think Rom 13:8-10 raises the standard a fair bit for us as Christians today for it says in the Old Testament IF you commit adultery but in the New Testament it says if you even think about someone else or look lustfully or longingly at someone you have all ready committed adultery and according to Rom 13:8-10, you won't commit adultery if you are walking in love.
-We have also been learning how the meanings of our words has changed drastically throughout the years. We have been given a few examples and it sounds like we are getting more tonight.
Weird used to mean skilled in witchcraft
Nice used to mean foolish, senseless, stupid
One we all know...Gay used to mean full of joy.
Perfect did not mean flawless but wholeheartedly so when David, with all his mishaps said to the Lord "My heart is perfect before you." he didn't mean he was without flaw; he meant that he was there wholeheartedly.
This seems rather disjointed; I know but it is still running through my thoughts in such a way that I can not process it fluidly. I do know this; I have never had people present things to me in such a manner as to have them leap in my spirit like this...(except for in KC).
The course this week is "How to Study the Bible" and I must confess that before stepping foot into class I thought briefly, "how interesting can this class really be?" How fleeting that thought actually was because it came alive from the very first 5 minutes of class.
We were handed our brand new copy of Strong's Concordance and Vine's Dictionary, a little overwhelming in their weight and size initially but I think they have both become two of my new favorite books.
Here are some tidbits that really spoke to me from yesterday's class:
-most of the gospels are still considered Old Covenant because Jesus hadn't died yet and therefore, the authority in His name had not yet been given.
-I had always been taught that Old Testament doesn't "really" apply to us because of the new covenant brought through Jesus. I was told, "We aren't under the Law." but here is something to think about. Pastor Terry said that if the New Testament doesn't introduce a new law regarding something then the old law still stands (tithing for example).
Take a look at the 10 commandments. In Romans 13:8-10 we are given a new law that replaces the 10 commandements; we are no longer bound to follow the law of the 10 commandments. Why? Romans 13:8-10 provides us with a new law regarding that. The 10 commandments were intended to get people to walk in love but we don't need those rules as Romans 13:8-10 (Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,” “Do not murder,” “Do not steal,” “Do not covet,”[fn1] and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.) replaces it with this basic law: What would love do?
Love would not murder, love would not commit adultery, love would not steal...
The 10 commandments were intended to change the people from the outside in whereas Rom 13:8-10 changes people from the inside out. Therefore, I think Rom 13:8-10 raises the standard a fair bit for us as Christians today for it says in the Old Testament IF you commit adultery but in the New Testament it says if you even think about someone else or look lustfully or longingly at someone you have all ready committed adultery and according to Rom 13:8-10, you won't commit adultery if you are walking in love.
-We have also been learning how the meanings of our words has changed drastically throughout the years. We have been given a few examples and it sounds like we are getting more tonight.
Weird used to mean skilled in witchcraft
Nice used to mean foolish, senseless, stupid
One we all know...Gay used to mean full of joy.
Perfect did not mean flawless but wholeheartedly so when David, with all his mishaps said to the Lord "My heart is perfect before you." he didn't mean he was without flaw; he meant that he was there wholeheartedly.
This seems rather disjointed; I know but it is still running through my thoughts in such a way that I can not process it fluidly. I do know this; I have never had people present things to me in such a manner as to have them leap in my spirit like this...(except for in KC).
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday was great!
My old self keeps going to say "I can't believe what happened at church on Sunday" because I have never seen it before but I can believe because I know that God is capable and willing to do it. We are in the middle of a building project, as some of you know. We have taken our old sanctuary, built a second level put the ACE classes on the bottom floor and the WRTC classes on the top floor. We are getting our new sanctuary building today! For the last few weeks we have been having our church services in a tent...not too bad but, given the choice, I would rather not be in there for too many more evening services. It does get a bit chilly toward the end of the service.
Now, here is where things got really cool on Sunday. We, as a church, had a financial need in order to get the cement poured so we can get our building up and ready before too long. The money we needed was $30, 000.00. Pastor Kevin informed us of the need and asked who could help with that. Within 10 minutes we had raised $30, 000.00!!!
What is so astounding about that? I mean really $30, 000.00 is nothing when we are speaking about God's capabilities, right? The part that has really gotten me is that most of the people there that day were single moms and their kids. We had 120 people there that day and through them and their willingness to give and their faith in God 120 people gave $30, 000.00!!!
Most of our Junior Highs/Seniors have jobs (most of them paper routes) and between 10 kids they came up with $640.00 to give to this need!!! We definitely don't need one of those little thermometer guages when we need to raise money for something! The money is there before one could even find the paper to make it!
There is such a desperation in our congregration for the presence of God and each service it is getting thicker and thicker. Other than going to WRC in Kansas City, Mo I have never been in a place like this; I have never felt this anywhere else! You really do need to come and check it out for yourselves!! (Services are Friday at 7 or Sunday at 10:30) Even talk to the Dean or Principal and see if you can audit one or some of the Training Center classes to see if that's the place for you! Some of my friends here may be interested to know that we will be learning some Hebrew and the Jewish culture in these classes in the weeks coming up. I can't wait!!!
Now, here is where things got really cool on Sunday. We, as a church, had a financial need in order to get the cement poured so we can get our building up and ready before too long. The money we needed was $30, 000.00. Pastor Kevin informed us of the need and asked who could help with that. Within 10 minutes we had raised $30, 000.00!!!
What is so astounding about that? I mean really $30, 000.00 is nothing when we are speaking about God's capabilities, right? The part that has really gotten me is that most of the people there that day were single moms and their kids. We had 120 people there that day and through them and their willingness to give and their faith in God 120 people gave $30, 000.00!!!
Most of our Junior Highs/Seniors have jobs (most of them paper routes) and between 10 kids they came up with $640.00 to give to this need!!! We definitely don't need one of those little thermometer guages when we need to raise money for something! The money is there before one could even find the paper to make it!
There is such a desperation in our congregration for the presence of God and each service it is getting thicker and thicker. Other than going to WRC in Kansas City, Mo I have never been in a place like this; I have never felt this anywhere else! You really do need to come and check it out for yourselves!! (Services are Friday at 7 or Sunday at 10:30) Even talk to the Dean or Principal and see if you can audit one or some of the Training Center classes to see if that's the place for you! Some of my friends here may be interested to know that we will be learning some Hebrew and the Jewish culture in these classes in the weeks coming up. I can't wait!!!
Saturday, September 13, 2008
My Absurd Religion
A video from Utube from Pastor Steve Gray on My Absurd Religion...
and one more...
Why do so many Christians push their morality and their laws instead of pushing for the presence of God? If we would just seek for His presence everything else would just line up. You can not be in His presence and remain unchanged. You just can't!
and one more...
Why do so many Christians push their morality and their laws instead of pushing for the presence of God? If we would just seek for His presence everything else would just line up. You can not be in His presence and remain unchanged. You just can't!
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Can You Believe It?
It took two days of being open for our church's ACE school to be full to capacity and we haven't even completed it yet. so, we are facing another building project before completing one of the three parts we are in right now. It was Day Two and there was all ready a waiting list to get into our school. I think it is pretty cool.
Rush has been having some of the best times of her life in this school! She loves her "teachers" and she is excited to see what Coach has in store for them this year. They will be learning Cree too so that will come in handy for their career prospects.
Rush has a new friend, a girl who just moved here with her family; she is deaf but that hasn's stopped the girls from getting to know her. In fact, they are sort of breaking the rules but getting away with it on a technicality. There is the no talking/no passing notes rule and if you get caught you get a demerit; they have never once broken that rule yet still communicate during class. I think there needs to be an added clause to that rule...No sign language during class time.
So week one of school: the paces aren't here yet as they were waiting for more kids to finish their diagnostics but my daughter has learned how to say a few words in sign language and has learned how to efficiently communicate with her new friend through "spell" signing...and we have all ready outgrown our space...I'd say that that is a pretty good week.
Rush has been having some of the best times of her life in this school! She loves her "teachers" and she is excited to see what Coach has in store for them this year. They will be learning Cree too so that will come in handy for their career prospects.
Rush has a new friend, a girl who just moved here with her family; she is deaf but that hasn's stopped the girls from getting to know her. In fact, they are sort of breaking the rules but getting away with it on a technicality. There is the no talking/no passing notes rule and if you get caught you get a demerit; they have never once broken that rule yet still communicate during class. I think there needs to be an added clause to that rule...No sign language during class time.
So week one of school: the paces aren't here yet as they were waiting for more kids to finish their diagnostics but my daughter has learned how to say a few words in sign language and has learned how to efficiently communicate with her new friend through "spell" signing...and we have all ready outgrown our space...I'd say that that is a pretty good week.
Monday, September 01, 2008
Strange Friends
Jellybean and Bug have a friend who I just met tonight. They have never mentioned this friend to me before and I have to admit he is kind of, well, different, strange even. I was giving the kids their baths when it was time to drain the water; Bug told me he had to wait until he could see his friend.
Uh, ok. Who would that be.
Well, their friend is that little swirl you get at the end of draining your water from the tub...yup and he has a name...he is their friend and he is Swirlie.
I have strange kids...
...but they sure are cute...
...and entertaining.
Uh, ok. Who would that be.
Well, their friend is that little swirl you get at the end of draining your water from the tub...yup and he has a name...he is their friend and he is Swirlie.
I have strange kids...
...but they sure are cute...
...and entertaining.
I don't even know what to call this other than I really want to be home for my kids; I want to be a stay-at-home mom again...I miss it terribly. I know that feesibly it is not possible financially or mentally for me to be a stay-at-home mom 100% of the time but I am really looking forward to being done this temporary fulltime position I have so that I can be with my kids and taking care of my home.
My job is less than ideal; I completely understand and accept that but, that being said, it is not the reasoning behind this wishfulness...this longing. Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to be a mom, wanted to stay home and take care of my house and family, plant a garden, can and freeze food, bake, be with my kids more. I DO NOT want to wake up one morning, find my house empty and wonder why I worked so much. Granted, full time isn't "so much" but I guess it is what you feel is important...being a stay-at-home mom is a job too so I would still be working full time.
I just got to spend some beautiful time with my two youngest children...we snuggled on the couch for a bit, Jellybean went to the kitchen table to do her math homework and needed my help so I was there, leaning over her shoulder, helping her solve some problems and watching her rejoice as things began to click and giving her the occassional high-five. We had a nice quiet supper, just the three of us and then I will be giving them a bath, getting them as ready for school as possible the night before and going through our bedtime routine.
I miss my kids; my heart breaks when I think of the time with them that I have lost, the time with them that I will never get back...at supper Jellybean tried to use her straw (in her straw bowl) to drink her 'orange soup' and burnt her throat; she ran into my arms and even though my heart broke for her and her pain, it felt so good to have her run to me and just trust in me so completely and to just feel her so close in my arms.
I know being a working mom doesn't make me less than a mom but it is not where my heart is...granted maybe it is not where any working mom's heart is but I feel empty and lost not being at home with my kids more and I am really looking forward to March '09 so I can be with my kids just a little more often and look after my home just a little bit better...
My job is less than ideal; I completely understand and accept that but, that being said, it is not the reasoning behind this wishfulness...this longing. Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to be a mom, wanted to stay home and take care of my house and family, plant a garden, can and freeze food, bake, be with my kids more. I DO NOT want to wake up one morning, find my house empty and wonder why I worked so much. Granted, full time isn't "so much" but I guess it is what you feel is important...being a stay-at-home mom is a job too so I would still be working full time.
I just got to spend some beautiful time with my two youngest children...we snuggled on the couch for a bit, Jellybean went to the kitchen table to do her math homework and needed my help so I was there, leaning over her shoulder, helping her solve some problems and watching her rejoice as things began to click and giving her the occassional high-five. We had a nice quiet supper, just the three of us and then I will be giving them a bath, getting them as ready for school as possible the night before and going through our bedtime routine.
I miss my kids; my heart breaks when I think of the time with them that I have lost, the time with them that I will never get back...at supper Jellybean tried to use her straw (in her straw bowl) to drink her 'orange soup' and burnt her throat; she ran into my arms and even though my heart broke for her and her pain, it felt so good to have her run to me and just trust in me so completely and to just feel her so close in my arms.
I know being a working mom doesn't make me less than a mom but it is not where my heart is...granted maybe it is not where any working mom's heart is but I feel empty and lost not being at home with my kids more and I am really looking forward to March '09 so I can be with my kids just a little more often and look after my home just a little bit better...
Let's get caught up
This past week has been a week of changes in one degree or another so, let's get caught up on them all.
Tuesday began Jellybean's Grade 3 year; nothing too terribly new to report on that front: one new kid in the class, Hunter is still there and still her sweetie; Sharmayne is still there and still her good friend. She had math homework the first day (was excited by that) and has had everyday since.
Tuesday also found us in the midst of tornadoes and the choas of said tornadoes has ensued. Baseball sized hail did its number on windows, vehicles and most importantly, animals... My hometown, where family still lives, has been called a disaster. Jellybean & Bug figured that since there had been a tornado people were either dead or they got to visit their brother in Kansas...I get a kick out of how kids' minds work sometimes.
Tuesday also found BigB, Rush & I in emergency with Rush. She hit her head very hard, lost consciousness, began throwing up and all the other wonderful concussion signs. We took her to the walk-in clinic where they checked her over and felt she was ok to go home but doc told us if anything got worse to take her to Emerg right away...a half hour later she was blacking out again and slurring her words, so off it was to Emerg until 3:30 AM, home for a couple hour snooze and then back to Emerg at 7 to get the girl.
Wednesday I was off work because I had yet to have any sleep and we needed to keep a good eye on Rush. She was very groggy, very sleepy, very headachy but better. I got to pick Jellybean up from school today too and that was good because I wasn't able to get the time off work to take her to school her first day; I felt VERY ripped off for missing that!
Thursday I found out through phone calls and emails from co-workers that there had been a meeting I wasn't told about that directly effects my job. It was a tad bit stressful and I have to admit I did not react nor handle this situation as well as I would have liked to have. (I never did anything dumb but I just would have like to have handled it better.)
I did get birthday cake at work as Thursday was the day that we had the cake for August's birthdays. My friend, Carol made a special trip to 1521 to make sure that I got a peice of my cake. I really appreciate her for that and thought that the gesture was really, really nice.
Friday was my day off and I had planned to relax for the morning, take Bug to his first day of Kindergarten and then go to a children's church workshop before the evening church service for our Raising the Standard conference. Well you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men...Friday morning did find me getting to go downtown to pay the water bill but as soon as I got home I began calling our family doctor (on holidays), our "second" doctor (not in until 10:30) and finally talked to the doc who had taken care of Rush in Emerg as her headaches were NOT getting any better. Dr Ribeiro (or Dr Rubberroo as Bug called him) quickly arranged a Catscan and C-spine xray for her and we got that out of the way with the happy knowledge that there is nothing clinically wrong other than she got a bad concussion and may have to endure headaches for awhile (fortunately we have a God who heals and we don't need to endure anything of the sort).
I got Bug to his first day of Kindergarten (after giving him a lunch of Kraft Dinner and "octupus") where he was very pleased to see two of his buddies from Pre-K. Immediately following his drop-off I went to the workshop and was there until just before supper time.
Friday evening's service and our first night of Raising the Standard conference was very good; we got lots of things to think about that night (however I heard Saturday's was very, very powerful)Saturday Rush worked until 11 AM at the grocery store and BigB worked at the church (the school is almost done and can be occupied by our students on Tuesday!!!!!). After they got home we headed off to McDonald's (yuck) and ate our lunch on the way to the lake where we were going to watch my cousin get married. It was really nice (a little windy on the beach) but it was nice to see family again and Bug had so much fun dancing with his buddy and cousin, DD.
Bug and DD ran up to the head table at one point ringing their bells to make the bride and groom kiss when the bride told them that if they kept doing it she was going to kiss them. She then planted a big kiss on Bug and he strutted back to the table looking proud as a peacock (he even got to have a dance with the beautiful bride).
Sunday held the final two sessions/services for the conference and in between we had a nice lunch and visit with a new family to the church.
There hasn't been much down time this week and today I am pretty worn out but, there is lots to do: School supplies for Rush, last minute stuff on the building, bath the kidlets, make lunches...I do, however, think I have to get a nap in here sometime. Yeah, a nap would definitely be nice.
Just found this...
Our friend J.D. King has gotten himself a blog and has some very interesting views on religion that some of my friends may be interested in reading...
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Like sand through the hourglass...
...so are the days of our lives...
It doesn't seem to matter what happens in our daily lives...the world just keeps spinning. I guess that's one of God's ways of saying 'get up on your feet. Get over it. Suck it up; this is so totally not about you.'.
Today was my "friday" at work; tomorrow is my bank day and Monday is a stat holiday-a 4 day weekend and I am so looking forward to it.
Tomorrow I will be in a conference session on children's ministry, followed by our regularily scheduled evening service (and it will be great as usual). Saturday we are going to a wedding and I am really looking forward to it; it's gonna be a lot of fun. I get to hang out with some of my family and I am very happy about that. Sunday brings more services, including an evening one to bring our conference to a close. Monday is going to be a rest, relax day (perhaps a little laundry).
It's pretty much a run of the mill weekend. And for that I am glad...we had some soap operah(sp) worthy action at work today and I long to be away from that drama...now I am going to go make some pies...
It doesn't seem to matter what happens in our daily lives...the world just keeps spinning. I guess that's one of God's ways of saying 'get up on your feet. Get over it. Suck it up; this is so totally not about you.'.
Today was my "friday" at work; tomorrow is my bank day and Monday is a stat holiday-a 4 day weekend and I am so looking forward to it.
Tomorrow I will be in a conference session on children's ministry, followed by our regularily scheduled evening service (and it will be great as usual). Saturday we are going to a wedding and I am really looking forward to it; it's gonna be a lot of fun. I get to hang out with some of my family and I am very happy about that. Sunday brings more services, including an evening one to bring our conference to a close. Monday is going to be a rest, relax day (perhaps a little laundry).
It's pretty much a run of the mill weekend. And for that I am glad...we had some soap operah(sp) worthy action at work today and I long to be away from that drama...now I am going to go make some pies...
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Girl Cheese vs Boy Cheese
Bug & I have been sitting at my computer while I wrote mylast post figuring out what the two of us would have for our lunch.
Bug just asked me if we had the stuff to make "girl cheese samiches". We just happen to have the stuff to make 'girl cheese samiches'. He then asked me, "Mama, do we have the stuff to make boy cheese samiches too?". You know what?! It turns out we DO have the stuff for boy cheese sandwiches as well. Can you imagine?!?
So, I think I am going to go upstairs with my Bug and make a girl cheese samich and a boy cheese samich; then we can have our lunch. It sounds like a nice bowl of 'Orange Soup" (read Tomato soup) would really make the meal.
Bug just asked me if we had the stuff to make "girl cheese samiches". We just happen to have the stuff to make 'girl cheese samiches'. He then asked me, "Mama, do we have the stuff to make boy cheese samiches too?". You know what?! It turns out we DO have the stuff for boy cheese sandwiches as well. Can you imagine?!?
So, I think I am going to go upstairs with my Bug and make a girl cheese samich and a boy cheese samich; then we can have our lunch. It sounds like a nice bowl of 'Orange Soup" (read Tomato soup) would really make the meal.
Oh, what a night II
Yes, if you can imagine, there IS a sequel to the first and it is within a week even of the first.
Yesterday seemed to be your average, run-of-the-mill day: I took the car to the garage, got a ride to work with BigB, kissed my 2 youngest kids goodbye on their first day of school (turns out yesterday was just registration for Bug and he doesn't go until Fri...broke his little heart), went to work, put in my 8 hours, came home, made and ate supper. Sounds pretty average right?
After supper Rush went to her room to put some clothes away and tidy her room a bit; she was up on her bunkbed, went to slide down and was scared by Jewel. Somehow with all the variables involved she hit her head so hard that she lost consciousness for several minutes (piecing things together and adding times together); she came upstairs crying and told us what happened minus the blacking out part. BigB and I were just on our way to go to Shanigans for a "date" but had to go and do a tow first. The tow was complete and my cell rang, "Mom is it normal for me to feel really dizzy and nauseaus?" Those words changed our plans in a second and we were on our way home to take a peak at her.
My first instinct was to dial the Nurses Hotline but anytime we call them, they just tell us to go to emergency anyway so I hung up the phone in mid-hold. We called a friend of Rush's to watch Jellybean and Bug and took Rush to the walk-in clinic, got the usual signs to watch for blah, blah, blah and thought everything was fine.
Then she started slurring her words...and then she blacked out again...off we went to Emerg where we stayed until 3:30 this morning when Dr Ribeiro finally said to BigB and I, "Go home for a rest now while this other medicine we gave her proves itself to work or not.". He then looked at me (as we know each other through work) and said, "There will be a sick note in 'Rush's' chart for you in the morning; you are not going to work today."
We got home and had a pee accident to deal with so it was about 4:00 before our heads hit the pillows. At 7:00 we got a call saying that Rush could go home and that Dr. R wants to talk to us. Off we went, back to Emerg. Had our talk, was given my note, got our girl home safe and sound and went to bed. I haven't really been sleeping for long periods of time as the phone is either ringing or I am getting up to check on how Rush is doing.
The day does seem like it will be a long one (there is worship practice tonight. We didn't make the last 6 AM prayer for our 120 days of prayer) but at least I didn't have to go find chart numbers from old hospital papers, put them in number order and then number order them into a bigger pile...that would be WAY to much concentrating for me right now...(I almost couldn't remember how to spell 'concentrate'! LOL!)
So here I am at 11:46 A.M., not quite bright-eyed or bushy tailed but definitely thankful for God and His provision and His taking care of our daughter and thankful that we live in a country where we could just go to Emerg and get things straightened out. Oh yeah, and I am a little bit wishful that I had had a video camera last night so you all could see just how funny Rush is after she has been hopped up on Gravol and been given two T-3's...she was FUNNY!!!
Yesterday seemed to be your average, run-of-the-mill day: I took the car to the garage, got a ride to work with BigB, kissed my 2 youngest kids goodbye on their first day of school (turns out yesterday was just registration for Bug and he doesn't go until Fri...broke his little heart), went to work, put in my 8 hours, came home, made and ate supper. Sounds pretty average right?
After supper Rush went to her room to put some clothes away and tidy her room a bit; she was up on her bunkbed, went to slide down and was scared by Jewel. Somehow with all the variables involved she hit her head so hard that she lost consciousness for several minutes (piecing things together and adding times together); she came upstairs crying and told us what happened minus the blacking out part. BigB and I were just on our way to go to Shanigans for a "date" but had to go and do a tow first. The tow was complete and my cell rang, "Mom is it normal for me to feel really dizzy and nauseaus?" Those words changed our plans in a second and we were on our way home to take a peak at her.
My first instinct was to dial the Nurses Hotline but anytime we call them, they just tell us to go to emergency anyway so I hung up the phone in mid-hold. We called a friend of Rush's to watch Jellybean and Bug and took Rush to the walk-in clinic, got the usual signs to watch for blah, blah, blah and thought everything was fine.
Then she started slurring her words...and then she blacked out again...off we went to Emerg where we stayed until 3:30 this morning when Dr Ribeiro finally said to BigB and I, "Go home for a rest now while this other medicine we gave her proves itself to work or not.". He then looked at me (as we know each other through work) and said, "There will be a sick note in 'Rush's' chart for you in the morning; you are not going to work today."
We got home and had a pee accident to deal with so it was about 4:00 before our heads hit the pillows. At 7:00 we got a call saying that Rush could go home and that Dr. R wants to talk to us. Off we went, back to Emerg. Had our talk, was given my note, got our girl home safe and sound and went to bed. I haven't really been sleeping for long periods of time as the phone is either ringing or I am getting up to check on how Rush is doing.
The day does seem like it will be a long one (there is worship practice tonight. We didn't make the last 6 AM prayer for our 120 days of prayer) but at least I didn't have to go find chart numbers from old hospital papers, put them in number order and then number order them into a bigger pile...that would be WAY to much concentrating for me right now...(I almost couldn't remember how to spell 'concentrate'! LOL!)
So here I am at 11:46 A.M., not quite bright-eyed or bushy tailed but definitely thankful for God and His provision and His taking care of our daughter and thankful that we live in a country where we could just go to Emerg and get things straightened out. Oh yeah, and I am a little bit wishful that I had had a video camera last night so you all could see just how funny Rush is after she has been hopped up on Gravol and been given two T-3's...she was FUNNY!!!
Friday, August 22, 2008
Oh, what a night...
Without going into details (because I don't want to give glory to someone who doesn't need it), it has been quite the night. I got a bit of news regarding the statement above about something that someone is doing to my family and it is all lies. This person knows that what they have said and claimed are 100% lies and they will soon find out that their lies will be exposed and they will be exposed for what is truly in their heart. I just pray that they face the truth sooner than later because they are running 100 miles an hour in the wrong direction and they will soon hit a brick wall at full speed. I love this person and I don't want them to have to deal with the consequences but they will...
That being said though blood is thicker than water especially when "water" is lying through their teeth.
I had just calmed down, somewhat, over this when I found out that there was a car accident in our family as well. She is ok now but I hate that waiting (and I know it was worse for them).
Let's add what iced the cake and here is the silly part...I don't know why this would be the breaking point but it was. Bug's fish died tonight. His fish D.O.G. is no m.o.r.e. (And how did he respond? He was sad but not tearful. When it came time to flush D.O.G. Bug said, "I get to flush him?! Heh!? Where's his head?". I think he is handling it quite well.)
The old me woke up for a brief moment tonight...just long enough for me to remember what I was like and then it shifted. The feeling became more like defiance...yeah, defiance that I am not letting these attacks beat me or bring me down. In fact they are making me fight harder, stronger and longer for my family!!!
The ferverent prayers of a righteous man avails much! If they didn't, I probably would have reverted to my old ways of dealing with these kinds of things but I didn't in fact, I prayed for that person.
That being said though blood is thicker than water especially when "water" is lying through their teeth.
I had just calmed down, somewhat, over this when I found out that there was a car accident in our family as well. She is ok now but I hate that waiting (and I know it was worse for them).
Let's add what iced the cake and here is the silly part...I don't know why this would be the breaking point but it was. Bug's fish died tonight. His fish D.O.G. is no m.o.r.e. (And how did he respond? He was sad but not tearful. When it came time to flush D.O.G. Bug said, "I get to flush him?! Heh!? Where's his head?". I think he is handling it quite well.)
The old me woke up for a brief moment tonight...just long enough for me to remember what I was like and then it shifted. The feeling became more like defiance...yeah, defiance that I am not letting these attacks beat me or bring me down. In fact they are making me fight harder, stronger and longer for my family!!!
The ferverent prayers of a righteous man avails much! If they didn't, I probably would have reverted to my old ways of dealing with these kinds of things but I didn't in fact, I prayed for that person.
Monday, August 18, 2008
What makes my boy tick?
He is definitely a boy and I am still learning how to deal with the thought processes of boys and how they figure things out as they grow and move step by step towards becoming men. I have been able to see some of the process through LilB and Tuff but not the complete process and it is kind of interesting in a "I am not sure if I totally get this" way.
Bug rejoices in smelling like a man. The other day his feet stunk...like seriously stunk! He wanted us all to smell his feet, sticking them proudly under our noses and giggling with glee with at our responses; he then proceeded to ask us to smell his armpits. Jellybean, being a sucker for punishment, did and told him that between his feet and his pits he stunk!! He looked at her with a confidence and joy and told her, as a matter of factly, "I smell like a ma-an!"
Farting noises are incredibly funny to him...do they ever grow out of the humor in that?
He is intrigued by any smell that resembles flatulance. He was out with BigB for the day as they went for a tow. BigB had packed egg salad sandwiches and Bug began to sniff as BigB took them out of the cooler. "Uh, Dad...what smells like toots?", he asked his dad giggling.
He likes to take anything he can apart...have his toy dinosaurs eat the pigs from his farm animals and rip the arms off Jellybean's dolls. He also thrives on wrestling with anyone and everything he can and boy can this boy work. He goes to the church and moves chairs to help set up for service, hauls ladders to help people, drags 2x4's to whomever is needing one at the moment...he has a very keen interest in anything tool...powertool! He loves to pound out a beat on the drum, on the cat, on the back of a chair, on the wall...on his sister's head...
I realize this is normal boy behavior but I sometimes take little moments to wonder what it is that makes him think the way he does or find joy in the things he does...what makes him tick!?
I can tell you one thing...whatever it is that makes him tick, I wouldn't want him to change one little bit! I love him just the way he is!
Bug rejoices in smelling like a man. The other day his feet stunk...like seriously stunk! He wanted us all to smell his feet, sticking them proudly under our noses and giggling with glee with at our responses; he then proceeded to ask us to smell his armpits. Jellybean, being a sucker for punishment, did and told him that between his feet and his pits he stunk!! He looked at her with a confidence and joy and told her, as a matter of factly, "I smell like a ma-an!"
Farting noises are incredibly funny to him...do they ever grow out of the humor in that?
He is intrigued by any smell that resembles flatulance. He was out with BigB for the day as they went for a tow. BigB had packed egg salad sandwiches and Bug began to sniff as BigB took them out of the cooler. "Uh, Dad...what smells like toots?", he asked his dad giggling.
He likes to take anything he can apart...have his toy dinosaurs eat the pigs from his farm animals and rip the arms off Jellybean's dolls. He also thrives on wrestling with anyone and everything he can and boy can this boy work. He goes to the church and moves chairs to help set up for service, hauls ladders to help people, drags 2x4's to whomever is needing one at the moment...he has a very keen interest in anything tool...powertool! He loves to pound out a beat on the drum, on the cat, on the back of a chair, on the wall...on his sister's head...
I realize this is normal boy behavior but I sometimes take little moments to wonder what it is that makes him think the way he does or find joy in the things he does...what makes him tick!?
I can tell you one thing...whatever it is that makes him tick, I wouldn't want him to change one little bit! I love him just the way he is!
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Ch...ch...ch...changes
It has been a summer of changes, of growing, of stretching and of revamping. Our church is changing; we are getting tonnes of new people moving here to attend our church and to, in the fall, attend our A.C.E school for kids and WRC Bible College that we are currently building. It has been a summer of services in the foyer as our old sanctuary has now become the home of the new schools.
Rush has gone from earning her living babysitting for us every so often and full time in the summer to working at a "real job" where she gets a "real pay check" and therefore need to get her S.I.N. She's even wearing a uniform...but doing a fantastic job (which is no change!).
BigB can no longer answer his phone "Hi Sam; Bill here". He has resigned from his job with ISM (the reason for the Hi Sam...funny story check out the link) due to well a lot of reasons that have been a year in the making. Regardless of why, he is no longer with ISM. Which means I no longer get to eat lunch with the cute boy down the hall. I am now married to the cutest tow truck driver in the city...perhaps even world! He is happy; he enjoys the people he meets and since he is a storm chaser...winter is going to be SO much fun for him!
I am getting a 3 month break from the workplace situation I have been involved in. I am still in the same job however I am now at a different location for the time being.
We are getting used to the fact that we no longer have the van. Can someone say 'huge change!'? We just have the old car now and it is going to take time to getting used to stalling at each red light I come to and need to strategicly place the groceries in the backseat. It is a good change though because our van was costing us way too much money and we are turning over a new leaf and not wanting to live so carelessly with our money!
So...time to face the change. It will just keep coming!
Rush has gone from earning her living babysitting for us every so often and full time in the summer to working at a "real job" where she gets a "real pay check" and therefore need to get her S.I.N. She's even wearing a uniform...but doing a fantastic job (which is no change!).
BigB can no longer answer his phone "Hi Sam; Bill here". He has resigned from his job with ISM (the reason for the Hi Sam...funny story check out the link) due to well a lot of reasons that have been a year in the making. Regardless of why, he is no longer with ISM. Which means I no longer get to eat lunch with the cute boy down the hall. I am now married to the cutest tow truck driver in the city...perhaps even world! He is happy; he enjoys the people he meets and since he is a storm chaser...winter is going to be SO much fun for him!
I am getting a 3 month break from the workplace situation I have been involved in. I am still in the same job however I am now at a different location for the time being.
We are getting used to the fact that we no longer have the van. Can someone say 'huge change!'? We just have the old car now and it is going to take time to getting used to stalling at each red light I come to and need to strategicly place the groceries in the backseat. It is a good change though because our van was costing us way too much money and we are turning over a new leaf and not wanting to live so carelessly with our money!
So...time to face the change. It will just keep coming!
Monday, August 11, 2008
I want to procrastinate but I keep putting it off
I have stuff...well we all have stuff but I have stuff that the kids have out grown that I keep trying to get together because it is boys' and girls' and I will have to separate it because the ladies I know who could use it either don't have girls or don't have boys...it's easier when it can all get put into one box or one bag...rats. I also have stuff that should have gotten put into the shed but for one reason or another (I still haven't figured out how) they have all wound up in our front entrance making it unusable and unsafe! I hate it! I feel trapped-like what if we have a house fire and we need the front door to escape?
Then my current reality hits. I am tired and if I am not tired, I am not home or I have other more pressing things to do at home...because when the firefighters put out our blazing house that we can't escape from we are going to need to have clean clothes on. When I'm not tired I have been using the reason...excuse...reason...ah man! I'm not doing it because I am wanting to spend time with my family and then I decide that I need a bit of me time so I come down here and play on the computer.
I know in my heart of hearts that I would feel so much better to come home to a beautifully organized house...maybe tomorrow.....
Then my current reality hits. I am tired and if I am not tired, I am not home or I have other more pressing things to do at home...because when the firefighters put out our blazing house that we can't escape from we are going to need to have clean clothes on. When I'm not tired I have been using the reason...excuse...reason...ah man! I'm not doing it because I am wanting to spend time with my family and then I decide that I need a bit of me time so I come down here and play on the computer.
I know in my heart of hearts that I would feel so much better to come home to a beautifully organized house...maybe tomorrow.....
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