11.02.2009
10.26.2009
Monkey Monday #156 - Preteens. Sigh...
So, Dude enjoyed a birthday celebration this weekend, complete with a big cookie cake and a couple of close friends. When I asked what he wanted to do for his birthday, he quickly replied, "SLEEPOVER!" Of course, it took everything in my being to not scream in horror (I'm such a lame mom that way...I'm skeered!). But he only invited 3 friends, and one couldn't come, so it was quite manageable, even with the extra noise.
(Y'all do know that that is the very definition of "boy," right? "A noise with dirt on it?")
(YOU'RE WELCOME)
On Sunday afternoon while we enjoyed the fabulous fall weather at the park, I tried to snap a few pics of the new eleven year old.
That went over well...
I guess once they pass ten, it's all downhill from there. Well, okay, not all downhill. The upside of the un-photogenic preteens is a lot more memory on my camera for subjects who don't mind being photogenic.
But I'm quick on my feet...I can still catch them occasionally:
(Y'all do know that that is the very definition of "boy," right? "A noise with dirt on it?")
(YOU'RE WELCOME)
On Sunday afternoon while we enjoyed the fabulous fall weather at the park, I tried to snap a few pics of the new eleven year old.
That went over well...
I guess once they pass ten, it's all downhill from there. Well, okay, not all downhill. The upside of the un-photogenic preteens is a lot more memory on my camera for subjects who don't mind being photogenic.But I'm quick on my feet...I can still catch them occasionally:
10.23.2009
Eleven
Otherwise known as:
Happy birthday kiddo! You've made the last eleven years so much fun!
10.20.2009
Grateful
Lately I've really been convicted about counting our blessings. And not just counting them, but treasuring them. We have four great kids - kids that are healthy, well behaved (yes, really...even though they sometimes test that with every fiber of their beings). Sarge has a job - a job that's quite a bit more secure than those of many thousands of others. I have a job that I've frequently hailed as perfect for me - and for our family. Our children attend great schools. We have food on the table every day. Sure it's not gourmet; most often it's pretty budget-conscious and not everyone's favorite, but it's a good, hot meal. We even have the luxury of eating out occasionally; no, we can't go to fancy sit-down restaurants, but even the less expensive options are a welcome break for us all. We have two new(er) vehicles that get us where we need to be. We have a great house in a great neighborhood, that, although it's become pretty crowded, is a safe place for our family. We have warm beds, cool air conditioning, hot showers, clean clothes, and good shoes.
Nothing that we have is anything extraordinary by the world's standards. I'm sure many people would look at our house & wonder how we could stand to live here for 11 years. I'm sure that many a good cook would wonder why our refrigerator is only half-stocked most of the time. I'm sure the absence of a Wii would make some kids turn down a playdate in no time flat.
I'm sure that what we have is nothing compared to some. But one thing I know: God has always provided for our needs. It may not have always been the way we would have chosen for that need to be filled, but He has always been faithful. He doesn't promise to meet our wants, but He does promise to meet our needs. And I can attest to that.
But some days, like yesterday, I feel defeated. I see what we can't do. I see how we struggle. I see the obstacles. It's difficult to trust, to have that mustard seed faith. I wonder why. I worry.
But God always reminds me of the blessings in our life. And He reminds me that our problems aren't really so big. And lately, there's one particular way that He's showing me our blessings.
Meet Frantz.
A few weeks ago, our church hosted an evening with a Christian comedian. I didn't think much about the ministry behind the event. That part was written in small print on the flyers and posters; it wasn't a detail that garnered much attention. We went into that Sunday evening event expecting to laugh and have fun.
I noticed as we entered the sanctuary that tables were set up outside. On the tables were pictures of children. That's when I started to think more about their ministry. When it came time for intermission, the host began to explain what New Missions was all about.
New Missions is a ministry to the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They provide schools for the children, food, clean water, medical treatment - and of course, the most important need in everyone's life - Jesus Christ.
As we listened, I knew in my heart that I wanted to take care of one of these children. I've followed several bloggers as they traveled and ministered with Compassion International and often wanted to become a sponsor. But this was something that I knew would have to come from Sarge. This was a decision that I knew he would have to make.
As Tim DeTellis, New Missions' president and son of founders George and Jeanne DeTellis, shared his ministry's passion, he held a picture of a 16 year old boy. He said not many people sponsor the older kids, that the younger kids are usually sponsored first. As we watched a video of the work in Haiti, it made me so sad to see the desolation. It's difficult to take in, to know that these children have no choice. They are born into one of the poorest countries in the world, a country of poverty and illiteracy, steeped in the darkness and fear of Voodoo. How I wished that these children could know the love that my children know. How easy would it be for us to give up the luxury of eating out just one time each month to give one of these children the very basic necessities of life?
Tim then dismissed us for intermission. As we stood, Sarge walked past me right up to Tim. Apparently God was speaking to his heart as well. I don't know what he said to Tim, but Sarge came back to our seats with Frantz. Our Frantz.
Frantz's picture now sits on our kitchen window sill, his face a daily reminder of our own blessings. As little as we think we have, we have something that we can give to Frantz. The boys are excited about him, too, and we're going to be writing to him soon; we'll probably even send him a Christmas gift. I think it will be eye-opening for them to see what "little" things would make him happy - new socks, a toothbrush, a ball...little things that my children are always taking for granted. Hopefully - prayerfully - this will be a life-changing year for our family. And even more so, for Frantz.
If you are interested in finding out more about New Missions, just go here. Another excellent resource is Compassion International . I dare you to leave either site without your own Frantz. I dare you to not be changed.
Nothing that we have is anything extraordinary by the world's standards. I'm sure many people would look at our house & wonder how we could stand to live here for 11 years. I'm sure that many a good cook would wonder why our refrigerator is only half-stocked most of the time. I'm sure the absence of a Wii would make some kids turn down a playdate in no time flat.
I'm sure that what we have is nothing compared to some. But one thing I know: God has always provided for our needs. It may not have always been the way we would have chosen for that need to be filled, but He has always been faithful. He doesn't promise to meet our wants, but He does promise to meet our needs. And I can attest to that.
But some days, like yesterday, I feel defeated. I see what we can't do. I see how we struggle. I see the obstacles. It's difficult to trust, to have that mustard seed faith. I wonder why. I worry.
But God always reminds me of the blessings in our life. And He reminds me that our problems aren't really so big. And lately, there's one particular way that He's showing me our blessings.
Meet Frantz.
A few weeks ago, our church hosted an evening with a Christian comedian. I didn't think much about the ministry behind the event. That part was written in small print on the flyers and posters; it wasn't a detail that garnered much attention. We went into that Sunday evening event expecting to laugh and have fun.
I noticed as we entered the sanctuary that tables were set up outside. On the tables were pictures of children. That's when I started to think more about their ministry. When it came time for intermission, the host began to explain what New Missions was all about.
New Missions is a ministry to the people of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. They provide schools for the children, food, clean water, medical treatment - and of course, the most important need in everyone's life - Jesus Christ.
As we listened, I knew in my heart that I wanted to take care of one of these children. I've followed several bloggers as they traveled and ministered with Compassion International and often wanted to become a sponsor. But this was something that I knew would have to come from Sarge. This was a decision that I knew he would have to make.
As Tim DeTellis, New Missions' president and son of founders George and Jeanne DeTellis, shared his ministry's passion, he held a picture of a 16 year old boy. He said not many people sponsor the older kids, that the younger kids are usually sponsored first. As we watched a video of the work in Haiti, it made me so sad to see the desolation. It's difficult to take in, to know that these children have no choice. They are born into one of the poorest countries in the world, a country of poverty and illiteracy, steeped in the darkness and fear of Voodoo. How I wished that these children could know the love that my children know. How easy would it be for us to give up the luxury of eating out just one time each month to give one of these children the very basic necessities of life?
Tim then dismissed us for intermission. As we stood, Sarge walked past me right up to Tim. Apparently God was speaking to his heart as well. I don't know what he said to Tim, but Sarge came back to our seats with Frantz. Our Frantz.
Frantz's picture now sits on our kitchen window sill, his face a daily reminder of our own blessings. As little as we think we have, we have something that we can give to Frantz. The boys are excited about him, too, and we're going to be writing to him soon; we'll probably even send him a Christmas gift. I think it will be eye-opening for them to see what "little" things would make him happy - new socks, a toothbrush, a ball...little things that my children are always taking for granted. Hopefully - prayerfully - this will be a life-changing year for our family. And even more so, for Frantz.
If you are interested in finding out more about New Missions, just go here. Another excellent resource is Compassion International . I dare you to leave either site without your own Frantz. I dare you to not be changed.
10.19.2009
Monkey Monday #155 - "I vant to be aloooone"
This past weekend, Sarge volunteered to house & dog sit for his parents while they took a little mini-vacation. At the last minute, both Bubba & Little ended up going with him. Dude had already made it clear that he wanted to stay here, as he had been invited to a birthday party for one of his best friends. Bubba had also expressed an interest in staying home, as Friday night was the homecoming dance at his school. That would have been his first real middle school function; but, it was not to be, as they ran out of tickets before he got his (I know...weird, huh?). So anyway, Bubba decided he'd like to go along. Not to be left out (and disregarding the 3 days he had missed the previous week due to strep), Little just HAD to go to. I mean HAD to. Complete with a fake headache, tears and all, just so he didn't have to go to school on Friday. Cue mommy guilt. Didn't even care that daddy could wait & leave at lunchtime so that he could go to school for the morning & not be absent again. Nope, not a care. So, I let him stay home & leave with his daddy & brother.
When I went to pick up Dude from school, he asked when they were coming home. When I told him Sunday, he looked at me and said, "SO I GET THREE WHOLE DAYS BY MYSELF!?!"
No middle child syndrome there.
On Saturday afternoon, Sunshine fell asleep in the van about the time we had planned to stop at the park and play. Dude had his Ripstick, so I put Sunshine in the stroller & we walked around the path at the park. But about half way around, he realized it wasn't nearly as much fun as usual. So we didn't stay very long. And that's when he realized he might miss them. Maybe. Just a little bitty tiny bit.
But, it was a very short minute. A second, really.
Because Sunshine was asleep at the park and we didn't stay long, I didn't take many pictures of them. Here's a couple from my phone of their silly selves as they ate lunch at Micky D's:
When I went to pick up Dude from school, he asked when they were coming home. When I told him Sunday, he looked at me and said, "SO I GET THREE WHOLE DAYS BY MYSELF!?!"
No middle child syndrome there.
On Saturday afternoon, Sunshine fell asleep in the van about the time we had planned to stop at the park and play. Dude had his Ripstick, so I put Sunshine in the stroller & we walked around the path at the park. But about half way around, he realized it wasn't nearly as much fun as usual. So we didn't stay very long. And that's when he realized he might miss them. Maybe. Just a little bitty tiny bit.
But, it was a very short minute. A second, really.
Because Sunshine was asleep at the park and we didn't stay long, I didn't take many pictures of them. Here's a couple from my phone of their silly selves as they ate lunch at Micky D's:
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