Checking Things Off

Sometimes "To Do" lists can be burdensome but when you start checking things off, it provides a great sense of accomplishment. There's still a battle waging between me and household chores (laundry and dishes) while I'm finding more pleasure in those extra projects (hanging shelves, pictures and curtains). My ultimate goal is to finish these extra projects in the next three weeks and then use the rest of July to map out Philip's Kindergarten school work before we begin in mid August. So far so good, but Philip has swimming lessons the next two weeks and then comes 4th of July! Here are the updates I've made around the house. Check!

Added framed photos from our Disney trip to the wall at the bottom of the stairs. We enjoy them daily on the way downstairs and others can see them on their way out.




Curtain rod: mine from teenage days
Curtains: from bathroom window of old house
Hem tape to create layers: $1:50
Joy of "making" my own curtains: yeah for me!




We had the large shelf at our old house. The small one I found at a consignment store for $4. These make me proud as I used a level, electric drill, anchors and screws to install!

Natural Birth 101

It's not everyday someone happily welcomes you into their birthing room and lets you experience the miracle of new life up close and personal. Last month, Philip and I were treated to just such an experience. Well ok, the mother wasn't human but a cat and no, I wouldn't let Philip watch a human birth just yet.

Our neighbors' cat, Ruby, began hanging around our yard early in May while the parents were at work and the kids were in school. She was clearly pregnant but let us pet her whenever we wanted. Philip and Braewyn became quite comfortable with her after first thinking she was scary and "has claws" as Braewyn would say. Philip called her our "daytime pet".

On May 18, we had attended MOPS and upon returning home, Ruby ran into our open garage and jumped into a box in the back of it. I scooped her up and shoo-ed her outside. A little while later, Philip and I were testing our hypothesis (yes, we watch "Dinosaur Train") as to if she would like milk or water on our front porch. After drinking some milk, Ruby stood by the front door and when I saw it happen, I knew that her water had broken! What to do?! I actually called our vet and asked what to do for a cat who was having her kittens on our front porch. I was told to provide her a box or other safe place and not do anything unless she looked in distress. What would a cat having kittens look like if in distress?

Anyhow, Philip and I (well he wandered off now and then) watched four kittens come into the world and their mom clean up all the mess. Yes, all the mess. I'll spare you the details. I can't think about it too long as it makes me queasy. The kittens were tiny and high-pitched. Matthew and our neighbors came home and we announced the happy news that Ruby was the mother of four. We went inside to eat dinner and after finishing, I checked Ruby to find SIX kittens. Wow, good work, Ruby! They are all growing up nicely in our neighbor's front porch area now and I'm still pondering if we should take one as I was their mom's midwife and all.

My Ever Present Foe

How horrible to describe my prayed for and wonderful blessing of a house in that manner. Yes, I will admit to being a messy; you know there are some people who are tidy and have well-kept homes and then there are "messies" (a term coined by someone I heard speaking on Focus on the Family). I grew up with a wonderful, loving mom who made me do chores but kept the rest of the house very well put together. When Matthew and I married and bought our first house, I thought to myself, "Now where is the person who is supposed to keep this house clean?" Yes, I struggled through clutter for 8 years in that house before renting a storage unit, throwing half of our belongings in it, and living in perfect harmony for four months while "showing" that house. I did really like how it looked and felt. Fast forward almost a year...

We moved into this brand new, beautiful home and I had an emotional meltdown. On top of not knowing where to put anything (and then not knowing where anything was once placed), that storage unit vomitted its contents back into our lives and now it seems every closet in this bigger house is almost full. How does that happen? Let me just say "Thank Heavens for Summer!"

We struggled through setting up house amidst our first year of home school. Philip and I were both overjoyed with the end of K-4 even though it astounds me how much he developed emotionally and intellectually. I now have mornings free and a renewed excitement to finish unpacking those few boxes and tackle the mini-projects I've decided on. Between visiting my sister-in-law Lori over Memorial Day and gleaning from her home management wisdom and stopping by my friend and neighbor Greta's beautiful home (it always looks ready to show and they're not moving!), I'm reinspired to keep my nose to the grindstone and tackle my house on a daily basis.

Some of you readers will laugh to yourselves when I say I happily invited Flylady to my email inbox again. Today I wiped down my kitchen cupboards and my kitchen sink currently holds one single cutting board. In addition to the norm, my summer project list included the following:

- Decorate the kids' bathroom (paint and new curtain/fixtures)
- Hang shelves in kitchen (DONE!)
- Buy storage items to organize school material (DONE!)
- Create chalkboard on bonus room wall
- Find a small table and round rug for entry way
- Paint Braewyn's headboard white with her name
- Paint stairway wall with brick faux finish
- Install curtain over jet tub window (Rod installed, curtains tomorrow!)
- Hang Grand Canyon / Walt Disney photos
- Clean out master bed boxes
- Purchase new desk for computer
- Rearrange Braewyn's room (changing table in closet)
- Rearrange bonus room room to be half school / half play
- Add shelves to the bonus room for more toy storage

Well, that's my June schedule.

Gotta Remember This...

I want to always remember Braewyn's use (or misuse) of grammar at age 3.

"Not me want to take a nap."

"Not me can do that."

"Not me know where Thomas (her doll) is."

Sweetness.

Disney World Recap (part 2)

Ok, I've got so much to post about but I'm striving to not leave things half done this summer. Therefore, here's a recap of the last three days of our Disney trip. It's fun for me to look back at the pics too and remember what an awesome time we had.

Day 4 -- Animal Kingdom


Here's the trademark tree with animals carved all over it. Yeah, it's not a real tree. They had me fooled!


Bashful Braewyn on a bridge. This glimpse into what an African town is like was really cool. We've been sponsoring a boy named Talent who lives in Zimbabwe through World Vision for several years. It was neat telling Philip that Talent might live near a town like this.


Just before we left Animal Kingdom, we happened upon Mickey and Minnie with a very short line for photos. The kids (especially Braewyn) were much more comfortable with the costumed characters than the live Princesses. Funny!

Day 5 -- Magic Kingdom


We decided to head back to M.K. after seeing all the parks because this one is most preschooler-friendly. First ride of the day was Cinderella's Golden Carrousel. This might have been Braewyn's favorite ride of the entire week.

Here's the Barnstormer which we all rode 3 times. It's a baby rollercoaster which flies you through Goofy's chicken coop but it still took my stomach!


We left M.K. about 3pm after seeing everything we hadn't the first day. This was our hotel, Coronado Springs Resort. We came back to the room, changed into swimsuits and walked over to the beautiful pool area. I didn't take my camera with me but here's the link if you want to see it.

DAy 6 -- Epcot Center


We headed back to Epcot with the goal to visit all the countries of the World Showcase part. Thankfully Philip did have an understanding of world countries as we had colored maps and flags of eight countries in school. I love meeting people from all over the world so it was fun talking with the employees. Here are Braewyn and I posing by a fountain in "Italy".


I'm thinking this was also "Italy".

We enjoyed a wonderful lunch in Norway at the Akershaus Banquet Hall. It is a character dining restaurant at which the princesses mingle through the tables, chatting with you while you eat. It was actually much more fun than waiting in line to meet the princesses for one moment and leave. However definitely a reason to have the dining plan because without it we would have spent over $100!

Disney World was wonderful week full of memories. I feel good to not going again for another 10 years!

Not Sleepy

It's 4:26am. I'm not sleepy. I've read my Bible and several blogs and I seem to be getting more awake than sleepy. Yes, probably bad idea to get on the computer but I couldn't find my copy of "Pride and Prejudice" (yes, I'm adding it to my sidebar as my new book On The Nightstand when I find it and take a pic of it). Random thoughts woke me up and then I had to check on Braewyn anyway.

No, I don't generally check on the kids when I wake up in the middle of the night. I do right before I go to bed because I love seeing their peaceful, sleeping faces. However tonight Braewyn's peaceful, sleeping face has three stitches over her left eye. Last night during supper at church, she tripped and gouged her temple on the corner of a chair. I scooped her up after Ruth Ann said, "She's cut!" Quite horrific as blood quickly ran down her face. The three of us drove to the ER while Matthew and Philip followed behind. Braewyn was amazingly brave. I think the Lord put her into a somewhat natural sedated state due to not having napped all day. The ER doc was wonderful and so caring. He said his 4-year-old daughter split her forehead open last summer and he had to stitch her up. I told him to treat Braewyn like his own.

Two nurses positioned Braewyn into a full-body velcro wrap and called her a burrito. All you could see were her Princess sneakers and her face. After I had held a cotton ball with numbing agent on her cut for 30 minutes before being burrito-ed, Braewyn didn't seem to feel anything the doc did. Thank you, Lord. I had been praying repetitively for that cotton ball to work while I held it and we all watched "Kung Fu Panda" (wonderful pediatric ER rooms!). The doc flushed out her gouge (yes, there was chair debris in her head!) and stitched up our little trooper. She winced a few times but remained motionless, not even struggling against the wrap.

I thank the Lord our trip to the ER is over. Who knows what health issues we'll face in the future but it was amazing to feel the love and peace which comes when your church family is praying. Since her fall happened in the fellowship hall just 15 minutes before our Wednesday night prayer service and adult choir practice were to begin, probably 150 people knew what happened even before we arrived at the ER.

If you were praying, thank you!

And now I think I'm sleepy.

Disney World Recap (part 1)

My perfectionism got the best of me and delayed my Disney World post for three weeks. I was hoping for a detailed day-by-day recap which I never found the time to deliver. Therefore here's the cliff notes version with my three favorite pics from each day. We drove down on Saturday, April 25 and spent that night in a nearby Motel 6, only $30! We went to Downtown Disney for a few hours that night as we couldn't wait to get into the Disney mood. The next morning we headed over to our "real" hotel, the beautiful, old Mexico style Coronado Springs Disney resort. After check-in, we took the Disney bus to Magic Kingdom. We were finally here!

The fountain in the lobby of our resort, Coronado Springs.
I was thrilled that Braewyn's fear of the Chick-Fil-A cow didn't transfer to Pooh Bear.

My self-taken photo at Planet Hollywood. I designated this as our official 10th anniversary dinner. I love you, Matthew!

On Monday (day 2), we spent the day at Hollywood Studios. I had never been at this park and found it very classy and that day not very crowded!

We all were excited to find the new Toy Story Mania ride and it met our expectations. A bonus was meeting Woody and Buzz. Philip and Braewyn make such cute toys on Andy's bed.

All of Hollywood Studios lets you feel like you're a movie star! Do these toys come in the cereal box?

I think the Star Wars simulator ride was Philip's favorite of the day. Disney does an awesome job of creating an atmosphere from the moment you get in line for all the main rides to the gift shop that awaits you after exiting the ride. Full submersion = money leaving your pockets without flinching.

Day 3 of our trip was spent at Epcot Center, my favorite park. This park feels the largest to me and so we only managed to see all of Future World and a bit of the World Showcase area. We knew we'd spend one of our extra days here again visiting all the other "countries" (we had a 6 day pass to see four parks one day each, with a day back to our two favorites).

Philip and I both loved the crash test dummy simulation ride, "Test Track", but no pictures to show for it. My second favorite was the trademark Spaceship Earth (you know, the big silver ball Epcot is known for!). I remember riding it in 1990 with my parents. Since then they've added this cool interactive feature with touch-screen monitors in the seats. At the beginning of the ride, your picture is taken and then at the end of the ride you get to design your future. Yes, I choose to have a self-cleaning house and new clothes presented to me every day!
We ate lunch in "China". I enjoy speaking to the employees as they are all native to the country represented. They come as part of the Disney program: come work at Disney world and experience American life for one year. This sweet waitress had been in America for 3 days! Culture shock, but another waitress had been here for 10 months and they all live together in apartments.
The fireworks show at Epcot and Magic Kingdom are both so worth staying late for. Lights, music and smoke! I laughed to myself because Disney is very concerned with being "green". All that goes up in smoke literally as the air pollution is palpable by 10pm. Maybe it's some kind of environmentally-friendly smoke, right?

Braewyn's New Phrase

Not sure if I should laugh or scream. Braewyn's newest favorite phrase is "I can't." It's in a dire tone of voice but used for very much non-dire situations.

Me: Braewyn, please keep the dominoes downstairs with the other game pieces.

Braewyn: I can't.

Me: Yes, you need to.

Braewyn: Ok.

There have been other far sillier scenarios but that was just the latest.

Oh and her second most used phrase is the old stand-by, "Why?" I don't want to fault her for being inquisitive so I just answer the why's. I think it went on for five why's earlier this morning. Hey, she's learning and gaining reasoning skills, right? :)

My 3-Year-Old Princess

I've mentioned here before that upon finding out I was having a girl when pregnant with Braewyn, I decided I wouldn't buy into the Disney Princess craze. Well, you might know how that went... Braewyn adores Sleeping Beauty only from the image of her on products. We've never even seen the movie. The one good aspect is that if you ask Braewyn if she's a princess, she'll say, "No, I'm just Braewyn." At least, she's not a diva!

Well, last week we let her dreams come true... a week at Disney World and a chance to meet her favorite princess and all the others too. Matthew and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on April 15 and Braewyn turned 3 on May 2. We decided to roll it all into one and head to Orlando for a week of fun. We had a ball and it was the vacation I dreamed it would be. I'll be posting day by day photos of our trip, but since this post is to give God the glory for our precious daughter, here are a few recapping her life and my favorite pics of her from Disney.


Our sweet Braewyn at a month old.


Her 1st birthday.


Her 2nd birthday.


Braewyn on her 3rd birthday.


So proud to raise those 3 fingers!


With my Grandma and Grandpa Diemer (Mom's parents). We stopped at their house for two nights after our week at Disney.


Opening up a present with Philip and my Aunt Liz and Aunt Cathy.


Already in love with the dollhouse my parents gave her. It was mine and I totally forgot that they still had it! One oldschool dollhouse!


Meeting Sleeping Beauty and feeling quite bashful.


Reaching for change in our hotel lobby fountain.


Chatting away with Snow White probably about how great it was to meet Sleeping Beauty!

Springtime Wonder

I actually STILL haven't finished reading "Childwise" as it resides in our guest bathroom and I pick it up here and there. However, I'm putting a new book on my sidebar and I'm actually close to finishing it. I started "Billy" on the way to New Orleans and have enjoyed it more than any book I've read in a long time.

Most people know the name Billy Graham. Yes, he's the elderly man occasionally on tv preaching to 1000's of people in stadiums and bidding them, "Come to Jesus!" Well, I hadn't really ever given it much thought about how one gets to that status in the Christian world until I saw this book laying on a table in a book store.

Wow, how has it been eye-opening. For example, when Graham was 15, he was more often making spit-balls in church than praying. He said to his friend after talking about a traveling evangelist, "You may like him, but I'm just sayin; two things I'll never be: a preacher or an undertaker!" It's been a powerful retelling of how God can use an ordinary person in incredible ways if you just give your life over to Him.

However, another thing I want to say is related to another man mentioned in the book. Have you heard of Charles Templeton? No, me neither before reading this book. In the mid- to late-1940's, he was a nationally known preacher, much more well-known that the just beginning Billy Graham. Templeton preached to stadiums of 40,000 people and had his photograph on the covers of magazines. He, unlike Graham, began to unravel spiritually as his mind and spirit began to disagree.

The following is a conversation between Graham and Templeton (pg. 179).

Chuck looked perplexed, as though he was searching for just the right words. ... "Billy, how can anyone take the Bible as the literal Word of God?"

"What? What do you mean?"

The floodgates had burst opened in Chuck Templeton's heart, and his questions and doubts flowed out like an escaping rainswollen river. "Jonah and the whale? Do you think a whale really swallowed a man and spat him out? Or God making the sun stand still. Do you honestly believe the earth stopped revolving? Where's the hard science to back up these stories?"

Chuck leaned even closer to Billy's face. "And if the Scriptures aren't true in each and every case, doesn't that cast doubt on all of it?"

Billy was astounded and distraught; the pain from Charles's words showed in his face, but he wanted to be helpful to his friend. "Charles," he said, looking Templeton in the eyes, "it's the Word of God."

As I finished reading that section, I looked up and out the bay window in my kitchen. There before me I saw the bright green leaves of springtime lining the branches of the trees outside. Just two months ago, those trees were tall, dead timbers covered in ice and snow. Maybe I haven't seen the whale that swallowed Jonah or was alive to witness the day the earth stopped spinning, BUT I can see leaves growing where there were no leaves weeks before. God's majesty is all around us. If He is able to bring life from apparent death, I find it easy to believe all the Bible to be true. I am saddened by Templeton's departure from the truth, but greatly inspired by Graham's ability through the power of the Holy Spirit to live by simple faith.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

(Click the book image in sidebar for more details.)

New Orleans slideshow

(You might want to read "What I Learned in New Orleans..." first so as to understand the pictures.)

What I Learned While in New Orleans...

1. It takes a LONG time to drive to New Orleans from South Carolina. Especially while riding on a church bus with 4 teenage girls and 22 teenage boys!

2. Thanks to those boys on the bus, I know the words to "Ice Ice Baby" and "Party in the USA".

3. The city of Norco, LA is based around the New Orleans Refinery Company.

4. There are many wonderful people in Norco including the Smith family and Emily.

5. I am a grown up able to chaperone four wonderful teenage girls far from their families and far from mine.

6. The French Quarter has that special charm you've heard about but in the early afternoon, there's really nothing to worry about (especially when walking in a group of 15).

7. When called upon to give a testimony or present the gospel, the teen boys of my church are amazing.

8. Walking house to house with three teenage boys in a neighborhood I couldn't find again hanging info packets on front doors inviting people to Easter Sunday service at FBC Norce is a fabulous way to spend a few hours.

9. I passed many thousands of people and wondered if they know Jesus. Seeing many living blatantly for worldly desires, I was quick to judge but then quick to repent and lay them before His feet in prayer. I stopped to think that even though some in New Orleans might look extravagantly outrageous, Jesus still longs for them to know Him.

10. Stepping out in faith and leaving behind everything (just for a few days!) that I thought meant security did bring me to a place of recognizing that Jesus should be my sole sustainer and provider. Matthew, Philip and Braewyn are definitely blessings in my life, but Jesus is the center.

(A slideshow of our trip is in the works. Blogger wasn't cooperating tonight in the uploading process.)

Another funny song...

I need to make time before 10:30pm to post about my trip to New Orleans. If I'm your Facebook friend, you can look at my album there. If not, please know the post is coming. Anyway, to post something in the meantime and to maybe give you a laugh, here's my favorite video from today's search for "Itsy Bitsy Spider" on YouTube. That was Philip's song selection today from our 4-K curriculum. The "song" itself is funny, but watch to the end because the "credits" crack me up!!! Sorry for the HUGE spider on my blog. Just quickly click the arrow and the video starts. There are mostly cartoon spiders in the video. I'm making myself crinch looking at that spider!

New Blog on the Sidebar

The blog of my good friend Bethany is now on my sidebar, Never A Dull Moment. She and her sweet hubby Bert are the proud parents of 3 boys and a new baby girl. I enjoy peeking into their homeschool life and viewing the recaps of family trips. Welcome to my blog, Bethany!!

Is It Really Spring?

Well, it's the second day of spring and we were freezing outside today -- around 45 degrees! I had wanted to post a few of my snow pictures on the last day of winter before I thought it would begin to get warmer. Oh well, it's cold again!! After trying to understand Picasa in hopes of making some cool collages (I need help, Lori and Jessie!) and realizing only a few photos were worth sharing, here are my favorite shots from our three blizzards of 2009-2010.

Mission Trip this weekend...

Thanks Bethany for being curious because I hadn't thought about getting back on here today. Anyway, yes I'm heading to New Orleans this Friday with about 20 members of our church. It's a youth mission trip to assist a church there at which one of our former youth members works. We'll be driving down on Friday (I think it takes around 10 hours!!). Saturday morning and afternoon will be spent giving out church info packets inviting local families to their Easter service the next weekend. Saturday evening, we'll be hosting a youth party for the teens of that church. We'll worship with that church on Sunday morning, including our whole group singing "God of This City". Sunday afternoon, we'll be visiting the French Quarter for some shopping and Louisiana culture. KidFuge (a type of Vacation Bible School really charged up on caffeine and led by our teens) will hit New Orleans on Monday from 9am to 3pm. Monday night, we'll be visiting our youth pastor's favorite NO restaurant for some authentic Cajun food. The trip wraps up with us traveling home on Tuesday. Sounds like a packed schedule, but I'm excited!

Seems like short notice but I just signed onto the trip this past Wednesday. Matthew and I attended two week long out-of-state trips with the youth before having Philip. Then we went to Myrtle Beach with them when Philip was 18-months-old. Since then I haven't gone on any major trips. At first, I tried to talk Matthew into attending too but he said for me to go and he'd stay home with our kids. My mom will watch them on Friday and then fortunately Ruth Ann will be on Spring Break next Monday and Tuesday and will watch them then. It's really a great opportunity and came at the perfect time.

Our pastor challenged the entire church to fast (give up something you value in order to spend more time thinking about the Lord) during the month of March in preparation for Easter. I've chosen to fast all liquids other than water. It's been a great chance to focus on how Jesus is the living water (John chapter 4) and to realize He is really all I need and on Him I should depend completely. I've often felt my protection came from Matthew and purpose was in raising Philip and Braewyn. obviously I love my husband and children dearly. However after hearing Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham, speak on Saturday and now preparing to leave town on Friday for New Orleans, I am convinced that my reason for living is to bring glory to Christ through my life. I can't wait to share the recap of my trip when I get home!

New Orleans, here I come!

I'll try to write more soon, but the title gives you the general idea.

My Brush With Lupus

My mom noticed a mole on my arm that looked suspicious to her and since I agreed, I scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist. My appointment was last Monday, March 1st. The dermatologist looked at the mole and said she didn't think it looked too bad but would take it off just in case. Next I asked her about some red spots on my face which have been there for a few years. She studied my face for a few seconds and said it looked like what is called a butterfly rash: redness in a symmetrical pattern sweeping over both cheeks and up to your temples. She asked if I had anyone in my family with auto-immune disorders. I told her I have an aunt with lupus. She said, "Yes, that's the one I was thinking of as the butterfly rash is a symptom of lupus." She suggested blood be drawn to test me for lupus. She also said the ANA test was not conclusive but would give us a base line to chart from in case I developed other symptoms. I agreed and left with a bandaid on my arm and a lot of questions in my head. I didn't want to tell our parents to keep them from worrying, especially my mom as worry aggravates her system, but of course told Matthew, a friend from church who's husband has lupus, and over the next four days several friends who I knew would pray.

On Friday, I called the dermatologist's office but the bloodwork had not come back. More waiting and wondering. On Saturday, I did tell our parents because I didn't want them to receive questions from friends at church and not have any idea what was going on.

I called again on Monday, March 8th, and spoke with a nurse. She said the report was back and it said "POSITIVE". I asked her if there was a number associated with that and she said no. Although the dermatologist was fairly friendly herself, I was feeling put out with the office after having to call twice to receive my test result and then not to have received any type of explanation. My friend Ann earnestly encouraged me to talk to my family doctor about this test result and whatever follow-up would be suggested.

The appointment with my family doctor yesterday was truly an answer to prayer. By this point, I was more frustrated at the medical community (I had to drive back to the dermatologist's office to pick up my lab report because they said if I wanted it faxed over to my doc I'd still have to come and sign for it to be done!) than I was upset with the idea of having lupus. I prayed for my doctor to have wisdom which would provide me with clarity of the situation.

Dr. Gibson (whom I think highly of because he is originally from South Africa and extremely straight-forward and blunt about things which differs from the American political correctness which I can't stand) first asked if I had any other symptoms. I said I am tired a lot. That alone doesn't even convince me because it came about with the arrival of the kids and is a common "symptom" with ALL moms. He gave me the answer I was looking for based on reading the numbers on my lab report which WERE THERE right beside the word, "POSITIVE". It read 1:80. He explained that states the level of antibodies in your body. If it is 1:160 or higher, more tests would definitely be recommended. However 1:40 to 1:160 (these are ratios I'm assuming) is considered the "gray zone". Based on info he pulled up on his computer, Dr. Gibson said 1:80 means I have a 1 in 5 chance of actually having or developing lupus. That I am fine with as it's much more comforting than being told I am officially diagnosed with it. He said there is a more definite test which I could take, could possibly test positive and then be asked if I'd like to begin taking chemotherapy formula drugs for no other symptoms than a butterfly rash. Well, that makes total sense to me, and my answer is "No, thank you!".

We'll see what comes to my body in years down the road. Today, I am healthy and praising my God! I thank Him for providing me with that peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). Not once during the last week did I get upset thinking about what having lupus would mean. I thought about the strength I would need to push through hard days of feeling awful to take care of Philip and Braewyn and it made me love them all the more. It made me think of how Matthew might have to take care of things I don't mind doing for our family, and seeing his subtle, quiet reservation while not knowing the result made me love him more. I have found a deeper, more rich dependence on Jesus knowing that anything that comes my way will not be dealt with by me alone. His power will always be made perfect in my weakness (2 Corithians 12:9) and by leaning on Him, He will always direct my path through life (Proverbs 3:5-6). For this, I am thankful.

My Big Little Guy

Philip has now been five for a whole month. It seems we've really entered into the next level of childhood. For his birthday, he received money from my grandparents and his aunts and uncles. We headed out to Target in search of some legos. He spotted the Star Wars sets and we thought, "Too many pieces!" After a few minutes of deliberation, we said ok to him purchasing the Tie Fighter set and decided he could put it together with Matthew the next night when he got home from work. Well, it was too much of a temptation and Philip put the whole thing together HIMSELF while Matthew was at work! Wow, notice the age suggestion on the box. We might have a future engineer or architect on our hands.







After asking Philip what kind of cake he wanted, here's my best attempt at a Lego cake! Not the prettiest but he thought it was great. Note to self: never ice a dark chocolate cake with light-colored icing.