April Fools Day 2008

Hello again. It's been awhile. The longer I wait in between, the more that happens that I can write about. Phoebe is rolling over now. She is all over the place when we put her on the floor. It's very cute. She is getting on a schedule and we haven't even hit the six-month mark yet. I'm so glad. Life gets so much easier when the baby gets onto a schedule. She is in the crib for the most part, but occasionally when she cries in the middle of the night I will put her in the bassinet in my room so she doesn't wake her siblings. That is easier than standing there next to her crib until she goes back to sleep. If I put her in the bassinet, I can lay there massaging her until she goes back to sleep (usually within a few minutes). Saul and Esther still wake me up once each on average to use the bathroom. That's okay, though, since I go back to sleep fairly easily.

I don't remember if I made note of it last time, so I will this time.

• 8 lb 1 oz, 20" at birth
• 9 lb 1oz, 22 1/2" at two weeks
• can't remember two months
• 16 lb 1 oz, 27" at four months

Yesterday afternoon, Chad finished typing up the final paper he needed for his next level of certification and put it in the mailbox to send off. As soon as he got back in the house, he realized that he had forgotten to include some important dates for the info, so he went back out to get the envelope. As he was coming back into the house the second time, we see the mailman coming around the corner. "Oh well", we thought,"we'll have to wait to send it tomorrow." Not more than five minutes later, Chad walks in with the mail and shows me an envelope with his next level of certification inside. He already had gotten it. We laughed outright at the timing. Chad had been putting off writing that paper for some time and just as soon as he was obedient to do it, God gave him the certification. He had written a paper a couple of years ago that they had apparently kept on file without informing him of it, so he thought he needed to do another one. Anyway, I'm writing this so we can remember God's faithfulness to us. It probably won't mean much to anyone else.

I think we have found a house that will fit us well. We are excited. We have wanted one for a long time. We had our eye on another one for about the last six months or so, but God never gave us the go-ahead. A friend of mine told me about this one several months ago but I truly wasn't interested. She mentioned it to me again last week, so we looked into it and we were very pleased with what we found out. It's more our style- simple and comfortable. We'll easily be able to bring in our old furniture and not feel bad about it. I'll try to keep this updated, but it may be several months before I blog again.

Abram and I just went for a walk around the block and decided to have a little race on the track at the middle school. He left me in the dust, but at least I was able to run. It felt good. I think that I could have beaten someone 10-15 years older than me probably (a woman anyway).

I didn't play any jokes on anyone today. Next year maybe.

Spring Tomorrow

Okay, tomorrow is the first day of spring. Says who? The equinox? Whatever! We'll see. We had a short but severe storm Monday evening. We got to witness a straight-line wind over 60 mph in the backyard. Talk about pick up some dirt and throw it! We have no grass back there due to the dogs and the swimming pool that we put up last year, not to mention the fact that we live in west Texas. Anyway, some good news to report is that Saul has learned to ride his bike without the training wheels. He is thrilled! And really fast. Good thing the wheels are only 12" in diameter or he would really get away from me in a hurry. Esther likes to ride her bike (with the training wheels) just as leisurely as Saul does speedily. She is all lady.

Phoebe is rolling over now. Sometimes she sleeps in the crib in the boys room and the rest of the time she sleeps in the bassinet in our room. Either place, she sleeps all night. When she is in the crib, she is all over the place. It's funny! She is five months now and a little sweetie.

We are frantically trying to finish up our school year by May. Oh, I can't wait for a break. I think it is official that we will not have any more children. We love the ones that we have, but I just don't know if I can continue to homeschool if I have any more babies. I am about worn out. And homeschooling my children is important to me. Plus, I'm not getting any younger you know.

My hair is growing out nicely for the first time in years. I actually am liking it. I'm kinda just letting it do what it does naturally, and it is going pretty well. I've about got it back to its natural color also. That's a first with it long! You know I'm getting older now. I've been reading Anne Frank's diary the past couple of days. I never did when I was in school. It makes you think. I sure sweat the small stuff, I've realized.

Good night, for now.

Happy New Year 2008

Hello!!! Yes, I only blog three times a year on average. One down, two to go. Phoebe laughed tonight at Naomi. It was so sweet. I couldn't get her to laugh at me for love or money.

Started a new school schedule this week. I asked Chad to set one up for me. We needed some structure or we weren't going to get anything done by May. The new line-up went great yesterday. I didn't get good sleep last night, so today was only mediocre. Phoebe has been sleeping through the night for about a week. Friday night we moved her out of our room. It was great! I love that kid, but I sure don't want her sleeping in my room. Anyway, last night she fell asleep early, around 7 p.m., and wouldn't eat again at 9 p.m. or so. I figured she wouldn't make it through the night, and she didn't. That's okay. Each day is a new day. Tonight she went to bed at 9, and the last thing she did before sleep was eat. I shouldn't see her again until morning. I'm still not going to spend too much time at this computer, though.

A young man rang the door bell rather excitedly this evening around 8:30 p.m. Chad was in the shower, all the kids were in bed, and I was feeding Phoebe. I peered through the peephole to see who was wanting our attention so badly. I had never seen this guy before. I did notice that he was wearing a Hustler t-shirt though. I didn't open the door. Sorry, but he didn't seem to be in any danger. As a mom of five small children, or I should say young children since Naomi is not that small, I really don't feel like dealing with strange men after dark. I couldn't offer much help anyway. Maybe he was selling something. I really need to get a No Soliciting sign. Yes, maybe I am a stick in the mud, but I am going with my gut feeling here. We live on a cul-de-sac, too. I don't think his car broke down. Enough on this subject.

We are thinking about buying a house soon. Pray that we would have wisdom and discernment. We really want to do the right thing in this. Pray that emotion would not lead us, but sound mind. We have wanted a home to call home for many years. As it nears, I get a bad case of butterflies in my stomach. Change is tough for me. I know we shouldn't stay in the rent house for much longer, but I dread getting used to something else. The funny thing is that it usually doesn't take me long to get used to the new place anyway. We have moved several times already. On a side note, everyone in our life group has a house for sale next door to their home. Talk about peer pressure! I feel guilty when I am not interested in those homes. I'm beginning to wonder of waiting until summer might be a better choice. More competition though. Everyone wants to move in the summer.

Well, it was good to be back. See you in about three months.

Well, it's past the fourth of July, isn't it. I can't even remember that far back. Oh yeah, we played volleyball (not I, but Chad) with the other life groups from our church at a local park. Fast forward to today- September 18, 2007. It's a Tuesday. Yesterday was a REAL Monday! I had an awful day, therefore my kids had an awful day because they live with me and my husband and their father was out of town. We prayed last night for a better day today, and once again He came through for us. Schooling went well this morning, no one broke their neck on the trampoline that doesn't have a net yet, I got a short nap this afternoon, my doctor appointment went well, the kids ate their dinner with no problems, we had a nice evening walk together, and they were all clean and in bed by 8:30 p.m. I also got to talk to my brother for over an hour tonight on the telephone. More fun and laughs. I told him this will probably be the last conversation for a while other than "hi and bye" since the baby is due in the next month or so. The doctor told me that all my gained weight seemed to be baby weight (Hurray!) and that the baby is still in the right position and doing well. Apparently, the baby's size is a week ahead of what it should be measuring at this point, so maybe I will have it a week early. All of my others have been early, but I won't count on it. The due date is Oct. 26th. Well, that's enough for now. I'm tired. Good night.

Last week I went to see Evan Almighty with two of my friends. It was really funny. I have not seen a good comedy in quite some time, so it was very enjoyable to watch this one. There was about a 15-minute span there in the middle of the movie where I could hardly catch my breath from laughing. They just kept on pouring it on. It had some good biblical truths in it, too. It certainly won't replace the Bible, but it was a good reminder of God's sovereignty.

It has continued to rain here in west Texas. We haven't had any flooding, thankfully, but way more precipitation than ussual. The temperatures have been about twenty degrees cooler than normal which is great for the pregnant women, not great for swimmers. We have still managed to swim once or twice a week in our new pool. The water turned green once but cleared up after I shocked it. Chad has been swimming with the kids quite a bit, which they absolutely love. He horses around a lot more than I do, needless to say. Yesterday I was out adjusting the water in the pool when I noticed clouds overhead and long grass all around me. This was mid-morning so I was feeling rather energetic. I hurriedly grabbed the lawnmower and proceeded to mow the yard in a fine mist. It was great! I kept cool, got some exercise, and the lawn looks good. I was telling Chad last night as we cleaned up the kitchen how it is funny that I can easily mow the grass with a push-mower, but it is all I can do to put the 13x9 inch pan back in the bottom cabinet under all the other baking dishes. He put it back for me, by the way.

Our life group is going well. We are really growing in our relationships with our other groupees. It is very nice to have people around you to encourage you in your walk with the Lord. Tomorrow for the fourth of July, we are going to a local park for fun and games with other life groupers. Hopefully it doesn't get rained out. I will be watching as others participate in games such as volleyball, frisbee, and something else. Hamburgers are on the menu, I believe. I think that everyone from our group will be growing.

I have decided to start back in with the schoolwork at the beginning of August. That will give me a jump start before the baby is born. Well, gotta go. The kids are hanging on the back of my chair while I try to type which just doesn't work. They want to go outside.

Naomi arrived home a little earlier than expected Friday afternoon. We had to jump out of the pool and race over to the church to pick her up. We were very glad to see her. Then we proceeded to go to CiCi's Pizza for dinner that night. It was a relaxed reunion. I bought Esther her first pair of flip flops on Saturday. She is so fond of them that she slept with them on her chest for her nap that first day. They are the first thing that she thinks of each morning. Chad and the boys went fishing Saturday morning while the girls and I went shopping for his Father's Day gifts. The kids were sick on Father's Day, so we celebrated it a week late. We got him a pair of athletic shorts and the new United CD. He said Saul has no fear when fishing, therefore Abram has gotten a lot braver too. Both boys love to fish just like their dad. Abram is now baiting his own hook, casting and taking the fish off the line. Apparently, Saul would just grab the fish right off the hook, and Chad had to hold him by his shorts so he could release the fish back into the water. That's my boys! I love for them to do that stuff with their father. What bonding!

Back to Naomi- she had a great week at camp. She felt good except for having pink eye in both eyes! Wow! I had that once and it is pretty miserable in the morning. She told us that she drank hot chocolate and orange juice with breakfast and then Dr Pepper with lunch and dinner. No wonder she was dragging when she got home from camp. I told her that she was probably having withdrawal symptoms. She has never has that much caffeine in her life. That's camp for you. Freedom! Also they would stay up until ten everynight. Naomi grew up a lot last week. I'm so glad she got to go. She spent Saturday afternoon and evening with Alena and her family. It may have been too much after a week at camp, but she had fun anyway. It ended up being another late night for her.

Sunday after church, both Paloma and Stran came over for the afternoon. The kids horsed around in the pool and rode bikes and played dress-up and whatever else they could think of to do. That evening we had life group. There were four couples including us and nine kids and two babies. It was total chaos (well not total) but still very good. I have come to the conclusion, and Chad agrees, that we will have to get a sitter at least to keep an eye on the little ones (and feed them and get them drinks) so that we can have discussion without being interrupted every five minutes. Esther was the main one whining. I think she has simply made a habit of it since being sick all of last week. Anyway you live and you learn.

I am feeling much better this week. I had really been in a funk the past couple of weeks. Thankfully the burden seems to have lifted. It's funny how everything can look so bad when one goes thru a season like that. I just felt angry all the time. Everything seemed to get on my nerves. I'm grateful to feel like myself again. I'm sure Chad is too. Most of my discontent was aimed at him, whether he knew it or not. I have no doubt that my enemy was shooting arrows at me nonstop. Thanks to God though I came through it with not too many wounds.

Right now our preacher is teaching on the different names of God. I continue to be challenged in my walk with Him. It is good. Not always fun, but good. Time for me to go to bed. I'm tired.

I pretty much just dragged around today. I am still dragging- probably won't write much. No, I am not sick, just worn out, I think. Esther was still feverish mid-day, but I hope that will be the last of it. Naomi comes home tomorrow. I'm ready. I miss her and I am anxious to hear all about her first camp experience. The first two nights that she was gone, Esther slept in her own room- I believe because she was feeling so sickly. Last night and tonight she insisted on sleeping on the floor in the boys room. I figured she would have wanted to sleep with them every night, but everything is different when there is an illness in the house. I wonder if Naomi will come back a little more independent after her week in the mountains. Either way, she and Abram are going to have to step up and help me more around the house because I cannot do it all. I see that more and more clearly each day. Alena, the girl that we co-host with another family from church, is here for the next month. She comes each summer from another country for six weeks to stay. We had her two summers ago full time. Last summer we had moved away, so another family picked her up. This summer, since we are back. we get to co-host. The other family keeps her most of the time, and we just take her a couple of days. Actually it is working out great because I am not responsible for getting her to all of her doctor appointments and so forth. She just comes here for a couple of days to have fun with the kids and to give the other family a break. She is nine, like Naomi, and comes from a family of six kids. She is second to youngest. Anyway, when she comes over, she is a big help to me without my even asking. I see that Naomi and Abram could be doing much more in the way of clearing the table, unloading groceries, andother little quick things like that. The timing is just right since I am about worn out. And really, the kids don't seem to mind. I've started asking them to help with extra things and it hasn't killed them yet. I never did anything as a child, so it is hard for me to realize what kids CAN do! They receive an allowance now and understand that it is for helping out with chores. I think Saul is ready for a little bit, too. He is so LOUD! Everything that he feels seems to come out in a yell or a whoop or a wail. Nothing quiet about him. That is simply how God made him. What type of man will he be, I wonder? Good night.