Thankful Thursday...

Today, I am thankful....

1) For our extended families. We have always felt so loved and supported by our families, and we know that not everyone can say that. We are truly grateful.
2) For great friendships that we cherish. God has given us amazing friendships.... words cannot begin to sum up how grateful we are for friends who love us, encourage us, and challenge us to be better.
3) For our calling. Ministry is not always an easy path, but I AM grateful for the privilege to serve alongside of my husband in this journey.... and DO count it as a privilege to be called to full-time, vocational ministry. Even though there have been days when I've asked my hubby to quit and go work at McDonald's.... I wouldn't live my life in any other way, really. What a privilege; what a privilege....
4) For our furnace. Whew.... the last couple of days have become CHILLY in north central Indiana!
5) For Land's End coats!!! Both of my boys have AWESOME coats thanks to a generous Grandma and Grandpa. I love Land's End.... because they are super-warm, are NOT super-bulky, and wash SUPER-well! :) Hoorah!

Blessings to each and every one of you today!!!

Lovin' Him!

Just for the record.... I'm LOVING this stage with Aaron. Yes, it certainly has it's moments that I could do without.... but he is so much fun and is learning so much.

For example.... some of the fun regular occurrences at our house....

* Writing letters, A thru H (with the additions of N, S, X).

* Writing numbers. Out of the blue the other day, he wrote our phone number. I knew that he could SAY our number, but I had NO idea that he had taught himself how to write it!

* Aaron is ALL about road signs right now and loves pointing out letters that he recognizes.

* Imaginative play! We love to "spy" with our ears at his doorway to hear the things he comes up with when it comes to playing Rescue Heroes.... and he has become a little nurturer with "baby bear" (a bear that our friends the Brannemans gave to Aaron as a baby at the hospital!)

* Coloring, coloring, coloring!

Here's a fun story from this stage, too. We just visited some of our friends who have a new baby (Oliver). Aaron absolutely loved all over him.... loved holding him and giving him hugs. When we were driving away, Aaron informed Scott and I that we need to have an Oliver at our house.... and that our dog, Ollie, would not cut it. Then, when we told him that is sweet, etc., he proceeded to say about our new friend, Oliver, "Or maybe we can just borrow him someday!" I'm sure that Oliver's mommy would welcome a full night of sleep! :)

A Marketing Award?!!

I have to hand it to McDonald's.... I loved this commercial when I first saw it. Loved everthing about it....

Seriously, could this kid be any better?!! It doesn't mean that I'm going to run out and buy my kiddos a Happy Meal tonight, but I did love it....

Weekend MEGA-Post!

We had an awesome weekend! And... I make NO apologies for this post, but I will warn ya.... there are a TON of pictures!!! My parents have been SO generous and gave us an early Christmas present.... a new camera! Hip-hip-hoorah!!! :) THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU to Dad and Mom!

Taking on the turkey legs.... Aaron and his cousin, Zach!

It snowed on Thanksgiving Day!!! Well, a little.... Aaron and Zach went out to catch some flakes with their tongues! Isaac got ahold of a sheet of stickers and had fun sticking them all over himself and Grandpa and Grandma!
The next day.... while reading a book with Grandpa (this was one of the first pictures on our new camera! YEA!)
With Aunt Debby! Deb was so much help this weekend! She and my parents came to help out with some projects around our house on Friday and Saturday (THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!), and then, she watched the boys so that I could join Scott for a wedding that he officiated (is that the right word?!) and the reception at Amish Acres. We ALL love you, Aunt Debby!
So much fun!!! Kenny, Jill, and Lainy (Jill is Scott's sis!) spent the weekend in Michigan and then stopped for the night on their way home to Tennessee! Our boys LOVED playing with Lainy!
During the "dance party"!


Trying out some new things on the NEW camera! Yippe!

Thankful Thursday....

Today, I am thankful....

#1 - For my relationships and for the people I LOVE! For God's loving hand in my life, for the blessing of an amazing family, for the gift of terrific friendships..... yes, I have much to be thankful for and really.... these relationships are the only things that really matter.....

Have a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving! Much love!

Baby Kate Update....

Okay, precious prayer warriors.... I know that some of you have been continually checking in on baby Kate, but if you haven't, just wanted to ask for prayer. Kate wasn't supposed to be headed to the U of M at Ann Arbor for her 4th open heart surgery until next week; however, due to some complications and issues following the placement of a feeding tube, she's headed up there early via Mobile ICU to try to get her stabilized and ready for surgery next week. Please join me in praying that this team of doctors and nurses is AMAZING FOR KATE!!!! AND.... that they DO amazing things as they work diligently as God's hands!!! I BELIEVE that God can and will do BIG things for Baby Kate during this surgery!

On a side note, I was able to spend a little bit of time with Kate, Krista, and the boys at their home last Thursday. To say that Kate's smiles were a blessing is the grandest of understatements! Love you Layman's!

The Cutest Pilgrim I Have Ever Seen...

I was a spoiled momma today... and was absolutely filled with JOY!!! This morning was Aaron's Thanksgiving Celebration at Presby Preschool. Every last minute of the morning warmed my heart! Seriously, I have always LOVED watching kiddos light up when they find their parents in the crowd and then start waving.... FINALLY, FINALLY, I was on the receiving end of that joy!!! It warmed every crevice of my heart! I love my little pilgrim!

Aaron with the BEST preschool teachers that I could ever imagine.... Mrs. Fall and Mrs. Seiffert!
Our little pilgrim is in the center of this bunch!

Sorry, I'm not the best videographer, but these are still fun for us to have, nevertheless!

A little addition to last night's post....

Just thought I should mention so y'all don't think I'm a big weanie.... for some reason the time on my blogger account is screwed up.... it was NOT 8:32 last night when I posted; rather, about 11:45. My normal bedtime typically has been between 11:45-12:15. :)

Oh why.... oh why?!!

I'm so curious if other moms of the world struggle with this, too. I have a problem.... I stay up WAY TOO LATE! Although I am always tired at the end of the day, I nearly always catch a second-wind once the kiddos are in bed.... because my house IS ACTUALLY QUIET, and I can ACTUALLY HAVE SOME TIME FOR MYSELF! Once the boys are all tucked in (and are finally asleep.... sometimes, after numerous trips to the bathroom, to get water, to get a glow stick.... the list could continue!) Scott and I usually chat and continue to catch up on the day; then, he heads to bed and on many nights (such as TONIGHT!) I stay up and dawdle.... read blogs, read a book, sometimes, even fold laundry.... more than anything.... just enjoy the QUIET!!! However, I always know that I will probably pay for it the next day with sleepy eyes. :(

So.... anyone else? Am I completely alone in this struggle?!!!

Friday's Flashback and Fiction

I was just getting a photo order ready on Snapfish and ran across these pictures from the Summer of 2006 (I don't print my pictures until I'm ready to put them in my scrapbook, and I'm a little over a year behind!) Aren't these kids amazingly cute?!! This is the one and only time this has ever happened.... enjoying mom and dad's bed together during naptime!

Now.... onto my fiction report! Okay, so I have never really gotten into fiction books.... UNTIL NOW!!! My sis let me borrow the first book of Karen Kingsbury's "Redemption Series," but it has just been sitting on my shelf for nearly a year. Well, I was on a trip awhile back and decided I "would try" to read it. Woa.... loved it and flew through it! I know so many women who are hooked on these "Christian fiction" books and now I know why. Now.... I've got to go because I've got book #2 of the series waiting for me upstairs. I simply MUST find out what is going on with Kari, Ashley, and the rest of the Baxter clan! Ha!

Thankful Thursday

Today, I am thankful....

1) For the amazing things that Aaron says. Here is a recent conversation:

Like I mentioned in a previous post, we have a "Thankful Pumpkin" at our house. Every night, we ask Aaron what he is thankful for and write it on the pumpkin. Last night, here is how the conversation went:

Me: Aaron, what are you thankful for today?
A: Well, mommy (quite emphatically....) I'll tell you one thing I am NOT thankful for.
Me: Oh yeah, what's that?
A: Temptation!
Me: Temptation?! How do you even know that word? (I've talked about the issue of temptation.... but have never used the full-word with my 5-year old!)
A: Mom, from Larry Boy and the Bad Apple! (Duh on me! Of course!)

Which leads to....

2) For VeggieTales!!!! Hoorah for movies that I totally trust and teach my kiddos positive, godly lessons!
3) For times when gas in Indiana costs less that $3/gallon. I've decided that instead of complaining about the price of gas, I'll just be thankful for the days when it does drop a bit!
4) For high speed internet. I don't think I could ever go back to dial-up now.... 'nuf said!
5) For the fact that Isaac is in the amazing stage where his language is just starting to explode. He just started saying, "Uh-oh" in the past week.... it's stinkin' adorable!

Have a great day, everybody!

The Joy of Bathtime

I love the way kids love bathtime.... especially the way MY kids love bathtime! These pictures of Isaac from the other night are priceless to me! Don't ya love his hair?!! (yes, I need to break down and give it a trim one of these days!) In this first one.... he was looking up at the bottle of bubbles that Scott was holding above my head, saying "Bubba?! Bubba?!"

Fall Fun

Pictures in the leaves are always so much fun (even if ours are just yucky and brown.... no beautiful yellows and reds here!!!) Both of the boys have loved the leaves and pine needles this fall. Funny story.... Aaron raked a pile by the sandbox and ADAMANTLY declared that those were HIS leaves, and we weren't to throw them over the fence to burn them (we throw them in the field/fence line behind our house and burn them there). Well, much to his dismay.... his huge pile eventually made it to the burn pile as well! Sorry kid! I assured him that there will ALWAYS be more leaves!

Both of the boys, hard at work....

"Bee Movie" Trailer....

Click here to watch a very funny trailer. This made me laugh.... really laugh! Make sure to watch trailer #1, too! Wow!

Good for a laugh or two....

Thanks to Angie for passing along these laughs today....

Wisdom for all the husbands of the world....



Oh, and the joys of parenting....

Th

I'm back!!!

Hi there world!!! How are you?!! Hope that everybody had a great week and that all is well in your world! We've had a great week.... yes, full of ups and downs but definitely more ups THAN downs! The blog fast was a good thing.... I must admit, I only let my guard down on that one twice:

1st..... I jumped onto Scott's laptop to check my email, and Stevan's blog was on the screen..... I realized that I had started reading BEFORE I caught myself and remembered, "Oops.... blog fast!"

2nd..... Completely intentional!!! Baby Kate had been heavy on my heart, and I was trying to make plans with Krista. I decided to jump onto the Layman's blog to make sure Kate was doing okay, and so that I didn't say something stupid in an email to Krista, only to find out that they were having a crummy week and come across as completely insensitive.

So.... there you go.... the blog fast. It was a good idea; everytime I wanted to log on to catch up on your lives and to catch you up on mine, I prayed about a certain issue that's been going on in our family instead. It was worth it. Prayer is ALWAYS a great thing! :)

Blog break....

Hi all. Just wanted to let you know that I'll be on a little break from blogging for the next week! I won't go into all of the details.... but during my time of prayer this morning, just decided that it's time for a little screen-fast for a bit!!! I will still be on email occasionally, but no writing or reading blogs!!! See ya later!!! Have a great week! :)

A kid with many hats....

Yep, this kid is cute!!! Last night after our dinner out, we came home and were just goofing off while watching "Kid Nation." We had the dress-up box out, so I proceeded to do a little photo shoot. Isaac actually wasn't too thrilled with the idea!!! I captured each of these pictures JUST before the hats were ripped off!

This face says it all..... "Enough already, mom!"

Thankful Thursday...

Today, I am thankful....

1) For a video camera to catch all of those precious moments with our kiddos!
2) For the Lakin's. Ryan was in town for business and stayed with us on Tuesday. It made me miss Tina even more.... but we had fun talking about some fun memories from our trip to Myrtle Beach that we took last May. That was such a blast!!!
3) For Walmart. Now, many times, I want to curse Walmart because it is typically the worst part of my week as a momma with preschoolers. However, as I "endured" Walmart today with the boys, I CHOSE to be thankful for the fact that I have a Super Walmart that is 7 minutes from my house, that I can save lots of money there and can also save extra drive-time because I can get everything in one stop. AND.... I am thankful for the big, grey "bus" (as I call it...) that both the boys can ride in! And... for free cookies for kiddos at the bakery! The perfect bribe, every time!!! :)
4) For after Halloween sales.... I was disciplined and didn't spurge on any 50% off candy.... but did find a terrific, 50% off Superman costume for the dress-up box!!! Yahoo!
5) For fall colors!!!

Have a spendid day!

** An interesting little fact.... I just spell-checked this post.... did you know that the spell-checker thingy still doesn't recognize the word Walmart?!! Come on now!