Put to Shame

You know I think there is something wrong when the youngest family member can put the rest of us to shame with her stink! :) Katie is precious and I love her, but she has carried a foul smell when she makes 'stinkies', as we call them, ever since the day she was born. It is a like a black cloud that hangs over you when it happens. And often times she 'traps' me when I am feeding her and cannot escape.

I knew it was going to get worse since we just started her on cereal. Rather I knew when she went to the bathroom that smell would change. I went out to start the car this morning, to warm it up, and came back in to the living room where all 3 kids were. Immediately I asked Isaiah if he made business. Nope. Kiersten, did you make stink? Nope. Sure enough Katie had filled her pants in the few moments I was outside and had managed to change the smell of the entire room! Unbelievable. Let me just say for the record that she gets that from her father! :) And with that I shall sign off. :)

Lessons

Lately I have been wondering whether the lessons for Kiersten are really for me. It just seems like whether we are doing school lessons or going over church lessons (we get little cards each week with a memory verse, scripture and things to discuss) that the Lord is speaking more to me than to Kiersten. It has been good and has prompted me to get in gear on a few things - like serving within the church itself. I am thankful for the 'shout-outs' from the Lord and even more thankful that I am hearing them. My walk with the Lord hasn't always been strong or consistent. I always desire to spend time in the Bible and in prayer, but that doesn't mean I always do. It has been even more difficult to find the time with each child and then home schooling. All of which are only excuses, so I suppose it makes it all the more endearing that Jesus would catch my attention through those things that seemingly distract me or take my time away from Him. :) He is oh so good to me!

Anyhow, one thing that caught my attention was through a book we were reading called The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer. It takes place just before and around Christmas time. The thing that caught my attention was that one of the characters always had a habit of cleaning the house thoroughly on Christmas Eve. It did not matter where they were - they readied the place where they were for the coming of the Christ child. The story was that instead of Santa visiting each home it was the Christ child whom would go to and fro through houses and visit. So this character wanted everything to be in tip top shape for when the Christ child would come. That is also why people leave candles and such burning on Christmas Eve, so that He can see the way to your house.

It just hit me and connected with me - getting and keeping my heart ready and clean for God. I have ready My Heart Christ's Home and it talks about my relationship with God using the picture of my heart as a house with many rooms in it. (If you want to read it, please click on the link.) It especially hits home as we approach Christmas and are trying to change a few things we do to celebrate, particularly with respect to gifts, giving and receiving them. I am just so thankful for all the little ways the Lord sneaks something in on me in the most loving of ways.

Speaking of lessons, and as a side note we were doing a project today for science around measuring. Kiersten had a picture of Gallon Boy but we just had to make a Gallon Girl :)

We used different scraps of colored paper for each measurement. She needed to add a buddy for Gallon Girl- it is a puppy.It is a neat way to remember the different measurements and how many of each equals what. I dare say I won't forget after this! It is a blessing to be able to do school with Kiersten and I cherish the things we get to do together and really just the time we get with one another. Well, I hear Katie crying so I need to run! Have a most blessed day and weekend!

Shout Out to Grandma Darlene

Hi, Mom! I have been meaning to send a shout out to say I love you and am thinking of you! The kids' are too and are looking forward to seeing you at Christmas time. For those of you wondering why I have resorted to sending a note to my mom via the blog instead of emailing or calling - I shall tell you. My mom works overseas in a war zone for a company contracted by the military to do logistical things around bases and such. She has a position such that she receives more than 300 emails a day - so you see where sending an email gets me no where. :) As for the phone. There has been trouble lately with the satellite and our conversations this past month have consisted of 3-4 minute chats of broken reception followed by being disconnected. We play the game about 3X times and resign ourselves to try again another day. I could tell she had become quite accustomed to being cut off when I called back for the second time and she says, "Before we get cut off and I don't get to say it, I love you." Sure enough within 2 minutes we were. It made me laugh and also feel a little sad. For that is wisdom gained but loneliness with it. So I am writing to say, " WE LOVE YOU MUCHLY!" and we'll be sending a little holiday cheer out soon. Take care and get some rest, Mom. I'll try the phone again soon, promise. :)

Treasure Coming Soon

A family treasure is coming soon! One of my dearest uncles on my dad's side let me know he had researched the family genealogy and was going to let me know what he found so I could put it on the blog. This is surely something special as my grandpa was adopted and my grandma came over from England. They met in WWII, she was a nurse. My uncle said he even found where she came in through Ellis Island. How special is that?

Endangered Species!

I know you are asking is this in reference to my beloved or the Katie-girl? It is a fair question since on a bad day the husbandry makes it on the list....as I am ready to kill him! :) Just teasing. I thought it was too funny to pass up. Anyhow, what I am referring to is Katie's toothless grin. It is almost a thing of the past. She poked through one of her bottom teeth over a week ago. It is slowly growing in and is hard to see just yet, but not to feel, let me tell ya! That thing is like a razor it is so sharp. She is following in her big brother's footsteps in that she is an early teeth er at just past 4 months old.

I thought since I have dedicated several blogs with pictures to the other two kids I would leave this one to the littlest princess. :) She really is a joy and her smile is so precious. It is fun to watch Kiersten and Katie interact. They just seem to love one another and not to grow tired of seeing each other. Katie went into the nursery for the last 1/2 hour of Bible study this week and the ladies were commenting on how thrilled Kiersten was that Katie came in. She kept talking about her baby sister and going over to smile at her. It really is precious and a blessing.

Here she is hanging out with me while I load the washer. :) You can tell she is a good sport already with all the stuff she puts up with! What a cutie pie. She hasn't rolled over too much and that might be partly my fault. I am not as faithful with her as I was with the other two to give her time on her belly each day. The few times she has rolled over it has been funny because she surprised the both of us! It takes time and is always an accident when they first learn.

Lastly is a picture of Katie with a onesie we were given as a gift. I swear it was a gift! It came from some friends my beloved works with, Mr. Adam and the lovely Miss Audra. They have been waiting patiently for the time Katie would fit into it. :) I know I am partly to blame because I called my beloved a nerd/geek/dork whatever you like, when we were having dinner together. I am justified in my thoughts as any person who takes a textbook on vacation for free reading has some serious issues! Am I right or am I right? Anyhow, here is the promised picture and my beloved was a good sport and even held her for the pose! What a man!

We All Fall Down

We have been having some super nice weather for November over the past few days. So while Katie was sleeping Kiersten & Isaiah got out for a while to play in the leaves. Here are a few snapshots of the troublesome duo having fun.

If was funny because Kiersten was throwing leaves all down on Isaiah's head but the minute he returned the favor she squawked something terrible. Sometimes you have to remind them the road runs both ways. Little as they are it always comes back to if you don't like it being done to you then don't do it to other people. I do have to say she left him alone after that. :)

I did manage to rake a little, probably about 1/4 of the yard. This helped the kids' out because their leaf pile grew. There is just something enticing about being able to jump into a pile of leaves. Who knows what it is, but it speaks of fun. (It is too bad this picture wasn't clearer because that smile is just precious!)

This last picture is just a bush in the front yard that looks gorgeous. I have to admit sometimes pictures just don't do justice to the glory God gives us on this earth. The colors that come out in fall.....God is some artist. And the beautiful thing about God is His artistry isn't limited to just the Fall. He provides gloriously beautiful sights all year round and all for our benefit. Isn't He good?

Trick or Treat

The kids had a really nice Halloween. Last year all Isaiah did was cry (probably had to do with waking him up from his nap so he could trick or treat!). This year he was a happy camper. He put on the costume, smiled, said 'Trick or treat! Thank you.' and walked most of the way. :) Here is Kiersten & Isaiah ready to go out.

Katie stayed at home with me and we just improvised on a costume for her. A girlfriend had had a birthday party and gave out these party costumes - tutus for the girls. Here is Katie modeling her tutu. She received many smiles and lots of, 'Ahhhh's.' She is just such a cutie.
Then of course I made the three pose together after they got back from trick or treating. The kids' only went for an hour of the 2 hour time. We had them come home so Kiersten could help hand out some candy. We have been struggling with Kiersten and gift giving. She is more than willing to receive, even if it isn't her birthday. She actually asks if she'll be getting anything. So we are striving to hone the giving spirit. Thus she came home to hand out candy. We have been talking a lot about the servant as it has been a topic in church for her. So we're on working on it and this was just one way to try. Moving on :)

Lastly is a picture of their pumpkins. Kiersten has been getting the Kids National Geographic magazine and in the back were different ideas on how to paint your pumpkin. She liked the puppy and Isaiah chose the ghost. Mom was supposed to have a pumpkin done too but it just didn't happen. This ideas works well because they were able to help with the painting, whereas the carving is all Mom or Dad. And yes, the kids did help me! :) K, hope you had a Happy and very sweet Halloween.