Johnny Appleseed

I was reading Joey his Bible the day after Thanksgiving. He said he couldn't find a certain picture. He went on to describe the picture and I started to help him find it. I asked "Was this a picture of Jesus and the children?" He said no it was a picture of Johnny Appleseed and some children. Huh???? I stifled my laughter and said we had looked long enough. "How about a different story???" We read a different story and I finish with the other kids' devotions then asked Joe more about this Johnny picture. I then told him that Johnny came after the Bible was written and wouldn't be in it.
This is so silly! He then told me he was looking at his Bible (day's ago) and was asking Sam about it. Since he is a beginner reader he was asking Sam to explain some things to him. SAM then told him it was Johnny Appleseed, with a straight face I might add.
So, then I went to Sam and asked him to explain......he started to giggle and said he was totally trying to 'joke' Joey.....ON PURPOSE! Gotta love a good joke.
Aaaaahhh. This is the life!

Thanksgiving #2

We had such a great time! When we got down to Eugene, Dad and Jenesa weren't there (Dad wasn't feeling well and Jenesa could only come down for a couple hours so she decided to stay north) we totally missed them :( While we stayed in Eugene Ben helped Grandma get some areas of her house updated. He was working hard for most of our vacation.
We left Eugene on Sat. for Medford. Ben and I were blessed to be kid-less both Sat. and Sun. nights! Thanks Dad and Mom! The hotel we stayed at we reserved sight unseen (it was SUPER cheep). It was a little outdated and needed a few minor repairs (tub had no stopper), but the kid pool was great for our kids and they offered a huge, full, hot breakfast. All in all it was a good hotel.
Funny thing happened. On our way to Eugene the kids were restless and excited and I was out of ideas to help pass time. Ben, on the other hand, started a new game. We went through the alphabet and had to match the letter with a color that started with the same letter; example a=amber. This gets challenging when you come upon a letter that you can't match! So, we get to the letter 'h' and we're stumped. Then Essy excitedly says "Hot red banana!" Ben and I cannot contain ourselves and we start laughing hard. She loves it and dubs the game Hot Red Banana.
There were no more exciting and memorable stories of getting lost in Medford, I'm afraid. We had a great time with family and hope you did too!

Thanksgiving Trip #1

We've been gone for 5 days and 4 nights. We went to Eugene to celebrate Thanksgiving with Ben's Mom and Dad, sisters and grandma. We left Thursday am and got home today at 3.10pm. I have a Kirkland large trash bag full of dirty clothes waiting for me as I post:) Really the only draw backs were the lack of being home, forgetting the camera (insert crying noise here) and the long drive (it took 2 hours to get to Eugene and 3.5 hours to get to Medford from Eugene. Totaling 5.5 hours back in one day).
Okay, so we got to Eugene and ate our bellies full to overflowing. So much so that I convinced Ben to take a walk after the game.
Now, Grandma lives up on a hill. We wanted to walk pretty aggressively, so we were thinking it would take at least a whole hour to get back to the house. Seems simple, right? Walk away from the house for a 1/2 hour then walk back to the house and the total time should be an hour. This is not what happened.
We started our walk and immediately get into some deep topics. Family stuff, training the kids, $$$, what-r-we-gonna-do-with-our-growing-family type talking. We were also admiring the newly constructed homes in Granny's neighborhood. We walk up a hill and down another.....and down another.....and another....and another, until we are walking down a double lined street with apartments. We didn't know that there were apartments near G's house. Hum. Our solution? Keep walking! We know we need to find a street that goes to the right....all the streets that go that direction are dead ends. That really should have been a clue. By now we've been walking for 45 min. We ask each other if we should go back....no, we reason, there has to be a road that eventually turns to the right.....right? WRONG!
We end up in a neighborhood that sounds close to a major street (sadly this encouraged us) when we come to another couple walking. At this point the sun has set; it's cold. My feet and fingers are numb and we've been walking for 1 hour 15 min. I ask this couple if we're close to Chambers or McLean. By the look on their faces and the fact they didn't know there were any streets in Eugene with these names, we started to get worried. Did I mention we didn't have our: wallets, cell phones or $. And we realise we don't have Grandmas or Mom's phone number memorised, the numbers are in our phones. We're sunk.
Fortunately this nice couple offered to drive us up the hill to G's. It takes 15 min. to drive there but we arrive before they call the police. Need I say we didn't take another walk while we were there?!? Thanks for the ride Doug and Sheryl!
The next day we drove the way we walked to see how far we walked....over 3 miles.
I'll post about the rest of our trip later! Boy, is it good to be home.

Surprises~Baking~Gratitude

Monday was a great day. I'd been scheming with my good friend Anna to surprise my wonderful Husband with a 'new' bedroom for us. Our kids were together for 6 hours and played wonderfully the entire time. THE ENTIRE TIME! Thanks kids and Anna! Below are the results. Oh, with what she gave us, I only needed to spend $95. :)
I'm baking today for Thanksgiving tomorrow. Rolls from scratch as well as a pumpkin pie, also from scratch. I also have errands to run so that I'll not have to actually purchase the movies we rented from Blockbuster. ~smile~

I am so blessed. We as a Nation really have nothing to complain about. Look at China or Africa. Thank you Lord, help us to use this blessing with your wisdom.

I am blessed. I am blessed. When I wake up in the morning 'till I lay my head to rest. I feel you near me, you sooth me when I'm weary. Oh, Lord for all the worst and all the best. I am blessed. Not sure who wrote this song, but Jacki Velasquez sang it. This describes my heart.
I don't deserve my Hubby or children. I for sure don't deserve salvation or heaven. I live in a fab country and have wonderful family close by. Thank you Father. You are good and you give above and beyond.
My prayer is that you would count your blessings and praise God! HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

Oh, the Suspence!

We've been counting down for Christmas since the first part of October. We made a chain and everything. Did that sound like a confession? Maybe it was. While I'm on confessions; when Ben is at work I even sneak some Christmas music in.....I feel so dirty.....:)......he, he, he!

While I was reading the Bible with Zach this morning (cute side note, he didn't want me to read to him from his fun, colorfully pictured Bible this morning. He insisted I read from mine. ANYWAY) I asked him if he was excited for Christmas. He said he was. I said "It's fun to think of Christmas getting closer, and kind of exciting to wait and think of all the presents and stuff." In response he said "It's not so fun to wait."
Then I got to thinking back to waiting for Christmas as a 5/6 year old and feeling like time just crawled by. I would be so excited that I thought I either go crazy with boredom or burst with anticipation.

So, at our house, every morning, we rip a chain and will Christmas to come faster.

Sugar Plum

I've been experiencing some sad emotions over a certain fact. The fact is: I'll never be pregnant or hold my newborn babies ever again:( *sniff, sniff* {funny side note here, I didn't even LOVE being pregnant, yet I miss it }I have shed a few tears over this fact. No more firsts. First roll, first real bottle, first tooth, first word, first step. Boohoo me. I guess I do have some firsts to look forward to, but they don't really count 'cause they're kinda scary. First date, first time driving alone, first kiss, first wedding, first kid to leave and then empty nest. AHHHHHH!

There is a bright, shining, silver cloud in my life though! My dear, dear friend (who lives around the corner) has a 7 month old girl. Ahhhhh! This Girl sooths my mothers heart!

We watched Ella last night and even before she was brought in the kids were arguing..er..I mean discussing who would get first dibs. Sadly, she was tired and ready for bed soon after arriving. As I was changing her diaper, I was cooing and calling her 'sugar'. Zach thought this was sweet and named her Sugar Plum. Isn't that cute! Joey went further and called her Sugar Plum Princess.
We love you John, Steph and Sugar Plum!

Come Just as You Are....

is not just the title to one of my favorite songs. It's a whole new way of life for me.

This post may need to be continued, as I don't want to be to heavy for to long. Considerate of me, eh? Please hold the applause....;-)

This idea first came to me when my Pastor Brother and his Wife were visiting. She said their church was changing it's whole philosophy about worship and thus each church service. She referenced the book No Perfect People Allowed (I have yet to read it), but said it basically was about accepting and loving anyone who comes in the door. No matter what they look like or how they're dressed. About not having requirements or rules for people to follow. The idea being that we want to create an atmosphere, at church and everywhere, to welcome not hinder those who need it most.

**The Problem** I am an avid rule follower and feel that if there is a rule, there is a reason for it and thus think little about why the rule was organized in the first place. I was so intent on this rule following that I became a little legalistic. So, this was a hard truth for me to chew let alone swallow. Yet, I knew it was truth. Look at Jesus. Who occupied most of his time? The cheating tax collectors, prostitutes, beggars and drunks! But a year ago, before I would welcome any such person in my church, they would need to remove their hat before entering the sanctuary and at least be sober. Don't get me wrong here. Rules are good and for protection. But rules do not save. Jesus came to seek and save the lost, not make those who followed rules fell good. In fact, he threw the most religious rule followers for a loop! The rules were established to point to sin, not to encourage legalism. Romans 3:10 "There is no one righteous, not even one..." Isaiah 64:6 "All of us have become like one who is unclean and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags."

**The Transformation** While we're on the subject of transforming; did you know that while a butterfly caterpillar is still crawling around scarfing like crazy in preparation for the chrysalis, it still has the DNA of a butterfly? Cool, huh? This is how God views us. He sees us complete and beautiful, not the worms we sometimes feel and look like. This reminds me that the problem is with me!

Okay, back to my transformation. God has been working on my heart and opening my eyes to His purposes. Is there a better place for a drug addict or exotic dancer to be than in church? Isn't this the place where healing should be found? Sorry to say, often times not. We wrap ourselves in our own righteousness and ivory towers that we feel we cannot clasp the grungy hand of someone who may not have showered for a week. Trust me, I was there. God have mercy on me.

**Hope**Romans 3:21-23 "But now a righteousness from God, apart for the law, has been made known, to which the Law and Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Now for a bit about the song.....

Come just as you are. Hear the Spirit call.

Come just as you are. Come and see, come receive,

Come and live forever.

Life everlasting and strength for today.

Taste the living water and never thirst again.

Treats

Up with the sun my Children awoke. The anticipation of a night filled with candy and costumes shone on their faces. The first prayer was out of Zach's mouth "Thank you God for this food and this day. Thanks too for the costumes we get to wear. Amen."

I was amazed when my requests and commands didn't need to be repeated. Because the tasks of the day were done quickly, by hands waiting for fun to occupy them, not tests and chores.

As darkness starts to enfold the day, it is welcomed, not fought. And the preparation begins.

We soon are visited my two Mysterious Mask Wearers. Later to be revealed as Gramps and Grams! The parade of costumes is in full force now, as each child wants mouth time to explain who or what they are. Gramps and Grams cannot stay long.

The Children and Daddy all trek out the door, in search of the donors who offer the whole bar instead of the fun size. 45 minutes later they come back home with more than a boat load of sugar, but with stories to boot!

A knock at the door is answered to a nine month old, white Bunny! It's Ella Lou, daughter of Uncle John and Aunt Stephanie.

Now with anticipation and a twinkle in my eye I tell the Kids they can watch movies and stay up 'till they can't keep their eyes open. Jaws drop and eyes pop. And when the last movie is finally over the clock shines midnight, all 8 eyes are bleary with unclaimed sleep.

So here I sit in silence, all my Treats are still sleeping, and I'm thanking God for a safe, fun night.