Pocky Dots

The other day the boys were playing in the rain puddles.

I went out to call them in for dinner and Eli says,

"I have pocky dots!"

What you can't see is his back was covered and his eye

lids actually looked like he used the mud as eye shadow.

"Take this child...and nurse it for me." - Today's Devotional

I want to share today's devotional from The Word for You Today.

"Dr. James Dobson writes: 'I attended a wedding in a beautful garden setting in which 150 colorful helium balloons were released in to the California sky. Within seconds they were scattered across the heavens - some rising hundreds of feet, others cruising toward the horizon. They all began from the same launching pad, were filled with the same helium, and ascended in the same conditions. Yet within minutes they were separated by a mile or more. A few balloons struggled to clear the upper branches of trees, while the show-offs became mere pinpoints of color on their journey to the sky. How interesting, I thought - and how symbolic of children.'
Parent, you help determine how high your child will rise. So: (a) Create the right climate in your home. The words you speak, the order you establish, the music and television programs you allow, are molding their character and their future. If you're too busy to notice these things - you're too busy! (b) Give them the right mentors. Ruth followed Naomi. Timothy followed Paul. Your children are going to follow someone. The question is, who? Your best defense against destructive influences is offensive teaching, and a Christ-like example. Read God's Word to them each day. Pray over them - and with them. Do it! Don't be shy. The molester and drug dealer are not shy! Speak up! You can't improve on the words of Pharaoh's daughter,
given to Moses' mother as she saved her son from the waters of the Nile that would have consumed him. "Take this child...and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages." Parent, you have no greater responsibility! And if you do it right, you'll have no greater reward!"

My Comments on this devotional:

WOW! What a call to stand up and speak God's word over our children! Dr J Dobson is a very wise man! My friend Michele adopted a brilliant young lad and she has been going through the trenches with and for him. She does what this devotional says....she prays over him, speaks God's word over and to him and this summer began to see a big change in him. Praise God! God's word is truth & light that breaks the darkness. As she has been speaking this over her son and into his life, light has been invading that darkness in his life. This little boy has gone through and lived through more things than most, all in the foster care system. My friend stepped up and took him as hers. God has and will continue to honor her patience, persistence and faith in Him and her son. I believe that when this little boy is completely healed which is coming very soon - he is going to stand before his church, his family and the school he attends and will give God all the glory for (1) healing him of his past hurts, (2) give thanks for a mom in the trenches, (3) be able to attest to the love and mercy that God has for him and others out there that have gone through the same things he has.
Our God is a big GOD! A solid foundation to stand on (like the Rock of Ages) is what our children need to succeed in life. We are responsible for helping them have that foundation! My dear friend Michele, you are giving Marcus that foundation! Stay in the trenches, stay on your knees fighting for Marcus and bringing him before our Heavenly Father, and and don't you give up! God has a mighty big plan for Marcus and for you! Remember: Staying Patient, Persistent and Faithful towards God and Marcus will prevail over all those dark moments that he is continuing to fight. We love you!

Quiet!

Oh how the house sits quietly. It is so quiet! No tv, no children, just the water running from the fish filter. It's 12:30 and all 4 children are at school! AHHHHH! It is so nice to have quiet!.......


It's 7pm and now the house is filled with noise, lots of noise, Jaron is whining because his creation isn't working, the tv is blaring and I can hear the twins and Kris arguing over who gets to be Spiderman in the bedroom....

Sara & Eli had a great time at school. Eli came running in saying-look what I got! He had a fruit roll up something I do not buy for my children, fruit snacks but never roll ups they are so messy. He was so excited he told me everything about school. He said he has lots of boys in his class to play with. Then there was Sara, who although loves tacos at home decided that tacos are yucky at school. She said she played with the dollies and played house with "that little girl". They both thought the playground was a the best, naturally.
They did so well when we dropped them off. I wasn't sure which one would attach themselves to my leg...it was Sara. Eli just walked right in and sat down with the boys to color. Sara on the other hand would not sit with "that little girl" and sat next to Eli with the other boys. I had to help her sit down but once she was sitting next to Eli she was just fine.
I am proud of myself, no tears well maybe one or two as we walked home. They are excited to go back tomorrow which makes sending them so much easier!
Until next time....

My Babies....Are going to Pre-K!

Here they were 4 wks old wearing baby doll clothes!

Eli was just under 6 lbs and Sara was just above 5 lbs.

My have they grown! I can't believe how fast time

has gone by. I still can remember the days I spent

in the hospital trying to keep them from coming too

early! Then the days in the NICU, thank God

it was only for 3 weeks but it was a long time

for us as a family - I had two little boys at

home that need me too!

And now.......

Here they are looking so grown up at their

Aunt Nennie's wedding! Naturally Sara is leading!

Tomorrow they start pre-K. Sure it's only for

3 hours a day but I haven't been apart from

them for that long since they were in the NICU!

Reason I am sending them...

Well for one its a free service here in IL if they

meet the criteria. Which they do! But really

its for them. I have seen how pre-K really helped

Kristofer socially. I believe this will help

Eli and Sara break away from always being

with each other. Not that there is anything wrong

with that! I love that they enjoy being with

each other. But I want them to be independent of

each other to. They have a tendency to rely on each

other so much that I am afraid it may hinder

them when they enter Kindergarten.

Plus this will give Sara a chance to play with

other little girls her age. It's hard for her

to always have just the boys to play with.

We (Sara & I) play dollies and house

but sometimes Mommy is not enough.

Sara told me today, "I can have lots of

girl friends and I don't have to play with Eli."

-Yes Sara- "But Mommy I want Eli to have

friends to but I have to be his best friend."

Eli says in response, "Sara you are my bestest

friend and sister!"

So tomorrow I let my babies go...just for a little while.

The master escape artist!

This is Tido!

Tido is a Netherlands Dwarf Rabbit and will not get much bigger than this. Tido in this picture was being housed in a large dog cage. He loved it! Then Judah came and we have moved Tido to a large storage bin. It gives him the same amount of area to hop around and stretch out. The problem is he has figured out it has no lid. Right now he is being kept in our dining room area until we can get him a new cage. The little booger is so smart! He has master jumping over the edge which is 2.5 feet high and loves to hop as fast as his little legs can take him around the house. Each morning we have gone on a bunny hunt! He is such a good little bunny excepted for the constant jail breaks!

It's FRIDAY!

So the week has slipped by rather quickly...is this how the rest of the school year will go...the kids hope so! This morning, I sadly had a gallbladder attack. Thankfully it wasn't like the one that sent me to the hospital but it was still quite painful. Unfortunately on Wed, I had to cancel my appointment with the surgeon..long story. Anyway I was just commenting to a friend that I had not had any problems since I went to the ER a few weeks ago. I guess I should keep my mouth shut! Oh it hurt so bad!
Once all the kids were awake I asked them to pray for me. They are such troopers! The immediately came over and held my hand and Jaron led them in prayer for me. Kris thought he should stay home with me cause I was sick and Daddy was at work. I told him I would be fine - he needed to go to school so I could rest. He thought that was a better idea although Jaron reassure him that today was Friday and that means no school tomorrow.
Thankfully I am fine now. I go to the surgeon on Thurs of next week. Honestly I was going to do my best to protest having surgery but after this morning I will gladly let him take the stupid organ. Question - Why did God create organs that can be removed and we can still live without them?? Maybe that is one question I will have to ask when Jesus returns for His people!
AHHH Friday....tomorrow we get to sleep in! The best day of the week I think!

Following the rules

Today was Kristofer's big day at school with his whole class, 20 is the count so far. From what we were told he did really well. Honestly the behavior is not what concerns me the most. Well maybe a little but it his weak fine motor skills that worry me. He can barely write his name KRIS without his hand becoming sore and tired. This year will be a long one unless God heals his hands!


Kris was so excited to say aloha to me. It's his "A" word that he is learning. He told me everything he learned about Hawaii all in a matter of seconds! Other things were too important like going outside to make a mud ball.

This is how Kris spends his day every day...playing in the mud. Maybe he will become a soil scientist like his Uncle Eugene in Colorado!!

The Classic Mug Shot

YEA! The first day of Kindergarden and 2nd grade has ended! What a mug shot huh! You can't tell they are excited about going today at all can you? The day went really well. As usual mom worries over nothing! That's OK I have the right to do so...I gave birth to these kids!
What I love about our school: The family atmosphere! The school is a small country school that has Pre-K through 8th grades. The boys are able to be together for morning recess as well as lunch time. Also lets say Kris is having problems and needs a brother hug. They will allow Jaron to come and be with him for a few minutes to help him. This applies to Sara and Eli as well when they start Pre-K next week. So today Kris spent a little more than a hour with his big bro. This helps big time at lunch. Jaron is able to encourage Kris to socialize and eat his lunch. Jaron said, " I kept telling Kris to eat so he could get as smart as I am." It worked cause Kris ate everything! YEA! That is a huge improvement over last year when he started Pre-k for the first time!
Kris' teacher is wonderful! We have talked a few times and she said my info has been very helpful in understanding how to help Kris adjust. Today it was just half his class in attendance. Tomorrow he will not go so the other half gets to go. This way the teacher can spend time evaluating their strengths and weaknesses without contending with the whole class. Wed he will start full time with the whole class. We'll see how he adjusts to that!
Jaron said he loves 2nd grade so far. (He hasn't gotten homework yet!) He told me that the only thing he doesn't like is that the classroom is either super cold or super hot. So he has to bring a jacket to school.
All in all the day was good! It was SO QUIET without the two of them. Just the little voices of Sara and Eli playing. Next week will be so strange when they go to pre-K. I am not sure what I will do with myself .... oh maybe a I will! :)
Hope everyone else had a great first day of school too!
until next time....