Thankful Thursday

So I'm up early doing this post because I know I need a positive attitude for today. "Because a thankful heart is a happy heart" (from Veggietales...)

Yesterday was a challenge. Jack and Kate had a stomach bug. There was yuck coming from both ends so I spent most of my day snuggling one or both or cleaning up after one or both. We watched lots of cartoons, ate applesauce and toast and prayed for the end of the day {I did anyway}. Mark got home and helped and it was such a relief! I was able to catch up on a little cleaning and put the house into some sort of order.

Well this morning around 5am, this stomach bug hit Mark. Hard. I kinda knew it would. If there's a stomach yuck going around it will usually find Mark. That's just he way he was made.

I got up a little after 6 to work out but instead heard Jack screaming. I went into his room expecting to clean up poop {I've done a lot of that the past couple days} but he was just really hungry. So I got him up. Kale followed minutes later and told me that last night he threw up. I asked him where. He said he leaned over the side of his loft bed and launched on the floor {he didn't say launch...I did}.

Sure enough! I went back into their bedroom, opened the curtains and discovered that I had been inches away from stepping in it and tracking it all over the house. I am so blessed to not have a terribly weak stomach because this put my strong stomach to the test!

I got Jack some food and spent the next half hour with my new friend, Resolve, cleaning the carpet, a blanket, a stuffed animal and a small chair. Dis-gust-ing! Not even kidding. I won't tell you what we had for dinner last night. It'll only make it worse!

So the littles were yucky yesterday and the bigs are yucky today. I am praying like a mad woman that my stomach stays strong. Mark and I are supposed to have a date night tomorrow. I really don't want to miss it.

All that to say I am thankful for my family. Even though it's been a challenging couple days, I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I'm thankful that this is only a 24 hour bug. Kate and Jack are feeling much better today.

I'm thankful for snuggle time.

I'm thankful for Resolve. I just am.

I'm thankful for sunshine. It's nice to be able to get outside for some fresh air when I need a break.

I'm thankful for a strong stomach {at least so far}. This would be infinitely harder if I were throwing up too.

I'm thankful for coffee. It's just such a nice treat.

I hope, today, that you are able to be thankful in all your circumstances. It's a challenge for sure, but it's worth it!

Tball, softball, McD's...

I know I'm behind on posting pictures so I decided to take Mark's camera with me last night and document a little about what we're doing on Tuesday nights. I should've taken it with me all day. Then you would've seen school with Kale, lunch at the church with friends and naptime. Instead I started with when we drove to Kale's Tball practice.

**You gotta know that Kale's had 4 or 5 games and 2 practices and not one has gone smoothly for us. I have so not mastered the art of getting your child to practice or a game on-time (which is very unusual for me) without some sort of melt down because of a missing hat, glove, bat, uniform or shoes. I try to keep everything together but we are slowly having to learn how to do this more efficiently.

Monday night Kale had a Tball game and it was a usual meltdown. We couldn't find his shoes. We started getting ready 45 minutes before we actually had to leave and we still couldn't get it all together. Finally I told him he wasn't playing because he couldn't play without tennis shoes (no we haven't gotten him cleats yet - we're terrible Tball parents!). As he was crying and saying he wanted to play in sandals, the cat, who'd been outside most of the day, came in, climbed up onto my kitchen table, and threw up! Oh. My. Gosh! Are you kidding me? Kate and Jack were climbing around the car outside while Kale and I were searching the house. So I'm cleaning up cat puke, yelling at encouraging Kale to get his rear in the car with his other shoes, trying to get all my stuff together, hoping that Kate and Jack aren't switching on every light in the car (which they totally were), and praying we wouldn't be really late to Kale's game. Then I moved my purse. Guess what I found hiding underneath my stinkin' purse? Yup. His shoes. Grrrr!**

I say that all to say that I was sooooo hoping that taking Kale to his practice on Tuesday would go much better. Last week I was a half hour late to his practice because I got the times mixed up. Anyway, we left the house without a problem (can I get an amen?) and got to the ball field 5 minutes early. Not a single soul was there. I thought - this can't be happening to me! Surely I got the right time! Surely I'm at the right field! So I called the coach (our good friend Jerome) and thankfully he was on his way. Just running late. I hadn't lost my mind...although sometimes I wonder...

So we waited. And while we waited, I took a few pictures.

Here's Kale getting in a little practice before actual practice.

Isn't the field beautiful? Well the field isn't so great but the scenery is gorgeous.Kate was getting restless sitting in the car so she took of her seat belt and climbed over the seat to see what she could see and this is what I saw :)Jack making a phone call to a Disney princessOnce the coach and a few other teammates got to the field, we left to go get the family dinner at McDonald's. Jerome was going to drive Kale, Katrina and Toby up to the college ball-fields so we could watch Mark's softball game after practice. What a wonderful help that is! And no, I did not get a picture of the McDonald's drive-thru although I was very tempted.

And here's our star outfielder. I yelled at him to get in his ready position. His team is called the "Plaid-short Mafia". Yes that's really their name. And no Mark does not have any cool plaid shorts yet.

On deck with his little chica fan cheering him on (although she's really hard to see)

Kale making a new friend at the park.

I got to watch a little bit of softball and lotta bit of Jack. He's just not quite big enough to go the playground by himself although he'd like to think so.

Here's Kate and her buddy Madison.

The guys lost the game in the bottom of the last inning. Bummer :( but the kids and I enjoyed the sunshine and the park. Hope you enjoyed a bit of what our life is like!

Thank you Lord!

Don't be afraid, I've redeemed you.
I've called your name. You are mine.
When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you.
When you're in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end.

Because I am God, your personal God
The Holy of Israel, your Savior.
I paid a huge price for you
That's how much you mean to me!
That's how much I love you!
I'd sell off the whole world to get you back,
trade the creation just for YOU!

I, yes, I am God.
I'm the only Savior there is.
Yes I am God
I've always been God and I always will be God.
No one can take anything from me.
I make; who can unmake it?

from Isaiah 43

New Video

Some of you may have already seen this video but I thought I'd post it just in case. Here's Jack's first "gun fight" lesson from Kale. It amazes me how quickly boys pick this up. Believe me, I've barely ever touched a gun in my life much less actually shot one. They definitely did not learn any of these "skills" from me :)

Have you ever...

...rototilled any part of your yard? I was working outside today and felt like a burly mountain woman....until I looked down at my arms and saw them flapping to the rhythm of the rototiller. I so got over myself.

Thankful Thursday

Today I'm thankful for sunshine and the ability to play outside. Photos to prove the fun we had enjoying the outside!

5 Mintues

That's literally all the time I have right now. But I didn't want anyone to think I gave up on blogging. In fact I've got lots of things I want to share but have really run out of time and energy to do it.

Last night was the first night in over a week that we weren't going somewhere or having someone over to our house. So we had to catch up with life as our little family.

Mark started softball last week and began serving lunch at our local soup kitchen. Kale had his 2nd Tball game and is discovering that he really likes it. I was in my first skit at church. Jack is having major issues with hitting [and therefore I am having major issues on disciplining him - time outs just aren't working]. And Kate's been learning that she is, in fact, big enough to clean her room on her own. God has been working on our family in terms of finances and loving others as yourself.

I got to see my wonderful friend, Maria, while she was in Durango for a short visit. We so miss her and her whole family.

Oh and I'm watching America the Story of Us on the History channel. Totally fascinating. Perfect for someone who doesn't really remember American history from high school or who didn't really enjoy it {like me}. I've learned more watching a few shows then I learned throughout school. Amazing how watching history in terms of stories is so much different than memorizing names and dates. I definitely want to get the DVD set and have my kids watch it when they're older and would enjoy it more.

We're working on our garden. Well planning on working on it anyway....Need to rototill the soil, fill in the topsoil, mix in compost and plant the starters. Oh and build a higher fence so the pesky deer won't eat all our hard work. Ok we have a ways to go but at least we're actively planning!

We also have plans to build a playhouse/swingset/sandbox. Ambitious? Yes. But I really really hope we can do it. Our kids would love to have something more to do outside.

My 5 minutes are totally up. Gotta go get school going. I need to take some pictures of the fam and post them. I know it's been a while!

Thankful Thursday

Ok what am I thankful for today?

I'm thankful for my house {that's for Jo, Tiffany, Kim and Jen :) }. I love it's imperfections {not unlike my own really...}. It's a work in progress and I'm so thankful it's ours.

I'm thankful for seasons {although it kinda feels like we're skipping spring}. I am thankful that things change and yet are still the same.

I'm thankful to be able to keep my children home and homeschool them. I know that it's not possible for everyone and I am reminded that it's a blessing.

I'm thankful for my new favorite blog - Knock on Wood - I can't wait to build this!
(not the house - the playhouse)

And I'm thankful for God's patience with me. Hard to imagine how He does it but I'm thankful He hasn't - and will never - give up on me.

Help

Pretty much everyday I can guarantee that one of my children will ask me for help. Help in getting dressed, getting food, learning to read, getting a toy out etc...They are able and willing to ask for help. They know they can't do it all by themselves.

Why can't adults do the same thing? Why is it so much harder for us to ask for help?

I was reading the New Testament with Kale when I came across something that struck me. It was the story of the ten lepers that Jesus healed. Usually it's been told as a story about being thankful but today I read something different (Go God!).

It said "From a distance they called loudly, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!' Never did Jesus pass by and refuse to help one who called." { I bolded the part that struck me - not literally struck me of course} This story is in Luke.

When Jesus healed the blind, the sick, the dumb, the lame, the dead it was because they came to Him to ask for help. It took humbling themselves and asking for God to do the miraculous.

I've heard people say it's not "who they are" or "how they were made" to ask for help. I realize it isn't an easy thing to do. I definitely have not perfected the art of asking by any means. BUT I do recognize that we won't always receive help until we ask for it. God has shown that to Mark and I. It's easy to ask God for help. And I think that's because we expect Him to help us. And we should. He does, He will and He loves to. But I also know that He uses His people to answer those prayers and to help. And how will His people always know how or when to help unless we ask.

Sure we can hint but isn't that kind of annoying? Let's just come out and say it. I need help. I believe there are times when God will lay it on someone's heart to do something for someone in secret and I love it! when that happens. God absolutely can do it. But I think He also wants us to be humble and ask those that He's put into our lives to help us.

If we need someone to help us care for our children then we can ask. If we need help tearing apart our bathroom, or putting it back together for that matter, then we can ask. If we need advice about something we can ask. If we need help in our ministry we can ask. If we need help moving we can ask. If we have a financial struggle we can ask.

Yes, people can say no but they can never say yes unless we ask.

Humbling? Yes. Easy to do? No. Will it stretch us? Yes. Will it increase our faith? Yes. Will it be the end of the world if we ask? No. Will it give others opportunity to give and to help? Absolutely and most likely they'll love to do it. Just give them the chance.

I will still be on the lookout for people I can help. This isn't to say we should only do something when we're asked. That's not what I mean. But I believe there is a work that God is wanting to do in me/us when we ask Him and when we ask others for help.

Mudder's Day

I figure if I post everysingleday you'd get bored of reading my interesting-to-me thoughts. Either that or it's just an excuse to go a few days in between posts. Lazy? Maybe.... Busy? Definitely.

So. This weekend was Mother's Day or as Kate says "Mudder's Day". And I love the way she says it. So much like my little girl. Mark and I tell people that we love "e chudder" a lot. At least that's what Kate tells us. That we love e chudder. TH's are hard to say :) so it becomes udder.

Anyway, yesterday was nice. Went to church, I helped count offering for 2 1/2 hours! (way long time), went to lunch at Applebee's with some wonderful friends, received several cards and flowers from my children, took a nap, called my mom, blew my nose only half a million times, ate cereal for dinner, and had a nice quiet evening watching the Amazing Race finale (Jet and Cord so should've won!). Nothing very glamorous but it was nice. Mark was wonderful and did a lot of the parenting stuff. There's no way we can get a complete break but it was nice to sit at times and be taken care of. Mark's good stuff I tell ya.

I boxed up every single toy in my house thanks to my friend Andie. She gave me the idea to help reduce clutter and I could focus on nothing else till it was done. I'm driven that way. So now the kids don't have any toys in their rooms. Instead they're in our closet and against a wall till we can build a cabinet. So far (day 3 here people) it's been heavenly. They play with one bin at a time (either cars or legos or dolls) and they put it away and get out another one. At this moment there aren't any toys on the floor. Unbelievable! I'm praying we can continue with this peaceful existence. The kids enjoy their toys more now that they aren't walking all over them and I get to enjoy a clutter-free (well almost clutter free, I still have work to do on my stuff...) house. Clean up is so much quicker. Ahhhhhh......

I have plans this summer to do more organizing, build more furniture and create more peace in my house. My summer plans are bittersweet. I had planned to do minimal work. A little gardening, a little building with lots of Mark's help, a little rearranging to make room for a new Palmer. And now that's changed. Now I have more plans to do more gardening, more building and more organizing. I'm excited that I can do all these things but it feels weird to be happy about it. I think that's something I'll just be dealing with for a while. Happy but not. Happy to be able to do more things but also knowing that I'd be happy doing none of it if I was pregnant. It's a strange place to be really. It's another part of this miscarriage process.

I feel very good emotionally. I absolutely believe God has been doing His healing work in my heart. That doesn't mean I'm not still sad or wishful. It just means I'm ready to move onto the next part of my journey. The first 3 or 4 days were the toughest. Then I realized that I didn't want to be like this forever. I had to make the choice to move ahead and pray that my heart and emotions and faith would follow. Act my way into a right feeling rather then feel my way into a right action. Don't mistake that for ignoring my sadness or pretending that everything's a-ok. It is definitely a process but a process that I wanted to move forward in instead of standing still waiting for something to happen.

That's hit me in a lot of areas actually. Sometimes I can just sit and wait for something to happen or wait for me to feel a certain way before I act. But God can't steer a parked car. I must move! That means getting up and working out even if I don't feel like it. It means reading my Bible and praying even if I don't feel like it. He can work in me if I allow Him to. I've seen that first hand especially in these past few weeks. He is able. For sure. So now I'm trying to make changes to get myself where I want to be in many area. Physically, emotionally, spiritually. I've got to stop standing still and start the many processes. It feel never-ending sometimes. I am such a work in progress. I think I'll make myself a sign and wear that around for awhile.

And to finish off my randomness I want to share a letter I've been composing in my mind for a while thanks to my friend Tiff. She cracked me up when she wrote her own letters. I'm sure it's another form of sarcastic therapy that I can readily participate in.

Dear nose:

Thank you for the ability to smell and taste and breathe. Thank you for your hard work holding up my glasses. Without you I'd be a strange looking fellow. However, I'm not sure why you feel the need to dump loads and loads of snot into my life for weeks on end. Now you are red, peeling and sore. Really not a lot of fun for any part of my body thankyouverymuch. And the sneezing! Let's just say people can get really uncomfortable around me thanks to the display you are putting on. If you think you're showing off, well you're not. It's just plain annoying. Please stop.

Sincerely,
the rest of my body

T-ball begins!

Last week was the start of what could possibly be many summers of Kale playing baseball. Oh wow!

He had his first practice last Thursday and his first game last night. Practice was freezing cold. You would've thought he was practicing in the middle of a blizzard. The wind was blowing hard. It was cold. It was cloudy. It was miserable. But I think the kids were too excited to be playing to care. Now Kate, Jack and I did. We left to go sit in the car..

But Mark braved the cold with the video camera and he captured a bunch of videos which I combined to make this one. Never mind the cheesy music. I wasn't paying attention to what music I picked. And then I played it and laughed. I think the music should've been a bit more comical actually :)




And here are some pics from his first game. They didn't get their uniforms till after the game unfortunately.

Games go like this: They play 2 innings. Every player on the team gets to bat each inning.

Let me just say that it's quite the comic show. They have general positions - optional really. The coach directs where they should stand but when the ball is hit you can be sure that at least half of the kids will chase it. There aren't any outs really but they do try and throw to first.

And Kale's little friend Toby is the friendliest first baseman ever! He was introducing himself to all the players. Asking them how old they were and what school they went to. He even picked up first base and cleaned it off with his shirt just so they would be able to find it. So sweet :)

It was also nice for Mark and I to be able to see just how squirrely all 6 year olds can be and that it just isn't our little man.

Warm ups

Boy is it exciting playing left field in T-ball!

Kale's buddy Toby up to bat. They take a few pitches from the coach and if they aren't able to hit it then they pull out the Tee. Toby and Kale both were able to hit the pitches.

Well he missed this one...

But he hit another one and ran....with his tongue out.

Celebrating first base.

Toby heading home.

And Kale prancing home. He was pretty excited to make it all the way.