Such a Saturday

This morning Kale headed off to his friend Michael's house for a sleepover. He was so excited that he packed his bag last night and asked me no less than 10 times this morning if I knew when he'd be going over to his house...he finally left around 10am one happy kid :)

Here's the photo Michael's mom sent me an hour or so later. She said "the Lego marathon begins!" 

After Kale left, the rest of us played Disney Headbanz and drew pictures. 

I drew Rainbow Dash for Kate 

And an elephant for me! 

Don't worry. I've drawn Jack lots of things! 

After lunch we went up to Fort Lewis for the homecoming football game. When we went to buy tickets they asked if we were alumni. Since we both are, we got in free (so did the kids). They gave us blue and yellow beads and said we get free stuff in the tents. Cool! 

Turns out the free food they had in the tents was pretty good! Bummer that I'd just had lunch! 

Here are the alumni showing off our beads. 

We sat and watched Fort Lewis get scored on 3 times before the half. Not much has changed since we were in college. 

This picture of Jack was taken only a couple minutes before the poor guy got stung on his hand by a bee. Boy did that hurt!  He screamed! 

We had to leave right after that. He was inconsolable. 

Thankfully it didn't swell too much. It got him on his ring finger. 

We got him some ice (which he was not happy about) and some benedryl. Even now, an hour later, it is still throbbing. 

We are currently sitting at home watching Escape From Planet Earth and hoping our little guy feels better soon. 

Such a Saturday!

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Had to come back and add this. Jack's been feeling crummy ever since the bee sting. Definitely not himself. We asked if pancakes would help. He said that yes pancakes and syrup would help. 

So we loaded up and headed to town for Denny's. 

Little did we know it was "kids eat free" night. Haha! 

Two fun little "free" favors today. Totally unknown! A little smile from heaven. Love how that happens. :)

Oh and the pancakes did help Jack's hand...

Such sorrow

As a parent I experience highs and lows. Frustrations and joys. Thrills and sorrows. This week I've experienced both.

On Monday, after being able to share in the joy and high of Jack making his decision for Christ, I, again, experienced the reality that this world is fallen. 

Because I never want to embarrass (I guess I embarrass them but I don't want to bring shame) my kids I won't say exactly what happened but suffice it to say it was a low. A sorrow. 

They've been learning in church that they are under a covering. An umbrella of safety. The top umbrella is God. The one under that is their parents. And the one under that is their teachers. Basically they are learning about godly authority and what happens when you step out from under it. When they (we) choose to disobey the authority God has placed in our lives we get hit by the yuck and have to deal with consequences that we would never have had to, that we are protected from under the umbrella, had we submitted to authority.  My children have heard this and they know it. I'm not saying they do this all the time, I'm saying they know this. 

Monday afternoon I discovered something that one of my kids had been doing that they totally knew was outside of the umbrella so to speak. It's not the end of the world by any means but it was more than I forgot to pick up my room or put away my toys. It was one of those things that you set rules for, as a parent, to protect your kids. 

They stepped out. And my heart was broken. I wasn't angry at them. Just so very sad. It was a combination of me letting my guard down and them making choices they knew they weren't supposed to. In a way I feel responsible and in a way I'm just absolutely ticked off at the enemy for messing where he doesn't belong.

I suspect God feels this way about me when I step out from under my covering and make choices and then deal with consequences that He never wanted me to know.   I realized, again, that He doesn't have rules and boundaries to control us, they are there for our protection.  Just like I have for my children.  Because He loves me.

At the end of the day I am so very thankful that God is greater, stronger and higher than anything we encounter. He can right any wrong, overcome any situation and forgive any sin. Hallelujah. I'm sad for sin. Sad for choices. Sad for pain. But thankful for a God who saves, reconciles and redeems. 

From high to low and and back. Thankful for all of it!

A Very Big Day

Yesterday was a fairly long day. It's wasn't our average Sunday. We had one service instead of 2. We had a potluck meal and business meeting after church instead of going out to eat. Mark stayed at the church to write a couple papers for school instead of coming home. I cleaned house to prepare for a showing today instead of napping and crocheting like I had wanted to. I left for a meeting in Bayfield to pray for an upcoming event instead of staying home with my family to watch what turned out to be, a very important movie. It definitely wasn't our average Sunday. 

After my meeting as I was getting into my car, I saw a text message from Mark. It said, "I'm crying my eyes out with joy... I got to pray with Jack. He just asked Jesus in his heart! I'm undone." 

Before I share the story I have to say that as a parent who desires to disciple and train up my kids in The Lord this is by far the biggest day....ever. It may seem like no big deal to some but to know that my kids understand and want a relationship with Christ is what I long for. Yes there will come a time in their teens or early twenties when they will need to decide if they will follow Him in every way but my own husband made the decision to ask Jesus into his heart at 5 after watching Ben Hur. He submitted his life and future to Christ as a teenager and as been following him wholeheartedly since. That's my prayer for my kids. All three have now asked Christ into their hearts. It makes me happy happy happy. 

So back to Jack's story. Mark and the kids watched a movie, called The Last Medallion, last night while I was gone. Without going into the whole movie (which I couldn't anyways since I didn't see it) apparently one of the main characters dies protecting one of the kids in the movie. When asked why, he replied that years ago someone did it for him (Jesus). Mark said the kids were pretty emotional watching the scene. The whole movie in fact. He said it was a really good movie. 

After it was over and the kids had been prayed for and sent to bed, Jack came out. Still in tears. Legitimate tears and not I'm stalling tears. 

So he and Mark sat down on the couch and Mark asked him what was wrong. Jack kept asking, why did he have to die dad? This part had really affected him. 

Mark explained that he was dying for, and protecting, the kids in the movie. And Jack said like Jesus? 

Yes like Jesus. Mark went on to say that Jesus loves us so very much that He died for us so we can be together with Him. Jack says, for me? Yup for you Jack. 

After a bit of back and forth Mark asked Jack if he wanted to have Jesus in His heart. To not be afraid. To know that heaven is in his heart for real. Jack said yes. 

So they prayed together. Mark asked Jack if he wanted to pray. Jack said yes and then said he was gonna do it with his eyes closed (we ask him at night when we pray to close his eyes so he won't be distracted- this time he chose himself to not be distracted- beautiful!). So Jack prayed and asked Jesus into his heart. Mark said they both were crying. At the end of his simple beautiful prayer Jack said "I know you died for me because you love me." Ugh! Such simple beautiful understanding! 

This morning when he woke up I asked him what happened last night. He played and was shy with me but eventually he told me about his night. Then he said, "There's a party in heaven mom." When I asked why he said, "It's for me. They're partying for me." 

Yes my sweet, sweet boy. There's a party in heaven and angels are rejoicing, just as your dad and I are, because you have made the most important decision of your life. To follow after Jesus. 

Then I looked out the window and saw this 

He rejoices after each and every one. 

One reason I love homeschool

There are several reasons why I love homeschooling (flexibility, time with my kids, teaching them a biblical worldview etc...) but this has to be up there at the top. Life lessons! 

We had some brown bananas that were begging to be made into banana bread but I wasn't finding time to make it. Then I remembered that making bread covers so many homeschool lessons! Why haven't I done this before?! Having Kale and Kate do it together taught them "group project " skills, Kale (my reader) had to practice giving instruction, leading and sharing, Kate had to follow Kale's instruction and allow him to lead, they both learned about following directions, learned how to make bread AND used up my bananas AND clean up after themselves (which was less thrilling then the project in their eyes for sure). Win win win! 

Instead of a normal recipe card, I wrote out the instructions to help minimize any confusion or skipping steps. 

Kale was totally thrilled about mashing brown bananas as you can tell by the look on his face...

They actually did a great job taking turns adding ingredients and working together. It blessed this mama's heart. 

Teamwork. 

Final product! They decided at the end that it needed some chocolate chips (of course they did). 

And it was delicious! It will be gone after breakfast this morning. They saved some for Mark to try. 

Now I have to think of what they can make next! 

A bit from our day

It's been a slow weekend.  We worked around the house and then did a little shopping for bed stuff. My poor children have either been sleeping on bedding that doesn't fit at all or they have the only set of twin sheets I own or are unpacked. So we went on the hunt for some cool new ones. Here's what we came up with. 

Avengers for Kale. Spider-Man for Jack. And Sofia the first for Kate. You woulda thought it was Christmas. 

And honestly Mark and I were the same. We finally invested in some flannel sheets (how have we lived so long without them?) and an electric blanket. Sleeping has been amazing! 

Sunday was fabulous church and then we had a concert Sunday night. The City Harmonic and Shawn MacDonald. The kids and I decided to stay home after Mark thought it would be overwhelmingly loud for Kate. He said it was a wonderful concert. Hoping we can do more in the future. 

Today we started back up with school. We've been on a bit of a break with the retreat and vacation and recovering from vacation. I was nervous that today would be hard but it went well.

In the middle I decided to fix my favorite bible. I've had it for almost twenty years and the cover was fallin apart. I've been looking for covers or considering recovering it. I can't just get a new one. This one has markings, notes, dates etc. it's hard to part with a bible that's been a part of my life since I began walking with God. So I covered it in chrome duct tape. :) oh yes I did. And for now it's fun. The kids thought it was neat anyways. 

During the afternoon Darth Vadar appeared again and was followed by a singing minstrel and his general body guard. 

At one point Mishka jumped up on my bed. He's not allowed there. When I told him to get off he put his head in my lap pathetically and looked at me as if saying "you can't possibly mean for me to get off this very comfy bed away from all of you" 

Then I looked over and saw the most adorable little man sitting in my window. 

After dinner we got out art supplies and learned how to draw angry birds. At least the boys and I did. 

Mine. Not bad thanks to step by step instructions I found on the Internet. 

Kate drew a picture of a girl making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. 

Mark drew Santa. 

I love the creativeness of my family.

Palmer Vacation - Part 4

Monday was our final day in Crested Butte.  It was probably my favorite day because of the weather and the views. I'm sorry that my pictures barely capture the breathtaking scenery we enjoyed this past weekend. I almost get disappointed after I take the picture. Nothing quite captures the amazing-ness of God's creation. 

We decided to go on a little hike just up the road from our house in the tiny town of Gothic. The drive there was wonderful. 

I'd totally love to spend all fall in that little house. 

A picture that doesn't quite capture the beauty of this valley. 

The local wildlife ;)

We hiked a 1/2 mile to Judd falls. The kids did great. Only a small issue with Jack and his legs being dead on the way back. Thankfully a story about my broken thumb (from high school) brought his legs back to life. 

We stopped to take a big family picture and Mike found a very dead tree. He decided to help it fall. 

Judd falls. 

Cool man Jack. 

Kieran (22 months), Mike and Julie.  

Looking at the falls. 

Alisha, Chad and Allanah (21 months) 

Hanging out with grandpa. 

We stopped for lunch with a view. 

And a nap :)

The original 5. I love this picture. Such a great family. 

Doug, Mark, Julie, Chad and Margie. 

I can not believe the blue of the sky. I love that about Colorado! 

"Mom. There's cow poop on this log."

More sky. 

Stopped at the Gothic visitor center on the way back. 

We go out to dinner once while we're on vacation. We chose a pizza place called the Secret Stash. It was good pizza. Took a while though. So we took pics to document. 

Julie and Margie. 

Uncle Chad and Kale

Jack and Doug

Kate, Mike and Kieran 

Us. Mark and I tried to get one of ourselves at first but the older two didn't like that. 

So we took another one. 

Alisha, Allanah and Chad

Jack pulled into his clothes in hiding. 

This is very random but I had to show what the bathroom was like. It was crazy decorated. I'm not a fan of this kind of decoration but it definitely made a statement! 

We decided to leave at 8 Monday night and drive home so we could be back in time for the funeral today. We got all the kids together with grandpa and grandma for a quick pic before we loaded up and drove home. 

We got home around 1am and it reminded Mark and I that we aren't as young as we used to be. But we were so glad to be here for the service. It was beautiful.

We heard this afternoon that our nephew Kieran had a seizure after lunch today on their way home. He was taken to the hospital in Salida. He's doing much better but it was scary for the family. They think it was related to a fever he's had this past weekend. At least that's the initial thought. He will hopefully go home tomorrow. 

Not excited for the way the trip ended but we had a great time. Wonder where we're headed next year!