Today is Rachael Ray Day!

I've shared with many of you, and those of you reading from Wilmington probably don't need a reminder, but I thought I'd remind you all just the same. Today, Wednesday at 2 pm on NBC is Rachael Ray's Thanksgiving show filmed in Wilmington.

Rachael and her crew spent lots of time recently in my home town serving the many who lost their jobs when DHL pulled out. There has been a lot of news coverage...

The crews spent lots of time in a wonderful place called, Sugartree Ministries. This is a place near to my heart because in many ways they were responsible for my brother in law, Jeff, finding his way back to life and hearing the calling Jesus had for him. This place plays a big role in the lives of his family and is a place he serves almost daily. It is a place filled with servant's hearts and humble, faithful people being the hands and feet of Jesus. I can't wait to see all beauty God sent their way via Rachael and others. The director of the ministry posted on facebook on the day of the reveal that Jesus was "dancing in their kitchen". I can't wait to see!

After DHL pulled out it left this town, the place I call home, devistated. It felt as if there was something heavy in the air. I struggled with it when I went home last summer. I wrote a very little bit here and took  many, pictures. I have always meant to write it's story. The story of the town with the black cloud. But I could hear His voice, even then, in the summer of 2008, telling me there was so much hope. Telling me he was calling them back to Him. This was a tough call, but He would sift them like a colander. He would not leave them and they would rebuild, better than before, like they once were sometime long ago in their history. His history. When I see what is going on there now I can feel that little flutter. The flutter of hope...His story isn't nearly over it's still being written. The pages are open, the hearts are open and God may be using this little town to show His great big love. He provides for his children and I can't wait to see the great things He is yet to reveal!

Random ramblings and pictures...

Many of you have asked for a post about the new house, maybe some pictures. Someday, I promise, really. 

I'm sure these are not the pictures you want to see, but I am so thankful that we are making a ding in the garage...

Garage, October 5...

Garage, November 20...

Ok, so maybe it doesn't look much better, but we took a good 3 feet off the top and the bikes actually fit inside...it's a start.

Think I'll be able to get my van in there for the first snow?

BTW...If you see anything in the above pictures (besides the kids and the bikes) that you'd like to buy we can make you a sweet deal! =)

*******************************************************************

Finn's friend Amanda came for a visit last week. I snapped a couple of pictures (of course!)

They were not really in the camera mood, but I found these amusing...

Whatever he was saying, it was really important.

Well, to him at least. Seems Amanda was not quite so amused.

Doesn't this look say "stop bugging me kid and tell your mom to put the camera away"?

I thought so.

This one is my favorite.

They really were not about to get undressed, although Finn and Amanda have both been known to do so in not the most appropriate places.

They are actually deep in discussion about the difference between socks and tights. I found this conversation quite cute!

So, I went back looking to connect you to the blog about my mom and I busily talking about which footie pajamas to buy the boys while in the middle of the Osh Kosh outlet when we looked down and noticed Finn standing beside us naked. We think he just wanted to try on the jammies...but it was still a little shocking to see him that way in the middle of the store! After looking through all of my July posts...yes, that took all of 4 seconds, sorry...I realized I must have posted it to facebook and not here. Bad Blogger! (lets just say Amanda and Finn are not allowed to date)

**********************************************************************

These picture all actually belong in this post.

Anyone have Mensa's number?

This mama has three things my darling sons are drawn to that they are not allowed to touch. Whenever I see them sniffing around one of these items the prescripted lecture rolls easily off my tongue. It goes a little something (or exactly) like this...

"Boys, Mama has three things that belong just to her in this house." (ok, so there may be a few more but really only three of significant value that attract my boys attention) and you know you may not touch these three things without my permission and a grown up close by.

"Tell me, guys, what are they?"

Tonight Dax was sitting beside me with fingers reaching toward one of those off limit treasures. The lecture began. The boys responded...

Finn, "Purse!"

Dax, "Computer"

Finn, "Camrrra!"

Dax, "Mama, are you a pauper?"

I looked at Mike, he looked at me, we both looked at Dax.

"Am I a what?"

"A Pauper, Mommy? Are you a pauper?"

Lily looked up from her homework and asked, "What is a pauper?"

Dax looked at her as if she was seriously lacking and responded,"a person that doesn't have very many things."

I bit my tongue and then told him, yes, I was probably a pauper, and then asked how he knew that word.

"Super Why, Mom."

God Bless PBS kids!

It's still a post...

You may not count it, with it's one word praises and no pictures, but tonight it counts and tomorrow there will be more!

Saturday morning snuggles

Waking up to the sweet voice and gentle caresses of a 4 year old

Santa

Sleigh rides

Cookie decorating

Little boys who turn up in bathroom stalls

Successes when you don't expect them

Shopping

Dinner with a daughter alone

Praise

Smiles

Sunday School

Sunday School teachers

laughter

Sunday afternoon naps (no...not that kind!)

Clean playrooms

Late night movies

"Chicken cookies" and pink milk

More smiles

Sweet voices

Collecting dirty laundry that smells good

New faces

More laughter

Grown up Girls

Mom time

God Time

Snuggle time

A peak in on our weekend....

Some weekend late in August.

This is a random post I started and never came back to. I'm finding a few of these from my time on hiatus. I think it would be fun if you all could figure out the story of this weekend....

There is no big prize, just thought I'd might as well dust off some of these drafty posts and hang them up where they belong!

Two days...

Praises...

Friends. Time spent talking on the phone (even while kids yell behind you) and especially time spent in person just chatting. Knowing there are people who will listen to you ramble, gripe, and whine and not judge you.

Having a husband who lets me have a bit of me time and is still the best part of my day to snuggle up with as I drift off to sleep.

Humor. Because really, it's really what carries me through! Well, humor and faith...not sure I'd be able to walk through the day without those things!


4 year olds that tell you you are the best mommy ever. 2 year olds that always say thank you. These things make my heart smile.

Brothers who go with their day so it can be "just us boys!"

Hugs from little men.

Spending time with some 6th graders I haven't seen for a while. Doing a little art with them. It's been a while!

Sunny fall days and the crunch of leaves under foot.

Watching new discovery through little eyes.

Being blown away by my kids everyday...some days in really good ways!

Husbands who come home early because there is no power at work.

Friday nights with pizza, cuddling, and catching up on So You Think You Can Dance and Glee.

Two little boys falling asleep on Mama's lap.

Catching up on grown up shows with just Mike. Everyone else sleeping peacefully upstairs.

Wednesday Praises...

Having a day off in the middle of the week allowing me to snuggle in bed with my people until 9:30.

Those men and women who have given of their time and service to give us so much more than a day off in the middle of the week. I'm so proud of my little brother and all his buddies who our serving our country! How blessed are we all to live in this land where we can live and worship in freedom.

Things little boys can do with pretzels.

A couple of kids willing to let me take pictures, I'm still hoping for the third one to show me his smile!

Ham loaf at church...my kids were thrilled. I'm glad we've all discovered our like of this odd main course. This was not something I had ever had before moving to Illinois, but I must say, not bad.

Youth girls. As much drama as there may be from time to time I love these girls and am so grateful that God put them in my world. I only hope I can truly allow him to shine through me and love them with His love.

Coming home to boys in bed and time to go hang out with mu husband. I kind of like that guy =)

Today is one of those days...

I sat down to start my praises and they don't seem to be rolling, but I'm gonna give it a try.

It was grey and gloomy, a tad chilly and rainy today. I am thankful that I am home with my kids all day and can pass by the windows or stick my head out at any time. What a blessing to not be stuck in a windowless office with grown ups. It may make gloomy days more noticeable but it also make beautiful days more enjoyable.

Finn was into everything again. Nail polish, Lily's violin, climbing the linen cabinet in the bathroom, cheerios all over the floor, water all over the table, etc... I'm so grateful for a healthy guy who has it in him to stir up all sorts of trouble.

Finn's orneriness also allowed Dax the chance to be a great big brother. He helped Finn clean up several messes and reported in to me when Finn was in to something. Nice to have him on my side sometimes!

The boys wrestled non stop, especially when the phone rang and really, I wanted to pull my hair out (or theirs!) a few times. How lucky are they to have each other so close. Watching them interact with each other brings me laughter far more than it brings me to pulling out hair. =)

My bed had to be made at least 6 times today because two small people kept unmaking it. What this means is I have a bed to sleep in, one with warm blankets, that my kids think is a great place to snuggle up. I remember choosing our bedroom set, before we ever had kids. I remember thinking about my parent's bed. I remembered snuggling up early in the morning after my dad left for work. I remembered sitting on the edge and bouncing Dosh when he was just a baby. I remembered Ryan and I running from the top of the stairs and rolling onto their bed. I remembered sitting with my mom and talking about life. I chose that bed so carefully thinking about the babies that it would snuggle, the monkeys who would use it to bounce on, the preteen who would sit and share with me about her life. How blessed I am that those little people are now real parts of my every day world. I know one day these pieces will be distant memories and then, I'll only have to make my bed once. I bet there will be days I will wish for someone to mess it up.

I had to think hard about some recent decisions I've made. I had to dig up my Beth Moore notes and remember with a smile the way it felt when those decisions were made, the peace I felt as the words left my pen. I knew it might be hard to carry it out, but each time I remind myself I get to refresh that feeling again...I am so grateful that my prayers for guidance were answered even if not in the most easy to carry out ways.

Lily came home with a communications folder showing two F's. I remained calm and found out they were simply a prank...glad there was no heart attack had. I think the teacher might want to rethink that one....

She also didn't get all her chores done before leaving for the evening. I could have kept her home, but how many kids ask to go to a revival with her friend next door? I am so thankful for Peyton, our new neighbor. She and Lily have become great friends and we are really enjoying getting to know her. We've prayed for Lily to find a friend like this for a while. What's a few dishes when you can be at a Revival with a friend? I've never been to one...ought to be interesting to hear about when she gets home.

Mike almost gave us all smoke inhalation while cooking dinner. How lucky I am to have a guy that will cook for me, or like tonight, with me. There is something nice about chopping veggies while your husband burns things. The stir fry had only a slight tinge of burnt pan taste =).

Two little boys in footie pajamas giving sweet kisses and saying goodnight to their Mama, as they head upstairs. It's not even 8 yet and they are asking for Jax and Binny stories so they can go to sleep! I think Dax has been wearing his super hero pajamas for 3 or 4 nights now, but that I can live with.

There is nothing better than hearing my three guys upstairs giggling while reading Christmas stories in November. It makes my heart smile.

I'm so glad that this was the day the Lord has made, I wouldn't change it for anything.

On a roll...

Praises...

Mornings where everyone is happy.

The way Dax has been bouncing into school. We had a couple of rough mornings early in the school year but now he seems to be on a roll, always ready to show his teacher his "pearly whites" when he walks in the door.

The color of the leaves on the tree in our neighbor's back yard, the way the kitchen window frames it as if it's almost a piece of art.

Having a few mornings a week with just Finn. It's so much fun to see how his little 2 1/2 year old mind works and watch his personality coming out in full force.

Being able to reattach all of the computer keys Finn "popped" off my keyboard today.

Warm weather in November, still loving it!


My children actually working out some issues without hurting each other or yelling at each other (see previous post). The fact that I was at the computer and was able to document it's amazing occurrence.


Catching up on some long lost blog reading.


Baby Stellan making it through a rough day with flying colors.


Angie's big news.

4 posts in 3 days. I'm sorry if I'm stressing anyone out. Although I think I'm down to only about 4 readers at this point, so for you who came right back to reading, I am grateful that you hung in there! Thank you!


My husband who comes home every night to his second job here and never complains.


Finally, a quiet house, filled with people I love.

Well it has happened...

Finn has just revealed to Lily that Dax flushed shoes down the potty.

She is interrogating.

It has not yet been revealed that it was a whole handful of Polly Pocket shoes. I'd say a good 80% of her collection.

Should I duck and cover now or get involved?

Oh Boy, it's coming this way....

They are smiling.

Lily says they are so cute because they said, in sweet little voices "We flushed one of your shoes down the potty." Then Dax added, "I'm soooo sooo sorry, can you forgive me? " She thought it was so sweet that she said yes. They told her the shoes came from the art room. I only wish Finn could keep the art room and the guest room straight. She is thinking it's some random Barbie shoe out of the bottom of a box.

Should I correct this?

I'm so happy they fessed up and asked for forgiveness and she gave it.

Ok, here goes nothing...

"Finn, did you get the shoes from the room way down in the basement by your playroom or the one by the family room?" Finn: cute little voice "guest ooom"

Lily's eyes get big.

"Dax, what kind of shoes were they?" Dax: "Rubber"

I try to hold back giggles.

"Dax, what did they go with?" Dax: in a whisper, "Polly Pockets"

Lily starts to groan.

"Finn, how many shoes were there?" Finn; in a giddy little voice while dancing around the room, "Really Lots!"

I laugh, and explain to Lily that I can laugh, but I didn't laugh when Finn flipped a few more keys off my computer this morning.

Lily stood, Dax coward, Finn giggled.

Lily lectured, Dax blamed some of it on Finn, Finn denied his involvement. Lily continues to lecture.

It looks as if there is not going to be any yelling, crying, or slugging.

This must be some sort of magical day! Amen!