Courtney turned 13!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COURTNEY!  You are now 13 as of last week.

Cupcakes taken to school...

I’ve three teenagers in the house….Yikes.  Gulp.  Sigh.

So….dear Courtney here are 13 ways I show you that I love you:

1.       I’m here for you every day.

2.        I greet you with “rise and shine!” every morning.

3.       I love you unconditionally as much as humanly possible.

4.       I do your laundry weekly with joy. J

5.       I listen to you from my heart-space and answer your questions.

6.       I hug you when you allow me to.

7.       I desire only the best for you and sometimes that means pushing you to your best.

8.       I’m proud of you and the young lady you are becoming.

9.       I love to make you laugh.

10.   I love to teach you about feelings, tell you the truth, share your dreams and celebrate mistakes through forgiveness.

11.   I love to take you swimming and see the joy you have in the water.

12.   I honor your differences and respect them.

13.   I take you to church and pray that Jesus will someday be your personal savior.

This and more – I do because I love you.  And while 13 feels big, you haven’t been on this earth very long and I look forward to many more years of being your Mom.

Pics of the happy celebration weekend.

 

Before and After - Braces!

These were her teeth BEFORE:

 These are her teeth AFTER:  

 Late summer of 2009 these metal train tracks appeared on her teeth for seriously medically necessary reasons, working constantly and quietly to straighten,straighten and straighten some more.  Banding, bite adjusting, saving gum tissue and teeth that may have had to be pulled…..phew, the journey has evolved a beautiful girls’ smile into a whole new realm!  Lovely! 

She has endured me not allowing gum, hard carrots or hard/sticky candy and popcorn…..so we’ll celebrate with a Popcorn party!!!!  Yahoo   Those Damon braces did a great job.  Next set can be her expense!  Hopefully not needed…..

She was so excited at the possibility of getting them off a few weeks ago – then delays, more banding and she said to me “I’m not going to believe them anymore.”  Another let down as hopes were dashed…but today is a new day….a new outcome!

Tobias had braces too – with less drama through the whole experience – but the same result of beautiful straight teeth making his smile pop as hers does now.  A journeys reward that shows perseverance of time. 

I pray her soul and spirit continue to undergo their “braces” of change as she sees the good results in a life well lived through the gift of salvation some day, the gift of adoption, the gift of second chances, the gift of a new family that loves her deeply and only wants the best for her.  So we’ll continue with our invisible braces of life, straightening our path, guiding us to what we hope will be viewed in the same passionate way as a good thing. 

Teach me your way, LORD; lead me in a straight path…  Psalm 27:11

Here is the Church, Where are the People?

 Here is the church,

Here is the Steeple.

Open the doors and where are the people?

 Here is the Church,

Here is the Steeple.

 Open the doors and there are the people!

 Remember doing that when you were a kid?  I still like to do it with my kiddos.  A simple hand game using motor skills, but think of the message…a church is the people.  I am so grateful for my church family and the support/love I feel from them.  They are awesome.  Hoping this Sunday that you have felt or are feeling the love of a congregation somewhere.  

 

 May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, this place of which you said you would put your Name there. May you hear the prayer your servant prays toward this place. 2 Chronicles 6:20

Bad Hair Day

Bad Hair Day!

 

Causes of static electricity

Materials are made of molecules that are normally electrically neutral if they are balanced by each other because they have an equal number of positive charges (protons in their nuclei) and negative charges (electrons in "shells" surrounding the nucleus). The phenomenon of static electricity requires a separation of positive and negative charges. When two materials are in contact, electrons may move from one material to the other, which leaves an excess of positive charge on one material, and an equal negative charge on the other. When the materials are separated they retain this charge imbalance.

Thank you Wikipedia my life would be ignorant without you.

Simply Green Joy

My long awaited green light plate switches arrived.  I got this HUGE box for three light plate switches wrapped and wrapped and wrapped in large wonderful green bubble wrap.  So....after I excitedly put them on the switches they were intended for with my helper Tobias in tow....we HAD to have a bubble popping party.  Supper and bathes done, we were ready for some fun.  Courtney declined - loud noises annoy her so she closed her bedroom door and tuned us out.  So the remaining kiddos home and I had fun.....

 We rolled one sheet out at at time and discovered Sophia wasn't heavy enough to jump on them and pop them.

  So she got on her big girl pink cowboy boots - that will do the job.  Nope.

 So helpful big bro Tobias, helped sqqqeeeeezzzzeee it together so she could enjoy a "POP" - Berkley was NOT impressed!

Simple Green - Simple Joy!

My View is Changing

My VIEW! 

Aaaggghhh (that is my Charlie Brown holler) – MY VIEW!  I came home the other day and someone is making mountains of Kansas dirt in the way of my VIEW!  The nerve of them!

A street was put in a few years ago and VERY slowly (economy?) a few houses started at the one end and we estimated that we’d have about 5-6 years before there would be a house behind us.  We’ve joked about buying the corner lot to “keep” the view on the furthermost point as we’ve loved our view. 

In 2004 we ruined someone’s view when we built our house…..such is life.  I’ve since learned whose McMansion that will be and I’m excited for the family who are looking to adopt three kiddos I believe as well – so I understand the need for “more space” when you add three youngin’s to your family. 

Also this week my “view” changed at work as I moved into a different office space.  So dear Lord, thank you for “changing my view” in life to keep reminding me that things shouldn’t be so compfy that life doesn’t change….it is this very change that can refresh and challenge us to accept things sometimes beyond our control.  (positive) Or make us scream in stress! (negative)

So often Foster and Adopted children feel like they don’t have any “control” in view in life.  They are told where they are going and taken to this foster home or that group home, yanked from the only family often they have (even if it wasn’t healthy) the change is hard because it isn’t familiar. It is a new view, new surroundings, new rules.  Some are grateful and see the change as positive, others negative and constantly battle inside themselves with the demons of the past and those around them because of it.  The older the child, the less likely that change is embraced.  I have children at both ends of the spectrum.  As I age – some changes are harder to accept too as I grow compfy in my life and ways.  

 So – I’ll look in new ways to find my beautiful view that is changed and appreciate God’s changes as he brings them to me.  I’ll pray to keep embracing the “new” in positive ways so I may set an example for my children to endure the changes in their lives and grow from it.

For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.  Proverbs 5:21

Sun Trees

As the sun set and caught the top of the trees behind our house tonight, it lit them up like they were on fire.  It was gorgeous and moving for me.  The contrast to the cold grey of winter's barren trees was stunning.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  So yes, it made me think of life and how Jesus, God's own "Son" was sent to light us up that we might shine for others in the grey gloom of sin and sadness on this earth.  Today I was more grey than sunshine and I took this as a reminder God sent to me to work harder at the positives 

and find that "sun" in my life.

"Finally, brothers, (and sisters!), 

whatever is true, whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - 

think about such things."

~Philippians 4:8 NIV~

Happy Valentines Day 2012!

First the kids.......nothing like a Lego "We Love U"

Then the hubby....aahh - I LOVE roses!  I love you too honey!!!!

May you enjoy this day and take time to tell those around you and far away that you love them too!

Morning Fog

This morning was foggy. Very foggy, sometimes my driving visibility wasn’t very good. I’ve blogged on fog before, but doing it again in a different way. I love fog. I pulled off and shot this picture before the sun came out and chased all the fog away. Within a few seconds it changed. I loved the road, the trees and how the fog seemed trapped. I half expected a horse to ride out of this fog at me with a rider from the past on his back….don’t know why, it just made me feel like I was back in olden days….like I’d be holding a Canon camera vs. just a canon and jumping back into a minivan no less vs. a horse!

Sometimes the fog creates fear thoughts in me. “I hope people see my vehicle/me and are driving safe!” “Accidents happen in broad daylight, let alone poor visibility.” “What if a vehicle is slow or stopped and I come up on it too quickly” “What is a safe speed without being a danger to people coming up behind me?” - As you can see, my mind attacks me with these thoughts and more. It is fear based thinking.

Then the optimistic side of me is fighting the fear going: “I should stop and take pictures – it is so beautiful.” “I just want to sit under a tree and watch the fog!” “Ooohhh, that tree in the fog is awesome!” “Look how is hangs in the fields like a quilt covering God’s beauty” “It is moist and giving to the plants and animals in this dry time.” “Gonna stop – have to take pictures!” And you get the idea……

The voices within us are our humanness – we always have the choice to listen to the good or the fear. Sometimes we need to have both to balance us and let us chose the right way. While the fear based questions are valid, I have to not be consumed by them and they give me the caution with direction I need in life. I like when the good thoughts overcome my fears and liken that to the Holy Spirit directing my paths. Recently one of my children had to make a choice between the right / wrong choices in life and sadly they chose to listen to the “wrong” voice. As a parent the struggle is to allow the natural consequences to kick in so the lesson you hope they will learn helps them make the better choice the next time….as daily we have choices to make on right or wrong. Those options never go away as we walk the path in life, sometimes in the fog!

Psalm 23:3 New International Version (NIV)

3. he refreshes my soul.

He guides me along the right paths

for his name’s sake.

Yup – says it all!

The Unsung Volunteer

See this guy, he is amazing.  Why?  Because he is selfless – he is a volunteer.  For years I’ve seen Lyle filming games – he told me many people think he is paid, but he isn’t.  He uses his own gas and volunteers countless hours every year filming sports footage for the schools.  Last week he was in Sedgwick, this week he traveled clear to Berean and again also was at the home game.  He has a day job too – so his days are long when he does this in the evening on top of a long work day, sometimes his arthritis bothers him more than other times, but he is dedicated for sure.  He’s done this for YEARS folks and I mean YEARS!  He's has three children graduate from the High School and his grands are starting to come up through the grade school now too.  Some students have tried on occasion to do the filming but get bored with it or don't film it as well / steady and aren't as reliable as Lyle.  Oh, Lyle may be rewarded with a gift card or two once in awhile, but he doesn’t expect or ask for anything.  What a lesson our government could take from Lyle!  He does it because he likes to and wants to.  He called it a part of his community service when I asked him why he does it, he also said he does it for the kids and coaches. Wow.

So, when you see Lyle next time….thank him….or better yet, slip him something for gas….you know, that pay it forward thing? (He'd die if he knew I printed that!)  The Unsung Volunteer……I just “sung” for you Lyle because I think people need to look around and see the many volunteers and people who support our community in ways that are often overlooked.  So Lyle, Thank you!  And your next Starbucks is on me.    :-)