tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82088513775777598722024-03-12T21:54:43.176-07:00To Train Up a MotherWelcome to my blog! The title "To Train Up a Mother" refers to the profound effects our children have on us, and how as we set out to "Train them up in the way they should go"...we find just how much God wants to teach us through them! These are my daily musings; a young mother to seven little souls on loan, how I've been so blessed by opening my heart to His plan and gift of CHILDREN, and...how I'm being totally transformed along the way.Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.comBlogger105125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-9332504119654065032008-11-11T16:50:00.000-08:002008-11-11T18:05:50.931-08:00For Veteran's Day...We went to the Veteran's Parade in Arlington with our fun Kirkman cousins!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRopKs_u39I/AAAAAAAADGU/5MHCzcMzNuQ/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 341px; height: 410px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRopKs_u39I/AAAAAAAADGU/5MHCzcMzNuQ/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267567978017120210" border="0" /></a>This is pretty much the red carpet for me. I would pass up Leonardo de Caprio and all his liberal friends any day to shake the hand of one of <span style="font-style: italic;">these</span> men.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRopMCBCQ4I/AAAAAAAADGs/2EdAjSMYW9g/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+033.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRopMCBCQ4I/AAAAAAAADGs/2EdAjSMYW9g/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267568000839598978" border="0" /></a>Unlike Leo, these guys aren't real sure about all the attention. They never did what they did for the politics or limelight and if you make the mistake (like I did) of calling one a hero he will quickly correct you and tell you that the <span style="font-style: italic;">real heroes</span> are all their friends that never came home. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoxKG-ukfI/AAAAAAAADIc/SyrJClnP040/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+032.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoxKG-ukfI/AAAAAAAADIc/SyrJClnP040/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+032.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267576763905380850" border="0" /></a>But we know they are heroes too and we love them.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRopLBXc42I/AAAAAAAADGc/yvE4bN-wPUs/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRopLBXc42I/AAAAAAAADGc/yvE4bN-wPUs/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267567983485313890" border="0" /></a>The kids thought it was so amazing to see real life heroes. I think they were kinda bummed when we piled back into the van without getting to shake any hands or tell them how thankful we are.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoqjkrZVeI/AAAAAAAADG8/AGJBOWpNzjs/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoqjkrZVeI/AAAAAAAADG8/AGJBOWpNzjs/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267569504792696290" border="0" /></a>So when we spotted these guys in the alley on our way out... we couldn't help but track them down! The cream of the crop no less!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRouU4ym6yI/AAAAAAAADIM/kAipGZc2BeQ/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+042.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 313px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRouU4ym6yI/AAAAAAAADIM/kAipGZc2BeQ/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+042.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267573650540129058" border="0" /></a>Three Veterans including WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Gulf War! (Silas was quick to proudly tell them that his <span style="font-style: italic;">own </span>Papa Tim served in Vietnam.) I think he made a real connection.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoqlA5yS3I/AAAAAAAADHU/cSd9aNHqdso/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+041.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 281px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoqlA5yS3I/AAAAAAAADHU/cSd9aNHqdso/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+041.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267569529549114226" border="0" /></a>Commander Bill Morse gave us his card and they offered to come over sometime and do a special home school day for the kids! Look at their faces. These are proud kids. This made their day!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoqkrTtUsI/AAAAAAAADHM/kIupKKF7w_4/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+040.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 318px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRoqkrTtUsI/AAAAAAAADHM/kIupKKF7w_4/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+040.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267569523752260290" border="0" /></a>We watched them go and I wondered what mix of feelings they must have on days like these. I wonder if they really know what they mean to us, and how thankful we really are. I wonder if they know that they are <span style="font-style: italic;">still </span>blessing us by their lives long after serving. Both those who died and those who fought and still <span style="font-style: italic;">live </span>to shake hands of the younger generations and inspire them to greatness. I hope they know... <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRovYltIx0I/AAAAAAAADIU/SAVCl5QOqUA/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+043.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRovYltIx0I/AAAAAAAADIU/SAVCl5QOqUA/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+043.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267574813648013122" border="0" /></a>...that my little boy came home and got right to work on a hat and flag <span style="font-style: italic;">just like theirs</span> and informed me that he now wants to be a <span style="font-style: italic;">"flying soldier"... </span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRosght4mcI/AAAAAAAADHs/yKbGk_tUQBk/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRosght4mcI/AAAAAAAADHs/yKbGk_tUQBk/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267571651481475522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRo0kjZzuVI/AAAAAAAADIk/3TubfB5LA2E/s1600-h/Veteran%27s+Day+045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 258px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SRo0kjZzuVI/AAAAAAAADIk/3TubfB5LA2E/s400/Veteran%27s+Day+045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267580516746639698" border="0" /></a>Thank you Veterans.<br />We thank God for your service<br />and we rejoice in your life.<br /><br />We salute YOU!<br /></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-81095158862130457302008-11-06T09:57:00.000-08:002008-11-06T13:13:59.454-08:00The Hearts of Kings... and Mothers too<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Proverbs 21:1 says that </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:180%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">The King's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD. He turns it wherever He wishes.</span></span><br /><br />So... we need not loose sleep over the heart of our new President, right<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>? <span style="font-style: italic;"></span> <br />We now begin to pray for him and in so doing, realize that this all has just as much (if not more!) to do with <span style="font-style: italic;">our </span>hearts as it does his! And this, my friends, leads me to my point...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Where is <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">your</span> heart today? What's the initial gut reaction when you think of praying for your new President? Are you there yet? Did it take you awhile? Are you nauseous?<br /><br />Have you, like me, run the gamut of emotions even despite your confidence of the Sovereignty of God? I confess that I spent Tuesday before the polls came in, weeping for the lost children of my unsaved friends. Not the intangible, theoretical, hypothetical lost unborn children, but the actual I-dearly-love-their-Mothers-and-wanted-them-to-live-desperately-but-now-don't-even-have-a-grave-stone-to-even-bring-yellow-roses-to... <span style="font-style: italic;">children</span>. The ones I don't let myself think about on a daily basis in order to function.<br /><br />It came out of nowhere, with no PMS to blame, and hit me very hard. I wept for their mothers... and vacillated between <span style="font-style: italic;">grief for the lost</span>... and <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ANGER</span> </span>towards my fellow "Christians" for allowing such atrocity. I watched the elections later and felt brief shock, mixed with frustration that I couldn't cry tears of joy with Oprah and my fellow black Americans at seeing a black man come to the Presidency. I wished I could have. But I could only think of the statistics and wonder if Oprah realizes how many more little beautiful black babies will not see the light of day as a result of this "historical" vote. <br /><br />I felt pity watching all those people swaying to the music, waving their flags, rejoicing in vain hope of a new human savior<span style="font-style: italic;">, </span>dancing in the streets, weeping, arm in arm, briefly united in a cause... because they need to put their hope in <span style="font-style: italic;">something, </span>and I guess this is it for them.<span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>I was able to watch them and clearly see a misplaced hope. I felt <span style="font-style: italic;">disgust, </span>wondering how many ignorant voters Leo, Brad Pitt & Paris Hilton alone got out to vote... <br /><br />And then as I heard the Obama hymns and saw the magnitute of the worldwide worship for this man... <span style="font-style: italic;"></span>I felt that familiar flash of fear betray a heart <span style="font-style: italic;">off course </span>and a need to dive back into the Word and let my LORD direct <span style="font-style: italic;">my own heart </span>in the direction that He wishes, just as He will direct the heart of my new President, <span style="font-style: italic;">as He wishes</span>.<br /><br />So... <span style="font-style: italic;">I did</span>. (And I let my husband make me a nice strong Pina Colada too.)<br /><br />And this is the point. The thing we must do. (No Pina Coladas before noon, ladies) ;) <br /><br />God is preparing us for heaven, people. He just cranked up the furnace. <span style="font-style: italic;">He did. </span>Not the voters. <span style="font-style: italic;">God did. </span>He is "weighing" each of our hearts. He knows how we voted in secret, and He knows <span style="font-style: italic;">why. </span>He knows how we now fear, anger and falter... or simply care more about catching our favorite show than searching His Word. He knows how sinful humans love to take up a "worthy" cause, throw money into charity, let the world see and hear their goodness and just generally bask in their awesomeness as they blindly speed down their high road headed to hell?<br /><br />Whether you're speeding there in a hybrid or a 15 passenger van makes no difference to Him. <span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><br />What direction is the "channel of your heart" flowing today and which direction might the Almighty God want<span style="font-style: italic;"> it</span> to go? Surely not jadedness, self-righteousness, fear, and apathy. Surely not running off at the mouth (or the computer) before you've taken a good look in the mirror. Realize that with Tuesday's vote, God just <span style="font-style: italic;">did </span>re-direct the channels of our hearts. He exposed, tested, dangled our idols before us and shifted us further away from hoping and trusting in any government, leader, policy or law... and more to Himself and His promises. <br /><br />If you're feeling the heat of the Refiner's fire today whether it manifest itself as <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">fear, </span>worry, disgust, anxiety, depression, confusion, disappointment, jadedness, doubt, anger</span>, or even... (if you placed your hope in man and <span style="font-style: italic;">won!</span>)... <span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">false hope, triumph, </span>defiance, confidence and puffed up pride for your country and yourself... </span>may you recognize it all as the loving Hand of the LORD, directing the channel of your heart, or adjusting the heat setting on your furnace. Let your heart flow like water according to His wishes. Let His heat burn away any dross that keeps you praying from those Christians who have so disappointed you. Let all of this be another revelation to you of your need for a true Savior and may you rejoice in the fact that our God, unlike man, has the actual <span style="font-style: italic;">power to save you! </span>Let it bring you to your knees in humble, loving and confident prayers for your new President Barrack Hussein Obama whose heart is in the hands of the LORD in whom we put our trust. <br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;">Help, LORD, for <span style="font-weight: bold;">the godly man ceases to be,</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For<span style="font-weight: bold;"> the faithful disappear </span>from among the sons of men.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">They speak emptiness to one another;</span><br />With <span style="font-weight: bold;">flattering lip </span>and with <span style="font-weight: bold;">a double heart </span>they speak.<br />May the LORD cut off all flattering lips,<br />The tongue that speaks great things;<br />Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail! (<span style="font-style: italic;">yes we can</span>)<br />Our lips<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-style: italic;">(votes?)</span> </span>are our own; <span style="font-weight: bold;">who is lord over us?</span>"<br />Because of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">devastation of the afflicted</span>, because of the groaning of the needy,<br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">what? You didn't know the unborn can groan?)</span><br />Now I will arise," says the LORD; "I will set him in the <span style="font-weight: bold;">safety</span> for which he longs."<br /><br />The words of the LORD are pure words;<br />As silver tried<span style="font-weight: bold;"> in a furnace on the earth, </span>refined seven times.<br />Thou, O LORD,<span style="font-weight: bold;"> wilt keep them;</span><br />Thou wilt preserve him from this generation forever!<br />The wicked <span style="font-weight: bold;">strut</span> about on every side<span style="font-style: italic;">,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">When vileness [worthlessness] is exalted among the sons of men.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> <br />~Psalm 12</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>In the LORD I take refuge;<span style="font-style: italic;"><br />How</span> can you say to my soul, "Flee as a bird to your mountain;<br />For behold, the wicked bend the bow,<br />They fixed ready their arrow upon the string,<br />To shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.<br />If the foundations are destroyed,<br />What can the righteous do?"<br /><br />The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD's throne is in heaven;<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men</span>.<br />The LORD <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">tests the righteous and the wicked,</span><br /></span>And the one who loves violence His soul hates.<br />Upon the wicked He will rain snares;<br />Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup.<br />For the LORD is righteous; He loves righteousness;<br />The upright will behold His face.<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />~Psalm 11<br /></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-72502593294707763442008-11-03T18:52:00.000-08:002008-11-03T20:27:18.653-08:00Answering to God for YOUR stroke of the penI have very great peace and confidence that the outcome of tomorrow's vote will be right in God's plan no matter who gets elected. It is in His hands. My hope is not in any man but in God who "directs the hearts of Kings".<br /><br />And yet, with that said, I have a lot of very strong feelings regarding the actions of my fellow Christians. I have been completely shocked this election, (so utterly shocked) to hear of professing Christians unwilling to vote on behalf of tiny, innocent, unborn babies who do not get to vote. Professing Christians who think that there are greater issues than the life of a little baby? <br /><br />I meant to blog about this many, many weeks ago. I started, ranted, deleted. Many times. But... <span style="font-style: italic;">what in the world do I say to a Christian who will not vote to protect the life of millions of unborn babies???? </span> For (what?) their <span style="font-style: italic;">wallet? What in the world do I say? </span><br /><br />I can only guess that these people must be so very, <span style="font-style: italic;">very</span> far removed that they think that they will not themselves be judged for their part in it and that their vote doesn't really <span style="font-style: italic;">impact </span>that world of the unborn? That somehow... it filters down, gets dilluted and in the end, Obama, the doctor performing the abortion, or the <span style="font-style: italic;">mother</span> will bear the final responsibility for the life of the innocent. I'm guessing....(trying<span style="font-style: italic;"> so hard</span> to give them the benefit of the doubt here)... that they must not <span style="font-style: italic;">know that it is our job? As Christians? </span> <span style="font-style: italic;">That God will not start by judging Obama or the poor lost, deceived and exploited woman seeking the abortion but that He will hold responsible those of us who know better? <br /><br /></span>Maybe they've never seen one of these tiny beautiful silhouettes twirling and kicking on an ultrasound machine... the little four chambered heart just beating away? <br /><br />I'll never forget the first ultrasound I saw. I was a very little girl and it was my first magical peek at my wonderful, beautiful, dancing little sister... <span style="font-style: italic;">Rose</span>. I had a glimpse that many never get, through my Mom's tummy, into the unseen world of the innocent, unborn <span style="font-style: italic;">people.</span> Real <span style="font-style: italic;">people. </span><br /><br />When we vote for a person that we <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>will vote <span style="font-style: italic;">for </span>the murdering of these innocent little people... what neurons in the brain are misfiring...? What sinful justifications and numbing of the conscience has brought us to a place where we think for one moment that we ourselves will not stand before an Almighty God, the One who <span style="font-style: italic;">"knits them together in their mothers' wombs"</span> and have to answer for the deadly stroke of our pen? Not just Obama's pen. But <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">our pen.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br /><br />I guess the reality of this personal responsibility really sunk in while I actually picked up my pen to draw that line in ink from one end of an arrow, to another. I realized in a brand new way that I was, in fact, writing in ink, a line representing life, or <span style="font-style: italic;">death </span>and it hit me that<span style="font-style: italic;"> I will answer to God someday for that line</span>. <br /><br />And with a very, very sick, sinking feeling... I thought of all the professing Christians I know of who know better, and who will have to answer for their part too.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">It's an easy vote, Christians. We vote for <span style="font-weight: bold;">LIFE</span>. We imitate <span style="font-style: italic;">Christ </span>who laid down His own life, so we might live. Before we had a vote, He voted for us. In obedience to the will of the Father, He <span style="font-style: italic;">voted for us.</span> So we imitate Him, walk by <span style="font-style: italic;">faith, in obedience, </span>knowing that our Father can raise the state of this nation's economy just as easy as He raised Christ. <span style="font-style: italic;"> </span>He is a God of miracles and redemption. So we lay down <span style="font-style: italic;">whatever we have to.... </span><br /><br />....... to vote<span style="font-style: italic;"> for those babies.</span><br /><br /> <br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">I shall wash my hands in innocence,<br />And I will go about Thine altar, O LORD,<br />That I may proclaim with a voice of Thanksgiving,<br />And declare all Thy miracles.<br /><br />Psalm 26: 6 & 7<br /></span></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-80554328456740819212008-10-16T16:00:00.000-07:002008-10-20T14:03:39.344-07:00Understanding, Knowledge, Wisdom & Lemon Drops<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257893658246336770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPfKbLaNUQI/AAAAAAAACPk/031C_nCMnjM/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+062.JPG" border="0" />We just enjoyed another fun & easy Science Project out of our <em><a href="http://www.peacehillpress.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=8">Story of the World </a></em>activity book. It just seems to make SO much sense to me for young children to listen to the great stories of <strong>history <em>unfold chronologically</em></strong>, while reading good corresponding (age appropriate) <strong>literature </strong>along the way, coloring beautiful <strong>maps</strong> of your travels and letting great <strong>science</strong> happen as... well, as <em>it did!</em> It makes each subject come to life so <em>wonderfully!</em><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257921431889041826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPfjr0So2aI/AAAAAAAACP8/PYF5HvQfgV4/s400/sicky+011.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="left">We're in the <em><strong>Early Modern Times</strong></em> book and it's <em>all kinds of excitement as usual</em>! <em>Jamestown, The Early Colonies, The Search for the Northwest Passage, the French in the New World, Henry Hudson's quest </em>and so much more! At these young ages we don't focus too much on exact dates and trivia but on the continuous unfolding stories and characters of the great cultures in time! As they grow, they branch out into more challenging literature, but keep right along with the fun! So since around this time there was a lot of hoopla over a pretty deceiving little mineral called pyrite - a.k.a. <em>Fool's Gold, </em>how fun but to segue into a little science experiment on the qualities of real gold using yellow Playdough and lemon drops as our two mysterious treasures. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257893653734268386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPfKa6mcneI/AAAAAAAACPc/Tzxw-yx7Sfw/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+064.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="left">The Playdough turned out to mostly resemble real gold so we just went ahead and ate all the "Fool's gold"! Nothing like lemon drops to seal those memories into the best places in their little brains!</div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257893667758111170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPfKbu1_ecI/AAAAAAAACP0/jLeF0CyFohE/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+059.JPG" border="0" /> (<span style="font-size:85%;">Silas coloring Henry Hudson after having used half his Father's tube of hair butter to form his Mohawk)</span><br /><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em>THIS IS WHERE YOU BLOG PRETEND READERS DROP OUT ;) AND WHERE YOU DOUBTING MOTHERS HANG IN...</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I only have a high school education. (<em>SCANDALOUS! I Knoww!) </em>Some people might think it's ludicrous that I'm teaching my kids myself. That's an argument for another day (that I will <em>eh hem...win), </em>but for now I want to just extinguish one specific little fiery dart of discouragement that the enemy, or the world, or a woman's own sinful mind will shoot straight at the heart of this thing called raising happy, godly children. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So you don't have a teaching degree. Wait whaaaaat? Not even <em>college? </em>You whaaaat? Even slacked off in high school?! <em>Will the scandals never end?!?! </em>You hate to <em>read </em>because the books were always soooo boooring?<em> So </em>you in fact, are not stoked on say... <em>history </em>for instance? PERFECT! You may have just as much fun as your kids! Let's be honest though, you and I would really suck at teaching calculus to teenagers right now. But here's the thing: Before calculus comes 1+1 dude. And 1+1= <em>you can do it dude. Catch my drift?</em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Surely we can teach our 2 year olds? 3 year olds? 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 year olds? Do you <em>realize how easy (and fun) </em>this stuff is? It's stays soooooo eeeeassy for sooooooo many years! And <em>these are the precious years! </em>The <em>foundational years. </em>The years in which they will learn whether you want to be with them and whether they want to be with you. For now, it's all about love for learning! Whetting the appetite! Lighting the <em>fire! </em>What you will discover is that you, the parent will suddenly realize you are <em>loving it because you are learning too. </em>Very easily. Because you have an adult brain and you are learning basic stuff.<em> </em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Home schooling is my second chance at learning! I get to <em>acquire a lot of the knowledge that </em>I didn't give a darn about at the time because <em>duh! I was in schoool! And there were like...too many things to worry about! ;)</em> I have an adult brain now and understand how wonderful knowledge is because I now have a little life experience to<span style="color:#000000;"> <strong>understand</strong></span> why. <strong>The heart of him that hath understanding, <em>seeketh knowledge ~ Prov. 15:14 </em></strong>I'm a great reader (thanks to phonics at the Christian school while I was teeny), and I <em>looove </em>these little people more than any professional ever will. All it takes is a little planning and willingness<em>.</em> </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But<em> let me tell you</em>... in just <em>a few more years...possibly months</em>, I will be no match for my eldest daughter in history. She takes an interest to someone like Queen Elizabeth or Abigail Adams, checks <em>out every book in the library </em>and suddenly I have a <strong><em>for real </em>expert</strong> sitting right here in my dining room gazing back at me with these big <em>knowing fawn eyes</em>. I never know which direction her interest is going to go, or if I will be able to carry the library basket out that day or not. It has picked up more speed than I ever imagined it would! What my sweet, dear, precious daughter lacks, is the <em><strong>wisdom</strong></em> to know where to put all this <em>beautiful <strong>knowledge.</strong> But that... </em>is where I come in! For what I lack in calculus, prepositional phrases and the periodic table of elements... I make up for in <em>wisdom gained right from the Source Itself. And my love and wisdom (and her Father's!) will guide and cover this precious child as she grows in that understanding and wisdom.</em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.~James 1:5</strong></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em></em></div><br /><div><em>(But on't count me out on the other stuff either. I'm all stoked on memorizing my prepositions right now with my girls! And someday it may come to some pretty formal logic. Unless I want my boys running circles around me! Calculus? ...I may have a root canal scheduled that.... yeah.</em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>Apply thine heart unto</strong> <strong>instruction, and thine ears to the words of knowledge. - Prov. 23:12</strong> </em></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But when that moment does come where you are outrun by your sweet kid and she pipes up to correct you on some Abigail Adams fact because she indeed <em>is</em> now an expert, let <em>your wisdom</em> guide her in the <em>humble telling of it</em>, and may you rejoice in that moment exceedingly! It will be sweeter than any lemon drop! </div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>Through WISDOM is a house built; and by UNDERSTANDING it is established: and by KNOWLEDGE shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches. - Prov. 24:3,4</strong></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><strong></strong></em></div><br /><div align="center"><em><strong>For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. - Prov. 2:6</strong></em></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-14944477695568539792008-10-09T18:09:00.000-07:002008-10-16T11:44:38.267-07:00You can take the girl outta the Valley...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tS7BMRCI/AAAAAAAACM8/c3z36bkHd8U/s1600-h/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255328355779888162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tS7BMRCI/AAAAAAAACM8/c3z36bkHd8U/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+025.JPG" border="0" /></a>...but you can't take the Valley<em> outta the girl! </em>This is a late post due to some super funky illness we've been battling but too fun not to post. Saturday before last we headed up north to my old stomping grounds for the Annual <em>Skagit Valley Festival of Farms </em>with our friends "The Burns-is". Chris and Jenni invited us over for dinner after all the farm festivities. How can you resist produce, hayrides through vineyards, pony rides, carmel apples, curly fries and hanging out with friends of such likeminded...<em>humor.</em> <em><br /></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255337754115058242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO611-i6KkI/AAAAAAAACOM/FloBHMoPEUU/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+032.JPG" border="0" />I sure as heck can't. The curly fries, that is... I'm pretty convincing here, huh.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255337767886880850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO612x2XgFI/AAAAAAAACOk/RdNNfasFgL8/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+041.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="left">It's a good thing we stopped to see the cows with the best hairdos first because we got rained out before touring any other farms. <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tTPSPyVI/AAAAAAAACNE/U1X1Nai85Y0/s1600-h/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255328361220131154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tTPSPyVI/AAAAAAAACNE/U1X1Nai85Y0/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+001.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>A wicka wicka wee on the little pony...</em><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tTbnWUTI/AAAAAAAACNM/TYGNPuw-ElA/s1600-h/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255328364529865010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tTbnWUTI/AAAAAAAACNM/TYGNPuw-ElA/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+026.JPG" border="0" /></a> He knows he's utterly studly here. uh huh...get it. Cuzza the cows...<em><br /></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tUM_GU8I/AAAAAAAACNU/1Yqvd8ZNbVY/s1600-h/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255328377782817730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6tUM_GU8I/AAAAAAAACNU/1Yqvd8ZNbVY/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+003.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong>Owen:</strong> Hiee Eamon! What you guys talkin about?<br /><strong>Eamon:</strong> We're just having a quick little huddle about parental control.<br /><strong>Owen:</strong> Oh! Can I join you! I have lots of good tips... </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255330002711688162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6uyyUVM-I/AAAAAAAACNc/waLTIq-Eyyw/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+028.JPG" border="0" /><strong>Owen: </strong>Okay so who are we aimin for here?<br /><br /><div align="left"><strong>Eamon: </strong>Well I'm feeling like it might be kind of fun to get my Dad today. </div><br /><strong>Owen: </strong>Great! Well I highly recommend waiting right until the fries get here and then just scream bloody hell. <strong></strong><br /><br /><strong>Eamon: </strong>Thanks buddy! That sounds like fun!<br /><br /><strong>Owen: </strong><em>Yeah man, </em>don't mention it. Good luck! I'm sure you'll do great. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255330006404752402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO6uzAE05BI/AAAAAAAACNk/p1Vy0w0scxw/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+029.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255336522765924658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO60uTaZeTI/AAAAAAAACOE/FQf46r6Cqho/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+034.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">These are my favorite kinds of pictures. They just really, really, <em>utterly</em> amuse me.</span></div><br /><p>While we were waiting for curly fries Jenni and I met a gal who reads both of our blogs. How fun is that? (Hi Tina!)</p><br /><p>And the best thing about going back to my Skagit Valley is bumping into old friends. I bumped into my old gradeschool/highschool buddy Eddy and his wonderful family!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255337761355835074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO612ZhPpsI/AAAAAAAACOU/UZ8NcdUhcRI/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+052.JPG" border="0" />Turtle fell asleep on the hayride. I guess he didn't realize he was sitting next to Eddy's brother <em>Danny Zucco</em>.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255337763864026194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SO612i3PnFI/AAAAAAAACOc/VOg4Z3tnN7Y/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+050.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257818257357614290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPeF2RNdLNI/AAAAAAAACPU/igLtkM_zW3s/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+047.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257813280294019026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPeBUkNBn9I/AAAAAAAACOs/yAN97pBylQQ/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+040.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">Juju had a great day. Look at those chompers! When posing for the Kirkman/Blau photo we discover one is missing. Can anyone guess?<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257813289786936322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPeBVHkUDAI/AAAAAAAACO0/zwrS298Pr04/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+054.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">SILAS!!!</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257813297199686098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPeBVjLpodI/AAAAAAAACO8/dR7SbF3Mrj4/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+057.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257813308371949570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SPeBWMzU2AI/AAAAAAAACPE/UAEEKmSC9LY/s400/Skagit+Festival+of+Farms+056.JPG" border="0" /> Thanks Chris!<br />But we forgot to get a Kirkman/Burns shot! :( Next year! </p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-5596996180708603922008-10-03T14:26:00.000-07:002008-10-03T17:17:11.009-07:00Don't EVER say the words "It can't get any worse"<div align="left">In fact, don't even <em>mutter</em> those words, quietly under your breathe. Don't even... regardless of what state of feverish delirium you are in, or how many countless things have gone wrong to add up to your present despair... even<em> think</em> those words. Go ahead and <em>feel the pain. </em>But... <em>don't say those words. </em>Because..... things can <em>always get worse. </em>And there seems to be some scientific law that as soon as you do, <em>they will. </em><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SOaOvQkMYrI/AAAAAAAACMc/tA0ORJ9lokw/s1600-h/Silas%27+cut+eye+050.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253042957926032050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SOaOvQkMYrI/AAAAAAAACMc/tA0ORJ9lokw/s400/Silas%27+cut+eye+050.JPG" border="0" /></a>While lying feverish on the couch Wednesday night after three days of sudden Jane Austen levels of fever... chills, shakes, projectiles, aches, a three day migraine, a week of missed school, 527 unanswered phone calls and trying to block out the deafening sound of seven kids eating and cleaning up dinner in the kitchen, I came to the realization that it sounded like a <em>food fight</em> was now actually breaking out in my kitchen. And then I did it. I made the stuuuupid maverick mother mistake of forming those very words in my mind. Yes. "<em>Could this beeeeee any worrr?!!?!....</em> </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#ff0000;">THUD.</span> </span></em></strong></div><strong><em><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></em></strong><br /><div align="left"><br />Of course....only moments later came the most horrific sounds I think I have <em>yet</em> to hear in my lifetime. There was the horrible thud, Silas screaming bloody murder, everybody else screaming bloody mass murder, and the three oldest (normally calm-headed kids) running in to me in utter terror shrieking out the words "<em>He's gouged his eye out!!!! Mom! His eyeball is gouged out!!! </em>They were <em>absolutely</em> terror stricken which shook me up more than the scene itself... The "scene" happened to be Silas staggering around the kitchen with one very bloody eye, blood on his hands and screaming <em>"I'm bliiiinded!"</em> His vision <em>was </em>filled with blood so it was truly a scare for him. He had run into the cutting board that I <em>knewww</em> would eventually get left out and one day cause some real damage to some poor fool running by at high speeds.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(As Silas points out below)</span></em></div><br /><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">I love this face. He looks like he's about to beat the crap out of the cutting board.</span> </em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253071446829023186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SOaoph_9v9I/AAAAAAAACM0/cLvG3_JydZY/s400/Silas%27+cut+eye+051.JPG" border="0" />Much in the same way we hear of mothers fighting off bears, running through burning buildings, to save their young, they can likewise overcome fever and projectiles, managing to run at very high speeds, even hurdling large pieces of furniture to tend to their injured young. It is a strong instinct for sure, and no doubt fueled by some pretty sweet adrenalin. Not even getting hung up by my bathrobe during my flight to the child (and the split second humiliating decision to <em>shed it), </em>was going to keep me from my young one. (I should mention here that I've been reading a lot of dramatic fiction during my days of invalidity)...</div><br /><p align="left">Isn't it amazing how quickly things can come into perspective for us? It's so ironic how for me things can seem <em>so </em>out of control until something <em>really obviously out of my control </em>happens and then I suddenly feel and remember how much out of my control it all is<em>? W</em>here nothing else matters. Where we realize nothing was really that bad a moment before when we were moaning that <em>nothing could be worse? </em></p><br /><p align="left">I tend to do much better in those horrific-<em>completely out of my control </em>split second moments than I do in the sometimes overwhelming day to day little things that can <em>feel </em>we should have under "control". It takes a loud thud to jolt me out of my despair sometimes with what I know deep down. While scooping him up, grabbing a towel for the bleeding and hurrying him over to the light where I could assess the situation, I heard myself telling all of the panickers to <em><strong>"Calm down! Is God not in control? Did He not know this would happen? Does He not love Silas more than even we do and is He not the one who formed his little eyeball in the first place? Yes!</strong></em><em><strong> He is! He did! He was and He still is in control!!! Everyone CHILL!" </strong><strong></strong></em></p><br /><p align="left">This was met with silence, and true calmness that filled the room. We all (even the babies) gathered around him, laid hands on him and prayed. We cleaned him up and discovered that the cut (that has mostly healed before taking this picture), ran all the way up to the very tip of his lower eyelid, and even cut slightly inside of the lower lid (though <em>not through</em>). He also banged up the top lid pretty good which had been quite swollen before I took the picture today. I didn't see enough guts to call for stitches and by the time Brian got home it was old news (and I had my bathrobe back in place). <em>eh hem.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253051181318090418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SOaWN7FpLrI/AAAAAAAACMk/pX-jhW0IV58/s400/Silas%27+cut+eye+048.JPG" border="0" /></em>But I was so thankful for my fever and my back ache and my filthy house, unproductive week and my little boy at home with me instead of some ER somewhere. It is amazing how God needs to make things worse for us to see how good they really are, isn't it? We have so much. So, <em>so much. </em>Even when things go truly bad and we experience true tragedy or heartache, it can always be worse. </p><br /><p align="left"><em>Oh Lord give us the grace to realize how much we have, how we deserve nothing good, and how you yourself took the horror of what we all really deserve. Help us to stay humbly on our feverish knees thanking you for each undeserved blessing. And when the thuds come, may we trust you because we know...we really <strong>know You</strong> and <strong>how much You love us.</strong></em></p><br /><div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253069893613410194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SOanPH0gV5I/AAAAAAAACMs/VjD9XlFfsiw/s400/Silas%27+cut+eye+047.JPG" border="0" /></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-37872166003610873412008-09-16T10:57:00.000-07:002008-09-17T19:16:56.578-07:00Of Boys and PlaygroundsOver the years, I have learned by observation that little boys have a different way of meeting other little boys than (for instance) little girls do. One thing I've noticed is that a seemingly essential part of the meet & greet process right off the bat, is to throw out all their important "stats" and basically do a bit of friendly bragging and comparing before they commence to the shuffling, scuffling, wrestling part of the friendship. This all seems very important so I try not to interfere if I don't have to, but I do try to... <em>overhear.</em><br /><br /><div>Some boys are more prone to exaggerating and embellishing than others. It can be pretty comical when they do because<em> another thing</em> I've noticed about young boys is that they tend to be horrible liars. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246690524334187474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM_9O9VY49I/AAAAAAAACME/axKNAi-tcgs/s400/Barclay+Lake+Hike+073.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>My son Elijah however, has never been much of a bragger and is pretty darn truthful on the whole. He tends to hate the spotlight or undue attention. (<em>Funny how different brothers can be?!)</em> This is why the following conversation was particularly amusing to me as I overheard my son Elijah during a recent "meet & greet" process with another little boy his age on the playground.</div><div></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> "I have a spiderman suit. It would go pretty good up here."</span></div><div></div><div><strong>Playground boy:</strong> "Well I had a Spiderman <em>suit too </em>but I got rid of it and now I have a <em>black ninja </em>suit that I'm wearing for Halloween."</div><div></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> "Oh."</span></div><div></div><div><strong>Playground boy:</strong> "Black ninjas seem cooler this year."<br /></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> "Oh. ...I climb up on roof tops in my spiderman suit."</span></div><div></div><div><strong>Playground boy:</strong> (incredulous) "....On <em>what </em>roofs?"</div><div></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> "Well, mostly the pool house roof... and the shed roof."</span></div><div></div><div><strong>Playground boy:</strong> "Huh-<em>uh-uuh."</em></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> (calmly and humbly) "Yeeeah, I do. My mom lets me. And then she lets me jump off."</span></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"></span></div><div><strong>Playground boy:</strong> (long pause..............) "Your Mom wouldn't let you do<em> that."</em></div><div></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">(At this point "Mom" is hiding behind the bush, feeling a little bit like a reckless excuse for a mother as I wait and wonder what my son's answer will be)</span></em></div><div><span style="color:#3366ff;"><strong></strong></span></div><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> (grinning) "Yeah well she's pretty crazy about her blog sometimes."</span></div><br /><div><strong>Playground boy:</strong> (just stares very confused at my son.)</div><br /><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> "And she likes to take pictures <em>all the time</em>."</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"><strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;">(</span></em></strong></span><span style="font-size:85%;color:#ff0000;"><em>I hastily stuff my camera in my pocket)</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"><em>Playground boy continues to stare at Eli and realizes that he seems to be stating facts and does not seem to be lying or bragging. </em></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#000000;"><strong>Playground Boy: </strong>"Anyway... yeah, I don't know why I ever got rid of that Spiderman suit. I think I'll probably be Spiderman again next Halloween."</span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#3333ff;"><strong>Elijah:</strong> "Oh. Cool. So did you see Spiderman 3... ?"</span></div><br /><div>At this point the "meet & greet" was <em>magically commenced</em>, the friendship was apparently official and the two boys happily start scuffling and shuffling around the playset together demonstrating all their coolest spiderman/ninja stunts.</div><div></div><div>Boys. Mysteries. </div><div></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"><em>Mothers: Perhaps the moral of this story is that if you let your sons do crazy stuff, then they won't have to make up crazy stuff to brag about on the playground. Perhaps I am just crazy and finding a moral to back up my antics.</em></span></div><div><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246693941278076098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SNAAV2cS7MI/AAAAAAAACMU/YIrEQILHUBo/s400/Spiderman+067.JPG" border="0" />But lest you think I am actually a <em>reckless</em> mother, here is a "behind the scenes" shot of Spiderman's sister checking his landing area for any sharp objects during <a href="http://totrainupamother.blogspot.com/2008/09/no-ordinary-grandpa.html">his big photo shoot.</a> See, we take proper precautions. Look how patiently Spiderman waits for his spot check.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>*NO CHILDREN OR ANIMALS WERE ENDANGERED IN THE SHOOTING OF THESE BLOG PHOTOS.</strong> </span>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-52536590332384241762008-09-15T11:14:00.000-07:002008-09-15T12:50:18.102-07:00No Ordinary GrandpaMy Dad, who we affectionately call Papa Wheely, (and who we also acknowledge as the source of the inventor genes), was apparently reading my blog the other day! He was so impressed with <a href="http://totrainupamother.blogspot.com/2008/09/too-impressed-to-be-mad.html">Silas' homemade fishing pole...</a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246313897423195762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6msYwaznI/AAAAAAAACJU/GawwIbb0ot8/s400/Spiderman+002.JPG" border="0" />that he brought him a real one rigged with little magnets and with little magnetic fish to "catch" until we get a chance to do the real thing! He has always been inventing such fun things. But this isn't actually the reason for the title of my post. In fact, it is probably worth mentioning that most "ordinary Grandpas" do not try to go <em>sky diving either! </em>(<em>DAD! Really! At your age!!!</em>) But that is still not the reason for his very, very un-ordinariness. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246313891466969570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6msCkWAeI/AAAAAAAACJM/s5G9DvgUnqI/s400/Spiderman+001.JPG" border="0" /> <div><br /><br /><br /></div><div>You see, for all these years, we've felt it best that we just keep Papa Wheely unaware of what a famous Grandpa he<em> is.</em> We feared he quite possibly could abuse the celebrity of it all, and as most of you know, superheros usually keep their identities hidden from close family members for safety reasons. (Like so they don't get kidnapped in the night by green goblins and such.) So for his own safety, we've just played it pretty normal up til now. So all this time, he's been going by the title Papa Wheely and having no clue how famous he is.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6msmLRokI/AAAAAAAACJc/9XBa_4LLvSY/s1600-h/Spiderman+003.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246313901025501762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6msmLRokI/AAAAAAAACJc/9XBa_4LLvSY/s400/Spiderman+003.JPG" border="0" /></a>But going under cover for that long can be a lot more pressure than most ordinary people realize. So when Spiderman overheard Grandpa talking about his near skydiving adventure and realized that Papa Wheely <em>likes to live on the edge... </em>well, what the heck. Sometimes you just gotta blow cover. So... just out of the blue, while Papa was sitting in the rocker, getting a hug from little grandbaby Juliet...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6mswOJaDI/AAAAAAAACJk/0QrIS06yNYQ/s1600-h/Spiderman+006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246313903721900082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6mswOJaDI/AAAAAAAACJk/0QrIS06yNYQ/s400/Spiderman+006.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong> <span style="font-size:180%;">Spiderman just shows up.</span><br /></strong><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6mtCD8wkI/AAAAAAAACJs/cV4ujjmQZzg/s1600-h/Spiderman+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246313908510966338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6mtCD8wkI/AAAAAAAACJs/cV4ujjmQZzg/s400/Spiderman+009.JPG" border="0" /></a>Papa couldn't believe the stunts he was seeing right there in our living room. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246317160222135538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6pqToTlPI/AAAAAAAACJ8/7wpLvt-l3cw/s400/Spiderman+010.JPG" border="0" /></div><div><br /><br /></div><p>He had thought Spiderman was a New Yorker.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246325875240529186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6xllmm7SI/AAAAAAAACKc/Xyx_XGQhN5s/s400/Spiderman+055.JPG" border="0" /></p><div><br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246334373004830482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM65UOPf5xI/AAAAAAAACK0/Y7iyzQoBbPI/s400/Spiderman+057.JPG" border="0" /></p><div><br /><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246334375563987778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM65UXxpi0I/AAAAAAAACK8/I5uLUiahEOo/s400/Spiderman+059.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246335722951471170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM66izL28EI/AAAAAAAACLU/cycIhxtdFd0/s400/Spiderman+063.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246334394519615394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM65VeZBd6I/AAAAAAAACLM/iZrOLbb1oBQ/s400/Spiderman+060.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246335731843574322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM66jUT5qjI/AAAAAAAACLk/DUGYUSwJJDs/s400/Spiderman+065.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246335740044837218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM66jy3PAWI/AAAAAAAACLs/5GTF5L9ixo0/s400/Spiderman+066.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246334377784375714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM65UgDB-aI/AAAAAAAACLE/h3xFJqD5Pdc/s400/Spiderman+062.JPG" border="0" /></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246335729036461474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM66jJ2ohaI/AAAAAAAACLc/jC9FdeobADk/s400/Spiderman+064.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246335933801783074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM66vEqfXyI/AAAAAAAACL0/I1MhCBqBIwY/s400/Spiderman+068.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246335941092720642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM66vf0yQAI/AAAAAAAACL8/6nwA5aPmVi4/s400/Spiderman+069.JPG" border="0" /><br /><br /><p>And when Spiderman actually sat down for a few moments to chat with Papa Wheely...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246317167145157730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6pqta4hGI/AAAAAAAACKE/1iN99rHEmeE/s400/Spiderman+007.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>He was pretty starstruck! </strong> But then...he started to recognize the charming, funny little voice coming through that mask...</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246317156426470242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6pqFfWU2I/AAAAAAAACJ0/gUDZK2p7h78/s400/Spiderman+008.JPG" border="0" />You can imagine Grandpa's surprise! When Spiderman revealed his true identity, Papa shouted out: <strong><span style="font-size:130%;">"I'm Spiderman's GRANDPA?!?!?!"</span></strong> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246317171012476354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6pq707HcI/AAAAAAAACKM/8QNrmJdBlk0/s400/Spiderman+011.JPG" border="0" /> A lot of things make sense now. (uh hem...like trying to go <em>sky diving at 63!)</em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246317180639327282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SM6prfsJNDI/AAAAAAAACKU/FewLZyHwwU0/s400/Spiderman+012.JPG" border="0" /><em>"Bye bye Papa Wheely,</em><br /><em>Thanks for the fun visit...</em></p><p align="center"><em><strong>We love you!!!" </strong></em></p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-56110486628872488892008-09-04T18:51:00.000-07:002008-09-04T19:24:59.484-07:00How Does a Man Redeem Himself...<div align="left">when he has <em>done it</em> <em>again. </em>Dinner is ready, he was supposed to be home an hour ago, he's got half his commute still ahead of him and a wife about to chew him out over the phone (I would never do this, but I hear that some wives do)?<br /></div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">How does he? Well.....<em>he could </em>tell her to go get James Ussher's big fat ANNALS of THE WORLD book down from the shelf and open to page 716. Then when she replies with a saucy<br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">"What, now?! Aren't you <em>driving?!?!"</em></span></strong></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><em><strong>...</strong>he could patiently persist... until she finds something like this....</em></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242351486342769330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMCS5tMzqrI/AAAAAAAACI0/M_8Y0rG8iHw/s400/Silas%27+Surprise+003.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center">with a card like this inside... </p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242351490340289266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMCS58F4-vI/AAAAAAAACI8/rCtWObjz274/s400/Silas%27+Surprise+004.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p align="center">with a very sincere apology and other sweet things written inside including that "this card is not to excuse" his "tardiness and absence" but just to know he is working on his "terrible vice" of being late. And he promises to make it up to her...<br /></p><p align="center">Then Signed, In Love <em>and Repentance</em></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242351492565607170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMCS6EYcowI/AAAAAAAACJE/CY9YrwFDPnc/s400/Silas%27+Surprise+006.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;">oh <em>heyll </em>yes !<br /></span><br /></p><p align="center">This should do the trick!</p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-14655488413404066212008-09-04T12:29:00.001-07:002008-09-04T13:28:07.529-07:00Too Impressed to be MadSo a couple days ago my kid comes walking in with his homemade fishing pole and <em>whistling... because I'm guessing he must be in his Huck Finn character, </em>stops right in front of me and says:<br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">"Hey, check me and my fishin pole out, Mom."</span></strong></div><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242251914052076098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4V1gvgkI/AAAAAAAACIc/0FnMX0cp-2w/s400/Theodore+and+more+029.JPG" border="0" />I immediately notice that his <em>reel </em>is actually one of our spinning hot tub jets that has apparently been <em>removed </em>from the hot tub and rigged to another one of his contraptions. And...what the heck? It really reels!<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4VUf8QHI/AAAAAAAACIM/1MoXOsfgfxs/s1600-h/Theodore+and+more+031.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242251905190346866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4VUf8QHI/AAAAAAAACIM/1MoXOsfgfxs/s400/Theodore+and+more+031.JPG" border="0" /></a> See <em>really...</em> I could be mad. (Maybe I <em>should?) </em>But I am really just too impressed. The kid has never been fishing except for briefly on our recent boat trip where he must've studied the beauty of the fishing pole. If you can see, he used the following materials:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4VsQaoaI/AAAAAAAACIU/sr3YS1-rU5Q/s1600-h/Theodore+and+more+030.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242251911567679906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4VsQaoaI/AAAAAAAACIU/sr3YS1-rU5Q/s400/Theodore+and+more+030.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">1 sturdy piece of kindling</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 Target pants hanger </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">(no doubt with the actual pants somewhere upstairs lying on the floor)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 Hot Tub Jet </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">(as is typical with this son of mine, the most maddening is also the most genius part)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 piece of thread</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 safety pin to anchor thread to the tip of the pole</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 bead (I'm guessing for asthetics because he noted similar objects when inspecting a real pole)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 weight (um...a nut from Daddy's tool drawer)</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 toy fish tied to the end<br /></span><br /></div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4WNl1auI/AAAAAAAACIk/9XPIwPVFqyk/s1600-h/Theodore+and+more+028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242251920515885794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4WNl1auI/AAAAAAAACIk/9XPIwPVFqyk/s400/Theodore+and+more+028.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p align="center"></a></p>1 brother to play Tom Sawyer and sit and keep you company while you "fish"<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242251902859841570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMA4VL0TkCI/AAAAAAAACIE/Wqe7A50K3OI/s400/Theodore+and+more+032.JPG" border="0" />I guess you could say I'm just reely, reely too impressed to be mad. ;)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>While I was publishing this...</strong></span><br />The son I was <em>not </em>mad at, just came over to my desk, munching on an apple and out of the blue said:<br /><div align="center"><strong>"Mom? You should try to go on that one show on TV where those um, people...they run up big mountains and win prizes and thtuff."</strong></div><div align="center"><br /></div>I began to get this uneasy feeling while asking"Really? Which one is that?"<br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>"You know... the one for....you know....<em>not very thkinny people?"</em></strong></div><div align="center">(he's doing this <em>really fake-polite, teeth clenched with raised eyebrows smile now and I can see little bits of apple in his teeth and spittle on his lips)</em><br /></div><em></em><br /><em>"Um, so </em>do you mean <em>The Biggest Loser?"</em><br /><br /><br /><strong><em>"Yeah!!! That one! With all the f.. people who need to be skinny! That </em>way you could get...y'know...thkinny... and win usth a lotta money too."</strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242263495111509490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SMBC38UehfI/AAAAAAAACIs/lF3fEZn-F-A/s400/Silas%27+Surprise+001.JPG" border="0" />Okay. <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong><em>Now</em> I'm </strong></span><em><span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>mad!</strong></span> Get out of here you little JERK! --Before I break that fishin pole over your thick SKULL!!!! (</em>just kidding. I would never...break that fishing pole.)Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-47374115760685858572008-09-03T22:00:00.000-07:002008-09-03T22:38:29.680-07:00You Can't End the Summer without a little TERROR at the FAIR!<div><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t2-bsY5I/AAAAAAAACGc/UdN6k2bVCRo/s1600-h/Evergreen+Fair+091.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242029282522063762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t2-bsY5I/AAAAAAAACGc/UdN6k2bVCRo/s400/Evergreen+Fair+091.JPG" border="0" /></a> We felt we hadn't had enough panic attacks to call the summer good. <br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t2-fQziI/AAAAAAAACGk/6z5KxJbnAVE/s1600-h/Evergreen+Fair+092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242029282537033250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t2-fQziI/AAAAAAAACGk/6z5KxJbnAVE/s400/Evergreen+Fair+092.JPG" border="0" /></a>We needed to find a good way to make the kids really look forward to the school year...<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t3JjOdwI/AAAAAAAACGs/A8QfNGsa0aY/s1600-h/Evergreen+Fair+093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242029285506447106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t3JjOdwI/AAAAAAAACGs/A8QfNGsa0aY/s400/Evergreen+Fair+093.JPG" border="0" /></a>The kids and I couldn't help but giggle at each new expression of terror that came circling around. It looks sadder in the pictures than it actually was. It was pretty funny.<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t3HdxF4I/AAAAAAAACG0/p2c63ylcTrk/s1600-h/Evergreen+Fair+095.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242029284946679682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t3HdxF4I/AAAAAAAACG0/p2c63ylcTrk/s400/Evergreen+Fair+095.JPG" border="0" /></a> Even she thinks so now.<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t3dW4h0I/AAAAAAAACG8/62PHn6BbV0U/s1600-h/Evergreen+Fair+097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242029290823386946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9t3dW4h0I/AAAAAAAACG8/62PHn6BbV0U/s400/Evergreen+Fair+097.JPG" border="0" /></a> Because after awhile, once she remembered her Daddy's arms were around her, she thought it wasn't so bad. She even waved!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030113057855618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9unUa22II/AAAAAAAACHE/6JtN1NG9kfY/s400/Evergreen+Fair+098.JPG" border="0" />And raised both hands!!! Yey Essie!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030117852666674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9unmSB2zI/AAAAAAAACHM/8fL1kYhTZi0/s400/Evergreen+Fair+099.JPG" border="0" />I flippin LOVE this picture.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030116385674578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9ung0RVVI/AAAAAAAACHU/FnKiQd5weNA/s400/Evergreen+Fair+100.JPG" border="0" />My two youngest kids have been a little out of control lately. I bet Brian (I should've bet him a large sum of money) that they wouldn't make it through the fair without a meltdown.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030123017919250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9un5hhWxI/AAAAAAAACHc/3444fL2kFE0/s400/Evergreen+Fair+050.JPG" border="0" />Can you even believe this kid?<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030497218914882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9u9rh_akI/AAAAAAAACHs/7lJESvgDyaI/s400/Evergreen+Fair+061.JPG" border="0" />The meltdown came when Daddy wiped his hands clean (he had wanted to lick them clean)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030505766421522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9u-LX4BBI/AAAAAAAACH8/lY5Dapb2BmU/s400/Evergreen+Fair+080.JPG" border="0" />And little miss "Cheese"...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030125293816578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9uoCAIywI/AAAAAAAACHk/md6RkwsXCD0/s400/Evergreen+Fair+073.JPG" border="0" />Her meltdown came when Daddy tried to lick the drippy parts from the cone.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242030500428249954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SL9u93fJ-2I/AAAAAAAACH0/PJ9Mv6a6JVs/s400/Evergreen+Fair+075.JPG" border="0" />I love how ticked off she looks here. It was really a fun day. And I won the bet. :)<br /><div></div></div></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-44768991780081141642008-08-11T10:05:00.000-07:002008-08-11T14:51:43.729-07:00Treasure Maps<div align="center">What could Silas have possibly done now that could evoke such a look from his Father? <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SKByDSaedoI/AAAAAAAACDs/MuPWVXoDzSY/s1600-h/Muddy+Juliet+044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233308167812576898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SKByDSaedoI/AAAAAAAACDs/MuPWVXoDzSY/s400/Muddy+Juliet+044.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well... he <em>could</em> design a really cool treasure hunt, hide the treasure in the van and then....<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SKByEBTPZiI/AAAAAAAACD0/oMdBe2DGdG8/s1600-h/Muddy+Juliet+045.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233308180398695970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SKByEBTPZiI/AAAAAAAACD0/oMdBe2DGdG8/s400/Muddy+Juliet+045.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>...scratch the actual map of the van... </strong></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><em>into the side of the van!</em></strong> </span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center">(You'll see he even included the "X" marks the spot.) </div><br /><div align="left"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SKByEtTSGDI/AAAAAAAACD8/teefKTZMbak/s1600-h/Muddy+Juliet+046.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233308192210032690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SKByEtTSGDI/AAAAAAAACD8/teefKTZMbak/s400/Muddy+Juliet+046.JPG" border="0" /></a>He didn't do this maliciously at all. He designed this fun treasure hunt for all of us and assumed it would "wash off". Since it <em>won't</em> wash off, I guess I will be looking at it for many many years to come. Hopefully it will serve as another very good reminder, along with the huge hole cut into my couch, the huge bleach spot on the new carpet and all the various "artwork" showcased on the walls of our home, each serving as their own sort of <em>treasure map</em> if you will<em>.</em> The little treasure maps that keep pointing me towards the real "treasure". </div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">As we strive to be good stewards with the material stuff God has entrusted us, there is this constant tension between stewarding and enjoying God's great blessings, while still keeping them all in an open hand and not allowing them to become the <em>treasure of our hearts. </em>All these temporary things we naturally strive to acquire and keep... nice homes and cars, clothes, money in the bank, strong healthy bodies, youthful attractive figures... Temporal. And more fleeting than we can imagine.</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">So it is actually kind of a blessing whenever I'm reminded that those are just temporal<em> </em>things that "moth and rust" can destroy, thieves can steal, <em>and one very rascally kid will inevitably vandalize!</em> The truth is that the real and eternally lasting treasures <em>are the little vandals themselves... and in serving the great God who miraculously sends them my way. </em></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">...For where your treasure is, <em>there your<span style="color:#ff0000;"> heart</span> will be also. </em>~Matt. 6:21<br /></p></span></strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />So where is your treasure?Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-20785019451899038642008-08-09T22:08:00.000-07:002008-08-09T22:27:08.803-07:00Creepy!I got a funny idea off my friend <a href="http://transforme-cc.blogspot.com/">Christa's blog </a>and had to post it. You should try this for a good laugh. You just google your first name and then "needs". I'm sitting here checking email on the PC waiting for my Mac to recharge so I can get back to recording and this gave me a good laugh. It's for REAL what I came up with...<br /><br />Elizabeth "needs"...<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">1. Protection</span></strong> (hwwwaaaaaaa!!!!!!!)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">2. A hero</span></strong> (I sure do. Thank God He gave me a superhero for my husband)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">3. to stomp the Latin out.</span></strong> (Now this is my favorite and it's flippin hilarious since I have finally officially given up on the Greek and Latin that we aspired to for awhile in my homeschooling. Let's just say the word "stomp" nailed my feelings on it pretty well!)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">4. Email support</span></strong> (That's why I signed on!)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">5. a nuk</span></strong> (Um...no.)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">6. to wear a second shoe</span></strong> (I actually did only have one slipper that I wore for several months. It was really pathetic and annoying.)<br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>7. your prayers today</strong></span> (yeah. Come on people)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">8. to heal</span></strong> (um...yes, but in a much funnier way than you might think.)<br /><strong>9. lovin</strong> (that's where Superhero comes in, baby...)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">10. The Fashion Police</span></strong> (Oh Lord do I ever!!! Did my sisters RIG THIS ONE???)<br /><strong>11. advice</strong> (Yep!)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">12. a new home</span></strong> (only when I have really bad PMS)<br /><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">13. justice, dignity.</span></strong> <span style="color:#000000;"> (interesting)</span><br /><br />Try it! It's funny!Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-72027218012999722022008-08-04T12:29:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:02.728-08:00Weekend Aquatic 2008Our ever inspiring and <em>dear friends</em> <em>TEAM TWEDT</em> took us out on their boat for our third annual San Juan boat trip. As usual it was <em>a total blast</em>. Make sure your speakers are on because friends crazy enough to take seven kids (ten total), their gimpy father and their crazy redheaded mother out on their boat (and invite us back!) deserve nothing less than the Zissou soundtrack...<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZq_3_HEI/AAAAAAAAB-M/tV4jot8LVQk/s1600-h/Boat+Trip-Twedts+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230748087449754690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZq_3_HEI/AAAAAAAAB-M/tV4jot8LVQk/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+005.JPG" border="0" /></a> Leaving Anacortes at Sunrise - still in our jammies<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZrTsGPQI/AAAAAAAAB-c/VmjDme9OXZU/s1600-h/Boat+Trip-Twedts+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230748092768599298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZrTsGPQI/AAAAAAAAB-c/VmjDme9OXZU/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+018.JPG" border="0" /></a> Goodbye mundane<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZr7eEYiI/AAAAAAAAB-k/ZYYg50-xxEg/s1600-h/Boat+Trip-Twedts+023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230748103447175714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZr7eEYiI/AAAAAAAAB-k/ZYYg50-xxEg/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+023.JPG" border="0" /></a> While steering... he scans the horizon for any spotted jaguar sharks...<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZsfIiDMI/AAAAAAAAB-s/_Ri0sHquj1A/s1600-h/Boat+Trip-Twedts+027.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230748113020521666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZsfIiDMI/AAAAAAAAB-s/_Ri0sHquj1A/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+027.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">Turtle </span></strong>has never been happier... or <strong><em><span style="color:#009900;">turtlier. </span></em></strong><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230749379728130882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJda2N_KQ0I/AAAAAAAAB-0/-yCHppuC8h0/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+031.JPG" border="0" />Sleepy heads still snuggling down beneath. Juliet has no idea what is right outside her window...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230749381092688850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJda2TEfw9I/AAAAAAAAB-8/xR1z6SQwijo/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+034.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div><br /><p align="center">What the?!?!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230748087929742546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdZrBqbJNI/AAAAAAAAB-U/3aVehXDV2eQ/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+012.JPG" border="0" />Breakfast underway always tastes better.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230749393070172338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJda2_sJqLI/AAAAAAAAB_E/L4Ylj99A-lg/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+036.JPG" border="0" />Land HO!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230749398884661090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJda3VWbt2I/AAAAAAAAB_M/lQEGlwxJris/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+038.JPG" border="0" />Our long awaited destination, always talked about, brimming with memories and treasures... little secluded-piece-of-paradise...</p><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">~Jones Island~</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230749403720135314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJda3nXTMpI/AAAAAAAAB_U/IQb-qfwYa5w/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+041.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><div align="center">Juliet is waiting for her sea legs to change back into her land legs.</div><br /><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230753205228450546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdeU5FgsvI/AAAAAAAAB_c/AYHAZrUM_3c/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+042.JPG" border="0" />She was just a baby our last trip. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230753214465760642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdeVbf23YI/AAAAAAAAB_k/6DS3t_p7moM/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+044.JPG" border="0" />We just sit here...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230755103402712786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdgDYVhXtI/AAAAAAAACAc/BEYeN5N6gXk/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+058.JPG" border="0" />And keep this handy dandy little babysitter device nearby...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230755075107236818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdgBu7Wq9I/AAAAAAAAB_8/8OqE7o4IMjM/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+149.JPG" border="0" />And they have total freedom...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230753216762816210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdeVkDhJtI/AAAAAAAAB_s/dI4PiAkTjG0/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+047.JPG" border="0" />(Well, there's always zoom.)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230753227926989858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdeWNpQ7CI/AAAAAAAAB_0/tIeHUw7kt-A/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+046.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>My Happy Little Explorers...</strong></span></p><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"></span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230755081643055906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdgCHRnWyI/AAAAAAAACAE/58utBMnddxQ/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+054.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230755090791400722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdgCpWwBRI/AAAAAAAACAM/Nqyv8thH_9o/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+053.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230755093343245154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdgCy3KE2I/AAAAAAAACAU/rBO_I-psCbw/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+055.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230757458840697810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdiMfBsu9I/AAAAAAAACAk/rQxFbNxgoU8/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+065.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230757466369213362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdiM7Eow7I/AAAAAAAACAs/A9MEk5QIIuQ/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+066.JPG" border="0" />Captain Tom is always up to something exciting! Always "tying strings".<br /></p><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">A little Rain...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230757475297166514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdiNcVOhLI/AAAAAAAACA8/n2au9twn7Ik/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+079.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong></p><br /><p>Never stopped us before!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230757481942603682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdiN1Fn16I/AAAAAAAACBE/-YBiE5WyLrY/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+078.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>~Pure, hot, Caffeinated Bliss~</em></span></strong> I'm fairly certain that this is how coffee will look and smell and feel and taste in heaven.</p><br /><p></p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230760021912211522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdkhrNkUEI/AAAAAAAACBM/QE5zXSalucw/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+087.JPG" border="0" />Gimpy Daddy perked right up!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230760040790442050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdkixifQEI/AAAAAAAACBk/4wJls23ohM8/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+089.JPG" border="0" />Bedhead<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230776814152543266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdzzHLpbCI/AAAAAAAACDc/j-Oiar1vkVg/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+088.JPG" border="0" />Still haven't spotted that Jaguar Shark...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230762211138956370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdmhGt5bFI/AAAAAAAACB0/l9JkyrrwbSI/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+106.JPG" border="0" />Momma and <em>The Littles</em> go for a little hike up the island. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230762206995719874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdmg3SEpsI/AAAAAAAACBs/UHNfqEQ4GGY/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+099.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="color:#009900;">Turtle</span></strong> thinks he runs so fast!<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230762221858368226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdmhupmquI/AAAAAAAACB8/kWR2UP_-U40/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+107.JPG" border="0" />Not so much. (Juliet is walking, and <em>gaining on him...)</em><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230762224620609906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdmh48LIXI/AAAAAAAACCE/LpVvERLYGuk/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+108.JPG" border="0" /></p>Hannah Land<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230762231458252626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdmiSaZR1I/AAAAAAAACCM/KYDr16jR1lI/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+117.JPG" border="0" />Time to cast off and check out some other islands!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230760027346426162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdkh_dL2TI/AAAAAAAACBU/0YYeh4sKXNI/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+085.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230765738692066834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdpub4GPhI/AAAAAAAACCU/-qM3RHZfi3w/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+130.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230765745285128402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdpu0cAYNI/AAAAAAAACCc/X3BqapG4xAY/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+142.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230765760064752354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdpvrfviuI/AAAAAAAACCo/LKgF0H_4eL0/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+137.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230776819716421154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdzzb6LdiI/AAAAAAAACDk/NVJFNTFXqTQ/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+141.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230765765818931474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdpwA7pWRI/AAAAAAAACC0/j8Qtg5UAfoI/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+139.JPG" border="0" />Gemma takes the leap...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230765773835080530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdpwey2E1I/AAAAAAAACDA/vTTr5VD1hsQ/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+158.JPG" border="0" /><br /><p>and had <em>no idea how cold the ocean really was.</em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230769491386728722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdtI3wOgRI/AAAAAAAACDM/ysjUmvmJUqg/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+153.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Tom and Becky</span></strong>, after all these years you still both inspire us. Thank you for loving us, and for being such an example of true hospitality. Your friendship, love and salsa have warmed more hearts than you'll probably ever know. Thank you! <em>We love you! </em></p><br /><p><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230769497130743874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJdtJNJtOEI/AAAAAAAACDU/gReG-YNR8EQ/s400/Boat+Trip-Twedts+114.JPG" border="0" /></em></p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-68975339380745784092008-07-30T12:55:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:02.979-08:00Isn't it amazing...<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJDIX6P84vI/AAAAAAAAB-E/s0RIiOQGY6Q/s1600-h/Rachel%27s+baby+shower+082.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228899480475853554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SJDIX6P84vI/AAAAAAAAB-E/s0RIiOQGY6Q/s400/Rachel%27s+baby+shower+082.JPG" border="0" /></a>...how He<em> "knits them together in their mothers' wombs"?</em> And all we do is just watch the beautiful evidence of the miracle that is happening, completely and utterly mesmerized at The Creator's handiwork. How can anyone see it and not know we have a very great God with a very great Love? <br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. </em></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>~Psalms 19:1</em></span></strong></div><br />How much more is this beautiful image a declaration of our God and His great loving hand?<br /><br /><em>Isn't she beautiful?</em>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-59631859095629094332008-07-12T11:54:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:06.648-08:00SUPER HEROES AMONG US<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><span style="font-size:100%;">How <em>else</em> did the cans get to the street?!</span> </strong><br /></span><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj_9Xr0IeI/AAAAAAAAB9E/GSzWgPWcIGA/s1600-h/Superman+001.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222205197730980322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj_9Xr0IeI/AAAAAAAAB9E/GSzWgPWcIGA/s400/Superman+001.JPG" border="0" /></a>Surely my husband with the fractured foot wouldn't have? He was told not to put weight on his broken foot. <em>Surely he couldn't have lugged 100 lbs. of garbage down this hill..... on crutches?!?!</em></div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222204842666708690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj_os95TtI/AAAAAAAAB88/87R6_RqPi74/s400/Superman+002.JPG" border="0" />But it would seem that he somehow <em>did. </em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222204836962370610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj_oXt4BDI/AAAAAAAAB80/pXd38bvnBx0/s400/Superman+003.JPG" border="0" /></div><div>I think his words when interrogated were <strong>"What? I just <em>used a crutch</em>.<em>" </em></strong></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>But I'm still trying to imagine how in the world he did it.....?????</em> Hmmm....<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222322137868062130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHlqULpIzbI/AAAAAAAAB9k/0Z_9vtCUI4M/s400/SupermanReturns1.jpg" border="0" />Just when I think I've seen it all! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222204832279549938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj_oGRZ1_I/AAAAAAAAB8s/gaO5bTQo3vc/s400/Superman+004.JPG" border="0" />This man <em>inspires me! </em>I would do him a great injustice at this point if I didn't take this opportunity to say what is really great about my husband. God's Word does not say it is muscles that move mountains (or hurkin garbage cans) but it is <em>faith. </em>Not just faith, because we all have faith in something. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222203958466372450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj-1PEG42I/AAAAAAAAB8c/do2kbwVQJPA/s400/Superman+009.JPG" border="0" />The kind of faith that moves mountains is the the kind that acknowledges the One who created the mountains as the object of the faith. The example of Jesus Christ<em>, </em>is where my Superhero gets his super. His is the kind of faith that would hold fast if God chose to break both his legs and whatever else because he knows it is an undeserved gift and he knows his God is <em>good </em>and works in very mysterious ways. He knows that his ability to work comes only from the God that puts breath in his lungs in the first place. In a world that looks pretty bleak at times, you can still easily find these guys if you know where to look. They are around and you will know them by their <em>love. </em>That verse about faith moving mountains goes on to say:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><em>If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.</em></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222203950527024098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj-0xfOC-I/AAAAAAAAB8U/rkwZBUVVfeI/s400/Superman+010.JPG" border="0" />When love and strength run low like it does for all of us at times, the guys that amaze us are the ones who find their strength and example in the ultimate hero ~ Jesus. These are the ones that keep the world going round. The next generation is eagerly watching these men and learning that they are usually disguised as regular guys, while doing superhero things. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222203946406198210" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj-0iIvO8I/AAAAAAAAB8M/AaRjFO9yGDg/s400/Superman+011.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><div align="center">They're the ones weed-whacking and disguised in ridiculous looking plastic bags over their casted broken legs; very often disguised behind babies...<br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222322138094088994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHlqUMfBsyI/AAAAAAAAB9c/6IvjGc2EHtY/s400/IMG_2761.jpg" border="0" />with hands that serve...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222325360927448130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHltPyeYHEI/AAAAAAAAB90/iyCbA519eU0/s400/MattDahlia%233.jpg" border="0" /><em>smores...</em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222327930178386114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHlvlVriOMI/AAAAAAAAB98/kuZuZU2guTY/s400/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+017.JPG" border="0" />with obvious love in their eyes...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222322120999348146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHlqTMzUp7I/AAAAAAAAB9M/en3seQGFEuE/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+016.JPG" border="0" />with heads bowed in prayer as they seek wisdom and strength...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222322127102578386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHlqTjicjtI/AAAAAAAAB9U/CZj5jpBbsHs/s400/Papa+Tim%27s+Birthday+035.JPG" border="0" />living out for us <em>the very gospel of Christ</em> in such colorful pictures day in and day out that we cannot see it and not be<em> immensely blessed and changed by it.</em><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222325359387822770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHltPsvTSrI/AAAAAAAAB9s/4jK3LFEhRkc/s400/Florida_Nov__07_168.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><p align="center">We are.</p><br /><br /><div align="center">Thanks guys. For being faithful. For loving long.</div><br /><br /><div align="center">We are blessed.<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222203940163205570" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHj-0K4SucI/AAAAAAAAB8E/1ZMhIenY9RA/s400/Superman+012.JPG" border="0" /></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-6844324012125408362008-07-10T16:55:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:07.189-08:00Practical PrinciplesI was a little surprised when my sister recently commented that my <a href="http://totrainupamother.blogspot.com/search?q=gum+removal">Gum Removal </a>post had been the most practical and helpful post that I've blogged. She seemed to think I should share more practical advice. I have found that the more kids I have, the more I find myself focusing on (and bloggin about) principals instead of the methods that have really faded out of importance in my mothering. My memory seems to have retained only what it deemed the essentially important stuff (which usually is, the principle). I have found that children survive whether they were scheduled or on-demand, whether they wore huggies or Pampers, etc... Whether little butts ought to be slathered in organic diaper cream or stinky ole Desitin doesn't get me real revved up anymore. I usually don't even remember what worked and what didn't. These days, I cling to my principles and very often just shake my head and laugh, run for the camera and instruct as I go. But I think my sister has a point. New mothers do need a little methodology sometimes to bring godly principals into practical mothering because it is such new ground. So, I've decided to try harnessing some principal with a little more step by step practical help here on <em>To Train Up a Mother. </em> Beginning with.........<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221545361730960946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHan13CP_jI/AAAAAAAAB7s/BdxuD0NDvnE/s400/Silas+imitating+Brian+021.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">HOW TO RESPOND WHEN YOUR SON RIPS APART YOUR HOME AND YARD TO MAKE A HOMEMADE CAST IN IMITATION OF HIS FATHER:</span></strong><br />1. First, <em>breathe. T</em>ry to see past the gaps in your little white picket fence and <span style="color:#cc0000;">look at your son's heart. </span> He wants to be <em>just like Daddy. </em>What a beautiful thing! Scripture says the heart, is "the wellspring of life" so we don't want to bypass it's intentions! I highly recommend <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Shepherding-Childs-Heart-Tedd-Tripp/dp/0966378601">Shepherding a Child's heart</a> if you have not read it. <div>2. Get the camera. We want to capture these beautiful things.</div><div>3. Laugh. Because...it is funny. The kid has a pair of Fruit of the looms wrapped around his foot, held securely with a bungy cord. He has ripped apart the white picket fence of the American dream in such perfect childish irony. </div><div>4. Now of course,<strong> instruct him</strong>. After you get a good pictures, make sure he puts back his Father's bungy cord and understands to <em>ask permission </em>next time he gets into Dad's stuff. Make sure <em>he puts the briefs</em> in the laundry, and that (here's the clincher!) <em>he fixes the fence. </em>If you fix it for him, you've just crushed his dream of being like his hard working Daddy.</div><div>5. Don't feel guilty if you need a margarita now. A lot of us would. ;)</div><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221545371230510626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHan2abHniI/AAAAAAAAB70/poFFWK-Lni4/s400/Silas+imitating+Brian+020.JPG" border="0" /></div><div> </div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-48745772947935131292008-07-07T13:51:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:08.560-08:00This time it was NOT...a perfect SundayIt was a pretty great one though until Superhero finally showed a human weakness and broke his foot. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKVBSInjaI/AAAAAAAAB7U/wonWdVZNMFI/s1600-h/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+097.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220398767356218786" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKVBSInjaI/AAAAAAAAB7U/wonWdVZNMFI/s400/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+097.JPG" border="0" /></a>Actually, it was still pretty fun even with the broken foot! Thanks to our great ER escort Jack and his treasure trove of stories and jokes, we had our funnest ER experience yet! (Thanks McPs and Melody for watching all the littles.) I am <em>really relishing</em> in our church community these days!<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKVBkDYSDI/AAAAAAAAB7c/kn1Isrwj-UE/s1600-h/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+098.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220398772166084658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKVBkDYSDI/AAAAAAAAB7c/kn1Isrwj-UE/s400/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+098.JPG" border="0" /></a> Well...and then there's always Vicodin. But look at the man still hard at work! He's so dedicated.<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKVCCDT5VI/AAAAAAAAB7k/ecyedgY1zls/s1600-h/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220398780218860882" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKVCCDT5VI/AAAAAAAAB7k/ecyedgY1zls/s400/Engagement,+broken+foot,+Kirkmans+099.JPG" border="0" /></a>This is him last night after the color came back to his face but before the ER. (Still a bit nauseous) He's hamming it up for the camera hardly out of shock.<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKCWS_cj_I/AAAAAAAAB7M/lfsTavxkwo0/s1600-h/Dec+2007-July+2008+074.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220378237642510322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKCWS_cj_I/AAAAAAAAB7M/lfsTavxkwo0/s400/Dec+2007-July+2008+074.jpg" border="0" /></a>I guess he heard it pop when he twisted it. Ughhh.... I had never seen a person's face get so white! <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220378236361004386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SHKCWON6VWI/AAAAAAAAB7E/MweCy3l79lo/s400/Dec+2007-July+2008+073.jpg" border="0" />Brian is such a strong and steady guy that it made the rest of us a bit nauseous seeing him go down! He's the type of guy that will tackle Costco with seven kids in tow and not even break a sweat. He's so strong and dependable that I've actually had dreams that my husband is actually is an undercover superhero. In times of certain disaster he just whips out his flying skills, Superman style and swoops in to rescue falling ladies and their babies and I'm like "Oh! Nice work hon! Well <em>that's handy!" </em>Napolean was right. It's all about skills. <br /><br />So anyway, it is a bit of a shock to have him out of commission and I realize even more how much I depend on him and what a blessing he is.<br /><br /><em>What am I saying... out of commission? He was walking by just now on his cruches when he heard this Soggy Bottom Boy song and started dancing and stomping his crutches. Maybe I should have warned them back at the ER about mixing Superheroes and Vicodin???</em>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-86019844760742329752008-06-30T10:58:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:15.137-08:00It was such a perfect... SundayThere was <em>lots of s</em>unshine, a great time of worship, great sermon, a bountiful feast that followed, beloved friends...and of even a pool to simmer down the theology talk. <em>Or wait</em>...I guess with<em> these particular four guys</em> it could really be any number of things. It <em>could</em> be the theology, law & politics, the stock market, Microsoft... but by the way they are strangely shifting around, I fear it is gymnastics, <em>powerlifting.... or perhaps a combination of the two???</em> <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217737687634828050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkgyDqkWxI/AAAAAAAAB3c/vh75iEWD04U/s400/Church+BBQ+009.JPG" border="0" /><br />Yes, I have the uneasy feeling they are up to one of Dave's tricks...<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217737698294213714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkgyrX9rFI/AAAAAAAAB3k/voVVz0M3NXY/s400/Church+BBQ+010.JPG" border="0" />Oh great. And my husband is the guinea pig???<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217737715735770818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkgzsWWtsI/AAAAAAAAB3s/uAmeusKF0Fg/s400/Church+BBQ+011.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">ONE...</span></strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217738767904620866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkhw7-9QUI/AAAAAAAAB30/_quj70Rt9Ds/s400/Church+BBQ+012.JPG" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>TWO... </strong></span><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong><br /><div><p></strong></span></p></div><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217737560299605378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkgqpTfDYI/AAAAAAAAB3M/3dthfvXzvf4/s400/Church+BBQ+007.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"> THREE</span></strong><br /></em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217738775175402034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkhxXEckjI/AAAAAAAAB38/B1UT4uEwusk/s400/Church+BBQ+013.JPG" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">FOUR....</span></strong><br /><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS of FALLING MEN...</strong> </span></em><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217738778332004706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkhxi1CgWI/AAAAAAAAB4E/vaIe5uP9z30/s400/Church+BBQ+014.JPG" border="0" /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">COMING TUMBLING (happily) DOWN!!!</span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217737674828546226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkgxT9UALI/AAAAAAAAB3U/142sQF5GOuc/s400/Church+BBQ+008.JPG" border="0" /></strong><em>But the audience was really pleased. </em><br /></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">I call this next segment...</span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Men of Christ Covenant get <em><span style="color:#993300;"><span style="color:#000000;">schooled</span> </span></em>by... </span></strong></p><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#666666;">"</span><span style="color:#666666;">The Grey Hair"</span></span> </strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217740626794803986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkjdI46cxI/AAAAAAAAB5U/UIlbiigHjiI/s400/Church+BBQ+026.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>C'mon </strong><em><strong>preacha...</strong></em></span><br /></p><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGqMoa5tLlI/AAAAAAAAB6s/DovRz2k3KQs/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+039.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218137744306155090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGqMoa5tLlI/AAAAAAAAB6s/DovRz2k3KQs/s400/Church+BBQ+039.JPG" border="0" /></a><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217740632952004578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkjdf053-I/AAAAAAAAB5c/CaAKBJpAsZk/s400/Church+BBQ+027.JPG" border="0" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkkIr-BEFI/AAAAAAAAB50/6VxvgaVeWf0/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217741374945824850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkkIr-BEFI/AAAAAAAAB50/6VxvgaVeWf0/s400/Church+BBQ+033.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkjcoNHg9I/AAAAAAAAB5M/NXQIrTy_irw/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+025.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217740608518145218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkjcEzaxMI/AAAAAAAAB5E/ohLEhAeAEZU/s400/Church+BBQ+024.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><strong>(I love the little boys in the back ground, battling like <em>the big boys</em> in the foreground.)</strong> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217740618021176274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkjcoNHg9I/AAAAAAAAB5M/NXQIrTy_irw/s400/Church+BBQ+025.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><p align="center"> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc33cc;">Essie</span> </strong>finally got her pool party and got the whole church to boot!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217738790977845218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkhyR8Ct-I/AAAAAAAAB4U/VNk9FiDiULw/s400/Church+BBQ+016.JPG" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkibvLRNJI/AAAAAAAAB4c/fhIQH-i7wmk/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+017.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217739503200973970" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkibvLRNJI/AAAAAAAAB4c/fhIQH-i7wmk/s400/Church+BBQ+017.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkicPBLIQI/AAAAAAAAB4k/xDNfoLxOdLs/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+018.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217739511748567298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkicPBLIQI/AAAAAAAAB4k/xDNfoLxOdLs/s400/Church+BBQ+018.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkicJnYvbI/AAAAAAAAB4s/_gm6gFBobvE/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217739510298230194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkicJnYvbI/AAAAAAAAB4s/_gm6gFBobvE/s400/Church+BBQ+019.JPG" border="0" /></a> "It was <em>hotter than snot</em>." ~Lannie Brown :)<br /></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkicg2gNVI/AAAAAAAAB40/rSsh6-KgQes/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217739516535649618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkicg2gNVI/AAAAAAAAB40/rSsh6-KgQes/s400/Church+BBQ+020.JPG" border="0" /></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></div><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Somehow children just <em>know</em>...</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">"whether you <span style="color:#660000;">EAT</span> or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Cor. 10:31</span></strong></div><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkkKe9KJ_I/AAAAAAAAB6E/b3je3O6hlrs/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217741405812303858" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkkKe9KJ_I/AAAAAAAAB6E/b3je3O6hlrs/s400/Church+BBQ+037.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkkLMQLwWI/AAAAAAAAB6M/DefeNCtY-dg/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+038.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217741417971695970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkkLMQLwWI/AAAAAAAAB6M/DefeNCtY-dg/s400/Church+BBQ+038.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">There were Lots of Children!</span></strong></p><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGqaFZAcBPI/AAAAAAAAB60/bTM7mxkniS0/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218152535664887026" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGqaFZAcBPI/AAAAAAAAB60/bTM7mxkniS0/s400/Church+BBQ+015.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><p align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">(who slept great that night!)</span> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217740636046558802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkjdrWtBlI/AAAAAAAAB5k/IZ-iQAj5vos/s400/Church+BBQ+028.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217736369421338242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkflU7-xoI/AAAAAAAAB20/G5IphRteyoE/s400/Church+BBQ+003.JPG" border="0" />Happy Menfolk</span></strong><br /></p><br /><p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkiclzpplI/AAAAAAAAB48/SQO14z9NN_c/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217736379348712978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkfl562fhI/AAAAAAAAB28/JQn_0CIAiR4/s400/Church+BBQ+005.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center"><em><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>Lots of Lovely Ladyfolk</strong></span></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkiclzpplI/AAAAAAAAB48/SQO14z9NN_c/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+021.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217736360268104962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkfky1rhQI/AAAAAAAAB2s/lQIM17gyhRw/s400/Church+BBQ+002.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGqaFqTcUYI/AAAAAAAAB68/Lv0-4zORN8U/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+040.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5218152540308001154" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGqaFqTcUYI/AAAAAAAAB68/Lv0-4zORN8U/s400/Church+BBQ+040.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGklVj3y5EI/AAAAAAAAB6k/6KGGgq2GRnk/s1600-h/Church+BBQ+044.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217742695622173762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGklVj3y5EI/AAAAAAAAB6k/6KGGgq2GRnk/s400/Church+BBQ+044.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">and brand new baby-folk!</span></strong></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></strong></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em></em></p><br /><br /><p align="center"><em>And even some time for a little Sabbath</em><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><em>REST</em></span></strong></p><em><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217739517865862738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGkiclzpplI/AAAAAAAAB48/SQO14z9NN_c/s400/Church+BBQ+021.JPG" border="0" /></em><br /><br /><p align="center"><em>Praise God from whom all blessings flow!</em></p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-63798022803260428252008-06-28T22:16:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:16.781-08:00Strawberry Shortcake Discoveries<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217169228677676626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGcbxZBuflI/AAAAAAAAB18/kuLucypzJ6g/s400/desserts_strawberry_shortcake_300x400.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217168671259994418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGcbQ8e_qTI/AAAAAAAAB1k/lGrJA0hqIpE/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+010.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217169693413778594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGccMcTcpKI/AAAAAAAAB2U/fIlC-hUeW4U/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+014.JPG" border="0" />What the blazes <em>is this stuff?</em><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGccL7_likI/AAAAAAAAB2M/4mhryUXDKd8/s1600-h/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217169684740540994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGccL7_likI/AAAAAAAAB2M/4mhryUXDKd8/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+013.JPG" border="0" /></a><em>My Mom better get this recipe<br /></em><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGccMgNcjaI/AAAAAAAAB2c/U9SF1s_Sf_M/s1600-h/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+015.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217169694462348706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGccMgNcjaI/AAAAAAAAB2c/U9SF1s_Sf_M/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+015.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Gramma is brilliant...</em><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217169685744099826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGccL_u2ofI/AAAAAAAAB2E/cc9rCaJ-0Hc/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+012.JPG" border="0" /><em>Where is she anyway? I'm ready for thirds...<br /></em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGcbQOulRwI/AAAAAAAAB1c/6v5j_mIHh1M/s1600-h/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217168658977343234" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGcbQOulRwI/AAAAAAAAB1c/6v5j_mIHh1M/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+009.JPG" border="0" /></a>Oh <em>Graaaamma.....</em><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGcbRJmdeLI/AAAAAAAAB1s/dJ6qeVlJAa4/s1600-h/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5217168674780969138" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGcbRJmdeLI/AAAAAAAAB1s/dJ6qeVlJAa4/s400/Jimmy%27s+BBQ+011.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><p align="center">Thank you!</p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-77846653783791142022008-06-25T20:33:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:19.786-08:00Business as UsualFor those of you who may be wondering if all this song writing is<em> </em>affecting my mothering, I snapped a few pictures today (<em>with my new birthday camera</em>) to reassure you that things are running as smoothly as usual around here. There have been only a few minor...<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">blow ups...</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216034077419313042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMTW5DpF5I/AAAAAAAAB1E/_QPp72Vjkvg/s400/A+few+blow+ups+001.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216032522496081666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMR8YhDfwI/AAAAAAAAB00/JjNGZ2FEDUI/s400/A+few+blow+ups+002.JPG" border="0" /><br /><span style="color:#996633;"><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Blow <em>outs...</em></span></strong><br /></span><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216032508239176338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMR7jZ8YpI/AAAAAAAAB0k/clSNZJT-f6k/s400/A+few+blow+ups+012.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">Only a few run-aways...<br /></span></strong><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMR7NWNB_I/AAAAAAAAB0c/n-snkdGj3l8/s1600-h/A+few+blow+ups+011.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216032502317910002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMR7NWNB_I/AAAAAAAAB0c/n-snkdGj3l8/s400/A+few+blow+ups+011.JPG" border="0" /></a> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">who were home by <em>lunch...</em></span></strong> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216035358755540114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMUheaATJI/AAAAAAAAB1M/Ih0j3LNt0Pw/s400/A+few+blow+ups+009.JPG" border="0" /><br /><strong><span style="font-size:180%;">only one severe <span style="color:#ff0000;">allergy attack...</span></span></strong><span style="color:#ff0000;"> </span><br /><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(which responded quite well to Benadryl)</span><br /></em><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMRdwIi2GI/AAAAAAAABz8/fjkb6TVyrvA/s1600-h/A+few+blow+ups+008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216031996259784802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMRdwIi2GI/AAAAAAAABz8/fjkb6TVyrvA/s400/A+few+blow+ups+008.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong>only one brief moment of being <span style="color:#000000;">locked out of my house</span> by my <em><span style="color:#ffcc99;">naked toddler</span></em>...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216032006813786626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMReXc0IgI/AAAAAAAAB0M/sv4rIHK8mZI/s400/A+few+blow+ups+007.JPG" border="0" /></strong></span> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">my</span></strong> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#ffcc99;">naked</span>, <em>smirking</em> toddler...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216032001707291522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMReEbVM4I/AAAAAAAAB0E/I2ZjT_NcFg4/s400/A+few+blow+ups+006.JPG" border="0" /></span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">Business as usual</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;">...except maybe <em>a little more fun!!!<br /></em></div></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216032514787922722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SGMR77zSUyI/AAAAAAAAB0s/5j4N-OdV9Ao/s400/A+few+blow+ups+003.JPG" border="0" /><br /></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-51076868358187915892008-06-17T16:49:00.001-07:002008-12-10T21:23:20.032-08:00Hannah's Dad<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SFhP4lS_sMI/AAAAAAAABz0/XmaHL4oZAKw/s1600-h/IMG_3418.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5213004402184401090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SFhP4lS_sMI/AAAAAAAABz0/XmaHL4oZAKw/s400/IMG_3418.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have been so obsessed with writing music lately I have neglected my poor blog. (It just isn't the same without a camera). Every once in awhile, something blogworthy strikes me and I feel compelled.<br /><br />Anyway, this morning my Hannah approached me while my mind was busy forming song lyrics and my fingers were busy strumming and began to ask me permission for something that I was apparently tuning out. I soon realized this poor kid was trying to speak to a mother with her head totally up in the clouds (yet in fact staring <em>straight at her) </em>and so I apologized. She stood there still, sweetly waiting for my permission to something seeming quite important... <em>what? Hmm...It was something about Dad I think.</em> I asked her to repeat the request...<br /><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>"Mom? When I read my Bible and pray and talk to God...in quiet times like that...well, do you think it would be okay if ...I call him <em>Dad?"</em></strong><br /></span><p>I sat there stunned, humbled, and amazed at how distracted we grown-up Christians can get from the point... and from the <em>person. </em>We have a holy, all powerful, mighty, all-knowing God...master of the universe... who let's us call him <em>Dad. </em>In fact, he <em>wants</em> us to. </p><p><em>Incredible. </em></p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-85314045153770076602008-06-06T10:51:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:21.376-08:00Clean & empty homes<div align="center"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">(NIV translation puts it this way:)</span></em><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Where there are no oxen, the manger is empty, but from the strength of an ox comes an abundant harvest. ~Proverbs 14:4</span></strong><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208829195970554706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEl6jmGCK1I/AAAAAAAABzU/eFHt2w9NI6Y/s400/Cattle_Barn_3.jpg" border="0" />Makes sense. But sometimes you just gotta love the King James which puts it a little better (at least for the mother who struggles with keeping up with housework and seven kids underfoot):</div><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;">Where no oxen are, the crib is </span></strong><a href="http://bible1.crosswalk.com/Lexicons/Hebrew/heb.cgi?number=01249&version=kjv"><strong><span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;">clean:</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-size:130%;"> but much inrease is by the strength of the ox. ~Prov.14:4</span></strong><br /></div><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208829205049652114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEl6kH6qM5I/AAAAAAAABzk/Q2x2mS9XtHY/s400/kink-com-stables.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><p align="center"><em>Heck yes.</em> I get it.<br /></p><br /><div align="center">(Key word: "Clean" the Hebrew actually meaning "<em>pure, clear, and empty</em>". </div><div align="center"><br />Are you like me? Are you constantly trying to "purify" that slimy sink, "clear" the toy strewn floors and colored paper cuttings covering your dining table, "emptying" the always full garbage, diaper pail, lint filter, etc.... and it all just keeps coming because your stables are still full of the hungry, clumsy, busy, pooping little growing oxen that "make it" faster than you can "take it"? </div><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEl6jVIa_UI/AAAAAAAABzM/aJEDT762zJA/s1600-h/ayrshireb.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208829191417167170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEl6jVIa_UI/AAAAAAAABzM/aJEDT762zJA/s400/ayrshireb.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our little ones will grow strong, and like the great ox, someday bring much "increase" to the Kingdom of God. In the meantime, the cribs will neither be empty, nor clean.</div><div align="center">Look ahead to that!</div><br /><div align="center">Keep shoveling, make your "arms strong", but don't break your back. The house will be empty and clean someday.</div><p align="left"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208829199864486962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEl6j0ma3DI/AAAAAAAABzc/sKbEAOVAhGY/s400/Harvey%2520Dunn%2520Oxen%2520Plowing%2520Team.jpg" border="0" /> <strong><span style="font-size:180%;">And the harvest will be great! </span></strong><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong><br /></strong></span><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208844235306783346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEmIO__NUnI/AAAAAAAABzs/Ik1_mxjs5Qc/s400/NPF3666.jpg" border="0" /> </strong><em><span style="font-size:85%;">photo courtesy of </span><a href="http://www.worldofstock.com/"><span style="font-size:85%;">www.worldofstock.com</span></a></em></p>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-46472425163813230372008-06-04T10:56:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:22.351-08:00He finally came out of the closet<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEbTgQZspCI/AAAAAAAABys/eB8r1BXANRA/s1600-h/Last+pictures+005.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208082570212582434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEbTgQZspCI/AAAAAAAABys/eB8r1BXANRA/s400/Last+pictures+005.JPG" border="0" /></a>Sorry. My English teachers taught me that it's essential to grab your audience with that first opening sentence.<br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208082217454935522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEbTLuRuHeI/AAAAAAAAByc/Ssxrg6ZFaDg/s400/Last+pictures+006.JPG" border="0" />But actually it's true. Owen my sweet turtley <strong><span style="color:#33cc00;">Turtle</span></strong> has come out of the closet, (<em>my walk in closet</em> that his crib has been in for his long 2 3/4 years of life). He's now in a <em>big boy toddler bed</em> sharing a room with <strong><span style="color:#ff6666;">Essie</span></strong> and they LOVE it because they are best buddies! They are looking to becoming the new "Bonnie & Clyde"(usurping Hannah & Eli for the title. I doubt these two will surpass the deeds of mischief and mayhem that their formers did though.<em>) <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208090233808048290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEbaeVhPUKI/AAAAAAAABy0/SJ9oE0zxbn4/s400/Disney1-3+182.jpg" border="0" /></em></div><div></div><div>My flying nun friend <a href="http://soaringheavenward.blogspot.com/">Marjie</a> , (and also one of the kids' most beloved babysitters) has forever teased me about when Owen will "come out of the closet" :) He loves being in a big boy bed.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208082220761761202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEbTL6mIRbI/AAAAAAAAByk/AVlPqynOj1g/s400/Last+pictures+007.JPG" border="0" />Out of one closet, and into another!<br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5208082204433324850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEbTK9xIGzI/AAAAAAAAByM/T2utt1py-5Q/s400/Last+pictures+004.JPG" border="0" />Oh, the lot of the seventh child. <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>But look at that little grin.... </em><br /></span><div></div></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8208851377577759872.post-90536314889828956132008-06-03T17:00:00.000-07:002008-12-10T21:23:22.596-08:00June day<div align="center"><strong>~The Birthday Girl~ </strong></div><div align="center">Miss Esther Grace turns five today</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">(pictured below at age 2)</span></div><div align="center"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEXcTufYvYI/AAAAAAAAByE/LvA6T85tZ3E/s1600-h/IMG_0382.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5207810775579147650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_RlyjYzXo3EM/SEXcTufYvYI/AAAAAAAAByE/LvA6T85tZ3E/s400/IMG_0382.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">The lyrics to a little song I wrote for Essie about my feelings of incredible joy for her and my immense gratefulness to the Lord for her life and health on this day five years ago...</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong><em></em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong><em></em></strong></span> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><strong><em>June day</em></strong></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>beautiful day</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>cause I'm on my way </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>to see you</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>June day</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>and the sun's risin higher in the sky</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>to see you too</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>I couldn't dream up this feelin</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>my heart's soarin up at the ceilin</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>oh day...</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>oh June day...</em></span></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>June day</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>beautiful day</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>never thought i'd say </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>"wishes come true"</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>Oh day...</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>my fear's gone away </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>in every single way </em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>You came through</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em></em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>and I can't believe You're givin me more</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>I'm fallin down on my knees thanking You for</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>this day...</em></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>Oh june day...</em></span></div>Liz & Brianhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17542548174285682259noreply@blogger.com3