A mother of Boys

Caleb got a frog today from the yard. He made a habitat in a shoe box with rocks, twigs and grass. I had the boys come inside to help me find my keys. Caleb keeps going out to check on the frog. The last time he went out the frog had died. I guess Leo was telling Caleb to give it CPR, well chest compressions. Guess that didn't work (I didn't know it had died yet) Caleb comes inside and asks for water for frog so the frog can swim. We get a bowl and I tell him to make sure to put rocks in the water so the frog can get out. I go out to help set up a "pond" for it and discover that the frog has died. Leo says give it more CPR. I tell them that's not going to work. So, they decide to go bury the frog complete with a funeral. Leo comes and tells me Caleb is crying over the frog.

I go outside and he's crying "the frog was like family" Reuben is also crying. I give them big hugs and tell them that there are more frogs. *What do you say to a boy who is crying over a frog he found this morning?*

I then offer them a movie in my bedroom, so they go to come inside. Caleb says I have to get the bowl. I notice shoe box is hanging from a tree. I tell them to get the box, Caleb says that's the marker for where frog is buried. I give them each a hug and bring them inside.

When life gets you down, turn to God

I have had the worst week or so. First I lost my camera while in Chicago, come back to Brian having to be at work for 2 days a day off then back to work. He ends up with a BAD ear infection. It was raining for 2 days straight and having the kids in the house driving me insane. Friday while Brian was home with his ear infection, I went to Starbucks for a break. As I was backing out of my parking spot, I looked both directions, no one was coming then I heard crunch. I hit a car that was going too fast for the parking lot. ARG…No real damage to my (Brian’s) car but the front passenger door of the other car was dented as well as the plastic trim on both doors is rubbed and the rear tire rubbed on his car. When I get home the kids are driving me even more insane and it’s beautiful out but they want to be inside underfoot. I decided to go to my room and two boys are watching TV in my room. ARRGG this house is so small I have NO place I can call my own. At least in NOLA I had an office/craft room. So I go outside to sit out there in the backyard by myself. Brian then sends the boys out to tell me I can go to my room. ARRRGGG so then my peaceful outside was inundated with 4 of the 5 kids. I went to the bathroom and sat in the dark just to get peace. Things have just been insane the last week.

Sabbath was really nice though, we went to church then came home and rested. I went to read my Bible in my room, Anneliese came in and "read" her Bible too. After reading a few chapters I decided to take a nap and that nap felt so GOOD.

Sunday we had a neighbor birthday party. We were having a good time and I went to get a drink and ended up hitting my head on the garage over hang. Boy that knocked me for a loop. I saw a second of black and sat down. How embarrassing. I sat there for a few minutes before coming home. The light was too much for me. So I came home while everyone else stayed at the party. Sunday evening we had to take a drive up to Brian’s office. He offered to go by himself but I didn’t want to be left home with the kids while not feeling good. The trip was uneventful. The boys played in the gym while we were there.

Today I woke with a killer headache but Brian is home and I am resting and relaxing. This week I am choosing to have a fresh start, work on my house in baby steps and get ready for a new school year with the boys. I will have one in Kindergarten, second grade and fourth grade. Caleb is improving on his reading. I think it has finally started to click with him. Hopefully before long he will be reading everything in sight like Leo. I know Satan is really trying to attack me because of my commitment to follow God. Sometimes it helps just to get it all out and move on.

Back home:)

It felt so good to sleep in my own bed last night. The trip was so good but Wednesday night and Thursday were both long and hard. My cylce started 3 days early (isn't that how it always works). Thursday when we got to the airport, I realized my camera was gone. I think I left it at the bellhop's desk while we were getting our bags. BUT noone has turned it in or remembers seeing it. Fortunately I had downloaded pictures to my computer except for Wednesday and Thursday pictures. But I am so sad, I love my camera and can't imagine not having it nor can I afford to replace it right now. But you know what, I trust God to give me PEACE. Either the camera is found or it isn't but I can't control that.

Brian took awesome care of the kids and house while I was gone. In fact, I came home to a cleaner house than I left and all the laundry is done. Now I have to keep it up. Today we are enjoying a day of family time.

Trip to Chicago

My trip to Chicago has been so much fun. Sunday I arrived and went to breakfast with a dear friend. Her daughter is a delight. Lola and I were prayer partners for many years while I was trying to conceive and she was going through a rough time in her life. It was great to reconnect with her and to affirm how God has answered our prayers. Then my downline consultant arrived and we went to get checked into the hotel. Afterwards, I showed her around one of my favorite cities. We walked up Michigan Ave, and through Grant Park. Just about that time our fellow team members arrived. We met up and went walking along the Magnificent Mile of Michigan Ave. We went into the American Girl store. I fell in love with the Itty Bitty Twins. We are planning a trip to the NYC store for the girls 5th birthday. It will take me that long to save for them:) We ate dinner at PJ Clarks. I had the best French Onion Soup. We walked over to Navy Pier where I sat and relaxed while most everyone else went wandering around. Monday began bright and early with an orientation and Home Office Tour. I am truly amazed at how large and awesome the Home Office is. We went back to the conference where we had trainings and announcements about our business. For dinner about 18 of us gathrered for Chicago Pizza with our Executive Director. It was a fun time for all. When we got back to our room, we CRASHED. Tuesday was another day of training and announcements and fun gifts. For dinner we had our executive banquet. Ours was a pajama themed party. The food was good, fellowship amazing and we had a BLAST. Wednesday was more training and WONDERFUL announcements. I can't wait to share with all my team. I feel better equipped as a trainer, mentor and seller. Once conference was over, my downline and I wandered around Chicago some more at a very relaxed and enjoyable pace. She was amazed at how much busier the city was today then Sunday but then I reminded her it's the difference between a weekend and a work day. We ate at Blackie's, where they have the BEST hamburgers. We took lots of pictures of these funky dress models with "dresses" of all different sorts of materials, from tiles to zip ties. We went into the Hershey chocolate and Ghiredelli chocolate stores. AWESOME samples. We had a late afternoon snack of Ethel M's truffles and Forte Tea. So much fun. Tonight we are planning to watch the fireworks at Navy Pier. Tomorrow we will enjoy a little more time here in the city before heading back to our perspective homes.

Feeling better

After a weekend at home, lots of water and cranberry juice Brian is feeling much better.

On a different note. Through a message board, I had the pleasure of meeting a family in NY who also has twins. Their oldest son was diagnosed with Acute Myloid Leukemia (AML) in January 2007 at the age of 7.5. After an 18 month battle his body was gone. His family is now grieving the loss of Dylan. I never met this family in person but I too am grieving the loss of Dylan. Through reading his Caringbridge page, I was inspired by his and his family courageous fight. His brother was a match and at 3 donated bone marrow to Dylan. Today hug your little ones a little closer and say a prayer for the Mayo family. My heart just aches, no parent should ever have to bury their child. This loss also make me long for Heaven more, where there will be no death, no crying or sadness. I long to see God & Jesus and thousands of angels coming in the clouds and see the dead in Christ rise up and go to Heaven for eternity. If you want to read about Dylan go check his page out http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/dylanmayo

Vaious kid Happenings

Yesterday when I was editing the pictures, Anneliese comes over. She is my more vocal twin. She starts pointing at the pictures and saying the names of the people in the pictures. MOMMMY DADDY EEEO (leo) Bubba (Caleb) ROOROOM (Reuben) I think that is the cutest one. Kiki (Bekah) The interesting part about Kiki is that is what we called my Aunt Mitzi when she was young. Whenever she saw her self she starting screeching MINE MINE. I love how children come up with nicknames for everyone.

This morning we were laying in bed. Brian is suffering from another bout of kidney stones. Anyway, Caleb, Bekah and Anneliese are in the bathroom. Caleb is trying to teach the girls to brush their teeth. He is telling them "do you want to do this the easy way or the hard way?" out of the mouth of babes. We started laughing and brian was like, I have told him that. After a few more minutes of banter, Caleb comes in and says I brushed Anneliese's teeth but Bekah wouldn't let me. He even told the girls we will do this again tomorrow. Too Cute. I love how he's willing to teach the girls how to do things.

4th of July family pictures

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!

Today we are celebrating our Nation's Independence. 232 years ago very brave men declared independence from England. Today we have a volunteer military protecting our country and the rights of others to be able to govern themselves. We live in an area where our Nation's battle for independence happened. I want to teach my children what a rich heritage we have. As you celebrate don't forget what today is about, take time to read our Declaration of Independence; teach our young people the importance of our freedom. BUT never take those freedoms for granted. Today we will be together as a family enjoying each other and maybe tonight we will go see some fireworks to make the United States 232 Anniversary. God Bless and In God We Trust.

Reminded today

In my Bible study this morning, this verse came to me. I know I have said and remembered it over the years but to see it in black and white in print is very uplifting

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

We serve the God who is FAITHFUL and He doesn't want us to be tempted to fail/fall into sin. What a promise ~ He doesn't want us to fail and has provided us an escape from sin.