December 29, 2007
Isaac Hiding
This is from a few months ago. We were playing hide and seek. This is Isaac hiding, not counting.
December 27, 2007
Political Quiz
So how come I can't find a candidate I'm happy with? I took this. As you can guess it didn't help any but quizzes are always fun.
LIBERALS usually embrace freedom of choice in personal matters, but tend to support significant government control of the economy. They generally support a government-funded "safety net" to help the disadvantaged, and advocate strict regulation of business. Liberals tend to favor environmental regulations,
defend civil liberties and free expression, support government action
to promote equality, and tolerate diverse lifestyles.
LIBERTARIANS support maximum liberty in both personal
and economic matters. They advocate a much smaller government;
one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion
and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual
responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes,
promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the
free market, and defend civil liberties.
December 26, 2007
Perfect Moments
First, I finally received my husband Sunday evening. Happiness.
Second, being the mom of three boys born in three years, the oldest now being four and a half is a lot of work. God's constantly growing my patience and perseverance. It's constant. A lot of times I find myself begging God for patience and for strength. I think about all the things I'm not getting done, wonder where I'm failing them and what huge spiritual gaps they'll have b/c of me. All parents entertain these thoughts occasionally. And occasionally these little perfect moments peak through. These moments when God's grace is so perfectly clear to you. His love for your kids and His perfect hand in their lives reigns peace, knowing you're not powerful enough to mess with God's grace and mercy. He turns evil into good and mistakes into strengths.
It's been snowing most of the day here. We bundled up and returned some stuff to the library, picking up even more books and a coveted video. On the way home I was listening to a quiet newscast and realized I was having one of those perfect moments. Each of the three boys had a book (two Beverly Cleary mouse books and a silly floppy-eared dog book) and was reading quietly as we drove through the snow. Gid was reading the story, Isaac was pointing out letters and making their sounds and Phin was pointing, "A, B, A, B, A, B dog!" Isn't this how God wants us? Enjoying where we are, who we are, delighting in His image in us? Each of those boys was performing exactly where he is in his growth. Not straining to be where one of the others is but enjoying who he is right now and the gift that is. Not only so, but - heck! - there was no arguing, whining or discontent in our vehicle for fifteen whole minutes!
December 22, 2007
Aaaaaargh!
I've been waiting anxiously for tonight for almost two weeks now. I had a baby sitter lined up and was going to the airport to pick Andy up myself. Of course I got the inevitable call saying Andy'd missed his flight and was going to have to reschedule. We hoped for an eleven or so pick up rather than the eight p.m. original one but of course every one else in Chicago was trying to do the same thing. So right now it looks like we might see Andy tomorrow night around eleven thirty. Pray for me as I get all three boys and myself to the nine-thirty service tomorrow morning and teach at the service after that. I need to be not so very morning sick. And pray Andy might get in on an earlier standby flight tomorrow. I do so very much miss that guy.
December 19, 2007
December 18, 2007
A Heartbeat!
We heard the heartbeat at only nine weeks and two days! How sweet.
The neighbor's dog is half pug half chihuahua, apparently named Chewie. And safely back home.
A "chug".
My Neighbor's Dog
So it's this little yappy pug type (what is it, Bob - Michelle? It's a pug w/out the funky nose). Anyway, they have all these pieces missing from their fence and yet continue to put it in the backyard as though it was actually going to stay in this time. This morning I first heard it running around about seven or seven thirty. Cursed pup up before my kids is not okay with me! Then when the garbage truck came I was informed by my snooping three and four year olds "That dog is in the middle of the road while the garbage truck is there!" I peaked our little spy window with them to see the small dog indeed dodging the giant truck. Around nine this morning I took Arlo out back to potty. He immediately went around to the side yard and started barking which is very rare for him. Turns out the meter lady was trying to get in without letting little Puggers in with her. Of course to no avail. This thing is fast, spry and wholly untrained at listening to humans. Arlo ran around the yard with Puggers while the meter lady did her business (and the dogs did theirs). She tried & tried to get that little dog out & I finally told her to leave it, I'd take care of it later. I let Arlo stay outside with Puggers and play for thirty or forty minutes then let him in seeing as how it's around thirty five degrees and raining. I, however did not let Puggers in having seen his outdoor antics & imagining a house full of Puggers poop, chewed toys and allergy inducing dander. I find myself here now at eleven thirty in the morning with two naked boys in a tub, a tired nauseas body and passive aggressive dreams of "teaching the neighbors a lesson". What a jerk. "Maybe having the dog missing for a day or two might get them to fix the fence and maybe care a little more for the safety of their dog." These are the folks who had the boxer that ran out into the road and attacked Arlo, knocking him into Gid on his bicycle. They just aren't the type of dog owners who do the whole training and loving thing. There's this small evil part of me who wants to take Puggers to the dog park this evening to this wonderful couple who owns two pugs and would make fabulous new owners for this little guy. Again, I don't hold any pretenses of good, loving neighborliness right now. I'm not going to take Puggers to the park. I am, however, going to keep him in our laundry room until after my midwife appt this afternoon when I have a friend here to watch the boys while I take Puggers home. It was scary when they had the big, attacking bull dog now it's just sad with little neglected, annoying Puggers.
December 14, 2007
Woo-Hoo!
And so today at five my friend Caroline comes to take the boys to the park for a few hours. Tomorrow morning my Aunt Donna takes the two older ones and Arlo for a hike or something similar for a couple hours. Sunday Uncle Zach's gonna go get a Christmas tree and set it up for us. Monday Caroline's going to help "with whatever you want" (mmmwah ha ha). Tuesday I have the midwife appt during which Uncle Zach's gonna take the boys "sledding or something". Caroline again on Wednesday and Thursday and then dare I ask for anything more?!! Oh, yeah. I was wondering how long it was going to take my poor seventy pound dog to go absolutely crazy w/out enough exercise (even throwing a toy for him made me sick let's not even think about taking a walk!!!). So as I was wondering this my neighbor Mark who has a great dane puppy named Max came over. He said he thought it'd be a great idea for us to let Arlo and Max in his back yard a couple hours every day to play off their puppy energy. Whoah! He went ahead and took Arlo for two hours while the boys and I went to the library - let's just praise the Lord I feel well enough to have gone to the library and I'm not throwing up afterwards!!! He just brought a very happy Arlo back. We're going to open up the gate b/twn our back yards and let the pups have free access to each other. Thanks, God for providing for my beloved ball of fur on top of all these other ways you're caring for me and mine.
Oh, and happy birthday to Dorothy. Happens to share the same birthday as my dear friend Danielle.
December 13, 2007
Tough Night
Last night was rough. I woke up to be violently ill around two a.m. I wanted Andy and wondered if a)I was dying b)I should just call my mom & the hospital and get it over with. I've kept a couple tortilla chips & a few sips of hot tea down this morning. I have high hopes for more. I've got my first appt set up for this coming Tuesday at 3. I'm excited about this place. I keep having dreams I'm having twins. Something in me says if I'm this ill there's got to be more than one little lima bean in there. Then again maybe it's my way of working through the idea of how much work four kids five and under will be. If I think about five kids five and under - two newborns - it makes four kids seems a lot more manageable. Please keep praying for me. I'm not able to do much more than walk from one room to the other without getting really ill. I miss my dear, dear Andy. BUT! I'm about to call a friend to see if she'll take the boys for a while and if that doesn't work out I've got two or three others that have volunteered as well.
December 12, 2007
How many hours does that make?
I put the boys down for naps at 2:00 yesterday afternoon. I finally woke Phin up at 9:30 this morning! Yes I'm jealous.
