UnOrdinary Life

Feb. 7, 2009 - A Post Just For Dr. A, Mary, and Susan.

This post is for all of my cheese head friends. When I was taking the picture everyone said that I had to give Dr. A a copy. Why?

Because this is as close to a cheese head any of our children will be!

Here is our Cheese Face Baby.

Feb. 7, 2009 - Abigail's First Piano Lesson

Abigail had her first piano lesson this week, after longing to take any type of music lesson for years now. My Tommy was home so I was able to go in with Abigail. Oh, how I loved to see her shyly yet enthusiastically tackle her lesson.

She has practiced at least 5 times every day since her lesson and is really doing well. I am so proud of her. When we were talking about who we were going to give our Valentine pictures to, she was quick to ask if we could give one to Mrs. Bonnie, her piano teacher. Mrs. Bonnie is the pianist at church and such a sweet lady, we are so blessed to have Mrs Bonnie!

Here is my little pianist after her first lesson. After. Yes, after. Can you believe I forgot to take the camera in?

Jan. 14, 2009 - First Day of School 2009!

We school year round, so our "first day of school" is in January. I have about 2 months worth of posts just waiting for me to edit pictures and get to blogging. I think that I'm just going to bite the bullet and only resize and post. An unedited pic is better than no pic, right?

Jan. 5, 2009 - Children in Church

We are in an interesting situation at our current church.   We are now fellowshipping in a church that does not welcome children to remain in the service with their parents. It is truly something that is hard for us to grasp.

This past Sunday we were asked by a heartbroken woman why we don't send our babies to the nursery. Why don't we? Why do we choose to keep them with us? Because that's what the Bible tells us to do.

I was asked what I would do if I worked, and I rather brazenly said that I wouldn't work. Now, should God see fit to take my Tommy Home while we still have little children, I know that I would need to find a source of income. I would definitely seek the Lord and trust that He would provide a means that would also enable me to still parent our children biblically.

We were asked if we take the baby to movies. No, we don't really go to the movies ... and, no the reason is not because it's not age appropriate for the children, it's because very little that is shown would be appropriate to feed to our childrens' minds and hearts. We try not to expose them to anything that we wouldn't want them to aspire for themselves.

This person wrongly assumed that we don't use the nursery because we are nervous. We don't use the nursery because the Bible is very clear that we are responsible for our children. We want to teach our children to worship God. They need to see it in action and never know anything different.

They also said that the baby has no idea where she is and that her place is in the nursery. I cannot even begin to describe how much I disagree with that statement. Luke 1:44 says, "For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy." That is Elizabeth speaking of John the Baptist. If John the Baptist was rejoicing in the Lord from his mother's womb wouldn't you suffice it to say that our one year old can learn to worship? The Lord can have the rocks cry out to Him, yet our baby can't?

May I ask if you know when the first nurseries were started? Do you think that there were nurseries in Galilee? Jerusalem? Were there tidy rows of cribs, rocking chairs, toys and a neat place for a snack of fish and bread when Jesus fed the many? Did everyone in the house of Lydia come to the Lord ... except for the children? I can't see any of those situations as being true.

2 Chronicles 20:13 says, "Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children." It says their little ones and children! So, to us that means the place for their babies was with them before the Lord.

Mark 10:13-16 says, "And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 15 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." 16 And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them." The Greek word for children here means "nursing babes." They were small enough to be taken into Jesus' arms.

John 17:11 says, "Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one." Then Ephesians, "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

If we are supposed to be one, then why should we separate amongst ourselves and merely entertain the children elsewhere?

2 Timothy 3:15, "and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Do you think that Timothy became acquainted with the sacred writings from a nursery worker or Sunday School teacher? No. 2 Timothy 1:5 tells us, "I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well."

I offered Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise) to try and explain why we choose to keep our children with us and she said that God is not the author of confusion. It saddens me to think that one could see the occasional babble or fuss as confusion.

I think our children would be confused if they were first taught that corporate worship is nothing but playing and snack for a few years then all of the sudden they find out that is not at all what corporate worship is. Our aim is to teach our children, not pacify them.

That is why we don't use the nursery.

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Jan. 5, 2009 - Menu

Menu for

January 5 – January 12, 2009

Monday

Smoothies and Raspberry Scones

Salad and Pears

Left-Over Buffet

Tuesday

Oatmeal

Baked Potato Soup and Veggie Sticks

Lasagna, Salad, Green Salad, Garlic Bread and Happy Birthday Jesus Cake

Wednesday

Birthday Cake and Fresh Fruit

Baked Potato Soup

Grilled Chicken Spinach Salad and Quesadillas

Thursday

Hard Boiled Eggs and Smoothies

Maize Soup and Corn Bread

Pot Roast, Roasted Veggies, and Rolls

Friday

Oatmeal

French Onion Soup and Salad

Pizza, Breadsticks, and Salad

Saturday

Bacon, Eggs, Fried Potatoes, and Oranges

Cheese, Crackers, and Veggie Sticks

Chicken Fajitas

Sunday

Overnight Egg Casserole and Banana Bread

Chicken Fajita Soup in the Crock Pot and Salad

Nachos

Dec. 28, 2008 - Menu

for

December 29 – January 4

Monday

Oatmeal and Smoothies

Peanut Butter and Honey Sandwiches, Nuts, Fruit, and Veggies

Spaghetti, Garlic Bread, and GG Salad

Tuesday

Banana Bread, Hard Boiled Eggs, and Fruit

Pita Pizzas and Veggies

Pork Loin, Brown Buttered Pasta, Green Beans, and GG Salad

Wednesday (New Years Eve)

Granola with Milk, Fruit, and Toast

Left Overs

Shrimp Cocktail, Roast Beef Rolls, Cheese and Crackers, Veggie Tray,

Thursday

Overnight Egg Casserole, Overnight French Toast, and Fresh Fruit Salad

Quesadillas, Veggie Sticks

Chicken, Rice, Broccoli, and GG Salad

Friday

Toast, Hard Boiled Eggs, and Fruit

Left Overs

Pizza and GG Salad

Saturday

Eggs, Bacon, Fried Potatoes, and Toast

Sandwiches

Chicken Fajitas and GG Salad

Sunday

Egg Burritos and Fruit

Crock Pot Chilli

Nachos and GG Salad

Dec. 4, 2008 - Miss Katherine's First Minute ...

as a ONE YEAR OLD!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET GIRL!

Dec. 3, 2008 - Ian Funny

The other day we were over at my other grandmother's house visiting. We were enjoying time with extended family.

It was around 8:00 pm and dark out. All of the sudden five ambulances went down the street, then back up, then back down again. Tommy and Ian went outside to see if they could see anything while I helped the girls get their shoes on. By the time I got out, we saw someone dressed up as Santa get off of a 4 wheeler in front of the ambulances.

Ian ran up the steps, through the girls and me, into the house and shut the door and locked it because he was so scared.

I was laughing sooooooooooo hard. Oh, just thinking about it makes me laugh. You should have seen him.

The santa came to the steps trying not to laugh, handed out candy canes and asked what Abigail wanted for Christmas, she laughed at him and shook her head no. He said, "I know. You want a key to get in the door."

Oh, I'm laughing again.

So, my uncle had been inside and he was laughing so hard when he opened the door that he had tears pouring down his face. He was holding Ian and trying not to double over with laughter. He said that he wishes he had a camera when Ian went tearing into the house.

We had just been talking about taking care of the girls earlier that day so I asked him why he went in and locked the door instead of protecting the girls or at least trying to get them to go in with him and he said, "They were crazy enough to want to stay out because they didn't follow me."

Dec. 3, 2008 - Oh, Be Still My Heart

I was sitting here at the computer trying to organize lessons and such. The kids were playing quite contently on the floor. After about an hour, Katherine crawled under the table, stood and leaned against my legs. With her head resting on my knees, she patted me leg and said, "Awwwww."

So sweet. You can guarantee that I lifted that precious wiggle worm of love and cuddled her some more!

Dec. 3, 2008 - Kithen Helper

Abigail has always been a great help in the kitchen. It blesses me so to see her become more and more independent in the kitchen. She's been in charge of making granola entirely by herself for the past few weeks, and she does a great job!

Yesterday we were expecting company. Uncle Nathan and Kim were coming for dinner. After she scrubbed the potatoes for me, she supervised the other children in making m&m cookies. She had to occasionally ask me questions about the recipe, but other than that she was in charge. What a blessing it was to watch her work so diligently AND to delegate so tenderly and patiently.

I love that little girl.

Dec. 1, 2008 - Ahhh, Monday!

We love Mondays. Every Sunday evening every child takes great care in choosing what to wear to bed because Mondays are COMFY DAYS! We stay dressed in what we wore to bed all day. We get up and get started in the kitchen as early as possible, usually around 6:00, because there is a lot to be done! Breakfast usually consists of weekend leftovers ... a shame, I know!

However nobody really eats too much because they know that by morning snack time our banana bread will be ready.

Once the bread is in the oven, Miss Abigail starts to boil water so we can all have some hot tea.

While waiting for the water, I usually start the yogurt. We actually had a successful batch made in the crock pot today!

Abigail starts the granola.

Please note the pairs of adorable dangling feet on the counter behind Abigail. They are enjoying their left over bread up there.

Miss Katherine does a fabulous job of cleaning the floor while we busily prepare our week's bounty.

By 9:30 Miss Katherine is ready for her morning nap, so down she goes, while the rest of us get started on school. We like to slowly warm up the for the week ahead with some Montessorish activities.

We leisurely go through school before having some free time just before lunch, all the while taking things in and out of the oven and stirring the things that need stirring. ;)

Here we have my little photographer in training.

She is busy photographing the princess and her knight upon their arrival.

Mondays. Yeah, Mondays are good.

Oct. 18, 2008 - Materpiece of Cuteness!

Today we were in Target, just browsing. Abigail saw a little dish towel with fall leaves on it. She went to it, fingered it and said, "This is a masterpiece of cuteness!"

To which I thought, "YOU are a masterpiece of cuteness!

Oct. 8, 2008 - SIX!

Katherine has had the cutest little two teeth for a while now. I noticed a bit of swelling on her top gums and realized that she would be getting her top two teeth very soon ... thenI investigated further and could see SIX little teeth popping through. Four up top and two on the bottom.

I always pray for us to be productive ... her mouth sure seems to be doing a great job!

Oct. 4, 2008 - Great Wolf Lodge

Last weekend we met my mom, grandmother, brother and his girlfriend at the Great Wolf Lodge. Oh. My. What a fun place!

It was a bit humid in there and my camera lens kept getting foggy so I don't have very many pictures ... not to mention I was afraid of getting the camera wet! So, I decided to just get one of each kid in the water for memory's sake.

Abigailie

Ian

Emily Joy

Most of the time Miss Katherine cuddled and bonded with GG.

There were water slides, water raft slides, lilly pads to jump, wave pools, a lazy river, just oodles and oodles of chances to get wet and have fun! We really had such a fun time and it was such a blessing to be with our family!

We had been at the water park for two full days and were getting ready to hop in the car and go our separate ways when I was able to talk my Mom into a picture with the kiddos.

Oct. 4, 2008 - Something To Not Forget ...

There are some things I never want to forget. While cuddling with my Ian the other day, I realized that he was content to keep the pillow still as we snuggled. It didn't used to be this way. He used to want to flip the pillow over every five minutes or so, while saying, "Let's turn it so we can feel the nice cool side."

LOL. I never want to forget that. I love that kid.

Sep. 24, 2008 - Jackets, Tights, and ... Rain Boots?

There was a cool crispness in the air and a chilly breeze too. It seemed awfully early to be feeling such things in North Carolina, however we certainly welcomed the chance to enjoy it!

There is something special about a girl donning tights to keep warm for the first time in a season.

The sight of a contented baby all cuddled in a hooded jacket sure is precious.

And a young boy playing about in his rain boots ... wait, you say it isn't raining? Oh. Well. He's worn those rain boots every day for the last year, why would today be any different?

Sep. 22, 2008 - Abigail Read The WHOLE Book!

My Abigail. She is such a smart little thing, though she has been hesitant to learn to read. We started with 100 EZ Lessons as everyone I knew loved it. She did okay with sounding out, however kept coming to a road block with "Say it fast", so we just shelved it for a while. We then tried again. Got a bit further and shelved it again. Finally I said to myself, "What is the goal? To finish the book or for Abigail to learn to read?"

She one time confided in me that she didn't want to learn to read because she loves it too much when I read to her. Silly girl. I assured her I would always read to her no matter how old or able she was to read to herself.

I want her to love reading just as much as she loves being read to, so I hadn't pressed the reading. I wanted to let her set the pace a bit and her desire to write notes on her own had her learning to spell rather quickly which kind of propelled her into learning to read a bit more.

So, here she is, after reading her first Bob book. (By the way, 100 EZ Lessons is shelved for good, perhaps to be used with another child later on.)