Taking care of treasures

• Jul. 9, 2008 - Hospital stays on the 4th.

I have to start by saying, I am so glad the weekend is over. Do you ever hear someone say that?!

So, Friday was the 4th and we were staying with relatives out of town and our Noah woke up with the right side of his face so swelled up. It looked like he had a baseball in his cheek. We went to the E.R. and they decided the tooth was infected. They sent us home with penicilin.     The next day we were back at home and his cheek was not at all better. In fact, his eye was starting to swell. We ended up in the clinic and our Pediatrician sent us to the E.R. He wanted us to have blood tests and anything else necessary. After 4 hours of waiting we ended up staying in the hospital. We were there from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning. His blood count was high which meant his infection was trying to spread. Not good. It was scary!!! Monday we were discharged to go another hospital where an oral surgeon would see Noah and within 2 hours, Noah was in surgery. They removed 4 teeth!!!! Two were infected and 2 on the other side were just bad and I said as long as you have him asleep you may as well just take them all.   Whew, that is a lot of info-I know. I was so glad to get out of there. So was Noah. When anyone would come in our room he would ask them if they had any needles. He was really tired of the blood tests every morning. I was too. They would come in at 4 A.M. every morning to draw blood.   Uhhh, it was so exhausting.

Noah is doing great and he is totally back to normal.   I was so glad to hear him cracking jokes and acing like himself. He was so sick Friday and Saturday, he just slept and could barely walk he was so weak. Today, he took off running down the street with his friend.

I am so glad to be home!!!!        Everyone is glad that we're home.   Ellie really missed her mommy!!!

That was our weekend. I am still catching up sleep.       But God is good!!!! He took care of us! of Noah!

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• Jun. 25, 2008 - Window seat+coffee with a friend=good day:)

There's not much to blog about today.

I met with a friend today who is sort of like a mentor to me. She is such a wise woman.    She home schools her kids too, she loves the Lord and is such a great inspiration to me. It was a nice morning. We met while the kids were in VBS.

The kids are loving VBS. I knew they would. Ellie has been asking when it would start for months. I cannot believe that June is almost over!   Where has the summer gone? Is it me, or is time going by faster?

Last week I painted my kitchen cabinets white. They were this light wood and this off white formica (spelling?) Anyway, they were ugly. I haven't liked them since we moved in.   Well, almost 3 years ago-I did it! They look great. I did it to give me a project for when David was at church camp with the youth group.

Today I picked up a chair today. It was the very best kind. FREE!!!!!   I picked it up from a fellow freecycler and it is very cute! It fits in a nice space right by the window and I am sitting in it right now as I type, and look out and watch Ellie dance and sing to herself!   Cute!

Well, I guess that is all. God is good and I am having a pretty calm and good day.

Blessings!!!!

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• Jun. 19, 2008 - Serventhood not Sentence

This week has been a little more busy than usual but purposely. I put a few extra things on our schedule to keep us busy while daddy has been at church camp all week.   It has been a pretty good week. But we have all had weeks more like this:

The laundry piles up, the just cleaned kitchen tile that just got muddy footprints all over it, the clean windows that are now full of fingerprints, the groceries that need to be bought, the meals to be made.   Not to mention reading stories, playing and some of us teaching our little ones. The list could go on.   It can get to be a lot for us.    I read today something that is a good reminder when things are getting stressful. It was this:

Dirty floors and toilets can become blessings in disguise. If we didn't have homes to clean, we may be on the streets. Muddy footprints on the floor and fingerprints on the windows are evidence of active children in our homes. And another hour chauffeuring to music lessons is developing a useful talent. Scripture says Jesus washed His disciples' feet. Imagine! The almighty God-man, to whom all praise and worship belongs, stooped over a basin and tenderly washed the dust from His follower's feet.

I guess, what I am trying to say is the responsibilities provide opportunities to display servant attitudes and to exemplify a Christlike servant spirit.

I hope this encourages even just one mom out there.

Blessings, Brooke

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• Jun. 7, 2008 - Adjusting

Well, Not a lot of things are going on.   Just adjustments.

We are adjusting to the changes in our house. Last summer Trevin went to his dad's and while that was a change then too, we knew he was coming back home at the summer's end.   This year I know he is not.

We went to his ball game when we were in my hometown, and after the game was over Ellie cried for Trevin. (After the game he went with his step mom)   She cried the next morning too. It is going to be a long and difficult summer. Ahhh, change. It stings sometimes.   I am battling this. I know God is in this. And he will take care of Trevin and us too. But, this is not easy.

I am sure that in time this will get easier.

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• May. 29, 2008 - C Section or not???

I have been hearing a lot of talk about elective c-sections. I do believe that it isn't right to choose a c-section out of pure convenience so grandma and grandpa can make it in from out of town.

However, there are times when they are considered okay. I say this because I had a c-section with my daughter. My boys came naturally. But, the youngest, my little girl was measuring very large. My O.B. was concerned about shoulder dystocia. I trusted her and reluctantly had the surgery. My O.B. is a christian and she said she had prayed about it and had thought about me one Sunday while she was at church. She called me and told me she wanted to move up my surgery. I, at the end of the pregnancy was ready to have this little one here and said "OKAY!" The morning I went in to have her, she was up really high and that was very unusual. She was mostly always low. When she was born, the cord was wrapped around her neck 4 times. I am convinced that that was the reason why she was up so high. But, I quite possibly could have had to have emergency c section and that was avoided because of my doctor's obedience to the Great Physician.

So with all that being said, is a c section the best thing? Maybe not for every situation. But for me and that particular situation I trusted God to take care of me!!!!! He did!!!!!!

Oh, I forgot to mention that my Elizabeth Grace weighed in at 9lb 3 oz. The biggest one of my babies!

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• May. 23, 2008 - Not another "Downer," I promise.

My last post was a ~~little~~, no very depressing I know. I need to post a more "sunny" post. I feel like the summer (with exception of the weather) is upon us. This is the coolest May I remember having. I don't mean the neatest, the coldest! Today it was like 53 or something. David has next week off. The 3rd week of June, the kids will be going to bible school, and Trevin is playing baseball. He is really excited to be pitching this year. David will be taking the youth group to church camp and then on a mission trip.
Summer is on the way!

We will be doing some school things through the summer so that we don't lose any momentum. We won't keep a strict schedule but we still need some things going. I am excited about a new co-op that is happening and there will be more of structured "class" like activities. They will have a P.E. and art class and I am sure more.

While David is gone with the youth group, I will be here doing some work on the house. That will be fun. I usually have a project or two for when he is gone.

I guess that is all I can ramble about right now.
blessings,
Brooke

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• May. 13, 2008 - Here goes....................

Lately I have heard so much about Jochebed, Moses' mother; Hannah, Samuel's mother; and Isaac, being the sacrifice that God wanted Abraham to make.   You know these mother's didn't know the outcome of their sacrifices. Jochebed thought she would never see her baby Moses again. Or if he would even live. Hannah knew that she had to turn over her son Samuel to God and he lived at the temple. But, did she know his fate?   Abraham had the knife ready to plunge when he was stopped by the angel. What would you do if you did know? Would you do as God has asked of you? Here's where I am going with this.

For 11 and 1/2 years I have had the honor of raising this wonderful boy. My son who came to me as a wonderful surprise. I have watched him grow, learn and hurt. Now, I am asked to "sacrifice". He has wanted to go live with his dad. Until now, I knew that it wasn't time and he wasn't ready. I wasn't ready. Now, I am still not ready but God says it is time.   So many words from others confirmed this, signs, just hearing from God about this. One of my fears is happening. Knowing this day would come, I am not giving in, but giving him to GOD.

His dad is making his way, finding God finally after years of praying. What timing! While that is amazing and wonderful, why am I kicking and screaming but trying to be obedient?   I love him. He's been with me for all this time. But, doing what God wants is so huge!!!!   I want to do what HE wants me to do.

This is my struggle.

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• May. 8, 2008 - Much is going on, here's some......

I haven't posted anything in quite a while. I haven't had too much to blog about. We have also been enjoying the weather. Today we have a rainy day.   It feels like a droopy, veg in the chair reading a book kind of day. But, I have some things on the calendar.

Noah has speech this afternoon. He goes to a local school for this. We have been blessed to have a speech therapist who is very understanding and worked well with us, being different circumstances as far as school goes. Sometimes that is a scary thing to be involved with the public schools.   But, no pressure or questions from them.   Anyway, she is leaving this particular school after this school year.
They of course are replacing her. With whom we don't know. I am hoping that it will go smoothly. Transitions are difficult sometimes, new people, all of that.   He has 2 more weeks of speech until the school year is over.

I am in the process of becoming licensed to do daycare in my home.   We simply need the income and I will still be able to keep our kiddos at home. I am preparing for that. I probably won't start babysitting until August.   But, there are a lot of things to do to get that process going.   But, I am getting that ball rolling. I have a couple of "names" picked out.( just for paperwork really)
One is The Tot Spot or Tiny Treasures.   I think I like the Tot Spot better.

I guess that is all for now. We need to get the rest of our school work done.

Blessings, Brooke

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• Apr. 11, 2008 - Fun blog

There is a fun give away at a fun blog called 5minutesformom.com.    This blog is run by two moms who happen to be twins sisters.   They somehow find the time to run this fun blog.

They are giving away the LEGO police station set. I will attempt to post the link.

http://www.5minutesformom.com

Stop by and check it out!

I will post more later.

Blessings, Brooke

Okay, so it didn't work, you can still go and check it out!

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• Apr. 3, 2008 - This weeks ramblings....

I thought I would post a little update of what is going on in our home. Not much. Noah was up half the night Monday night with an ear ache. I am usually not one to run to the doctor's office unless completely necessary. But with an ear infection, I don't want to mess around.   I also didn't want us to have another really rough and sleepless night.   Our regular doctor was out of the office that day so we saw the doctor on call. We are fairly familiar with him so it was fine.   He prescribed an antibiotic (augmentin).   It is the chalky, white medicine.   Of course he didn't want to take it!   It was rough trying to get it down him. Then I was reading about this particular medicine and an article I read said that there are metals in this medicine. I called the doctor's office immediately.   I asked for zithromax. It doesn't have the metals that would do harm to his gut problem that is already there and it tastes better.    A win/win!!!    It is also taken for a shorter amount of time.    I feel so much better about giving this medicine to him. The aumentin made him a little loopy. Last night he had a really restful night.

I was really hoping for another nice day weather wise. It is very chilly out. I purposely didn't tell my kids about April fools. I am not sure how they heard of it. Possibly from the neighbor friends, but they are still "fooling" us around the house.    I tried to tell them it is over. They are just having a lot of fun with it I suppose.

I was so thrilled, yesterday Ellie and I were playing Guess Who and Ellie was about to ask me who my person was and she wasn't sure what the name was. Noah walked up and said, "it is Susan".    I was shocked. He actually knew what it said!!!!!    Wow. There are rare times like that. It makes me wonder what triggered his brain to get it, to connect it. We try so hard and some days not that kind of success. I suppose with no "pressure" of being quizzed or anything, he was able to just get it.    Amazing.   Maybe I should just let more moments like that just happen.

Trevin has baseball try outs this weekend. He is so excited and I know he gets nervous. I am sure he will do great. That is about all that is going on here. Wow looks like more than I thought.

Have a great weekend!!!

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• Mar. 25, 2008 - The Friend of the Bridegroom

I was reading today's My Utmost for His Highest and got my toes stepped on a little bit!

Here's a part of what I read:

Goodness and purity should never be traits that draw attention to themselves, but should simply be magnets that draw people to Jesus Christ. If my holiness is not drawing others to Him, it is not the right kind of holiness;

OUCH!!!!

I pray that I am not a hindrance and that I don't work against HIM by using his own weapons!

What kind of friend are you?

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• Mar. 15, 2008 - A God-Filled Life

I was going to blog about some new decorating things I have done this week.   While they were all fun things and some great finds, I think God wanted to remind me of my true purposes here.   I ran across a blog and stopped to read Titus 2 out of curiosity.   I read that our job is this:   Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives.     -Message Bible translation

I looked at that and said hmmm...........I have had a couple of women in my life who were mentors to me and I have learned so much.   I highly recommend praying that God would send a mentor for your life. I am still a young wife and mother who doesn't get it right the majority of the time. I am thankful for those people in my life whom God has sent to me, for me.      I pray that someday, I will be able to do the same.

Thank you God for the reminder in your word today!!!!

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• Mar. 14, 2008 - Fun week

We had a busy but good week. Monday I cleaned (outside the house) and my kids had fun playing with their cousins who were here for a quick visit. The boys had fun playing football. They all had their own football uniforms and helmets and played each other. The girls had on their cheerleading outfits. All very cute! Thursday, we went to try a homeschool-playgroup, that didn't work out so much . We got there and no one was there,so we went to the local indoor play ground. Noah had speech after that. While waiting for him, Ellie played on the playground equipment at the school. It was beautiful out. Today, we toured the police department. We went all through the building and the officer showed us all of the rooms, including the interrogation room and there was a hidden camera in the wall. The kids thought that was cool. Then we got to meet their police dog "Scooby". It was very fun. I asked Noah what his favorite part was, thinking it would be seeing the dog. He said-"No it was seeing all the guns!" That's a boy for you. Although, I am not a big fan of guns. :) He now wants to be a police officer when he grows up he says. Ellie says she wants to be the lady who sits at the desk and answers the phone or a ballet dancer.

It was a busy week. It is not quite over yet. More errands this afternoon but it was a good week with nice weather. Oh, we did get a little work done too in there somewhere.

Have a blessed weekend.

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• Mar. 7, 2008 - Friday Funk

I am so glad to see the sunlight today!!!! It has been rather gloomy and I NEED the sunlight. I didn't used to be one who needed to sit under a special lamp or something to be in a good mood for the winter. But I find myself staying inside, longing for spring.    I feel tired a lot and wonder if it is the winter blues. I have nothing to be depressed about. Just a dull winter.

Anyway, another light at the end of this day's tunnel is a visit from my sis in law and her family. They are coming to stay with us Sunday evening. I will spend today grocery shopping and making sure our house is stocked. It is in need of restocking anyway!     They have 3 children too. It should be fun.

I have read about the recent ruling in California making it harder for home school families to continue. I am fearing the spread.   I hope that this doesn't come this way to our part of the country.   I just wonder what is happening around here?!    How is it possible that someone could force you to put your child in ps.

Anyway, I am going to continue to sit by the window, soaking in the sunlight in my comfy chair and read with my coffee in hand.

Happy Friday!

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• Mar. 4, 2008 - Tackle It Tuesday

For some reason I can't get the Tackle it Tuesday banner to work. Also, I am not savy enough to post pics. But I have a lot of projects that I am working on today.

1. declutter my boys' room
2. Clean utility room
3. laundry
4. perge some unused toys
5. clean out our game closet. It is rediculous!!!

We already have school done for today, so I have these things to follow.

Happy Tackling!!!!

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• Mar. 2, 2008 - Happy 13th Birthday!!!!!

Today we celebrated our church, New Horizon's 13th birthday. We had a comedian, Scott Gregory in our services. He was very funny. He also had a great testimony. They brought the children from the 1st grade-5th grade into the service I was in and I could hear my 7 yo laughing. And I was sitting in the back!!! It was so cute.

While today is a special day for our church. I was also sad. We are losing our founding pastor this month. He is being moved. Our church has never had any other pastor in all these 13 years. We LOVE our pastor and his family. My oldest son's best friend is the pastor's son. We will all miss him. His last Sunday with us is next Sunday. We do like our new pastor. He has a great heart. It is just a hard thing to be going through. Truthfully, I am not sure how our church is going to do. As a staff person's wife, I tend to hear some of the truths about this situation. I know that many of you don't know me and have many things to be in prayer about, but if you can even say a quick prayer for us, I really appreciate it!!!

Blessings on your Sundays!!!!!!
Brooke

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• Feb. 28, 2008 - More tackling the bathroom

So, last Tuesday I posted about some changes I made to the bathroom. (Formerly the kid's ducky bathroom.) Now-a more grown up bathroom) My idea was to paint the walls. There was a blue that matched the ducky theme quite well. But, not in the new shower curtain I had chosen. So, I had some paint left over from the living room. It was a light, subtle color called desert floor. My husband didn't want it there. He is tired and doesn't love that color too much. So, we collectively chose a color together. It is now Chocolate Truffle. It is really nice. It does look like chocolate in there. It was so fun to do. The best part was I did on Saturday afternoon. It didn't take long. I really like to paint. I am however, going to use the desert floor in the hallway, continuing from the living room. sounds like another weekend project. Fun, Fun!!!!

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• Feb. 18, 2008 - Can you say blessings!?!!!!!!!

Whew!   Can I say I am a little relived to have changed my pampered chef party to an open book party. It really is too hard to get a night that is good for everyone. So, no one was going to be able to come. Oh, maybe two.    One thing to check off my list.

I was so blessed this past weekend. There is a lady from our church that is a sort of mentor to me. She is a homeschool mom to 2 older children. (older than mine)   She is a great Spiritual Lady that I am so glad is my friend.   Anyway, she sent me a card.   I said she read my mail so to speak.   She sat down and wrote things that I needed to hear. She didn't know what was going on with me at all.   We hadn't gotten to get together and chat lately. She also blessed me with a gift card to Khols.   Wow!!!!   I was much more blessed by the words she gave me not just the gift card.   Just wanted to clarify!

I posted that I was looking for Math U See. ~ used.   I posted on some local groups. A lady from our church (different one) who homeschools, her children are also older and done with Math U see. She emailed me right away and said she would sell me her stuff.   She had the book I was looking for plus manipulatives.   I was so excited!!!!   My kids saw a set that belonged to their cousins and enjoyed it so the search was on.

So, these are some of my thoughts.

The kids are doing well. We had an odd week last week so this week we need to plow through and get back to our norm.   Things are going well.

I think that is all.
Blessings!

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• Feb. 17, 2008 - To Do List

I have a pretty good to do list for this week.

Monday-cleaning (outside of the home), take Trevin to basketball in the evening
Tuesday-do school, clean my house and get ready for a pampered chef party, shop for ingredients
Wednesday-School, get together with some friends; kids go to church wed. evening
Thursday-School, Noah has speech
Friday-School.

I really needed to get this down. I think this is all the "extra" stuff this week.

We'll see how the week goes.

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• Feb. 12, 2008 - Tackle It Tuesday

So, I tackled our bathroom today. I took down the "kids" ducky shower curtain, and all the accessories. Replaced them with a grown up more sophisticated and cool shower curtain. It is a black and off white twall print. I am so excited! I love room makeovers.

What did you tackle today?

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