Exciting News

Each afternoon, my phone alarm goes off, I grab my shoes and a book and head down to the bus stop to meet Trinity as she gets off the bus. However, today was not just an ordinary day. As she stepped around the bus, she called out, "Mom, I have exciting news to tell you." (Yes, that's a direct quote from her.)

It turned out that during school today, she got her first loose tooth. She is so excited about it. She showed me which one and yes, I can confirm that it is clearly loose. We immediately called Craig, followed soon by other family.

We had great drama in our house around the beginning of school because she had not had a loose tooth yet. But, ahhh - the agony has been diverted for now. Now, the agony is simply waiting for that tooth to come out. Apparently she has already been told (by her classmates who are seasoned at loosing teeth) that the tooth fairy comes and brings dollars. Yep, that would be dollars - with an s, plural, more than one. Well, that won't be the case in our house, but we'll get to that when we get there.

The Woman with the Baby

This morning was a special "treat" for me. As I was concocting my to-do list for the day, I realized that I had few items that I would need to get at the store. Not a lot, but enough. I decided that if I left the house pretty early in the morning, I could get to the store, pick up my items and be back home before Craig left for work, meaning that I could leave the kids here and shop alone. Even one of the customer service guys made a comment about me being in there all by myself.

So, as I finished up, I selected the self-checkout. Not abnormal for me. However, the conversation I overheard completely left me speechless.

checkout-woman #1: Do we have the Christmas stamps in yet? Did we get the snowmen?
checkout-woman #2: Yes. We had to choose and we got the snowflakes and the . . . who's the woman with the baby?
checkout-woman #1: Madonna?
checkout-woman #2: Yeah, that's it - Madonna. We got her.

The woman with the baby? That's how she referred to Mary, the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. The baby is not just an ordinary baby. He is the One who has taken our (well-deserved) punishment to allow us an open path to spend eternity with the Creator of all creation. He stepped out of heaven down into our sin-filled, selfish, ugly world to show us what true love, true sacrifice is.

Has our society come so far that we don't know Mary's (and therefore Jesus') importance to our eternity? Have we drifted so far that we can't remember her name? Have we failed to teach and show others that Christmas is not just about presents or some story about just another baby?

It hurt me so much to hear Mary and Jesus referred to so flippantly, so nonchalantly, to be mentioned as just "the woman with the baby". It stung my heart and my ears. Yet, I know that I go through each day and the sin that I struggle with and view so flippantly and nonchalantly hurts God so much more than I could ever imagine.

I hope that this year, this crazy holiday season will still give you time to ponder and appreciate the true meaning of the season - God's display of grace, mercy and love in the form of a precious, perfect child, a child set to grow and teach and die for our wrongdoings.

Election '08

It's currently 7:30 in the evening. The kids are in bed and we are beginning a night of watching the presidential election results. (Actually, we were just debating how long we are going to watch it verses simply checking in from time to time.)

I hope that you made the time to vote this year - whether is was with early voting or voting today, I hope that you took advantage of the privilege we have to make our voice heard in this democratic process. I had planned to do an early voting, however after seeing the lines and hearing wait times of over two hours, I decided that I would take my chances on election day. This morning, Craig and I decided that I would hit the polling place first, while he stayed home with the kids. Not knowing how long the wait would be, we weren't going to chance three active kids in the line. Thankfully, the wait was only 40 minutes. I had a book and got a bit of reading done. I came home and we traded out. Craig's wait was even less.

In our area, a number of voting places are schools. To avoid any safety issues, our schools are closed, which meant Trinity was home with us all day. I really wanted to make the day special and do something fun as a full family. We had discussed heading to the zoo for the 1/2 price for voters (and their parties) special, but we change our plans to go to a movie. We had been told of a very inexpensive theater not far and off we went. An added bonus, Tuesday is $.75 movie day - yep, our family of 5 got to watch Kung Fu Panda for less than $4!!!! Okay, so Kung Fu Panda has been out for quite a while, but our kids didn't know the difference.

What ever the outcome of the election, I am confident that my future is in the hands of Someone larger than the president. I am grateful that God holds me and gives me the faith, strength and all that I need to wake up each morning. If you want to know how you can have that same peace, let me know. I'll be glad to share with you.

Halloween Happenings

We aren't a family that goes all out for Halloween, but we do use it as a reason to have fun. We do carve out a pumpkin, get the kids dressed up - in fun costumes, hop in the car to visit a few houses for some trick-or-treating, and join in on a friend trick-or-truck event. Here's some pictures from our fun this year.

We visited the Picture People for the fourth time this month for our Halloween pictures (the other trips were for Xander's birthday, Kalyn's birthday, and the Sugar Beats performance). Here's the official, professional costume shot. Trinity decided to be an eighties girl (even though I'm not sure she ever really got what an 80's girl was), Kalyn was Winnie the Pooh and Xander was a giraffe (yes, I do love the irony of any of our short kids being a giraffe).

We got a great pumpkin from Target for only $5! We had a blast watching Craig carve out the face for it!

Kalyn's preschool had a fun event called the Pumpkin Path. All the kids got to dress up for the entire day of school and then travel down a sidewalk gathering candy from all the teachers. It was so cute and fun.

We hit two houses for trick or treating Halloween night (some we usually visit were out for the night). The kids really just enjoyed showing off their costumes.

Saturday was the second annual trick-or-trunk event at our friends' house. We began it last year because Halloween was on Wednesday and we still wanted to give our kids the fun of dressing up and getting candy without skipping our church's Wednesday night activities. So, we gathered a bunch of friends and parked our cars in one backyard (it's a big backyard) and let the kids go from car trunk to car trunk getting candy. It was a great time last year, so we did it again this year. We all had a blast watching the kids play, roasting marshmallows, exchanging candy and simply hanging out. Thanks Steve and Erica for loaning out your backyard again!!

To Party or Not To Party

As I have mentioned before, I love any excuse to get our friends together. Birthdays are a perfect reason!!! Our two youngest have birthdays about six weeks apart and this year, we decided to combine their parties. At four and two, they don't know the difference and many of the same people would be coming to both. So, to free up one extra fall Saturday, we scheduled the past Saturday as the day of festivities. My parents were coming down for the Atlanta race, my sister and brother-in-law were planning to join us for the day and my in-laws were also travelling over. In addition to about 25 other people, we were planning for a houseful. I was so excited!!!

What are the few words that you don't want to hear the day of a big party? "Mommy, I don't feel good." Yep, that was the phrase that woke us up Saturday morning, six hours before the party. We watched Trinity for a few hours and then made the decision - call off the party. It took a few emails and a few more calls and the party had been officially postponed, except for the family. After a bit more caring for Trinity, we decided to make the trip to Scottish Rite Urgent Care center. She had been screaming in pain and we were concerned about possible appendicitis. We got right in with a nurse and after a quick test, we soon found out that she had strep. Definitely not something we wanted to pass on to anyone else. She received a shot in at the center and what a difference just a few more hours made. From not being able to move to enjoying watching her siblings open their new gifts (and quickly wanting to play with their new things).

The newly-adjusted family party was attended by the grandparents as my sister made the decision to not chance getting strep (I don't blame her a bit!!). We had the song, the candles, the cupcakes and gifts. What more could you want? It was a nice family time. We missed you Ashley and Jeff, but we'll get with you hopefully soon.

Yummy cupcakes for the birthday kids!!

Xander's gifts of trucks!!

Kalyn's gifts of books and Littlest Pet Shop!!

Just to be on the safe side, all three kids and I stayed home on Sunday. However, I didn't want that to be an excuse for the kids not to have their Bible study time, so we did our own study at home. A few years ago, I purchased a book called The Play and Pray Bible. What an amazing resource. It is filled with various Bible stories and then activities, songs and crafts to do along with the story. We read about parable of the lost sheep then played games with cotton balls (as sheep), decorated socks to be sheep puppets and colored sheep coloring pages telling each other what we loved about them. It was a great morning.

Pigs A Plenty

I am very thankful that my husband is very supportive of my (our) desire for me to stay home. He works very hard to provide for our family (in many ways) and I truly appreciate that. One of the benefits of not having a job - outside of the home - is that I am sometimes able to go in and assist Trinity teacher with her class. Last week, I got just that opportunity. I was quite excited about it!

The class had been instructed to bring in a small pumpkin and various decorating accouterments in order to turn ordinary pumpkins into fancy pigs, to flow along with the book Pigs A Plenty, Pigs Galore. It was such a treat to see Trinity's class in action. I got to put names with faces and get a feel for the class. We had such fun creating a pig parade outside the classroom door!!!

Berry Patch with Xander

Have I bragged on our MOPS group lately? Again, we have a great special events coordinator who is continually looking for fun things to do with preschoolers. Teri - you are awesome!!! Last Monday, she scheduled a time at the Berry Patch Farms. We were given an extra long hay ride, a chance to wander around the pumpkin patch, two mini-pumkins or gourds and some apple cider to top off the morning. Since Trinity and Kalyn were in their respective classes, it was just Xander and me. What a great way to spend a fall morning.

Except it was cold. Not just cold, but brisk, windy cold. BRRRRRRRRRRR chill to your bone cold. It cut our wandering in the patch down a bit and moved our picnic lunch into the car, but it was still fun. Poor Xander had been fighting a runny nose for over a week at this point, so the extra wind and wipes did nothing to help soothe his face, but he enjoyed it none the less. He pretended to drive the tractor, mooed at the cows, and had a blast picking out his pumpkin.

Saturday Songs with the Sugar Beats

I'll say it again - what a morning!!!

About a month ago, we got a fun call from Cyndi, one of our "friends" at the Picture People. (We've been going there since Trinity was born and have built up quite a photographic friendship with a few of the current photographers.) Cyndi told us that a group called the Sugar Beats was putting on a small concert of 80's hits and they were looking for some kids to dance along with the group. She said that the kids would need to be dressed up in 80's garb, and she had immediately thought of our kids! After a bit of chatting about it with Craig, we quickly said yes - count Trinity and Kalyn in.

So, over the past month, I've been playing around with their costumes - what could they wear to look, like, totally cool while spending as little as possible. After some trial and error, we ended up with what I have to say were some, like, totally awesome outfits.

There ended up being 5 other kids there and the "rehearsal" was quite nerve-wracking. They had the singer there teaching the kids the words to the chorus lines and trying to get them ready for the show. However, their singing was as loud as a whisper and there was not a foot-fellowship to be seen. Would they move and sing during the concert?


Our kids did great!!! It turned out only being a singer, Andy, with his guitar, singing three songs from the Sugar Beats CDs. Trinity danced and sung her heart out. Kalyn was not excited about being out there in the beginning, but she made it back up on stage and became quite the trooper. She did her own thing, but looked cute doing it, so that got points with the crowd. She was able to get a few words in there when she felt like it though. Trinity even ended up winning the "best costume" awarded of a big set of Sugar Beats CDs. I am so glad that we allowed them to be a part of it and got completely into it!!!

Even Xander got into the music by playing drums on the empty chair next to him.

Every great rock star needs a cup of ice cream after a show!!

Theological Thoughts of A Three Year Old

The car is always a great opportunity for some interesting discussions. Here was one the Kalyn and I had coming home from some errand running (with Kalyn in this story, you know it's gotta be good) -

Kalyn: Mommy, you need to change my calendar. (stay with me)
Me: No I don't sweetie, it's not the end of the month.
Kalyn: What happens at the end of the month?
Me: Nothing really. That's just the time we change the calendar.
Kalyn: Is Jesus coming down at the end of the month?
Me: I . . . don't think so.
Kalyn: But why does Jesus always stay up there, in heaven, and He doesn't come down here? I want to see Jesus!!
Me: Well . . . to see Jesus, you have to die and have decided to follow Him.
Kalyn: (after a slight pause, but said with great conviction) I have decided to follow Him. I want to follow Him. (another slight pause) Why am I STILL here? I WANT TO SEE JESUS!!!! (Now add a few tears to the conversation.)

I continue on to tell her if she was in heaven with Jesus, that I (and Xander and Trinity and Daddy) would miss her very, very much. We then move into a "game" where she would add one person to the heaven group and who would miss them then.

I simply and humbly pray that her desire, her cry to see Jesus and be with Him will just grow stronger as she grows. Then I think, when was the last time I cried out, with such conviction, want and tears, to see Jesus, just to be in His presence?

Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.

Mark 10:15

Boosterthon Fun Run

What a morning!!! Today was Trinity's Fun Run event. Some of you may already know about this (because you sponsored Trinity on her run), but let me fill in the blanks for those who may not know what this is. We know that along with the fun that comes with being elementary school student, we know that fundraisers come right along side. We are not big fans of going up and asking people to buy things (that they probably don't need) to help Trinity get a special prize (which is something she needs even less). This year's fund-raiser was on a completely different plane and we loved it!!!!!


The Boosterthon is not only a fund-raiser, but a chance for the students to study fitness and character traits. Their battle cry for the event is DREAM BIG!! Each day, working up to the fun run, they study a different character trait: D-diligence, R-responsibility, E-enthusiasm , A-ability, M-make a difference. During that week, the students contact people to either sponsor them per lap or give a flat donation. Then the day of the event arrives. The Boosterteam is there with a great field and an amazing atmosphere. Plus, parents get to show up to encourage each one of the students on the run!!!


So, Kalyn, Xander and I loaded up in the car, complete with shades for the mid-day sun and went out to cheer on Trinity and her friends. We were so proud of her. She did so well and kept going until the end. The run lasted 30 minutes and she completed 27 laps!!! Way to go, Trinity!!! A HUGE thank you to all those who supported her on her trek - you'll be getting a special thing very soon!! Her school ended up obtaining sponsors from all 50 states and 29 foreign countries!!

The first graders and kindergartners get ready to start the run!!

The first lap was a fun walk lap - then off to the races

Trinity checks in with her principal and her teacher for her lap check off

After the race is over, there are still some smiles

(before they head off for their celebratory popsicle)