Ander-Inn

happy birthday precious friend.

2009-12-01T19:46:00.000-08:00

my friend alyssa emailed me a few weeks ago with an idea...ever being an encourager, she had the sweet idea to honor a mutual friend on her birthday- with our blogs. i thought this was a great idea...but i hadn't been on my blog in so long, i wasn't sure it still existed- so, before replying to her email, i typed in my blog address- and up popped me teaching atlee grammer 15 months ago...i emailed alyssa back to tell her: "i'm in!"

it is fitting, i suppose, that my friend tj would have the power to bring a blog back from a coma- because she is such a life-giver. tj radiates encouragement- if you are around her for more than 15 minutes you can be assurred that you'll hear something that will build you up- it will be directly related to something she has observed about you personally- or it will be a retelling of a story that she recently encountered. though she no longer wears her high school cheerleading outfit (though she could- i saw her wear it for halloween a few years ago!)- she is ever a cheer leader at heart- for corbin, bran, hud, joy, essie, her brothers, her parents and her friends and even strangers.

my friend tj is also a teachable teacher. i go to tj with most any of my questions- i vividly remember, early in our friendship, admiring the way she managed her home...i went to her one day to ask advice. "how do you organize your weekly schedule? what does your daily routine look like? how do you keep on top of your laundry? dishes??" she listened, gave insight and forever changed the way i structure my week at home. as much wisdom as tj has, she is also beautifully teachable- always asking questions- always wanting to grow...and i am so glad i get to grow up with her.

happy, happy birthday friend. i am so grateful for you- so proud of you- and inspired by you.

grammar lessons

2008-10-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

you know you are teaching grammar to a texan when you have this exchange during your lesson:

me- "so let's look at the word standing" (i write s-t-a-n-d-i-n-g on the white board)- "what is the suffix of this word?"

atlee- "g"

me- "okay, let's think about that answer, if you take away the "g" (i proceed to draw a nice clear box around the g) you are left with root: standin- now, is that a word?"

atlee- "yes"

me- "it is? standin is a word? think about that"

atlee- stands from the chair, slaps both hands on her hips and says (emphatically) in her little southern drawl "standin- like a cowboy standin by the side of the road!!"

a birthday letter.

2008-08-19T14:06:00.000-07:00

sweet b,
are you really four? are you the same little boy that daddy and i welcomed into our arms a few years ago. i have a few vivid memories of the day you were born- but the one that comes back clear to me today was the way the sun streaked into our room as dr. irwin held you up for me to see after you took your first breath. you were born late in the afternoon and our room had big windows overlooking the courtyard of the hospital- the drapes were pulled as wide as they would go- i suppose it is fitting that sunshine seemed to announce you, because that is what you have become to us.

you thrive on making us smile- you are most content when you feel delighted in- when you are given a choice you'll often choose what you know others would like, just to make them happy---like when you counted all of your birthday money and realized (i'm sure atlee hinted) that you had enough to buy her favorite toy-you came running to me so excited yelling "i want to buy something for at-wee- i have enough!!"

a few days ago i served you fruit salad with your lunch, i disappeared for a few minutes and walked back into the kitchen to find that you had dumped your entire bowl onto the rug under our table- you told me that you were looking for more mangos-my annoyance spread like the blueberry juice that was seeping into my new sand colored rug. i am quite sure that you realized this because after we had cleaned it all up you asked me my favorite color and then a few minutes later you brought me a piece of notebook paper with blue and pink scribbles all over it- it wasn't your best work, but it is currently my favorite piece of art. i hung it by my desk to remind myself how much you want to please me- and how sensitive you are to my disapproval. although at times you need correction, i want you to feel confident of all the good i see in you- and of the big love i feel for you.

nearly every night i find myself staring at you as you sleep- your peaceful rest and your precious little face...you don't even budge as i stroke your cheek and kiss your forehead. happy, happy birthday little love.

dad's 1st blog entry

2008-06-29T19:57:00.000-07:00

31st Birthday Reflections

Driving back home from Austin this morning, I started flipping through stations and spent some time in the 80's. The lyrics of an old Warrant ballad still ring in my head, "I don't need to be the king of the world, as long as I'm the hero of this little girl," I love my moments in marriage and parenting when that is the sentiment of my heart...

I turned 31 just over a week ago, and my wonderful family celebrated me. Dinner, streamers, words. I got art. I got the red "special" plate to eat on. I got to watch Stewart Little with my kids snuggled on the couch. We danced to Beck's favorite song-the opener on the Juno soundtrack. Atlee and Avalon got spun. Nik and i did the pretzel.

This is such a special season of life. Our kids want to draw in and experience family. To glean identity. To learn. To be entertained. I recognize these years are precious and fleeting and before long so many outside "heroes" will take their focus, but today we have it. How can we capture every moment to understand them? To listen? To accept. To impart knowledge. To foster a foundation rooted in Christ that will withstand all the turbulent and trying years ahead?

I don't have all the answers, but I have Nikki which is a huge asset:) Lord help us dads and husbands to lead our families well. I await more of You in me as I progress thru my 30's and may your grace overflow into how I regard those closest to me.

Proverbs 24:3-4
"By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures."

the end of the beginning.

2008-05-22T09:14:00.000-07:00

this week marked the last week of kindergarten for atlee. one of my favorite moments of the week was pulling out the above pieces of paper from her backpack and comparing them side by side. the top one was written on her first day of school- and the bottom one, on the last. i'm visual so it was a great reminder of her progress! when we were in the throws of making school decisions last year i remember thinking "it's only kindergarten- it's not even required in texas- surely she can't learn that much". i guess had quite underestimated ms. hobbs, her teacher, who lovingly and wisely set the bar higher than i would have- with the expectation that she would jump to it.

standing by her cubbie in her room

we went to chuck e cheese's last night to celebrate- since we were honoring atlee, she got to choose any restaurant in fort worth- she deliberated between: mcdonalds, chickfila (sp?) and uncle julio's- but in the end, germ central won. in keeping with my goal to be efficient- we also honored beckett, as he is showing much progress in not sucking his two fingers! this picture is both of them holding their certificates that they redeemed for tokens.

before and after

2008-04-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

our tiny new niece, augustella ryan, arrived into bobby and jenna's arms last thursday...she weighed a perfect 7 pounds and was 19 inches long. we are all thrilled for various reasons--jeff and i are so excited that bobby and jenna join us in parenthood-we are confident they will inspire and humble us in this role, atlee is excited because she will have a new baby to hold and care for (okay, that's mine too), beckett is excited because he is sure that she was named after him (since his birthday is in august!?!) and avalon, well- she just gave a big grin. the "before" photo was taken on the beach a few weeks ago.

welcome augustella- we love you!!!

matthew 24:14-30

2008-04-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

about a year ago some friends, with two beautiful children, called to ask if jeff and i would be willing to be part of a team that would oversee the execution of their wishes should they die- wow...what an honor. this is the closest "real life" situation that i can think of to illustrate the parable of the talents in matthew 25:14-30. in this parable the master entrusted his property (vs14) to his servants while he went away. after a long time (vs19) the master returns and the servants are held accountable for their management of the goods. just as we were asked to be responsible for carrying out our friends will, God- in his goodness- has entrusted me to carry out His will within the situation he has placed me in. in the parable, the master gave different "situations" to each of his servants- one got five talents, another two and the last was given one. just like in life, each of us have different situations- nearly each week at bible study i sit next to a single mom, of two young children, who is fighting breast cancer- and do you know what she prays for each week? not for a cure, not for a better support system, not even just to feel better- but that God would be glorified in her health situation. her current season is what i would call a "one talent season", a season of life when carrying out "The Will" requires that one steps outside of her comfort to walk a path ordained by a God that at times looks harsh and scary (vs 24, 25), but the great thing about my friend (which is quite different than the response of the one talent servant in parable) is she is living her life like it is a two or a five talent season---she is looking for opportunities to be good and faithful (vs 23)--because she knows, He is good and faithful.

extreme dog makeover.

2008-04-04T08:47:00.000-07:00

we've really let riley's hair go...i can't remember a time when he's gone so long between groomings. no reason really- other than the fact that he really seemed to enjoy his long hair- and i began to look at it as a way to save money. it was matted with chaos- each time he came in from the yard he would have various twigs and leaves suck in his fur- but he seemed happy enough. when we finally took him for his appointment i felt embarrassed- wondering if long matted hair could be defined as neglect--especially when i read the sign on the cash register that said "ungroomed is unloved"- i wanted to explain that i really do love riley, sometimes more than others- but love is a commitment, right? not a feeling? now, of course, i didn't say any of this- i sheepishly avoided eye contact and gave a tip when it was over.

sew cute.

2008-03-31T08:50:00.000-07:00

atlee has been learning to sew and embroider each wednesday at the home of mrs. cox...she has made an assortment of lovely items- a few dresses, a few pillows- and a few other sweet things. last monday night she had the opportunity to walk the stage at the annual fashion review and model her newest creation. beckett (notice that i did not write- avalon) sat patiently throught the entire show and was greatly rewarded with cookies and punch when it was over.

my friend krista wrote a post on her blog about mrs. cox- you can read it here

warren waters.

2008-03-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

a few years ago a precious person moved into our little backhouse on calmont avenue-her name was lauren waters. at the time, beckett was a baby and atlee was 2- lauren took such a special interest in our family. atlee would spend hours each week looking out the back windows to see miss lauren walk into our backyard- she would then beg to go for a visit, at first i was a bit hesitant, not wanting lauren to feel obligated to entertain our child- but seeing how excited atlee got, i just couldn't say no. one evening lauren's friend was babysitting atlee and beckett-and the event we were attending went much longer than we expected and "we'll be home @ 10:30" turned into "we won't be home until after midnight". lauren's friend had to leave so laurn offered to fill in- i still remember walking into atlee's room that night when we got home...there was our 2 year old, wide awake (at 12:30am!) and laurn patiently curled up next to her in her bed with a big stack of books- they were reading, talking about God, and having a grand time...lauren wasn't annoyed, weary or bored.

atlee turned three, beckett learned to talk and lauren continued to leave foot prints in our lives and hearts. atlee would disappear for an hour or more at miss lauren's invitation to her place. she would usually come home wearing makeup and taking about a new place on miss lauren's big map that the two of them had been discussing...lauren took time to teach atlee about the world- especially places that need to hear the message of Jesus.

soon miss "warren" (as beckett would call her) fell in love with andy gage. he is wise, genuine, loyal and gentle- a very well suited match for lovely lauren. it was a joy to watch lauren and andy marry and build a life together...and now, the journey they are walking together is leading them to denver. they are part of a team of people planting a church (www.parkchurchdenver.org) in the city...and we will miss them deeply!! just a few weeks ago lauren picked up atlee and took her to a butterfly exhibit at the botanical gardens- i watched them walk the path from our front door to miss laurens car- peace, trust and joy filled me- and then a tinge of sadness, knowing that our days of living in the same place are drawing to a close---and keenly aware of the empty space that will be left.

i'm lost.

2008-03-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

to my faithful readers (all two of you..hi mom and dad!!),
i wanted you to know that life has gone on since the mav's game- we've had company, spring break, holidays---many events have been captured on my camera, and little blogs have even been written in my head--but somehow, nothing has made it to the computer screen. i think it must have something to do with the fact that jeff and i have begun to watch the show lost. like with most things in life, we are late-so we are just finishing season one...we have begun to calm down a bit- now even going days with out watching (this is progress!!)- hopefully with this new found balance i will be posting a bit more.

got to go, we have an episode to finish before jeff goes running tonight.

love,
nikki

mavericks game

2008-01-28T10:52:00.001-08:00

we took atlee and beckett to the mavericks game on sunday night...all of the action kept their attention pretty well- especially anytime that the "mav's dancers" took the court. as we walked to the car after the game this was my conversation with beckett:

"did you like the game?"
"yes"
"what part did you like the most?"
no response
"did you like the basketball players or the cheerleaders better?
"heerleaders"
"did you like the gummy savers (our game snack) better- or the cheerleaders?"
"heerleaders"

parenting advice

2008-01-14T18:41:00.000-08:00

here is a little tip for all of you.

find a sweet friend and then send your child to her home for some monumental event (like a sleepover), then- and here's the important part: put her blog on your blog so that you have the memories saved with no work whatsoever on your part.

and, that is exactly what i am doing right now.

Our Holiday Letter

2007-12-28T18:21:00.000-08:00

A Silent Night

We paused for a moment tonight after cleaning up. The doors were locked: lights off. A still night in the "Ander-inn". We reflected as we gazed through the front windows.

Radiant beams from the moon pour in. Avalon is snuggled in heavenly peace upstairs. Smooth baby skin, wispy brown hair and wide eyes that see if you happen to have something that she wants. Should she happen to spy this object, she will proceed to point and yell until you finally turn it over- once you hand over the object, she'll blow you a big kiss- as if to say "thanks so much!!" This precious action seems to completely erase the previous rudeness.

Atlee and Beckett bunk together tonight. Such close friends (and every once in a while, bitter enemies). They have a fascinating connection. Unbelievable communication (ie, half of the time Atlee acts as translator when we can't understand him). Favorably inclusive with little Avie (if she isn't pulling her screaming stunt)...and Riley (our dog).

"Dad, Beckett and I need our ice water and will you tell me a story of when you and mom were dating...or one from when you were a little boy?" This is the sentence that we here nearly every night. But now, words are over...lips rest.

On this damp night, drips of water bead on the windows. Each droplet represents provision from the past year.

-Atlee's kindergarten debut in a wonderful classical/university model school...she seems to love every minute of learning, and this is a joy to watch!

-Beckett's perseverance over a few health scares (see former blog entries for more details). His generous spirit truly melts our hearts.

-Avalon, healthy, expressive(!) and alive- we are so grateful for her especially when we remember our Rhogam incident of '01 that gave us no promises that we would be able to carry a baby of differing blood type...we have fallen in love again!!

-Bible Study Fellowship has been food and water for our souls.

-Jeff passing the Texas Counseling Exam! Now he has an official license to show for all those hours in Seminary!!

-Trips to Cancun, California, Kansas...

-A great church that teaches and models the beautiful character of God.

-8 years of marriage, dates over sushi and lots of nights spent on the couch watching a movie or "the office" re-runs after the kids are tucked in bed.

-Friends and family like you that provide true fellowship.

May the coming year dawn an increased understanding of God's redeeming grace and how we can better orient our story to His. We are grateful for the kindness, patience and purpose He lavishes on us.

Happy New Year...and Much Love,
Jeff and Nikki

six.

2007-12-22T13:10:00.000-08:00

dearest atlee nickole,

are you really six? i can still vividly picture that beautiful sunday morning that dr. mcalpine handed you to me. the room was dim, daylight was just beginning to break...you were covered in all that had encompassed you the past 37 weeks- and your eyes, they were so big and beautiful...i remember thinking that you looked a bit stunned those first few minutes- but then, it seemed to me, that you felt at home in my arms...you were the most precious thing i had ever held- and held you we did...if you weren't in my arms, you were usually in dads. your little room was directly three steps from ours (in our spacious 800 sf apartment), but that seemed like too far to me...most nights you slept snuggled between daddy and i or in your bouncy seat next to our bed. we never had a "game plan" so to speak...when other babies had consistent naps and bed times- yours changed with my mood- and your disposition. most of the time you were so content that daddy and i would keep you up until we went to bed. when i compare your babyhood to that of your brother and sister, yours had the least structure, the least predictability, the least order- now, how is it that you delight in routine, you thrill at having everything "in its place", and you have your own little patterns that you repeat with diligence?

you seem so big to me- you tower over beckett and avalon, you can read, you can write, you dress yourself, you embroider and you can chop cherry tomatoes for bruschetta and make guacamole, and the most daunting of all is the way i can no longer carry you in my arms with ease (which says as much of your stature as it does of my lack of muscle!) however, each time i pick you up at school i marvel at how tiny you still are...in the sea of upper elementary, middle school and high school kids you still look small- and i really like that.

a few nights ago, i laid with you in bed, i was feeling especially sensitive to all of the pressure you must feel at the oldest child- all the conscious and unconscious expectations i have of you. as we laid there i told you how proud i am of you and how much you have changed in six years...you quietly took my words in and then beamed beautifully when i said "atlee, you are getting big, but you are so little- and you will always be my baby no matter how big you get- always"
"even when i grow up?"
"even then, especially then".
love,
mom

bad teeth, "breeding treatments" and a dinosaur bite.

2007-12-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

poor little beckett has had quite a month...

first, a sweet friend presented him with an amazing pair of "ulgy teeth"- beckett considered these the best invention ever! he deeply loved these teeth, he wanted to wear them everywhere, and when we drew the line on certain places (mainly church) he kept them safely in his pocket...his fascination with these was brought to an abrupt end when is was reported that they contained 400 times the safe level of lead. when i discovered the news, i quickly placed the offending teeth in a ziplock bag, put them out of reach, and then called our doctor, the response: "though lead poisoning is quite rare, you better bring him in to be tested- since he spent so much time with them in his mouth"- and that was trip #1 to the doctor.

the lead tests came back fine, however, a few weeks later i noticed that a persistent cough seemed like it was making it difficult for him to breathe. the big tip off was one morning when he laid his little head on my lap and his tiny chest caved in with each labored breath. i called the doctor their response was "how far do you live from our office? ok, get here as soon as possible" we rushed in and found out that the persistent cough was actually asthma...we were issued a nebulizer and have been continuing the hated "breeding treatments" ever since.

the third strike happened a few weeks ago when he and atlee were racing down the hall and they bumped, becketts head collided with the baseboards- resulting in what he described as "the baddest dinosaur bite in the whole world"....and what the emergency room doctor described as a "head wound that would require four staples" the following picture describes his feelings about the entire incident.

here's to good health in 2008!

thanksgiving 2007

2007-12-20T09:41:00.000-08:00

we spent the holiday in kansas city with my parents and some very special family...it was a wonderful time! atlee and beckett expeirenced jumping into a big leaf pile, a beautiful light snow and a few fun filled afternoons with their beloved "mellema cousins".

sink thoughts.

2007-11-07T10:46:00.000-08:00

we had potty talk...so why not sink thoughts!

i have this area above my kitchen sink where i post things...a verse i am thinking about, a quote from sunday's sermon, a line from a book. as much as putting up a new one, i love to look back at the old ones- they remind me of the things i was thinking about for those weeks that it sat there. my newest thought comes from the book i am reading now- "through gates of splendor"...i'm sure many of you have read it- but this is my first time...i am (hopefully!!) being changed by it's pages.

a few nights ago i read this: "wherever you are, be all there. live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God" i pondered it for a minute- it struck me as wise...what does it mean to "live to the hilt" my marriage- (even when we don't have a babysitter lined up:) what about motherhood- how do i "live to the hilt" these days with atlee, beckett and avalon by my side (i think for me, this has something to do with watching my tone, not being grumpy- and being intentional about how i fill the hours that we spend together-trying to switch out the tv for books more, not answering the phone when we're in the middle of a game, making eye contact when they speak-simple courtesy that i find easier to extend to a stranger than my kids) and what about in my friendships? relationships at church? so much to think about! as jeff and i lay in bed that night i shared these thoughts with him.

the next day i happened to read a devotional about being still before God...i was taking in her thoughts, and then she wrote "makes me think of a quote of jim elliot's- wherever you are, be all there. live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God" -there it was again! she writes of "living to the hilt" with regards to stillness- hadn't thought about that one. later that same night jeff and i tucked in and watched a movie...during one of the more dramatic points, the main character looked at the actress opposite of him and said- "a long time ago someone told me two words that changed my life: be present." i am beginning to wonder if someone is trying to teach me something!

the photo above is one of those moments...it's me, studying avalon for the first time. fully present, totally there, living it to the hilt in the stillness of the room.

potty talk

2007-11-05T18:05:00.001-08:00

i hesitated posting this pic...knowing that there are sick-o's out there who will blow this picture up and judge me based on how clean my bowl is (which it isn't)...if you're one of those people, stop- just read the story.

the following is the actual conversation between beckett and i around the toilet.

me- "beckett, do you know what this is?" (knowing full well that it was in fact a piece of the salmon that he was having for lunch- i had heard the plop in the water, investigated- but waited to bring it up until he had finished the rest of the salmon, all his green beans and had picked out his dessert)

beckett- "i think it's poo-poo"

me- "i don't think so, look again"

beckett- (totally straight faced) "it must be diarrhea"

me- "beckett,(deep breath) be honest."

beckett- (now fidgeting) "if i tell you it's salmon will you give me a han-ken?"

fyi: he didn't get a "han-kin"...i just tossed dessert (a pack of dots from his halloween candy stash) in the bowl too and flushed it all down- reserving one in my pocket to give him once i saw a truly repentant heart.

"superman with bad teeth"

2007-11-05T14:29:00.000-08:00

the above was his own description of his costume...he looked much cooler without the teeth-however, we were unable to convince him of this.

dorothy & alice

2007-11-05T14:16:00.001-08:00

("alice" is the director of children's ministry at trinity chapel)

the mermaid

2007-11-05T13:52:00.000-08:00

a day at the fair

2007-10-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

we had a wonderful day at the fair! atlee took a ride on the ferris wheel with her grandad- which was exciting, but not as exciting as riding the wacky shack, swings, or a roller coaster...we watched the bird show and the pig races. avalon had her first taste of cotton candy (a personal favorite of mine) and beckett spent much of the time trying to recover from the log jam ride that we thought was sooo fun- and he thought was sooo traumatic!!! we didn't try a fried coke, fried latte, fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich or fried cookie dough, but we still managed to have a great time!

changing perspective.

2007-10-22T08:02:00.000-07:00

for the past year i have been in love with a bed that is sold at urban outfitters...it's really just a headboard, but i simply adore it. i pull it up online every once in a while- and dream how i would change the look of my room (and, maybe even my life!!) if i owned it. i stare, and then i practically remind myself that i have a perfectly good bedroom set that is meeting my needs-i may not love it- but, it's material, so i'm not supposed to love it anyway, right? subtly, the way i felt about my own furniture drastically changed- i went from liking my set, to being indifferent about it, to really disliking it...it was the same, i was different.

a few days ago my wonderful, supportive, and stylish husband suggested that we list our current set on craig's list- "give it a shot, if it sells- great! use the money to buy what we want- if it doesn't sell, we'll keep what we have." so, we made the bed (which we do each morning)-but we took a little extra time-making it look just so, we fluffed the pillows bigger, took the books off our side tables and then we snapped the picture. as i looked at the picture displayed on the back of my camera, my perspective changed...i liked my furniture in the picture, it looked simple and nice..it was the same, i was different.

since then, i've been thinking some about perspective and how the accuracy of mine is within my power...that's really neat, and scary.

orphans

2007-10-16T20:21:00.000-07:00

atlee and beckett love to play orphans...let me explain: they take all of the pillows off of the couch, they gather a few stuffed animals and then the couch turns into a boat (keep following me) atlee rides on the boat and beckett "swims" by and asks for "new parents", she then pulls him onto the boat and then they repeat this.

i've begun to wonder if i should be offended that they play this, not just sometimes, but all the time- even today i saw them outside collecting pecans- and they were referring to the nuts as "orphan food"...i think this fascination may be stemming from our recent viewing of "pollyanna"...but i am not sure!

consumer or producer?

2007-10-08T18:15:00.000-07:00

the above picture is avalon tonight at dinner- consuming blueberries...what a mess!!anyway, we've been studying a bit about the food-chain around here...about how there are two basic parts: consumers and producers. it got me thinking, in my life what am i? do i produce or do i consume- or do i do both (which i do) and, if so, is it balanced as it should be? in my marriage, in my friendships, in my neighborhood and in my city, with the environment, with my kids? i hadn't even thought of it within my relationship to the Church- until sunday when our pastor shared this quote (from the stop consumer christianity movement): "the only customer of the Church should be God. the people who attend the Church should come with the expectation and excitement to serve God and others. we are the employees, not the customers."...wow and ouch. in life, is it apparent to all that i am working to produce fruit for the eternal kingdom? probably not.

this holiday life

2007-10-07T13:11:00.001-07:00

we were lucky enough to have a few visitors this past weekend...jeff's brother bobby (far right in the above pic) as many of you know, is part of a great band called "this holiday life". the guys are on tour right now and had a show in dallas friday night. they are north bound with three upcoming shows in the kc area- one of which is at habitat shoes! we loved having them here with us...they held avalon (she was especially fond of mark and would cry when we took her from his arms), jumped on the trampoline, played swords with beckett, and much more! seems too lonely around here now...we miss you guys!

cherish and nurture

2007-10-03T19:24:00.000-07:00

someone asked me the other day: "so, what did you do all day?" their question was posed with a sort of confused yet curious look in the eyes...i thought for a minute, really hoping that i could come up with something that could prove that i had, really in fact, been quite busy. after all, it was 6:45pm, dinner wasn't ready...the house was mostly straightened (but not at all "clean"), i hadn't showered and we hadn't gone anywhere (this was obvious since beckett wasn't wearing pants). "uh, well, we read some, really just mostly hung out i guess." that is what i came up with- that is all i came up with. the confusion left their face...but the curiosity remained- it was though i could hear their thoughts: "what are you doing all day in that house with those children by yourself?" as life is, as soon as they walked away, i thought of how i wish i had answered differently- not so much for my own esteem (although, that would have felt good), but i wondered why i felt insecure admitting that really i hadn't done anything all that important- but everything i did do had felt quite significant...changing diapers (and taking a few extra minutes to study avalon's growing toes), games of uno (and realizing that atlee is quite competitive), reading "just one more" book (and then asking beckett to explain the story back to me), jumping on the trampoline (and thanking the Father for the beautiful sky), a cat nap (so i'd have a little extra boost of energy for jeff). now, not everyday around here is this way...many days i need to accomplish a list of things in order to help our home run smoothly...and then, i hate to admit it, but there are days when i struggle to really "play" not because i have "necessary things"- but because, i simply don't feel like it.

today in the "home training lesson" that i picked up at BSF , i read this:

"These unique years are to be cherished, for
there will be no other time like this.

Later your child will be influenced by a myriad of others outside your home,

but for now his parents are his principal teachers and his family is his world.

You will never again have such unchallenged credibility or

control over what your child learns
You may never again have the

concentrated time with this little person that you do now."

so, next time i get that question, on one of "those kinds of days"...i know exactly what i am going to say:

"oh, today i just cherished and nurtured"

tempting a gorilla

2007-10-01T09:52:00.000-07:00

we just finished reading james and the giant peach...and now, for atlee and beckett, a peach pit is so much more than just a seed (if you've read the book, you'll understand why). when we went to the zoo last week beckett was thrilled to find a discarded peach seed lying on the ground...jeff and i hadn't realized that he had picked it up and proceeded to carry it all over the zoo until we reached the gorillas and watched him do this:

"hey gorilla, lookatthis" (three words in one)

"lookatthis"

"lookatthis" (by the way, this is his manly gruff voice, if you couldn't tell)

"it's a peach seed!"

i think he was a bit disappointed that the gorilla didn't respond to him...but not nearly as disappointed as he was when jeff told the kids that all of the animals were real at the zoo, except for the gorilla- and it was just a man in a costume...unfortunatly, i don't have a picture of that. (don't worry, he fessed up shortly after)

bedhead

2007-10-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

for the second time in a week i have had a sweet stranger look at my kids and say "wow...three girls- what fun!!" i guess i hadn't really noticed how long it had been since jeff took the scissors to beck's hair...i don't remember his last hair cut...maybe june or may? so, i know it's time to cut it again, although, the minister to children reminded me yesterday at church that the guys in the college class work hard to achieve the "foe-hawk" (sp?) that beckett can score merely by a good nights sleep (aka "bedhead").

proverbs 31:10

2007-09-05T21:17:00.000-07:00

each wednesday atlee takes sewing lessons...one component of the class is scripture memory- this was her verse for today...i thought she did a smashing job...and i look forward to watching her recite the entire poem by the end of the year...one extra bonus- in helping her memorize- i'm forced to memorize too!

big B turns 3!

2007-08-31T14:35:00.000-07:00

beckett turned 3 on august 8th...we celebrated his birthday at tyler and areamy's home in wichita surrounded by much precious family- including his six cousins!

happy birthday baby

2007-08-31T13:56:00.000-07:00

avalon ryan turned one on august 18th. i know everyone always says this...but i can't believe how fast this year passed by!!

first day

2007-08-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

this is atlee on her first day of kindergarten! when she got home she reported "i didn't think i was going to like it...but i loved it!"

following my leader wherever he may go

2007-08-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

one of those sweet moments when you realize that the scream of your kids

needs to be the cry of your heart.

losing teeth

2007-07-27T19:51:00.000-07:00

imagine our surprise a few weeks ago when our precious atlee discovered her first loose tooth...ironically, the tooth loose in her mouth was in the exact spot that avalon was growing her first tooth. for weeks atlee wiggled the tooth until last night at the dinner table she attempted to turn it in a circle (it was that loose) and it popped right out into her hand. jeff and i exchanged a glance...that somehow communicated "wow, she is getting big...a remaining tiny piece of her babyhood now gone" and then we went on to celebrate the moment. the tooth was passed around, everyone inspecting it...we began to speculate what the tooth fairy would bring...and soon the dishes were left on the table and atlee and beckett dashed upstairs to take a bath. the next half hour was a blur, somehow teeth got brushed, the baby got a bottle, bodies got washed, stories got told, good night kisses were given, and re-given and everyone got tucked into bed. jeff and i found ourselves back in the kitchen reflecting on the events of the day and getting caught up on life. jeff was washing dishes, i was wiping the table when i asked "where is the tooth?" "right by my glass, on the table" jeff said as he turned his head around. and, it was at that moment that we relized the tooth was gone. now, take a moment a reflect...what color would you consider a tooth? white? - not really, more like- tiny bits of salmon mixed with pasta and onions satued in butter- which is exactly what we had for dinner! how convenient!! we searched the trash...no luck...we searched the garbage disposal- nothing. so now...the tooth exists only in a picture- and that's okay...and lucky for us, the tooth next to the empty spot is wiggling too.