Flood pictures #2

The rain came down, the flood came up

It is hard to believe the amount of damage that can be done from a storm overnight. The park that flooded the other day had pretty much dried out by yesterday afternoon. Well, that all changed last night. We got hit hard with rain all night. These are a few pictures of what we woke up too this morning. Our town was SHUT DOWN! We were literally surrounded by water. The river overflowed. There is alot of damage all around. We are still very blessed that not too much water got into our basement. I know that this in no way compares to the horrible floods that have happened in other places...but this was still very shocking for us.

The kids and I walked through the parts of town that we could get to. There were pretty much no cars on the roads except county workers. There were quite a few people out waking around taking pictures, like us. One thing neat that we did get to see were neighbors coming together to help one another out. In one place we saw just a line of men sand bagging.

The first picture is of our backyard. The other pictures in this post are all around the corner from our house.

Summer Fun

I have been praying about what I could do with my kiddos over the summer that would be fun, and memorable, and that would give me quality time. The kids and I brained-stormed together and here is a list of things we came up with. I actually think that most of this is pretty doable.

-Go to the beach (We are planning a trip once with grandma and hopefully another with friends)

-Go camping as a family, hopefully the weather cooperates for this.

-Participate in the reading program at the Library (Already signed up for. Anna is reading like crazy so that she can get her prizes.)

-feed the ducks down by the lake

-Go to the YMCA (This one is iffy. We won a family pass for a week, but thinking of taking all 4 kids swimming there by myself kind of freaks me out.)

-VBS- This one stresses me a little too. Our church's VBS is not like most of them. It is a family event. You have to be there with your kids, not just drop them off. I am all for the family doing things together, I honestly LOVE the idea, but I would have to do it alone because Bill does not get home early enough in the evening to make it there on time. I don't know what to do about it. I can't NOT take my kids. They love VBS...but I feel really overwhelmed with having to help them with projects, listen to Bible stories...all the while trying to watch a very active 2 year old, and probably nurse my baby. I am not trying to complain I just feel really conflicted about it. And I feel guilty that I am conflicted over this. Maybe if I had everything together I would be able to handle this and not feel stressed about it? That's what I keep thinking anyway.

-Play at various parks in town. Also make play dates with friends.

Last Sunday another homeschooling mom (there are only 3 or 4 other families in our church that homeschool, and all but one have kids that are way older then mine.) approached me about doing a unit study together over the summer. She has a daughter that is the same age as Anna. I cannot tell you what an answer to pray this is going to be. Anna really needs this interaction. We are going to be doing a History unit study using the books from The American Girl collection. I believe this link will show you the study we are doing (the unit study is not endorsed or published by American Girl). Anna is really into the American Girls, so I think this is perfect for this summer. After the study we are going to go see the movie Kit, which Anna is more then excited about. I know in my heart that this opportunity is from God, and I am praying that it will be memorable and a great fun learning experience.

I Would love to hear what your plans are over the summer, and I'm open to any other ideas of things to do with my kiddos.

This season is going to just fly by so I want to seize the day, savor the moments with my little ones, and make memories that will last a lifetime! That is the goal anyway.

Happy Summer everyone! And hopefully warm sunny weather will arrive here soon. :)

My summer reading list

It has been a long time since I have had a chance to sit down and read a book for myself. I used to read ALOT...I miss having something to read. One of my goals this summer is to read through a few books. I have never been very good at getting through non fiction, but there are actually quite a few that I would like to read. I am more of a fiction person, I like to dream, I like to escape sometimes. :)

Anyway, I am making a list of the books that I want to read over the next couple of months. If you have read any on my list and want to share your thoughts about them I would love to hear.

Non-Fiction(This list is big, and I'm pretty sure I will probably only make it through 1 or maybe 2 of these)
-Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
-Bringing up Boys By Dr. James Dobson
-Feminine Appeal by Carolyn Mahaney (I started this months ago and have not finished it)
-The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Fiction
-I think I want to read through the Sons of Encouragement by Francine Rivers.
-I could use some fiction recommendations. Do you have a favorite that you could suggest?

What are you reading this summer?

Input wanted please

Ok so I have a question for all you mommies out there. Claire has been drooling like crazy lately. She is starting to soak up her outfits. She is always sucking and chewing on her fingers. Also, she has started clamping down hard occasionally when I am nursing. My question is, could she be teething this soon? I have forgotten when my others started teething. But it doesn't seem like it was this early. She just seems so young at 3 months. I would love any thoughts on this. :) Did any of your babies start teething this soon?

Flood

This weekend we got hit with some pretty bad storms. Tornadoes, flash floods, thunder and lightning, and power outages. It was a long weekend. Our small town, and many around us, are under alot of water right now. North of here many homes were totally destroyed and swept away in the water.

I took the kids for a walk to the Library yesterday. I didn't realize just how bad it was by us until I saw with my own eyes. This park is one that I take the kids to all the time. It is behind us and across the street. In the deepest parts, the park measures 7 feet of water!!! I am totally blown away. Last night we spent time praying with the kids for all the people around us who have been affected by the flood. Thankfully our house sits on a little higher ground, so we only got a little bit of water in our basement. Praise God for his protection!

Growth

Wednesday afternoon I had an unexpected visitor. I had just put James down for his afternoon nap, Claire was sound asleep in her crib, and I turned the TV on for the older two, so I could hop in the shower real quick. I had only been in there for about 5 minutes before Anna knocked on the bathroom door to say that Miss Sandy was here. :) I quickly finished up and got dressed. "Miss Sandy" as the kids call her is our neighbor, a dear friend, and one of my mentors. I couldn't have been happier to see her (never mind that James had gotten out of bed, dumped out a big box of toys, and that there were dirty dishes on the counter, and laundry EVERYWHERE). I KNOW that she understands the state my house was in, as she raised a houseful of children years ago; and I am past most of my pride about what my house looks like. If you stop in unannounced, my house will most likely not be in order. Anyway, she had stopped because she had promised to help me with a project sometime this week. I was not ready for this project, we were going to plant tomatoes together, and I hadn't gotten to the store to pick up the plants. I do NOT have a green thumb and I wanted to learn. She said that she was stopping to watch the kids so I could get out by myself and pick out the plants. Of course I jumped at the change. I had 45 minutes to get to Wal-mart and back...plenty of time...and refreshing to get a break! :)

When I got home Sandy had Anna and Ryan washing all the dishes for me, and the house looked a lot better then when I had left. The kids were all excited to see what I had brought home, and Sandy assured me that the plant I had picked looked strong and healthy. Then we all promptly went out back to plant it. I know this is silly, especially for those of you who have done it before, but it was so easy, and fun.

This seemingly small task is actually an answer to prayer. I have been praying over the last several months that God would help me to be a good steward of what He was given to us. My time, our kids, our money, etc. I have been going over ways that I could help our family eat healthier and be as frugal as possible. I was thinking that it would be so wonderful to have a garden, but that is just not possible. We don't get any sun in the back yard, and since we don't own the house we live in, we can't just cut down trees to remedy the situation (not that I would want the trees to go). I was tempted to lament the situation, if only we had...then we could...God could use us more if...but I knew better then to stick around those dangerous thoughts. Then an idea came to grow tomatoes in pots, maybe that would work. Since we don't know how well it will go, we decided to just grow one pot this year.

Looking at my humble little tomato plant fills my heart with joy. I get excited when I look out at it's green leaves stretching and swaying, ever so slightly in the breeze. It symbolizes so much more to me then the ability to (hopefully) watch it bear fruit. It represents things that are bigger, are extraordinary in my ordinary life....contentment, peace, joy....growth! This past year has been a year of growth for me. I feel like I am starting to understand, in the smallest way, what it means to be content. To long for the things that have eternal value. To learn what having joy means, and the choices that go along with that. I am experiencing it in my marriage, in my attitude with raising my children, and even in my perspective in those around me.

There was a time when I would have given in to the temptation of ugly thoughts and dwelt in unhappiness. Not to say that my mind never goes there but, I am realizing more and more how unhealthy and damaging that is...and the ability to recognize when my thoughts are going down that path. There was a time when I would not have been happy with "just" one tiny tomato plant. I can honestly say that I AM content at the moment. It has nothing to do with me. I did not not change myself. As I submitted myself to the Lord and He began to peel back the many ugly layers, things started to change to take on a new form. My eyes were opened. The process has been painful at times, but the outcome is blessing beyond belief. God's grace is so beyond what I can grasp, and yet I can see a small portion of it wrapped around my life. I know I have a long way to go but looking at my tiny plant gives me hope. I am reminded of everything good that God has done and is doing in my heart. Thankfully He NEVER gives up on me.

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Phil 1:6

8 Years ago

June 3, 2000

If you want to read our story, go here.

Mostly good stuff

This has been a busy week for us. I don't know if I can even remember everything that happened. Aside from all the everyday day stuff, laundry, dishes , diapers, meals, school etc. I want to blog more about some of these things. (I have just been too busy lately.) For now, here is a run down of the past week.

Anna and Ryan both came down with ear infections...I spent one whole night up with a crying sick daughter. We went to the Dr. got meds. Everybody is better now. The week got brighter after that. It's so sad having miserable kiddos.

We had many good things happen this week. Bill had an interview on Tuesday and got offered the job...he starts tomorrow!! Praise God!

Anna had her first kid only birthday party. I was really stressed about it, but it turned out really well. Anna said it was her best birthday party ever. That made my heart happy! :)

Bill and I went on a kid free date to celebrate our 8 year anniversary (June 3rd). We had a nice meal and spent the evening laughing and enjoying each others company. What a blessing that was.

Today we all crashed. All of us took a 3 hour nap...I think we needed it. It has been an exhausting, but mostly good week.

I have many thoughts I want to write soon. Our Anniversary...what God is teaching me in my marriage. Also God has been doing a lot in my heart right now. I have spent a lot of time thinking and praying about things in my life.

Even after a good nap, I am still feeling tired and ready to turn in for the night. I will write more soon!

The Kid in You

5 Minutes For Mom is having a photo contest. I thought this would be fun to enter. The contest is to post a picture of, "The Kid in you."

What brings out the kid in me? Well, Being married to this guy! We have lots of silly moments in our house like this!

The first picture is my official entry, but I just wanted to share a few others for fun.

3 months old

I can't believe my Claire is 3 months old already (may 21st). She is such a sweetheart, a very smiley, quiet baby. Here are a few pictures I took of her today. Claire has totally captured my heart...oh how I love that girl!

If you want to see more pictures go here.

7 candles

How did this even happen? I blinked my eyes, and in an instant you were blowing out 7 candles. I look at you sitting next to me with wonder. I see you blossoming and growing into a beautiful girl.

I remember the day we found out that you would be joining us, and the day we were told that you would be a daughter. Tears filled my eyes, daddy beamed with pride. He whispered to me that you would be beautiful. He could see someday walking a beautiful bride down the aisle...our future displayed before us, dolls, pretty dresses, lipstick and shoes...glimpses of good days to come.

You are my firstborn, my baby girl. After 20 plus hours of labor they laid you in my arms...I could hardly breath. I have forgotten many things over the years, but not that moment. You were here and were more beautiful then we could have imagined. With tears we praised the giver of life, for this precious gift. On May 21, 2001 our lives were forever changed; we started our journey with you.

My precious Annaliese I am so thankful that God chose you to be in our family, and that He chose me to be your mommy.

God I praise you for Anna, she is so precious to us. Thank you for making her who she is, that she is fearfully and wonderfully made. I pray that she would understand that You have made her unique and for a purpose. I pray that as she grows her love for you would grow. From a young age we have seen you plant in her a desire to spread Your good news. I pray that her heart would remain tender towards you and for the lost. Thank you God that you have gifted her with many talents, I pray that you would use those for your glory. You have given her a strong will Lord and I pray that you would direct that will and make her a strong, courageous woman of God. Thank you for the mind that you have given her the ability to remember things easily, I pray that she would use her mind to fill it with Your Word. She is such a blessing to us, thank you God.