Saturday, June 30, 2007

Flowers II

Okay, so my gardening experiences may not be vast, but I have been thinking a lot about my analogy of children as plants. I have decided that there is a lot missing in such a horticulture comparison. Namely, no plants that we own have a). a purpose greater than just physical growth and beauty; b). an eternal purpose; c). a will of it's own.

I have never spent a moment on my knees for my plants, but my children often send me to my knees in confusion, joy and sorrow. I am so thankful for the interaction and growth that our family gets to experience and I'm glad that "scissors" aren't our only way of relating!

A Full Week

I am amazed that a whole week has gone by since I posted last. Time goes by so quickly when Joe is home. I guess that is a good thing, since if time was crawling we wouldn't be enjoying ourselves...

Our week was full of VBS at Shadow Mountain, swimming, Joe packing up his classroom, visiting relatives and friends from out of town, and trying to maintain a solid base at home with four little ones.

I went to VBS one day and found that it wasn't to my liking. I like to follow the rhythm of my children, to make every moment that I can full of adventure, exploration, discovery. I don't like wasted time. The VBS had 2,000 kids; so there were lines galore, waiting, shuffling: impersonal but functional. So, I stayed home with Thomas and Elizabeth and walked to the park with books. We swang, read, and played soccer. We walked home (found a few bugs on the way home and two pine cones), made cookies, then got lunch ready for daddy and Jon Jon and Abbie. Another day we ran errands, did puzzles, vacuumed, read some books, and did some laundry. Ahhhh, that is my preferred way of being with my children. Slow, interesting, busy, involved.

My big kids loved VBS and seemed to mature in their relating with each other and they just thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Joe went to watch the first day and ended up being assigned a group of 8 (three of whom were VERY rambunctious) children. He then spent the afternoons cleaning out his classroom, so, he hasn't started on the restful part of his vacation yet.

Saturday, June 23, 2007

With great excitement...

We went to the park for a picnic breakfast today. It is Joe's first day of vacation!!!!

A few weeks ago we took the training wheels off Jonathan's bike but then never got a chance to help him ride alone. So today we all went, with great excitement, to try riding without the training wheels. About 60seconds into the lesson Jonathan was riding alone! By the time we left he was riding around the circle that surrounds the park. We were all so excited.

Also, we all signed up for the summer reading program at the library today. This year they are doing the summer reading program for all ages, newborn-adult. Those special reading logs and prizes are sure as great motivator to read in this house. ;)

This afternoon we went to a celebration at a friend's house. This family had lost their house in the same fire that destroyed my mom and dad's home. With great excitement we rejoiced with them in their new home . How special to see the mother bringing her special touch for color and detail into their beautiful new home. She already had beautiful calligraphy around and other special touches that enhance the atmosphere and beauty of their home.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Fun Photos

Here is a collection of fun, random pictures. Enjoy! :)
Jonathan holding up his most treasured possession: chess.

Rebecca and Abigail
Girl Cousins: Abbie and Kate
We had a fun talent show of sorts with my mom and dad and the family pictured here. There is a beautiful ampitheater that we used. The evening was filled with singing, acting, poems, fencing, laughing, talking, eating...good things!


Here is Elizabeth and Grandma McDonald.

The Wild Ride...

Our dear Uncle Phil wanted to take us on a spin in Ole Bessy...Joe and the children held onto their hats...and had a blast!!!

Uncle Phil... at the steering wheel.
David Samuel and Joseph with their Uncle Phil and Bessy
Jonathan, Abigail, and Joe sitting in the back.

We had some dear friends cater the meal at our wedding...nearly 7 years later they are still making wonderful and memorable meals! :)

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Fathers

Yesterday we asked Jonathan if he could go back in time and talk with any person, who we would see in a museum, who would he talk to? Without any hesitation he said, "George Washington!" Well, what an appropriate man to "talk to" the night before Father's Day! George Washington, the Father of our Country. He was a man that brought unity, vision, strength, communication and action to a young country. The fathers in my life also bring those same traits in their own special ways.

My own father is a steady visionary. A man who is always ready to sacrifice anything from the last serving of food to the shirt off his back. As my brothers and sisters have begun to scatter, my dad is always ready to provide, juggle, struggle through any of the various victories...or scrapes we may be in. My dad is a man of incredible strength. As a child and teenager I always watched my dad get up early (4:30) and have a Bible study with my older brother and myself, get ready for work, and jump into his day running...Now as a parent I can see how busy nights can be and I am so encouraged by his commitment to me. I watch my dad now and I am always delighted at his excitement and drive to be a part of every one's various activities. I have watched my dad continue to woo my mom. After 30+ years of marriage and 11 children I still see a special passion and delight from my dad to my mom.

My dad can talk to anyone and make them feel comfortable. He always shows sincere interest and care to whomever he is talking with. He has never had an ego that he is trying to protect, but is always just genuinely interested in others. I am thankful for all the special times I had growing up under the influence of this godly man. Tonight I put Thomas to bed on my chest and I laid there reminiscing about the nights I would fall asleep on my daddy's chest.

My father-in-law is a man of great vision, drive and strength. He is a leader in conversations or in any project. He is a man of conviction and a man of faith. A man who honors and loves his wife. A man who breaths vision and guidance to his children. I love to sit and listen to my dear father-in-law communicate...and I always feel a bit timid next to his deep conviction! I have been challenged, convicted and stretched as I listen to different issues and wrestling's that my father-in-law is working on.

The most recent father in my life is my own dear husband. I never could have dreamed of a better father for my children. My Joseph is always ready to swing, climb, sing, snuggle, teach, tickle, guide, read, explore...Joe is an endless well of interesting topics and activities. The admiration that my children have for their daddy is boundless.

How I praise and thank you, Lord, for these three fathers who are the Fathers of their Homes!


Papa, going on a wheelbarrow walk with two grandchildren and a daughter!

Grandpa Tom and Mutti with Elizabeth on Easter.

Joseph, holding his precious new daughter, Elizabeth Noelle.

Friday, June 15, 2007

29

This has been year of growth and changes for me, number one on my list being Elizabeth Noelle. I've been challenged to grow in ways I haven't wanted to, to delve deep in those things I love and over-all to learn to embrace more fully the stage of life that I am in.

A year ago I was just feeling Elizabeth's flutters in my womb. Now I enjoy nursing her and making her giggle. :) A year ago I didn't know what to expect of her delivery, wanting to embrace the experience but also feeling timid about the "unknowns" and "what ifs". As the date of delivery drew near I gathered much strength in knowing that God created me to deliver babies. With each of my babies I've had to struggle through doubts and fears that I have to resolve. By the day of Lizzie's delivery the fears had all been washed away and I was able to fully embrace her birth.

The power of birthing a child is indescribable. I never knew before I had babies that there is so much strength in our bodies. The delight of delivering with my husband is indescribable. How wonderful to have his strong, loving arms around me and then to have his hands be the hands that deliver our baby into my arms. Also, the delight of experiencing that with my mom, to have her tender touch and knowing words encourage and strengthen me is also indescribable. I love to have a roomful of women at my births and what a delight to have Celesta (my midwife), Joanne, Melodie, Christy, Dora, and my sweet Polish assistant whom I can't remember her name at the moment. Also, Emilie watching the children. What a very precious, nurturing way to bring a sweet baby into the world.

The delight of having my fourth child was very real, but it also made me face the harsh reality that I am a very selfish person. I never knew how much I enjoy alone time, to be able to have everyone quiet at the same time. I've had to face different discipline issues with the children that I have never faced before. I've had to face the fact that I am incompetent and unprepared as a mother. I have never felt so overwhelmed and yet not had time to sit and quietly figure out how to fix my problems. Everything is moving too fast to sit. Someone is always needing me and I have so little of me to pass around.

My high points are numerous: I have loved being a wife, watching my husband grow and develop more in his teaching skills, become more assertive, and become a man whose heart truly seeks after his Maker. I had to step back and watch him experience the false arrest, nothing that I could say or do to keep him with me. Having him return home a victorious man, in spite of the injustice. Watch the Chief of Police apologize to him and there be no vengeance or guile in Joe's heart towards the wrong that was done him. I love and admire who Joe is so much and I have only grown deeper in my love and admiration this year. I am amazed that God has allowed me to be his helpmate.

I have also loved challenging my children, playing with my children and teaching my children. I was not prepared for how delightful it would be to unlock language with my son, to do crafts with my daughter or puzzles with my other son. The special challenge of teaching music to children that may not even have the fine motor skills to accomplish the task, yet trying to conceal from them that challenge was so fun! I have loved teaching and working with my children. I have found one of my favorite things is going for a bike ride with them...I'm often stretched to the limit and thinking that I will only do this when Joe and I can go together, but then we make it home alive and energized for the next time. :)

I have loved having talks with my mom and Joe's mom. They are two woman whom I admire and learn so much from. With our mother's I am forced to be who I am and they accept and encourage me from where I am.

I have enjoyed teaching Sunday school and thinking about the curriculum. I have surprised myself that I enjoy teaching a group of students so much! In fact, I've discovered that I like to teach more than I like to do music! It is so delightful to have a roomful of attentive ears eager to hear the next thing I have to say.

When Joe and I were engaged (which happened 8 years ago today!!!), we often talked about the man that was given a ball with a string coming out of it. The string was time. He had the power to pull it at will,but whatever he pulled could never be put back in. During our engagement we wanted to pull that string so badly, but those were such precious moments that we so wanted to enjoy to the fullest. We worked hard at enjoying every moment.

Well, this stage I've often felt that I'd love to pull the string. Everything can seem so full and exhausting I'd like to know that it is in the past, well done. But oh! These sweet children! I can never call back their childhood, enjoy their full attention and be the center of so many of their thoughts and ambitions. I must embrace the sacrifice in order to have a foundation of memories and investments that I can be thankful that God entrusted to me.

My closing thought: I remember when my dad was my age! :)


This was on the sliding glass door when I came in this morning. :)

Here is my special birthday breakfast. Joe had made banana-orange-chocolate chip muffins, omelets, and veggies for breakfast. Yummy!!! My dear husband and children gave me pearl earrings, necklace, and bracelet. They are soooo beautiful.

There was a hopscotch outside with...29 numbers!

Elizabeth is sitting up!!!!

Here is our beautiful Elizabeth sitting up and waving. :)

Notice the graceful balancing?

Checking out the beautiful colors of our carpet.

Big Brother, Baby Sister

We are so thankful for this precious daughter.

Swimming update

We are two weeks into swim lessons now, four classes. Jonathan is so precious to watch in the pool. He is always smiling and eager for the next challenge. The pool is a great place for all his energy! Abbie is becoming more confident and is excited to go to lessons now. She is very cautious and then all of a sudden she can do whatever was being worked on. I think she must study what is going on and doesn't want to take the risk unless she understands exactly what she's doing, whereas JJ will jump in feet first and learn later...

Here is Jonathan and Mr.Eli in the pool. The teachers will "air plane swim" through the water to get the kids from the shallow to the deep end of the pool.
Here is Abigail doing a back float with her teacher Miss Stina.
Here is a happy Elizabeth, enjoying the swimming!
(picture courtesy of my little photographer Abigail)

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Flowers

Thomas brought me a handful of beautiful flowers today. Well, they were dandelions, which are the best kind aren't they? ;) This evening after everyone was in bed I was finishing up the house and I sat looking at some of our "Abigail Roses." The petals were so perfectly placed. They open in the sweetest, most delicate way and the whole process from bud to full-blown flower is beautiful!

Our children are so precious, so delicate, and so...imperfect. There are so many areas that I need to keep my "pruning scissors" next to, or I start to see huge succors growing. God is slowly letting their bodies grow, their minds expand, their consciences more discerning, and their spirits wiser. He is using me in that process of careful tending in their little Garden's.

Just as the beautiful dandelion or rose cannot be opened without the Master Gardener's hand carefully unfolding their gentle beauty; so I must wait on Him to guide my hands as the lives of my children blossom. The process is both beautiful and painful. I must be willing to be both moldable and molder-er in this process called Parenting.

Joe's arms full with a beautiful life's mission!

"The Girls"
Let's hope there won't be too many of these in our garden! (snakes, not boys!)

The Abigail Rose in full bloom!

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Here you can see Abigail practicing her violin. The Duplos are her "music". Each color represents a note: green=A, yellow =E, etc... (Notice her "princess skirt"over her denim skirt, isn't that adorable?!) :)

Violin

A week ago, on June 2nd, Jonathan and Abigail, as well as Emilie, Ryan, David and Gannon were all in a end-of-the-year violin concert. My children were quite thrilled about getting to play "in a concert" and we had fun getting them ready! (I really enjoy dressing my children up--it always feels like I'm getting to play dolls--for real!)

Call time was 5:00 and the concert was to start at 6:30. I thought there would be group pictures etc... Well, there wasn't. We were tuned by 5:10 and then had to stay still and relatively quiet until 6:30. Ugh! I ended up watching the concert from the cry room were I could see very well, but I couldn't really hear at all. So for me, the evening felt chaotic and a bit disappointing. But...

Jonathan and Abigail loved being in the concert. Jonathan was able to sit with Grandma Barnes and Grandma McDonald and so he got to hear the whole concert. And when Jonathan and Abbie played they did terrific!!! Here is a sound recording of the concert: http://www.cabcsuzukistrings.com you can turn the volume up on your computer and enjoy the music as you work around the house! At the very beginning there is talking and it's a bit hard to figure out what's happening, but once the music starts...watch out! ;)

Jonathan and Uncle Gannon getting ready for a great concert!

A very excited Abigail and Aunt Bonnie.


I found a dotted Swiss sundress for her, it's darling!!!

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Growth

We were reading about Abram and how God took him our of the land of the land of Ur, where the sun was worshiped, to a dry and lonely desert. In this desert Abram learned many things about the God whom he worshiped. I wonder how many times we need to be taken through a time of sickness, trial, or loneliness to get us to notice a God who is greater than our circumstances, who offers much more than just our feelings, who will lead us down His paths? May we all drink deeply of the fountain that is ever running with life-giving water.

Tuesday, June 5, 2007

School

I have been packing up our first year of school. What a privilege it has been to teach Jonathan, Abigail, Thomas and now Elizabeth. Literacy is so important in each phase of our lives and I'm thankful for the ability to promote and teach that to each of my children.

Elizabeth's first months of literacy have been filled with learning to communicate better. Let out a cry and know that mommy is near. Coo and talk when you are happy. Grab for anything that's near. She is getting quite good at her school and I will soon begin teaching her to crawl...but first she must master sitting up.

Thomas' involvement in the world has surprised me and I actually feel a bit intimidated by the gifted-ness he has. My goal this year was for him to learn his colors, sort objects, and become familiar with the order of numbers... Well, he mastered his colors by October, he is a pro at sorting any objects, and loves to count (well, 1,2, 7,9,5,11...the point being he is beginning to understand the idea of numbers, we just have to help him with the correct order!) He has become a puzzle maniac. Joe just got Thomas a 48 piece puzzle and it took him only two days to master. He enjoys living and breathing puzzles.

Abigail is still working on her sign language and reading. She is pretty confident with her letters and is able to blend up to 5 letters now. She enjoys picture books. Abigail loves crafts of any kind. She is always writing letters (literally letters) and loves to write words in the air or do "ribbon words" (I cut a lot of different sized and colored ribbons that we turn into letters or words, I do color matching with Thomas and have Jonathan work on making several of a letter or number he is having trouble writing on his own) or salt letters (we have a little Tupperware container filled with salt that we write "secret messages" to each other in).

Jonathan is getting very competent at reading. This year I began teaching him with the philosophy that I would rather read to him for two hours than struggle though a long reading lesson and then have only a small read aloud time. So I only did "official" teaching reading time for a max of 15 min. a day--but usually I set the timer for 10 min. He is now such a great reader. He is reading at least a book a day (though I see his appetite growing, today he's already read me 3 books and he is the one that initiated them!)

My main emphasis with Jonathan has been exposure...to as many wonders of the world as I could. We have read many books, here is a sample: The Box Car Children, The Apple and the Arrow, My Father's Dragon, James Herriotts' Treasury for Children, The Hundred Dresses, Johnny Appleseed, Five True Dog Stories, Beowolf, The Family Under the Bridge, The Light at Tern Rock, Twenty and Ten, Mary on Horseback, Dolphin Adventure, In Grandma's Attic, The Story of Dr. Dolittle, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, A Grain of Rice, Hero Tales, All the Chronicles of Narnia series, All the Little House on the Prairie series, Chitty-Chitty- Bang Bang, The Swiss Family Robinson... Also, we love to read biographies and I didn't keep a good record of who we read about. I know we read Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, Marco Polo, Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, and many more. We also have enjoyed getting non-fiction books on what ever animal interests us at the time.

For math I wanted Jonathan to be competent at counting to 100, forward and backwards, and adding numbers up to 10. Well, he can do those things and far beyond! I have found these delightful books from a website www.livingmath.net that talk about literature that can be used to teach math. I have found some terrific books that compel you to enjoy math.

So, we are officially cleaning up our adventurous first year...but the learning will only continue. God's world is so big, orderly, and intricate we can only get a taste of what He's made. I am grateful that I get to travel on the Avenue of Learning with my children!!!

Peaches 'n' Cream

I have read that the average adult laughs (something like) 5 times a day, while the average child laughs (something like) 50. Well, those are averages. In our house we have the most hilarious kids that like to keep us all in stitches!
Our newest little giggly cutie is Elizabeth. She is so cute, so round, so ticklish, and so interested in everything that is going on in our house!!! I don't know if I can capture the innocent, sweet, blissful adorableness of Elizabeth...
Yesterday I heard her belly laughing so I went in and there was Jonathan reading "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish" to her and ever word he read would make her laugh from her toes! Ever since then if she starts to cry he'll start reciting the words thinking there must be something extra funny about those words...
When Elizabeth sleeps she looks like a little cherub-ess, this perfect face with long eye lashes, chubby cheeks, beautiful lips and kissable hands. When she awakens into our world she immediately comes to life with words, twinkles, and movements that make you feel compelled to pick her up and smother her with kisses. ;)
At night Abbie's last words are always "can I hold Wizbiss in the morning?" Then when she sees her little Wizbiss in the morning she seems like she is complete again. Even "little mothers" shouldn't be separated for a whole night from their babies (or so Abbie would say)
Thomas is always saying in his high pitched voice "My Ba-by" or "Can I hold my ba-by?" We are deeply thankful and blest to have our precious Elizabeth. We never imagined how enhanced our lives would be from her sweet presence.

Elizabeth taking her first Easter bath :)

Can you see the peaches?!?


Ready, set...giggle!!!


Queen Elizabeth and Queen Abigail


Sisters

Elizabeth 2 hours old

Swimming

Today I took Jonathan and Abigail to their first day of swimming. Snuggled in my arms was little, round, giggly Elizabeth. I took an extra-large beach towel and a bag full of books and puzzles for Thomas. It was so blissful to sit there with my children enjoying our quiet activities while laughter wafted to us from the pool.

I love where we take swim lessons. The pool is in the middle of a school for people with disabilities. So, while the older children are taking lessons we are enjoying people in wheel chairs, people with mental handicaps, etc... and of course all the people love the children! The teachers are extremely competent. I think they are extra good with the children because they work with such high need people all day.

Jonathan is in the final Tiny Tots class. He is learning to breath with his head tilted to the side, rather than the quick "doggie breath" he is used to taking. There are two other students in his class. They were all swimming half-way across the narrow part of the pool (it is an olympic size pool). The last five minutes they were all diving for toys on the bottom of the 5' area of the pool--an improvment over the 3 1/2' area Jonathan could do last fall!

Abbie was a bit timid the whole time. She had a fun over-sized boogy board that she and her two class-mates (they were 4-year old twins!) kicked out to the center of the pool in. They had different activities that encouraged them to swim from the island in the center of the pool to about three feet away to their teacher. Abbie ended with retrieving toys from a 2' deep area of the pool.

A fun thing that happened at the end was Jonathan's teacher, Eli, was telling me what we could do at home to prepare for lessons. Then he started to talk to me about my children and then asked if I went to Shadow Mountain Community Church. I said "No, but my husband and I met at CHC." He asked if I came from a large family. Well, it turns out he did Fiddler on the Roof with Melodie a few years ago. He was the bottle dancer who had the bottle fall off his head. He knew all my siblings who were in that performance. That was a fun little addition to our day!

Map