Four By 40

Monkey Miracle

2012-05-26T07:07:00.002-05:00

Nathan likes monkeys. He has a particular stuffed one that follows him around. He took it out of his backpack on a particularly windy day last week and tossed it into the air. The wind took that monkey and settled him atop the school building. Nathan prayed aloud. "God please make the wind blow my monkey back down." The boy came home and we kept praying. He asked me why God hadn't answered his prayer. I told Him God always hears and answers. He answers Yes, No or Wait. The next day at school I prayed all day that God would bring Nathan's monkey back. He came home with it and stated that the wind did indeed blow his pal off the roof of the school and one of his friends found him!
Nathan told me,"Mom!! God first told me to wait and then He told me YES!!"

Just a Trim by Tim

2012-05-22T09:48:00.004-05:00

Clifford needed a bit off the top.

A mohawk for this guy.

Sprinkle that here.

Don't Spill the Beans!!

2012-05-18T14:46:00.000-05:00

Tim bought this game at a yard sale for 75 cents. I used to play it when I was young. Back in the olden days when they used real beans. We have played quite a few times but the rules have changed. When Nathan and Tim play it goes something like this.
1. Take all plastic beans and place them in a full bottle of spring water.
2. Swish the beans at least thrice daily.
3. Dump all beans into the bathroom sink.
4. Brush your teeth with your brother.
5. Spit all over the beans.
6. Act surprised when you get into trouble.
7. Since you know you won't be seeing the beans for awhile say goodbye.

I'm Going

2012-05-15T09:17:00.000-05:00

The bane of my existence is grocery shopping. Ok. Maybe I am being a tad dramatic. It is and has always been my least favorite chore EVER! Even when I was a child and had to go to Piggly Wiggly or Hornbacher's or Warehouse Market I would feel like I was dying. Dying I tell you.

Today is the day. I go on Tuesdays. I am procrastinating by blogging. So how are you doing? What do you have planned today? What's going on? What's new?

I have made an executive decision to no longer call it grocery shopping as that causes anxiety to rise up in my person.

It shall henceforth be called GET FOOD GO HOME.

Word World

2012-05-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

The last couple of weeks I have heard a lot of tearing down between siblings. Snide little comments made just to hurt. It saddens me greatly as I would love for my children to grow up and have each other and always be friends. The one found tearing down another in this house is to think of 3 positive attributes about that person and convey them and apologize. Not enough to throw out the words nice, kind or funny either.

Last night Timmers said, "Hey can we play that game again?"

Mom "Which game?"

Tim "The one where we are really mean to each other and then we are really nice three times?"

Happy Mothers Day!!

2012-05-13T18:05:00.001-05:00

Lessons

2012-05-10T09:02:00.001-05:00

I really wanted to get Joshua and Sarah into swimming lessons at one time. Really. But I had two little boys and I couldn't seem to get it together. I feel like I am getting it together now. I signed up Nathan and Timmers for swimming lessons yesterday! I asked Joshua if he would be interested in joining them. He declined.

Joshua "Mom, I ain't gonna be no 15 year old POLLYWOG with my little brothers!!"

Mom "They aren't called pollywogs. You would be in Level 1 with your little brothers."

Schedule

2012-05-09T07:05:00.002-05:00

We didn't have any family plans last night. It was so nice!! This morning I am looking at the calendar and trying very hard not to freak out.

4:30pm Summer swim registration
5:00-6:30pm Youth group for Joshua and Sarah
6:30-8:30pm Patrick has class
5:30-6:30pm Baseball practice for Nathan
7:00-8:30pm Softball practice for Sarah

Somewhere in there belongs the word Supper.

If you need us Tims and I will be in the van.

What to Wear

2012-05-04T12:43:00.001-05:00

I purchased a black pair of thongs. OOPS. Sorry. Flip Flops!! The Walmart kind that will cost ya $2.89. I love flip flopping around in them. Except that I sound like Squidward. If I could type the sound for you I would. I figured with wear they would stop doing that! I was wrong. Yesterday I kicked it up a notch with a pair of OP $4.89 black flip flops. Made all the difference. Ahhhhhh.

Warning

2012-05-01T07:27:00.000-05:00

Only Tim and Nathan know what happened in this tree. We are all trying to be very cautious.

Manners

2012-04-28T06:22:00.002-05:00

I stopped at the most polite four way intersection I have ever encountered the other day. I am always on the look out for the tap-n-go folks(beware!)so I was pleasantly surprised that all four cars were stopped and nobody moved. We stopped. We stayed. I was last to stop and assumed I of course would wait for all 3 cars to motor on. Instead there we were. I imagined for a moment what a conversation might sound like. "After you. No. After you. No, please. You were here before me. Oh, you go on ahead. I couldn't possibly. I can wait. No trouble at all."
Finally someone broke the jam by turning left. And we all took our turns. What a refreshing traffic surprise.

Her Love

2012-04-24T14:21:00.004-05:00

Dear Grandma Nora,

My lilacs are in bloom and I am missing you. It has been 32 years since I have seen the love in your eyes for me. You are never very far from my thoughts. I realize the impact one life can make on another. So much of who I am is because of you. Thank you for loving me. Thank you for giving me just what I needed in the time we had together. Thank you for letting Jesus touch my heart through you.

I wonder if you would be proud of me. You would love my husband and children. I know you would.

Take care of Aubrey, Jamie and Lee.(Your great grandchildren!)

I miss you so much!!
See you on the shores of eternity.
I love you,
Carla

Amusing Ourselves

2012-04-22T07:32:00.003-05:00

Patrick and I are in training to be Biblical Counselors. We are attending three weekend conferences and had one this past weekend. I get tired. I lose focus. I get fussy. My husband and I tried to keep things light while learning.

One of the speakers had a way of lecturing that involved the audience. He lectured with an oral fill in the blank so to speak. 500 people in attendance shouting out answers to finish his sentences. Very difficult for me to track but I decided to find my own words. "That would be called a_______. You might notice a______. That is when you would_____. There might be_______ to _______." Dog, sunrise, sprint, chocolate, eat.

I sat in front of someone who kicked my chair for two hours. I no longer bother to say anything to people that do that. It never goes well. They always seem to get offended that I don't enjoy their constant kicking me in the back. Plus Patrick likes it when I don't raise a ruckus. So I endured and then switched seats with him.

Saturday morning we got there early and Patrick waited for me outside the car while I gathered my things. A woman parked next to us and got out. Her driver's side door stayed ajar. I was trapped. Like a rat. She retrieved her books, keys and purse and then moved to the back seat.(Did she bring her dog??)I looked through the windshield and gave Patrick my "You have got to be kidding me" look. He had to turn away as he was laughing too hard. I remained calm, put my seat and tray in the upright position and noticed the unbuckle my seat belt sign. This woman in her own universe, retrieved her snack cooler, shut and locked both doors and made her way to the entrance. I don't think she even noticed another human being in such close proximity. Why I didn't roll down my window and make small talk I do not know.

In talking weight loss with the man during one of the breaks I thought of a really good name for my imaginary product. Poop a Pound. Say it super fast. Yeah. I know.

Birthday Boy!!

2012-04-17T09:10:00.002-05:00

Happy 15th Joshua!! I am so blessed to be your momma!!

G'Mornin

2012-04-15T08:58:00.000-05:00

The Other Blog

2012-04-12T12:16:00.003-05:00

I have two blogs. Four by 40 and that other one. :)

I have been busy doing what God is calling me to do in the prolife movement and thought maybe you might want to take a peek.

Here ya go!!

RTR

2012-04-12T07:20:00.005-05:00

Timothy is suffering from RTR Syndrome. Refusal to Read. He could care less that his job as a kindergartener means more than learning the letters T, I and M. It is a major battle to get him to sound words out at home and do his homework packets and try reading with mom. It makes us fussy.
Last night he was bringing a friend to Awana and was so excited!! RTR kicked in and I said we needed to read his sight word list. Yeah right. Good one mom. I told him if he didn't get through the list I would be calling his little buddy's mommy and telling her that it wasn't going to work out.
Tim said, "It, in, on, the, a, and, me, my, is, as, to, has."

Fitness

2012-04-10T08:43:00.002-05:00

Sarah is interested in six packs. Of abs. Some girls at school told her she has six pack abs and now she has made us all aware of them. The little boys had to show off theirs as well.

I heard them from behind me suck in their breaths and lift their shirts and I turned around to see two sets of ribs. Not quite guys. We'll keep working on it.

Prayer Please

2012-04-09T09:40:00.005-05:00

Not advice. :)

Timothy is 6. He is strong willed. He has been fit to be tied since midnight of his 3rd birthday. The snit fits he throws are a sight to behold I must say and frankly have worn my husband and I out. It is disheartening and frustrating and exhausting to deal with our youngest. He is not the only Stream in this house. And not the only strong willed one either. Sarah did the same from the ages of 3-7 and honestly I would say her tantrums were worse.

I love my children. Each and every single precious one REGARDLESS of how they act. But my earnest prayer is that Timmers will soon and very soon flex his little self control muscle and turn a corner. That the years of the heart training and discipline and sticky charts and prayers will add up to a young man who becomes a Godly husband and father. And a leader in the prolife movement.(of course)

This is not easy to type actually. I see parents all around me with shy, quiet and compliant children. Their children are characterized by first time obedience. Mine are not. Some parents have no idea what it is like to say the word "No." and watch WWIII break out. There are those that tell me that they simply do not tolerate that behavior. Well. Uh. Neither do we.

I'm tired kids. So very tired. I am coveting your prayers.

The Tomb is Empty!! He's Alive!!

2012-04-08T06:00:00.001-05:00

Fakers

2012-04-05T09:16:00.002-05:00

Yesterday was Fake an Injury Day at the middle school. I assumed that it was to give students a chance to understand disabilities or learn compassion for others that may not be as able bodied. How silly of me. Joshua told me it was just for fun. Hmmm. Pajama Day is just for fun. I can't help thinking about the students that have broken arms in casts or broken legs and were walking on crutches yesterday. For reals. I am sure they had a blast!!

Joshua said, "How about you write an angry letter to the school?"

The boy knows me too well.

Palm Sunday

2012-04-04T10:34:00.003-05:00

Last weekend for Life Shaping classes Nathan and Tims received palm branches and made a craft and had a snack and sang worship songs in praise of The One. A man dressed as Jesus was to ride in on a donkey and greet the kidlets. The donkey did not work out this year but Jesus did walk in. Timmers told me about it later.

"Mom, there was this guy and he was supposed to be Jesus but I knew he wasn't. He kinda looked like him but wasn't him. If it was the real Jesus I would have had him sign my shirt!!"

It's Chocolate

2012-03-31T08:57:00.000-05:00

Why Make the Beds?

2012-03-30T10:53:00.003-05:00

Sarah likes to be paid to do special chores for mommy and I am happy to oblige her. I dug out my copper bottomed pots last week and ask her to shine, shine, shine them up. She scrubbed with Bar Keeper's Friend until she could see her face. My daughter and I were very happy with a job well done!! This week she noticed something about the pots.
"These aren't shiny anymore!! I just did them!!"

Welcome to my world girlybug.

Image

2012-03-28T15:09:00.001-05:00

Bone does rhyme with phone that is true. Timmers knew that. But the image of the phone? Come on!