This has been Isaac's favorite funny face to make every since his friend Kate (pictured) taught him how to make it here at Grant & Isaac's birthday party! He's actually much more proficient at it now! :)Friday, November 21, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Sharing My Life Message
I've been using The Purpose Driven Life Daily Devotional. It is loaded with scripture and is direct, practical and applicable to daily life. Today's devotional was titled "Sharing Your Life Message." I thought that was pretty appropriate since that's more or less what I'm doing here, one day at a time. It seems like every email contains something I need to hear. Anyway, I get an awful lot from it and just wanted to share in case you're interested.
Here's a link to check it out. http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/devotional/todaysDevo/Devotional.htm
If you want to sign up to receive the free daily devotional there should be a "subscription" link towards the top left of the page.
I just wanted to share. I hope you get as much out of it as I do!
God Bless!
Here's a link to check it out. http://www.purposedrivenlife.com/en-US/FreeTools/devotional/todaysDevo/Devotional.htm
If you want to sign up to receive the free daily devotional there should be a "subscription" link towards the top left of the page.
I just wanted to share. I hope you get as much out of it as I do!
God Bless!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Fa la la la blah
Oops! It's been a while again!
Tonight I'm sorting through our Christmas decorations. Last year Brian and I decided that we weren't going to continue to store all of the Christmas stuff that we don't use. We knew that there wasn't much demand for it in January so we decided to stow it in the attic one more year. The goal was to pull it all down by my birthday and to have anything we no longer wanted sorted and prepared to sell or donate by Thanksgiving. Although I'm behind on most things, I actually got all of this down, with the help of a friend, on Sat, Nov 1st.
I've just really started going through things and am trying to get through as much as possible tonight since there's a donation pick up in our neighborhood tomorrow. Don't tell Dad, but I've put out at least 4 Christmas trees of assorted shapes and sizes. I've also put out several coats since we still had tons from living in Missouri and don't wear them too much down here. Some of Brian's work clothes are out there too. I've saved some sentimental things but he was never really into his work clothes. They were just something he had to wear and maybe someone else can use them to get a job or something. The clothes and coats have actually been outside my front door for a couple of weeks. The last group that was scheduled to pick up didn't. After I had jumped the hurdle of sorting through those things and setting them out, I couldn't bring them back in!
Anyway, I've been doing pretty well getting through the old Christmas junk that someone should be able to use but that we haven't used in years. I've set aside some sentimental things to keep along the way. Oddly the ho-hums really set in as I came across some brand new stuff. The last few years, we have had a very elegant tree with snowflakes and ornaments all in silver, white and blue. Last year we planned for a traditional tree this year. We purchased a variety of brightly colored shatter proof ornaments with the intention of the boys doing a lot of the decorating. We also knew they would be making a variety of things to fill in any holes over the next few years.
Now I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. Although we purchased most of them together, I have no memories of using these new ornaments with Brian. He didn't get to see the boys faces when they decorated the main tree for the first time. I know he's in heaven and even the brightest Christmas tree would dim in comparison. He's really not missing anything but I'm missing him. I would like my first memory of decorating the tree with the boys to have him in it. It just really caught me off guard. I have really been trying to prepare my heart and mind for the holidays and for all the traditions surrounding them that he has been a part of. I knew those things would be different. For some reason it seems even harder to think of the new things that we will do. He won't be a part of those new traditions that just pop up on their own. There will be more unexpected bridges to cross.
Hmmm... Every year we buy an ornament for each of the boys that reminds us of them and to help us remember what they really like at the time. Maybe this year we'll start a new tradition of buying an ornament that reminds us of Brian.
Tonight I'm sorting through our Christmas decorations. Last year Brian and I decided that we weren't going to continue to store all of the Christmas stuff that we don't use. We knew that there wasn't much demand for it in January so we decided to stow it in the attic one more year. The goal was to pull it all down by my birthday and to have anything we no longer wanted sorted and prepared to sell or donate by Thanksgiving. Although I'm behind on most things, I actually got all of this down, with the help of a friend, on Sat, Nov 1st.
I've just really started going through things and am trying to get through as much as possible tonight since there's a donation pick up in our neighborhood tomorrow. Don't tell Dad, but I've put out at least 4 Christmas trees of assorted shapes and sizes. I've also put out several coats since we still had tons from living in Missouri and don't wear them too much down here. Some of Brian's work clothes are out there too. I've saved some sentimental things but he was never really into his work clothes. They were just something he had to wear and maybe someone else can use them to get a job or something. The clothes and coats have actually been outside my front door for a couple of weeks. The last group that was scheduled to pick up didn't. After I had jumped the hurdle of sorting through those things and setting them out, I couldn't bring them back in!
Anyway, I've been doing pretty well getting through the old Christmas junk that someone should be able to use but that we haven't used in years. I've set aside some sentimental things to keep along the way. Oddly the ho-hums really set in as I came across some brand new stuff. The last few years, we have had a very elegant tree with snowflakes and ornaments all in silver, white and blue. Last year we planned for a traditional tree this year. We purchased a variety of brightly colored shatter proof ornaments with the intention of the boys doing a lot of the decorating. We also knew they would be making a variety of things to fill in any holes over the next few years.
Now I feel like the wind has been knocked out of me. Although we purchased most of them together, I have no memories of using these new ornaments with Brian. He didn't get to see the boys faces when they decorated the main tree for the first time. I know he's in heaven and even the brightest Christmas tree would dim in comparison. He's really not missing anything but I'm missing him. I would like my first memory of decorating the tree with the boys to have him in it. It just really caught me off guard. I have really been trying to prepare my heart and mind for the holidays and for all the traditions surrounding them that he has been a part of. I knew those things would be different. For some reason it seems even harder to think of the new things that we will do. He won't be a part of those new traditions that just pop up on their own. There will be more unexpected bridges to cross.
Hmmm... Every year we buy an ornament for each of the boys that reminds us of them and to help us remember what they really like at the time. Maybe this year we'll start a new tradition of buying an ornament that reminds us of Brian.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
I'm Changing My Name!!!
It starts every morning the moment they wake up. "Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" Grant has so many, many things to say on any given day. For some reason he just can't start right out and tell me what's on his mind. He feels the need to start every sentence by saying Mommy repeatedly until I've responded at least twice before he will go on and complete his thought. Of course little brothers have a tendency to think they should do what big brothers do so even though he's a man of few words, Isaac is also picking up this habit. Both boys are fighting with allergies or a cold so this evening so was filled with whiny versions of "Mommy," as well as a good deal of crankiness and some clinginess too!
Grant is going through another one of those phases where his bed seems to be made of rubber and every time I tuck him in it seems that he just bounces right back out again. He likes his blanket to be just so and will beg me to straighten it every time he gets back in bed. Once or twice is ok but this too can get old fast. Tonight was one of my 2 nights a week to babysit and the baby was going to sleep while Grant was still having a fit over his blanket. He had already been in enough trouble that he stayed in bed but continued to yell, "Mommy! at random intervals. Of course he managed to wake Isaac who had been sleeping peacefully in the next room. Isaac began to cry "Mommy!" This was only fuel to Grant. Every time Isaac cried out "Mommy!" Grant responded with, "MY Mommy!" Then Isaac would cry out again. Thankfully the little guy I watch can be pretty good at tuning out bigger boys that are being rotten! He went on to sleep. Whew! I wound up rocking Isaac a bit since he had gotten pretty worked up and finally convinced Grant he was on his own with his blanket and that Mommy's patience was worn thin enough that he probably shouldn't wake Isaac or the baby.
I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember but occasionally the sound of "Mommy!" becomes like fingernails on a chalkboard. Periodically, on a day like today, I threaten to stop answering to Mommy and consider changing my name entirely. When I made this threat once this summer, a good friend told me that as many times as I hear "Mommy" in any given day, he's surprised I remember to answer to Amber. He's probably got a good point! Anyway, I do love my boys and am proud to be their Mommy. I am also really glad they are finally both asleep!
Grant is going through another one of those phases where his bed seems to be made of rubber and every time I tuck him in it seems that he just bounces right back out again. He likes his blanket to be just so and will beg me to straighten it every time he gets back in bed. Once or twice is ok but this too can get old fast. Tonight was one of my 2 nights a week to babysit and the baby was going to sleep while Grant was still having a fit over his blanket. He had already been in enough trouble that he stayed in bed but continued to yell, "Mommy! at random intervals. Of course he managed to wake Isaac who had been sleeping peacefully in the next room. Isaac began to cry "Mommy!" This was only fuel to Grant. Every time Isaac cried out "Mommy!" Grant responded with, "MY Mommy!" Then Isaac would cry out again. Thankfully the little guy I watch can be pretty good at tuning out bigger boys that are being rotten! He went on to sleep. Whew! I wound up rocking Isaac a bit since he had gotten pretty worked up and finally convinced Grant he was on his own with his blanket and that Mommy's patience was worn thin enough that he probably shouldn't wake Isaac or the baby.
I've wanted to be a mom for as long as I can remember but occasionally the sound of "Mommy!" becomes like fingernails on a chalkboard. Periodically, on a day like today, I threaten to stop answering to Mommy and consider changing my name entirely. When I made this threat once this summer, a good friend told me that as many times as I hear "Mommy" in any given day, he's surprised I remember to answer to Amber. He's probably got a good point! Anyway, I do love my boys and am proud to be their Mommy. I am also really glad they are finally both asleep!
Monday, November 10, 2008
That Song Is Stuck In My Head
Grant has been in bed for about 30 minutes and he's been out 3 times to tell me that he hears the alphabet song (aka the phonics song) over and over. Although I'm getting frustrated that he won't stay in bed, he's been so funny trying to explain it to me.
Did you ever just have one of those songs stuck in your head? This poor kid is definitely my son! I can't even tell you how many times I have disturbed Brian's sleep to share a song with him that was keeping me up. Often it was some repetitive preschool song that would just stick but there have been songs of all kinds. Sometimes I would even sing it for him if he wasn't familiar with it to make sure he understood. He generally thanked me later for getting the same song stuck in his head! :)
As I was writing I was thinking how I feel kind of bad for waking him for such silly things. But as I think it over a bit more, I'm really glad I did. Those few extra minutes here and there make up more moments and memories I have to treasure when we were talking instead of just sleeping.
And for what it's worth, my advice to Grant, "Sorry Son. Sometimes Mommy gets songs stuck in her head too. You can either sing something else or just listen to it until you fall asleep!"
Did you ever just have one of those songs stuck in your head? This poor kid is definitely my son! I can't even tell you how many times I have disturbed Brian's sleep to share a song with him that was keeping me up. Often it was some repetitive preschool song that would just stick but there have been songs of all kinds. Sometimes I would even sing it for him if he wasn't familiar with it to make sure he understood. He generally thanked me later for getting the same song stuck in his head! :)
As I was writing I was thinking how I feel kind of bad for waking him for such silly things. But as I think it over a bit more, I'm really glad I did. Those few extra minutes here and there make up more moments and memories I have to treasure when we were talking instead of just sleeping.
And for what it's worth, my advice to Grant, "Sorry Son. Sometimes Mommy gets songs stuck in her head too. You can either sing something else or just listen to it until you fall asleep!"
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Helium Heights
Tonight we went to a surprise birthday party for a friend that will soon turn 30. I've known about it for a long time and am glad to have that secret out! Whew! It was for my friend's husband and was thrown for him by his two sons, the same age as mine. The invitation and theme was Dallas cowboys for their hero, their Daddy. I made the cake for the party, even though it really went against my beliefs to ice a jersey in those colors. (Go Chiefs!) Anyway, I was writing about heroes and Daddies along the side of the cake when Grant started asking me about it. He wants to read so badly these days that he has to know what everything says! I was already struggling with it all myself but was further deflated when I had to explain it to him. It was quite a night. I was dragging my feet. As much as I love my friends sometimes it's really hard to celebrate with others what they have but you've lost. Beyond the emotional struggle I was facing, we were running late, I forgot the candles, and I couldn't seem to find the location. If I hadn't had the cake we probably would have gone through a drive through and called it a night. Anyway, we eventually did get there. We survived and we even had some fun. I think it meant something to our friends that we were there and I'm glad we went.
Finally, here's the best part of the story. First off, after eating some cake, the boys were both blue from here to there and had the best blue smiles! Hopefully I can get one of those pics to post for you sometime. The funniest thing happened after we got home though. Both boys had been offered 2 balloons each to bring home. They were both quite excited but after I looped Isaac's around his arm, he was done and wanted nothing to do with them. We wound up leaving his there and just brought home Grant's two. Of course, after we got home, Isaac really wanted his own balloon. Thankfully Grant is generally a pretty good big brother and he was willing to share one of his.
Somehow I hadn't realized that Isaac had never really played with a helium balloon. The ribbon was really long on it and he could reach it even if the balloon floated all the way to the ceiling. He just didn't quite grasp the concept though. If he lost his grip on the balloon itself he would frantically grab the ribbon and throw himself down to the ground yelling "HELP ME!" He really wasn't happy unless he had the balloon itself in his hands. Generally he loves to bounce a regular balloon around and we try to keep them in the air. From time to time he would forget and attempt to bounce the helium balloon. It would just bounce all the way up and he would have a fit over it all over again. He couldn't quite grasp how to pull on the ribbon hand over hand until he had reached the balloon. I'm sure his two year old reasoning was even further impaired by the fact that this was all happening about and hour and a half after his regular bedtime. It was like in his mind the silly thing just kept falling up. The last straw for the poor little sleepy guy was when I was getting ready to tuck him into bed and he went over and gently placed his balloon in the toy bin for safe keeping. Of course the moment he let go, it floated straight up. He just started bawling and I asked if it would be ok for Mommy to keep the balloon in her room for the night. Surprisingly he agreed. For once I really won't be disappointed when a helium balloon ceases to float. I'm pretty sure Isaac won't either - but who knows! By tomorrow he may have a different point of view entirely. Whatever he decides, he's Isaac and he'll be just as determined that it should go his way!
Finally, here's the best part of the story. First off, after eating some cake, the boys were both blue from here to there and had the best blue smiles! Hopefully I can get one of those pics to post for you sometime. The funniest thing happened after we got home though. Both boys had been offered 2 balloons each to bring home. They were both quite excited but after I looped Isaac's around his arm, he was done and wanted nothing to do with them. We wound up leaving his there and just brought home Grant's two. Of course, after we got home, Isaac really wanted his own balloon. Thankfully Grant is generally a pretty good big brother and he was willing to share one of his.
Somehow I hadn't realized that Isaac had never really played with a helium balloon. The ribbon was really long on it and he could reach it even if the balloon floated all the way to the ceiling. He just didn't quite grasp the concept though. If he lost his grip on the balloon itself he would frantically grab the ribbon and throw himself down to the ground yelling "HELP ME!" He really wasn't happy unless he had the balloon itself in his hands. Generally he loves to bounce a regular balloon around and we try to keep them in the air. From time to time he would forget and attempt to bounce the helium balloon. It would just bounce all the way up and he would have a fit over it all over again. He couldn't quite grasp how to pull on the ribbon hand over hand until he had reached the balloon. I'm sure his two year old reasoning was even further impaired by the fact that this was all happening about and hour and a half after his regular bedtime. It was like in his mind the silly thing just kept falling up. The last straw for the poor little sleepy guy was when I was getting ready to tuck him into bed and he went over and gently placed his balloon in the toy bin for safe keeping. Of course the moment he let go, it floated straight up. He just started bawling and I asked if it would be ok for Mommy to keep the balloon in her room for the night. Surprisingly he agreed. For once I really won't be disappointed when a helium balloon ceases to float. I'm pretty sure Isaac won't either - but who knows! By tomorrow he may have a different point of view entirely. Whatever he decides, he's Isaac and he'll be just as determined that it should go his way!
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