Then & Now

It's hard for me to believe, but we've lived in our house for 6 years today! When I look back at the process of finding a builder, choosing a floor plan, and stressing over the many details that needed to come together, I can't believe we got it all done. Especially with a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Then after moving in, we had a huge task ahead of us--our yard. We couldn't spare any money to hire a landscaper, so we did it ourselves. Then we did parts of it again and again, thanks to settling issues. There's one section of our yard that has at least 3 layers of grass and dirt beneath the top layer of grass! Even with all the work this took, I am glad we did it. Our 2 bedroom bungalow could only hold so much. Happy Birthday dear house!

Family of 4 in 2003 saying goodbye to old house

Family of 5 today

3 year old Braylen and 1 year old Kaleb in new backyard

Our 9, 7, and almost 5 year old 3/30/09

Braylen and Kaleb by new blue spruce in back yard

All 3 boys by blue spruce today

One more thing about today. Kaleb gave me my first dandelion of the season this afternoon, so I guess spring is here, with summer not too far behind. Yay!

Plus One

Derek and I rejoiced with all of heaven tonight at our son Kaleb's decision to accept Jesus as his Savior. :) Plus one for God's family! A few years ago, as a 4 year old boy I believe, Kaleb prayed with me to be on "God's team." That was the only way I could relate salvation to his little mind. Now that he's older, he is able to grasp the plan of salvation fully. Tonight's circumstances were not planned or rehearsed, but they were God-ordained. After one of Kaleb's favorite spaghetti suppers, Derek asked Kaleb, "How does someone get to heaven?" A seemingly random question that Derek later told me just popped into his head. I'm thankful for a husband who listens to the voice of the Holy Spirit! We talked around the table with all of our boys. It was a Spirit-filled moment. Braylen remembered his own decision to ask Jesus to save him from his sins. Aaron piped in every now and then, especially when we talked about the colors of the heart. (black with sin, red with Jesus' blood, white as snow) Thanks to Bible Club and Mrs. Shell, Aaron has that down.

After talking with us about what it means to ask Jesus into his heart, Kaleb said he wanted to do it right now. He was sure. He sat on Derek's lap and prayed his own prayer. It went something like this: "Dear God, I know I am a sinner. I know I can't get to heaven by myself. I want you to come into my heart and save me from my sins. Amen." Praise be to God! We talked with him about what it means in his life now that he's saved. He said, "It's like Psalm 23, walking in paths of righteousness." Talk about a parents' greatest thrill! He GETS it! He learned that at Sparks--way to go Awana!!!

Derek had Kaleb write in his own handwriting about the decision he made tonight. That way he can always have it to look back on. All on his own he added exclamation points and a huge smiley face. :) His joy was evident to all. He called both sets of grandparents to share his news, and they were able to hear that one of their prayers was answered. What a blessing for Kaleb to have 4 godly grandparents praying for him. What a blessing for all of our boys. Some time ago I was convicted in how I'm prioritizing my kids' lives. I spend more effort and energy making sure they're enrolled in all the right sports and activities than I do for their spiritual future. That has been tugging at my heart for some time now. Tonight, with Derek's lead, we were intentional with our kids. I'm so thankful. I saw in my own family how God used Kaleb's upbringing in the church to affirm what we've been teaching him at home since birth. I am humbled and grateful.

At bedtime, I read a passage from Romans to Kaleb. It's Romans 4:7-8. "Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him." God promises that His Word will never return void. He's made it simple enough for a child to understand. I just can't think of anything greater than that!

What a Week

Warm weather, shorts, sandals. . .this week sure was a great way to welcome spring! We had so many opportunities to be outside, and the weather couldn't have cooperated more with our schedule. Spring break actually felt like spring! No snow storms! Yay! Tuesday night Aaron enjoyed a sleepover with his cousin. Those two have never known life without each other in it, and they sure enjoyed some extra special time together this week. It's funny how 4 kids in the house is really no different than 3. It's actually easier. People have always advised me to have an even number of kids for that very reason. Well, I guess I'll just need to borrow my niece every now and then to even things up around here. :)

All lined up on the couch at our fun hotel!

Thursday and Friday we treated the kids to an indoor water park and hotel sleepover. I had to laugh to myself when the boys went on and on about how much fun hotels are. Somewhere along the way from childhood to parenthood, hotels became not very much fun! What I see as crowded, they see as cozy. My adult eyes miss out on what their eyes can see. We snuggled in bed--all 5 of us--to watch some tv before turning out the lights. We ended up watching 2 episodes of Home Improvement. A show about a family with 3 boys--how perfect for us. :) At one point, the mom on the show talked about how she feels like her family is an all-boys club with no girls allowed. Kaleb turned around and asked me, "Is that how you feel sometimes Mom?" My sweet Kaleb. Even though that may be true at times, I wouldn't trade my all-boys club for anything. They are such blessings to me. Later that night, one of those "blessings" began talking in his sleep.

Did I mention how crowded--I mean cozy--hotels are? :)

Playing at the water park for two days may not seem like a vacation for some, but for us it was. Braylen and Kaleb were old enough to "turn loose," while Aaron took turns playing with Derek and me. Aaron's favorite thing was to wear a life jacket and swim through the not-so-lazy river. He floated, swam, jumped, and ran through that water! He loved hanging on the ropes to spray others with water. He became quite the waterbug--not only in the river but on the slides as well. He'd cross his arms across his chest and cross his ankles and wooosh down the slides! Kaleb, like Aaron, liked the river and the slides too. He definitely went down the slides more than anyone else did during those 2 days. Braylen's favorite times were spent with Dad on the big water slides. They rode together and separately, single tubes, double tubes, and without a tube! Every time they went down on a double tube, Derek would scream and carry on, just to have fun with him. Braylen kept telling him to stop. Finally he said, "Dad, stop! You're embarrassing me! People will think it's me!" Derek's finally done it! He's finally an embarrassing dad!

So as spring break wraps up, I feel thankful for the memories we made as a family. We played much and cried little! Today provided lots of fun for the kids to play outside with the neighbor kids. At one point there were 5 boys running around our house with laser guns, popper guns, cap guns, and toy rifles. They chased down 2 neighbor girls and took them as prisoners. I looked out the window and saw the two girls handcuffed to our swing set. The boys then hauled them from the swing set to another yard. I started to worry that I'm raising a bunch of terrorists, but when I went outside, everyone was in good spirits. I think the girls relished the attention, while the boys enjoyed picking on them. Isn't that how it's supposed to be?

Outings

Kaleb had a neat opportunity last week to visit our abc station and watch the newscast with his Cub Scout den. The boys and parents settled in on the couches and watched the news anchors, weatherman, and sports guy do their thing. Of course Kaleb wondered where the weather map was. The green screen just isn't the same! The teleprompters caught his attention, and he enjoyed reading along with the reporters as they spoke. During a commercial break, one of the anchors asked the boys if they had any questions. Kaleb's hand shot into the air and he asked if he could be on tv. My first reaction was to tell him he shouldn't ask that kind of question, but before I could say anything the man said that was a great idea! At the end of the newscast, the camera panned over to the boys as they waved goodbye. Kaleb's boldness paid off that night! On the way home he was pretty quiet. I asked him what he was thinking about, and he said, "I'm just wondering about what I will be when I grow up." I asked him if he thinks he'd like to be a news reporter, and he said, "maybe." You never know! He is a pretty matter-of-fact kid.

I did something yesterday that seemed so ordinary, but was not ordinary at all. After supper was cleaned up, I noticed everyone was happily playing together without me. I took the opportunity to go for a walk BY MYSELF! As I walked through our neighborhood, I tried to remember when I had ever gone for a walk all alone. The only thing I could think of was when I used to walk to work...and that was ages ago. The weather was beautiful, the birds were singing...I think I should go on walks by myself more often! Instead of paying attention to kids, I looked at yards with dogs to get ideas for our dog set-up. I tried to come up with some puppy names. I saw a sweet elderly couple sitting outside their home, and the husband helped his wife walk up to and through the front door. Little things that I just don't see when I'm watching my boys ride their bikes through intersections. I can't wait to get our puppy. I know we're still months away, but the closer we get, the more excited I am. :)

Aaron's learning on his "little" bike--easier for Daddy to hold onto!

Aaron's big outing this week involves riding his bike without training wheels!! Derek is working with him on this, and Aaron is doing really well. I think Derek will be in great shape and Aaron will be riding on his own in no time. :) Daddy's last little boy to teach this to. Kind of hard to believe, isn't it?

Aaron's Answers

I've come across this quiz from some other friends, and I thought I'd try it out with my youngest boy. I will type his answers word for word. Let's see what he has to say. . .

1. What is something mom always says to you? You are squishy too.

2. What makes mom happy? Cleaning up the basement for you.

3. What makes mom sad? If I go somewhere far away.

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Say jokes.

5. What was your mom like as a child? I don't know because I wasn't made yet.

6. How old is your mom? 20

7. How tall is your mom? 50 inches

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Wii Sports, training.

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Go to Walmart.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? Talking about the news and stuff.

11. What is your mom really good at? Playing the Wii Jeep.

12. What is your mom not very good at? Fitting in a hole.

13. What does your mom do for her job? Pay bills.

14. What is your mom's favorite food? pizza

15. What makes you proud of your mom? Letting us play the Wii Jeep together.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Sarah

17. What do you and your mom do together? Play the Wii Jeep.

18. How are you and your mom the same? We copy each other.

19. How are you and your mom different? Not wearing the same shirts.

20. How do you know your mom loves you? 'Cause she kisses me and hugs me a lot. And I kiss her and love her a lot.

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go? Culver's

I see a common theme here--Aaron really likes to play Wii Jeep!!!

While You Were in Florida...

Derek's been in Florida for the past 2 weeks, and we excitedly welcomed him home last night! The boys met him in the driveway with smiles and hugs, and we enjoyed supper together as a family of 5 again. It's so great to have Derek home!

During our first week apart, I cared for the boys by myself. It went better than I thought it would, and that is because Derek was praying hard for me! :) For the second week, I enjoyed a visit from my parents. We had so much fun! They joined us for Bible Quiz and school music programs. They treated us to several meals out, just-for-fun gifts, and one-on-one times with each boy. Kaleb and my Dad played at the bowling alley. Braylen and my Dad had several "dates." Kaleb and Braylen went out for donuts with my mom. Aaron and my mom played games and puzzles. He enjoyed beating her at Wii Jeep every time! We all played soccer in the backyard and basketball in the front yard. We walked to the school in warm sunny weather to pick them up, and I got a break from pulling Aaron's wagon. I just can't express how special this week was to me.

The best Grampy and Grammy with 3 happy boys!

One big thing happened while Derek was gone--Aaron needed a minor outpatient surgery. He is our first boy to be "put under" with anesthetic while a doctor operated on him. I learned that no matter how minor the procedure, a mother still worries over her child. Thankfully my Dad came along to support me, and Aaron is doing fine.


Derek made the most of his time in Florida. He worked very hard to pass his class, and now he's a certified Accident Reconstructionist! This has taken him 5 years to achieve, and I'm so proud of him. He persevered through many obstacles, and we give God the glory for it all. Derek had a little fun while he was there too. Walking in the Atlantic ocean collecting seashells for his family, eating out at some fun new places, driving a snazzy rental car... Well, maybe the rental car wasn't all that great. I learned it was no Maserati. Derek about busted a gut when he showed me a picture he took of a Maserati and I asked if that was his rental car, a Hyundai Accent. How am I supposed to know the difference??!!! :)

Funny Boys

Our spring musical was a hit, and Kaleb was the cutest cow in the Barnyard Moosical!

Braylen won 1st place in Bible Quiz--so proud of you Buddy!

Aaron's rediscovered his love for our car wash.

All 3 boys have loved it dearly.

Last week I lived out the phrase, "What's been done before will be done again. There's nothing new under the sun." My youngest son needed to visit a urologist, and when I walked into that office with him, memories of my young self visiting a urologist's office came flooding back. My mom used to take me there all the time--NOT a fun place for a young girl to go. Mom used to say she felt like the little old men would stare at me in the waiting room, so we'd check in and then go walk around the strip mall to wait for my appointment. When I signed Aaron in for his appointment, I was the mom who thought my little child seemed out of place in that environment. Funny how the tables have turned, but the situation is the same. While we waited for his name to be called, Aaron noticed two white-haired ladies walk up to the counter. He pointed at them and said, "Look Mommy! They're twins!" Then he pointed to 2 other white-haired people in the chairs and said, "More twins!" Thankfully they all appeared hard of hearing (or asleep!) and I could enjoy a private laugh with my son. :)

Kaleb's been learning about the Washington Monument in school, and it's really captured his attention. Actually, all of the history he's learning is capturing his attention. He talks about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, national landmarks...it's quite amusing to see this coming from him. Of course he confuses his facts, so instead of America splitting from England, he told us India. And I never knew 2 other countries wanted George Washington for their leader. India and Spain? :) But the best one yet is when he told us the Washington Monument is as old as Daddy.

While driving home from school last week, Aaron started shouting "Ewww, that car has skinny woman and skinny man lights! Move over Mommy, I don't want to be behind the skinny woman lights!" He was talking about a Honda CR-V, with the narrow upper-level tail lights. For whatever reason, he doesn't like them with a passion!

Finally, Kaleb said something to me on Friday that meant the world to me. After praying with him at breakfast, he added, "And thank you for YOU Mommy." To a mom who's doing it all on her own for 2 weeks, it was music to my ears.