Our Family Circus

Yesterday , we had a bridal shower for my brother's, soon to be wife, Katie. Those in attendance gave the Bride to be Advice. Here is how our 5-year-old completed the following sentences: Never go to bed without "brushing your teeth." Always remember to "potty before bed." The most important job a wife has is to "take care of the kids." Try not to get angry when your husband "says No!" At least once a week, try to "brush your hair." If your husband has a bad day, "take him to Chuck E. Cheeses."

Tonight, a set of new parents are sitting in a hospital. Their baby boy born yesterday. The pregnancy was considered at risk so mama took extra special care. Baby Jackson arrived 3 weeks early weighing 7 lbs and 14 oz. I do not know Jackson's parents but his Grandmama is just that GRAND! She is my cheerleader. Their family sits in another state, crying and praying as Baby Jackson is in ICU for bleeding on the brain. Will you please join me in praying for this little one and his family. Dear God, I see Mary's face as I teased her calling her Grandma, her big, beautiful smile! They are so excited about this baby and have covered him, his mom, and daddy in their prayers. God I pray for healing. I pray for healing over this precious baby. For the strength the family needs as they await your will for Baby Jack. I pray that Mary and Ken will enjoy Jackson's fingerprints on their recently cleaned glass door. That Jackson will ride on a firetruck with his daddy. That ...

Television and games systems make children less bored then ever. But, I have heard that boredom is great for a child. It is through boredom that they begin to think, investigate, grow curious and then spring into action. I have a couple of young guys in my life that I can not image ever being bored. One of them is a natural boredom buster. He is curious and gusty! When boredom almost hit shortly after summer break began, this game emerged! NET BALL. The boys were tossing football and decided to retrieve some fishing nets along with a butterfly net to catch the ball with while playing 'Monkey in the Middle.' Monkey in the Middle is what we called 'Keep Away' in my day. The boys played for hours each day. When one kid went home, I was invited to play and because they are such gentlemen, I never had to be in the middle. It was quite fun! Had I not needed to keep up with a toddler or prepare dinner, I could have hung right in there. Two of the three nets have since been re...

B., so proud that mama understood that she wanted yogurt as a snack. She retrieved her own bowl and attempted to open the fridge. She gets so excited when we understand that she "jumps," which is not quite off of the floor yet. Our little lady, is just that- little! In fact at 20 months old, she has yet to reach 20lbs and has to eat her drive- thru burger in her rear facing carseat (before you freak please know that she has a sibling beside her and looking at her from the back of the minivan.) Her clothes may say, size 12 months but she is becoming a 2 year old! I am a BIG fan of 2! They are learning to do things themselves and began to communicate what did not come out of their mouths before-at least that is true for our babies. It is so fun! Because of her small frame, I forget what most children her age are doing. I can just pick her up and hold her with one hand-she is very conveniently packaged! BUT she is showing me! She mimics conversation. I don't know wha...

My Dear gets plenty of calls of folks needing help. He has to discern those phone calls. Thursday, he got a call. He then called me to tell me that we would be hosting 2 "guys" in our home for dinner Saturday night and they would be sleeping at our neighbor's, which is also his coworker. Let's just say, I had my concerns! I have 3 children to protect! If our friend Tanya was on board-then I guess I was too! MAN-I almost missed a blessing!! Kurtis and Tom are riding their bicycles from Colorado to New York. Tom maps the journey and Kurtis calls churches seeking housing. They bike about 60 miles a day. These college students did not even train for this trip but just went for it! Our Man Cub was most excited about meeting these guys and Little Miss likes having guest in our home, so they were checking the clock all afternoon. My Dear chose to meet them on our bike-baby seat included! So of course the big kids had to go too! Our friend Tanya decided to fix the meal which...

When I was in high school I volunteered to help with VBS at my church. This activity is engraved in my brain because it was so much fun! As you can see, some 20 years later, it still works! Fill a bucket or bowl with water and give them a household paintbrush. They will love painting the driveway, rocks, or brick. They watch the colors change simply because it is wet. You may need to set your bounders on what gets "painted" but the kids are sure to have fun and get a little "paint" on themselves as well. Enjoy!

We had lived in our home less than 6 months, when someone stole our car. Our parents wondered where we had moved for such a thing to happen, I began to wonder too. The car was not fancy. In fact, it was old. But to us, it was our freedom car. It was just what we needed: reliable and paid for! The incident jolted me a little and I wondered who would steal a car with a carseat in it? It was a crime that shook us and our security. I would never do that to another person! As I read from J. Johns book, I began to evaluate stealing and how easily it is done. God revealed to me things that I have done that are stealing. Not tithing, not tithing enough or lying on your taxes is stealing. I have heard someone say, they were not going to pay someone back because they, the "giver" would not be expecting it. When you do not pay for services, you are stealing-wonder if our renter is reading this? J. John suggested you take a look around your home to see if you have borrowed things and no...

I am on a mission to get clutter free! I spend way too much time picking up and taking care of stuff in our home. I realize this since Little Lady rearranges everything she touches. We are gathering it all up and sticking it out in the yard with a FOR SALE sign on it. We have stuff we do not use and sadly, we have stuff we do not even like! The goal is to take the money from the sale and assist with another clutter in my life-debt. Although this clutter does not lay around my house, it does clutter my life. We recently sold My Dear's motorcycle eliminating the last of the student loans! My Dear was pleased it sold quickly and for his asking price. I love the debt gone and one BIG piece of clutter gone as well. There is clutter in our schedules. Gymnastics ended freeing up 3 hours on Friday afternoons. Baseball is in full swing but we are enjoying this short season in our lives. Man Cub is doing so well and Miss Sunshine is enjoying the new friendships and daddy as coach. She is als...