quick takes this week

1. Kai's quote of the week: K: Mom, when do you want to go to heaven? Me: Whenever God tells me its time buddy. K: (after only a second to think about it) How about Saturday? 2. Who seriously thought that cooking pizza on the oven rack was a good idea? All it amounts to is burned remnants on the bottom of my oven that burn, smoke and stink. The smell and smoke negatively contribute to the overall census of my cooking skills. 3. Yesterday at 6-something am, I opened the blinds to see Scout wrestling and eating a poopy diaper dragged from the garage trash can. Today I open the blinds to find Kai's bike helmet strapless and with puncture wounds all around the foam. Stupid dog. 4. I sent the kids out in the backyard to soak up some sun before lunch. I keep the window in our kitchen open so I can hear them and check on them every few minutes. Check ONE: Addie is picking up Scout's poop and examining it with her bare hands. Check TWO: Addie is wearing a dress and lite pink tights and is running around the dirt areas with no shoes. Check THREE: "Kai, where is Addie?" She is discovered around the side of the house in the dog house. Check FOUR: Addie is digging in the sandbox with a shovel and pouring it all over herself then carrying it across the yard and dumping it on Scout, who's laying in the yard. Gezzo frizo. 5. Eli has discovered he can squint. He also has learned to use it to his advantage. He cries and squints like he's super upset. I think he's been taking notes from his sister. It's actually pretty cute. 6. We've entered a new era with Kai.....finally. It's out with Thomas the Train and in with Lightning McQueen from the Cars movie.

Dirty Birds

Our order of events on this eve when Derrick is out of town and I have worked all day. 1. Late dinner and hungry mouths. 2. Addie poops right as we are sitting for dinner. Change her PLEASE! 3. We are clearing plates and I get a wiff.......more poop. 4. Eli out of his highchair and lay him on the floor for the change. Raise the shirt for the "stink" and OH DEAR...... 5. Brown smear on the carpet....WOOLITE carpet cleaner THANK YOU! 6. Eli gets wipe bath up to neck then a real bath. Bottle and bed. 7. Kai and Addie jump in a bubble bath. splash...Splash....SPLASH. Fun! To bed. 8. Alone. Let the dog in.....DIRT. 9. Dog in dirty tub.....NASTY. Clean dog. Wet smell. YUCKO again. 10. Major tub scrub. Wash floor. Launder rugs and towels. 11. Light a candle. 12. Head for shower. Warm water GONE. Brrrrrrr! 2 mins. flat. A new record for me. 13. Load dishes 14. Sit. I'm still laughing. Love it when it can all happen with a smile on your face! All my "dirty birds" (as Daddy would say) are clean and peaceful.

Love beyond groceries

So here's my story I eluded to on the Valentine's post (reminder I am NOT a writer), The door bell rings. Addie and I are the only ones up during afternoon naps. I figure it's someone trying to sell me a new roof. I swing the door open and hear a chant, "Jesus loves you!" It's our friends with their kids. I am surprised! Their faces are all smiling. I open the screen door to see groceries lining our entire porch and steps. WOW. It takes me a second, but I catch on they are delivering us groceries. I am speechless. I think the phrase "Oh my gosh, thank you" actually DID make it out of my mouth. Tears find their way to my eyes quickly as I process what is going on. "How did you know our need?" I ask. Our friends and the kids start carrying grocery bags into our kitchen. Their kids have hand-picked special snacks for Kai and Addie at the grocery store. Cars fruit snacks for Kai and Princess fruit snacks for Addie. My friend guides me through a little of what's in the bags. I am overwhelmed, but I really don't know what to say. What could I really say? We are both in tears. She knows hard times. She senses my heart. We embrace. She hands me cash for any needs with SK8 Church and a gift card for Derrick's frequent coffee meetings with pastors. My mind is racing. "How did they do this? Why did they do this? Thank you." Our friends leave after many thanks and Addie and I are standing amongst a generous amount of groceries. We start unpacking. I am crying and praying prayers of thanksgiving to God. It has been a rough month. I try to call Derrick to tell him how we've been blessed and I can barely make it through a sentence. Addie is chowing fruit snacks. After we get things put away, I start to compose myself. My mind is thinking more clearly. I am experiencing all these steep emotions; of tremendous JOY for such friends as these, of great THANKFULNESS for groceries that will feed little mouths, of AMAZEMENT in our God for always providing everything we need, and so LOVED when our friends thought to give of themselves and their resources to us who had a need. Once my emotions were somewhat organized, my mind immediately went into RETURN the favor mode. I was brainstorming.....What could I do for them? What could I give them? How could I show our appreciation? What is a need of theirs? God had to stop me. He made sense of it in my mind......This is my blessing through them. It is for YOU. Be gracious and know I love you. I had to take several deep breaths. My friend who delivered the groceries texted later that day to read her blog. I began reading.......it was THIS story that I am writing but it began far before my doorbell rang. It was a story about my friend's obedience to GIVE. God gave her the desire to give what she thought she could not. God was teaching her (and her family) to love others by giving. The lesson was different for us. Remember: I love you. I will provide for all your needs and beyond. Be blessed and receive joyfully. The lessons were different, but both from God. This act of love touched my heart. What would it look like if God's CHURCH functioned as he intended EVERY day? How can you love someone else today? How can you be a blessing today?

Be My Valentine

Who could decline an invitation to these 2 little Valentines? However, save your hugs and kisses for until after bath. I love crafts (at least I used to) and I had high expectations this year for introducing a few Valentine projects with Kai and Addie. What was I thinking? The process of craft set-up with both of them excited and grabbing at everything and guidance during the project equaled a total disaster and one very frustrated mommy. But I'm sure I will try again next year. Live and learn. I know I will need a more concrete plan, preparation, patience, and slightly older kids. Here's Kai tasting our Valentine's cupcakes we frosted and added heart sprinkles on. Here's Addie after she annihilated her cupcake twice as fast as Kai and was asking for more. We attended a LOVE PARTY on Valentine's Day with friends from church. The kids had opportunity to decorated cupcakes/cookies and do little crafts. We skipped that (due to the above story). We just enjoyed loving and being loved by friends and good food too. As you can see in the group pic, kids outnumbered adults and it was a chaotic good time! We rode with our neighbors and good friends to the LOVE PARTY. Five carseats configured with entry and exit capabilities, 2 potluck dishes providing aroma, and 2 quick errands later and we were off....a very wild ride, but fun for everyone. Addie and Reese were chit chatting in the above pic and below was all the laughing, singing, and excited Valentines'. Addie was so proud to be in the middle next to the 2 backward carseats to help entertain! I think she held their hands the majority of the way there. Derrick and I had a low key traditional Valentines Day. Fighting the crowds for dinner out, along with spending entirely more money than we can spare hardly seemed romantic. We opted for the simple acts of love, time together, kind words, etc. We are witnesses of a much GREATER love through our Savior Jesus Christ and were able to see that love demonstrated this year in a very practical and sacrificial way. What a blessing. More to come on that.