Smurfette episode and snippets from our day.

"It was a Monday morning, and all through the house, not a child was sleeping, not even our Emma. There were snarls and tears, and fighting ensued, until mom intervened and set them all straight!" (A paraphrase verse of the "Night Before Christmas") :) 

From the moment the kids awakened,  I could tell that naptime would be a necessity for  my sanity. The kids had a busy weekend, and apparently, I was catching up with them. We managed to get through our morning chores, before I sent them outside with instructions to stay away from each other! (If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all!!) After Emma woke up from her morning nap, I attempted to get more of the grass mowed. I did manage to get another 1/2 hour of mowing done. However, with the rain yesterday and today, the yard hardly looks like I even cut it! 

The boys spent time in the pool today, and somehow, the plug to the pool came undone. By the time I realized it, we had a large puddle in our yard, and the pool had about 12 inches of water in it! But since I had been wondering about how to get the green scrubbed off, this provided a good opportunity to clean the thing out. We also fished out several worms that one of the boys had put in the pool to "keep safe for when we go fishing"! (Not in the pool!) Here we are at the end of the day with a clean pool that is worm free! :) 

While I was outside for a moment helping the boys fix something, Emma was left to the blue paint that one of the boys had left out! What a mess! It was one of those watercolor sets, and the blue color had fallen out on the floor. Emma must have found it, and helped herself to chewing it and getting it everywhere! I walked in to find blue paint smeared across the floor, all over her, and a delighted little girl underneath all that mess! Bath time! 

My dad brought back our lawn mower, and it ran awesome...for about 15 minutes! :( Then it just quits, no putter, sputter, or spitting, it just stops! So I have no idea what is wrong with it, and please, feel free to suggest something! :) 

My parent had us over for supper tonight, and even though it was raining, I still went out for a two mile run. It's not much, but it helps clear my head, gain perspective, and try to refocus. Then I gathered up the kids, made a quick stop at Wal-mart, and headed home for snack, Bible reading, and bed...did I mention that I'm thankful for bed time? :)

Blue and White Sunday

Every year, on the Sunday before July 4, our church hosts an event called "blue and white" Sunday. It's an opportunity when we recognize public service workers, such as law enforcement, fire fighters, EMT's, senators, etc. We give each visitor that comes a certificate of our appreciation, and have dinner on the grounds. It's always a lot of works,  but anything of value in eternity usually does require work! 

So, it was a busy Sunday for us. The kids all got up late this morning, and trying to hurry up tired children, is like trying to make jell-o sit up straight in a chair! However, we manage to arrive on church just a few minutes late, not bad! I dropped all the kids off in their classes, made several trips out to the car to haul in stuff for children's church, the desserts, and the diaper bag. I'm thankful for friends that will dress Emma in her Sunday outfit, help direct my children to classes, and eve give them some spare change for their offering! :)

Usually, I help in the kitchen for events like these, but this was our week for children's church. The kids were all a little off routine though since we had a flag parade during the adult service. Then the  flight for life helicopter came, and the fire engines, police cars, etc. So, I'm not sure that they learned very much this Sunday, but hopefully, they grasped the fact that we love them and so does Jesus. 

Trying to get five children fed lunch at a church dinner can get a little chaotic, but with Roger gone, Garett and Chandler have been doing more things on their own. Really, I only had to make plates for the little boys, Emma and myself. All of my desserts were eaten, and  no leftovers! :( I did try the cheesecake I made...yum! However, I think all of the kids ate something! :)

We had an afternoon service instead of an evening service, and we had the service outside in a tent. The tent was a really cool idea; however, not everyone quite fit under the tent. We happened to be on the outside of the tent, where it was nice and toasty! :) Travis did squeeze in a little nap, which propelled him through the rest of the day. The boys were relieved to hear that we were done with church today, and the first question I was asked was, "when we get home, can we go swimming?" They spent a good chunk of the afternoon in the pool, while Travis and I mowed grass for a bit, while Emma slept. The lawn still needs more cutting, but we did make some progress! :) The boys were thrilled with popcorn and cheese for supper, and then it was Bible reading, teeth brushing, and bed for tired little people.

Sundays are still my hardest day without Roger. I feel like the devil works overtime to try to discourage me, and sometimes it's hard to resist! It was an incredibly long day, but a day filled with thankfulness to those that serve our country, whether it be our military, law enforcement, government officials, or medics, and of course, our heritage. God bless America!

Sun, sweat, and softball!

Today we had a "homebuilders" class picnic. (Homebuilders is what our church calls the young marrieds/young families class...although the people in the class are getting older and older!) Anyway, back to what I was saying. :) The weather was very warm, very humid, but I'm praising The Lord that He sent a breeze along with the sunshine!

We had a great time at the picnic. There was something for everyone to do, so I didn't feel like I had to help my children find things to play. There was a trampoline, a playground set, and a baseball field. Garett, Chandler, and I played softball for a bit, and the boys did pretty good about hitting the ball and getting on base. Someone told Garett that his mom was pretty good at softball, and he replied, "I taught her how!" Well, maybe mom already knew some about softball! :) Emma was getting fussy, so I strapped her in the baby carrier and continued to play softball. She didn't seem to object, but I did have to take her off to hit the ball, as I wasn't confident I could swing, keep my balance, and not hit her in the head! It was a wonderful, full day. The boys came home and jumped in the pool for a bit, while I made desserts for tomorrow's church dinner after church. 

My dad came off and dropped off the lawnmower, and picked up the trash. I am terrible about remembering to take the trash to the dump! We had a good visit, and I'm thankful that my parents are also my friends. 

My prayer request for tonight is for Roger. I could tell when I talked with him tonight, that he is a little overwhelmed, tired, and lonely. I'd appreciate some prayers on his behalf. Pray that he'll be a blessing at church tomorrow, and get a blessing. Please pray that he'll fully grasp and understand this instrument training stuff...goodness knows, I can't help! Thank you for your prayers.

Four weeks?!

Four weeks ago, my Roger left for flight training. In some ways, it seems like yesterday and in others it seems like a lifetime ago! (Depends on WHEN in the day I think about it!) God's grace is amazingly sufficient in time of need, and just when I think I'm out of grace, God graciously supplies more. Sometimes it's extra grace at bedtime or the fact that we spilled two cups of drink at one meal, or the fact that yet again someone needs correcting or perhaps a child needs me to tell them "I love you". I'm learning to ask God for grace right away in the morning, since I need it right off the bat! I'm thankful that God doesn't put a quota on how much grace a person can use in a day, because I'm pretty sure I'm using up more than my fair share most days! :)

Yesterday I took the kids to the strawberry patch. It's a yearly tradition at our house, and one the kids look forward to doing. This was Emma's first time, and she loved it. I put her on my back and the boys fed her strawberries! We were both red and sticky by the time we were done picking. :) I told the boys to eat lots of strawberries while we were in the field; however, by the time we got home, the only thing Garett had left in his container were the stems! But I guess there are worse things that he could eat! 

Wyatt was feeling better yesterday, and seems to be continuing to improve. When my dad called yesterday afternoon to see about taking the boys camping, Wyatt wasn't going to miss out! My dad picked up the boys around two, and he had some very excited campers along! Part of me wanted to go along, but part of me just wanted to soak up the quietness and the ability to do whatever I desired. :) Since Emma was sleeping, I worked on a Vacation Bible school flyer for my dad's church. Things like that always take longer than I plan on them taking, but I did succeed in finishing it up. Only to realize that I couldn't print it because I was out of ink...of course! So, after Emma woke up, we ate supper and headed to get ink. And since I just had Emma, I was able to spend some time at the store actually looking at other things. I had no one asking me when we where leaving, if we were almost done, that they needed to go potty, no one asking to look at toys, no one was complaining that they were hungry, or that their brother was lookIng at them funny; actually, it was very enjoyable! :) 

I stopped to drop off some fresh strawberries at a friends house, and conveniently, it was almost supper time...yay! :) Jenna and Ryann recently moved to a new home, so it was fun to see their new house, visit with them, and of course, eat their dinner! :) It was a super relaxed evening, and I stayed out too late enjoying their company, but it was very refreshing. 

You know you're a mom with lots of kids, when you get up early on a morning that they aren't even there! :) I certainly didn't want to waste my time sleeping, when I had things that I could do quickly and more efficiently without their "help". I finished up laundry, read my Bible anddrank a whole cup of coffee without any one asking, "can I have a sip?". The basement is now almost dry again, although it still is rather smelly.  But I was able to finish the work down there today and a few other projects that need attending. Apparenty, I can't seem to remember to change the pool filter! It's green again! :( So, I'm back to throwing in bleach and trying to get it clean again! Emma and I also helped a friend decorate for a banquet today, and we had a great visit with my mom while waiting for the boys to return. 

The boys came home about 5 and they were grouchy! Lots of sun, fishing, swimming, biking, fresh air, and dirt = very tired children! Thankfully, I showered them, fed them, and listened to all the camping stories while at my parents house. My dad was telling me that the boys met some other boys while camping. Apparently, these boys were rather naughty and didn't listen anyone. However, my dad tried to encourage our boys to talk to the other boys about salvation and share their testimony. So, Garett and Chandler tried to explain to these kids that they had asked Jesus into their hearts and they were going to Heaven. Then one of the other boys stated that he didn't need salvation and that he wasn't going to heaven. Well, Chandler promptly told him "well then, you're going to Hell! And you'll rot forever there!" Now, Chandler has a valid point, but I think we need to work on witnessing tactics! 

I'm very thankful for my dad's willingness to take four boys camping. It's a treat for them and for me! :) I brought the boys home, put Emma right in her bed, and had Bible time with the boys. It's kinda humid tonight, so the boys are sleeping on the living room floor. I settled them all in and then turned on a movie about machines. The I creatively squeezed in two miles by running short distances often! :) God just gave me an overwhelming sense of peace while I was running tonight. I could feel His presence, felt peace at the choices Roger and I had made to stay apart, and felt refreshed by Gods goodness to me. One of the songs that played through while I was running tonight was "I Found Grace". It was a very fitting song that God gave just when I needed it most. It's with a thankful heart that I lay my head down tonight knowing my Saviour loves me.

Just "keep swimming"!

If you have ever seen the movie, "Nemo", there's a line in there that the fish states, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming". It's been forever since I've seen the movie, however, that is the line I remembered today. :) If I can keep my nose above water, I won't drown. :)

After I wrote the blog post last night, I decided to check on the basement, which was a thought from The Lord. The sump pump wasn't working again, and the water was starting to creep across the basement floor rather rapidly! Grrr! It was 10:30 here, and 11:30 in Florida, but I called Roger anyways. :) I'm incredibly thankful for technology and Face Time! We had a very interesting conversation trying to fix the sump pump from 1800 miles away, but we did it! There were a lot of comments such as, "I need more light to see the sump pump, you'll have to get a flashlight"; or "not that right hand, the other one" and "you did unplug the sump pump before you started taking it apart, right?" WHAT? I didn't sign up for this...or maybe I did? I think it falls under the category "for better or worse". :) But, after an hour of fiddling with it, a lot of re-explaining things on Roger's part, it was all put back together, and it even works! Somehow, I had unhooked the float the other day when working in the basement, so the pump didn't recognize that it was full. I'm praising The Lord for His all sufficient grace!

We started off the day with a dentist appointment, and we also made a few meals for two families we love dearly, visited the walk in clinic, picked up a prescription, and ate ice cream...yes, it was that kind of day!

Chandler did fabulously at the dentist today, and the assistant stated how much she likes working with our children. What a compliment and an encouragement to my heart! My mom watched the other kiddos, so it was a mini date with just Chandler. Not necessarily a fun one for him, but he didn't complain. Following the dentist, we picked up some items from the grocery store that we needed for the meals I was making. While picking up the kids from my mom, she mentioned that Wyatt still didn't seem to be feeling well. Wyatt didn't want anything to eat, which is a sure sign that he probably isn't feeling well! :) He willingly laid down for a nap, and slept for two hours! Thankfully, the other boys rested too, so I made meals, baked cupcakes, and ate frosting! The frosting part was definitely not part of the diet plan! 

When Wyatt woke up, he stated that his throat hurt, and he had a cough like a seal! Since this is the second day he hasn't felt well, I decided to take him into the walk in clinic. So, I rounded up five children from the sand pit, the trees, the pool, and headed for the clinic. :) Over an hour later, we discovered that Wyatt does not have strep...praise The Lord! However, he does have some type of sinus infection, so he'll be taking an antibiotic. 

We went home, and I packed up the meals, and headed for church. Since I had already made the meals, I wanted to make sure they were delivered. And since we were in Oshkosh, I decided to get Wyatt's prescription filled. Although he seems to be feeling better, I decided that we would skip church tonight to let us all get some extra rest. But now Wyatt is in bed with me snoring loudly, so I might end up in his bed! He also sleep talks and has been talking about numbers and muttering about dogs, so sleep might be limited!

All in all, I'm thankful for Psalm 61:2 "From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

 My two funny moments from today:

1) While waiting for the doctor, the boys noticed that the exam table had the stirrups in the table. Upon pulling them out, Chandler promptly asked what these are for. Not wanting to even start that discussion, I replied, "what do you think they are for?" Chandler thought a moment and then replied, "maybe for  really tall people, like dad, so they don't fall off the table?" Well, not exactly, but it's a good enough description for now. :)

2) Wyatt needed his prescription filled, so we headed for the pharmacy. I told the boys where we were going, and Garett asks me a question. "Mom, how many farms does it take to make a farmacy?" It took me a second, but I realized that to his phonetic brain, it was a legitimate question. :) Hopefully, we straightened that out! :)

I so appreciate all your prayers. This journey is not a walk in the park for either of us, and Roger is getting down to the hard, boring stuff of instrument training. We would both appreciate your prayers!

Photos!

 We love to eat, and sometimes I feel like that's what we spend the majority of our time doing...but I sure do love these little ones!

Loooooong Day! June 23, 2014

Long day would be an understatement! Apparently, my children are suffering from Vacation Bible School detox, and their main goal today was to see how much they could aggregate each other! (It was working very effectively!)

I am still doing laundry from the basement flooding, and three of the five kids wet the bed last night, and then two wet the bed at nap time today...and it's been probably about two months since a bed wetting incident!! So, the laundry pile seems to be growing, not shrinking! 

I had the boys help with the chores around the house today; and while the jobs aren't as well done as if I did they myself, it's cleaner than it was...I think? :) Travis likes to wash windows, but my spray bottle is well on its way to being empty. Wyatt cleaned the shower, except he stepped in it with his dirty feet and now the walls are cleaner with dirty footsteps on the floor of the shower! At least the washing machine seems to have gotten over it's spewing out soap fit! I'm assuming that maybe the spewing soap came from a little over zealous operator (I.e. Garett) :) 

I worked on updating our blog today, published my a past and then deleted some drafts. Unfortunately, I also deleted the post I had just published along with about four days of journal recordings! :( I was beyond frustrated to say the least! It appears that it is forever lost in cyperspace...grrr. 

My steady walking/workout partner also quit on me today. The fitbit that I've had since Christmas suddenly quit working yesterday. I've gotten really used to wearing one and it really has helped me reach my step goals. However, after several emails to the fitbit company, I'm happy today that I am a satisfied customer. They really tried to be helpful and are even going to replace my fitbit! Yay! It seems silly, but that act of customer service really encourage my day. I'll be even more of a satisfied customer when I get the new one in the mail. :) 

We also cut grass today, my dad came and put a fan together for the boys room. I bought a fan since it's getting hot; however, I couldn't figure out how to put it together! I'm thankful my dad did it for me! I also asked him to check the oil in the car, and I'm glad he did! It needed about 2 1/2 quarts of oil, and it's a five quart tank! Anyways, praise The Lord, I didn't run it dry!

After supper, we went on a walk, which is always interesting! Then we headed off to Walmart for the a important task of getting milk and a few groceries. We also had to get Emma another sippy cup! Thank goodness she sucks her thumb and can't lose that! I rewarded my cleaning helpers today with ice cream from McDonalds and then we came home for reading, baths, and that blessed event....bedtime! 

Update on Roger:

He is doing well, but it's hard on both of us to be away. School is very demanding and time challenging, so even though it was a long day, I feel confident that we are where we are supposed to be. However, some extra prayers could be helpful! :)

FUN with the Boys: Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Sometimes after a rough day, the best thing to do is something completely out of the ordinary and unexpected! So, that's what we did today! :) The boys all slept in for a little bit and I was able to catch up on my Bible reading...finally! 

We did the ordinary chores, and started laundry, of course! Then I packed up a snack, loaded up the kids, grabbed my workout clothes and walked out the door. First we went to the YMCA. The boys played in the drop In child care while I got my sanity back. :) ( or at least some of it!) After working out, we ate our snack and headed to the library. The boys have finished two weeks of reading, so they earned a coupon for a free kids meal at Hardee's. They showed their colors in indicating that they would like "instant gratification" so off we went to use the coupons! At least they didn't go to waste, I guess! That was a fun little treat for them, and they really enjoyed having their own kids meal and not having to share with another sibling! :)

I had originally planned on heading home after lunch, but the boys asked if we could go to the EAA museum. Since we have free membership for another month, and the day was already over 1/2 done, I agreed. The boys were delighted...and surprised that mom agreed! :) I really did have a great time with them and enjoyed their company today. When we rode the tractor tram out to the Pioneer Airport, the tractor stopped rather abruptly for a stop sign. Garett fell of the seat, and then calmly, replied, "I didn't see that coming!" I laughed and laughed...it's a fun memory. 

Following the museum adventure, we ran to Target to pick up some coffee for our Keurig...mom needs coffee these days! :) We also found ice cream on clearance for .86 for a half gallon, and the boys thought that was great! 

To finish off a crazy day of adventures, we went swimming. The boys are really becoming very proficient and I plan to have them take swim lessons again in the future. They are really growing up from how challenging it was to take them all two years ago. Wow, time sure does fly by quickly!

The boys ate supper, practically falling asleep at the table, and now they are all tucked snugly into bed. As wonderful as the day was for them, it wore mom out too, so I'm off to bed early too, I hope. However, there is always more laundry, more cleaning, or something that needs doing, so we will see. 

Three weeks down!

It's hard to believe but we've finished up our third week without Roger...aka..daddy husband, playmate, friend, fix it man, stabilizer, and many other traits!

FRIDAY: JUNE 20, 2014

Today was probably the roughest day, I've had so far. The basement flooded, the kids were cranky, it was humid, the washing machine was spitting out soap, and the house is a disaster! However, we made it. I hauled about 30 gallons of water out of the basement with the shop vac, and I still have more work to do. Our deck is covered with things that are damp or wet, so I'm really hoping that it doesn't rain tonight! I think I can finish it up tomorrow a I'm hoping it will dry out with the fans and dehumidifier. 

Tomorrow is the college/career canoe trip, which we are hosting. My dad has the canoes, so we will meet there, canoe, and then have a cookout. I'm looking forward to it; it's just a lot of work! (But anything of worth requires time and effort!) Hopefully we will have a great turn out, lots of fun, and stay safe! 

Anyways, my eyes are tired, and I'm off to bed and praying for a better day tomorrow! :)

THURSDAY: JUNE 19, 2014

Prizes from Vacation Bible School...for the visitor contest!

Well, the kids are exhausted, the pennies are bought, the prizes are won, and my gift cards are used up; it was a great week!!

I'm so thankful that our church puts forth the effort to have a Vacation Bible School. It's a lot of work, quite a bit of money, requires a lot of help, but it's worth every bit of it for the souls that were won for God's Kingdom this week. I'm thankful for all that worked with my children, loved the kids, taught the stories, played the games, and gave of their time and energy this week...I plan to return next  year to helping! :) 

However, I strengthened some friendships, received some much needed time away from the kids, and I'm thankful for the time I had with friends this week. :) But since the gift cards are used up, the garage sale money almost gone...back to reality we go! :) 

I'm thankful for all the miles traveled this week in the van with other peoples kids. I'm thankful that their parents allowed them to come and I'm thankful that they are all safely back home. It's a little intimidating to be driving someone else's children, so I'm thankful that God granted safety and protection...oh, and preserved my sanity! :)

My mom and I ordered school books for the fall today...I'm so not ready to think about that! But hey, it was free shipping and 25% off, so I'll take it. :) We will have a second grader, first grader, and a kindergartener this fall! 

My parents came for the award night at Bible school, and then they took four boys home to spend the night at their house...yippy skippy!! I get our bed all to myself tonight!! But, I don't sleep well when Rogef is gone, and  now the house is very quiet...so, I'm admitting that I went out to the garage and found a baseball bat to put beside the bed.  But, I'm not planning on using it! :) Good night, all.

Well, the kids are exhausted, the pennies are bought, the prizes are won, and my gift cards are used up; it was a great week!!

I'm so thankful that our church puts forth the effort to have a Vacation Bible School. It's a lot of work, quite a bit of money, requires a lot of help, but it's worth every bit of it for the souls that were won for God's Kingdom this week. I'm thankful for all that worked with my children, loved the kids, taught the stories, played the games, and gave of their time and energy this week...I plan to return next  year to helping! :) 

However, I strengthened some friendships, received some much needed time away from the kids, and I'm thankful for the time I had with friends this week. :) But since the gift cards are used up, the garage sale money almost gone...back to reality we go! :) 

I'm thankful for all the miles traveled this week in the van with other peoples kids. I'm thankful that their parents allowed them to come and I'm thankful that they are all safely back home. It's a little intimidating to be driving someone else's children, so I'm thankful that God granted safety and protection...oh, and preserved my sanity! :)

My mom and I ordered school books for the fall today...I'm so not ready to think about that! But hey, it was free shipping and 25% off, so I'll take it. :) We will have a second grader, first grader, and a kindergartener this fall! 

My parents came for the award night at Bible school, and then they took four boys home to spend the night at their house...yippy skippy!! I get our bed all to myself tonight!! But, I don't sleep well when Roger is gone, and  now the house is very quiet...so, I'm admitting that I went out to the garage and found a baseball bat to put beside the bed.  But, I'm not planning on using it! :) Good night, all.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18- FRIDAY, JUNE 12

Suffice it to say...I was cleaning up some old drafts and I accidently deleted these days. :( Sadness!!

MY COMPANY!

 

Crazy day...including cooking,cleaning, and canoeing! :) Saturday, June 21, 2014

I still don't have the basement finished, but the majority of the water is cleaned up, the dehumidifier is running, and the fans are drying up the floors. The back porch is full of stuff needing to be washed, but since it rained today, it's still waiting to be washed! 

The kids slept in a bit this morning, for which I am very thankful! All of them have been a little crabby lately, so extra sleep is definitely needed! I spent the morning making dessert, ham and pickle appetizers, cutting up fruit, and gathering the stuff together for our college canoe trip this afternoon. My parents graciously hosted this event at their house since they have the canoes and the river is closer to their house. But I wanted to make sure that I wasn't making a lot of work for them so I worked at making sure all the food was prepared, and I was doing my part. We didn't have as many college kids as last year, but those that came seemed to have a great time. Our boys were able to go since we had plenty of canoes, so they were excited about that opportunity! Wyatt and Travis wanted to go in moms canoe, so I had the little boys. It only took about five minutes of canoeing for me to realize that this was going to be a good workout! :) Wyatt was trying to be helpful, and I was trying to not be critical of his "helpfulness"! It was about a two hour ride, but we made it. I didn't tip over the canoe, I didn't lose anyone's stuff, there were no major injuries...just a lot of mesquito bites! I didn't realize until today that when I go canoeing with Roger, that's a walk in the park! He does all the really hard work, and I just kinda paddle when I really need to or I feel like being helpful! Today it was an entirely different story, and I might even be sore a little tomorrow! :) I'm glad we did it and I'm thankful for those that came along with us. 

Roger could use your prayers as well. Instrument training can get intense, and I know he really wants to do a good job. Please keep him in your prayers, and that he will firmly grasp the material he needs to learn! 

Grass cutting, pool cleaning, and "slime!" Thursday, June 12, 2014

Yay! I am thankful for my parents, and how much they love me! My dad brought over their riding lawnmower, the push mower, and Garett's fixed bike! Unfortunately, we broke two lawnmower belts on our lawn and ended up cutting most of the lawn with the push mower, but it's all done! I'm thinking maybe our yard has issues with getting the grass cut...we've cut the lawn only a handful of times thus far and have broken something every time!

My dad also fixed the air compressor, which had a hole in the tube. Hence, it wouldn't put air in anything! And dad helped get the pool filter off the pool and we changed the filter...no more green! I put some bleach in there and the water is blue again...yay!! And my dad fixed the seat in the back of our car that wouldn't stay in its proper position. Also, dad fixed Garett's bike tire, so I think everything is in working order for one more day. :)

Happy Father's Day

I had a very pleasant surprise in my mail box today. Someone sent me a very encouraging note and told me that they loved us and praying for us. As difficult as some of the days have been, I am 100% sure that we made the right decision. Roger is very busy with adjusting to the heat, finishing school orientation, and studying in preparation for class to start. This is very hard, this separation, but in the scope of long term; we are doing the right thing. Although extra prayers would be appreciated! :)

While my parents were here, I ran to the post office with Travis to mail a package to Roger. The boys were super excited to put the box of treats together for their daddy. I'm so thankful that they have such  a high regard for their daddy and I certainly will do all I can to support that.

Also, if you ever come across a book called "How to Make Slime", I firmly suggest you run the other way!! This was a children's book we got from the library, and because I'm crazy, we decided to make some. That was mistake number one. Secondly, the directions call to mix cornstarch, food coloring and water. Mistake number two is to let a child put in the food coloring! Third mistake...? Oh yeah, making one bowl for all four boys to "share", equals a disaster in the making! Picture green slime all over the front porch, with four little boys all trying to get their hands in the bowl! As if that wasn't enough chaos, I decided to make up a more slime so they could all experience it. However, when cornstarch absorbs the water and starts to dry up, the slime turns into this horrible green powdery dust that seeps into clothes, shoes, cupboards, and tables...yuck! Needless, to say we've had our science project for the month and that's enough of that! :)

We have almost made it through our second week, some days are good, some not so great, but we are getting through this one day at a time. I've had lots of hugs from the boys, they've had lots of fights with each other and my worst enemy is opening my mouth before I think about what I'm saying or how I'm saying it. We are adjusting, and we thank God for so many of you that have helped us! We are blessed!

In honor of Father's day coming on Sunday, I've posted Wyatt's school project. This is his view on dad! :)

Trial and error?

I'll just admit it...there are soooo many things I can't do! The lawnmower is being repaired, but the pool filter still needs to be changed, I forgot to take the trash...again, the back seat is stuck in the half way down position, the air compressor won't hold air, and I forgot to close the garage door last night. So, I  came out to find the garage door up and the car door open...wow! Single parenting is not for the faint hearted!! :)

Two of the munchkins!

Today was a good day...I got to go grocery shopping all by myself! My dear friend, Jenna, watched all five of our kids so I could go grocery shopping by myself. Then I squeezed in a two and one half mile run, thanks to Jenna's willingness to watch the kids. It was so nice to get out and run to the grocery store by myself. :) 

We had Wednesday night church tonight, and because next week is Bible school, we spent the hour passing out flyers and inviting kids to come. The boys are so excited about Bible school, and this is the first year since we've been at our church that I am not helping. I'm partially very sad about that, but part of me is relieved...it's 2 1/2 hours to myself. :) 

We talked with Roger tonight again via Skype and the kids are quickly figuring out how to call dad themselves. :) although it's not the same as seeing him here, I am very thankful that the kids can see him. Emma is not longer scared of Skype but she has disconnected the call on us! Emma also pulled herself to standing today, and is really starting to scoot around. Therefore, the brothers are realizing that nothing is safe! :) 

Travis has not been sleeping well since Roger left, so my light sleeping is even lighter. I haven't managed to get myself out of bed this week to get in those early runs. :( Travis was up four times last night...he needed a drink, needed to go potty, wanted to sleep in my bed, and at 3:30 am he asked to play on the Kindle!!! Good night, child!!! So, we were both short on sleep last night. But the only way to get more sleep is to try going to bed earlier, so good night all and to all a good night!

Life and chaos! Tuesday, June 10

One of those days that I really would have liked to stay in bed a while longer, but I don't like getting up after my kids! We had a productive day...for the most part. :) We spent the morning cleaning up a bit, laundry, and putting away our stuff. Then I took the kids to our friend, Hannah's house for a bit. Since her husband is gone for work training for a bit, it was a bunch of kids and the two tired mamas! :) However, fresh air and playing outside does wear kids out, so after lunch we headed home for rest time. We did have to stop and pick up a sippy cup for Emma...some how, she manged to lose hers!? It's always interesting taking five kids into the store for one item...kinda feels like a circus. But most of the time, I'm hesitant to leave them in the car, not because I don't trust them, but because I don't trust other people!

Finally home again...and nap time was on the horizon! Everyone laid down without much complaint, so I know they were tired. I laid down for twenty minutes, but I knew that if I fell asleep I would probably be grouchy. :) Since Garett wasn't sleeping either, I decided to go for a run for a few miles. I told him I would run short distances up and down the road, so if he needed me, he could just stop me when I came by. It wasn't the most efficient run every, but I did manage to squeeze in two miles.  

Our pool is not getting cleaner like it should...probably operator error! :) I threw some bleach in there and Roger told me how to change the filter, but first I have to figure out how to get off the crazy lid!! So, for today, I just gave the kids my vegetable strainers and told them to fish out the leaves and grass; and now it at least looks a little cleaner. :) I did just realize that my vegetable strainers are out in the yard, and I will need them again! 

My parents invited us to their house for supper, and the kids always like to go to Nana and Papas house. :) The older two are learning how to drive the four wheeler, so they are thrilled with that. And Papa is a better baseball player than mom, so the boys always ask him to play with them...I don't mind. :) Then it was home again for library reading and Bible time...now on to quietness! 

Our funny moment: it's never a good thing to be in the shower, and hear a child pound on the door and yell, "Mom, Emma made a mess!" Great...quickly scramble out, dress, and come to find a little girl with chocolate ice cream all over her. Travis told me she liked the ice cream and he was done, so he just gave her the bowl...wow...what a mess! I'm thankful for baths and good laundry detergent! 

Day number ?

Actually, without looking at the calendar, I have no idea what number of day we are on. :) However, I do know that it is Monday, and that bedtime is almost here!! Praise The Lord, the lights will soon be out! I haven't been sleeping good at nights, and trying to get in a few miles in the morning, compounded by a certain child that gets up EVERY night...I am tired!

But, on a good note, Garett learned how to tie his shoes, Emma is really close to crawling, and it was a beautiful day. Oh, and Chandler lost another tooth. :)We went to the library to pick out new books and to do some reading. Then we went to a park with a splash pad, but the water was super cold!! We had a picnic lunch, and then headed home. Of course, the only drawback was that some of the kids fell asleep in the car, so that meant no nap. :( But, it means early bedtime. :) 



Emma with her older brother, Chandler

The kids are really starting to miss Roger, and I was talking today about getting a package together for daddy. I asked the kids for their suggestions of what daddy likes and what we should put in the box. Lots of suggestions, from milk and cookies, to tacos, to ice cream. However, when I told the kids that maybe we should use some of my garage sale money to buy daddy a gift card to a restaurant, the boys asked why we should do that. After I explained that Daddy is trying to be very careful with money, Chandler went and got the dollar he had just gotten for his tooth. He wrote his daddy a little note, and put the dollar in the envelope for a "treat for daddy." His sacrificial giving just amazed me and reminded me that I really don't know how much they do comprehend sometimes!!

We're going to get through this...one day at a time and because of many prayers!! Thanks, Sarah

Travis and Emma

Sundays, June 8th

Sundays are probably the most challenging day of the week to be honest. I can count on one hand the times that Roger and I have gone to church without each other. So sitting in church surrounded by little people, is a reminder in a big way of what I'm missing...my better half. :) I also tend to be more emotional on Sunday, as the Word of God speaks to me, the music touches my heart, and God draws me closer to himself.

It also seems to be a harder day for the kids too. Travis told me he was staying in the car during church, and Wyatt asked why we go to church "all the time". Honestly, going to church for every service is nothing new, so I can only assume that this day is perhaps a little harder on them too. However, yes, we did go to church, came home for rest time (which we all took a nap), and then went to a friends birthday party for a little bit. 

Sunday night church poses it's own problems because the only one in the nursery is Emma. But, the boys did do fairly well. My friend, Star,  greatly encouraged my heart with a gift bag full of treats for me along with an encouraging note. I did have one very emotional moment, but thankfully, the kids were not around when the tears were free falling. :) 

Now I'm off to get some much needed rest. I've really been working on getting up at 5:15 to be able to get in a few miles before the kids wake up. The only problem is that it does make me really tired later in the day. :)

My treats from a friend today!

Our bed...with two extra little boys!

Starting week number two! Saturday, June 7

We enjoyed a "down" day as a family. We spent time together, skping with Roger, a walk as a family, and a nap for all of us. Of course, later tonight I realized that I forgot to take the trash to the dump, and that the pool filter needs to be clean because the pool is getting greenish...great! Obviously, I'm still not aware of all the things I need to do while Roger is away. I was also informed by one of my children, that  dad plays baseball better, and that dad is better at ALL the sports than mom. "Why, thank you, son...I already knew that!"

Tonight we went to a friends house for supper. It was a pleasant way to end the day after being surrounded by little people all day, and I really enjoyed some adult conversation! Chandler and Wyatt spent the night at their friends house, which they were ecstatic upon hearing the invitation! It's the first time they've ever slept over at someone's house who isn't family. So, we'll see how that goes.

All in all, it was a good day. Sometimes I miss Roger so much it feels like a physical ache deep inside, but in a few short years,this will be a memory for us.

Love my little boy!

Day one...a change in plans!

The change in plans is on my part, not my husbands. I realized today that I am going to have to modify some of my goals for this summer.

One, running a half marathon is not going to be possible!! Roger watches the kids so I can run/get out by myself, so it just won't happen this summer. It's a goal that can be accomplished later on in life. However, I do need to figure out how I'm going to find time to exercise regularly...I'm one of those weird people that gets really grouchy when they don't exercise! :) So, I think I will start by setting my alarm a little earlier.

Two, I'm thankful that Roger has taken care of the trash in the four years we've lived here. Wow, what a job...bagging up trash, hauling it to the dump...not my idea of fun, but we did it! :) 

We stayed busy today with going to a few yard sales, cleaning up the yard, a friend came over with some clothes for Emma, and we went to a friends open house get-together. Chandler has been asking and praying for a new bike, and today he found one!! I'm so thankful that God hears the prayers of my children! We found a bike today for $5.00 at a yard sale!! Yay! It's pink, but nothing that a can of spray paint can't fix. :)

Friday Fun!

My dad brought over his lawn mower and took ours home with him, so hopefully, it will be an easy fix. My sister mowed the lawn for us, so that relieved one thing on the to-do list. I'm so thankful for all the friends that have offered to help out, to pray for us, and to encourage us...we are blessed. One more thing I'm thankful for...Skype!! I'm thankful that the boys can see daddy and talk to him about their day as it makes bedtime a little easier on them.

Thanks for the prayers, 

Sarah

This is what going to the store for milk looks
like these days!

SUNDAY:

We survived day two!! All children were fed, beds made, teeth brushed, socks on ( I didn't  say that they matched!), and we made it to church on time. It was Sunday School promotion Sunday, so the kids were excited about that. We now have three boys in our children's church class, and Travis told me he was very sad about being by himself. It's hard to believe that Wyatt is in the kindergarten class, Chandler in first grade, and Garett in second grade...wow!

Somehow, I managed to get an infection in my finger, so I ended up going to the walk in clinic this afternoon. The doctor gave me a shot to numb it, and then proceeded to clean it out...and I fainted. I could feel it happening, and that is such a weird feeling. Thankfully, my sister had watched the kids at our house, so no one was along on the fainting excursion! My finger is feeling much better now, so that's a blessing!

The kids were able to skpe with Roger tonight, and they really enjoy that...Emma hasn't been crazy about it, but she's getting better at not touching and disconnecting the call! It's the little things I think, that are the hardest...running into the store for milk is a lot harder with five small children; and getting lunch on the table and putting kids down for naps is a lot more challenging without daddy here to help everyone get a drink, go potty, and put them in bed while Mom feeds the screaming baby. But the kids have all eaten something today, they brushed their teeth, I told them I love them, and the lights are out for the night. Now, I'm off to shut off my lights and head to bed.

MONDAY:

Another day done...yay! God is so good to us! We did house work, painting ( mostly, my sister and Chandler did that), kids played in the rain puddles, lots of laundry, helped with a church activity, and lots of other things. Wyatt asked me this morning when daddy would be back...ummm... :)

I'm thankful that my mom kept the kids while I helped with a dinner for some volunteers that are working on a building project at our church. It was nice to get away from them for a bit, and my patience does start to waver ( a lot!!) at times.

My finger is still very sore, and I'm supposed to be taking an antibiotic for it; however, I just haven't made it to the pharmacy. I'm thankful for friends who are willing to go out of their way to help me. Kelli graciously offered to get my prescription filled at Wal mart, and then she even brought it to my house! However, that might be because she's a nurse and it was killing her that I wasn't taking my medicine. :) But, now I've started taking it.

Tonight during family devotions, we were talking about David. I told the kids that God only wants us
to have one wife, and David was wrong to like Bathsheba. Chandler says "oh, that's why you have
one ring on your finger?" I said that it showed I was married. Chandler then replied, " so the ladies that have lots of rings on their fingers, do they have lots of husbands?!" Wow!! Umm...no! :)

The day was not boring, I am missing my running miles; but, I am so blessed.

Boys will be boys!

TUESDAY: 

Day three...glad for family, sisters, grace, and a beautiful day! I told The Lord that I wasn't going to set my alarm, but if I woke up before 5:30, I would go for a run. I've really been missing my running time, but figured that if I went at 5:30, I could run up and down the driveway for a few miles at least. Well, Travis came in my room at 5:22 to ask for some water. :) He went right back to sleep, but I decided to try to get in two miles. And...I did! :) I also was able to catch up on my Bible reading and be back in the house with coffee in hand before anyone stirred!!

I made a meal for the work team at our church, and brought it all into town about 4:30. I had a a great visit while working with another friend, Amy, and setting up for the supper meal. My sister took the boys to the Oshkosh library and signed them up for the summer reading program...yay! They had a great time, and I'm so thankful for my family. 

The day has had its challenges...the younger two boys seem to be more clinging to me and everyone wants to sleep with mom at night! Travis has wanted me around all day, and was only convinced to go with the boys to the library by the promise of going to the park afterwards. Emma has had a rough day today. I couldn't figure out why she's been so fussy today, until I realized that my milk supply has drastically dried up!! She eats a variety of table food, so I don't worry so much about nursing. However, at bedtime...it's a different story. She finally took a sippy cup with some watered down juice, and I've been drinking water like crazy!! I'm not sure if it's my body responding to the antibiotic for my finger, or just not drinking enough water. Either way, we'll find out, and hopefully, she'll sleep through the night!!

I've been blessed beyond words with friends that have offered to watch the boys, fix our lawn mower, and show that they care for us.

WEDNESDAY:

It feels like we should be on day 44, not four, but here we are just getting started. I can tell I'm near the very tired stet, as I tend to be more emotional. Once we adjust to survival state, we'll be fine, but for now I am a tad emotional. The day was busy for me,as I got up at 5:15 to run a few miles. Then home for Bible reading, breakfast, directing children with chores, laundry, cleaning, and today was trash day again. I took what we had to the dump simply because it's not as overwhelming to do it in small amounts.

I think Chandler is struggling a bit too,as he was very emotional today as well, and that's not

My new haircut!

Ike him. He wants me to teach him how to play the piano, so I gave him a short lesson and a few pointers. Later I found him in bed crying because he couldn't play the piano like mom can!!! Ummm....good things take time!

My sister came over and painted some more so the kitchen and trim is almost completely done...yay! The boys did their reading for the summer program, and everyone laid down for a little quiet time...including mom.

Wednesdays are probably going to be my most challenging day. I often have errands to run, and church starts a little later, so we get home later. Then it's helping everyone get ready for bed, brush teeth, put pull ups on those that might wet the bed, get sips of water, and nurse the baby (who is usually screaming by then!). However, it does make me appreciate the quietness of the house in a whole new way! Of course, with Roger not here, I hear all kinds of noises.

I'm looking forward to Friday. A friend invited us to her house for breakfast, which will be a lot of fun. And another sweet friend, along with her hubby, are coming over to mow grass, bring their go- cart, supper, and their kids, so I can have a little time to myself! I am blessed!!!

THURSDAY:
Forward... Almost through our first week, and I'm finding myself rather emotional; however, we are settling into survival mode. The younger two boys have been extremely clingy and whiny, and I have to constantly remind myself to be patient with them.

I'm finding my biggest battle to be the challenge of being a consistent parent...what I say I must follow through with doing. I'm also discovering that because I have more responsibilities, I automatically think that the boys should be more responsible. However, that not something that they are naturally picking up on. :) And they have been very helpful for the most part, I just have to remember to give them jobs that they can do. I've noticed that I've been harder on our oldest son lately, as in giving him a lot more chores; but I reminded myself today that he is only seven and trying to adjust too. So, I give him grace. Grace because that's what God daily gives to me, Grace because it's a reflection of what Christ did on the cross, grace because it strengthens and encourages my relationship with them... and because it's the title of the parenting book I'm reading. :)

I was able to spend time with my sister today, as she is leaving tomorrow for North Carolina to visit my other sister. We had a great time just visiting together and hanging out with Emma. My parents kept the boys for a bit and the boys "helped" plant the garden, water the plants, rode  bikes, and played for hours outside. Needless to say, it was baths for everyone tonight.

Today I'm thankful for a beautiful day, time spent with my sister, and the adventures we are looking forward to having tomorrow. We are going to have brunch at a friends house, and then some good friends of ours are coming over to cut grass, watch children, and bring dinner...I am blessed!

FRIDAY:  One week is D-O-N-E!!
A day full of fun, adventures, and exploring! We went to Autumn's house for brunch today, and the boys were thrilled to see that they have a pond in their backyard! And, they also have a paddle boat! The boys could have stayed all day playing with the boat and the water, but we came home for rest time at mom's insistence. :) Later in the afternoon, our friends, Jenn and Arien, came over for a bit. What a blessing! They brought their lawnmower, the go-cart, dinner, and offered to watch all the kids while I went out by myself for a bit...yay!! I got my hair cut, I used my free Starbucks birthday drink, and I wandered around Target...all by myself! I had so much fun, and I came back refreshed and recharged. My amazing friend also picked up my house, folded clothes, and made my house look fresh again...I can't say thank you enough!

All in all, it's been a good week. We've stayed busy, been able to Skype with Roger, and have survived week one! On to the next week...

Roger's update:
He was able to spend a few days with his brother in Georgia. He spent a few days relaxing with their family, and will arrive in Florida today. He's looking to get settled into his room today, church tomorrow and classes bright and early on Monday!