Things the Make Me Smile: The Yesterday and VERY Early this Morning Edition

Sis walking up to me, pillows in hand and saying, "Mommy, will you have a pillow fight with me?"
Um, yes!

My children all donning the Urkel high pants. They know it drives me crazy and they love it.

The lawn mower running at 6:30 this morning and seeing both my boys out there. I would imagine Chief wasn't thrilled with the idea, but he's doing it.

This cake. It was awesome!

This cake-eating face. Equally as spectacular.

Sis' contribution to making Seth's cake. She was in charge of counting out the Oreos and then crushing them. She is the only one who got to help. I'm a little possessive when it comes to birthday cakes.
I just am. I have control issues.

This man and the fact that clown wigs make everything more fun...or was that scary?

Even though it's out of focus...this picture.

These party goers.

This dress. No, she's not checking into the hospital for surgery. Her sister made this as a play dress. It didn't fit, so she gave it to Fuzzy and she wore it proudly all day yesterday. The sleve is a little more torn than it was when she first put it on, so sadly, we may need to put it in storage, but...

My dad and his company rockin' the heating and air world out in Colorado. From the WinWholesale website, "For the first time, Fort Collins Winair (Colo.) was the top performing Winair of the year."
Notice the very prestigious award he is holding. I have yet to hear his speech, but I bet it too was a winner.

Dear WinWholesale, I know that's your company president on the left, but he's my father.
I would be happy to remove this stolen photo should you so choose,
but would love to keep it right where it is.
It made me smile.

What made you smile today? Or last night? Or the day before?

My List is Rockin'! How is Yours?

I have to admit, during the school year I don't spend much time reading aloud to my students. I, (head lowered in shame) find it difficult to fit in. But, summer is upon us and there is nothing else on the docket, at least not for the forseeable future, that can mess with my desire to take my kids to all kinds of magical places.

Chief's Summer Reading Expectations...(A work in progress)

The Red Badge of Courage

Wonderstruck

Island of the Blue Dolphins

A Wrinkle in Time

My Side of the Mountain

 Jacob Have I Loved

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Robinson Cruesoe

The Breadwinner

Mockingbird

Magigail’s Summer Reading Expectations

Ramona the Pest

James and the Giant Peach 

Otherwise Known as Shelia the Great

Lunch Money

Sarah Plain and Tall

Tale of Despereaux

The Cricket in Times Square

How to Eat Fried Worms

  

Fuzzy’s Summer Reading Expectations

Magic Tree House books (not all of them)

Mr. Popper’s Penguins

Freckle Juice

The Mouse and the Motorcycle

Frindle

  

Gooney Bird Series

Mom's Read Aloud List

The Hundred Dresses

Tuck Everlasting

Where the Red Fern Grows

The View from Saturday

The Mighty Miss Malone

Counting on Grace

Mockingbird

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

The Last of the Really Great Whangdoodles

Alice in Wonderland

Anne of Green Gables

I am so excited to get started on my list, it took everything in me to not sit the whole lot of them right down on the sofa tonight and make them listen to our first great read!

Tomorrow, destination Boggins Heights.

What's on your Summer Reading List?

Reasons to Send Your Children Away

This school year, each of our big kids had the opportunity to spend a week at Grandma and Grandpa's house all by themselves. This past week was Fuzzy's turn. 

These are just a few of the many invaluable reasons to to send your children away.

They don't get to be seven, or nine, or twelve for very long, and Grandma and Grandpa need to know them at this age and this stage, and the next one too. The opposite is also true.

Grandparents will say yes to what you have said no to a hundred times. Not to things like watching PG-13 movies and eating ice cream for dinner every day for a week, but to great things like Build-A-Bear Workshop and eating breakfast in bed.

Seth and I don't get the opportunity to have time alone with just one of the kids, not as often as I'd like anyway. A few days with Grandma and Grandpa where they are the top banana, the center of attention, and the only deciding vote, is a thing to be valued.

Our kids' grandparents all live a state away. During the week, they get the chance to play on new playgrounds, explore new museums, and eat at new restaurants.

Look again. It's FUZZY'S Taco Shop! Nom, nom, nom.

Time away give us a chance to miss one another. I am always surprised at how much I miss my children, and what exactly I miss about them. This week I missed Fuzzy's hugs, the kind where she leads head-first smothering her face into my stomach. I missed her questions. I missed having all of the beds in the house full.

I love that each of our children has memories of time with Grandma and Grandpa that no one else, not even their own siblings, can claim.

Just a Few, Okay MANY More than a Few...

...pictures from our trip to St. Louis and beyond.

This is the picture that will evoke the memory that leads to one of the stories Magigail will tell when she is an adult and she is mad at her brother. It is a story about how she was wronged when he stole a ball from her at Busch Stadium. She's got a point, but he's got the ball. This was one of those you-both-make-excellent-points-now-just-duke-it-out parental situations.

Regardless, we had a great time at the ball game! See, she's smiling a little bit.

The next morning, we went to the zoo. Sis was fascinated by the little worker ants carrying huge pieces of leaves back and forth across the branches. Aunt C was wondering what all her little kitchen friends were doing at the zoo.

The butterfly house is always a highlight of any trip to the zoo! There were thousands of these awe inspiring creatures flying all around us. I could have stayed in this place for a very long time.

Chief did an excellent job keeping an eye on Cousin C while we walked through crowds of people. 

Magigail got her traditional picture with her favorite animals.

And we finally got to meet our newest nephew!

After some swimming and DELICIOUS Fortel's pizza, it was time for the Call Service.

You think there were some butterflies fluttering in the stomachs of those men?

Um, yeah.

And after the service? Why, Ted Drewes of course!

Magigail was thrilled to spend a couple days with Cousin T. They spent the first year of their lives in the same house, and because of that, or because of something else I can't explain, they have this remarkable bond. 

I think she is happiest when she is with him.

Sis got to be doted upon by her godparents.

And this young man was in Seth's last class at Beautiful Savior before we left Colorado and headed to the seminary. He now teaches in St. Louis. What a joy it was to have dinner with him and hear all about his incredible family!

We checked out of the hotel on Friday and headed to Lincoln. The girls took a ride through the lobby via this, "tap, tap." The crowded vehicle and the crazy driving were pretty authentic.

It could use a bit more paint though.

On our way out of town we stopped by the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. The top of the blue pole shows the height of the water when this area flooded back in 1993.

We walked through the rain to get...

here.

While in Lincoln, we took the opportunity with lots of family and friends around to celebrate 

Fuzzy's 7th birthday.

And we reminised about how twelve years ago, on his baptism day, Chief fit into the arms of his godparents a little bit better than he does today. His godfathers had a little less grey back then too.

It was a lovely vacation filled with the joy of time with family and friends; 

time that doesn't happen often enough.

A New Song: Psalm 45

This is the song. 

It was one of the first hymns we learned when we added a hymn to our night-time devotions. 

This is the song that describes my Savior and the power He possesses to save me from my sins, 

to save me from death, 

to save me from myself.

v.3 "Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ!"

v.5 "I am baptized into Christ; I'm a child of paradise!"

Now, that's my kind of love song.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Father,

You defeated sin, death, and the devil for me. All other love pales in comparison. Thank you for singing of your love for me daily, through friends and family, through the meeting of my most insignificant needs, through my very breath. Enable me to sing a verse or two back to you every once in awhile. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Listen again.

Feel free to sing along. 

Loud and off-key if you'd like.

Have a beautiful weekend, secure in the new life you have from the author of the greatest love song ever sung.

Heather

Weak and Loved by Emily Cook: Giveaway!

In our Bible study this week we came upon the question, "When have you felt needy and helpless?" Emily Cook, the author of Weak and Loved, can no doubt answer this question a hundred different ways.

Weak and Loved is the story of a mother whose life is changed by a blank stare. In a matter of days she goes from living the joy that is being a mother to five gifts of God, to the uncertainty of the raging storm of illness that is threatening to drown her four year old daughter. While seizures envelope little Aggie, doubt, frustration, and helplessness knock at the door of Emily's soul.

Fear not! Weak and Loved is also a story of God's deliverance. It is the story of a mother's will, her strength in the face of adversity, and her trust in our Savior when she can be nothing other than weak and loved.

I would love for you to read Emily's book! I have a copy on my Kindle, but if you relish flipping through the pages of an inspiring read, you can also find it here. 

But wait! One of my lucky readers can hold in their hands their 

very own autographed copy of Weak and Loved! 

Here's all you need to do. 

Share a date, just a date, nothing else, either here or on my Facebook page. 

Share a date when you felt needy and helpless only to be reminded that the weakness of God is stronger than men and that you are indeed loved with an everlasting love through Christ. 

I will have my lovely assistants draw a name (maybe yours!) from a hat, a week from today, on Thursday, May 16th.

13.1: Only Half as CRAZY!

This marathon stuff is addicting. Of course, I'm saying this after the training and race day is over, and I have to be honest here and tell you I'm on a bit of an artificial high. A plate full of delicious brownies was waiting for me when I got home today. Thank you Julie!

Regardless of my momentarily sugar crazed state, I can say with confidence, this year's race was indeed awesome!
Here are just some of the reasons why...in no particular order, (except for #7 is actually #1.)

#1 - Every year I win a "Major Award" and it's way better than any leg lamp. My sister-in-law made these for each of the runners in our group. It will be proudly displayed in my home right next to my Nutcracker Runner and my Sock Monkey Runner from the last two years. Thank you Stephannie!

#2 - This year we had cheerleaders taunting us with doughnuts and jumping up and down cheering and giving us hugs as we passed by.

#3 - The great signs the people of Lincoln make to entertain us along the way. The title of this post was one of my favorites this year, along with, "Getting up early to make these signs wasn't easy either!" 

#4 - The thirteenth mile when I couldn't stop smiling.

#5 - My friend Nikki, who thumbs her nose at the idea that a body battling Lupus shouldn't be able to do a half-marathon. (This is her second one in less than six months.) She came all the way from Wisconsin to run with a friend (me) that even though she never calls and never writes, is loved. Thank you Nikki! 

#6 - My brother-in-law who decided that getting his first call did not make for a stressful enough week. 

He decided to run the half too.

#7 - The 64 year old walking next to me, who at mile 9 was singing songs from the 60's in my ear and at mile 12, while still singing, appealed to the strength of his body, "Come on legs. One more mile." 

They did indeed carry him all 13.1 Thank you Dad! I'm so proud to wear your name!

The kids ran in the Mayor's Run again this year too. It was raining and freezing cold and I'm going to blame the sniffles and coughs they now have on that instead of the fact that we ran them ragged all week long. I know, just let me be delusional for a bit longer.

They did a great job! Chief took a minute off his time from last year. It's amazing what a little bit of training will do. Magigail and Fuzzy ran on their own this year and finished in almost the exact same time as last year. Not bad for a strong head wind and pellets of water falling from the sky.

10,000 people raced this year, but rumor has it in 2014 they are going to allow 12,000 to register. 

You could be one of the lucky ones! Who's with me?