My Friend, the Library

I must confess, I'm in a love affair. With the library. I love the library. All of the books, movies, magazines, all at the tip of your fingers for little to nothing. If you don't lose anything (which I've come close to, but that's a subject for another post).

Anyway, here are some things that I love about the library.

1. Story time. Most libraries offer a free story time for kids of all ages, and we definitely take advantage of it. It's fun, it's a place to meet people with kids the same age, and everyone loves our story time lady, Jo Kay.

2. Computers. Noel loves playing on the computer. It's the only activity in the house that I actually have to set a timer for, or else he would play all day on it. However, since he can't read, it's hard to find lots of different programs for him. However, the library has tons of games and programs that he can play on while I look for books. Plus, there are headphones. Need I say more?

3. Games. Both libraries we visit have lots of actitives out for the kids: puzzles, legos, and a reading loft to name a few.

4. "Request this Item". If you haven't taken advantage of your library's website, you should. You can look up where anything is, but more importantly, you can click a little button called "Request this Item" and they will hold it for you at the front desk. It's awesome. I can find all of my books and they call me when they're available.

5. Summer Programs. This summer we have had the chance to do several different summer activities that the library has planned. Noel has won prizes for reading books, we went to an animal show where we got to pet an alligator, and they had a bubble truck (you'll have to ask Noel about it--highlight of his summer--but I was in Haiti). It gives us fun stuff to do that's free and educational. Okay, the bubble truck might not have been the most educational, but you get the idea.

Now, there are a few things I don't like about the library (they charge for movies and music, they don't have a great selection of the newer books I'd like to read, due dates), but overall it is a great place to go. I'm trying to instill a love for reading into my son, and the library is helping me do that.

Read on!!!

We interrupt this blogging

I know, I know, I've been blogging about Haiti for what seems like forever. So, for a change of pace, I need to share about one of the highlights of the summer for all of us Wittenbachs. You know you want some: I'm talking about the Howard County Fair.

Now, the fair is an amazing place. And when I say amazing, I mean that I'm amazed at the people, things, food, situations I encounter while I'm there. It's so much that I really can handle it for just one day a year. Any more and I'd be on fair-overdose. I love the collision of the different worlds: On one side you have the 4-H'ers. They are there to show animals or exhibit their projects. On the other side you have the carnival people. They are there to ride rides, find dates, show off new tattoos, and get some meat on a stick. And then there are the many of us stuck in the middle, watching it all transpire.

Here are some highlights/lowlights (it's all the same) from this year's fair:
*Tractors.

Of course, for both David and Noel the tractors are the first things you have to see. Noel sat on or climbed on nearly every moving piece of machinery in the entire fair. Our tradition is to have him sit in the wheel of the combine for a picture, noting his growth from the year before.

Noel also got to ride on the Bumpy Barrels, which was pulled by a tractor. Noel LOVED it.

*Food. We made some critical errors this year in the dining experience at the fair. First, we sat outside to eat, which completely sucked the life out of us for the rest of the evening. Nothing like hot brisket in your gut while you're looking at pigs. mmmmmmm. Secondly, we ate too much at the first stop, leaving little room for "extras". However, we did enjoy our sandwiches and of course relished the lemon shake up. Noel was more excited about the free popcorn from the big barn. And speaking of the big barn,

*Free Stuff. We got popcorn, suckers, coloring pages, balloons, a tractor keychain, and as much fair dust as you can carry home on you, all for free.

*Last, but not least, Granpa Crachit. Now I've seen this puppet for many years driving around telling kids about the show, but this was the first year I had a child begging me to see him. So we got to watch good ol' Granpa Crachit and all of his antics, which for some reason, every child is completely enthralled by. And then at the end, Granpa gives a sales pitch for his DVD, which is only $5 and you can enjoy all year long! Needless to say, the show ended in tears because we wouldn't get Noel a video.

By the end of the night, both kids had cried, we were sweaty and dirty and way too full, and a little poorer for the wear, which means our trip was a complete success.

Happy Fairing!

Worship

One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Haiti was worshipping with Emmanuel Christian Church in Peredo. I wish I had some video footage of it, because words can't describe this. We pulled in (still riding in our cattle car--the church clothes were a nice touch) and church had already been going for quite a while. They had finished up Sunday School and were singing. There are no instruments, no p.a. system, no graphics on a screen. Just Toto leading 100+ believers in song. As soon as we came in, people moved children to the sides so we could have a seat (everyone is in church together--there aren't any other rooms!). I ended up sitting by Fanny and Cosine, two of the girls I had spent lots of time with so far on the trip. That turned out to be a bad thing, since they were both fighting so much that Gerard separated them during the sermon--yikes!

We sang a few hymns, most of which I could sing along to because they were old hymns I had grown up with. Then one man stood up and sang a song in Creole. It was really nice. Then another man came up. I found out later that this man was a new believer whose wife had been practicing voodoo until just a few months ago. He sang the song "He Touched Me" in English and then in Creole. I can tell you, there was barely a dry eye in the room. To look at this man and imagine all of the things he has gone through, and now finding out there is a Savior who loves Him and wants Him, it was completely evident on his face. I don't think I'll ever forget that.

Another "time-for tears" moment came when the students from our group got up and sang a worship song, led by my nephew on guitar. To see them all up there, singing with all of their hearts, about God changing them from the inside out, I don't think I've ever been more proud to be one of their leaders.

After communion and some more singing, Steve Allen, our preacher who came with us, preached while Gerard interpreted. It was great watching Gerard, because he is so animated, and you could tell that he was adding to what Steve was saying. The funniest part was when a cell phone went off. Gerard stopped the service to give a lecture to the church, but he was being really comical, telling them, "nobody cares what your ringtone is." I love him.

The whole service was beautiful, uplifting, emotional, and unforgetable. I love knowing that when we are in worship here in the states, that they are worshipping God all over the world, too. We can get so caught up in the latest songs, technology, etc. to try and wow the crowd, but if it's not from the heart, it's garbage. What matters is a heart focused on one thing: God.

That's the night that the lights went out in Jacmel

Let me tell you a little bit about our house and its ammenities. First off, we are in one of the nicest areas of Jacmel, so when you see the pictures, realize that this is not the norm for Haiti.

HCO (Haitian Christian Outreach) is currently renting the house, which they call L'Abri (I think it means rain). The house has a name because there are no street names or street signs. In facts, during my whole stay in Haiti, I saw one stoplight, and that was in Port-au-Prince.



The house has five bedrooms, three bathrooms, a balcony, two meeting area, and a flat rooftop with an amazing view. It would be a great vacation condo. However, there are some factors in this house that make it very different from the usual house in the states. First of all, due to the poor plumbing situation, you can't flush any paper down the toilets. So everything goes in the trash. And while we're on the subject, every drop of water costs money. So you should only flush when absolutely necessary :) and showers had to be military-style: get wet, turn shower off, scrub down, turn shower back on, rinse.



Also, the water out of the faucet is not safe to drink, and there is no water heater. So you have to heat water to do dishes and you have to buy bottled water to drink. In fact, many Haitians drink water from plastic pouches instead of bottles to cut down on trash (by the way, there is no trash collection in Haiti. The trash just piles up until someone burns a pile of it.)

Electricity is not on all of the time. Some man has control over when the power comes on and goes off. Luckily, we were there during the World Cup, so he kept the power on pretty late into the night. Once the power goes off, you have to rely soley on a generator, which can be tricky sometimes. For example, one night at around 2 am, I start hearing this beeping. It came every few seconds for about a minute. Then, all of a sudden, all of the fans stopped and the beeping became one, long, constant beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep. After a couple of minutes, Tessa finally spoke up, "Am I the only one who can hear this??" Apparently the batteries on the generator were not completely charged, so we were out of power until city power came back on (around 9 am).

Another thing I was not prepared for was the little creatures we came to know during our stay at L'Abri. There were at least 3 lizards who stayed with us, along with some spiders and lots of ants. I definitely had to get over my fear of these things, since I was sleeping on an air mattress on the floor.



All of this said, the house was great. We had a wonderful stay there, and were so thankful that we had such a nice place to stay. Not to mention that the beach was about a 10-minute walk away and there were lots of beautiful neighborhood kids to play with whenever we went outside. I think everyone's favorite part of the house was the roof, where we hung out to meet in the evenings and take in the amazing views.

Roll with it

So if there's one lesson I've learned about life in Haiti, it's this:

All plans are subject to change. And usually do.

We learned this lesson very well on our second full day in Haiti. After most of us didn't get to travel to Peredo the first day, we were very excited to go. First, let me explain the transportation: Almost every time we traveled to Peredo, it was standing up in the back of a truck that resembles a cattle car (see picture). I laughed every day coming up with conversations Haitians must be having that day.

"Did you see Genio (the driver)? He went and found himself a load of Americans!!"



Anyway, this trip is about an hour long, but it also includes some beautiful scenery of the ocean and a couple of small towns (Kapotier & Peredo). The most exciting part of each ride was crossing two different rivers by driving through them, as I mentioned in my post yesterday.

As we pulled into the camp at Peredo, we were greeted by the school children, who are just about as adorable as it gets. Talk about melting your heart. They lined up and sang some songs for us, and then we started working. And by working, I mean that most of us carried rocks by hand. Big rocks. By hand. To fill up a hole that will eventually become a basketball goal.

(Did I mention that the students on my trip are awesome? Because they are. They could have moaned and groaned all day about having to carry rocks in empty cement bags and on rusty wheelbarrows in the sweltering heat, but they didn't. I was so proud as a sponsor to be with them.)

After we had been working for about an hour and a half, we noticed the school children all disappeared. Then it started to rain. Then it started to pour. And we all ran for cover.

As we're waiting it out in the camp gazebo, Toto (who works there) is telling Ginny something in Creole that doesn't sound good. He is concerned that the rain will make the rivers rise too much, and we will get stuck here. We need to leave.

No problem, right?

Problem: Genio (our driver) took the big truck back to Jacmel.

Plan B: We take people one load at a time in HCO's pick-up truck across the two rivers to wait for our big truck to come back and get us. I don't think I'll ever forget riding in the truck as Toto is driving, heading towards the river. I ask him, "How can you tell if the river is too high?" His reply? He just laughs!!!

Thankfully, the first group made it across the rivers. Then we had to wait. The only place we could find was a lean-to, and I use that word lightly.



In hindsight, I'm not sure it was any better than just standing in the pouring rain, but that's where we stood and waited for what seemed like forever (probably 40 minutes or so). Then the second load of people came. Of course, only then did we realize that there was a shelter just up from the lean-to that was much nicer. I'm guessing it was a bar during the evenings, but was not in use at the moment. The owners were very kind to let us stay there as we waited some more. While we were waiting, Ginny, Laura, and Lesley were making sandwiches in the pick-up truck for us to eat. I went out to check on them, and right as Genio pulls up with the big truck, we realize that now the truck Ginny is driving has a flat tire. Her reaction? She just laughs (I think there's something to this laughing thing). But with help from some locals we were back and ready to head home.

After the rain eventually stopped, we went outside and played with the neighborhood kids in Jacmel. We were thankful that everything turned out okay, and that God took care of us. In the states, it would have been easy to be upset that we didn't get much "done" that day, but consider what we did "do":
*met and encouraged the school children
*started working on the camp
*relied on God (and Toto) and learned about faith
*met and hung out with Haitians in a bar in Peredo, who we probably would never have met.
*spent a rainy evening doing the Hokey Pokey with Katia, Bernadine, Rosalund, and many others

I think some days God looks at our "plans" and laughs. He has so much in store for us that can't be contained on a check list. Thank you, God, for showing us that.

Charlotte

June 23 was our first full day in Jacmel. Our original plans of heading to Peredo were changed because they thought it would rain, so a small group of the guys went and the rest of us stayed back. We would later figure out why the amount of rain is so important: the road trip to Peredo, which is about an hour, involves crossing two rivers. Not on bridges. Not on boats. Just driving straight through the rivers. If the river is up too high, you're stuck on whatever side you're on. More on that tomorrow.

The rest of us who were left behind were put to work doing various jobs. We sorted medicines and donations and painted bunk beds. During a lull, Alex, who works at the house, took us on a walk down to the ocean. Most of us were a little discouraged because we didn't get to do much, but that is part of Haiti--learning to deal with changes whenever they pop up. I kind of thought the day was a waste.

And then I met Charlotte.

During her stay here in Haiti, Ginny (the missionary we stayed with) has formed many connections with people all over Haiti. We teased her because she has "a guy" for every job you can imagine. "I have a lobster guy", "I have a generator guy", "I have a UN guy", etc. Anyway, one of Ginny's connections is in Tent City, and her name is Charlotte. After the earthquake, hundreds of thousands of Haitians lost their homes, their land, and their families. Jacmel has several different Tent Cities throughout the town, and Charlotte lives in one of those Tent Cities. Charlotte has basically taken it upon herself to be what I would call the mayor of her Tent City. She looks out for everyone. She makes sure people who are unjustly arrested are pleaded for. She finds medical help for the hurting. And in the course of this, she found Ginny. Now, when Charlotte has a medical need, she contacts Ginny, who is a nurse, and Ginny comes out to Tent City to help.

The day I went to Tent City with Ginny, she was headed there to give a young child a shot. They had a swolen lymph node, and needed antibiotics right away. Here in the U.S. a problem like this would have never even become this bad of an issue, but this is common in Haiti.

I'm guessing that this Tent City is about the size of two football fields, rowed with military style tents, attached right next to each other. The tents actually create "roads" within the city to walk. Along one wall of the city is a row of outhouses, which I learn are the second set built since the earthquake (the others are completely full!) There is a huge bladder of water under a tarp, which is for those who live in the tents, but the water still has to be boiled. There is little food, no running water, and no electricity. The people there have hardened faces. They seem to look right through you, and it takes your breath away for a minute, knowing this is their reality. Not a temporary fix; a permanent reality for them.

As we pull in, we wait for Charlotte to meet us, and Ginny's only directions are, "Please try not to cry." She takes us to the sick child, and while we walk, little hands grab onto ours, sometimes two and three to a hand. The children, despite the circumstances are filled with joy. One boy came up to us and practiced what little he knew of English. Many kids wanted you to take their picture. Almost all of them were smiling. It was too much to take in.

As we leave, Charlotte talks with Ginny about some other concerns she has, and while we are there for the next week Ginny will go several more times to Tent City. Every time, Charlotte is there, fighting for her people, people who have no one else fighting for them.

As I went to bed that night, I could barely remember the walk to the beach and the jobs we had done around the house. All I could see in my mind was Charlotte and her heart for the lost.

I want to be like her.

Reality Check

I am rich.

And so are you.

Don't think so? Drive through Port-au-Prince sometime. You'll think differently.

We left Chicago early on June 22. Both of our flights went very well, except for one small delay. As soon as we landed in Port-au-Prince, we realized that there was no turning back. As you leave the terminal, you are taken by a bus to customs, which went really smoothly (especially considering the two sisters on the trip accidentally used each other's passports!!). Baggage claim was a chaotic mess, since we had 48 bags (half of which being supplies and tools we were bringing with us). After all of the bags were counted, we realized we had lost three. But thankfully they were not anyone's personal bags. Just another lesson that we need to be ready for the rules to change at any minute.



Then the craziness really began. We had a caravan of luggage carts overloaded with our bags, and we had to push them to our truck, which meant going through a crowd of people and over a rocky path. One of our carts kept falling over, spilling the bags out, but we eventually got everything loaded up and we got into the vans. The highlight of this day for me was seeing Gerard, a missionary and friend whom we have been praying for. He lost his house and all of his belongings in the earthquake. It was very emotional for me to finally see him after we have been praying for him for so long.

The drive through Port-au-Prince is indescribable. The area surrounding the airport was not really affected too badly by the earthquake, but as soon as you get close to the city, all you see is devastation. About every other building is just rubble. It was hard to take it all in, especially since we were driving quickly and the sun was going down. The one image that will stay in my head forever was looking at a little girl, who couldn't have been much older than Noel, filling a bucket with water from a mud puddle and using an old shirt to strain it. I realized that she was gathering water for her family to use.

And I complain when our power goes out for an hour.

After our ride, which was about three hours and included going over a mountain, we arrived at L'Abri, which is the house HCO has rented for Ginny (one of the missionaries) and any missions teams who come to work. It is a really nice house, with room for everyone to sleep. We were given our first taste of local food with some Haitian spaghetti, which is kind of like our spaghetti, but with hotdogs and a thinner sauce. We had a short orientation and got the house put in order for the night. I don't think I've ever slept so hard in my life.

All in all, our first exposure to Haiti was a reality check. All of the pictures and videos we'd seen over the past several months were now right in front of us, and we would never be the same.

This is really turning into an adventure, and we haven't even left Indiana yet.

At around 1:00 on Monday, June 21, 13 students, 7 adults, and around 45 bags packed up and headed towards Chicago to prepare for an early flight for the next day. Emotions were all over the place. Some tears, lots of laughter and card playing, and a few worries. We didn't know what God (and Haiti) had in store for us over the next 10 days.

Our first adventure began before we even left the state. As we were driving up 65, one of the tires blew on a church bus we had borrowed from another church. Tanya, our driver, was so calm as we pulled over. We immediately started looking for a spare, and then realized that this was a bus with dual tires in the back, and that there was no way to jack up that kind of vehicle and replace a tire. We called the van ahead of us to let them know what was going on. They stopped at the next exit, and wouldn't you know it? The very first building at that exit was a tire store. The store had one tire that fit the bus, so after coming to get the kids (who had been running around in the woods and acting like hooligans) , Tanya and my brother Dave got the bus to the tire store and had it changed while the rest of us waited at a Burger King.

I was so impressed by everyone throughout this situation. It could have been so easy to already be frustrated and upset, but the kids (and the adults) were in great moods. Some of the kids made a "Honk 4 Jesus" sign and tried to get trucks to honk while we waited. Those who were waiting at Burger King sat and talked, not complaining about the time they had to spend. And about an hour and a half later we were on our way. As the rest of the trip played out, I'm glad this group was okay with things not going as planned, as you'll see in upcoming posts.

After finally getting to Chicago and waiting for Mac, our Haitian Christian Outreach leader, to arrive, we had our last "American" meal: pizza and ice cream drumsticks, and settled into our plush hotel rooms for one last night of air conditioning, long showers, and cell phones for quite a while. We were about to be taken out of every comfort zone we could imagine, and it was, as our Haitian friend Alex says, "Very good."

In my mind I'm going to . . .Jacmel?

Well, our group made it back safe and sound from our 11 day adventure to Haiti. Over the next several posts I'd like to share some stories from our trip. There is so much still in my brain that I'm trying to process, but I want you to know about the people of Haiti, the work being done there, and the power of God.

More to come. . .

What's Cooking?

Actually, not much. This week has been a whirlwind of activities, leaving most nights to either eathing out or eating leftovers. But yesterday I did grill some chicken, and it was pretty good. I wanted to share the recipe, since this is grilling season, and who doesn't love honey mustard? Plus, I broke down a whole chicken for the very first time. I can't believe I'm almost 35 and have never broken down a chicken. I've cooked whole chickens and then taken the meat off several times, but never broken up a chicken to grill. It was actually pretty easy, and very affordable. I should be doing this more often. Anyway, here's the recipe: (For the record, it did not take as long for my chicken to get done, so watch carefully and baste often)

honey-mustard chicken

1 c. pineapple juice
3/4 c. honey
1/2 c. dijon mustard
1 t. ground mustard
2 T. cornstarch
1/4 c. cold water
1 broiler/fryer chicken (around 3-4 lbs.) cut up

In a small saucepan, combine the pineapple juce, honey, mustard, and ginger; bring to a boil. Combine cornstarch and water; gradually whisk into honey mix. Cook and stir for 2-3 minutes or until thickened. Reserve 3/4 c. to serve with chicken.

Baste chicken with remaining glaze. Grill, covered, over medium-low heat for 30 minutes. Turn chicken; brush again with glaze. Grill, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until juices run clear. SErve with reserved glaze if desired.

Already Learning

I knew when I signed up for this upcoming trip to Haiti that it would definitely be a learning experience. I just didn't know that the learning would start so early.

My preparing to leave entails a lot more than just packing my bags and going. I have to prepare my house, my kids, basically our every day lives for an upheaval for 11 days. And my first huge realization is that I am a control freak. I guess I've always know that, but this experience is just reiterating it.

For 11 days I have to give up control of

*my children (including their schedule, their safety, their time)
*my house
*my plans (I will have zero say in what we do or when we do it in Haiti. Definitely not used to that)

And it is already hard. Hard knowing that if there is a question, I can't answer it. Or if Noel is trying to explain something to his grandma, I can't be there to help him. Or if I'm frustrated beyond belief because I would have done something differently.

I like things easy. Don't we all?

But easy isn't always good.

Easy doesn't stretch us. Easy doesn't take us out of our comfort zone. Easy doesn't make life-changing memories.

So as I begin this journey, I realize that, although I think I'm in control most of the time, it's an illusion. This world is not about me, my plans, my decisions. This world is about showing God's love in our every day lives.

Maybe I need to lose control more often.

Date Night

As I said in my post yesterday, on Tuesday I got to have a kid-free afternoon AND evening with my husband. We went to this winery in the afternoon, and then did some driving, shopping, talking, and playing with the company car and navigation system.

Enter our Michael Scott scenario.

We had planned on eating dinner at Bravo in Castleton, and we knew where it was, but since a)we had the cool navigation system in the car and b)there is tons of construction around the Keystone/465 area, we opted to set our destination and follow the car's directions.



We're lucky we didn't end up in a pond.



The directions took us to the middle of an industrial park NOWHERE NEAR BRAVO. It was incredibly frustrating at the time, but now it's funny, thinking about how we just followed every step, never thinking that we would be led astray.



In the end, we found the restaurant and had a wonderful dinner, capped off by a new can to keep our compost in before it goes out to the big bin in the back yard. (yet another subject for another post: How I love compost and my husband's great gardening skills)







Happy Driving!!

Sigh of Relief

I know most of you know this already, but I love college basketball. Love it. I enjoy watching lots of different sports, especially live, but there is something about college basketball that I love.

Did I mention I love it?

And when David and I got together, he introduced me to another love: Tom Izzo. Head coach of the Michigan State Spartans Men's Basketball Team. I'm not gonna lie. It took me a while to be persuaded not to always cheer for the Illini (which I still do wholeheartedly--EXCEPT when they play MSU), but over the years I have come to really love watching Izzo coach. He cares about his players. He has a passion that is palpable without being over the top. Plus, he's from the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Who doesn't love a U.P.er?

So when rumors started swirling last week about Izzo being offered the job coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers, I was disappointed. Not so much because Izzo would consider leaving MSU, but because he would leave it to go to the NBA. I can't stand the NBA. And I'm not sure watching Tommy :) coach an NBA team would sweeten the deal for me.

All week, David and I were nervous to check espn.com to see if the announcement had been made. And then today, after a fun day away with my hubby (a subject for another post), we come home to find out that he's staying.

Sigh.

Now we can relax.

I'm so glad that Coach Izzo is staying. He is so good not only for the Spartans, but for the Big Ten. I can't wait until November!!!

Haiti on my mind

80% of Haitians live in poverty.

The average daily earnings for a Haitian is around $2. Two dollars.

As I prepare for our trip to Haiti next week, I'm asking anyone who is reading this to pray for the people of Haiti. They are the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, and there is no solid government to help them change that.

Money isn't everything. I firmly believe that. But it's pretty hard to survive on $2 a day.

God, help me to not take one dollar for granted, because I know that some don't even have that much.

Everybody's Different

David and I often talk about how we wish we had a camera in our car, because living where we do we run into a lot of this:



So we're driving home from Coyote Kids* last night and this was the car in front of us.

In case you can't read it, the sticker across the top of the car reads:

Sgt. Big Nasty.

That's right, you read it correctly. Sgt. Big Nasty.

Who drives this car?

Who decides their identity is best defined not just by Big Nasty (which would be mind-boggling itself), but to declare yourself the Sargeant of Big Nasty?

I love this town. Never a dull moment.

Footnote
*Coyote Kids is a free running program at our local park that is so much fun! Kids of all ages race and get popsicles and sweat and play and burn off lots of energy. And did Imention it's free?

Still a long way to go

I love my husband. Incredibly. But I know I'm not always the best at showing it or helping him to be the best person he can be. I listened to a Christian radio program on the internet today about things I can do to be a better wife, and here are some things I took from it:

*My job as David's wife is to be his cheerleader. He has enough people in his life who point out his flaws. I'm here to encourage, support, and cheer him on.

*Respect is key. The speaker said men would rather feel respected than loved. Not sure if every guy feels this way, but it is definately true with most men. It's so important that I show David that I respect him. Not second-guess him or try to undermine him. This is also a great example to our children and to the youth group kids we work with of how I should treat my husband.

*The most important point I took from it was to show grace to my husband. He said to do for your husband what God does for you. It's so easy for me to hold a grudge or bring up the past, but that's not what God does, so I shouldn't do that with my husband, the most important person to me here in earth.

Does anyone out there have any other good marriage advice?

And so it begins

Yesterday was Noel's first day taking swim lessons. It's our first "lesson" of any kind. And it went pretty well, considering he's 3 and hasn't really been in the water very much.

He loved it.
He jumped up and down.
He kicked.
He waved at me every 18 seconds.
But he wouldn't leave the edge of the pool.

And all of a sudden, I had to fight the urge not to be a pageant mom and try and get him to do exactly what his teacher was telling him to do. I wanted his teacher to know how wonderful he is and how good he is at so many other things. That this is his first time doing this, and to not give up. But I had to let it go. I can't make Noel do exactly what I want, and I can't make everyone love him as much as I do.

And so it begins.

So I'll hold on when I should, and try to let go when it's time, and trust God to help me know the difference.

My little ones

I've been trying to post all day, and for some reason I couldn't get my page to let me make a new post. So it's almost bedtime for the kiddos, and I'm all out of words to share. Instead, I will share a few photos of my sweeties.

Making up for lost time

As the countdown to Haiti gets closer, I start to realize not only how much I will miss my family, but how much time I will miss out on being with them. That being said, I tried to cram as much summer fun into this week as we could handle. So here's the rundown:

Playgrounds Visited--4
Pools Swam In--2
Ice Cream Treats--2
Library Trips--1
Outdoor Play--too many to count
Scrapes on Knees--2
Tractor Rides--As many as you could fit into 3 days on the farm
Dirty Outfits--As fast as I can put them on, they're dirty again
Picnics-1
Smooches & Laughter--Never Enough

Motherhood is a challenge. It is, at various times, stressful, chaotic, lonesome, hilarious, educational, tedious, interesting, and heart-melting. I'm so thankful that I get this opportunity to see life from my two children's perspectives. To witness someone figure out that after stepping in a puddle you can make footprints on the porch. The laugh as my little girl waves at every person who drives by our house, now that she can see out the front window. To answer questions by the dozens from a curious child who wants to know EVERYTHING. Some days they make me crazy, and by the end of most nights I'm glad to see them go to bed, but I am thankful to be their mom. So let the pile of dirty clothes continue to pile up. . .

Needs vs. Wants

I'm reading a great book right now: Half-Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. I'm not even done with it, and I'm going to already come out and say it's great--that's how great it is. A friend of mine gave me Walls' first book, The Glass Castle, and I really enjoyed it. It is a memoir of a girl growing up with a very unconventional family, moving all over the country, living in shacks, learning how to make do with nothing, and dealing with two parents who cared about themselves more than their children. It was kind of sad and frustrating, but Walls is a wonderful writer. So when I saw she had another book, I grabbed it off the library shelf.

In Horses, Walls tells the life story of her grandmother, Lily, from Lily's perspective. She grew up during the turn of the century on a farm in New Mexico. I won't tell you any more about the book, but I will just say that I love the voice Walls has created for her grandmother. She has so many great lines in this book--very poignant.

One part that has really stuck with me is a scene in which Lily and her husband have to move out of their house (it's been foreclosed) and to a cattle farm. This is about her first visit to the outhouse.

"A distinctly malodorous aroma arose from the hole, and for a moment I missed my snazzy mail-order toilet with the shiny white porcelain bowl, the mahogany lid, and the nifty pull-chain flush. As I sat down, though, I realized that you can get so used to certain luxuries that you start to think they're necessities,but when you hve to forgo them, you come to see that you don't need them after all. There was a big difference between needing things and wanting things--though a lot of people had trouble telling the two apart--and at the ranch, I could see we'd have pretty much everythingwe'd need but precious little else.

Next to the seat was a stack of Sears, Roebuck catalogs, and I picked one up and leafed through it. I came to a page advertising silk bodices and lacy chemises. I won't be ordering from this page, I thought, and when I was done with my business, that was the one I tore out and used."

Truer words were never spoken.
Enjoy the day, and be thankful that we have everything we need and much more!

What to pray. . .

I am not a good pray-er. Never have been.

I can sit and read the Bible and study and write lessons and sing praise songs and on and on. . . but it is such a struggle for me to quiet myself and pray. I've tried all different kinds of strategies, and I will never give up, but I wish I had the passion for prayer that others have. I know how important it is, and when some kind of emergency occurs, of course it's easy for me to pray. But the every day, kneeling before God and listening to Him, is hard for me.

As I was sitting here this morning thinking of how to pray for our upcoming trip to Haiti, God really put it upon my heart to pray just what it says in the scriptures. I just started reading Philippians a few days ago, and as I start reading chapter 2 this morning, the first 2 verses read this way:

"If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."

So, this is my prayer for the upcoming trip:

That we will encourage each other and be an encouragement to those we minister with in Haiti.
That we will be united.
That we will be a source of comfort to the people of Haiti. Show them God's grace and love.
That our times of fellowship will be God-focused and memory-making.
That we will show tenderness and compassion when it might be easy instead to be judgmental and critical.
That we will choose joy instead of reasons to complain.
That we will work together, being like-minded, even when plans don't go our way.

Thank you, God, for hearing our prayers. May we not take it for granted.

Summer, Summer, Summertime. . .(think Will Smith here. . .)

Alright, everyone, I know it's not officially the season of summer, but schools all over are letting out, open houses are upon us, the weather has been in the 80's all week, and my air conditioning is on. I'm calling it:

Summer is here!!!!!

Now that I'm a stay-at-home mom, and my kids don't go to school yet, summer doesn't have quite the excitement that it used to. But I'm still pretty psyched this year. Here are some reasons:

*Haiti. Of course, Haiti is at the front of my mind all of the time. In a little over 3 weeks I'll be heading there. I'm really trying to not have any preconceived notions about what the trip will be like. I'm a planner, and a trip like this, where I have no control over what happens is difficult for me. But I am so excited. I believe this will be a life-changing trip for many. I'm ecstatic about being a part of something bigger than me and getting out of my comfort zone.

*Swimming. I love to swim. David doesn't share this love with me, so in our 7 years together we have gone to one beach, and that was in Michigan. But now I have a 3 1/2 year-old who has shown me already in this first week of hot weather that the pool is where he wants to be. So I've signed him up for a few swim lessons, and we're hoping to hit Kokomo Beach (not really a beach, mind you, but a public pool) at least a few times this summer.

*Urban Outreach. Over the last 2 summers we have been taking the youth group kids to help the Kokomo Urban Outreach on Sunday nights. We take food to a low-income housing addition, and while some people serve the adults dinner, we get to play with the kids. It has been such a neat experience to hang out with these children and get to know them. I'm looking forward to being a part of it again this summer.

*Camping. In August we are taking my brother-in-law's camper and going to Ludington, Michigan to camp. We'll be one mile from beautiful lake Michigan (more swimming!), and there are loads of trails, playgrounds, etc. to explore. Definitely looking forward to that.

Along the way I hope we can hit every park in town, go on lots of bike rides, eat lots of popsicles, read some really good books (any suggestions?), spend some time with friends and family, and show God's love all while we're doing this. I want to be an example everywhere we go of what it means to be a Christ-loving family.

All Things TV

While I've never seen an episode of "Lost" or "24", I've still had some good (and bad) tv moments recently.

*TOP CHEF IS COMING! While I've been loving Top Chef Masters, (and am rooting for Jonathan Waxman) I am always excited to see Tom and a new crew of chefs. I get to see the first episode before I go to Haiti. They're going to be in D.C., so I'm sure there will be lots of fun challenges.

*I couldn't watch American Idol. I wanted to see the tribute to Simon, but when I turned to it and Paula came out, and I couldn't handle it---SO UNCOMFORTABLE!! Is she that weird, or on drugs? And then the old Idols singers came out--the song was terrible!! Yikes! I think Simon is making the right choice by getting out before the boat sinks.

*I loved Glee this past fall. These spring episodes have not been as great to me. I don't like storylines that are just developed to get to a specific song (aka the Madonna episode). I did like the episode where the girl sang Christina Aguilara's "Beautiful"--made me cry. And they had to go and sing "Beth" this week, which of course will keep me tuned in to see if Gwen will really name her baby Beth.

*I still have the season finale of "Parenthood" on the DVR and am excited to watch it--just haven't had the time.

*I've said it before and I'll say it again, Jimmy Fallon and his crew are hilarious! Last week they did a spoof of Lost that was so funny--and Arsenio Hall was in it. You need to see it.

*If you have kids, and haven't seen "WordWorld", you need to. It's on PBS and it's really cute. Everything is made up of the letters that spell the item. And the duck with the speech impediment is so endearing. I love him.

*I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I've actually watched some NBA and it hasn't been too bad. We're rooting for the Suns--who doesn't love Steve Nash? Black eye? No problem. Broken nose? Bring it on!

*Lastly, David and I have really enjoyed the new show on TLC called "Best Food Ever". There are probably similar shows on the Food Network, but we don't have that channel. John Goodman narrates as they count down the top 10 of a certain food or type of restaurant. I feel like writing down all of the places so we can take a food vacation and eat our way across the country. This week was best diners, and the winner was in Worcestor, Mass. Almost made me want to go back to Worcestor. Almost.

In other news. . .
I'm on my way to Noblesville today to wish a former co-worker happy retirement and catch up with a few old friends. So excited the summer is here. This week we have gone on bike rides and long walks, been to the park, got out the sprinkler, the kiddie pool, and eaten our weight in popsicles already. I'm so thankful that I get to watch my children experience all of this, too.

Have a great day!

Catch of a Lifetime

When I married David in 2004, it was a package deal. Along with my new, sweet husband was a dog. Half Springer Spaniel half Brittany Spaniel, this brown and white ball of fur, otherwise known as Tee Off, has been a part of David's life since before he even knew me.

Over the years, Tee has gone from being a crazy-hyper dog who jumped on everyone who came in the door, to a mellow, older dog who mainly just lays around. She's almost 12, and, to be honest, she acts a little like an old biddy some days. She barks at nothing. She never wants to be outside anymore (unless you're outside). She has to take several different medicines to keep her healthy (and our carpets dry). But we love her.

The other thing you need to know about Tee is that the only thing that really excites her is chasing animals in our back yard. If you say the word "squirrel" her ears perk up and she runs to the door. Having a fence that squirrels can run on has been great entertainment for us. As they run, Tee chases them all over the back yard. She will also chase rabbits, which are in abundance this time of year, especially with our huge garden (which should be a topic of another post). However, with all of this chasing, in 12 years Tee has caught only one rabbit--and it was someone's pet (another great story for a different post).

Well, all that changed last night. I was gone to a meeting, and David was eating dinner with the kids, when he heard Tee scratching at the door. He opened the back door to let her out, and she dashed to the garden. Somehow a rabbit had gotten inside the garden fence, and when he came out, Tee was there to catch him. Within seconds Tee had that rabbit in her mouth and killed it. Way to go, Tee! After 12 years of trying, she finally caught a rabbit. She should be proud of herself.

And in fact, she was.

She was so proud that she tried to bring it into our house CARRYING IT IN HER MOUTH! So while the kids are eating dinner in the dining room, Tee is scratching at the back door (clearly visible from the dining room) to come in and show off her conquest. David kept shooing her away, and Noel kept asking what was going on. Luckily, she left eventually left it in the yard and came in without it.

So, hats off to you, Tee Dog. You may make me crazy every day with your barking, shedding, and bodily fluids, but I'm proud of you. You've still got a little bird dog in you after all.

In Case You're Wondering. . .

I do a lot of dumb stuff. I wanted to share some lessons from my amazing ideas that didn't go over very well, so you can learn from my mistakes:

*I was trying to be frugal this morning. After finishing up my bowl of Corn Pops, I thought the milk (sweetened by said Corn Pops) could substitute for creamer in my coffee. Terrible idea. It was bad.

*Speaking of bad, Corn Pops are not good. I thought I liked them, so I bought a big box when they were on sale. Now I know why they were on sale. I'm forcing myself to finish them so they don't go to waste. Ugh.

*Don't take a 1 year-old (who is a screamer) and a 3 year-old (who's been hopped up on snacks) to a program. I tried to sit with them and watch my brother's play last night. Big mistake. We were THOSE people who had to carry our kids out. Bad idea.

*Speaking of the 1 year-old. I let her play with my cell phone once in the car to keep her entertained. Now every time I get it out she screams! And it's that ear-piercing scream that only a little girl can do. So if you get a call from me, be prepared for some screaming in the background.

*Don't buy hair dye that costs $3.99 and says it will make your hair 'dark blonde'. No matter how long you leave it on, your brown hair will just turn more orange. Trust me.

*Don't assume that kids know not to pick up dog poop in the back yard. Enough said.

I could share more, but I think you get the point. I'm not a 'think before you act' kind of girl, and these things are proof!! But it does make for a fun ride!

Have a blessed day! Pray for someone today, and then do something nice without them knowing it!

What's for Dinner?

I love to cook. I really do. I love finding new recipes and trying them out. And I usually don't mind putting menus together for each week. However, sometimes it is hard to come up with new ideas for every week, and I'm always thinking that I wish I could see a list of what other people are making for their meals so I can have some ideas.



So, just in case anyone else has been in those shoes, here are some meals that I've been making this week or are planning to make next week:



I made Extra Spicy Linguine with Sausage, Chili Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes, and Arugula last night. It's a Rachael Ray Recipe, and I really liked it. Didn't use the Chili Pepper--not sure how spicy it makes the meal, and I have 2 small kids.



Another new recipe I'm going to try next week is Freeze-Ahead Broccoli and Sausage Calzones. I plan on making half of them for now and freezing the other half for when I'm in Haiti. They sound good.



Last week we tried these fish tacos. I thought they were pretty tasty, except I am not a fan of corn tortillas. I tried one the next day with a flour tortilla, and liked it much better. I also used tilapia instead of red snapper, and they worked fine.



I love pancakes, and I make them for the kids on a weekly basis. I usually make a double batch and them keep them in the fridge and reheat them for breakfast all week. A friend showed me this recipe for fluffy pancakes, and they are great!!! Definitely not lying about the fluffy! I added blueberries to some and they were good, too.



Another freezer-friendly meal that is a go-to for us is Hot Chicken Sandwiches. I got this recipe from Caryn Collins, and we are ever so greatful!



Hot Chicken Sandwiches



3 c. cooked cubed chicken

8 oz. cubed Velveeta

1/2 c. chopped onion

1 c. chopped celery

3/4 c. mayo



Combine all ingredients. Put on hamburger buns and wrap sandwiches individually in foil. Can be frozen or refrigerated.



Bake (in foil) for 25 minutes @ 325 if thawed or 35-40 minutes if frozen.



Happy eating!!

In the Tunnel

Seems like recently I find myself discontented more and more often.

I'm upset with the way the kids are acting, and it frustrates me. Every day Noel and I clash over something insignificant that turns into an outright war. Yesterday it was over a Capri Sun. I kid you not, a Capri Sun. I'll spare you the details.

I wish I had more one-on-one time with my husband. Our days are filled with half-completed conversations because they've been interrupted by a 3 year-old's questions or a 1 year-old's screams.

I miss teaching. I'm supposed to go to a retirement party tomorrow for a fellow teacher, and part of me doesn't want to go because it makes me so sad that I'm not still working there. It's been four years, and I still miss it all the time. I know that sounds awful, especially to people to would kill to be in my shoes, staying home with their kids. And believe me, I am incredibly thankful that we have the means and opportunity to keep Noel and Elise home. But I still miss it.

I wish I could be a better friend and have closer friends. I struggle with loneliness.

It's kind of like I'm in a tunnel in life--not a valley or a mountaintop, just a dark spot where I'm not quite sure of where I'm headed. Corrie ten Boom, one of my favorite authors, describes our journey with God as a train trip. And she says (I'm paraphrasing here) that when you're on a real train and it goes into a tunnel, you don't jump out because you're scared. You hang on tightly and trust the engineer to get you through.

To be honest, none of the scenarios I was complaining about is life-shattering. We are healthy, David has a job, we have food, shelter, and safety. But when I focus on myself and the areas I am unhappy with, it's tempting to start feeling more and more sorry for myself instead of hanging on and trusting that God has a plan for me. Instead of whining and moping and being discontent, I need to look around and see where I can be a servant right now, what I can be doing to make life better for those around me. Maybe I need to turn on a flashlight in my tunnel and look around to see if anyone else needs to know that the Engineer is in charge, and He will get us through.

More Links

Here are a two more links that I really like:

www.etsy.com
If you haven't been on etsy, take some time out of your schedule for it, because you can easily get sucked in for an hour. The best way I can describe etsy is that it is similar to ebay or amazon, but is handmade/vintage items that people are selling, and there is no bidding--just a fixed price. There are millions of items on etsy--I usually look at the jewelry. I've gotten Christmas gifts, Mother's Day gifts, and graduation gifts on etsy, and have been pleased with all of them.

www.backgroundfairy.com
This is a blog aimed at helping those of us who are blogging, but are clueless about how to make our blogs look nice. She gives step-by-step instructions for changing different settings on your blog, adding images, changing fonts, etc. She also posts free backgrounds and picutres. Pretty cool.

If any of you out there have sites that I need to look at, let me know!

Odd Things

I'm odd. I do some strange things. But I think we all do.

So, in order to make you feel better about your oddities, I'll share some of mine

1. I brush my teeth in the shower.

2. I have to pick up the house in a certain order. Even if company is coming in 10 minutes, I have to start at the back of the house (our bathroom) and work my way to the kitchen (always the messiest room).

3. I love Spider Solitaire on the computer.

4. The first thing I read in the newspaper is the obituaries. Last thing I read is the comics.

5. I have an old-lady bicycle with the big butt seat and high handlebars. It's called 'MoonDog'.

6. I don't own an I-Pod, and I still have a record player in our bedroom.

7. I still get excited about getting the mail every afternoon, in hopes of some sort of letter or card from someone, even though it's nowhere close to a holiday or my birthday.

8. Anything on tv that is about a great teacher makes me cry.

9. Speaking of tv, I still come up with different ideas for songs I would use to try out for American Idol. And yes, I'm well over the age limit.

10. I still don't understand the game of soccer or the game of chess.

Anyone else out there have some odd traits?

5 Weeks to Go

As my trip to Haiti is getting closer, I've been having a lot of different thoughts about it. A lot of my time has been spent thinking about how my kids and husband are going to do. I'm not worried that my husband can't take care of them, I just know that a long time alone with two small kiddos can be draining. I've been working on making freezer meals, getting things organized, and raising money.

But how much have I been preparing myself mentally and spiritually for this trip? We are headed to the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere with a dozen high school students to work at a church camp. Am I ready to see the devastation brought on not only by the earthquake in January, but by the years of poverty, voodoo, and corrupt government? Have I been praying for the people of Haiti? For the other members of my group?

When I think about why I signed up to go on this trip, my answers are muddled. Do I want to help with work on a clinic? Yes. Do I want to meet and encourage other Christians? Yes. Do I want to lead by example in our group? Yes. But I know there will be so much more that will challenge me, stretch my faith, disappoint my expectations, teach my narrow mind, and humble my American heart.

I have so much to give and so much to receive. May I be open to both of those on this journey.

Week in Review

Well, it's been kind of a strange week. Both kids, at one point or another, puked, and I am not good at dealing with sickness. I have a hard time seeing my children in pain, and knowing there's nothing I can do about it. I also have about 30 items on my mental to-do list that I know won't get done, and my selfish side struggles with that. But thankfully they are both on the mend. And neither of them had anything terribly bad.



Here are some other lessons I want to share with you from the week:



*If you ever decide to hang clothes out on the line, maybe you should watch the radar first. I've had the same load of laundry hanging out for 3 days because it keeps raining right before they get dry!



*If you haven't read the comic strip 'Pickles' you're missing out. It's funny. Truly funny.



*I've fallen off the wagon. After years of staying away from the hair dye aisle in the grocery store, I gave in about a month ago. The color turned out a little something like this--










a little on the orange side. Now I have about 1/2 inch of dark root popping up. Thus begins the vicious cycle of hair color. Do I try the same color again? Go darker? lighter? Oy.


*My husband is right. a lot. Case in point: "The Amazing Race". This whole season we have been rooting for the cowboys, Jet and Cord. They were hilarious, smart, level-headed, and kind. Right before the finale, David decides he doesn't want them to win. What?! How can you say that? We love the cowboys!
And then he gives me this nugget of wisdom--if the cowboys win the million dollars, it might change them. Turn them into greedy or materialistic people, and he wouldn't want that to happen to such nice guys. I think he's right. Money changes people, and usually not in positive ways. So we were glad to see them place 2nd and maintain their status as country boys, or "Okey's" as they called themselves. If you never watched "The Amazing Race", it's worth watching online to see Jet and Cord. Good stuff.


Have a spendid weekend! Find the joy and beauty in your everyday lives.

What I've been reading

Here's what I've been thumbing through in my spare time. . .

Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Finished it last week. It was pretty sad (not a shocker) and pretty cliche (not a shocker, either), but for some reason once I start a Nicholas Sparks book I have to finish it. I thought the storyline was okay. I just wish that I hadn't watched the trailers for the movie. I kept picturing Miley Cyrus and Greg Kinnear in the roles instead of using my own imagination to come up with the characters. I kept thinking, "Greg Kinnear wouldn't do that. . ." so it kind of threw me for a loop. All that being said, I liked the theme, and I thought he did a good job of presenting faith in God without sounding preachy or stereotypical.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

I'm currently about halfway through this book, but really like it. It's a true story, actually two true stories (try and say that three times fast) from two different men's perspectives about their lives and how they become friends. Denver is a poor, homeless man from Louisiana who never had one day of school. Ron is an educated art seller who is married to an amazing lady. Because of her drive and passion, the two become friends, and God works in really cool ways through this friendship. I can't give it a 100% seal of approval until I'm finished, but so far it is really good. Very convicting about how we view others and what we do in light of that.

Any other ideas of books I should read? Please let me know.

Courage

As I continue to study through the book of Daniel, I am overwhelmed by these young men's courage. I'm guessing that when Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to stand up to Kind Neb over and over again they were about half my age. Would I have that courage? Do I have any courage in the God that I claim to put my faith in?

Where's the proof?

I'd like to say that we live by faith on a day-to-day basis, but to be honest, with our cushy, comfortable lives, we want for nothing, and we get by pretty well (for the most part) on our own. It's sad to say, but most days go by without my even considering faith. I will spend time with God, pray, study, even serve in His name, but am I taking any steps in faith, not knowing where they will lead? Not always.

My study of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego led me to this website: http://persecution.com which I've also added to the links on the right. If I don't have to live in fear of my life because of my beliefs, surely I can spend some time on a regular basis praying for those who do. I encourage anyone who reads this to pray for believers all over the world who are abused, arrested, cast out, and even killed because they've chosen to step out in faith.

I also need to make some deliberate steps in faith that I know are all around me. Going out and making friends with my neighbors, telling people I know about God's love, showing those I don't know His grace and mercy. There are opportunities out there to grow in my faith. May I take a hold of those and let God lead.

Incomplete

Okay, so I finished the first part of my homework assignment, but failed to complete the last question our minister gave us: What is one thing you would like to change about yourself?

This is kind of a toughie, and not because there isn't anything to change about me. Quite the opposite. When I start thinking about areas of my life that I need to work on, I tend to get on the pity-party wagon and beat myself up. "I'm not ________, I'm too _________, I don't _________ enough. . ." I could do it all day. However, because I know I'm prone to do that, sometimes I don't take the effort to truly evaluate where my real weaknesses are that need to be addressed.

So, I said all of this to say: I need to work on not being so critical -- of others and myself.

I need to spend time encouraging and uplifting those around me, with words and with actions. I need to think about what I say before I say it, and keep my comments about people to a minimum. I've struggled with this for as long as I can remember. It's the same old motivation we all have: if I think about what's wrong with someone/something else, it makes me feel better about myself.

ie. "I might be ______________, but at least I didn't ____________, like _________."

It's a mean, critical attitude, and I need to ask God to help me with it.

Okay, I've completed my assignment.

Sigh.

Now, I feel better. Or worse. Or both.

Homework

Our minister talked about marriage yesterday, and he gave us homework. He asked us to come up with four things that we love about our spouse and one thing we'd like to change about ourselves. So, being the good student that I've always been (ha!), I will share a little of what I came up with.

Four things I love about David:

1. He has amazing patience. I guess anyone who could put up with me (and my family) must have patience, but he is so good about not getting frustrated with me or the kids. At night, David says prayers with Noel (Noel says he's better at it), and they lay in bed and just talk about the day. Instead of trying to hurry up the conversation so he can get on with his evening, David patiently asks Noel all kinds of questions and answers any of Noel's. I love him for this.

2. He is wise. I know that sounds kind of weird, but I don't just mean smart (which he is as well). Unlike me, David has the ability to calmly think through situations before making decisions. He weighs the options, considers the possibilities, and then acts. And guess which one of us a)makes better decisions and b)does less apologizing for things that shouldn't have been said?? Not him.

3. He's a great husband and father. From the time he steps in the door after work until both kids are in bed, David is a hands-on, active dad. He doesn't just go do whatever he wants, he invests in the kids, and it shows. They are excited to see him when he leaves, and sad to see him go. He knows just as much about their schedule, their likes/dislikes, their personalities, etc. as I do. It's so comforting to have a partner in this thing called parenthood.

4. He makes me laugh. I don't know how couples survive without the gift of humor and laughter. I can't tell you the number of times that I've been about to cry about something and David knows just how to lighten the mood and help me realize that whatever "catastrophe" we are in the middle of will pass, and that God is still in control, not me. He keeps perpective of what's important, and what we can laugh about. I won't give away all of his secrets, but he's got a few tricks up his sleeve.

So, there you have it--four of the many things I love about my husband. I want to pass this challenge along to you--share with your spouse what you love about them! Who doesn't want to hear that?

The picture on the left is Noel's first day of pre-school. The picture on the right was taken a few weeks ago at the zoo. Can't believe how quickly the years fly by. I heard someone say once that the days sometimes seem long and the years seem short. I agree.

In honor of Mother's Day, these are some things I've learned by being a mom:

*There will always be a part of your house that is a mess. Learn to accept it.

*You don't have to do it alone. There are people out there who want to help, but you have to ask!

*Kids are really funny. Sometimes they are frustrating, confusing, exasperating, and just plain naughty, but they do a lot of funny stuff.

*The advertisements on Nickelodeon are brainwashing my child. He wants a claw-scratcher for cats--we don't even own a cat!!

*A little bit of planning and forethought goes a long way. So does a bag of wipes.

*Kids can ask really hard questions, especially about God.

*Sometimes you just have to laugh or you'll cry.

*Being a mother is hard, but it's such a joy. My heart hurts for children who don't have moms. We need to be there for those children.

Happy Mother's Day!

You Make Me Smile

Links I Love

www.rhettandlink.com These two guys are hilarious! They do a lot of parody songs and such. Funny stuff.

http://boomama.net My friend Jill turned me onto this blog. She's just a regular lady who writes about her life, but she does it with such humor and wit that you will immediately fall in love with her.

http://donmilleris.com Donald Miller is one of my favorite writers, and although I don't always agree with him, he has some real insight about life, God, and writing.

www.marshill.org This is a church in Grand Rapids, Michigan where Rob Bell is the minister. You can download his latest sermon for free each week.

http://primetime.tv.yahoo.com this is a short video recap of the tv shows from the night before. It's about 3-4 minutes each day, and is really funny. I believe there is a daytime tv version of it, but I don't watch daytime tv.

http://tabtuner.com If you play guitar and need to transpose a song, this is the place for help.

http://marthastewart.com.everyday-food Now, before you get all nervous because it's Martha Stewart, check it out. She has a separate section of her "empire" dedicated to those of us who aren't growing our own lavendar or have three hours to make dinner. Everyday Food is full of ideas, recipes, pictures, and tips.

Well, there you go! Happy clicking!

Control

How many times does God have to remind me that He is in control and I am not?

I guess until I get the picture.

I like to be in control. Really like it. I guess that's part of being a teacher and a mother, but I like to make the plans and organize things. I like it when the plans get followed. I like it when my kids act like they should, when my car runs, when everyone is healthy, and people do what they say they are going to do.

But God is in control not me.

This weekend hundreds, if not thousands of people lost their homes to flooding. Do you think they planned that? Do you think my mom woke up this morning and thought, "I think I'll have my appendix out today"? What about the student I tutor whose dad cuts himself when he's stressed--was that in her plan of growing up? Of course not.

But God is in control not me. He has a plan much bigger than anything we can ask or imagine.

Today I am reminded of Psalm 46--Be still and know that I am God. God didn't put me on this earth to run and control everything. He put me on this earth to bring Him praise and to show others His love HOWEVER HE SEES FIT.

God, may I never hold so tightly to my plans, my control, that I miss out on the opportunities you have in front of me to show Your love.

Week in Review

Alright, here are some highlights from this week:
*Planned a date night for next Friday. Very excited to get away for the evening with David
*Made some really good chicken noodle soup from scratch
*Got to spend Friday night with my small group making lunch for Habitat for Humanity workers. I'm so blessed to have good Christian friends.
*I actually ran twice this week.
*Got to see RoRo and Gerard on the news. Thank you, Pierre Garcon, for using the trip to highlight HCO and Northwest Haitian Christian Mission.
*The cowboys didn't get kicked off Amazing Race
*Funny episodes of The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Community
*Going to plant flowers with Noel today
*Noel and David got to help Dick Blazer plant corn last night. More of a highlight for Noel than me, but it makes my heart happy when I see him talk for hours about his trip on "Big Blue", as he calls Dick's tractor (don't tell Grandpa and Uncle Mike that he was on a Ford).
*My little girl is getting the hang of saying "MaMa". Love love love it.
*Next week starts my month teaching Sunday School for high schoolers. Excited (and a little nervous) about attacking the book of Daniel.

Have a great weekend!