While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight;
while little children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight;
while men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight;
while there is a drunkard left,
while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,
while there remains one dark soul without the light of God,
I'll fight-I'll fight to the very end!
(William Booth)
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
These are the BEST (busiest too!) days of our lives...
Although at times I feel I could rip my hair out (or someone elses ha!ha!), although I feel crazy busy and go 150mph from dawn well into the night, although I can feel overwhelmed and long for simplicity, although at times I can be weary and discontent, I know that one day I will look back and know that these are the BEST days (years) of my life....I have a darling husbad, a full house, an active ministry, all of mine and Paul's dearest relatives are living and vibrant, we have our health, and so much more to be grateful for I couldn't even list them all.
Our big boy- David started 5th grade! on Tuesday. 
Elijah started 2nd grade!!
They were up at the crack of dawn full of excitement for the new school year.We visited the school the day before to roam around the freshly painted and newly decorated hallways. Their particular teachers happened to be there so we visited with them a little and checked out the class lists and seating arrangements.
Ann's face is healing up just fine. When the stitches dissolve I will start slathering it with Mederma hoping she will have a minimal scar.
Missing those summer days and summer corn already....
Our 3 ladies before church a couple weeks ago.
Our littlest lady. She is such a joy!To the world our children are just another bunch of kids,
but to us.... they are the world!
Thanking you Lord for giving me the best days of my life......
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
some StayCation pics
at the Zoo
Hannah jumped right in to feed the birds.
Hannah swinging like a Chimpanzee
Elijah, Ann and David walking like a Chimpanzee.
Daddy and Mary on the Zoo train.
Elijah and Hannah on the Zoo train.
David and Ann on the Zoo train.
Zoo meets Zoo.
The HAIR Kiask (at the Tigard Mall) asked if they could do Ann up.Sure, why not??
Pageant pose!
There was a really neat play area for little kids. Even the floor was soft and squishy.
Precious Mary
the only LEGO store in Oregon. What an adventure!
Pageant pose!
There was a really neat play area for little kids. Even the floor was soft and squishy.
Precious Mary
the only LEGO store in Oregon. What an adventure! Here the kids are against a WALL of legos.
Monday, August 31, 2009
The Mayo Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee
A comrade of mine emailed this to me and I really liked it:
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Cups of Coffee .
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar he shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions - and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand...'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.The Coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Cups of Coffee with a friend !!
The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Cups of Coffee .
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar he shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous 'yes.' The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions - and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. 'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you. 'Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand...'
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.The Coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Cups of Coffee with a friend !!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Sunday and Shopping...
Sunday is a brand new week! So glad for fresh starts, in fact each day is a fresh start isn't it. "HIS mercies are new every morning..."
Great church service. Many people were gone, summer plans and such, but still a great time of Sunday School and Worship.
We went out for lunch afterwards at Shari's (again). We are milking this kids eat free thing!! We went last Sunday and today and paid only 20$ each time, for a family of 7!! Yay! It is also our main meal for the day so I don't have to do much for dinner.
Dragged the boys back to Fred Meyer today to get new shoes and first day of school outfit. You'd think I was pulling teeth. They are just not shoppers. I'm not much of one either... but get me in the mood... and I love it. It is relaxing to me just to putter around stores when I can. Anyways... back to the boys. (Ann and Hannah stayed home with Daddy, Mary tagged along with us).
Sidenote: During our staycation we went to the Mall in Portland when the zoo got rained out. I had the boys try on stuff at the Sears. I had them try on a pair of "super skinny" jeans. I was thinking they were opposite of husky (it's always hard to get the boys pants that fit around the waist). They went in and tried them on and David starts telling me how his croch hurts. Ya right, I'm thinking, he's just trying to get out of shopping. Well, the boys come out of the fitting room walking funny and complaining. I was laughing SO HARD!!! It literally looked like they were wearing girls tights. It was hilarious! Apparently, skinny jeans means super skin tight.
So we're at Fred Meyer today and everything is skinny jeans!! How annoying. Even worse... just about everything has skulls and dragons on it. (not our thing). Everything else has crazy sayings on it like "my sister is stupid" "I hate school" and mean stuff like that (totally not our thing). I seriously could not find any decent stuff, but finally settled (*compromised*) for a Star Wars shirt. David on the other hand starts getting all into it and begs and begs for these skinny jeans that are...... PURPLE!! He tried them on and everything. He REALLY wanted these purple jeans. Oh my. Sigh. What in the world do I do. What will Paul think. What would my Dad think!?!? (Ha!Ha!) I pulled rank and said no. I just didn't want to hurt his feelings so I told him that purple didn't match a thing in his wardrobe, which was the truth, just not all of it, and let him get purple shirt instead (another *compromise*). I want him to be his own person and like his own style (within our standard) but these pants just made him look like super-nerd. I am certainly learning this parenting thing as I go. I try to stay a few steps ahead, but I am still blindsighted sometimes! What would you do???
So the boys each got a Star Wars shirt and a purple shirt and a pair of jeans, because they want to look like each other. Weirdos. They did manage to pick out different shoes though. On the shoes I decided to pay extra (I was still armed with coupons) to see if these will last longer than the less expensive kind. I'm hoping for at least 6 months out of these ones, so that would be just 6-7$ a month. They are tough on shoes. I guess all boys are.
A good day, that is still not quite over! Counting my blessings and enjoying them!
Great church service. Many people were gone, summer plans and such, but still a great time of Sunday School and Worship.
We went out for lunch afterwards at Shari's (again). We are milking this kids eat free thing!! We went last Sunday and today and paid only 20$ each time, for a family of 7!! Yay! It is also our main meal for the day so I don't have to do much for dinner.
Dragged the boys back to Fred Meyer today to get new shoes and first day of school outfit. You'd think I was pulling teeth. They are just not shoppers. I'm not much of one either... but get me in the mood... and I love it. It is relaxing to me just to putter around stores when I can. Anyways... back to the boys. (Ann and Hannah stayed home with Daddy, Mary tagged along with us).
Sidenote: During our staycation we went to the Mall in Portland when the zoo got rained out. I had the boys try on stuff at the Sears. I had them try on a pair of "super skinny" jeans. I was thinking they were opposite of husky (it's always hard to get the boys pants that fit around the waist). They went in and tried them on and David starts telling me how his croch hurts. Ya right, I'm thinking, he's just trying to get out of shopping. Well, the boys come out of the fitting room walking funny and complaining. I was laughing SO HARD!!! It literally looked like they were wearing girls tights. It was hilarious! Apparently, skinny jeans means super skin tight.
So we're at Fred Meyer today and everything is skinny jeans!! How annoying. Even worse... just about everything has skulls and dragons on it. (not our thing). Everything else has crazy sayings on it like "my sister is stupid" "I hate school" and mean stuff like that (totally not our thing). I seriously could not find any decent stuff, but finally settled (*compromised*) for a Star Wars shirt. David on the other hand starts getting all into it and begs and begs for these skinny jeans that are...... PURPLE!! He tried them on and everything. He REALLY wanted these purple jeans. Oh my. Sigh. What in the world do I do. What will Paul think. What would my Dad think!?!? (Ha!Ha!) I pulled rank and said no. I just didn't want to hurt his feelings so I told him that purple didn't match a thing in his wardrobe, which was the truth, just not all of it, and let him get purple shirt instead (another *compromise*). I want him to be his own person and like his own style (within our standard) but these pants just made him look like super-nerd. I am certainly learning this parenting thing as I go. I try to stay a few steps ahead, but I am still blindsighted sometimes! What would you do???
So the boys each got a Star Wars shirt and a purple shirt and a pair of jeans, because they want to look like each other. Weirdos. They did manage to pick out different shoes though. On the shoes I decided to pay extra (I was still armed with coupons) to see if these will last longer than the less expensive kind. I'm hoping for at least 6 months out of these ones, so that would be just 6-7$ a month. They are tough on shoes. I guess all boys are.
A good day, that is still not quite over! Counting my blessings and enjoying them!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Freaky Friday
Started early at the Corps distributing school supplies to almost 200 children. The kids played and helped a little. Got some office work done. Visited with a few people.
Then we went home for a quick lunch before heading to Fred Meyer to do our own school supply shopping and groceries. While we were all there as a big happy family, Paul and I started getting phone calls on our cell phones that The Salvation Army was needed for our Disaster Relief because of a huge fire that is burning 15 miles from The Dalles. They started evacuating people and we needed to be there to provide blankets, food, water, and care. So I'm trying to get out the check-out line and Paul is attached to the phone. We run home unload the van throw our uniforms back on, including the boys. Thankfully, our friend, Stacie helped us out and watched Ann and Hannah for us. The rest of us headed to Fred Meyer to buy some more supplies and then to Hood River (Paul in the Truck with the boys and me in my van with Mary) and reported for duty. I wore Mary in my ergo and we did great. Babies are always a soothing thing and that helps take evacuee's minds off of things. The boys helped unload and pass stuff out. This was their second disaster and they always amaze me with what they're capable of on the front lines. (if only they were like that ALL the time, sigh...)
About 3 hours later, I head to Stacie's to pick up the girls and of course, I'm getting some chat time in with her. We're standing in her huge driveway with my mini-van parked and the doors open. Ann was behind me and crouched down on the floor of the mini-van and pulled the sliding door toward her. The door started crushing her and moved the door off her and hugged her while she was still in a tight little ball crying. I was expecting a lump on the head or something. I asked her what hurts and as I pulled her away from me to give her a look over I see so much blood that I thought her head was split open and her eyeball was gone. (I remember glancing down to look for her eyeball because all I saw was blood in her eyesocket). I thought for a moment I was going to pass out. Never felt that before. It wasn't the blood but the horrible realization that your child is VERY hurt. Stacie saw all this happening too. So here we are with all these little kids, Mary is crying, Hannah is crawling around the car and I know we're headed for the hospital. Stacie called 911 for me. Her son Joshua ran and got us a rag. He was so good about that. (I think he realized my tissue box wasn't going to do the job!) The ambulance came and they looked Ann over real good. After the bleeding let up we could see that it was basically just a huge, meaty, bloody gash on her eyebrow bone. So I drove her up to the hospital and Paul and the boys met us there (they had just stopped for dinner on the way home from the fire, he had them wrap up their food and load up immediately). When the boys saw Ann they sat down right next to her and held her hands. Hannah on the other hand was telling everyone that "Ann had a boo-boo". After she said that, she would go on to tell them that they were a "yucky poop". I was so annoyed with her but was all tied up filling out paperwork at the desk because apparently when there is an injury in the car, it heads to your car insurance first. Paul almost called them a yucky poop too but in not so many words. I snapped and told Paul in front of everyone (a few of these people I personally know! And we're all standing there in our bloody uniforms!) "BE NICE!!". With hindsight I know he was just trying to finish the silly paperwork so someone would help Ann. Anyways, I left with all the kids and Paul stayed with Ann. We got home at 8:30pm. Paul and Ann didn't get home until 10:30pm. It was a terrible ordeal for Ann. The nurse and Paul had to hold her down so that they could give her about 8 shots on her wound to numb it before they could clean her up and give her 4 stitches.
As I was pulling up to our home with the other kids I saw that our front door was wide open. I happened to be on the phone at the time with Stacie and mentioned to her that the door was open. She said she'd stay on the phone with me while I went in, but I thought oh that's okay we've been having problems with it lately, it probably just blew open. But after I hung up I noticed that there were some lights on in the house of which we normally turn off. Then I just started thinking the worst.... so I tried to go to a neighbors house but remembered they were gone for the weekend... so I called the police. I asked them if they could wait outside for me while I go in first. I knew they have more important things to do and didn't want to bother them. Apparently you can't negotiate with the police and I was asked to wait outside while they were all over it. One cop waited in the dark beside the house, gun ready to go and the other cop went inside with his hand on his gun and flashlight in the other. Oh boy. So the kids waited in the car and me beside it while he checked every nook and cranny of the house and garage. Of course I'm having a mix of fear and total embarrassment. Why couldn't this happen on Thursday when my house was perfectly clean and in order. Why in the world does this have to happen today when I didn't even get the chance to put groceries away! The house was messy due to the fact that we were running in and out of it all day, and oh yeah, I have 4 kids, a baby and no household help. Like I said how embarrassing. (Atleast it was clean, just cluttered!) Everything checked out okay with the cop. He was a nice friendly guy and even told the boys to help out their mom and clean up their room!! They were mortified, like me. I'm the one that will meticously scrub the house before vacations so that if we should all die, at least our home will be clean for those that will come behind us. Now, I think the kids get it. You never know when someone will see your big mess ;)
Woke up this morning to Ann and Hannah puking on the couch. I wonder what this day will hold.
Then we went home for a quick lunch before heading to Fred Meyer to do our own school supply shopping and groceries. While we were all there as a big happy family, Paul and I started getting phone calls on our cell phones that The Salvation Army was needed for our Disaster Relief because of a huge fire that is burning 15 miles from The Dalles. They started evacuating people and we needed to be there to provide blankets, food, water, and care. So I'm trying to get out the check-out line and Paul is attached to the phone. We run home unload the van throw our uniforms back on, including the boys. Thankfully, our friend, Stacie helped us out and watched Ann and Hannah for us. The rest of us headed to Fred Meyer to buy some more supplies and then to Hood River (Paul in the Truck with the boys and me in my van with Mary) and reported for duty. I wore Mary in my ergo and we did great. Babies are always a soothing thing and that helps take evacuee's minds off of things. The boys helped unload and pass stuff out. This was their second disaster and they always amaze me with what they're capable of on the front lines. (if only they were like that ALL the time, sigh...)
About 3 hours later, I head to Stacie's to pick up the girls and of course, I'm getting some chat time in with her. We're standing in her huge driveway with my mini-van parked and the doors open. Ann was behind me and crouched down on the floor of the mini-van and pulled the sliding door toward her. The door started crushing her and moved the door off her and hugged her while she was still in a tight little ball crying. I was expecting a lump on the head or something. I asked her what hurts and as I pulled her away from me to give her a look over I see so much blood that I thought her head was split open and her eyeball was gone. (I remember glancing down to look for her eyeball because all I saw was blood in her eyesocket). I thought for a moment I was going to pass out. Never felt that before. It wasn't the blood but the horrible realization that your child is VERY hurt. Stacie saw all this happening too. So here we are with all these little kids, Mary is crying, Hannah is crawling around the car and I know we're headed for the hospital. Stacie called 911 for me. Her son Joshua ran and got us a rag. He was so good about that. (I think he realized my tissue box wasn't going to do the job!) The ambulance came and they looked Ann over real good. After the bleeding let up we could see that it was basically just a huge, meaty, bloody gash on her eyebrow bone. So I drove her up to the hospital and Paul and the boys met us there (they had just stopped for dinner on the way home from the fire, he had them wrap up their food and load up immediately). When the boys saw Ann they sat down right next to her and held her hands. Hannah on the other hand was telling everyone that "Ann had a boo-boo". After she said that, she would go on to tell them that they were a "yucky poop". I was so annoyed with her but was all tied up filling out paperwork at the desk because apparently when there is an injury in the car, it heads to your car insurance first. Paul almost called them a yucky poop too but in not so many words. I snapped and told Paul in front of everyone (a few of these people I personally know! And we're all standing there in our bloody uniforms!) "BE NICE!!". With hindsight I know he was just trying to finish the silly paperwork so someone would help Ann. Anyways, I left with all the kids and Paul stayed with Ann. We got home at 8:30pm. Paul and Ann didn't get home until 10:30pm. It was a terrible ordeal for Ann. The nurse and Paul had to hold her down so that they could give her about 8 shots on her wound to numb it before they could clean her up and give her 4 stitches.
As I was pulling up to our home with the other kids I saw that our front door was wide open. I happened to be on the phone at the time with Stacie and mentioned to her that the door was open. She said she'd stay on the phone with me while I went in, but I thought oh that's okay we've been having problems with it lately, it probably just blew open. But after I hung up I noticed that there were some lights on in the house of which we normally turn off. Then I just started thinking the worst.... so I tried to go to a neighbors house but remembered they were gone for the weekend... so I called the police. I asked them if they could wait outside for me while I go in first. I knew they have more important things to do and didn't want to bother them. Apparently you can't negotiate with the police and I was asked to wait outside while they were all over it. One cop waited in the dark beside the house, gun ready to go and the other cop went inside with his hand on his gun and flashlight in the other. Oh boy. So the kids waited in the car and me beside it while he checked every nook and cranny of the house and garage. Of course I'm having a mix of fear and total embarrassment. Why couldn't this happen on Thursday when my house was perfectly clean and in order. Why in the world does this have to happen today when I didn't even get the chance to put groceries away! The house was messy due to the fact that we were running in and out of it all day, and oh yeah, I have 4 kids, a baby and no household help. Like I said how embarrassing. (Atleast it was clean, just cluttered!) Everything checked out okay with the cop. He was a nice friendly guy and even told the boys to help out their mom and clean up their room!! They were mortified, like me. I'm the one that will meticously scrub the house before vacations so that if we should all die, at least our home will be clean for those that will come behind us. Now, I think the kids get it. You never know when someone will see your big mess ;)
Woke up this morning to Ann and Hannah puking on the couch. I wonder what this day will hold.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
ho hum...
Back to "work" today. I use that term loosely because how can something that is so enjoyable and satisfying (95% of the time) be work??? Jumped right in at the Corps with a Food Preservation (Canning) class. I got a lot out of it myself even though technically I'm there to facilitate. Ann and Mary attended with me. David and Elijah popped in and out of the meeting and Hannah had Daddy all to herself. Lots of great information on canning, something I've been interested in for a long time.
Tomorrow is School Supply Distribution with over 100 backpacks individually packed according to child's grade and school. I will need to get there real early to stuff the backpacks with our youth activity flyers. Fortunately, the boys and Ann will be more than happy to help me with that. Good for me. After that and catching up in my office (Sunday bulletins, emails, reports, phone calls, etc.) we will head to Fred Meyer's to do our own back to school supplies shopping. I got a Starbucks gift card for helping out at family camp so I think I'll treat the kids to a hot chocolate.
Mary had her 4 month old shots today. She cried her eyes out, then conked out asleep. Poor baby. I saw the doctor too about a couple issues, (my business) but I promise nothing alarming or drastic at all. I rarely see a Dr. other than pregnancies but I'm glad I went. It cleared up a lot worrying in my head!
Paul took Elijah for his soccer practice again tonight. I'm so glad he's been able to take him. I have not been wanting to take the little kids in the heat, and it's better for all of us if they get to bed on time ;), plus I need that time to clean up from dinner and get ready for the next day. Elijah is loving it, as usual. He looks forward to practice and is so pumped up about playing.
We had a great staycation. I will need to post pics of all our little excursions. We're still trying to milk the last bit of summer that's left!
Off I go to continue a movie with the hubby. It's a true story from Masterpeice Theatre about a German occupied English Island during WWII. We got it from the Library the other day. It's been a great movie so far! (I just can't remember the name offhand!)
Tomorrow is School Supply Distribution with over 100 backpacks individually packed according to child's grade and school. I will need to get there real early to stuff the backpacks with our youth activity flyers. Fortunately, the boys and Ann will be more than happy to help me with that. Good for me. After that and catching up in my office (Sunday bulletins, emails, reports, phone calls, etc.) we will head to Fred Meyer's to do our own back to school supplies shopping. I got a Starbucks gift card for helping out at family camp so I think I'll treat the kids to a hot chocolate.
Mary had her 4 month old shots today. She cried her eyes out, then conked out asleep. Poor baby. I saw the doctor too about a couple issues, (my business) but I promise nothing alarming or drastic at all. I rarely see a Dr. other than pregnancies but I'm glad I went. It cleared up a lot worrying in my head!
Paul took Elijah for his soccer practice again tonight. I'm so glad he's been able to take him. I have not been wanting to take the little kids in the heat, and it's better for all of us if they get to bed on time ;), plus I need that time to clean up from dinner and get ready for the next day. Elijah is loving it, as usual. He looks forward to practice and is so pumped up about playing.
We had a great staycation. I will need to post pics of all our little excursions. We're still trying to milk the last bit of summer that's left!
Off I go to continue a movie with the hubby. It's a true story from Masterpeice Theatre about a German occupied English Island during WWII. We got it from the Library the other day. It's been a great movie so far! (I just can't remember the name offhand!)
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