Ezra's Favorite Things

Guns and bikes and some more guns and bikes are my sons favorite things (yes I have been placed on that never touched shelf collecting dust) It seems once the milk dried up that first week in May my boy left my side and became a man like daddy. When Clint is outside Ezra tells him to take off his shirt so they can ride bikes half-clothed. If it is time for a popsicle it has to be blue or green, he has to watch Handy Manny or Bigfoot Presents (4 wheel trucks) He rides his bike in his cowboy boots, shoots his gun in his boots and has managed to pee on the grass without hitting his boots. He feels a need to shave and use daddy's Old Spice body spray and deodorant before getting in the car each day. Although someday he will leave us and cleave to his wife, I made him promise to still hug me. It happened too fast, my little boy is fleeing.

Baby Sister?

Family of six...a bad mix! My mother in law has put a bug into our children's ears. She is hopeful that if our kids ask for a brother then we will have another baby. Why? I don't know. Isn't she busy enough with the three we have? We certainly are. Ever since I told her I loved the name Titus she has been gently hounding us about another grandbaby. The girls want a baby brother, the boy wants a baby sister, me and the hubby want nothing more! For now I think we will get a fish and name him Titus.

GOD is our Provider

Have you ever pondered God's providence? J Vernon McGee, a noted Bible scholar, says that providence means "to provide" When we look at our children we can't help but see that God had His hand in their conception, development and growth. It is easy to see that God provides for His children, he provided a lamb for Abraham, an unending basket of bread and fish for the masses. Setting the major aside look at the little things he provides in our lives. Areas we forget to acknowledge His presence in. Take for example a piece of fruit. I cut into a cantalope the other day. I love the cool, crisp flavor of melon in the summer months. Something caught my attention as I began to discard the multitude of seeds. Proof of God's existance, His stamp or birthmark if you will was all over it. In one cantalope there are more seeds than I care to count. One piece of fruit envelopes enough seeds to yield a sesons worth when planted and harvested. I asked myself why God put so many seeds into a cantalope? His design is perfect, never flawed. I began to think it was to capture our attention, to remind us He is our Provider. He gave His one and only Son Jesus Christ who took our sin to the cross. If he cares enough to provide for the birds (Matthew 6:26) He too will provide for us.

The Family That Grows Together Stays Together

Welcome Readers! Mark this day in history. I have turned over a new leaf and plan to communicate, vent and share the wonderful craziness of this blessed life with all who dare to care. One plus to putting off blogging is being able to have a bunch to share with all of you. As I listen to 80's music I wanted to invite you into my backyard. Some of you may know that we planted a pretty good size garden a few months ago and are now reaping the benefits of its fertility. Avid gardeners (which I am learning) know that it takes a little more than a sprinkle of water and some TLC to be successful. In fact it has required us to be out there 1-2 hours a day. Usually one in the morning and one in the evening. I have to pull weeds, turn up the soil, hoe, water and move rocks around. I am constantly reminding someone to get off the lettuce or not to pick the green tomatoes. Even though this seems like hard work it has been a great source of pleasure too.
I have wanted a garden for a few years but knew it was impossible with the big, brown, hairy beast that "waters" everything in sight. No I am not referring to a Yeti but our beloved dog Rocky. When we purchased our new home we made a game plan to reserve part of our yard for this purpose. Little did I know I would have something in common with Michelle Obama who planted a victory garden outside of the White House. I did learn that my grandma had a victory garden as a young girl; however, the joy of friends and rollerskates kept her away from it. The garden has inspired us to spend much needed family time while learning together. So the title of this blog is our motto. The chance to dig in the dirt, eat some strawberries, count the watermelons and measure the sunflowers has given my little ones an appreciation for gardening.

Catch Up

Forgive me my faithful readers! It once again has been too long since I have blogged. My fingers are too slow as my mind races with tidbits to share with you. Our life has been hectic since we put our house up for sale. One offer after another comes in and doesn't end up working out. I have shown this house more than I care to remember (9 times in 5 days one week!) I am not the sweet and pretty mom that exudes peace and love with every request from my children. In other words I hope I never have to do this again! However...it has paid off! We are tentatively scheduled to be out of our house on the 30th. That would be like in 15 days! Am I packed? No. Do I walk through this house saddened with nostalgic memories? Nope. Am I going to miss mopping all of the tile and tidying this place? Heck No! I can't wait to downsize and be 30 minutes closer to our cabin! We are movin' on up to the east side!
Amidst all of the chaos I have been walking the usual 5 mile loop with Kati and/or Steph. It is a nice outlet for pent up aggression, depression, anger, and of course cellulite. It also gives us a chance to catch up, chat, and support one another. When I need a good laugh I invite Kati. She comes dressed like an eskimo covered from head to toe with her sippy cup which serves the purpose of wetting her parched mouth. You see if she carries a water bottle she drinks too much and has to stop to pee. So a sippy yields the perfect amount of ounces for her. I just can't keep a straight face when she pulls it out of her pocket!







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Away in a Manger

Warning this blog may contain some oxymorons (ie...jumbo shrimp) I love my kids! They are so sweet, individually unique and so very frustrating! Sometimes I wonder why I am a mother at all...what do I have to contribute to their lives other than the things I hope they don't remember about me? Then I get it. God made them, he actually gave specific instructions (DNA) for their development and watched over them second by second as they were forming in my womb. He created something beautiful to enjoy, mold, foster and love. This isn't about me and how challenging it is to be a "good and happy" mommy. I have an important role in their lives rearing them to know Jesus, to love the qualities HE has, to seek to please HIM in all they do, to serve others in HIS name. My children have what I did not. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."Jeremiah 29:11-13 Oh how I wish I had known this when I was younger. Verse 14 goes on to say that the LORD will be found by me, and HE will bring me back from captivity! Isn't is wonderful? All we have to do is seek HIM friends and family! Peace, Joy, & Hope will abound. I don't know anyone who doesn't want those things. Those beauties of mine though they bring out the worst in me at times I have had no greater pleasure in life than growing in the LORD with them. Just when I think I'm not capable I walk in to find my girls replicating the manger scene. I realize then it is all about JESUS. I want them to know HIM! To grow up with HIM and to feel HIS love in our home. If I fail at everything else in life at least I have accomplished this.

You know how unnerving things are funnier after the fact? I did something crazy/potentially harmful to my son. It started with something alien, grossly green, and liquefied coming out of his nose. It was the winter cold that quickly spread to one of his eyes a few days later. I remembered hearing something from The Famous Bakersfield Lactation Consultant (you may have heard of her) about breast milk maybe having antibody components and decided to squeeze some of my milk in Ezra's eye. Notice I did not say squirt! These are if you will the sad breasts of a third time around dairy cow on the 22nd month of her final calf. We aren't talking a constant, steady drip like that of an annoying leaky faucet, but more of a "trying to get the last bit out of a toothpaste tube" type of boob. Anyhow, when I thought maybe this old wives tale (sorry Lynn, I didn't mean you are old) was hogwash I ruffled through my medicine cabinet to find what I thought was a left over prescription to treat pink eye. I felt victorious thinking I would nuke it with the power of a napalm bomb. My first red flag was when he cried after the application, but I decided to ignore this intuition and go to bed. Minutes later I realized what I had done...did the bottle say OTIC and not OPTIC? Oh Crap! I just put numbing ear drops in his eyes...well what could the harm be? I couldn't fall asleep so I got out of bed, turned the computer back on and googled until I found warnings about the medication. Everywhere I looked I saw "Do not put in the eyes...flush immediately with water" Now I am panicking thinking my son will be blind by morning, so I get him out of bed and with a medicine dropper I repeatedly squirt water into his eyes..he is pretty pissed at this point! Then I pray..well actually that is a lie. My first thought is how am I going to cover this up if it damages his sight? Then I pray that God will protect those baby blues and that he won't end up with a walking stick. It is funny now that I rehash it, but I truly was worried. Now every time he nurses he says "eye" and wants milk in it. I can't because I gave Kati a hard time about Christian doing "eye" for so long! If you aren't in the loop about "eye" you want to be, it's hilarious, so ask her! I think I will stick with natural treatments from now on. I have yet to find a side effects label on these pair of tiny jugs.