What Narnia Character are you?

As Reepicheep the mouse, you are valiant, brave and daring.

It's not the size that counts!

But although you are polite and kind, people don't mess with you!

**These things crack me up. They really are pretty true to character. I would have to agree with these statements about me.

Take this quiz at http://www.jamiefrost.co.uk/narniaquiz/quiz.php?lang

Parenting is rough sometimes.

Well, today was a little of a crazy day. The school had a "bomb threat". It was nothing, in fact I think it was a prank pulled by a high school kid (or so rumor goes), however, the authorities have to treat it as if it is real.

I found out it was true, they had indeed evacuated the school from a neighbor, who offered to watch the boys for me if I wanted to pick them up. Of course, I did. They were most definately in good hands where they were, but I just wanted them away from the situatin. They all had been taken to churches in the community, and they was much security with the staff of the schools watching the children and being sure they were being picked up by the right people. See, we do live in a small community and everyone know who you are and who your children are. It is wonderful. Anyway, I just wanted my children to know that I was there for them, even though I couldn't leave work, they knew I knew what was going on and was looking out for them. They were only at the neighbors for about 1 1/4 hours, until Rob came home.

Okay, now to the reason for my title. Evidently Jordan decided it was okay to make fun of Austin for crying because it scared him a little. Imagine that, my GAD child being scared of this event! Okay, sorry for the sarcasm. Well, I couldn't figure out why the 2 of them had been fighting---literally fighting--from the time I came home until we left for church. Well, as we are driving down the road--maybe one block from home--Austin gets upset about Jordan touching him in the car, and it comes out that the reason for the tension is the teasing. It all makes sense now, Austin was extremely "anxious" about the whole situation, and then Jordan teasing him was making his "anxiety" worse. Well, Rob and I had enough of the fighting, and they were warned to stop or they'd be spending the evenings in their rooms, no electronics whatsoever. Guess where I am? At home, 2 boys in their beds, reading or writing, missing out on their great classes at church, as I am also. UGH!!! It is so hard sometimes to enforce discipline.

I had a nice talk with each of them, and they are no longer bickering back and forth, and it is quiet and calm in my house. It was a hard decision, but I think it will be one they remeber for a long time. They are very active, and they are spending the entire evening in their beds, and they are missing out on something they enjoy also.

I talked to Jordan about teasing his brother, and I truly feel he feels badly for his actions, and he talked to Austin about it. Austin knows, that his response to the teasing was unacceptable.

Well, I must go and accomplish something visible in this house.
Like I said, it is rough being a parent sometimes.

Update on my sister

She got her test results yesterday. It is just a "something"--she couldn't remeber what it was called. It is not cancerous and only needs to be removed if it grows or she wants to have it done.

Thanks for all your prayers.

My blog friends, please help me pray

My sister, yes the one who has been through so much, has a tumor on her side. I am leaving right now to take her to have a cat scan done on it. Please pray for her strength during this, and also that it would be nothing serious. The doctor said it could just be a fatty tumor, and nothing serious, however it could be something worse. We are hoping for the fatty tumor option. She has lost like 140 pounds, so it is quit possible that is all it is. Thanks in advance.

The other day, Thursday to be exact, Austin had his first appointment for his "anxiety therapy". Well, he was extremel "anxious" about this. He was jittery the night before, and could hardly sleep, in the morning he was so "scattered" it was kind of funny, extremely trying, but funny at the same time.

Well, of course the day was extremely unstuctured. Nothing routine at all, other than eating together in the evening and having our family worship. He was a little more scattered than usual in the evening.

Well, it is now bedtime. Zach has been sleeping on the couch, so Austin has full run of the bedroom. (I know, I know, we have allowed this just because it is easier than dealing with crazy bedtimes) Well, Zach said he wanted to sleep in his bed this night. I let Zach go in and of course it set Austin in a frenzy. I guess I forget that he doesn't take change very well, and I guess I really didn't view this as much of a change, well I was wrong. At any rate, I had to get up and deal with the situation. He got a spanking, of course that wasn't easy because he is so squirmy to begin with. Then I told him he had to stand against the wall until he calmed down, and coud go to bed without a fight with Zach. Well, I had to walk away for a minute and get Zach all tucked in, and when I came back to talk to Austin it went something like this. (I give God all the praise for this) I explained to Austin that it was extremely selfish for him to want the bedroom to himself each night, and make Zach sleep on the couch, and we discussed some other things. He tried to convince me he "couldn't" sleep with Zach in the room. I explained to Austin that we are the parents and responsible (in charge of him--words he could understand) for his discipline, and we are responsible to train him in Godly ways. I then asked this simple question, "who is in charge of Dad and I?" He said, real matter of factly "You and Dad." I responded, "No, it is God. He is in charge of us. And we are in charge of you. We are being disobedient to God when we don't discipline you and let you have your way all the time." I also admitted to him that we have failed lately and enforcing things on him, just because it is much easier not to, but by doing this we were in disobedience to God. I then explained to him that he is disobedient to God when he is disobedient to us. Boy, he sure didn't like that thought at all. I then addressed the issue of "I can't go to sleep with Zach in the room", this way. "Austin, I'm sure you are right and YOU can't get to sleep with Zach in the room, but God can help you, you just have to ask him to." We had a few more words, but that is the jist of it all. We then prayed together, he went to his room and fell asleep, and stayed in his own bed all night. God had helped him get to sleep and stay asleep. ***Thankfully, Zach was asleep by the time this whole conversation was over, so when Austin went back to his room Zach was sleeping. Isn't it great how God works out every little detail for us. We did discuss many other things, like the fact that we are sinful by nature, but we are part of Gods covenant family, and he gives us what we need to overcome.

I just wanted to share a little snapshot into the lives of us. Crazy most of the time, alot of fun (well, in hindsight it is funny) and a whole lot of learning as we go. God is so faithful. I'm so thankful for the things he brings to remberance at times like this.

Thougts of the day--well just one of them

The other day when we were driving home from church (which is quit a long haul for us--but always well worth it), I read a church sign that said the following: "If you don't like your lot in life, build a service station on it." I couldn't believe it really. I read it to Rob and of course we both just kind of chuckled--the question I ask is this; Is God sovereign or are we? I know I say that alot, but it is my thought. If we can just "build a service station over our lot in life", then why do we need God. If we can fix it ourselves, why bother with God. Then I began to think of the words of one of my favorite songs, It is Well with My Soul. Read the words, listen to the words, think of the story. "Whatever my lot, tho hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." Oh, that songs says it all. If we as Christians believe these words, then why then do we say, "just build a service station over it."

I just really don't know how to express what I am feeling at this moment, I just have to say, "whatever my lot....it is well with my soul." Now, I know that my stuggles and trials my seem like nothing compartively speaking, but I do know that God is in control, and HE gives the grace that I need to endure to the end. I can tell you when I totally surrendered to the "complete sovereignty" of God, how humbled I became at my life. The fact that He has chosen to reveal His glorious truth to me and my family. Oh it brings tears to my eyes at the thought. Then, to realize that not only has he chosen to save me now, that I know He holds me in his hand. Safely, and securely in His hand. He will protect me, give me the grace that I need for each and every situation in my life.


I fully believe in the sovereignty of God, I believe that God DOES ordain each step in our lives--good and bad, they are used to bring glory to God. Tooday in church Pastor Charlie read the following verse:

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

How awesome it is to think these truths. God knew every part of our lives, before we were even born. God is so big. I just thank God today and everyday, that He has chosen to open my blinded eyes one day and show my all His wonderful truths.

HELP

Okay, I updated my blog look. Not exactly what I was looking for, but hey it will do. It is a change.

My problem. Notice my links, some are a different color than others. Now, it may not seem like much, but it is going to bother me until I figure it out, you know how to make them all the same color. (Okay, now you see where Austin gets some of his problems).

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

***How did some of you get these real pretty/unique blog pages? Just curious. Not really that I would have alot of time to put one together. Just a question.

Check this out!

http://www.calvinistgadfly.com/?p=372

Okay, Rob saw this on Calvinist Gadfly. Check it out, let me know what you think. THe only question is God sovereign or are we? Or better yet are we sovereign until we decide to make God sovereign in our own lives? Interesting song, also check out some of the comments people left on this. It was quit commical to me (being the cynical person that I am).

This reminds me/humbles me to remember that is was God that chose me. Why me? Who knows, but God did choose me. It is such an awesome and humbling moment when you realize this.

New purse

This is my new purse. Rob went shopping for me for Christmas, and didn't find what he wanted to get me. So, I didn't get anything. And let me tell you I didn't even think a thing of it, nor did I remember when we went shopping this past weekend.

Well, Rob said "You need to pick something for Christmas." This is it.

I have needed a new purse for a while. I don't buy purses very often, and when I do, I use them until they fall apart. Well, at Thanksgiving I say one similiar to this at Khols, but it was tan/brown. I carried it around the store on 2 different occassions, and then decided not to buy it. Well, then we went this past weekend, and look I found it. It was perfect for me. So, that is what I chose.

This my friends is the reason for the absence.

**Notice the Christmas tree is still up.

This is the reason for my long absence. UGH!!!! I can hardly stand it anylonger. Believe me it was much worse yesterday, and that doesn't even touch the boys rooms.

I guess this is life with 2 parents working 40+ hours a week, and having 3 rambuctous boys.

See, this last picture, my attmept to organize the mess. That is another problem, when I clean I like to do it right, therefore I ususally make a bigger mess trying to clean. My husband laughs at me for this all the time.

I was off last weekend, and Rob and I went away from Saturday morning to late Sunday afternoon--early evening. It was great. We went to eat at the Olive Garden, which is the first place we went when we dated (okay not the exact one). We stayed at a hotel that gave us late checkout. We check in at around 4pm on Saturday and didn't have to check out until 3 pm the next day. It was a nice get a way, without much expense, and we weren't too awfully far from home.

Okay, then we came home, and back to work. I had yesterday and today off. Yesterday I planned on cleaning all day, well, that was nixed when I woke with a horrible migraine. I got the boys to school, then went back to bed until I needed to get up to take my husband lunch. Then I was able to clean some before the troops arrived.

Well, really I must go and clean. It was nice to know I am missed. I will try and make a real post later.

OFF TO CLEAN!!!! YEEHAW!!! Now, don't be jealous of me today. LOL!

Nap time

It is 1:10 pm, and I'm at home ALONE!!!! I think I'll take a nap.

I have worked 45+ hours a week for the past month or so, and today we were actually at full staff level at the store, I was done (kind of) with my work, and so I decided to leave. YEEHAW!!!

Rob is out of town, for a funeral in his family. The boys are at school. The house is farely clean. The laundry is caught up. What else is there to do but sleep.

Listen to me sleep. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Have a great day, and weekend. When Rob comes home we are going away ALONE, from Saturday am until sometime on Sunday.

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. We were married at 19 & 20. People, especially our parents, said we never make it. HA! By the grace of God, we have made it 15 years, and look forward to many many more. This may sound crazy, but I can't wait 'til like 50 years. God has been so faithful to us.

We've lived alot of years, been alot of places, done alot of craazy and not so crazy things in our marraige. Not all have been easy, but God has always been there for us.

I praise God today and each day for such a God fearing husband. He is a fabulous leader in our covenant family.

Happy Birthday Rob

Rob was the first baby of the year in 1972 at Copley Memorial Hospital, Aurora Ill.

We celebrated on Friday. I knew that I had to work today, at least part of the day. Well, it was a good thing that we did the celebration when we did. On Saturday I ended up working 16 hours, and then today I worked 8 (usual for a holiday is 4 hours). The flu is going around, and it is hitting all of the empolyees one at at time. UGH!!

This was our menu for our birthday meal.

**Coconut shrimp

**pina colda dipping sauce

**broasted potatoes

**corn

**chocolate eclair cake

Rob was surprised, because usually it is either late, or so obvious what we are planning. He was totally surpirsed.

Rob is the best husband in the world, he is a great father, a Godly leader of our family. We are so blessed to have him in our lives.