New garage door!

Our insurance paid for a new garage door. See the cracks in the first door, the insulation is coming off, it was awful, cracked and wouldn't even open. Now, see the new door. BEAUTIFUL!! It opens so smoothly. We can put our cars in it, and we won't have to scrap them, we can come in from the grocery to the house, yeah! We are blessed.

Ice fishing!

I forgot to post these last weekend. Rob and the boys went ice fishing while I worked last Saturday. They had great fun, Rob took the sleds also, so the 2 little ones went sledding from the snow hills onto the ice, they said they went far that way. My husband does so much of this kind of stuff with them. They have a blast too. This ice house was Rob's as a boy, and their Grandpa gave them an ice auger this past summer, I think it belonged to Rob also, so they think they are hot stuff.

Tacos for breakfast?!

***This is what I'm watching while I am trying to nurse this migraine, and post at the same time. Austin made this one day this week, while out of school because of the snow. My two younger boys are playing some sort of game, running through the house like this. God definately gave me some creative little guys.

Okay, that is what I am eating as I post this. Crazy as it may sound.

I woke up with a terrible migraine again. I'm just about tired of this craziness. I absolutely hate waking up like this. This is my day off, my boys are at home, I should be able to enjoy the day. When I have these headaches, I go through these weird thoughts. It makes my stomach upset. It kind of makes me feel sick to my stomach, like maybe I'm hungry. So I think, "Do I eat something high in protein?" So then I try. Tacos is what I have chosen today. Then I think, "CAFFIENE!!" That is what I need. So, I then eventually take some Excedrin Migraine, which is just acetaminophen, asprin and caffiene. Well, now I've done the first 2 thoughts, food and meds, jo relief. Now my sister, bless her heart, is on her way to my house to do my nails, and is bringing me a 32oz. diet pepsi fountain drink. Well, see how it works. She lkeeps telling me to go to the doctor for this. "I know, I know, I tell her." Then she says, "Uh, how many times have you encouraged me to go to the doctor?" Again, my response is "I know, I know." Okay, I 'll give an excuse, then I guess I should go. One excuse, I just got insurance, and I didn't want to go earlier, therefore, I wouldn't have any preexisting conditions, and secondly, maybe I should go get an eye exam first. We'll see.

More snowy pictures. Today is was EXTREMELY cold. When I woke up this morning it was like 4 below zero. BRRRRRR!!!!!

I ran outside to take these few pictures. I really need to carry my camera so I can take pitures of some of the mounds of snow around town. The street department guys were telling me today that they'd be out around 11pm to start moving some of the snow, making the snow piles shorter so you can see beyond them. It is crazy out there. Honest.

1.) This is out my garage, back door, this is truthfully how deep the snow is. There wasn't a whole lot of drifting back there, because we have a tall fence, so that is how much snow we got. WOW!!

2.) Snow up to the mailbox. We got a "nasty gram" from the post office telling us to move more of the snow from in front of the mailbox so the mailperson could just drive up to the box. OOPS! The things you forget to take care of when you have a ton of snow in your driveway.

3) Do you see the boys igloo there. TOo funny!

4) The boys tunnel in the drift alongside the house.

5) The snow in front of the neighbors house.

They say more snow tomorrow. Hey, guess what though. My sister is coming to my house to do my nails for me. I've never had them done, and I surely don't have the extra cash to have them done, and she does hers all the time. YEAHAW!!! I'm pretty excited. Heather, I'm still unsure of the toenail thing though. It sounds absolutely wonderful, I'm just not sure I could handle it. I'm really funny about my feet.

One more snowy picture

This is the snowdrift out my side window. You really can't tell how high it is, but it is extremely high.

Some snowy pictures

Here are a few of our snowy pictures. I really didn't get many good ones, because I couldn't locate my batteries for my camera. See, they were on the charger, were they belong, and guess what they disappeared. I asked the boys, who were at my sisters house, and they said "Oh, they are in our dart guns." Well, I ask myself the silly question, "Why didn't I know that. DUH!"" Silly Mom.

At any rate we got bunches of snow. I didn't get an official number of inches from anyone so I'll go with Ms. Karen who says something like 11-12 inches. Let me just tell you it was crazy. I worked until 4 p.m. yesterday. See, I work at a gas station/convenience store, and about 3 p.m. the police came in and ordered that we close. They said we were putting lives in danger because we were open. People just can't stay home. It is crazy. THe snow plows were even stopped from plowing. The police were pulling people over, because we were under a level 3 emergency, which means, no one is to be on the roads except for emergancy vehicles, and when they'd stop someone they'd tell them they were headed to Pak-A-Sak. WEll, we closed with the intention of opening this morning at 8am. NOT!!! No one could get out of their driveways. We eventually opened at about noon. It was non stop busy too, people really just can't stand to stay at home I guess. I would have loved to be at home with my family during this, we think it is fun to be snowed in together.

Let me share a funny with you all. You know you live in a hick town when this happens. Okay, I'm the assistant manager of our store. So it was going to be the manager, myself and 1 other employee to open the store this morning. Well, we couldn't drive down my street, therefore, I was snow bound and couldn't get to work. Kendra, the manager, was able to get out of her street, and pick up the other girl, they thought they'd just pick me up also, and we'd go together. NOT!!! There was absolutey no getting down my street. Well, she couldn't get to anyone elses house either, so there fore the store would not open until I was there with them. It would have been suicide to open with just 2 people. So here goes Kendra to the police department, to ask them to have the street department plow my street so I can get to work, and guess what they did. Not much after she asked them, my street was plowed. Isn't that funny. Well, work was pretty exciting today.

The rundown on the pictures. (I plan to take more tomorrow, the piles of snow are unbelievable intown.)

#1.) The fort my kids carved out of the snow from the driveway, which my husband worked so hard at clearing (continually) so I could get in it yesterday afternoon.

#2) The sidewalk to my front door, see how deep the snow is?!

#3)The house across the street, see how high the snow is to the house. Oh, can you see the street, it is in there also. This taken from my front porch, and there really is a street in there, Honest. You can hardly tell where cars had driven yesterday. Also, this street was plowed yesterday also.

#4)The snow drift next to the house across the street, it was over the fence.

#5) That path is our sidewalk.

Tidbits from the last few days!

Well, lets see where do I begin. Last weekend I was off of work, and I so enjoyed the weekend. We did a whole lot of nothing. We did just enough, so that the house wasn't unbearable to be in. We stayed in all weekend. Zach and I lounged on the couch alot of the 2 days. It was nice. If I was sitting on the couch, he was on my lap.

We watched the Super Bowl. GO COLTS! It was quit interesting, because we grew up in the Chicagoland area, so Rob and I both grew up in houses that were Bears fans. We have never really followed sports at all. Well, the bank that we use offered a Colts Kids Savings account. We opened them, and each time the Colts won a game, they each recieved a $5.00 certificate to put in their bank account, so now can you see why we say GO COLTS. Well, then of course we are now Hoosiers, and all my boys were born in Indiana, and they are Colts Fans. It was fun to watch the game with them. We really were getting quit excited about it. It was quit comical.

Zach got sick this weekend. He ended up waking up in the night Saturday with a fever, and sore throat. Rob stayed home from church with him, since I stayed home on Wednesday. I had planned on going into work on Monday for a short time, getting my paperwork done and then coming home to be with Zach. I had decided to leave Jordan home for a little while, and then just take him late. Well, you'll never believe this. I had 2 people call in sick that day. I ended up working from 6am-10pm on Monday. It was awful. I was not very happy, nor did I prented to be. Zach was okay, and then Jordan didn't end up missing too much school, because of the weather they had a 2 hour delay, actually all week they've been on a 2 hour delay. Well, Rob took Zach to the doctor, and he had strep throat. UGH!!!! On Tuesday I switched my schedule so I could work in the evening when Rob was home. SO I went in at 3pm. It wasn't so bad really, until........one of my 3rd shift people came in sick. She didn't try to call in, she DID show up and was awful sick, so I ended up letting her go home and I worked her shift. so again, I worked from 3pm-8am. It wasn't so bad, until the next day. The boys had a 2 hour delay and I didn't get enough sleep, so I was a little grouchy. Well, alot grouchy.

We were leaving to go to church and our car wouldn't start. We didn't want to drive the van, since it is older, and we didn't want to get stuck that far from home. Well, no big deal, we'll just jump the battery, right?! Not! The hood latch was frozen. Okay, it wasn't funny then, but it sure is funny now. So, we had to push the car into the garage--that the garage door is about to fall apart--and try to get the hood to defrost. Okay, we ended up getting a new battery for the car. No big deal. Oh yeah, we had sent Jordan to start the car, and he thought he started it but didn't, so he had the lights, the radio and heater on but the car wasn't started, therefore, it zapped the battery, since it is sooooo very cold here.

Thursday, Jordan and Zach had dentist appointments. Now hear me say this, we are so blessed to have such a wonderful caring dentist. He is so concerned about kids teeth, that $$$$ don't matter much to him. He has done so very much for us, and not charged us, just to help the kids. He put a porcelain crown on Jordan's front tooth yesterday, and I'm sure the insurance will not pay for it, and he didn't charge us. He put braces on Jordan's front teeth a couple of years ago, with no charge to us. This is what he told me last time we were there, after he told me all that Austin is going to need done to his teeth in the next few years, "Now, the funding you have will not pay for this stuff, but when I have parents who are willing to make the trip here every week or 2 weeks, and do what I ask them to do, the cost doesn't matter to me." WOW!!! I thanked him and told him I sure appreciated all he has done, and was blessed to have him as a dentist for my boys.

More from Thursday. When we left the dentist, Jordan was a mess. His hands were trembling, like they do when he is nervous or overwhelmed about something. I talked to him and said, "relax Jordan, your hands are shaking." I know Mom, my nerves are shot, that is just too much to do in one day. Poor kid. I said "we are just a mess aren't we Jordan?" "Yeah, Mom, but that is okay we are a good family." Now that was all I needed to hear from him. See, I tend to be harder on him than the other boys, and he still loves me and thinks we are a good family.

Then, Austin and I went to the Dollar store for somethings, and we are walking up to the store, out of the blue he says. "I'm glad I have good parents." Wasn't that sweet?

Well, today, I've done a few chores, and then took Rob lunch and now I'm at home to do a whole lot of nothing. Just some laundry and clean bathrooms. YEAHAW!!!!

Have a blessed weekend.

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.