Is it too late to post last Friday's happenings? =) I spent the whole weekend at the church for the Mentoring stuff so this is the first time I've had a chance to sit down and post this...I found this great little play place in Colleyville a few months ago called Antz in Your Pantz. We never went because it was a little pricey, but when I looked on their site Thursday night, I discovered they were having a half price weekend deal! Which meant we could all go for $9. The place was split into 9 different rooms. There was a stage with a closet full of dress up clothes. Avery loved all the dress up stuff!There was a sandbox room An art center A fire truck room a Kitchen rooma Veterinary Clinic room, a Puppet Show stage and room, and a grocery store room complete with grocery bags and a cash register.
The girls had a blast playing pretend all morning. I think I'll be keeping my eye out for more half price days!
I currently organize and run the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry at our church. This weekend we are kicking off our fall mentoring program. If you attend Northwood Church, we would love to have you join us on either Saturday or Sunday and learn more about this incredible ministry!
Check out the blog below for more information, and I hope to see you all there!
Dinner last night Avery: "My tummy said its not hungry. Can I just put my plate in the fridge?" Me: "That's fine." (Important to note that she was eating spaghetti!)
45 minutes later I was nursing Justus on the couch when I hear a clunk in the kitchen. This clunk was followed by Elliana running into the family room to see me. Suddenly I notice RED footprints on our WHITE carpet. I guess Avery had pulled her plate out of the fridge and put it on the ground in the kitchen only to have Elliana run through the kitchen and step in the spaghetti. Still trying to figure out why she put the plate on the floor. I guess it made perfect sense to her 3 yr old brain.
Needless to say, I did not demonstrate Christlike behavior when I saw the sauce on my carpet!
Fast forward to this morning... I read Avery a verse from I Thes. 5 and then explained what it meant and how mommy needed to apologize for last night. I was all prepared to have this big teachable moment with Avery. She interrupted and said...
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Now that you've learned all that stuff can we just go play?"
I guess the moment was way more meaningful to me than it was to her =)
Blood curling screams from the bedroom during nap (all of the following was said in between cries and sniffles)
Elliana "I was running really fast and my head hit hard!!!!" Me: "You were running in your bed?" Elliana:" Yeah...next time I no run in bed!!!" (keep in mind, she was running on the bottom bed of a bunk bed...only Elliana could figure out how to accomplish this!)
Is it bad that secretly in my head I was saying "kind of glad you got hurt so you'll learn to obey in that bed". Of course this was thought after I knew she was okay and there was no permanent damage =)
In honor of working on simplicity, today I am simplifying my house. I know, I know. It may not seem like much of a spiritual journey, but the Lord is really teaching me how to simplify in order to serve Him wholeheartedly. During a conversation at Pine Cove, I was really convicted about not just simplifying my heart's attitude, but simplifying my home as well. So this week is about walking in obedience to that conviction!Today, my kitchen began the simplifying process. I had to beg help for this though. I am not an organizer! I do not see things in organized bins or boxes. I see things in organized piles and drawers (aka why I have 4 junk drawers in the kitchen, a continual pile of "important papers" on the microwave, and a continual pile that Brent needs to look at on the island...organized piles =) ) I also see items and think of a time in the future when I will probably need that item but know that we won't be able to afford to re-buy it, so I keep everything...just in case. So Ellie was gracious enough to come teach me how to simplify...all while our combined 6 kids played together =)Between watching the kids and cooking dinner for everyone, I took us 4 hours to organize and simplify the kitchen, but, 3 bags of trash and a huge pile of stuff to sell later, we finished! I think next week we'll tackle the laundry room...or maybe the master bedroom...hmmm I think I'm really going to like simplifying my house =)
Avery: "Here mom, move back and I'll show you how to fix it."
Me: "Avery girl, you are getting a little too big for your britches."
Avery: " Which ones? These?" as she looked at the pants she was wearing. I was trying to find a recipe online and Avery walked over to me and said
Avery: "Mom how about you come play with me in my room? Or you could just sit here and be boring. No one wants to be boring."
(Yes, she is already learning how to manipulate! She learned the word boring at camp and isn't afraid to use it often. I'm thinking it is soon to become a bad word in our house!)
We played in the rain Took a trip to Cabela's Made and delivered some get well cards for a friend who had surgeryAnd met friends at Babes to eat dinner. The girls call Babes "hokey pokey Babes" because they get to dance the hokey pokey with the waitresses everytime we go. It was a great day as a family.
Last Tuesday morning we got the call that Brent's grandfather was on life support. We had everyone at camp praying for him but by Tuesday afternoon, he had passed away. He had been sick and had medical issues, but those facts don't make it any easier to lose someone you love. Because we were at camp, Brent and I were able to sit and remember his PaPa, Kirby Minter. He was a great man who lived a great life. Google him sometime. He has his own wikipedia page! Brent was blessed to be able to perform his funeral and honor his PaPa. It was definitely a celebration of his life and the fact that he is now living with Jesus. My day and week is now being spent in prayer for Brent's grandmother. I can't imagine losing my husband after 57 years of marriage. Will you join me in lifting her up this morning and asking our Father to comfort her and give her peace as she grieves the loss of her husband?
Pine Cove Family Camp was a blast! The week turned out different than what we expected, but we were still able to enjoy the few days we had at camp. The week started with Brent and I getting hit by a falling limb from a tree. We were just about to get a life jacket on to go water skiing when we both heard a noise that sounded like a bird rustling in the tree. We looked up to see this limb falling. It hit Brent in the head and me in the back. He suffered a pretty severe concussion and we spent the day/night at the ER to make sure all was okay. He was still pretty loopy and out of it all day Tuesday as well. Needless to say, the grand plans we had of water skiing, rafting, ropes courses, and zip lines were put on hold. Instead we just hung out together and enjoyed our time away. Brent and I were able to go on a breakfast trail ride and enjoy a great breakfast. The camp has counselors that come to your room and wake your kids up, get them dressed, and feed them breakfast on the mornings that Brent and I wanted to get up and go do something. We loved the freedom to have fun by ourselves and the girls loved all the attention from the counselors! Brent and I also did a cattle penning thing for a few hours one day. It was a blast! I agreed to do it b/c I thought Brent would enjoy it, and given what happened to him at the beginning of the week, I thought he deserved a little bit of fun =) But it ended up being one of the funnest things I've done in a while. Who can say they've herded cattle into a pen, isolated cows, penned cows, and then taken your horse for a swim in the lake? Brent's horse decided to not just swim, but to roll in the lake so Brent got a bath as well. Fun times were had by all!The girls loved Cove Kids. In fact, one day I tried to convince Avery not to go to "her class" but to stay with mommy for a bit. She replied, "Mommy, I can see you in the middle of the night. I need to be with my class now." I guess that means she was having fun =) The girls got to be in the same class and loved playing together all week. They went on pony rides, went swimming, went on scavenger hunts, learned new songs, and heard many Bible stories. They are already asking when we get to go back! The time we had was good and I'm so thankful we had the opportunity to go. In fact, we are already talking about reworking our budget to figure out how to get back next summer. I think this may become our new family tradition.
here's a little video recap of the week. Warning: its a bit long, but I included it b/c I thought the grandparents might enjoy =) Also, every time you see Brent in this video, he was still a bit out of it and not quite himself. You'll see what I mean =)
"Jesus, hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. I like plates and cups and forks and mommy and daddy and Avery and Justus. Thank you for counters, and cups, and ice, and water, and milk, and hot dogs, and cheese. Jesus, after church day we're going on family vacation and ride ponies and swim and have soooooo much fun. Help me eat. Amen."
Only 2 more days until Family Vacation! Which meant Brent needed to work this Friday so he could make sure everything that needed to get done by next week was done so we could all enjoy our vacation!
I had a fun day though. The girls helped me make homemade bread, we mowed the yard, we did some laundry, went to Let's Jump with the Kimmels, ate at a fun new McDonalds, napped, and then swam in the backyard. The best part of the day was date night though. Brent surprised me this week with tickets to a murder mystery dinner at the Gaylord Texan. He even arranged for the babysitter without any help from me. I was impressed =) Our 6th anniversary was last weekend, but I was a bit under the weather so even though we went on a date, it wasn't the greatest anniversary celebration we've ever had. So last night, Brent took me out and we pretended like it was our anniversary celebration and just blocked last weekend from our memory. It was a blast! Thanks babe for a great night and for 6 great years of marriage. Who knew 6 years could go so fast?!We've moved 3 times, finished seminary, I quit my job, you started your job,we bought our first house, and we've had 3 kids in the past 6 years. Hmmmm...wonder what the next 6 will hold for us =)
Can you believe I took no pictures the entire day? I'm slipping in my old age =)
And now I'm packing and cleaning so we can take off after church tomorrow. I can't wait!
The girls have become my new workout accountability partners. They wake up asking "when are we going to the gym". They love the gym day care. Well, honestly I'm not sure if they love the daycare or if they love the fact that they get to watch whatever cartoon they want while they are at the daycare. Mean mommy won't let them watch much TV at home =)
So their new game is to play "going to the gym". Then they make up all these exercises to do while at the gym. When I work out at home, they are right next to me doing every sit up, push up, and lunge right along with me.
Last night, Brent said they were "exercising" through the whole bath time and this morning I heard Elliana say to Avery "I'll be back to play in a minute. First I need to do some exercising." This video is what occurred next.
Back to the accountability part...I had a meeting for school this morning and as soon as the other teacher left, both girls started asking "when are we going to the gym?" I looked at them and said "maybe tomorrow." I had already showered and didn't want to get gross and was just too tired to go today.
I'll be honest. They were pretty insistent about going so I tried bribing them with Let's Jump. They wouldn't have it. Not even tons of jump houses could deter them from getting me to the gym. They reminded me I promised them I would take them to the gym today. So to the gym we went.
The whole teaching your kids not to lie so now I have to keep my promises thing really bit me in my behind. hmmmm. Not too sure I like living with my accountability partners =)
"The Christian Discipline of simplicity is an inward reality that results in an outward life-style" -Richard Foster
The inward reality is what God has been teaching me this past week. I thought that I would try to simplify life for a week and just seek God. God had other plans. He allowed numerous stressful circumstances to be thrown my way all while trying to be a single mom for the week. I quickly learned that I had to work on this inward simplicity so that I could walk through these outward circumstances.
"If what we have we receive as a gift, and if what we have is to be cared for by God, and if what we have is available to others, then we will possess freedom from anxiety. This is the inward reality of simplicity."- Richard Foster
Sounds easy enough, right? Practicing was a bit hard for me at times. But practicing I am. And I'll continue practicing seeing all those circumstances as gifts. I think I'll be working on this inward reality of simplicity for a while =)
A: "Mom look!!! Quick, look up there!!!! The clouds opened up and the light is coming through. Jesus is looking at us right now!"
Said one morning after I had made homemade cinnamon rolls. A: "These are good, but when I finish mine can I have frozen vegetables instead?" Me: "You don't want another cinnamon roll?" A: "No. I want frozen broccoli and peas and corn." (what 3 year old wants frozen veggies instead of cinnamon rolls?!) Said while getting ready for church on Sunday:
A: "Who lives in Jesus' heart?" Me: " What do you mean?" A: "If Jesus lives in my heart, who lives in his heart?"
I was a little under the weather this family fun day so Brent took over for the day while I slept in the back bedroom. I walked out briefly and this is what I saw. You gotta love the differences in boys and girls. When I'm in charge, we bake and color. When Brent's in charge, they play video games and wrestle. Praise the Lord I have a husband to teach them some fun stuff=) As for the rest of family fun day, I have no clue what happened. I slept through it. But we did get some good painting done this morning. Like I said, when I'm in charge we color =)
I found this great little play place in Colleyville a few months ago called Antz in Your Pantz. We never went because it was a little pricey, but when I looked on their site Thursday night, I discovered they were having a half price weekend deal! Which meant we could all go for $9.
The place was split into 9 different rooms. There was a stage with a closet full of dress up clothes. 
Avery loved all the dress up stuff!
There was a sandbox room
a Veterinary Clinic room, a Puppet Show stage and room, and a grocery store room complete with grocery bags and a cash register.
