Looking Upward

Colin's Graduation!

2010-06-01T11:27:00.000-07:00

I made Colin take this picture with the cake. I'm not a very good photographer, and since I know he felt stupid, I only took one photo, lopping off the top of his head. Wal-Mart didn't even put an exclamation mark after "Congratulations Colin", making me very happy that I have completed my cake decorating class and will hopefully be decorating more exhuberant cakes in our future! Because the man deserved an exclamation mark after all he's accomplished.

There's something about a man who can balance putting his family first AND excelling in his career with graduating from college that makes my heart sing. It just takes a moment of watching this man with his son to know that he never put being a father on the backburner.

Here's a few snapshots of Colin with the family at his graduation party:

Congratulations my love! We are very proud of you.

Colorful Colorado

2010-05-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is Micah catching his first glimpse of one of my favorite parts of God's creation, the Rocky Mountains.

So glad I thought to snap some pictures. So did he!

And it's no wonder! Of course, the following cell phone pictures don't do justice to the beauty of the Colorado mountains, but they still serve as a reminder of all the reasons we have to rejoice in the beauty of our Father's world!

I sure do love Colorado, and especially some of the people in it.

And if you know me, you know I love the mountain goats too. What's not to love about a creature that is always smiling?

This is why I stopped blogging

2010-05-22T19:51:00.000-07:00

Tonight I was GOING to finish the ironing, catch up on one of my shows, call my sister-in-law in San Antonio and read in bed. But FIRST, thought I, let me upload all of my pictures so that they are ready for posting, having now re-committed myself to blogging. I did this, and then decided I should at least schedule another post, to help ensure this new commitment will actually be successful. So I did. THEN I thought I'd dapple in a few more bloggy things, and pretty soon I decided I needed the CUTEST BLOG ON THE BLOCK, otherwise known as a hot bliggity blog, or a cutesy wutesy, scrapbooky looking blog. (I'm pretty sure it's the closest I'll ever come to scrapbooking.) So I visited some sites. I searched through some backgrounds. And some more backgrounds. AND SOME MORE!!!

A few hours later, I desperately found one that WORKED. Because my mind is a frazzled mess. It seems to me there's just too many layouts and too little time! Unfortunately I erased the picture of the horizen that I used to display as my title photo before I thought to save it on my computer, so there's no turning back now.

I'm hoping the more I blog, the easier it will become. For now, it's sort of a learning curve that takes time. And effort. And leaves me looking cross-eyed at my computer screen.

Cutest blog in the world, here I come! (Just not tonight.)

Hello out there!

2010-05-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long. Oh what a year this last year has been! The Lord has brought us through many ups and downs, and looking back we can only be thankful for all He has done. Here are some highlights. More details may follow at a later date, but right now it's late and I am impulsively posting at 11:15 at night because I know I want to continue this blog; it's the first post that's the hardest.

Since I posted last...

Micah was in his first wedding!

We rejoiced with my brother as he married his new wife, Karis! We thank the Lord for the wonderful things He has done. Karis is a beautiful person inside and out and an awesome addition to the family!

Micah made the big transition from diapers to big boy pants! He prefers big boy pants with pictures of Superheroes on them, but Thomas the Train Engine BBP are pretty cool too! I admit this was a chore I had been putting off, because the thought of spending my days cleaning up after a potty-training boy was one I wasn't ready to make a reality. Then one day I met a lady at Barnes and Noble who asked me about potty-training (which I thought was odd), wrote down my e-mail address, and sent me an e-book telling me the Secret to Easy Potty-Training. Though I customized the method into something that worked better for us, my conversation with this lady is what pushed me over the edge and made me get started with what seemed to me like an impossible task. The good part is that it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be. The weird part is that I was a little sentimental as I threw away that last diaper. My baby is ALL GROWN UP.

Micah and I went to Colorado to visit the family! I hadn't been to Colorado since I was pregnant with Micah and I have definitely missed it. Micah had a great time playing with my cousins, who he now calls his "big cousins." He asks about them often!

Colin graduated from college! After getting laid-off in March of 2009, Colin was able to focus on school and finish up what otherwise would have taken about three years to complete. I am so proud of him! It's hard to balance family, work and school, but he did it and graduated with honors! It feels SO GOOD to be done. I'll try to post pictures of his graduation party at a later date.

Colin got a job at Enterprise! He's been working part-time there for a little bit, in a position they created for him as he finished his degree. The day after he completed his classes, they scheduled him an interview and then offered him the job. He took it, and starts full-time on Monday. God is good!

Micah has been imitating Colin's EVERY MOVE these days, which is the highest form of flattery and pretty cute to watch. He will only wear shorts if daddy is wearing shorts, he wears his camo shirt when daddy wears his camo shirt, and if daddy is eating something, it's almost a sure bet I can get Micah to eat that thing too. This flattering imitation of his favorite man melts both his parents' hearts. I agree with him that his dad is a pretty cool man, and one worth imitating.

Now for some random pictures to close this semi-random post. (Oh well, it's a start. Maybe it will be easier to keep up blogging now!) Enjoy!

Micah's getting his Boom Boom on

2009-10-05T08:00:00.000-07:00

Micah gets his happy face and his tendency toward being dramatic from me.

He gets his big, "chocolate almond milk brown eyes" (his words), his love for finding out how things work, and his interest in all things gun-related from his daddy.

But Micah is his own person, and some things he gets from neither of us. Like, apparently, his taste in music.

We were on our way to the zoo the other day, and Black Eyed Peas' new song, "Boom Boom Pow" came on one of the radio stations I frequent. Micah, who was busy talking to his friends in the back seat, paused and then requested, "Turn it louder!" Curious to see what would happen, I did, and watched as he intently listened to the music, sort of in awe of it. Since Black Eyed Peas aren't really my thing, I gave him several seconds and then thought I'd change it. As soon as I did, he became a bit distraught. "Turn it back!" he begged. I humored him, mainly because it was humoring me, and watched as he quietly listened and bopped his head to the beat. I endured the next two minutes or so, and when it was over, was surprised to see Micah start tearing up. "I want da boom boom song!" he whined. "Turn it to da boom boom song?" I tried to explain that I couldn't control the songs that came on the radio, but to no avail. Micah (and his friends) begged for the "Boom Boom song" all the way to the zoo. And what do you know, they almost had the title right!

HOURS later, I loaded the kids back into the suburban to go home and sleep, assuming the "Boom Boom" song was long forgotten as I had completely forgotten it myself. But as soon as I turned on the car, the requests began from the back seat. For the next twenty minutes, I listened to my son and his friend beg me to turn on da boom boom song. Who knew my kid had a thing for rap?

For those of you who don't know this "Boom Boom" song, here's a youtube link*:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9F444CELomo

Watching the video of this song brought a smile to my face, as it was obvious that these people KNOW they're cool. They just don't know that they're cool in my precious little boy's eyes, which is too bad, because I think that's pretty significant (and very amusing)!

*DISCLAIMER: Not to state the obvious, but if you watch this video, beware that Fergie does not adorn herself in the modest apparel that becomes women professing godliness. But I'm sure you didn't need me to tell you that!

Hello Again!

2009-10-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Well, this summer has been crazy busy. My schedule has picked up quite a lot, and because of that, my blog has been inactive. But six months is too long to go undocumented, what with a two year old who is turning into a little man more and more every day. I'm going to do my best to record these unforgettable days!

I think I'll start with a little preview of what will be happening in our house beginning October 5th. On October 5th, Micah turns 2 1/2 years old. (I know, it's been SIX MONTHS since my last blog entry! Micah's aunties are none too happy!) His doctor told me not to think of potty-training him until he was 2 1/2, so friends, I have not thought much about it at all. However, we have had a few practice sessions on the "big boy potty," and, though fruitless (no number 1, no number 2), it has been fun to watch Micah turn into a big boy and enjoy the freedoms that come with that.

This is how I left him:

And minutes later, this is where I found him:

He figured out his way around the bathroom on his "porta-potty", and apparently decided now was as good a time as ever to explore the undescovered wonders of the bathroom.

This child makes me smile. Let's just hope I'm still smiling when we start potty training!

We're Still Alive!

2009-09-29T21:39:00.001-07:00

I know I've already used that title, but it is even more appropriate here. More to come...SOON!

Happy Birthday Micah!

2009-04-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

Before we had Micah, our lives were carefree...we could just pick up and go on trips, sleep whenever we want, and we were pretty much in control of our own schedules.

But after we had Micah, everything changed.

Since the moment we set eyes on him, Colin and I have not been the same. Micah immediately started bringing joy into all of our lives!

Suddenly, we couldn't imagine life without this little blessing, and we couldn't get enough of him.

Since April 5th, 2007, he has brightened up every day...

He has made us laugh, cry with joy, and rediscover the world around us.

Watching him learn new things has been one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences!

We know he loves us and needs us and it is hard to believe that our baby is actually old enough to tell us so now.

Micah has an incredibly sweet spirit. He loves people, he loves to try to make everyone laugh, He loves singing Psalms, he loves the outdoors and he loves to learn new things. We are SO proud of him!

We are so thankful to God for giving us these last two years, and we greatly look forward to the future. We know we have so much more to teach our little guy - and though it is humbling and challenging at times, we know it is our duty as parents and that God will be the strength in our weakness!

We love you little Micah! We know you are a gift from God to us and we could not be happier that He saw fit to make us YOUR mommy and daddy! Happy Birthday Love!

Since Micah's birth, our prayer for him as been Psalm 1:

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on that law He meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree that brings forth its fruit in season, whose leaf shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

First Two Years

2009-04-04T14:02:00.000-07:00

I think his first two years have been good to him...

I just can't believe tomorrow my baby is TWO!

Goodbye Crib, Hello Big Boy Bed!

2009-04-04T04:00:00.000-07:00

I'm one of those moms who thought I would have my son in his crib until he was three...or, seriously? Until he learned how to climb out of his crib like a civilized person. Because what's more comforting to a tired momma/control freak than a safe and comfortable container for her child? I can't think of anything!

However, those days are over. My son will never learn how to climb out of his crib with skill because he learned how to throw himself head first over the edge first. And then, he did it on a regular basis, because he noticed a pattern. If he threatened to throw himself over the edge in a dramatic fit, I stayed in his room. Even if it was two in the morning. And I wouldn't leave - for hours. I noticed a pattern too: someone was in control, and it wasn't me. No longer was the crib working out for our family. The time had come for the big boy bed.

Sunday night, March 29th, was Micah's first night in his bed, and I am so impressed with how smoothly things have transitioned! We made a very big deal out of it, and so Micah was pretty excited about his big boy bed. He "helped" Daddy build it (like only a one-year-old can), and then we snuggled in to it for our new bedtime routine, which means mommy or daddy gets to be IN bed with Micah while we read him his bedtime story. Micah thinks that's pretty cool, and he has done so well. He is being so obedient, even waiting quietly in bed in the morning until I come and get him. I didn't even teach him that!

I am so thankful it has been so much easier than I thought it would be. I am convinced parenting will be easier the second time around (I think I see all the second-time moms rolling their eyes). I am just so scared of everything! I really relate to Grover in the book, "The Monster at the End of This Book." (Did I just say that?) The whole book he is scared because there is going to be a MONSTER at the END OF THIS BOOK!!! Well, in the end, the monster turns out to be HIMSELF. I think the greatest obstacle in every new parenting venture has seriously been me. Giving up nursing and the bottle and the crib, etc., would all have been much easier if I had not let fear get in the way. I make things into much bigger deals than they ever needed to be! I wonder if I really will learn my lesson the second time around?

Recent Discoveries

2009-04-03T12:46:00.000-07:00

Lately, Micah has been discovering some new things.

For instance, blue paint. A few days ago I left him alone in his high chair for two minutes with a small jar of blue paint and a piece of construction paper. Yes, there was a paint brush, but really, I think it's clear that I haven't been getting enough sleep lately because, what was I thinking? If the paint brush got used, I'll never know. What almost two-year-old wouldn't want to dig right in? Apparently, those two minutes were just that important to me.

Another discovery? Pockets. Micah realized he had them one day and now he loves them. My favorite is when he's wearing his peacoat at church and he's got his hands in the pockets of his dress pants. He looks so Brooks Brothers!

But before you think my son is a preppy snob, let me tell you about Micah's favorite discovery: the river. He can't get enough of it! He and Daddy go down there on a regular basis to throw sticks and rocks into the water and see if they can spot a passing duck or boat. The only problem is that with all the rain, sleet and snow we've had recently, Micah's trips to the river often leave him stuck in the mud. I guess little boys' shoes were made to get dirty.

(P.S. Another thing Micah discovered how to do is throw himself head first out of his crib to manipulate me into staying in his room for hours every night when I would much rather be sleeping. Without sleep, I become a crazy person, and lets just say it shown me a lot of not-so-pretty things about myself! So Micah hasn't been the only one making discoveries around here. I've discovered that I lean way too much on my own strength when it comes to parenting. I've gotten a new glimpse at the depths of sin in my heart, which means I've also discovered a new sense of awe and gratitude at the grace that has been shown me. I've been reminded that really, parenting, and if not parenting, just living, is all about grace, grace, grace, and more grace...where would I be without the Gospel??? So, discoveries get a little more complicated as you get older - but I'm so thankful God isn't through with me yet!)

So Wuved...

2009-03-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

This little guy is so "wuved" by his family, there just aren't words enough to tell him! He'll never, ever know just how MUCH...

Elli Came to Town!

2009-03-21T13:28:00.001-07:00

Last week, Micah and I eagerly anticipated the arrival of Uncle D, Aunt Meg, and cousin Elli, the newest addition to our family. I wasn't sure if Micah would understand what was going on when I told him who was coming to town, but I underestimated him. The whole way to Papa and Nona's house he said, "Elli? Elli? D? Meg?" and swung his feet excitedly in his car seat while looking out the window expectantly. It was going to be a good day.

This little angel awaited us at my parents' house. She gets bigger and cuter each time I see her! I love her SO MUCH! I can't get enough of her!

Uncle B, hogging Elli. Er, I mean, holding her.

Aunt Meg is doing very well and is such a natural mother! I just wish she lived next door to me so that we could be best buds every day.

Uncle D and his little Elli.

For dinner, Uncle D grilled up some barbeque chicken. It was mighty tasty!

Uncle D was nice enough to let Micah "help" him, and all night, he told us so. "I cooked. I did it!" He even ate it. Micah doen't eat, so I definitely need to employ him in the kitchen more often.

Elli and me, at the end of the night. I was savoring every last minute with my little neice!

She was quite tuckered out. But she better get used to the parties! It's the family way.

Do YOU Pray 100 Times a Day?

2009-03-20T11:59:00.000-07:00

This St. Patrick's Day, I pretty much had the best St. Patrick's Day ever. I was invited to Hall of Men, which, I'm sure as you gather from the name, is a strickly male event. I have been jealous of the little gathering ever since the first time they met and my dad told me about the table they sit around (carved by George Elder), the toasts, the orating, and the home-brewed beer. My time at the Hall of WOmen, as my friend Tom insightfully labeled it, was all that I hoped it would be and more. Not only did we get to hear live music, something that always entertains me, but we got to hear a very well-told story about St. Patrick (being the faithful Protestant that I am, I have to resist quotation marks there), the Namesake of this day on which most wear green, some wear orange, and some just get pinched.

Though the story was incredibly interesting and educational, one of the facts about St. Patrick that stood out the most to me is that he prayed 100 times every day. As soon as this was said, there were some "wows" from the little gathered assembly. I am sure many people felt guilty that they don't pray 100 times a day. But I, cynical person that I am, had a different thought. I thought it was weird that someone knew exactly how many times he prayed each day, especially when the number was so high. I wondered how Patrick kept track of all of his prayers. Did he count them in his head? That would be difficult to do, and someone like me would lose track well before fifty! Maybe he tallied them with a feather dipped in ink or a stick in the sand. Still, that's a lot of counting. I wondered if he could really rest each day until he had prayed his hundredth prayer. I wondered if he ever missed a day. When he did, I wondered if that made him feel like a failure.

Let me be clear: I need to pray more. It would do me well to pray 100 times a day. But praying 100 times a day will not earn me favor with God. It will probably bring lots of good things my way (communication with God is always a good thing!), but it does not make me a good person. St. Patrick's story painted him in a pretty amazing light. He definitely had a hard life and seemed to rise above the circumstances dealt him. He did some wonderful things in the name of Christ. But we have to remember that if he is in heaven today, it is not because he prayed 100 times every day. It is because he was a sinner saved by grace. It was because his old man was crucified with Christ on the cross, and it was no longer Patrick who lived, but Christ who lived in him.

It is so easy for us, as humans, to put other humans up on pedestals on which they don't belong. (I say this, not because I felt the storyteller was putting St. Patrick up on a pedestal, but because I do it all the time.) The problem is that this takes the focus off of Christ and places it on a mere man - a man who probably had a lot of selfish, sinful motives for doing all of the good deeds he did. But let this be a comfort to you, next time you hear that someone prayed 100 times a day and you think, "hm, I should be doing that. I wonder if God is happy with me?" Christ didn't come for the healthy, righteous man. He came for the sinner. There is only one way to heaven and it isn't through you. You can't work your way there; you can't earn God's favor. It is only through trusting in Christ's perfect Righteousness that one can be saved. In Christ alone our hope is found! It reminds me of one of my favorite hymns, Rock of Ages:

Not the labor of my hands
Can fulfill Thy laws demands
Could my zeal no respite know
Could my tears forever flow
All for sin could not atone
Thou must save and Thou alone!

Nothing in my hand I bring
Simply to Thy Cross I cling
Naked, come to Thee for dress
Helpless, look to Thee for grace
Foul, I to the Fountain fly
Wash me Savior, or I die!

Just Like Daddy

2009-03-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

The other day, Colin needed to study for class. He sprawled out on the bed to study, and it wasn't two minutes before Micah found something to read himself and scurried to daddy's side to join him.

What Micah found to read was a Dave Matthews cd sleeve. Too cute! But if Micah just wanting to be with daddy wasn't enough, he made Colin feel even more special when he reached out and grabbed daddy's hand. I'm so glad I was there, camera ready!

Since I knew that could only be entertaining to a one-year-old for so long, I found a few more books to occupy him and then did what I do and went camera crazy over my two favorite people.

I don't know if Colin got a lot of studying done that day, but I know he wouldn't trade that memory for anything! (And it didn't hurt his grade - in the end, he got an A. Just a reminder to take time out for our kids even when it feels like it's slowing us down...we won't regret it!)

We're Still Alive!

2009-03-18T12:58:00.001-07:00

It's been a long time since my last post. I feel like I've been too busy living my life to post about my life! (I've also been a bit of a slacker when it comes to blogging.) Things at the Kelly house are busy and fun-filled as usual! Micah continues to keep things entertaining and eventful. Colin and I were happy before that little guy came along, but Micah has definitely brought us to a new level of happy altogether. It is so incredible to watch his language develop and to hear what goes on in that almost two-year-old mind of his! But one of the most rewarding things about this season of his life is that he can say "I wuv you" now. It is just heart-melting. He also tells us stories; like how when he saw the "choo choo" he was "scawed," how when he was at the zoo he got a "boo boo," how when we were making play dough the other night he got a "buwn," or how "juice is fun, W is fun, choo choo is fun." It is such a thrill to see the world from his perspective and to see how much he wants to share it with us. He not only wants to share it with us, but with his whole family! Micah loves no one more than his grandparents, aunts, uncles, and now his cousin Elli (and for good reason...have you seen her?) When he falls down and scratches his knee, he seriously calls his family members to tell them about it (okay, okay, we just pretend to call them on his pretend phone, but that's because that would seriously be a LOT of calls) - but the point is that he wants to include them because he is used to them being apart of his daily life. And I am so thankful for that! God has been very good to us. It is so easy to count our blessings, despite the hardship of this season of life. We are insanely blessed by the wonderful things in life that money can't buy.

As for what is going on in the Kelly household, we are still trying to decide what our next step will be after Colin gets laid off at the end of March. However, both Colin and I feel incredible peace that we are in the palm of God's hand and that everything will work out for our best in the end. Not to mention I may be a little too excited about having my husband home at night! The uncertainty of what the future holds can be difficult at times, especially for someone like me who likes to have all my ducks in a row at all times, but it is just another opportunity for me to trust God. As Elisabeth Elliot reminds me, faith is for the times when life doesn't make sense - it is not by sight. We are sure that is God is good, even though we find ourselves jobless in a really *ahem*y economy.

So, to distract ourselves from current events, we have turned off the radio and taken out the markers and construction paper! This Valentine's Day (I know, I know, I'm late documenting again), Micah made all the decorations and we surprised Colin Valentine's Day morning with heart-shaped pancakes and somewhat sloppy one-year-old decorations all over the house. Cheesy? Maybe. But pretty darn cute.

Micah making valentines...

Rolling out the cookie dough...

Before we iced them...

The final product...(not very professional looking, I know!)

Other than crafts, Micah has been absorbing everything we've been teaching him! He loves his ABCs, and now that he can recognize all of his letters he is learning what each letter says (we are teaching him to sound them out). He can sort of count to ten. He is learning colors and shapes and more words every day! We also spend a lot of time out doors. He is forever wanting to go outside. We are so thankful to live on these forty acres, and we regularly go exploring. Sometimes that means we actually go into the pasture to visit the horses (I'm not always comfortable with this because I don't know if it's safe!), sometimes we trek down to the river, and sometimes we pick out hiking sticks and we hike the trails Mr. Castro-Miller has blazed through the woods. Though at times I get a hankering for a dishwasher and a bathtub, most days I don't know if I ever want to leave this place! Could it be any more fun for a little growing boy?

Tanktu Baba.

2009-02-07T12:18:00.000-08:00

Today, Micah's grandma, whom he calls Baba, took him to the zoo. There they met his Aunt Nerna and spent the beautiful, spring-like day looking and lions and tigers and bears. Apparently, he loved it! Of course, his favorite part was the train, and every time it passed, they had to stop whatever they were doing and revere the choo choo.

After Baba dropped him off, Micah ran to the window (which was open) and began calling her name. "Baba! Baba!" He wasn't upset, he was just trying to get her attention. His grandma waved at him from the driveway and told him she loved him, and I came from behind and picked him up to get him ready for his nap. As I lifted him up, he said, "Baba? Baba, tanktu, Baba." And he made the little "thank you" sign.

I hope Grandma Baba knows how much that little boy appreciates everything she does for him! And now he's actually getting to an age where he can tell her. Parenting really is more fun EVERY DAY!

Is It Spring Yet?

2009-02-06T17:37:00.000-08:00

Micah brought his mommy flowers in January! (with help from the neighbors of course.) It was just what I needed last month.

The last two days have felt so mild and spring-like, I think I'm beginning to get Spring Fever! Which means I'm ready to start re-organizing my house, something I do every spring but procrastinate because organization is not my favorite thing. Those of you who went to school with me might remember my school notebooks. By the end of each semester, they were not a pretty sight! I do look forward to taking everything out of the cabinets, drawers, etc., and putting back neatly only what I need. Fresh starts always feel so good!

Speaking of fresh starts, this spring will bring with it some changes for our family as Colin recently got laid-off from his job. We are excited about what the future holds and feel safe and secure in the palm of God's hand. In a strange way, we see this unfortunate event as a gift that will allow us to do something we would never have done otherwise, which is focus on finishing Colin's degree. He is already in his final year, so instead of dragging it out like we were doing, we're hoping to just knock it out in the next couple of semesters. Besides that, we are greatly looking forward to having more time together. We have been on separate schedules for a long time now, and though we have definitely adjusted, in some ways, this change of schedule is an unexpected answer to prayer. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness and look forward to seeing where He will lead! Though these things are never fun (especially when you love your job as much as Colin loves his) we can honestly say we fully trust Him and are looking cheerfully to the future!

Now for some pictures. Here's some of what we have been doing lately:

Micah and I love to chase each other around the house. He keeps this house full of laughter, no matter what the economy is doing!

We went back to Grandpa's house, where Micah was introduced to the outside, which is sort of a child's wonderland. First of all, Grandpa has a caboose right on his property, and Micah was in AWE because he LOVES anything that has to do with TRAINS!

Here he is checking it out. Notice the Awe and Reverence for the Choo Choo on his face.

Sharing the moment with Aunt Nerna. She feels it.

We also found a canoe we got to explore...

Grandpa pushed Micah and Aunt Nerna on the Merry Go Round... (and Aunt Nerna is pretty amazing in my book! I could NEVER do this, no matter how badly I may want to. Ever since I had Micah I can't even jump on a trampoline. It's pathetic.)

Micah continued playing on his very own personal playground...

And then he had some serious Grandpa time.

I just keep loving every day! This boy keeps me smiling, no matter what!!! God is SO good.

Ew, Gross.

2009-01-28T20:39:00.001-08:00

Today,I made the most disgusting cupcakes EVER.

I've been wanting to make this recipe for a long time. It's called "ice cream bread" and it's a super simple recipe that I've eaten a few times (at other people's houses) and liked. The recipe I quickly looked up online called for 2 cups of soft ice cream and 1 1/2 cups of self-rising flour. I was in the mood to bake something and thought it would be nice to send something in Colin's lunch, but I wasn't in the mood to go through a lot of trouble. So I thought ice cream bread, only made into cupcakes, would be perfect! And I had a gallon of Breyer's Triple Chocolate ice cream in my freezer, and self-rising flour in the pantry, so I was good to go!

Unfortunately...

The "batter" (I put it in quotation marks because it can hardly be described as such) looked like tarry, gooey globs of glue. Hmmmm, I thought, maybe add a little bit more ice cream? Then I tasted it, and it tasted HORRIBLE. Might this taste better baked? I wondered. I added a little bit more ice cream, to make the "batter" more batter-like and the taste more appealing. Then, taking a leap of faith, I greased a muffin pan, filled the tray, and baked it at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

And wow. What emerged from the oven is inedible. It looks like a cupcake. But it doesn't smell like a cupcake, and sure does NOT taste like a cupcake! I get a little sick just thinking about the grossness of the final product.

Maybe this wasn't a good ice cream bread recipe to use. Perhaps someday I'll be courageous enough to try it again using different ratios. Right now though, I'm just trying to work up the courage to scrape these muffins out of the muffin tray, which is about the last thing I feel like doing right now, given their strange odor and texture. Ick!

In an Effort to Sleep at Night...

2009-01-25T19:00:00.000-08:00

...I've kind of stopped paying attention to the news.

And it worked like magic. The nightmares stopped! Hurrah!

HOWEVER you can't go anywhere or do anything or even log onto the internet without hearing the word "bailout."

It's unnerving.

That's why I thoroughly enjoyed reading this letter over at Amy's Humble Musings (one of my daily reads, by the way, and one that I think would be worth anyone's time). Her husband is ticked off and I'm glad SOMEONE is trying to do SOMETHING about all of this madness.

Here's a snippet:

I’ve read now that Merrill Lynch took $10 billion in TARP money, and paid $15 billion out in bonuses. I cannot even begin to express in writing the rage boiling within me at this iniquitous arrogance. It is nice to know that the Federal taxes I have paid and will pay into the system over my whole lifetime will not even begin to cover the bonus check for just one of these executives. I’m very glad to know that taxes taken from my 60 hour work week checks will help some executive pay for his nice mansion I could never afford, expensive car I’ll never drive, fancy dinners at restaurants I could never see the inside of, and very comfortable retirement that I will not have since I’ll have to work until the day I die.
Please tell me what you will do to hold these crooks accountable for these reprehensible deeds done at taxpayer expense and what you will do to prevent future abuses.

If I were you, I would just read the whole thing.

Go Amy's husband!

Boo bailouts!

Me, Late? Never!

2009-01-19T08:50:00.000-08:00

I've been intending to post my "New Years Resolutions for 2009," but I haven't quite gotten to it. This is not because I am chronically tardy, though I am chronically tardy. This is because I am not a good decision maker. I cannot decide what to resolve to DO this year!

There are the two things I WANT to do this year. I want to learn how to knit baby's hats and shoes, because they would make great gifts and just be a good skill for a mom to know. My mom just learned how and she's knitting Micah slippers and I'm a little jealous. The other thing I want to learn to do is to sew. First, I'd like to sew bags, because bags are oh so cute, and if I can do that, then I'd like to figure out how to sew lounge pants. Because check out these lounge pants. I bought them for way too much money last year and I never want to do that again. Instead, I'd like to sew a pair. Wouldn't you?

But then there are the two things I NEED to do. Which are simple but NOT easy. Be on time (I am regularly about half an hour late everywhere I go, which is acceptable if you live in Italy, not so much here in the good old USofA), and go to bed on time. Which is about two to three hours earlier than I currently go to bed. It's not an easy habit to break!

And then there are the two resolutions that I'm already doing. The first one is to read through my chronological Bible. And I'm going to be easy on myself here - the goal is to read through the Bible, not necessarily to read through the Bible in a year, though I intend to try. This is one of the thirty things I am going to do before I'm thirty and two-and-a-half years goes by faster than you think.The second thing I'm already doing is simply embracing this season of life, even though if I could have it my way, I'd change a few things. Instead of focusing in the things I'd change, I'm going to focus on the special opportunities living in this season of life brings. It turns out it's a lot more fun to live that way, and I think in the end, there will be fewer regrets!

So, yeah...I could do ALL of these. It wouldn't be that ambitious of me. But I do hate to set myself up to fail. Being on time AND going to bed at a decent hour just seems like too much change for one year, what with all the other changes upon us.

(Speaking of...I'm not writing much about the inaguration because there isn't much to write about - the media is bubbling over with joy and ecstasy to the point of embarrassment and there's little more to say. President Obama can give better speeches than he gave today, but oh well, apparently it will still end up etched in stone. His daughters looked absolutely beautiful and oh SO happy, it actually did bring a smile to my face, and Micah, who watched with me, positively had a crush on them. He kept pointing out the "girls!" every time they came across the screen. I didn't so much get the poem, nor did I enjoy the final prayer. BUT...all that aside, I will pray for our new president, because, democrat or republican (or, ahem, neither), black or white, capitalist or socialist or somewhere in between, we will all stand before the one true Judge someday and be held accountable for our actions. "The king's heart is like streams of water in the Lord's hand; He turns it wherever He wishes" (Prov. 21:1). If we really believe this, than none of us have any reason to 1) worship the ground that poor man walks on, or 2) despair. We are in good hands. It's 2009, and all is well.)

Why I Get up in the Morning.

2009-01-15T10:00:00.000-08:00

I Want the Ketchup Fights

2009-01-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

"I want the house, Jan. I want the picket fence, I want the ketchup fights, and the tickling and the giggling." Michael Scott

Ah, don't we all?

Just about a week ago, after my lovely sister-in-law and brother-in-law left our house, a very serious tickle fight between Colin and I ensued. I say it was serious because I feel like I put up a really good fight! Strength was coming from nowhere! My husband can usually hold me where he wants me with one hand and tickle me with the other, and so the fact that I was actually getting a tickle in here and there meant that I was on fire! We didn't hear the texts on our phones notifying us that brother-in-law left his phone at our house and was coming back to retrieve it. Nor did we hear the knock on the door the first time. I'm not sure how long he stood out there, but when I finally heard it, jumping up to go answer it, I was a sight to see - hair all messed up, out of breath, and a wee bit sweaty. I opened up the door and he stood there, looking at me with an AWKWARD look on his face. "Um, I left my phone."

It suddenly occurred to me what it must look like. "We were having a tickle fight!" I blurted out.

"I just need my phone," brother-in-law said, and when I gave it to him he awkwardly said goodbye and hurried off, far, far away from whatever was going on inside my cottage.

It was so funny! Colin made so much fun of me for saying we were having a tickle fight. He says I sure do know how to make for an awkward moment, and he's right!

Anyway, three years ago from today, I married the man I now get to tickle (or I at least attempt to tickle), and I must say that though I've made a lot of dumb mistakes in my life, marrying Colin is the BEST decision I ever made!

I met him while leaving Braums one night with a group of friends, and while I'll spare you the whole story, I must write that as soon as I met him, a tiny, little voice in my head said, "You're going to marry that man." Colin says I pay way too much attention to that little voice in my head, but hey, it was right about him! And for the record, Colin heard a little voice too. And he doesn't usually have a little voice. Somehow, he knew he was going to marry me too. Go ahead and call us CRAZY - I like to call it love at first sight!

Colin is one of the warmest and friendliest people I've ever met. He always has a smile in those big brown eyes! When a little boy from my church was watching Pride and Prejudice with his mom, and Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley galloped in on their horses, he said, "Mom, these movies always make me think of Mr. Colin." And he's right! Colin is a kind-hearted gentleman, which was one of the first things I noticed and loved about him.

He's also strong and confident, a man who knows who he is and is not afraid to be himself around anybody and everybody. He will be anybody's friend, and can see the good in people, but he doesn't change himself for people. He is who he is, take him or leave him. I love that about him too.

It doesn't matter what the day holds; Colin approaches it with calmness and wisdom. He is cheery even when life asks a lot of him. He never complains. He makes me laugh! He truly seeks to love and serve the Lord in all things, and he is an amazing father to our son. We have had three years of ups and downs, but I am so thankful to be going through this life with a friend and a love like Colin - a man who reminds me of Christ. I don't deserve him, but I do accept him as a wonderful, unearned gift from my Heavenly Father, who must love me a whole, whole lot.

Wow. Really? At ONE?

2009-01-12T12:17:00.000-08:00

Today I was stripping the sheets in the master bedroom only to look up to find my pile of sheets gone. Hmmmm. Where could they have gone?

In the washing machine of course. A one-year-old passing by the door saw what mommy was up to and, knowing what needed to be done, did it himself, without even being asked.

I had started the hot water in the washing machine and that's where I found the sheets - chugging their way into the warm, soapy suds - put there by little hands who knew just what to do.

Wow! He really DID help me!

I didn't really know what to say! I was like, "Thank you Micah! Really! Thank you!!!" Oh how I love that precious boy!

art museum

2009-01-12T10:00:00.000-08:00

glass art

percussion art

(which obviously led to a dance party)

floor art

Micah totally dug the floor art

maybe Micah was being moved by the floor art?

so, we came home, and? sticker art!

Fine. Go Ahead and Call Me a Hypochondriac.

2009-01-09T22:08:00.001-08:00

Today I went to the ER because my leg was turning blue.

It reminded me of the day I went into the doctor's office - for the second time, the first time having been misdiagnosed - with a brown recluse spider bite. Of course, by the time he actually got the diagnosis right, it was too late to treat it. "But doctor," said I, "my leg is turning blue." Yes, yes it is. "Might it fall off?" He didn't know. (That's when I went to the naturopathic doctor, was hooked up to an echinacea IV, was prescribed insane amounts of Vitamin C, and put charcoal powder on the bite. In a day or two, my leg looked as good as new. Whew! Crisis averted!)

Anyway, this is the memory that came to mind as I nervously surveyed my leg this morning, noticing it's apparent blue-ishness. HOWEVER, I did just dye my hair on Tuesday. And I took a shower on Wednesday morning. And sometimes the dye from your hair comes off in the shower, and I guess it could stick to your skin. Of course, in this case it would just be on the inner part of my right knee and calf. It seems a little isolated, don't you think?

I went to Friday morning Bible study, despite the blue, but did call my doctor and leave a message. While at Bible study, I showed the girls my leg. There were gasps and worried expressions. My friend Julie told me to go see a doctor. I told her about the dye. She said it could be a blood clot. That scared me. She said, "Christine, you need to go to the doctor. Micah needs his mother. It's better to be safe than sorry." Thank you Julie. (I know it's just because you love me!)

My doctor's nurse called back and said that my doctor is sick today and all of the other doctors are full, but I must definitely go the ER.

SO it was shaping up to be a stellar Friday!

My mother took Micah, and it was a good thing too! Because it wasn't ten minutes after I got there (Jerry Springer raging in the background), that a very angry lady and a very angry nurse stormed into the waiting area. They were yelling. The angry lady threatened to beat up the doctor, because "he's a bad doctor!" They went outside and angry lady cried. Then they came back inside. The angry lady picked up the phone and threw it! Hospital workers rushed in to her side, speaking in much too chirpy tones,"Could you come with me?", big frozen smiles on their faces. Then they got angry themselves and said that they were going to call the police. "Call the police!" angry lady yelled. One nurse came up to me and told me I was going to have to be a witness. I just sat very still and hid behind Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Finally, angry lady stormed away and left. The nurses began to freak out and talk among themselves. I thanked God that Micah was safe at Nona and Papa's! Then, an hour-and-a-half later, though no one else was in the waiting room, they finally saw me, after I went up to the front desk to remind them I was there.

Then I waited an hour in my room for the doctor. They had a machine that automatically took my vitals continuously as I waited for him. When he finally came in, he left five minutes later, "diagnosing" me with hair dye on my leg. At this point, I felt like the biggest moron on the planet, and all I wanted was Micah!

I waited another hour before I was released. The machine kept automatically taking my vitals. I came out every now and then to remind them I was there and ask if I could leave, but they just smiled at me, said "we are working on your paperwork," and patted me back to my hospital bed where I belonged.

Finally, I was tired, hungry, and feeling very idiotic for having wasted four hours at the ER on hair dye. I could hear the nurses talking excitedly in the hallway about the angry lady. I went outside and said, "I've been waiting to be dismissed for an hour."

A nurse looked at me, surprised, and said, "Oh! I thought you left. Here." She opened up a manilla folder. "The doctor diagnosed you with..." (embarassing pause) "...hair dye on your leg. You just need to sign here. If it gets worse in the next 24 hours, please come back and see us. Otherwise, here's your doctor's number."

I'm sure my face turned redder than my leg was blue as I signed the paperwork and tried not to make eye contact with the group of nurses and doctors behind the counter. I don't know if I was ever happier to leave a place in my life!

So girls, IMPORTANT INFORMATION TIDBIT: Sometimes, when you get your hair professionally dyed, some of it may come off on your leg (or arm, or whatEVER)in the shower and make you look a little blue. Don't go to the ER, or I guarantee you'll feel blue too!

Meet Elinor

2009-01-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

Meet Elinor Faye Gensch, my beautiful niece! She was born on the 23rd of December and we are so happy to meet her!

Her proud parents! What a wonderful mom and dad they make!

I knew I'd love her, but I wasn't prepared for how much.

She was lookin' good in her Uncle Colin's arms!

Auntie and Uncle

Of course, Micah had some major fun too. Not only did he get to meet his cousin, but he got to play wild and crazy games with Uncle Brian!

And it turns out Uncle Dan is just as much fun as Uncle B!

Cuteness.

Unfortunately I didn't get a picture of Micah and Elinor together on my camera, but someone did! I'll get one soon, because Elinor has come for a visit. (Now you know why I haven't been posting!)

While we were in KC visiting Daniel, Meg and Elli, we got to spend time with my Aunt Carla, Uncle Rob and their five kids. It was SO much fun! I didn't take any pictures, but that's because I was too busy sitting next to my Aunt Carla and soaking up her wonderful wisdom. I just love that family so much! They are one of the most loving, curteous and kind families (not just to others but to each other) that I have ever met. My aunt and I talked until 1 a.m. about marriage and family, and I left feeling encouraged and renewed all over again to build a grace centered home alongside Colin (who thankfully is naturally a very gracious man!). Their family is such a precious family, and Colin and I are so thankful for their example as we begin our own family. I felt like I had been on an overnight marriage retreat! It was great and just what I needed!

We Had Him Home for Two Weeks...

2009-01-08T21:21:00.001-08:00

(Pretending to sleep, dontcha know?)

The days quickly began to revolve around Colin. It didn't take long for Micah to figure out that Daddy could build a pretty nifty choo choo track, and soon his first word every morning was, "Daddy?" Maybe it won't always be this way, but as of right now I think it's safe to say that Daddy is Micah's best friend.

They Don't Call it the Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Nothing!

2009-01-08T19:43:00.000-08:00

We've been going non-stop! It's been so much fun. There's nothing more fun that spending time with the people you love. However, going back to regular naps and somewhat normal bed times feels like the right thing to do. I guess that's why we only party like this once a year!

Luckily, through all of the hustle and bustle, my husband and son gave me a break every now and then. Colin wrapped all of our presents this year (what a man!), with Micah's help of course. Micah was ever so SERIOUS as he helped his daddy tape. It was precious!

I took some great pictures of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but unfortunately I didn't put the memory chip in my camera and I don't have a chord that hooks my camera up to my computer. SO, those lovely memories are between me and my camera. We spent the night at my parents' house on Christmas Eve, and I felt like a kid again waking up on Christmas morning in my childhood home! It was super fun. Plus, there's something about having a child that makes you feel like a kid again around this time of year. Micah loved the trees and the snowmen and the lights that decorated people's houses, and I had tons of fun introducing him to all of these things!

For Boxing Day, I brought my memory chip. If you want to read about Boxing Day, you'll have to read about it here. The truth is that I really don't know what Boxing day is at all - I've been told, but I guess it went in one ear and out the other. I know it involves crackers (which, by the way, are AWESOME!), and in these crackers you will find little toys and crowns that you later wear on your head. So Boxing Day consists of popping open your British crackers and wearing the paper crown on your head. My favorite part was seeing my husband wear his crown.

I just love seeing the little boy come out in him!

Dinner was wonderful, and the table was just beautiful. Jonna worked really, really hard!

Check out this special Boxing Day cake, which Jonna started MONTHS AGO. I know that it sounds gross, but I wasn't afraid. I ate it, and it was good!

But definitely the highlight is when we hummed Christmas carols with the whistles that came in our Christmas crackers! I can't remember what song we hummed, but we totally nailed it. Score!

Grandpa conducted... the rest of us concentrated.

Jeff and I had an ongoing battle to see if I could take a picture of him playing his little whistle. He put up a good fight as I failed many times, but I definitely won in the end, did I not? Two whistles!!!

AND of course, the highlight for Micah was not so much the whistling...

...as was the old, electric choo choo Grandpa lovingly set up around the tree.

Although there was definitely a portion of the night with NO Micah under the tree, just a Grandpa, a Daddy, and a choo choo. Like I said, kids bring out the kids in us all!

All in all, it was a fun December 26th! What a wonderful family I married into. (And this is just the half of it! I forgot my camera at the other festivities.)

This, by the way, was the THIRD picture we took. There was just too much silliness for Jonna to keep a straight face. And of course, I just now, whilst uploading this picture, realized that Erin was giving Jonna bunny ears. NERNA! After all that trouble!

Am. So. Tired.

2008-12-26T22:29:00.001-08:00

I think I've been party hopping for three days straight now! One included an overnight. Today was Boxing Day. If you don't know what that is, don't feel badly, I didn't either just two years ago, and now it is a new family tradition! It's great fun. I'm sure there will be more on that later, when I finally get to posting my pictures of the last few days. Things have just been too crazy to upload! And today, I had a really, really bad idea. I thought I'd go to the mall and check out a new store that cousin Kayla has been telling me about.

Cousin Kayla's quite cute. Often, when I see her, I want to know where she got her shirt, earrings, etc. She's been telling me about Forever 21 for awhile now. Apparently, Forever 21 is the new Target. Even, some say, better than Target. I didn't know how it could be true, but there was only one way to find out, and apparently it meant heading out to the mall on one of the worst possible days of the year, battling crowds and body odor and unusally warm temperatures, fighting traffic for half an hour just to find a parking space and then standing in line for thirty MORE minutes so that I could make my purchase. Yes, I have learned my lesson, and I will never again shop at the mall on December 26th. BUT, it turns out Forever 21 is the coolest! And I got a pretty nifty green turtleneck. So, thank you Kayla, for introducing me to a place that, despite the crowd, noise, mess and odor, made me very, very happy!

We leave in the morning for Kansas City to meet our new niece/cousin! We are so excited!!! We just hope that Micah, who must think life has just turned into one big party, does okay in the car after a week of exhaustion! I have a feeling he's going to have a lot of fun meeting his new cousin, and not only that, but seeing his second cousins as well. I can't wait to see them!

Baking Cinnamon Rolls

2008-12-23T22:56:00.001-08:00

This morning, Micah and I decided to bake some cinnamon rolls. Micah pretty much did all of it, pouring everything in the bowl, stirring it, kneading the dough, and watching it bake. Am I glad I have a one year old! Now I can just sit around with my feet up all day!

Kneading was especially fun!

This does absolutely NO justice to the mess that was made. He was covered in flour from head to foot! I kept asking him to look at the camera and say, "Cheese," but as you can see, he couldn't pull his eyes away from the flour.

He only fell off the chair once! Mental note: get a stepping stool!

He's Faithful to the Faithless

2008-12-22T11:51:00.000-08:00

This year, I'm attempting to read through my Bible in a year, thanks to encouragement from my wonderful Bible study leader, Janet. (She gave more than encouragement, but at Bible study two weeks ago she generously gave all of us a Daily Bible in Chronological Order! I couldn't wait to start mine, so I went ahead and gave myself a head start. I never have been able to follow through with this goal, but last summer I put it on my "30 things to do before I turn 30" list, and so now seems as good a time as ever!) It's really wonderful to read through the Old Testament again. I have learned so much about grace and forgiveness in recent years, and it is moving to read about it so plainly in the Old Testament, a period of time often affiliated only with law and judgement.Our God is a God of mercy and grace. He is now and He was in the Old Testament too! He's the same yesterday, today and forever. He never changes.

Today I read in Genesis 26, where Isaac lies to King Abimelech and tells him that Rebekah is his sister, not his wife. Of course he did this out of fear, not faith. And we all know where liars go, right? Like my seventh grade Spanish teacher said, "H-E -double hockey stick!" So then, what is the very next thing God does? I, for one, expected a chastisement of some sort. But I was so encouraged to find that God didn't define Isaac by his lack of faith. He didn't give him what his lack of faith deserved. Instead, God blesses Isaac (26:12).

I am so thankful that our God is One who does not love us or bless us conditionally, based on our faithfulness! Yes, we are sinners, but it is so freeing to come to the understanding that God loves us unwaveringly, even when our faith falters, even when we sin. How is this possible? Because in the end, it's not about me and how much faith or obedience I do or don't have. It's about the finished work of someone Other - someone who's faith did not falter - Jesus Christ. Miles J. Stanford probably says it better than I can:

Although we abide in the Lord Jesus as our position, we are ever aware of our condition in ourselves. We are concerned about the sinfulness of self, but no longer do we depend on improvement in that realm for our acceptance. We are resting in a position, in a Person who is fully and forever accepted by God, One in whom there is no improvement necessary or possible. We have exchanged unimprovable self for the perfect One..

What a safe and impregnable position is ours in Christ! "The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and the high tower" (Psalm 18:2). When the "accuser of the brethren" points his maligning finger at the self-life within, at our condition in ourselves, seeking to get us to question our acceptance, we are able to rest in our position and point to Christ. We are well aware of self's unacceptability, but we are much more aware of our acceptance in the Beloved. The enemy can never touch Him, and our "life is hid with Christ in God" (Col 3:3). Satan may be the counsel for the prosecution, but we have two Counsels for defense - an Advocate at the throne, and an Advocate within - to say nothing of the fact that the righteous Judge is our Father!

So this morning I was reminded that NOTHING, not even my own sinfulness or fear (which is the opposite of faith), can separate me from the love of God that is in Christ! It always brings to mind one of my favorite verses: "If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot deny Himself." (2 Tim. 2:13)

It sure does make me feel lots of joy and peace on this coooold December day, don't you agree?

Studs

2008-12-20T07:00:00.000-08:00

I was looking through old pictures and found this one. What a group of handsome men! Such studmuffins are the men in my family, I had to show them off. :)

If You Need a Laugh...

2008-12-19T07:00:00.000-08:00

The 7 People You Meet in a Prayer Circle

I thought this was funny enough to laugh out loud! You might too. I can totally relate to at least six of these people!

Hope you're all having a wonderful day!

What Can I Say? He Likes Things Clean.

2008-12-17T13:49:00.001-08:00

My carpet is the kind that hides a LOT, which is good (I guess), since my vacuum barely works. Sometimes I feel like I'm vacuuming "by hand" - which isn't fun, let me tell you! Thankfully, God gave me a little helper to lighten the load. For months now, Micah's been picking up little fuzzies, or bits of leaf, or whatever he can find on the carpet, and holding it up to me saying, "Eeewwww!" before throwing it in the trash can. The other day, he actually grabbed a tissue before picking up the fuzzy on the floor. You know, so that he wouldn't have to touch the fuzzy. Because that would just be gross.

His help doesn't just end there. The other day he ran up to me, got in my face, and with a worried expression in his big brown eyes, said, "Uh-oh." Needless to say, I was afraid, because that is usually not a good sign. Thankfully, I followed my scurrying one-year-old to nothing but an already dead fly lying on the carpet. The thing is, Micah didn't know it was already dead. I decided not to tell him. "Uh-oh," I said. Micah didn't wait any longer. He knew what to do. He ran off to his room to grab a very small, corduroy shoe, which was just precious in and of itself, and then he came back to the fly, and whacked it several times. Dead. Now he was sure of it. He led the way to the bathroom, where I grabbed a bit of toilet paper, and then he went back to the fly and picked it up with the tissue, ran back into the bathroom, tossed it in the toilet, and flushed. That boy has seen his mommy kill one too many spiders! (I can't wait until he actually CAN kill spiders for me!)

Anyway, another thing he helps me do is dust/clean. I use natural cleaners so that he can help me scrub, and the two of us have a good old time together wiping things down. My favorite part about it is how important and helpful I can tell he feels. (Those Colin eyes are very expressive!) The funny thing about it is how quickly his paper towel gets so dirty he feels he must throw it away. That's why in most of these pictures, it barely looks like he has any paper towel at all. I tear one up into several pieces so that it lasts a little while longer. Otherwise I'd have a trash can full of clean paper towels!

So, if you want to buy a Christmas present for Micah and you're not sure what to get him, I have a great idea: a toddler-sized vacuum cleaner! It will be sure to take a load off of both Micah and mommy's minds as the current one just doesn't seem to be doing the job.

Snow

2008-12-16T11:26:00.001-08:00

Okay, this was the first real snow! Colin took the first picture from behind the screen door where it was warm and where I had baked chocolate chip cookies, but then he joined us outside.

Micah was in awe.

And below? This is Micah and Mommy's first attempt at a snowman. The snow was very dry. It looks like a pile of snow and sticks, which is what it was, but to Micah it was a "sno sno," (Micah's word for snowman), which is what matters.

So much fun!

The Ingredients to a Great Party...

2008-12-15T08:45:00.001-08:00

Crab legs dipped in butter!

Aunt Nerna dipped in butter, jalapeno juice, and white wine (and because she was wearing black, you couldn't see a thing! She looked just as pretty as before!)

Long conversations with Grandpa...

More money...

A non-scary bank (this one was a railroad sign that actually made choo choo sounds and lit up!)

Three generations of Kelly and a Bartel...

A suspenseful kitty hunt...

(It was a hardcore hunt)

(Micah was afraid of the light on daddy's head)

Storytelling...

Cute couples listening...

Margaritas and tickling...

Enough handsome men to go around...

Playing with Grandma Jonna until way after bedtime...

But mostly?

Guy time.

Oops.

2008-12-14T13:32:00.001-08:00

This morning Colin had a migraine (some of you are doing a double-take, right? It was his first.), and so I was quickly getting ready for church, trying to keep Micah quiet. However, Micah was more interested in, "Daddy? Daddy?" So I handed him my socks and said, "Micah, could you go put these in the hamper?" Really, I was grasping for straws here. I wanted Colin to get some sleep, and so I decided to take a leap of faith in an effort to get Micah out of the room for a few more seconds.

Micah helps me with the laundry several times a week, but we don't often speak the word "hamper" out loud; however, sometimes he surprises me. I do often ask him to throw things away, so naturally, he scurried off to the trash can to throw my socks away.

"No, Micah," I said. "The hamper. In the bathroom."

I saw the light go on in his head, and thought what a smart child is my son. He scurried down the hallway to the bathroom. Suddenly it hit me. I got up as fast as I could and I was running down the hallway, but not before I heard the dreaded sound. I was able to save one sock. And you probably caught on way before me that the other one was flushed down the toilet.

My excuse is that I only got two hours of sleep last night, thanks to the fact that two of my favorite people in the whole world were in need of me. I am just not on top of my game!

Since we have a septic tank, I guess it's time to call my landlord. Sigh.

(Thankfully, Colin is feeling much better now!)

The Three Bears

2008-12-11T19:04:00.000-08:00

So precious to me! (Who can this blog possibly be of any interest to besides myself???)

Grace Abounds

2008-12-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

Well folks, it's been a week of ups and downs. There has been so much to be thankful for, but also many reminders that we are sinners living in a broken and fallen world that groans out for redemption. Like Elisabeth Elliot says, if we had everything we wanted in this world, we wouldn't long for the world to come.

This year has been hard. My faith has been shaken. I've really struggled with sin. Even though I know that God has forgiven me, I haven't always felt forgiven. Though it's been difficult, I can see how it's also been good for me. God has loved me relentlessly. He has pursued me through it all, and I have found it is good to be broken, to really, really know my need for a Savior. To not just know about Christ's grace, but to ache for it. To live and breathe it every day!

And then, these last two weeks, I've had minor physical problems. Nothing serious (thankfully it has NOT been a big deal), but it has still been an inconvenience that has been uncomfortable, at times painful, and always disheartening. How badly I want to respond to these trials in strength, with faith, and yet, the truth? Mostly, if I wasn't trying to stifle the rising feeling of fear and anxiety over the worst-case-scenerios, I was troubled in my heart about the inconvenience another trip to the doctor was to my day. Am I ever thankful that God is faithful to the faithless!

Today as I was sitting in Barnes and Noble reading (a rare occurence nowadays), it all suddenly struck me as funny. On my table was a cookbook called Super Natural Cooking, with pictures of peas and brown rice and asparagus floating around on its cover, and in front of me was a half eaten piece of coffee cake and a latte. Ah yes, I thought. The story of my life. It's the constant struggle between who I want to be, and - alas - who I really am.

But open on the table was the passage of Scripture I was reading. There is a solution to this problem, and it is this: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the UNGODLY. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! for if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Rom 5:6-11)

So today, on my way home, Micah and I sang, "This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!" Yes, I am a sinner. Yes, I got stuck with a needle today. But like Micah says, I can still be "happy happy happy!" Because of God's grace I can gladly say with David,

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven,

whose sins are covered.

Blessed is the man

whose sin the Lord will never count against him!" (Psalm 32:1,2)

Too Cute!

2008-12-10T13:30:00.000-08:00

If you haven't seen these on Brian's facebook, I just had to post a snippet here. You may not be able to tell right away, but Micah and Brian are trying to copy each other's facial expressions. I was in the other room not paying any attention whatsoever for most of this. They were having so much fun! I was hearing lots of laughter but it took me a long time to figure out why!

That's one pretty amazing uncle if you ask me. Micah loves him! His "B."

Corn Anyone?

2008-12-09T17:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, I got a little camera happy today. But when it's cold outside and there's not much to do, I usually just take a lot of pictures of Micah. It's always lots of fun!

Around naptime things got really quiet. Suddenly I wondered what Micah was doing. I searched the house, and had to look the living room over twice before I found this in the corner.

He was just sitting in the corner, eating a plate of corn. It was so funny! I hurried off to get Colin and the camera, and when I came back, he just looked at me, grinned really big, and said, "Cheese!" (Yes, we had been practicing!)

Money Money Money!

2008-12-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Grandma Charlene bought Micah a piggy bank, so we thought now was as good a time as any to teach our firstborn the value of saving his pennies.

"Micah, show me the money!"

Grandma almost didn't give the piggy bank to Micah because she was afraid it would make him cry. He thinks it's great. Am I the only grown up who thinks it's kind of scary?

"Micah, smile!"

"No, smile!"

Maybe next we'll work on saying "Cheese."

First Snow

2008-12-09T17:24:00.000-08:00

Of course, we stayed cozy inside all day long. Maybe tomorrow we'll go out and play!

What to do on a Long Weekend?

2008-12-02T19:48:00.000-08:00

We decided to have a little post-Thanksgiving fun and make snowflakes to decorate the house for winter. I made a salt dough and then Micah "helped" me roll it out and cut out snowflakes. After we baked them, he also helped me paint them (with his new, washable Crayola watercolor paints). It's so much fun watching him learn new things! I love being able to include him in my little projects.

Rolling...

Pounding (complete with sighs and grunts to let mommy know how hard he's working!)

Before they went in the oven...

And the final product...not exactly what we were going for, but close enough!

We also made a gingerbread house with daddy on Saturday night. I am trying to put it in a place where Micah can't snitch the little candies! He figured out pretty quickly that our craft was edible and I have had to keep a close eye on him ever since!

Thanksgiving Day...

2008-12-02T19:29:00.000-08:00

Papa stopped by on his way home from a well and we watched the Thanksgiving Parade together.

Then Micah helped me make mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie in the kitchen. He's such a good helper!

We ate Thanksgiving at Nona and Papa's house. Aunt Kayla made some really good dip! Here she is enjoying it.

And of course Grandma Patty is as precious as ever! She loved Kayla's dip too!

Dinner was sooo good! Here's a snippet. It's not a great shot, but then I am not a great photographer with a fancy schmancy camera either.

And when we weren't eating, we were talking about guns in the office. Well, at least Colin and Brian were.

Now we're looking forward to Christmas, excited to spend some more time with family. And this year will be extra special, because we will be meeting a new little addition to the family. We can't wait!

Thankful.

2008-11-26T23:28:00.000-08:00

As I write this, it's actually early Thanksgiving morning. I just returned from a night with cousins - wine, great discussion, laughter, and yes, tears too. I'm thankful for a close knit family. Family is a precious thing, and with each passing year I see how much I take my family for granted. God has been making it harder and harder for me to do that. We never know what the year is going to hold, and it's good to know that no matter what valley I might have to walk through, I will always have people to walk through that valley with me. That's one of the greatest blessings of being a child of God, isn't it? We get a people. I have been blessed with so many wonderful family members, friends, and an amazing church. I never have to feel alone. God knew I couldn't go through life isolated from others. I am thankful, very thankful, for the people He has put in my life.

I am thankful for a husband who not only makes me laugh but is also very wise; one who knows what to say to comfort me when I'm "all worked up" - who turns my eyes from earthly things to the King of all kings. I don't deserve him, not even a little bit. I am also extremely thankful for the little brown eyed boy who lights up my life. He was a sudden gift from God, and what a blessing he continues to be with each passing day! Yes, I have play dough pressed into the carpet, toys cluttering the living room, and a shattered cell phone screen, but I can say without hesitation that I wouldn't trade any of these things for the world.

James says that God is the giver of ALL good gifts. My life overflows with good gifts, and the most valuable ones are the ones in people form. I thank God for all of my family and friends who stand by me, despite myself!

I found this excerpt regarding Thanksgiving from Tara Barthel's blog. It is so encouraging, and it motivates me to pray for our country as we face the coming changes and challanges.

The First National Proclamation of Thanksgiving as given by the Continental Congress in 1777:

"FOR AS MUCH as it is the indispensable Duty of all Men to adore the superintending Providence of Almighty God; to acknowledge with Gratitude their Obligation to him for Benefits received, and to implore such farther Blessings as they stand in Need of: And it having pleased him in his abundant Mercy, not only to continue to us the innumerable Bounties of his common Providence; but also to smile upon us in the Prosecution of a just and necessary War, for the Defense and Establishment of our unalienable Rights and Liberties; particularly in that he hath been pleased, in so great a Measure, to prosper the Means used for the Support of our Troops, and to crown our Arms with most signal success:

It is therefore recommended to the legislative or executive Powers of these UNITED STATES to set apart THURSDAY, the eighteenth Day of December next, for SOLEMN THANKSGIVING and PRAISE: That at one Time and with one Voice, the good People may express the grateful Feelings of their Hearts, and consecrate themselves to the Service of their Divine Benefactor; and that, together with their sincere Acknowledgments and Offerings, they may join the penitent Confession of their manifold Sins, whereby they had forfeited every Favor; and their humble and earnest Supplication that it may please GOD through the Merits of JESUS CHRIST, mercifully to forgive and blot them out of Remembrance; That it may please him graciously to afford his Blessing on the Governments of these States respectively, and prosper the public Council of the whole:

To inspire our Commanders, both by Land and Sea, and all under them, with that Wisdom and Fortitude which may render them fit Instruments, under the Providence of Almighty GOD, to secure for these United States, the greatest of all human Blessings, INDEPENDENCE and PEACE: That it may please him, to prosper the Trade and Manufactures of the People, and the Labor of the Husbandman, that our Land may yield its Increase: To take Schools and Seminaries of Education, so necessary for cultivating the Principles of true Liberty, Virtue and Piety, under his nurturing Hand; and to prosper the Means of Religion, for the promotion and enlargement of that Kingdom, which consisteth "in Righteousness, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost.

And it is further recommended, That servile Labor, and such Recreation, as, though at other Times innocent, may be unbecoming the Purpose of this Appointment, be omitted on so solemn an Occasion."

It's Good to be One...

2008-11-22T10:00:00.000-08:00

Fun in the Fall

2008-11-20T13:12:00.000-08:00

I'm a little late in posting these pictures, but oh well. Better late than never!

This year we went to East Heights Methodist Church to pick out our pumpkins. We love this church, because we got married in this church, and those are some good memories.

Micah loves pumpkins. Apparently his daddy loved pumpkins when he was a little boy too. However, now he doesn't like me to photograph him picking out his pumpkin because he thinks it's silly. I photograph him anyway, and so he plays evil tricks on me. If you can't tell, he's crossing his eyes in this picture.

Then, when it's his turn to take a picture of me and my pumpkin, he takes it when I don't expect it. Forget counting to three! Most of the time I'm not even looking at the camera.

However, in the end, I think Colin has just as fun a time as the rest of us, because deep down inside still lives a little boy obsessed with pumpkins! Not to mention he gets to spend time with his son.

Fall is absolutely my favorite time of year, and I do love pumpkins. But most of all I love making memories with my two favorite people!

So I'm Starting a Blog...

2008-11-05T16:11:00.000-08:00

It's been something I've been thinking about doing for a long time now. I love reading other people's blogs, and I've been wanting to join in the fun. I'm not sure how often I'll post, but if you want to stay updated on what's happening in the Kelly household, then this will be the place to look!