I Heart Faces Photo Challenge "Blue"

I love this picture I took of my daughter just before the first day of school (this is her outfit for that day). Unfortunately I had to crop my son out of it because, well... he was wearing red. If I had better photo editing software I might have enhanced the eyes a little and experimented on it some, but I think its very fitting of an entry just the way it is.

If you'd like to see more "blue" entries or enter your own just click on the I Heart Faces logo above and check them out!

Count Your Blessings Sunday

Yep, it's Sunday again! What have you been blessed with this week? If you'd like to join in please just copy the link on the left and then paste it in a post on your blog. Then come back here and leave your name in MckLinky below so we can share in your blessings. Or if you prefer just leave a comment with your blessings listed there, but I will say it's usually much more fun if you do it on your blog. Okay here goes...

1) Yohn, I love you so much. I am so thankful that you are a part of my life and I count myself blessed to be called your wife.

2) My children, Elisha and Bethany. I never imagined being your mom would be so rewarding. Thank you for the treasures you are.

3) I have a place to call home. I was reading again about the foreclosures and how people are losing their homes to the banks and I just think I am blessed to be where I am.

4) Yohn and I both have jobs. The job rates are not that good right now so we are blessed to still be working.

5) That we have friends and family who love and support us. Without them life doesn't really mean anything (remember Jesus said the greatest of all is love, this is what I am refering to here).

6) We haven't melted in the heat. I know this sounds funny, but it's been really hot here and I often get headaches in the heat. Thankfully this time I have been able to just lay low and remind myself to drink lots of water.

Now it's your turn!

Little Shepherd Boy

Maybe I don't really have the "little" part right anymore, but as evidenced by the title of this post, Elisha is going to be a shepherd boy for our church Christmas play, "Super Gift From Heaven."

Why they got out costumes in September when December is still a few months off is beyond me but this was sent home to be tried on and washed. Elisha was very excited about it and just had to have pictures taken with it on.

Here's the innocent look...

...and here's the cool shepherd boy look. I'm pretty sure he'll play the innocent shepherd boy in the Christmas play as I really don't remember a cool shepherd boy with blue shoes in the story anywhere.

A Girl, Some Dirt and... a Ball?

Bethany likes softball. She actually goes from liking it to loving it and visa versa depending on if she's hitting well or playing catcher (which she loves to do both) or playing in the outfield (which she doesn't care for so much).

On Saturday she was given a chance to play at short stop and she talked about it a lot afterwards. She did not, bowever, move from her position. She looked around, she played with her glove, she watched the ball... as it rolled... right past her... and the girl who played third. In other words, SHE DID NOT MOVE! For someone who was very excited to play in the dirt, her excitement did not show while she was out there watching the ball. I still thought she looked very cute and her excitement about playing in the dirt was very entertaining to hear about. Maybe this Saturday she'll actually move about a bit and maybe even get that ball!

On a side note, I thought that picture collage would look cute but that is just waaaaay to much white. But I guess it's not too bad for a first attempt.

Silly Faces and Plaid Shorts

As you may recall in a post I did a few days back I mentioned that I dressed both me and my two children in plaid shorts. Here is the photographic evidence of the coincidental event:

I usually let the kids pick their own clothes and "guide" them if they look too ridiculous, but on Monday we were short on time getting ready for school so it's just faster if I do it. I didn't even realize until we were about to walk out the door that Elisha and Bethany both had plaid on and just as I was about to say something it dawned on me that I too was wearing plaid shorts. I thought it was very funny indeed. Of course, we couldn't just stop at taking pictures of plaid shorts, the kids had to have their fun as well so may I present the oh so fun silly face pictures...

Ahhh... The joys of owning a digital camera! You can just keep snapping and snapping and not worry about wasting because unless you really want to you don't have to print them all.

I just don't understand where they get it from.

It must be from their father's side of the family!

How to Stop Church Gossip

This is a forward I thought was worth sharing. It's pretty funny but also thought provoking. I hope you enjoy it!

Mildred, the church gossip, and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals,
kept sticking her nose into other people's business....

Several members did not approve of her extra curricular activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one after noon.

She emphatically told Frank (and several others) that every one seeing it There WOULD KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING ! Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away.
He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing....

Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house ..... walked home . . .and left it there all night!!!

(You gotta love Frank!)

Completely Candid - I Heart Faces Photo Contest

This week's I heart faces photo challenge is Completely Candid. Well I took this shot of the kids playing on the playground with their friend Jamie after our back to school photo shoot and if it's not considered candid then I don't know what is. Look at those hot, flushed, overjoyed faces. I love this picture because they are just having the kind of fun that only kids can really have.

If you want to enter or see more great candid photos just hop on over to the I heart faces blog by clicking on the button above.

Not Me Monday

It's that time again! I love not me Mondays because there can be soo much humor in our misgivings. If you'd like to join in just click on the picture above. You'll also get a chance to read up on what other people have not been doing this week.

I did not accidentally dress me, my seven year old and my six year old in plaid shorts today. Nope because I always pay attention to what I'm putting on them and would have planned it out if I wanted it that way.

I did not open my freezer a few weeks ago to find out that several hundred or maybe several thousand ants had committed suicide in a nice little pile, or shall I say, several nice little piles. I did not find another pile of suicide ants just yesterday either. What compels them to keep doing that anyway?

I did not send my children outside to play and then lock the screen door behind them so I could enjoy a Klondike bar without them knowing. Nope. I always share such yummy treats with my beloved children.

I most certainly did not chase Yohn (all over the couch) with a dried out permanent marker and draw a fake line across his forehead just to see his reaction. Naw, I wouldn't do that to him.

What about you? What have you not been up to this week?

Cursive T's

It's no secret around here that Elisha has had some troubles sleeping. When he goes to bed at night he can often be heard yelling, "Mommy?!" to which I reply, "What?" then he answers, "I love you." This I love you routine is his way of finding out if I am still in the house without him directly asking. It's cute and tiresome all at the same time. And No - I have never left him alone in the house while he slept so really it's kind of strange that he thinks that I will.

However, a few nights ago it became a little humorous. He woke up in usual form at about 11:30 pm and came stumbling out of his bedroom. He had that glazed over, sleepy look. He came to me and hugged me for what seemed like forever. When he pulled away I asked him if he was going back to bed and nodded his head.

Here's where it gets funny. He looks at me with the same sleepy look and says, "But what do I do with the cursive t's?" My brilliant self was so taken aback that I said, "Huh?" To which he repeated, "What do I do with the cursive t's?" Now I almost burst out laughing because the look on his face was soo comical and just the fact that he would ask something so random was hilarious. Instead I said, "Uhhh, the cursive t's? You uhhh... you go like this (I used hand motions here) and then remember to cross it when your done."

He then nodded his head and went to bed and did not awake again the rest of the night. I waited until he had left the room to bust up laughing, but not too loud, he hates being laughed at. The next morning I asked him if he remembered when he got up and gave me a long hug. He said yes. Then I asked him if he remembered asking me about the cursive t's. He smiled and said yes again. Then he laughed and said he thinks he was dreaming about school. What a way to dream on a Friday night when you're free from school for a few days.

Anyway, it's now a running joke in our family and Elisha takes it well. But I don't think he's going to live it down for a while.

Count Your Blessings Sunday

Okay so I know it's gonna say Saturday night but it's close enough to Sunday that I can get a jump on this!

1. Yohn, the love of my life. Thank you for all you do to provide for us. You work so hard and I appreciate you.

2. Elisha, my son. You are a joy to watch as you learn and grow. I pray you will be a man after God's heart.

3. Bethany, my daughter. You bring me so much joy. We are so alike yet so very different. It's the differences that I truly appreciate as you really stretch me and change my way of thinking.

4. My home

5. My job

6. The school my children attend. I do not need to worry about the things they learn in class each day, as Christianity is a core part of their lessons.

7. Scrapbooking Saturdays. I'm looking forward to the next one.

8. And last but certainly not least, for Jesus, my Savior, because without Him in my life, my life wouldn't be what it is.

Care to join in? Just post your own Count Your Blessings Sunday on your blog and then come back here and link up so we can all see how you've been blessed this week!

One More

Elisha was looking at the last post and saw his name and asked me to read to him what I wrote. At the end of the story he was cracking up at himself and then asked me to read it to Bethany too. She laughed at the end and then said completely serious, "No Mommy, there's only aliens in Africa."

Okay then. Guess we really need to have a talk about aliens.

A-Musings

Elisha has been having trouble sleeping and even woke up a few nights ago crying. When Daddy asked Bethany the next morning if Elisha had woke her up she said with much frustration, "He almost woke me up two times with his whining." Yohn replied, "If you knew he was whining then you must have woke up." She responded, "No Daddy, he didn't wake me up because my eyes were still closed, so he almost woke me up but not all the way."

* * * * * * * * * *

A little girl at church - remember we deal with 3 to 5 year olds here - came up to Yohn and said, "Hey, HEY! My mommy has boobies." To which he responded with, "WHAT?!" And she said again, "My mommy has boobies."

* * * * * * * * * *

When we were driving home from setting up for kids camp Bethany exclaimed to the three other children sitting in the van with her, "Look I see a wedding ring! That’s where people go to get married!" We never did figure out what she saw, but we still thought it was pretty funny.

* * * * * * * * * *

A few years ago when Elisha started kindergarten Yohn was explaining to him about stranger danger and what to do if he saw a stranger or if they tried to talk to him. At the end of the conversation he asked Elisha if he understood and he said yes and then added, "What if there's aliens in the bathroom, Daddy?"

Back in Action

We weren't going to do it. We said no and we meant it. When we explained to the kids we said no they understood and had no problems with not being allowed to. And then we got a phone call and it all changed.

You probably already saw the picture of Bethany and her softball glove (well, not really hers because she left hers at home and had to borrow one) and her Angels hat in the previous post. You may (or may not have because you may not have even noticed or cared) have wondered, "Huh? I wonder if Bethany is playing softball again?" If you were wondering the answer is yes. And if you weren't well now you know anyway.

Like I said before we were not going to do Fall Ball (JOBL's instuctional league played in - you guessed it - the fall). The kids had asked about it and really wanted to play but we had decided they had enough going on that they did not need one more thing on top of it. For one they are in this year's Christmas play at the church. That's a big deal because it is a huge commitment for two children so young but they really wanted to do it. Practices started in July and won't end (obviously) until December. Then in December there are four, count them, one... two... three... four performances. To top it all off they also have music lessons once a week. So we decided that they had enough to be involved in without sports on top of it. When we told them, they didn't even act disappointed, just went on like they understood. Then we got the phone call on Thursday evening.


"Hi, this is (somebody) from JOBL and I just wanted you to know that we were doing teams for the little girls out at JOBL for the fall so they won't have to play with the boys. It'll be kind of like a clinic and only on Saturdays, so if you are interested please call me back. Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you." Okay so that's not exactly word for word but you get the point. Now we were interested for two reasons. 1) Bethany wants so badly to learn how to catch but just doesn't want to heed my instruction or Daddy's and instead runs from or dodges out of the way of the ball. We thought she just might get her heart's desire if someone else was able to take the time to teach her. 2) This particular coach did not loose a single game all last season and went on to be undefeated in the playoffs as well. Obviously something she did worked and we were eager to see what she had to offer.


So now Bethany is back to playing softball and Elisha is just fine with not playing as long as we can play catch and do baseball practice at home.


And as you can tell we drug Jewell along too. She went kicking and screaming and had a great time. Her smile was huge. Even though she's never played before she certainly tried her best to learn what the coaches were asking from her. Yep, it was a good decision. Even though we said no.

Bethany was elated.

Contemplative - I Heart Faces Photo Entry

Hello everyone! This week's theme at I Heart Faces is Contemplative. I wasn't going to do an entry this week until I took this picture of my daughter on Saturday:

I took the picture through the fence so when I first saw it I was sooo disappointed because I thought I had wasted the shot. The reason being is I caught part of the chain link fence and it really washed out the picture. So I decided to try some editing and thought this picture actually looked pretty good in black and white. Yohn really liked it this way too and that was before he saw the colored version. He absolutely hates black and white pictures (althought I think that's starting to change) so I was really happy with the end result after he said he liked it.

If you have a picture you think would be perfect for a contemplative entry simply click on the I heart faces logo above and follow the directions. Have a great day!

Count Your Blessings Sunday

It's that time of the week again. Time to focus on what you've been given instead of what you don't have. 1) Yohn, I am blessed by the friend and father that he is. 2) My children who bring me much joy and smiles every day. 3) The fact that I have a home. It may be small and does not really belong to us, but we have somewhere where we can all be together with a roof over our heads. I was reminded of that today when someone else was saying that if they didn't find a job they were going to be evicted. 4) I have a job! 5) We have many friends with which to spend our lives with. 6) For 10 years of living in California. I said I would never move here but when God directs you to go somewhere you can only obey or be unhappy with where you are. This is one decision we have not regretted. 7) For chocolate milk! Seriously, I'm drinking it right now and it's just hits the spot! Now what have you been blessed with this week. Feel free to join this blog carnival by posting your blessing on your blog. Then just add your name and blog link to MckLinky below. Or if you prefer simply leave me comment sharing how you have been blessed this week.

100th Post Celebration!

Okay so call me crazy... But it's my 100th post so I thought I'd have a little fun. Hmmm... how do you celebrate a 100th post anyways? Here's some of my ideas...

A picture of a completed 100 piece puzzle! Not impressed okay....

How about a video of me reciting 100 Bible verses? Yes! Well I'm sorry but I probably only know about 20, maybe 30. So that one's out.

100 cents stacked up all neat? No? Okay...

100 pictures of my family. No Way! That would take 100 years to post! And you might think I went just a wee bit over the top.

100 ways to say hello:

hello, hi, hej, hola, mambo, Tansi, 你好, oi, olá, mingalarba, salam, tungjatjeta, tél nìdõ, hafa adai, moni bambo, Muribwanji, bok, dobré ráno, shorah, Grüßgot, saluton, hyvää päivää, salut, dia duit, gamardjoba, hallo, kem che, yia sou, Ina uni, aloha, shalom, नमस्ते, jó napot, góðan dag, nde-ewo, halo, ciào, おはよう, huthegellutheg, Yow Wah gwaan, kwe kwe, namaskara, Salem, ahn nyeong ha se yo, roj bahsh, sabaidee, labdien, salve, mbote, laba diena , coi, moïen, Здраво, namaskkaram, kihineth, merħba, kia ora, sain baina uunamaskar, niltze, hao, ya'at'eeh, faka lofa lahi atu, cia, cha, Jwajalapa, ज्वजलपा, namaskar, namaste, k cha, moin moin, dumelang, hei, heisann, asham, eyhay, dzień dobry, witaj, cześć, oi, boas, olá, alô, sat sri akal, Ram Ram, salut, buna dimineata, talofa, haja, malo, (90) hallå, go'da, salamaleikum, zdravo, ćao, dobro jutro, a`yubowan, dobrý deň, and....živjo!

What? You're still not impressed? Ahhh com'on! I had to look that one up on wikipedia. Okay, okay I got it this time, you want me to stand on my head for 100 seconds. Yeah? Well that's just too bad because I can't stand on my head for 10 seconds let alone 100. So you'll just have to be satisfied with this:

100 ways to describe me:

silly, sweet, simple, mommy, wife, white (ha!), sour, living, moody, passionate, messy, disorganized, blonde, spunky (so says Yohn), friendly, energetic, lazy, rude, sarcastic, loving, beautiful (so says Yohn again), stubborn, encouraging, bizarre, caring, capable, self sufficient, cheery, rosy, sexy (again that is Yohn not me!) hyper, obnoxious, photographer (wanna be), scrapbooker (sometimes), hazel eyed, cheerleader (for my husband and kids), writer (again wanna be), reader, learner, secretary, multi tasker, long haired, big footed, gum chewer, sugar lover, hair cutter, dinner prepper, 5' 5", quirky, blogger, blessed, teacher, shy, head strong, lunch packer,Christian, friend, fantasy football champ (in a league of all guys!),coupon clipper, internet addict, truthful, sincere, bookstore manager, modest, reserved, fun-loving, level-headed, positive, smart, sly, healthy, God fearing, competent, plant killer, night owl, real, active, American, sensitive, feminine, always right (hack, cough, wheese! excuse me, I was choking), slide show creator, cartoon watcher, baseball fan (especially if my children are playing), picture lover, casual, content, inspired, patient, (but also) impatient, creative, commited, different, selfish, competitive, procrastinator, responsible, compassionate, grouchy, and... grateful.

Okay that was not so easy. There it is my 100th post celebration! I know, there really wasn't much to celebrate... or maybe there was. But either way I had fun!

The Fear Factor

Okay, so yesterday while we were at Water World I was thinking about fear. Well, not thinking about fear exactly, like I wasn't breaking it down and examining it, I was actually the one afraid. Okay, so I wasn't at first, it was Elisha who started it. Let me explain this a little better, instead of rambling, maybe I should start at the beginning, huh?

We decided to go on this ride called the Big Kahuna. Everyone could go on it as it was one ride Bethany was tall enough for. I wish I had taken a picture but basically it's this five story high terror slide water slide that twists and turns all the way down. Everyone piles into a raft and as you go down it sloshes from side to side taking you up and down as it winds its way around drenching you completely before you get to the bottom. Saying I disliked this ride is a gross understatement. I absolutely hated it, every single second of it.

Back to the beginning... again. I said yes, to this going on this ride for two reasons, 1) My kids had never been here before and really wanted to try it and 2) Because I had forgotten how much I despise rides like this and I made a decision while my brain must have been out on a lunch break.

Now on the way up as we climbed higher and higher waiting in line our son started having a minor break down. Apparently he does not like heights so much or something because he kept questioning the integrity of the structure the water slide was built on. Why is this made of wood? Wouldn't metal have been much better because it's so much stronger? What if I fall backwards down the stairs, would I die? If the rails break and I fall will I die? I'm going to stand on the platforms while you stand on the stairs because I don't think the stairs are very safe. Would you catch me if I fall? What if we slip right off the side while we're on the raft? And so set the mood for our ride. Bethany of course was elated and couldn't stand the wait. We had to keep reminding her to stay where we were and quit trying to cut in line.

So there I am telling myself when I rode this several years ago it wasn't so bad. No big deal. Just sliding down the slide on a raft into the pool of water waiting at the end. I could do this, the kids wanted to go and I did not want to wait for eons at the bottom just for them to go on it. So I stood in line and listened to Elisha and his fears and tried to help calm him, because you know as a good mommy we want our children to face their fears. And because I knew it was fairly safe what a great time to do it with us by his side. However, secretly I was right there with him. Okay so I wasn't questioning the integrity of the structure or the fact that I would most certainly plummet to my death that day (although I was beginning to think it was possible). Nope as I stood there watching the other riders on their journey southward I began to remember the ride for what it was. And I began to dread the travel down more and more as we got closer and closer.

Well, so once at the top Elisha is now thrilled and can't wait to ride and I'm wishing I can bolt. I hate these rides, I am not a thrill seeker, at least when I am not in control. I do not like roller coasters, I do not like normal water slides that are several stories high and leave you with a wedgie and I did not like this ride. Just watching the other riders brought back memories of when I rode it the last time. What was I thinking? I was being a good mommy and facing her fears for the sake of her fearful child that's what I was doing. I'm glad I was wearing sunglasses that's all I can say because I had my eyes scrunched at tight shut as they would go the entire way down and neither my adventurous daughter nor my semi-adventurous son could see it. My husband on the other hand laughed all the way down because I was the one getting soaked.

Fear, it's a funny thing isn't it? Elisha was scared the whole way up and then loved the ride itself. He would do it again, he said, even though the stairs are kind of scary. I was scared not enjoying the ride down but managed to be just fine at the end. And listening to how much the kids really enjoyed it, even though I hated it, made it worth every second... as long as I don't have to go again.

Fear, we can pull through it we try. If we venture out we just might find there is something much more wonderful on the other side. Fear, God says to lay aside our fears and to trust Him with our lives. Because when we do there's something much more beautiful than we could ever have imagined... just above those scary "unsafe" stairs... just beyond those frightening twists and turns... just outside our fears.

Water World

We were given 4 free tickets for Water World and since we had already decided to make Labor Day a family day, we used the tickets today.


Yes, I brought my camera, as always. No, I did not miss out on all the fun, we rented a locker and I took the camera in and out in between activities.

You're not allowed to bring food into Water World and since money is not exactly growing on trees right now, we picniced in the back of the suburban for lunch.

I was too cold in the Lazy River the first time around, so I opted out when the kids and Yohn wanted to go in again. This is the view from the bridge.

Bethany was too busy watching herself leave footprints and almost bumped into these people.

Yohn made sure to include me in the pictures today. Of course, I think he likes this picture a little more than I do!

Count Your Blessings Sunday

It's Sunday again, time to focus on what you have been blessed with this week. 1) Yohn, my husband, my love. I thank God for your leadership of our family.2) Elisha, my son. I am blessed by your wonderful smile and thoughtful ways.3) Bethany, my daughter. I am blessed by your ability to make me laugh. You always brighten up a room.4) All our needs are met.5) The first week of school went great.6) The kids started private music lessons this week and loved it.7) The long weekend!Now it's your turn. What have has God done to bless you this week? If you'd like to join in copy code to the button on the right and paste it in your own post. Then tell us how you've been blessed (it's very encouraging) then come back here and add your name to the MckLinky list. Or you can just tell me in the comments too!

First Day of School

Monday (August 31st) was the first day of school for Elisha and Bethany. This year Elisha is in second grade and Bethany is in first. *Sigh* The years are going by very quickly. Even though I realize they are still very young, I also recognize that before I know it they will be graduating and heading out on their own. So for today I am very thankful that they are still at home with me, even though at the moment they are arguing about something in the background.

On Thursday the kids also started private music lessons through the school. Elisha is learning the drums and Bethany is learning the keyboard. They were both really, really excited about learning instruments.

A Photo Shoot

Okay so with the first day of school looming in on us I got this crazy idea to do a photo shoot of my kids. I actually got the idea from the I heart faces blog. Then I got really insane and decided that if I was going to do my kids' pictures I may as well invite friends to bring their kids along for the ride. Although it didn't go quite as I imagined the pictures still turned out alright. We went to the park across the street from the church, it has a pond and a wooded area I thought would work well. Here are the results:

Because the first day of school is always sooo busy it was much easier just to take a few pictures of that morning and have the main ones out of the way. I hope the kids appreciate the pictures later because I know they get tired of them while I'm taking them. I'll do a post later on the actual first day of school pictures.

Afterwards, we let the kids play on the playground for a bit.