A Petting Zoo Like No Other!

     A few days ago, my sweet children were playing outside. It was a good day for catching critters, so they decided to set up a petting zoo. When they had everything together, they called my husband and me over for the grand opening. And boy was it grand!!!
     Across the entrance, they had a ribbon tied (some bias tape from my sewing stash). Silas cut the "ribbon" and we all clapped! Oh, but that wasn't all! You know how sometimes doves are released? Well, Silas opened his net and out flew a dragonfly across the clear blue sky! He worked with what he had, you know. Ha! We gasped in amazement!
      Then we were allowed to enter and see the exhibits. First up was a beautiful turtle which Camden named Vinder, because his coloring reminded Camden of a vine. Yes, my kids are awesome!

 Next, was a cup of worms. Oookay then.

 Finally, were two "racing lizards" named Lightning and Cutie. They caught lightning (the super sized one) the day before, but didn't want to let him go until they caught another racing lizard to race him against. (I have a policy that we only keep wild critters for 24 to 48 hours. There have been a couple exceptions though. Thankfully another racing lizard was found the next day, and I didn't have to think about making an exception.)
Lightning is on the top left and Cutie is on the bottom left.

 The kids are constantly catching little animals around our place, but I enjoyed seeing them make them a part of their creative play! They have also used them for their emergency animal rescue, but sadly bugs (especially grasshoppers) usually don't make it out of the rescue station alive. I wish I had caught pictures of the ribbon cutting and the dragonfly release, but I wasn't expecting all of that. But oh how I love their creativity!

Can You Say That With An Irish Accent?

     Yes, I'm up after midnight YouTubing how to speak with an Irish Accent. Isn't everyone? Ha! Ha! Actually, for some unknown reason, Silas, my newly 8 year old has all of a sudden taken an interest in how to speak like an Irishman. So...like any mom would do, I am up previewing YouTube videos to find ones that are appropriate for Silas to watch, so that he can expand his knowledge on Irish accents. He will be so excited tomorrow!
     Doesn't this seem like a little bit of an odd interest to me? Yes. With Silas, it doesn't surprise me though. Each day is a new adventure with him, and tonight is yet another reminder of how blessed I am. I am so excited to see who he will be and what he will be doing in ten years!
     Since I like to have pictures with my posts, I will leave you with one that will perhaps help you to understand a little better who we are dealing with here. This is Silas as a wall (at his request) at Fall Festival when he was three! My husband did a GREAT job making his costume, by the way!

Can we keep 'em?

     When we were expecting our first born, we planned for his arrival. We decorated his nursery and thought of a name. We bought his little clothes and hung them up on little hangers. We collected tiny diapers and soft little blankets. We were blessed with baby showers and had pretty much everything we needed. We even secured his carseat in the car so it would be ready for him. All that, and I guess we still didn't truly understand what was about to happen.
     When Silas was born, we were instantly amazed and in love. I NEVER wanted to put him down. When someone else was holding him, I missed him SO much. Matt and I did everything together, because we didn't want to miss out. We changed his tiny diapers, and put on the tiny little hospital shirt, and heard the tiny little baby noises, and I just remember thinking, "Wow! I am so completely overwhelmed with love for this little chunk of precious." He was so soft and smoochable and beautiful. I just. never. dreamed.
     Then the day came to be discharged. We were loading our cart with all of our things, and I remember Matt and I just looking a each other both knowing that we were thinking the same thing..."This is it? He's ours? We get to take him home?" It was. He is. We could. I knew this because I asked the nurse as much when she returned. She confirmed that he was in fact ours to take home and keep and raise. We were the most blessed parents in the world. The most precious thing ever, and he was ours! There are no words...

Silas

Then we were blessed enough to repeat this process again...

Camden

 

 

And again...

Bliss

 

 

 

And again.



Zeb

 

 

While we knew what to expect after our first experience of labor and delivery and postpartum, it was still such an amazing and overwhelming feeling with the others. I don't take it for granted. I thank the Lord for my babies, and for the special kind of love He gives to daddys and mommas.

 

 



Softening the Blow... with Trout

     Camping is always great fun for our family. We only go once a year (so far anyway) as a family, but Matt and the big boys also go on a camping trip in the spring. They have a blast, and are always looking forward to the next. Recently, though, my husband has been preparing to go on a camping trip with his brother and a friend…without the boys.
      When Camden saw Matt making some “new inventions” to try while fishing, he got so excited! He knew that kind of fishing meant camping. A few days later, when Matt found out about Camden’s assumption and broke the news to the boys that he would be leaving them at home this time, the reactions were pitiful. Silas got a bit teary eyed, but tried not to let it show, and handled the news with integrity. I was proud of him.
      Then there was Camden, who had already built his excitement up thinking he was going camping. Oh, how the tears flowed! It was a silent cry at that. When Camden gets upset, he usually runs off to someone’s bed (this time Bliss’) and lies there for a long while. He just laid silently, tears flowing. When Camden’s heart is broken, the look on his face does a number on us (especially me). Our hearts break too. This is true with all of our children, of course. But Camden has the most pitiful heartbroken look, by far, when he is sad.
      Since Matt was going to be gone for a couple days, he wanted to do some things with the kids before he left. The final thing he decided he would do was take us all trout fishing, which requires a little bit of traveling for us to get to. The first spot we reached had too many people, so we tried another. Not one single bite the whole time we were there, but the kids did work hard making a “frog habitat”. I know the frogs are forever grateful.
     After a while, we decided to pack up and go to another city and try some fishing spots there. When we reached our favorite spot, the water was too low. So, we moved on to our final option. Matt said there was one area that might be deep enough to fish in. We decided to give it a shot and unloaded our gear.
    The shore was made of soggy, muddy sand. Camden decided to pick some up to feel, and then he washed his hands in the water. He loved watching how the sand mixture dispersed into the water. He said it looked like what a sting ray does, whatever that means. He then decided to scoop more up and repeat over and over just to watch it in the water. Then Bliss joined in.

 Before we knew it, Camden and Bliss were each using one of Camden’s shoes as a pail.
They would scoop up water and pour it out.

 

They got wet! The water was cold by the way, but the kids didn’t let it bother them. At least somebody was actually doing what they came to do.

Matt did catch something not too long after we got there. Someone else's lure.

 Zeb just had a great time exploring! He played with rocks and sticks and rocks and dirt and rocks and water (and a shoe)!

 

  Sister bear put a little mud on Zeb’s back.

  Zeb put a little mud in his mouth.

  Once when he was on all fours trying to pick up another find out of the water, he slipped and took a face dive into the water. I picked him up promptly, but he was not happy. The water was cold, so that’s why he is stripped down to his diaper. He recovered quickly, but when Bliss slipped and fell, and got a bit more wet than she had planned, I took her and Zeb to our van and changed them into something dry. Of course, when we made it back down to where the boys were, they had caught a fish while I was gone. Matt took a picture for me, and then they let it go. It was too small to keep.

 

 

      I heard Matt say to the boys something like, “Now, when did we catch a fish?” Their answers were “When we were quiet.”, and “When we were out of the water.” Ha! Ha!

 

      When Camden slipped and fell, he was ready to go change too. So, he and the littles came with me to the van. Everyone got dry and seated, and then we waited for the devoted fishermen to catch “one last fish.” After a while, up they came. Silas, got all dry, Matt packed up, and we headed home.

     So, though the actual fishing was not successful, the fishing trip was very successful. The kids had a great time, and almost everyone fell asleep on the way home after a hard day of play.  We got some quality time with Matt before his trip, and, while it didn’t make up for the boys not getting to go camping, I think it lessened the blow a little. A little.

Blessed by the Pocket Fulls...Literally!

     Doing dishes is by far my least favorite chore. The first runner up is definitely laundry though. It just accumulates so quickly, and if not kept in check can cause the whole rest of the house to get messy before I know it. But... there are a few things I like about laundry.
     For one, all of the change we collect goes straight into Camden's beach fund jar. That boy wants to get back to the beach soon, and I want nothing more than to see his happy face out in that ocean. Secondly, I like to unload the warm clothes when the days are cold. I just love giving my laundry a big fat toasty hug! A big shout out, by the way, out to my BFF, Fall. I am anxiously awaiting your arrival. Another reward I get for doing the laundry is that I like being able to go to a closet and grab exactly what I want us (the kids and me) to wear. Makes me feel organized and accomplished.
     The thing I like most though, is the discovery factor. Every load is like a new adventure! Finding all sorts of little things in the pockets of my little guys. I've found sticks, worms (yuck!), rocks, shells, Legos, little toy animals, and the list goes on. Today was a new one though. Bones. A pocket full of bones. Oh my dear little Silas...I thank you for that. Feeling from the outside, I thought they were maybe bobby pins (though that would be odd). Instead I found bones. That's not odd at all! After some questioning, we found out that they were frog leg bones. He saved them after eating some frog legs a few days ago. I am SO glad I could get them all cleaned up for him. Love my little guys so much, even if they are gross! Funny how doing the laundry makes me feel blessed. Even when I reach in a pocket and pull out frog bones. Oh Happy Day!

Hi Servant?

     One day a couple of months ago, Silas walked in Bliss' room, where I was hanging up clothes. I turned to look at him and smiled. Then he slipped out two words that got my attention big time, "Hi servant."
     Hi servant?! I stopped and gave him a confused look. He said, "I call you a servant, because you work so much."
     Here I was, upset and offended by what he called me. Calling someone your servant is considered offensive right? Isn't that the way the world views it? To be above all and to be served...that is the goal isn't it?
     For a follower of Christ, the answer should be no.  The Lord Himself came to earth to serve others. Mark 10:45  says, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many."  Jesus is our example. So...we are to serve. And...someone who serves might be considered, you guessed it, a servant. Jesus didn't serve because he had to. The King of kings doesn't have to do anything! Jesus served because He loves us. Our family, church, etc. doesn't force us to work for them. We serve because we love them and we love our Lord.
     Silas wasn't being rude. He was complimenting me! So, as it often happens, God used one of my children to teach me a lesson. He did this with two words in passing, on a regular day, doing a regular task. Am I a servant? Most certainly! Fellow wives (and husbands) and moms (and dads), let's embrace serving and instill the same in our babies.

Me with the family that God has given me to serve. Love them so much!

P.S. Servants do get tired and they also make mistakes. I know this is the pot calling the kettle black, but try not to be too hard on yourself. Being tired doesn't make you a failure! Remember Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."



Jesus...There's Just Something About That Name

     This year, the Bible part of our curriculum has us studying the different names for Jesus. It has been a REALLY great study. About every two weeks we study a different name. We color a little picture with the name displayed on it and attach it to our names for Jesus poster. With each name, we have a key verse that we recite everyday that goes along. The first day or two, we really break that verse apart and study it and what it means. We talk about the name and what it reveals about Jesus' personality. For a few days after that, we read passages from the Bible that exemplify that. Then the final days of the study, we brainstorm and give examples of how it can be applied in our lives.
      Right now, for example, we are studying that Jesus is the Giver of Living Water. Our key verse we recite everyday is, " ...If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink." John 7:37 . We colored a water drop that says " Giver of Living Water"  to add to our poster. We read in Exodus about Moses and the Israelites and water from the rock, and in John about Jesus and the woman at the well. Finally, we talked about ways we can tell "thirsty" people about the Living Water, so they will never have to thirst again.
      I love this! The kids are not just reading or hearing and comprehending (which is great in itself), but they are learning how to study the Bible! They are discovering for themselves who Jesus is and how he interacted with people. I know the younger ones aren't catching everything and taking it all in. But they are catching a little and absorbing some of what they hear. That lays a good foundation.
      I also like that we always have a little craft to reinforce it. It really helps, because it is usually something that we are supposed to display on the kitchen table for a week or two. Like with this week, we colored a picture of a water drop with our verse printed out that we are supposed to put on a water pitcher. When we use it during meal times, we are reminded that physical water will quench our physical thirst temporarily. But, when we drink living water, we will never spiritually thirst again.
     One time we decorated candles when we were studying that Jesus is "The Light of the World".  We kept them on our table and lit them every night for dinner. This is also a great way to remind us to talk about what we learned about that name earlier that day. Great dinner table discussions!
      Here is a picture of Camden decorating his candle. He painted glue onto it and then rolled it in salt. Matt did this with the boys while I was out one day.

 

Here are the finished candles.

 

 Yes, they are simple. They don't have to be anything elaborate. I don't know about all kids, but any kind of project, experiment, or craft that we can do related to what we are learning really helps my guys. If they can see it and feel it, it really helps to ingrain it in their brain. It really helps cross the line from just short term memorizing something, to really learning something. That is why I really don't like when I have to pass over  the crafts and such due to lack of supplies or time restraints. I would rather just slow down and do things when I can really do them. When I rush through or pass over, they aren't learning anyway, at least for the long term. And the important thing, after all, is that they are REALLY learning.

 

This is a picture of them working on their Jesus window decorations.

I posted this picture so you can see that Silas sticks his tongue out when he concentrates. He doesn't realize it, though. Silly boy!

 

This is their final product. They were really proud!

 

 

Right By My Dad

     This past summer my husband worked A LOT! Yes, that's a good thing since he brings in our sole income for a family of six.  I truly appreciate what he contributes to our family, and he knows it. For the most part, the kiddos do not feel the pain of his sometimes late hours (There are a few exceptions during different times throughout the year.). The reason that this is the case is due to the fact that, when he IS home, he always makes sure that he is spending true quality time with our little guys.  As a matter of fact, he probably spends more quality time with them than a lot of dads that don't work near as often. I am very grateful for this, because it is so important to whom our kids will become as adults.
     I love  Matt's work ethic. He works hard, but at the same time is not consumed by it. When it's time to play, he plays. I think many adults often forget how important this is, myself included.
     He also loves building projects and in his "spare time", last summer, he decided to begin working on a sand box. I would probably call it more of a sand house. "Go big or go home" is definitely his motto when it comes to projects. Silas was playing inside when he asked where his daddy was. I told Silas that Daddy was outside working. A few minutes later, Silas had his outside clothes on and was heading out the door. I looked at him and, in his most serious voice, he said, "If you need me, I'll be outside working right by my dad."
     Now I know that may not be such an uncommon occurrence, but there was something about the way he said it. I could see that he was proud of his dad. It was like nothing else mattered nor would it compare to the time he was about to spend working with his dad. Here are a couple of pictures. Yes they are even working in the rain!

 

Matt said he never complained, even though his little bucket of sand was heavy. He just kept dumping and reloading.

 

 

 

 

He was so proud, and so was his Daddy! I hope twenty years from now that I can look out of the window and witness the same thing. Except maybe it will be Matt helping Silas build a sand house for his son, who is happily working hard beside them!

Silas - Not your average Joe

I wrote this when I couldn't sleep early the morning of Silas' birthday.
 
     In a few short hours, my firstborn son will be waking up and we will be celebrating his seventh birthday here in Branson, Missouri. Silver Dollar City is his very favorite place. He loves the shows, the shops, the rides, and the demonstrations. Seven. This is huge to him, by the way. Silas seems to think this is the year of all years. He thinks now that he will be seven that many new doors have opened for him, that many things will change. We'll see, I guess. Anyway, today, a post for Silas...

     The best words to describe Silas would be old soul. If he could sip coffee in a donut shop at six in the morning while swapping stories from days of old with a bunch of old men, he'd be in paradise. Here's a photo that definitely depicts that.

 
     One thing that Matt and I admire about Silas is that he is very confident in who he is. He has a mind of his own, and is not swayed by his peers. He likes what he likes, and while caring about others, he doesn't care what others think he should think or do.
     What does he like? I'm glad you asked. Well, he likes fishing, and it's something he talks about constantly. He has a tackle box for bass fishing and one for trout, and now wants some for cat and crappie fishing. He "studies" effective fishing strategies, and he knows all the parts of a fish and can recognize many different types. He wants to be a professional fisherman when he grows up, and have several boats in different colors.

      He wants to be a "picker" when he grows up too. Ha! He loves all kinds of stuff (even things we call junk), so this isn't surprising. How many seven year olds do you know that aspire to be a picker? Of course, he also wants to be a missionary and witness to pirates. When I told him that sounded dangerous since pirates are mean, he responded, "Well, that's why it's so important that I tell them about Jesus. They need a savior." Can't argue with that!

     Silas likes tools and building things. We get him a lot of little kits from Lowe's that he can build, but he also likes to invent things of his own. He loves to help his dad build things and do outside projects too. Here is a picture of him with his real tools he got for Christmas last year.

 He really likes to shoot his BB gun and he's pretty good. This is a picture of his reaction when he got it last year. He was not expecting it!

 

He loves to try new foods and has pretty sophisticated taste.
                                   

     Silas likes to cook, especially his own recipes.This is a love he also shares with his dad, although  I have to say that I like his dad's inventions better. Here's my little cook.

 That's true when talking about food anyway. But Silas has pretty good inventions for other things. His wheels are ALWAYS turning! This is what he came up with for fall festival one year. His dad helped him make it a reality. Yep, he's a wall!

  

 

     He REALLY likes soccer and has a real talent for it! And he can run extremely fast.

 

      My little guy has just recently started drawing quite a bit. Here is the first real picture he ever drew.

 

 He likes Rescue Heroes and old shows like Andy Griffith and I Love Lucy. Facing the Giants is currently his favorite movie. He likes musicals a lot (Annie Get Your Gun, Sound of Music, Yankee Doodle etc.). We all do around here. He really likes shows on how to rebuild cars, but since we only use our TV to watch videos, he can only do that when we are visiting a hotel. So every time we go out of town, that's what he expects to watch.  He collects bugs, rocks, seashells, seeds, leaves, and clothes hanger sizing tabs (a weird one, I know).
     Silas has also met the girl he says he wants to marry. He's known for a few years now. He wants seventeen kids too. I hope he's cleared that with her! He's looking at land (not wanting to pay too much, you know), and has a running list of features he wants for his home. Good grief! Here is Silas and sweet little Emily.

Then

And Now

     He loves to learn everything about anything. He has such a passion for learning.That is with the exception of reading, but that is because it is difficult for him. He is making huge improvements though, and when he gets really good at it, I know he will love it because that is a tool he will be able to use to learn even more. I feel so blessed that he is a lover of learning. Here he is at a family field trip to the Museum of Discovery.

     Most importantly, though, my Silas is a lover of God. For this, I am the most grateful. He loves to sing about the Lord and to the Lord. Silas cares about what God thinks of his decisions and what God wants for his life. He is a prayer warrior. Silas prays often about everything. I am just so blessed. Here is a picture of him at a restaurant on our way to the beach. I was handing out food to my other kiddos and turned to see this. Silas saying the blessing before their breakfast.

Well, that's Silas. We are so proud of him and the person he is becoming! I pray that Matt and I will raise him up in a way that is pleasing to the Lord, and that he will grow be exactly who the Lord desires for him to be.


   

What's In A Name

    Our Bible Curriculum this year covers all of the names for Jesus and their meanings. So during the first week of school, the parents were to write a letter about why we chose our child's name. I decided to do this for my two oldest, and will do this for the other little ones when they get older. Choosing a name is a huge deal to me, so I thought this was a great idea and wanted to make it into something extra special. I found a really cool website, and ordered the boys bracelets with their names and Bible verses engraved on them. The Bible verses went along with their names as I explained in their letters.
     On the day we presented the boys with their letters and bracelets, they were very excited. We did it on a Sunday morning, and they got to wear their bracelets to church.


     Here is Silas' letter.

Here is Camden's letter.

Here are their bracelets.

 This was a really good activity suggested by My Father's World, because it set the stage for the year. It helped the boys to understand how important they are as individuals to God and to us. It also helps them to see that all of the names Jesus is called by have special meanings that show us who He is and what He is able to do.