My First Day

Today was my very first day on my own as a mother of four children under the age of five. It was interesting to say the very least. Well, "interesting" may not be the best word to describe today. Hmmm. Imagine a small daycare environment complete with scattered toys and cheerios peeking out from under the furniture and one four-and-a-half-year-old boy with a mild fever and a frog in his throat communicating in his just-created-today version of sign language. He won't speak, but insists on pointing in various directions at objects seemingly non-related to get his dull mother just one day beyond total bedrest and pain meds to understand his request for a drink or that he wants his sister to move from her usual stance in front of the television. Wild waving of the arms like a drunk mime was added to my son's personal sign language in the late morning just as his fever spiked again. Also, visualize an eversoslightly chubby three-year-old girl dancing with Barney and his annoying friends on a throw rug that slides from side to side along the living room floor with each "cool dance move" that she copies from the purple dinosaur on the television. Add a small toddler to the dance floor, or rug, and you have a hilarious scene of clapping, marching, high kicks, singing and giggles...along with a drunk mime and cheerios now exposed as the rug draws them out from under the couches with each tumble and high kick dance move. Oh, and not to forget the newborn that tried his hardest to sleep in the midst of all the signing and dancing. He enjoyed nursing as if I were an all-you-can-eat-24/7-buffet and followed his meals with big burps and filled diapers - but no napping.

Then, there was the introduction of musical instruments. Barney revealed how a little imagination can change any toy or piece of garbage into a musical instrument. So, the dance floor was covered with toys, I mean, musical instruments. And, the playing continued until our late lunch.

Most of my day consisted of Isaac signing and gesturing until he finally consented to relaxing on the couch. Sophia played her newfound musical instruments and perfected her creative dance moves in the middle of the living room floor. Jack, not understanding Isaac's silence and erratic hand/arm movements, turned to his sister and tried his hardest to swipe one of her instruments only to run like heck to the other end of the house hoping she didn't tackle him in the process. Noah wasn't very successful at napping for most of today but he flew through half a pack of newborn diapers while he was awake. I found myself just thankful I wasn't bent over with a horrible headache. I could sit and enjoy the show and my four characters - and secretly vow to block Barney from my tv tomorrow. All in all, it was a hilarious and, yes, even an interesting day.

Back to Normal

Okay, okay...so I'm not what most would consider "normal" but I am back on my feet - my glorious FEET! - no longer needing to remain horizontal on my bed or the living room couch being tended to by Mom (I love my mother!) and my wonderful, devoted husband (love him, too!). My spinal headache subsided gradually over Saturday and I woke up Sunday morning with zero pain in my head and this morning I had zero pain in my back. What a drastic change! Thank GOD!!!

And, thank you to all of you who prayed and encouraged us throughout the looooong two week process while I was on bedrest. Again, I can't thank Mom, Michael (my taller/younger brother) and Brian enough for being such great nurses. They took care of me, a horizontal blob, our newborn, nonstop pooper/eater, and our three older children, energy-filled-limit-testing-while-Grandma-visits kids, for two long weeks and they were nice the WHOLE time!!! Not to forget all the family and friends that called and emailed to make sure I was still alive. Oh, and to Jenny for taking Isaac for that Monday afternoon (man, it was quiet that afternoon...maybe there's a connection???) and to Fletch and Sherry for the great flea market toys for the kids and to Suzette, Terry and Bob who came over to pray. And, (last "and" I promise!) to my sister for the beautiful flowers she sent to the house - ah, something pretty to look at while I laid on my bed. The kids were thrilled with their very own balloons.

I think that is everyone - if you did something wonderfully nice for my family in the past two weeks and I have failed to mention you by name I will just blame it on the drugs. Pain pills. Lots of pain pills.

So, I am 100% today after a pain-filled couple of weeks. Whew! Thank you GOD for your healing touch and for hearing the prayers of your people. You still work wonders among us in Jesus name.

Final words, as Noah is crying to eat AGAIN - for all of you that offered a meal while we learn to juggle four kids we would really appreciate the help.

sagging of the brain.

Ouch is what I thought when I read the likely cause of Lori's severe head ache, it's a common side effect when you have an epidural. Anytime one inserts a 1/8 inch diameter needle into the spinal column there is the possibility of fluid leakage which causes a pressure drop in the spinal column fluid which is also the fluid that cushions the brain. So the brain actually "sags" a little, and the pressure of the brain resting against the bottom of the skull results in a terrible headache that worsens when the person stands up. Because Lori was stuck 3 times with the big needle, one of which a blood vessel was ruptured, her chances of fluid leakage were tripled. Also anytime bleeding is involved the pressure from the blood forces spinal fluid out of the column. So my poor wife has been laid up in bed, and feels like she is missing out on this special time with the new baby and the rest of the kids. So... those are the circumstances surrounding her current condition. With that said please say a prayer for Lori to recover, she is in a lot of pain. Noah is doing great and I'm hanging in there thanks to all the help from Lori's mom. Talk to you all soon. Brian.

Bringing baby home.

Well we finally made it home. Everybody is doing good, Lori is a little beat up but is recovering. Noah is in great shape, a blessing from God, and the sibilings are so excited about their new baby brother. So we welcome Noah Alexander Biggers, and thank God for his life, and pray He will be a great preacher of the Gospel, and fullfill his destiny on earth.
We will keep you updated.

The Baby Has Arrived

born. 10/01/07 9:48pm 8 lbs. 4 oz.

Here we go again.

What's up everybody!?
Thought I'd give everybody an update. Here goes our fourth time around. After a long start to our weekend (extremely long for me) you know the 20 hours of work, sorting pricing, setting up ect. that go in to a yard sale my wife somehow managed to squeeze 56 dollars out of the suburban bargain hunters who love to pilfer through other peoples stuff and find that one baby gap sweater marked fifty cents that they think is only worth a quarter. Anyway as long as my pregnant wife is happy. Back to the baby though, Lori's contractions started some time yesterday around 11:00am with mild and sporatic contractions pretty much throughout the day and evening. I think I better hurry up as I look behind my shoulder either that breakfast sandwich I just ran and got her is really hot, or she's breathing through a intense contraction, now about 5 minutes apart, closes to time to go to the hospital. Grand Ma is on the way to hold down the fort, and I imagine we will be leaving here within the hour.So while the kid didn't get me out of the dreadful yard sale this weekend, he has got me out of work this week with plenty of time for my morning routine on this monday morning, now if we can get him out of there in a timley fashion this week just happens to coincide with the fall's prime fishing season. Alright so I'll try to keep you updated gotta run.
Brian.

Isaac's Bedtime Prayer

"God, whoever you are, you sure are good." Isaac prayed with Brian last night before bed.

Well Said

"Darn it!" - whispered by Isaac upon entering our bedroom early Friday morning and once again discovering that Dada had gone to work.

"Jesus was homeschooled and He knows everything." - on a T-shirt I've never seen, but have only heard about.

"When I think of home, I picture my family, together eating dinner, snuggling on the sofa, hanging out in the kitchen...Home should be a place that invites warmth, and togetherness, with its spaces used well and well used." - Gretchen Roberts from www.smartsimplewoman.com.

"Did she sugges...susset, sugress..." - Brian attempting to utter the sentence, "Did she suggest that?" after working in record Midwest heat for yet another week. His brain was slightly fried. To solve this frying problem he now wears a "farmer's hat", as he calls it, to block the sun. Pictures will soon follow. Anyway, we ended up driving through our city following my last prenatal visit saying "suggest" repeatedly until it lost all meaning to our ears. Suggest, suggest, suggest, suggest, suggest, suggest, suggest...

NOTE: Other words Brian cannot pronounce include "fluorescent", "breakfast", and "water". They come out "for-es-ant", "bref-es", and "wooder". Water, of course, is debatable depending on the region of the United States you grew up in.

"Can I go outside and plant a cherry tree?" - Isaac asked Brian's permission yesterday afternoon after eating his cherries. I think the plan is for Isaac and Brian to somehow grow a cherry tree in our basement this fall/winter. How? I have no idea. All I know is I have a bowl of semi-chewed cherry pits sitting on my kitchen counter that I am not allowed to throw away.

Quiet Time - Shh, Mama's Sleeping

I want my kids to have memories of me seeking God and reading the Word like I have of my mother. I remember Mom at the kitchen table reading and reading...then, filing her nails and polishing them...then, reading some more. As a teenager I picked up that late night habit of opening the Bible and disappearing into the passages. How did I know to do that as a younger (and much thinner) woman? I saw my mother doing it and I followed her.

Fast forward to me as a young mother. I decided to attempt an early rise to read from the Word and pray so I got up with Brian the other morning - which seemed to throw off his morning routine, but I refused to return to my comfy, cozy, warm bed. I sat up on the couch and using my baby-filled belly I thought I'd start with a chapter from a revival book I've been reading. Next thing I know Isaac is waking me up asking for Fruit Loops.

So, I am not a morning person. This isn't shocking to anyone who has known me for more than twenty minutes. I function better at night. Brian used to say I got my start at 9:00 pm. I could fly through the house cleaning and/or doing projects with robust energy from 9:00 pm on. Nnnnnnnow, I'm not a night person either. In fact, I could take a nap at any given time of the day. It is beyond me why my children hate naps. I tell them everyday, "Mama would LOOOOOVE to take a nap. You take one for me." I envy their afternoon naps!

Anyway, back to me setting a great example for Isaac of how to sleep on the couch...

I'm not giving up on establishing the ol' "time and place" for meeting with the Lord, but I'm realizing how flexible I have to be with the babies and the minimal amounts of sleep they afford me. I don't know if I will ever be a full on night person again, or if I will ever bounce out of bed before sunrise bursting with energy (unlikely). But, I do know my children will have memories of me seeking God. I will pray and read and pray and read...and nap a little and nap some more...then, pray and read more. And, one day they will follow my example.

Toys Toys Everywhere

I've got toys upstairs in each of the kids' rooms. I've got toys in the basement. I've got toys in the front room and the family room and throughout the backyard. There are toys in the garage and toys on the front porch. There are toys in the bathroom as well. I really, R E A L L Y, need a good storage system for all these toys!

In our furnished rental in Jersey there were bookshelves with doors on them that contained nearly every toy the kids owned at the time. It was the only system I have ever had work well for any length of time - mainly b/c the kids couldn't get to every toy at once. Well, we've moved from the rental and I can't find shelving with doors on them without it costing an arm and a leg in our new area. Oh, I miss Ikea!!!

Now, our toy ownership has expanded drastically and we have all kinds of toys for all kinds of reasons. Bath toys, sand toys, bikes and wagons, boy toys and girl toys, swim toys, winter toys, board games and stuffed animals that, I swear, are multiplying completely on their own when no one is looking. One system won't work in one room of our house anymore. Sad, but true.

We have purged and downsized in an attempt to see how much storage stuff we need so these are all toys the kids play with over and over. No kidding! So, where, the heck, do I put them?!? The boxes and open plastic bins are not working as a long term solution and now that the majority of our painting is done we can finally get each room set up to use. I can't wait!

Anyway, what works for you all? What do you suggest? Think fully functional, slightly pretty, and very affordable. And, what toys do you put in the kids' rooms and what toys stay in the family areas? Is a separate playroom worth setting up? And, is there a container a bit more pleasing to the eye than a plastic tub but not as breakable as a basket?

With a little thought and some helpful suggestions I hope to get a handle on this organizational disaster in our house. Ah, one more thing to cross off our list as we get established in our home! Yippee!

Don't Sweat the Small Italian

The "small stuff" - the insignificant life crap that happens from time to time. The stuff we should easily overlook. The stuff not worth getting upset or frustrated over. The stuff like loosing the car keys, running out of diapers late in the evening, or like my small - er, short, Italian mother-in-law.

Brian got a letter today from the UNO Chicago Grill thanking him for "advising us of our failure to make your experience with us a great one." WHAT THE...!?!?! Then, I remembered the one restaurant we ate out at with Brian's parents while they were visiting a few weeks ago was the UNO Chicago Grill. Sigh. B's mother must have complained to the management via email or letter or something on our behalf...signing her son's name and giving our address for a return response. How nice of her.

I called Brian...
"Did you read the letter from the Chicago Grill?"
"No..."
"Your mother must have complained and signed your name..."
"Babe, don't sweat the small stuff. Who cares?!?!"
"I do! Who knows what she said!....blah, blah, blah, BLAAAAAH!"
I continued to quickly rattle off my valid reasons for being annoyed, knowing full well that Brian was only hearing "Blah, blah, BLAH!"
"Look, if you want to contact the Chicago Grill to clear our family name go ahead. I gotta go. I'm in the middle of somethin'..."
"Okay. Loveyoubye."

As I removed myself from my soapbox (I keep one handy in the kitchen for emergencies) I realized that Brian's ability to overlook the "small stuff" is admirable and slightly irritating to me.

Thankfully, the things we have to deal with in our relationship with B's parents have been downscaled to "small stuff" in recent months - mainly by our own perspective change and change in geographical locations. But, still the "small stuff" is something we have to deal with if even to just brush it aside and say, "Who cares!"

Unfortunately for me, when the insignificant life crap comes in multiple doses too close together for my liking I find the growing pile of pooh difficult to ignore. You know, the whole "straw that broke the camel's back" theory? That's me. A big, stupid camel cowering under a load of straw. Itchy, annoying, Italian straw.

And, for all you now wondering about the UNO Chicago Grill...it was totally fine. We even ate the leftover pizza. The fact that the meal was fine was in my running list of "valid reasons to be annoyed" given over the phone to Brian...but, who cares, right? Don't sweat the small stuff.

Family Meals and Variety

How do you guys - er, girls - plan meals from week to week? I am not the most accomplished cook by any means and I find myself getting pretty tired of what we eat over and over....and over again. How do you keep the variety in your meal planning?

Do you have any favorite recipes that break away from the normal meat and potatoes (or pasta and sauce in our case)???

And, does anyone know of a good website with semi-normal recipes? I am wanting a little variety, but I'm not looking for the meals requiring goat cheese and weird plants that I can't pronounce.

Thanks all!

One last thing - what gives about the disciplines of a good homemaker?!?! - I KNOW there are some fellow homemakers frequenting this blog every now and again, so out with it, woman! How do you keep it all together - faith, family, home? What are the disciplines or skills I should be working on???

Comic Relief, Please!

It is a somber gathering. Straight faces. Seriousness. Deep discussion. Debate. It could be any number of circumstances - from a funeral, a loved one with an illness is in the hospital, a family disagreement, or a seemingly innocent blog...people are intense, focused, deep in thought...and, yes, I am the idiot in the corner cracking jokes. I'll admit it! I just fall to the pressure, people! I find myself wanting to force a smile or at the very least a smirk upon those serious, stone cold faces. Wit, humor, even a knock-knock joke delivered at the right moment can for a short time put at ease those that are up in arms. So, how about some comic relief?!?!

I heard this joke the other day - er, I read it on a blog linked through a friend's blog...HA...my friend's husband's brother's daughter's birthday blog. Try to follow that one, I dare ya!

Anyhoo...here's the joke:

"A man took his pregnant wife to the hospital to give birth. The doctor told them that they'd developed a new machine and asked if the couple would like to try it out. The machine could take some of the pain of childbirth from the mother and give it to the father to ease the mother's burden.

Well, they thought that was a good idea, and decided to give it a try. The doctor initially set the machine on 10 percent, telling the man that even 10 percent was probably more pain than he'd ever experienced. But the husband was surprised at how little pain he was feeling, and asked the doctor to raise the level.

The doctor increased it to 20 percent, and when the man still felt fine, he raised it to 50 and finally 100 percent.

After it was all over, the man stood up, and stretched a little. Both he and his wife felt fine, and they shortly left the hospital to take the baby home.

It was then that they found the mailman dead on their doorstep."

I love it!!! Anyone else?

Sophie's Baby

This morning as I was getting Sophia dressed for the day she was very matter of fact with me..."I going to have a baby in MY belly when I grow up." "What kind of baby are you going to have?" I asked. "Baby Ruben...with pretty clothes," she replied, and then added, "and, a pretty face."

Usually the pretty clothes and face indicates a girl for Sophie. She was disappointed that our new baby is another boy, but after much thought she said it was okay if he had pretty clothes. I'm almost sure she thinks the clothes make the girl...literally - as in, if we put that new baby boy in some pretty pink pjs BAM!, POOF!, a girl! I'll let her figure things out for herself when her new brother finally arrives.

I know Sophia will love this Baby Four just as she would have loved a new sister, but chances are he will grow up with embarrassing stories to share about his big sister dressing him in "pretty clothes".

God makes a good salad

According to a poster hung on the wall at the Magic House, the average four year old asks 437 questions per day. Isaac has been meeting his quota for questions everyday this week.

After the in-laws headed for the airport yesterday, we loaded up the kids and went for a little ride along the Mississippi to clear our heads. Isaac slept for a short while and awoke with a list of questions - most concerning God and how He makes things. It reminds me of the passage in Romans that says creation points to God. "That which is known about God is evident within them; for God has made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have clearly been seen, being understood through what has been made..." Romans 1:19-20. Isaac was looking out his window, seeing all the passing trees, the birds and he had questions for everything...and I mean, everything.

As we were entering the rolling hills along the river...
"How did God make trees?"
"How did God make hills?"
"How did God make bigger hills?"
"How did God make soft leaves?"
"How did God make the whole world?"

As we drove through small towns with old buildings...
"Why did people live in this town a long time ago?"
"Where are those people?"
"Why do people die?"
"Why do babies grow up to be parents?"
"How did God make a person from dirt?"

As dinner time grew closer...
"Why are marshmellows called that?"
"Does God make bread?"
"Can God make a good salad?"

We all agreed that God can make a really good salad - complete with toasted bread and butter on the side. Then, we made our way home for dinner.

Questions continued on through the evening. Isaac always has a few held in reserve to postpone bedtime as long as possible and then....silence.

We are only given a few short hours before Isaac wakes up in the early morning to complete our indepth research that is required to properly raise a four year old. Between the Bible and the internet we should be able to stay one question ahead of him. Maybe.

Enough Already

I don't know about you all, but I'm tired of reading Al Gore's name at the top of my blog! Time for something new - but I'm too tired to be witty or even slightly clever, so how about short and sweet instead?

Brian is on vacation this week so after a single day of fishing last weekend, we have been banging through our painting projects on the main level. With painting comes the constant migration of things from room to room as the color goes up. I can't wait for the chaos to subside - in part, so I can show people more than one half of our house at a time! "Upstairs??? You want to see the UPstairs??? - Those stairs don't really go anywhere. They're there for decoration."

So, we are more than worn out from juggling paints supplies and three children...what a perfect time to have my in-laws out to the Midwest for a long weekend visit! It should be fun. We're going to run their little Italian/Irish legs non-stop - from the Magic House to the zoo...that's about it, right??? What else is there to do with in-laws in this area? I mean, this is the Midwest...and it is July. That means we have heat, heat and humidity...and more heat..then a thunderstorm and more humidity...then humid heat. Yeah, the Midwest...in July...with my in-laws...and the heat. Good times, good times.

I have more to write but all interesting topics will have to wait for tomorrow...okay, it IS tomorrow...I must...get...sleep.

Good night, all!!!

Painting and TV-less Parenting

Brian and I finally tackled the main level of our house over the past couple of weeks with paint and lots of it. Whew!!! We started in the family room with a "soft" banana cream that turned out to be waaaaay more banana than cream. Then, we brought the wheatgrass color down from the hallway upstairs to finally (at last!!!) cover over the horrible red wall in the front room/dining room. The kitchen, completely by - no joke - Brian's choosing is blue...an electric sort of blue. Think Bahamas. So, our rainbow of colors that began upstairs has continued to the main level of the house.

Oh, and I can't forget the orange/melon color that beckons all visitors in the entry hallway. Brian put it this way...he had wanted a mellow color to greet guests with a whispering, "Hi, come on in. Have a seat." Instead, when the front door is opened the orange screams, "HI YOU ALL!!! HOW THE HECK ARE YOU?!?!?! COME IN! COME IN! COME IN!!!!" I love the colors and they are all growing on Brian. He doesn't have much wiggle room to complain since he selected the colors this time around.

With all our painting and rotating of furniture from room to room, we've had all our cable and internet wires disconnected during our mini room makeovers. This has meant zero television for the kids and quite an adjustment for Brian and I. I honestly did not realize how much tv the kids watched until it wasn't distracting them. For the first couple days the kids were bored, getting overly punchy with each other and complaining about not having anything to watch. Keep in mind, my kids are four and under! Because we had not intentionally limited their tv watching we had allowed some really bad habits to form. If the kids were fighting or getting overly hyper we'd turn on a show for them. If it was dinner time and we needed them safely playing out of the kitchen we'd turn on a show. If two children were napping and the third needed to stay quiet...yep, another show. Our children are so full of energy and imagination and rather than channeling it all into something constructive, Brian and I had become suckers for the idiot box (this being my mother's reference to the television set when I was a kid - and now, I couldn't agree more!).

So, anyhoo, by the third day a wonderful change occurred - the kids rediscovered their toys and began playing. I mean, really playing. They made up games with each other and played for hours together. One afternoon they amazed Brian and I when they lined up all the kitchen chairs to make a "pirate boat". While we painted, Isaac and Sophia fought off the "bad pirate", Baby Jack, who was trying to steal their treasure. Before the boat was fully constructed the kids were being very high maintenance - to the point that Brian had even wanted to hook up the tv just to get them to relax for a few minutes. But we opted to skip the tv and the kids had a blast playing with each other. Even Jack enjoyed himself once he became a "good pirate" and was allowed on the boat.

Brian and I aren't anti-tv by any means, but we are getting rid of cable. We don't need a tv babysitter so why should we be paying for one? We need to adjust and make more room in our lives for our kids and let them be kids (what a novel idea!). I don't see how the time they spend in front of the television fosters anything good in them - so we are on a new quest as parents to discover what will foster their energy and imaginations.

Who knew a decision to finally get some pretty colors up on our walls would change how we raise our kids!?!?! Now, I wonder what will happen when we clean out the basement!!!

Suburban Thief

Suburban life has reduced Brian to crime. We came home last night from an outing with the kids to find miniature American flags positioned perfectly at each mailbox entering our subdivision. Other neighborhoods get amazing pools, playgrounds or walking trails to show for their association fees - evidently we get small flags. Well, actually, WE did not. We were one of only two homes in the entire subdivision that did not get a tiny flag. WHATHEHECK?!?!

Have we already broken some unspoken suburban rule? Was it the patch of weeds in our front flowerbeds? Or, the growing oil spots usually hidden under our van - our van that has seen better days...way, way better days? Could it be that Brian upset someone while joyriding the kids around the yard on the lawn tractor - the tractor that happens to sound like a small aircraft about to take to flight? Or have we offended the gardeners that surround our home by allowing our backyard to be the single haven for bunnies in the neighborhood? Yes, our neighbors shoot the bunnies -with arrows, with guns, with all the various weapons of choice people in suburbia turn to when the bunnies come out to attack. Perhaps the bass boat that remains parked in our drive ready for any and all emergency fishing trips is what caused hard feelings among our new community. Ooor, was it the mulch the kids spread evenly over the span of the cul-de-sac, the dandelion patch in our front yard that appears to be growing as if we were doing absolutely nothing to stop its expanse into neighboring yards (gasp!), or our trash can that remains curbside until late evening, the toys littering the backyard, the blow-up pool forming dead grass patches in our yard, or lastly, the garage door that is still dented from my minor parking miscalculation this past winter? Why the heck did we not get a flag?!?!?!

To bring this tangent back to Brian - the suburban thief...Rather than looking like the anti-American neighbors on the block, Brian pulled one of the four flags that were put up along the bushes at the center of our circle and proudly, (and very discreetly) stuck the very small American flag that more than likely won't last through the Fourth into the bed mix of pretty flowers and unidentified weeds at the base of our mailbox. Yes, we are American. Yes, we live in suburbia. And, yes, Brian is willing to steal in a very vain attempt to blend in with the natives. This is what suburbia has reduced us to - American flag theft! The horror!!!

Sad, but true - all the cheap American flags in the world cannot blend our little family into suburbia. The song from Sesame Street comes to mind - "One of these things is not like the other, one of these things just isn't the same..." We stand out with our oil spots, lame landscaping and our obvious disregard for the unspoken rules of suburban life including but not limited to my personal love of small, furry animals and Brian's interest in loud motor engines. BUT - we have a flag waving at the base of our mailbox just like our surrounding suburbanites. And, that's all that really matters in life, isn't it???

Family Update

It's been a bit since I bragged on the kids and since it is finally Friday my brain doesn't want anything "deep" to process - so on with the bragging...

Every age with our three continues to be my favorite age. They are continually doing amazing things - some that make B and I laugh, some that make us want to pull out our hair, but amazing still.

Isaac has always been our talker. At eighteen months old he was having actual conversations with the five year old that lived next to us in our Jersey apartment complex. This didn't fully amaze us until Jack became eighteen months old and we realized how advanced Isaac was as a baby. He's brilliant and oh, so confident. He knows no stranger and has been known to strike up conversations with people in the aisles of Target...repeatedly. He loves to greet the neighbors when they arrive home in our cul-de-sac and is quick to share all with anyone and everyone. This week he's been flashing everyone the poison ivy spots across his chest - his latest and greatest information to share. In addition to freely telling all of what happens in our home to absolute strangers, he has also gained a new found love for knock-knock jokes. "Knock-knock? Who's there? Orange. Orange who? Orange you glad to see me?!?"...and then he laughs all the way to the floor. He also likes creating his own jokes that are usually a stream of words that make no sense whatsoever..."Was that funny, Mama?!?"

Sophia is our princess. She's all about the color pink, dresses, and twirling in the middle of the family room..."I a princess!!!". She loves to sing - making up her own songs and her own dance movements. Though Soph will be turning three at the end of this summer when asked, "Sophie, how old are you?" she will respond "I four!". This drives Isaac nuts - since he is the big four year old. I think in part she has put her claim on four just to see Isaac's passionate reaction, "But, she's TWO!!!". She LOVES to torment the boy. This morning he ran from her bedroom in tears because "she kept saying the same words to me over and over!!!" I entered the room where she maintained the "Who, me?" facial expression. With the same intensity that she picks on Isaac, she is gentle and loving to Jack. She walks around the house holding his hand when he allows it and she often sits with Jack making him laugh over the silliest sounds she can conjure up. Sophie isn't always loving and gentle with her baby brother - thuds are heard periodically when she pushes Jack down with her hand square on his chest. She's strong so the slightest shove in this manner sends Jack right down on his diaper butt. Usually, the battle ensues over a baby doll or stuffed animal as Jack loves to carry babies and stuffed animals around the house. Sophia has claimed all babies and all plush animals in our house belong to her and her alone, after all, she's the "greel". And, a final note on Sophia - she is Dada's girl, melting Brian's heart with ease. Sophia still wakes up each morning in her singsong manner "Oh, Daaaaaaadaaaaa, I is awake...Daaaaaadaaaaa, come get meeeeeee!!!" What Dada could ignore such a request from his "baby girl"?

Jack is enjoying his last few months as our "Baby Jack". Little does he know, another baby boy is well on his way. I'm interested to know how Jack will respond to our new baby since he is such a Mama's boy - to the extreme! All through the day he finds me and runs to hug my legs, or places his head on my lap for a snuggle - then he continues on his way. I LOVE it!!! He's beginning to talk - adding to his running list of "Dada", "Mama", "No" and "Bobo". Jack now can say his own versions of lots of words - yes, "es", drink "gink", grandma "maaaama", Jack "ak", lollipop "popop", ball "baw". And, of course he has mastered "MINE!" - which started as a "Maaa" sound and has recently been perfected. "My baw!!!" is a personal favorite of his. Any form of bouncy ball is his toy of choice - and in the same manner that Sophia claims the babies and plush toys as her own, Jack has staked his claim on the balls. Big or small - they are all "My baw!!!".
Jack has a mainly sweet relationship with Sophie with her questioning his new language skills "What you said...what you said, Jack?!?!". And, with Isaac - it is nothing but boys being boys - running, wrestling, yelling. Jack walks around the house with his hand shoved down the back of his diaper nearly 24/7 - why? Your guess is as good as mine, but Isaac laughs and to my dismay, encourages Jack's hand-in-diaper stance. A bit ago I had all three kids just finished with a bath - all three were standing in the tub, dripping wet as the last of the bath water drained. Jack then discovered what his wewe (yes, we use technical terms in our house) was for as he peed a small stream into the bathtub. Seeing Jack shocked, looking at us with a "Did you see that?!?!?" expression struck Isaac as hilarious. He laughed so hard I had to yell at him to stay out of the pee making its way down the drain. Such young boys and already laughing about body functions. What am I going to do with THREE!

And, as for Brian - not a kid, but deserving of a little spotlight every now and then - is still doing glass work all over the area. The heat has arrived in the Midwest so he comes home looking rather worn, but always with some energy in reserve for the kids. Isaac, Sophia and Jack each run to the door with the slightest jingle of the front doorknob - "Dada's home" "Dada here!" "Dada!". Bri has big plans this summer to be out on his boat and smaller plans of fixing up the main level of the house - it is time to say good-bye to the big, red wall. Yeah!!!

So, that's the update on our little family. I'll add pictures at some point for all you distant family and friends - as the kids change a lot from day to day. Love you all - and Happy Friday!!!...and Happy Father's Day to all you other Dadas.

Frugal or Poverty Mentality?

I've been reading through a book called God's Smuggler. Its about the life and ministry of Brother Andrew - a missionary that labored behind the Iron Curtain, bringing bibles to Christians in Communist countries. The book is amazing and I can't thank Jenny enough for lending it to me! The bulk of what I've received from this read is how supernatural provision was supplied to Brother Andrew - from cars to travel fare. He lived in a zone through faith that could see beyond natural means. He never lacked anything he needed because God would provide for him. God taught Brother Andrew that His servants shouldn't be known as beggars (Hello, American Christianity!!!) and that provisions would come in a "royal" fashion to accomplish the King's work - and the provisions always came to him in such a manner.

At one point in the book God dealt with this man of God about having an "attitude of lack". He lived very frugal with his young family - not buying new clothing, living from a garden in their backyard, eating less meat and more veggies, etc. I would see this as being a very responsible steward of what God would provide for him, yet God addressed this as a poverty mentality. God provided just what they needed to accomplish in their ministry in closed countries, and He also wanted them to learn to enjoy his physical blessings as well - such as a new dress for his wife or fixing up their small home. They continued to live frugal as they both grew up very poor and knew no other way of life - but God had changed their attitude about His provisions from viewing them as rations to stretch as far as they could to a bountiful supply given by the King.

My question is at what point does frugal living cross the line and become an "attitude of lack"? When does our good stewardship change into a lack of faith in God's supply?

And, to address the other extreme - when do we cross the line from being thankful for God's abundant supply in our life into living for ourselves and our own pleasures rather than for the glory of God?