Ablott Family

new news.

2011-05-27T10:02:00.004-05:00

1. Parker learned to ride his bike with NO training wheels!

2. Parker graduated from pre-school....sort of...he will be doing pre-school again next year.

3. Owen ran through the sprinkler with sunglasses and no shirt.

4. I had too much fun in NYC with my mom and sisters.

5. I tore my lateral meniscus in half and had to have surgery and have it removed on Wednesday and have been icing my knee and unable to shower for a few days.....and can't walk....sorry...no pictures.

Pumped.

2011-05-05T12:36:00.007-05:00

He was so pumped.

He learned to pump on the swing by himself!!!

And I was pretty pumped too.....and then I realized....

it will be 2 more years until Owen can pump himself on the swing...

Parker told Owen that "when you get big you learn new things everyday, Owen!"

Owen just frowned and whined...

Then we came in for supper and got pumped for Awana awards night at church.

And this video is so funny I had to post it.

The way Parker reacts at the end of the video makes me laugh every time. He was so pumped.

Now I need to get packing. I am headed to NYC with my mom and sisters. I am pumped!

Pumped is a really weird word to see in writing.

Easter.

2011-04-25T15:10:00.005-05:00

Sunday morning the boys woke up to a few Easter eggs filled with pennies and a new pair of flip flops in their Easter baskets. Parker quickly found all the eggs and took all of the money and put it in his wallet. Owen just jumped around with excitement and said "happy new year!" over and over again.

We were going to early church so I had to hurry the egg-hunting along so we could eat breakfast and get ready.

And while the boys were waiting for their waffles, Parker turns to Owen and says, "Owen. Easter really isn't about the hunting eggs, it's about Jesus and how he died......" Owen interrupts him and in a defensive tone says, "I know Carker! I go to bible study Carker."

Yep. He does. He really does go to bible study with me on Wednesday mornings and he must be learning more than I thought. ha.

Field trip.

2010-08-30T20:24:00.004-05:00

Literally....a trip to the field.

Preschool....

2010-08-26T14:45:00.005-05:00

Parker started preschool last Monday.

He loves it.

I love it.

Owen hates it.

Owen cries when we drop him off and throws a fit on the way to the car.

And when we pick Parker up from school Owen holds a grudge.

It is like Owen knows Parker gets to do something fun and he doesn't.

It is only 3 days a week from 8:30-11.

I thought I would have a hard time sending him, but I haven't really.

The hardest part is when I go to pick him up....

I see this grown up 4 year-old boy and wonder where my little boy is.

I love you Parker and praise God for the big boy you are growing up to be!

It's been awhile...like over 4 months...but we have been busy...

2010-08-26T13:35:00.008-05:00

At the beginning of the summer I had four goals.....

1. relaxing

2. fun

3. no obligations

4. lots of sleeping in

With Parker starting preschool this fall I knew it was my last chance to be without serious obligations and so I took FULL advantage of doing nothing....

so this is what we did all summer...

We drove the gator 74.5 miles/day.

worked in the garden.

got wet and muddy watering the garden.

ha.

took swimming lessons.

ate ice cream.

grew up too fast.

celebrated the 4th of July.

ate lots of messy food

(and apparently fell down and bruised his head)

went to "Wizard of Oz" camp at the Children's Museum.

(Parker is in the cowardly lion costume)

laughed.

buzzed our hair after a weekend of camping to make sure there were no ticks.

played basketball.

rode a new birthday bike.

swam in the backyard.

Owen finally started talking.

wrestled.

watched Mickey Mouse before bed

(or as Owen says, "Gicky")

worked together.

had a birthday party.

turned 4 and got REAL basketball shoes.

had picnics in the backyard.

We also went camping, fishing, boating, etc. but I don't have any pictures of that. I really slacked on taking pictures and blogging, because I was too busy doing nothing.

Parker started preschool last Monday and I have some super cute pictures I will share in my next post. Sean starts seed corn harvest on Sunday, which means summer is offically over for us, and fall is here. We are sad to see summer go, but are adjusting well to our new schedule. I will always remember this summer and the wonderful memories we made just doing nothing.

The days when they are young go much too fast.

preckles.

2010-04-20T13:32:00.006-05:00

Parker has been outside a lot (everywakingminuteofeveryday).....and so he already has a "farmer's tan" which he is VERY proud of. However, I noticed something the other day that he is not so proud of....

He is getting freckles on his nose...or as he calls them preckles. And he DOES NOT like me to draw attention to them. He is pretty discouraged and worried that someday he will have preckles all over his whole body like I do.

And he has now discovered a preckle on his foot. It could be a long day :).

flash.back.

2010-04-17T15:30:00.003-05:00

This picture was taken April 17, 2009.

Exactly 1 year ago.

What a difference a year makes!!!

spring.cleaning.

2010-04-14T11:18:00.004-05:00

clean beds.

clean furniture.

clean rugs.

steamed carpet.

clean windows.

organized closets.

new paint.

organized toys.

now it's time for summer fun!

Really?!?!?

2010-04-13T19:30:00.007-05:00

I was cleaning up supper last night.

Sean and the boys were downstairs playing.

I remembered I had let Parker color with markers downstairs at his table earlier in the day.

I yelled down the stairs, "Hey, pick up the markers so Owen doesn't get them."

Sean and Parker came upstairs to get something.

I asked if they had picked up the markers.

"Yep...they are all picked up," they BOTH said.

Owen came upstairs next....

Really!?!?

You picked up the markers!??!!?

hmmmm.....then I wonder why Owen has marker all over his face???!?!?

It was washable. Came right off in the bath.

It's just the principle of the issue I am hung up on.

all.day.long.

2010-04-13T14:30:00.013-05:00

all he does is play basketball.

and the only thing he will wear is basketball shorts....even to bed.

and if he is going to wear a jersey, it has to have a number.

and his 4th birthday is in 49 days.

and yes, he is counting.

and his party is going to be a basketball party.

and he always asks me to "shoot some shoots" with him.

and I have say yes,

because a day is soon coming when he won't want me to.

and if I miss a "shoot" he intentionally misses a "shoot" too.

and I love his compassionate heart and his determination.

and he begged me to buy him brussels sprouts at the store today.

and so I bought him brussels sprouts

and he promised to grow big and strong.

and now I don't think I will let him eat them,

because he is getting too big and strong too fast.

and the wind is blowing 50 mph today.

and he doesn't even notice

because he is doing what he loves....just "shooting some shoots".

I was just wondering....

2010-04-02T21:43:00.005-05:00

....if I could freeze time so that Owen would stay 14-months forever...

...so that was he could keep his sweet innocence...

...and just forget the stages of discipline and hard-work that come with growing up...

Really, is it too much to ask?!?!

Randomocity.

2010-01-26T21:03:00.009-06:00

Owen turned 1 on the 19th and he had a wild party.

His best friend (and cousin) Sophia came to his party.

This picture cracks me up because they are so funny together.

Sophia is trying to sneak the cow off of the tractor,

and Owen is getting ready to get his heart broken and cry about it.

He LOVED his cake....

but really who doesn't love milk-free chocolate cake with soy frosting?!??

Ha. Oh, the joys of children with food allergies :).

(Parker has food allergies, not Owen)

Yes, that is a huge bulging bruise on his forehead.

Yup, he fell off of a chair on the hardwood floor.

Cried a little, nothing major.

What can I say, he loves to climb.

The three amigos enjoying their dinner and LOUD conversation.

Parker has been really busy.

I am thinking he can get a full-time job this summer as a hired man.

He has a gator so he can get anywhere he needs to go....

just ask him.

In this particular instance he was going "hunting"

for a "feisty tomcat"

No the gun is not real.

No I did not buy the gun for him.

Parker is a clown...Owen is Mr. Serious.

Ha. Seriously, Owen.....smile :)!

Parker wanted a turn to pull Owen on the sled.

Here Owen is mid-fall.

But don't worry....he didn't cry...

he didn't make an audible noise.....

he remained completely SERIOUS....no smiles.

Yes, Owen is a very serious boy.

He loves to be outside but you would never know it by looking at him.

I did finally catch a rare smile and isn't he so sweet!!??!?

And this "sweet" boy is trying to decide if he still needs a morning nap or not. And this not-so-"sweet" mom is going crazy because naps are getting a little unpredictable. I mean, I shouldn't really care because we are usually at home, but I LOVE schedules. I love knowing when he will go to sleep and when he will wake up. I know I should decide for him and just make the transition to 1 nap instead of 2, but some mornings he seems so tired.....and then the next day he isn't tired at all and doesn't need nap until 1:30pm. I want him to nap from 1pm-4pm like Parker did for the longest time and I know it takes training, but I am not up for the challenge this week. Maybe next week. Maybe not. I know to most it's just a nap, but to me it is my life :).

Is it summer yet?

I think Owen has had a runny nose for approximately

(or exactly)

5 weeks this Sunday.

The view....

2010-01-06T11:36:00.003-06:00

When the view out the front door looks like this....

And the view out the back door looks like this.....

And the thermometer says 10 degrees, and the HIGH tomorrow is -1...

I take my 3 year-old downstairs to the treadmill to burn off some energy.

(Please ignore the mismatched pajamas)

Yes, I did take my turn on the treadmill and worked out for the 3rd time in 5 days....thankyouverymuch.....I just didn't post a photograph of myself because my outfit was similar to Parker's :). Parker is a great workout partner....seriously!

Stir.Crazy.

2009-12-07T22:43:00.005-06:00

We haven't left the house since Saturday evening....

Mostly due to snow and cold....

And I am realizing that we all handle it a little differently....

Parker handles it by whining and asking approximately every 30 seconds, "Can I go outside?"

So it shouldn't surprise me when he woke up this morning and ran straight for the front door and asked, "Can I go outside? I don't need to eat breakfast. I am still SOOOO full from supper last night."

Ha. Yeah right. Anyway, I bundled him up and let him go out....And for the record. He went outside 5 different times today. Trust me.....that is a lot of bundling up to do 5 times....but the 20 minutes he is outside is so peaceful.

Owen handles it by climbing on EVERYTHING!!!! In the dryer....In the kitchen cupboards....On chairs....upanddownandupanddownandupanddownandupanddown the stairs....you get the idea.

Ha. Doesn't he look so pleased with himself in this last picture.

I handle it by tiling the kitchen backsplash....and eating lots of candy....and drinking lots of tea.

I am not done with the tile....I still need to grout it.

And poor Sean handles it by getting up at 4 a.m. to move snow. Sorry, no photograph for this one. I DO NOT, under any circumstances, get up at 4 a.m. especially to photograph this :).

Don't get me wrong, I am loving the snow....I am just getting a little nervous about the 12 inches forecasted for tomorrow.....

How do you cope with being stuck inside?

No.

2009-11-10T22:13:00.005-06:00

No. It is a word I say millions of times everyday. I don't believe that is an exaggeration.

There are millions of toys on our house that are safe for Owen to play with. I don't believe that is an exaggeration.

I have millions of places for Owen to crawl and pull up and walk around that are safe. That IS an exaggeration....but there are MANY places for him to play safely.

So why.....oh, why....does Owen choose to play and crawl and pull up and walk around things that are the most dangerous.?

I lovingly redirect him to the millions of other toys and MANY other places that would be safer and he cries. He wants the one single dangerous thing he can't have....

So in a weak, tired moment, I decide to let Owen have his way....I let him get the dangerous thing or pull up on a cupboard and he slams his fingers in the door....and what does he do?!?!? He comes crawling to me screaming in tears because he got hurt and now it is my job to comfort him.

The scenario is all too familiar....

Instead of focusing on the millions of things I have, I become fixated on the one thing I can't have.

So the Lord lovingly redirects me to one of the MANY wonderful, safe and nice things He has provided and I sit and cry because I can't have or do the ONE thing I want....

Then I fail to realize that God is trying to protect me and is redirecting me out of love and genuine concern for my well-being...and out of rebellion I do, or go and get, the one thing He says "No" to.

Then I get hurt and scream and cry and crawl back to the Lord and it is His job to comfort me.

Oh, Lord....forgive me.....

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him."

Psalm 103:8-13

Farming.

2009-10-21T21:19:00.004-05:00

Me: "Parker do you want to be a farmer when you grow up?"

Parker: "No mom. I already am a farmer."

Where has my baby gone?

2009-10-06T22:17:00.004-05:00

Steady.

Balance.

Hold on.

Wahooo!!! I did it!

I have been dying to see what is in this drawer for months!

That is it. Owen is no longer allowed to grow up any more. Where has my baby gone? He is pulling up on everything, getting into cupboards, climbing the stairs, and still only has one tooth. I just call him snaggletooth.....but he will, under no circumstances, be allowed to grow up any more!!!!

30 years ago today...

2009-10-06T21:11:00.005-05:00

30 years ago today my mom was probably listening to Gloria Gaynor sing, "I will Survive" on her Sony Walkman that cost $200.00 as she labored with my sister Katie....and on the way to the hospital my dad probably filled up with gas for 86 cents per gallon....and upon arriving at the hospital read in the paper that "YMCA sues the Village People for libel" and "President Jimmy Carter outraged that 63 Americans were taken hostage in the American Embassy in Tehran" and "The Sahara Desert experiences snow for 30 minutes" and if a DVR would have been invented back then they would have been DVRing "Happy Days" and "Three's Company".

Just kidding. I have no idea what they were doing....but I do know that these things were happening in 1979....and on October 6th 1979 my sister Katie was born....so the laboring part and going to the hospital were true....the Sony Walkman probably not so much, I doubt they would have spent that much on a walkman.....anyway....there is a point to this story.....

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of my sister Katie's birth I had a surprise party! It was fun to surprise her, look at funny pictures of her big hair and share stories and memories....oh, and give her this season's latest jean jumper....I mean, how can she homeschool without a trendy jean jumper!??!?!? hahahahhahha....a good time was had by all....

(These pictures are for you Jen!)

Surprise!

She really was really surprised....really!

Rachel and Jan laughing at the homemade bday card!

Katie showing off her new jean jumper....sooooo HOT this season.

The whole group...and sweet baby Silas who got so scared several times because we were all laughing so hard!

Oh...what is that??? You can't imagine Katie with big hair....well, here is a picture...I am sure she won't mind if I show ya.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

2009-09-30T21:03:00.003-05:00

It is finally soup weather and I love soup! It is easy to make and fills up my boys! I am always looking for new good soup recipes...so I thought maybe if I would share one you could share one with me :).....

This is what I made for supper tonight and it was sooooooooo good.....I can't wait to eat it again tomorrow for lunch.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

1 Rotisserie Chicken cut in small pieces

1 can of red enchilada sauce

1 bag of frozen corn

4 cans of chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can of diced green chiles

1 can northern beans

Directions: Dump everything together, heat and eat! Sometimes I cut up tortillas and put them in it and that makes it really good too. I always put 2 cans of northern beans in it because that is Parker's favorite part. I love to eat it with tortilla chips too. Sometimes if I want to make it more mild (kid friendly) I rinse the green chiles or only put half the can in.

You will have to try it and let me know if you like it....but don't forget that you need to give me one of your soup recipes and if you don't....well....I guess you are just being selfish.

I would have had a picture of the soup to make the post more interesting, but in between bible study this morning, story hour this afternoon, laundry and Awana at church tonight you are lucky I even got the recipe posted, let alone a picture.

You will just have to enjoy these pictures I have been wanting to post of my happy boys....who love this soup.

Peace.

Coupon Rage

2009-09-28T15:38:00.007-05:00

I am not a coupon clipper. I know, I know....people save tons of money clipping coupons. It just isn't my thing. But when I see a really good coupon....as in more than $2.00 of of something I actually use...I may, in a weak moment, clip it. Then it sits in my wallet and without fail, the day I go to use the coupon it is always 1 day expired. Seriously...are you kidding me!

So I cleaned my wallet out this morning after paying bills and discovered a $7.00 off coupon! WOW! Now a $7.00 coupon is worth clipping.....my heart raced with excitement as I feverishly searched for the expiration date....and it said "Use before September 30th"....I quickly looked at my calendar (since I have no idea what day, month or sometimes year it is) and it said the 28th! Boooooooyahhhhhhhhh!

I made my grocery list with excitement...I couldn't wait to use my coupon....I walked into Wal*Mart with a bounce in my step and filled my cart. As I walked to the checkout my heart swelled with hope in the fact that I had clipped a coupon, a $7.00 coupon that was not expired, and was about to successfully use it!

Mrs. Coupon File Fanatic, behind me strikes up a conversation as she sorts through her, I kid you not, HUGE File Folder of coupons....yeah, pretty impressive and intimidating to a coupon virgin.

The cashier says "$455.32 please" (well, maybe that is an exaggeration, but who can get out of Wal*Mart anymore without spending $150!?!?!??!....seriously) I say, "Oh, I have a coupon to use".

Dead give away that I am a coupon virgin.....You don't tell the cashier you have a coupon, you just simply hand her the coupon.....or coupons if you are Mrs. Coupon File Fanatic...I digress....

The cashier takes my coupon and I refrain from screaming in excitement....I mean, even though I spent $150...I saved $7.00....yeah.....take that Wal*Mart!!!

I get home....put my stuff away and decide to look at the receipt just for the pleasure of seeing the - $7.00 at the bottom....only to find that the cashier didn't scan the coupon....yeah, nowhere on the receipt is there a - $7.00.

Are.You.Kidding.Me.

My heart sinks. Anger, frustration and rage begin to well up and I decide not to succumb to coupon rage....I crank up some worship music, thank God that I remembered to buy a candy bar and vow to NEVER clip another coupon in my life. In fact, I may start a new support group for people like me who have coupon rage....Would you join?

Pumpkin Patch 2009

2009-09-26T22:37:00.008-05:00

Oh....what's that...You wish you could've gone with us???

Well, it's your lucky day because by the end of this post you will feel like you did!

Hannah's classic "picture smile" and Bekah & Parker being...ummm...3....

Jump....jump....jump

"Owen, can you believe they woke us up from our naps to come here!!?!?"

"Yeah...seriously Sophia....this isn't that fun....the zoo was way more fun."

Owen loves to snuggle his Aunt Annie!

Owen would have ridden on this horse with Parker all day....he loves his Parker!

Praying to God for patience.....or something like that....

while waiting for the hayrack to come and take us to pick our pumpkins.

Putting on a real show for the 13 year-old girls who were waiting for the hayrack too. They asked the kids where they were from...Hannah replies, "Hastings, Nebraska" and then Parker says, "Um, mommy...where am I from?" Good question Parker.....it is something I wonder everyday!

So happy to finally be on the hayrack!

Parker's main purpose in life right now is to make Hannah laugh.....Mission accomplished!

Rebekah asked me approximately 314 times if her face paint wiped off...sooooo worried....I even had to take a picture to prove to her that it was still on!

"Jessie, is my face paint still on?"

"Yes, Rebekah...you still look like Toto."

(As in Toto the dog from the Wizard of Oz. Her latest obsession)

Growing up so fast! Look at these big kids!

"Um...I think this is the biggest one ever..."

You know Katie and Ann.....they are so wild and crazy.

They forced me to jump on this big trampoline thing....

Should have jumped with our legs crossed :)! Ha!

So fun to have Ann home this week!

Princess Sophia....not real sure about the corn.....

The whole gang.

"Whatever Sophia....I am gonna crawl in this corn...it is not gross."

And a nice bath to wash off all the fun....

Dear Teeth...

2009-09-23T09:13:00.005-05:00

Dear Teeth,

Please hurry up and finish coming in so my mommy can get a few hours of sleep at night. I think it is fun to stay up all night saying, "dadadadadadadadaaaaaaa" but mommy said it is making her a little crazy.

Love, Owen

P.S. Thanks for coming in.....there is nothing sweeter than stealing Parker's breakfast when he isn't looking!!!

(Look closely on the top and you can see the tooth poking through!)

Obsession....

2009-09-14T11:51:00.003-05:00

Owen has a new obsession.....pulling himself up....on...everything! The problem is that he doesn't know how to sit down once he is up and usually ends of falling. Hard.

This morning when I laid him down for his nap I had to go in there 3 times to lay him down from the standing up position.

I am happy that he is learning how to do this.....but cannot leave him alone for a split second.

Parker thinks it is great and loves to "comfort" him when he falls.

Go Huskers!

2009-09-14T11:37:00.003-05:00

Last weekend we had some friends over to watch the first Husker game of the season. The kids enjoyed the nice weather and played outside with only a few minor injuries (i.e. getting poked in the eye with an American flag).....and then spent the rest of the night in the basement playing "camp out" with flashlights...it is so fun to see the kids playing together and having fun!

Top to bottom: Madden, Parker, Hailey, Austin, Sage.

Broccamole

2009-09-01T14:39:00.003-05:00

I was feeding Owen the other day and Parker exclaims, "Mommy, is Owen eating Broccamole?"

You know, Broccamole....it is a mixture of broccoli and guacamole. But it wasn't broccamole, it was peas...

And he is eating lots so he can try and keep up with Parker. He crawls like a crazy man and on Saturday I caught him crawling up the stairs! Lord help me!

That is my excuse for not blogging for a whole month....I forgot how much work it is to chase around a crawling 7 month old!

Pictures Schmictures....

2009-07-29T20:59:00.010-05:00

I am not a scrapbooker/keepsake type of person.....I don't like clutter....I am annoyed by things that are useless but meaningful so you can't throw them away (i.e. wedding albums, scrapbooks, etc.).... so I haven't had alot of professional pictures taken of the boys. Honestly the last time I had Parker's picture taken was when her turned one. So I decided about a month ago that we should get some pictures taken so I can replace the picture hanging in the living room of Parker with a picture of Parker and Owen.....well, that and Sean was dying for a chance to get in front of a camera! HA!

Anyway, I got the picture CD today and thought I would share some of my favorites....

If you are dying to see more go to www.kparrphotography.com....and you will have to email me jablott@yahoo.com to get the password :).....

wow...

2009-07-24T16:16:00.005-05:00

Owen turned 6 months old on the 19th....I am not sure where the time has gone. I finally took some pics of him today since I haven't for awhile. He is just so cute! He is army crawling and working on sitting up....and he learned a new trick on our trip....he now takes a pacifier! Hooray!

And please don't tell Parker that Owen was touching his dump truck....

Swimming Lessons

2009-07-10T15:22:00.004-05:00

This is the first day. Soooooo excited to go to swimming lessons!

Sitting on the edge and listening the teacher....

The next day at lessons, Rebekah decided to cry and Parker also had a hard time getting into the water....The third day Parker threw a fit when we got there and Rebekah refused to do anything.....She ended up not coming back, and Parker decided it wasn't so bad and finished the week out. He did get more brave everyday! I was so proud of him....

Here he is in his life jacket today before he jumped into the deep water!

He was so proud of himself!

And the last 5 minutes of lessons they get to play on the slides.

When I asked Parker what his favorite part of swimming lessons was he says, "Oh, just the talking part." Oh, my....yes, he does have a lot to say and even if he doesn't know the answer to the question, he makes one up so he can talk.

Next week we will not be able to go to lessons because we are going on vacation to the Lake of the Ozarks.....I am disappointed he will miss lessons, but soooooo excited to get out of town with Sean and the boys for a whole week!!!! I'm off to do some major packing and praying.....8 hours in the car is going to require lots of patience :)! I will update you when we get home from our trip!

Sprinkler Park

2009-06-17T20:09:00.005-05:00

Today it was HOT! For the first time it actually felt like it was summer.....our playgroup met at the sprinkler park this morning and the kids had a blast!

The moms take turns watching the kids and working out and I will just say that my head nearly exploded while I was running! When I got back to the sprinkler park it was all I could do to keep myself from standing under the big bucket that dumped water on your head.....I did resist the urge and maintained my composure as much as possible....You know, just guzzling water and laying in the shade crying....

Owen was cool as a cucumber and napped in his stroller most of the morning.....and when he woke up he made sure not to crack a smile....sooooo serious Owen!

And Parker spent most of his time climbing the large, might I add HOT and dangerous, rock that was beside the sprinkler pad. Seriously, whose idea was it to put this rock right next to a large slab of wet pavement? Who would put something like this next to the sprinkler park? What 3-year-old boy could resist?

Anyway.....we had a great time and I can't wait to go again.....minus the running 3 miles in 92 degrees.....

Oh, and when we got to the park there was an older boy riding his scooter through the sprinklers and Parker says, "Mom, you didn't tell me this was a SCOOTER sprinkler park!?!?" Ha!

$198.00

2009-06-04T14:11:00.003-05:00

I do a pretty good job of living in a bubble. I take care of my kids, clean the house, do laundry, play at the park, spend time with friends and family, go to the local grocery store....you get the picture.....and I like it. I like to pretend we live in a world of peace, calm and cleanliness and no swine flu :). I like to keep my head buried in the sand, as DEEP as I can....but yesterday was different.

My sister-in-law, mother-in-law, the boys and I went to G.I. because I needed some stuff at Sam*s Club and we decided to head to the mall for a little bit....we walked into a store and there were jeans priced at $198.00 and I became ill....literally sick to my stomach, have to leave the store, want to go home, type of ill. I became fearful of the world Parker and Owen will grow up in....

Yes, I know not all jeans are $198.00. No, there is nothing inherently evil about $198.00 jeans. It was just such a shock to me to think that there is that kind of value placed in a piece of clothing....with HOLES in them no less! Yeah, I am probably starting to sound like a crazy old woman, but I don't care because the Lord spoke such truth to me through this experience as I prayed about it last night.

He reminded me that as Christians we will look different....we must. And not in the "I am so nice and don't swear and go to church on Sundays" kind of way. We will look different...and the more ugly the world gets the more different we must look if we are seeking Him.

Fear and anxiety began creeping in.....

"But Lord, I don't want my kids to look so different that others won't like them. I want them to fit in and be accepted and well-liked. "

Really? Does that really matter? Is that really a priority? What does this say about my heart?

I am still processing what it looks like and am thankful I have some years to gain wisdom and understanding before I am faced with these issues in my children. BUT, I must begin to pray for courage.....

Courage to make the choice to be different even when it isn't comfortable. Courage to go against the "norm". Courage to choose Christ above all else. Courage to stand for what I believe when I am not in my bubble.....

$198.00......seriously, that is like 10 cases of diapers, enough food to feed our Compassion International child for 6 months.....I mean the sales tax on that pair of jeans is more than I would spend on a pair of jeans (without holes!)....

Parker is 3!

2009-05-31T16:02:00.006-05:00

The birthday boy in his new frog goggles...

his guests, cousins and best friends (Rebekah & Hannah)...

the cake...

the meal...

the swimming...

the tired little brother and grandma...

the happy little cousin Sophia...

the skating lessons from Hannah...

the new skates that he "really wished a lot for these!!!"

the singing...

the happy little brother after his nap...

aunt Jill finishing off the cake :)!

the mess in the living room...

the party continues...

the cuddles and smiles the next morning...

and just like that, my baby is 3...

...but wasn't this just yesterday?

Lord, thank you for Parker's life and entrusting him to our care....that we would be faithful in raising him to know You....

"...that he may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3

rollin' rollin' rollin'

2009-05-18T15:17:00.005-05:00

Owen is a rollin' .....

...and he is going to be 4 months old tomorrow!!!

Here are some of his 4-month milestones....

You are tipping the scales at about 17 pounds

You go to sleep about 7:30 pm and sleep until 8 am (waking up once to eat for 10 minutes)

You can roll over back to front

You have tried rice cereal once and don't really like it

You love your daddy and get really excited when you hear his voice

You are a happy boy and smile all the time

You love going on walks

You love watching "The Office" with mommy and "Caillou" with Parker

You are discovering your hands

You will not suck on a pacifier, but are beginning to suck your fingers

You don't like to nap, but instead want to play all day

Busy living...

2009-05-08T14:06:00.007-05:00

Long time no post. I have been so busy living I don't know where the days go. Owen has rolled over from his back 3 times now and gets sweeter by the minute. This is Owen's face most of the day.....eyes open (he doesn't nap much) and smiling...he is very quiet and peaceful and I just love him...

He thinks I am soooooooooo FUNNY! Ha!

It got warm enough to swim a couple weeks ago and every day since then Parker has had a fit about not being able to put water in his pool again.....please, Lord, warmer weather!

Parker has been really busy planting. Here is his "shop" where he parks his equipment and works with his tools. Have you ever heard of a 2 year-old being a workaholic?????

Here is Parker with his "best friend" Rebekah....seriously, I think they are twins.

Owen's nickname is bulldog because he has a bunch of extra skin that wrinkles up on the back of his head....

Parker fondly refers to him as "O-dog-bull-dog"....

Looking forward to a weekend of being home and enjoying the weather!

Shhhhhh.

2009-05-03T13:43:00.003-05:00

In church this morning Parker says (in his not so quiet Parker voice during a prayer).....

"Mommy, look at that lady. She doesn't have a shirt on."

(In reference to the lady sitting in front of us with a strapless dress on.)

Yeah.....it was loud enough for the people behind us to hear....or at least I assume so since they were laughing...........

Needless to say, I was a little embarrassed.

Oh, Parker....

2009-04-17T21:23:00.006-05:00

I was up feeding Owen this morning and after a terribly long and frustrating day yesterday, I decided to get my heart right first thing this morning. I was praying that God would give me strength to be consistent with discipline for Parker....praying that God would help me be slow to anger....and enjoying the quiet stillness before the storm (a.k.a. Parker waking up).

And all too soon, there he came.... bounding up the stairs with a feisty grin, ready to go....

Parker: Good morning mommy...

Me: Good morning Parker.....how did you sleep?

Parker: Good...I am ready for my breakfast now.

Me: I need to finish feeding Owen and then I will get your breakfast.

Parker: Noooooooo....I am hungry and I want my breakfast RIGHT NOW!!!! I need to eat first!

Me: Parker...if I were you I would stop whining and complaining because I am not giving any warnings today.....

Parker: Mommy, and if I were you I would be feeding Owen right now.

I was speechless. Yeah. Not sure if he was stating a fact, trying to be funny, or what, but I was speechless.....

Today has been a better day.....not a good day, but better....

Smiles & Trials...

2009-04-15T13:57:00.006-05:00

Owen is the happiest boy....He is all SMILES!

He wakes up smiling and goes to sleep smiling....

And when I say sleep, this boy knows how to sleep...

At about 8 pm he is ready for bath and bed and usually sleeps until 7:30 am!

Thank you Lord for Owen and all of his smiles!!!!

Parker is in the thick of the TERRIBLE two's...and he is all TRIALS!

I am so thankful his birthday is in a few weeks...

However, I have heard that 3 is harder than 2....could it get any harder?????

Please, don't answer that.

Days that he can go outside are upon us and I am so excited for nice weather. He did get to ride his bike the other day when the wind wasn't blowing 45 mph.

And I choose to thank you Lord for Parker, and all of the trials!!!

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Yes, the testing of my faith is producing perseverance....I am still waiting on the mature, complete and not lacking anything business...Oh, Lord help me!

Super Man!

2009-04-10T11:58:00.004-05:00

Wal-Mart

2009-04-07T20:14:00.005-05:00

I braved Wal-Mart with both kids today. I am glad to know that I can do it, but I am not planning on making a habit of it.

On the way there I tried to strategize my trip. Should I push the huge cart with the blue child seats and have Parker ride and put Owen's car seat on the cart? Should I let Parker walk and touch everything in sight and take twice as long to get out of there? No option seemed good, but I decided to let Parker walk. And the first thing Parker does when we walk in the doors is run over to an Easter display and grab a bag of 50 plastic easter eggs. Let's just say that was the best $2 I have spent in months!

I had him hold the bag the whole time we shopped so he couldn't touch anything else and the eggs provided hours of entertainment when we got home.

After I hid the eggs for him about 300 times I decided to see if he wanted to hide the eggs and let me find them. I mean, it takes awhile to hide 50 eggs....so I was surprised when after 2 minutes he comes to me with an empty basket and tells me to go and find the eggs. Yeah....he just dumped the entire basket on the bathroom floor! Typical man...

Now I am off to pick up 50 plastic eggs before heading to bed.....Goodnight!

Too much fun!

2009-04-05T15:37:00.007-05:00

This weekend was lots of fun! Friday night was cousin Rebekah's 3rd birthday party!

Then Saturday night we went to a wedding reception and Parker had the time of his life dancing. Owen didn't care much for the dance and decided to sleep.... and I am thinking since he slept so well I may start blaring country music in his room at night :)!

The boys in their matching outfits before the reception.

Our first family picture with all 4 of us.

Parker dancing with grandma.

Parker with the "girls"...(Aunt Jill and Aunt Erin).

Owen will be 11 weeks tomorrow and is tipping the scales at 15 lbs. 5 oz. He is getting to be so much fun...smiling and and "oohing" and "ahhing" and "cooing" all the time. He loves to sit in the walker and looks like such a big boy when he is in there. His personality is really starting to show and he is just so sweet I can hardly handle him!

And I cannot forget to post one of the "classic" shots that Parker insists on me taking EVERY TIME he holds Owen....

"Parker, you need to open your eyes when you smile!" And Owen just laughs at him...

Just.Plain.Tired.

2009-03-25T15:51:00.005-05:00

This is what happens to a 2 1/2 year-old at about 3 in the afternoon when they are trying to give up their nap....

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30

Does He??????

2009-03-20T16:11:00.002-05:00

People are always asking me if Owen looks like Parker......What do you think? One of these is Owen and one of them is Parker both at 8 weeks old.

Guess which is Owen and which is Parker.....

Oh, and I changed the comments so you don't have to log in to blogger to leave a comment! Guess away......

2009-03-15T19:21:00.006-05:00

Guess who is 8 weeks old tomorrow and VERY happy about it!???!!?

And this is what Parker was up to this evening.....

Yeah......your guess is as good as mine on this one.....I often watch him and wonder what in the world he is thinking. Looking forward to the beautiful weather that is coming this week so we can play outside!!!!

A little bit of everything....

2009-03-11T14:08:00.004-05:00

The last 3 nights Owen has slept 8 hours straight. WOW! Yes, I am thrilled and it is a good thing I am getting more sleep at night because Parker seems to be on the verge of giving up his afternoon nap thanks to the time change. Today is the first day in 5 days that he is taking a nap and it was no easy task getting him down today! I am fine with him not napping, just not fine with the monster he becomes at 6 p.m.

I got out of the house yesterday with no children for 2.5 hours! I left a bottle with Sean's mom in case Owen started to starve (ha!) and he actually ate 3 oz. of the bottle! Parker never took a bottle, so I am super excited that Owen will.....

Monday morning my friend Christy brought her new baby Aubrey over to meet Owen. As she said on her blog, it was "love at first sight!" We know they will thank us someday for their arranged marriage :)! HA!

It has been freezing, so Parker has been inside all week and getting a little crazy. I knew it was going to be a long day when he came into my room with a magnet in his hand and says, "Good morning mommy, I am just going to scrape you with this for a little bit."

I started reading the book "Developing your Secret Closet of Prayer" by Richard Burr. I signed up for a bible study on this book a year ago and ended up not being able to do it. I bought the book anyway with every intention of doing the study on my own and am just now getting around to it. I have only read the introduction, but I have a feeling it is going to be really good for me to read.

In the introduction Burr writes, "Could it be that what God has to say to you is much more important than what you have to say to Him?" Wow! That was so convicting to me. How much prayer time do I spend listening to God? NONE. My prayer time is usually rushed because I have so many more "important" things to do, and the time I do spend praying I spend thanking God and asking Him for more.....more peace, more patience, more time, more wisdom, more, more, more. Could it be that I would have all of those things and more if I would shut my mouth for a few minutes and listen to Him? I pray that this thought challenges you in your prayer life today as well....

"The central issue is solitude with God. Why is this so critical? Because there are some things God only shares in secret, and there are some secrets that are only heard in solitude with Him. When God spoke to Abraham, Moses, Samuel and scores of other Old Testament saints, it was not in a public setting. It was invariably in solitude with Jehovah."
(Richard Burr, "Developing your Secret Closet of Prayer" pg. 7)

Lord, help us to be still before You today so that we may hear You.

March Madness

2009-03-04T12:41:00.005-06:00

So Parker asked to play with the calendar at my mom's house the other day and this is how it looked when he was done. We all laughed and then agreed that this is what life feels like sometimes....so we left the calendar looking like this. Yes, we are squeezing a few more months into March and leaving out a few days...but anymore, who really knows what day or month it is and who really cares???

I do remember a time in my life when it did matter what day it was....when I had a planner and had to write down meetings and obligations....when I looked forward to the weekend so I didn't have to dress up...or when I dreaded Sunday nights because that meant a whole week of classes and studying ahead of me.....anymore each day seems the same. We may play different games and eat at different times, but the schedule remains the same...no schedule at all. It is nice most days, and I love staying home with the boys, but sometimes I long for a life that was a little more orderly and little less random. Someday, someday, maybe someday....

We had some visitors this weekend....Uncle Eric came home from Chicago to meet Owen for the first time and Aunt Jill came home too. We had tons of fun with them and Parker is still talking about it....he loves having company, especially his aunts and uncles.

Owen is 6 weeks old and weighing in at a whopping 13 lbs. 3 oz.....I am slowly noticing my right bicep bulging out of my t-shirts and no, I haven't been working out. He is smiling more and more each day and it amazes me how quickly they develop a personality. He is so sweet and serious...and Parker is, well, so feisty and a total clown! Owen has been sleeping 6 hour stretches at night and if I would go to bed at a decent hour I may feel rested. Someday, someday, maybe someday...

Gotta run....Parker has been yelling "mommy!!!" for like 5 minutes and I just finally responded and he said, "Mommy, here is God...I found Him!" Sounds like something I should probably go see....

Life.

2009-02-25T18:07:00.003-06:00

Random...

2009-02-16T14:48:00.004-06:00

1. On Saturday Parker got to go sledding behind the 4-wheeler for the first time. He LOVED it!

2. Parker and Sean smoked a turkey for dinner Saturday night and it was soooooo good. They have been doing a lot of "smoking" together the past couple weekends.....We've had ribs, pork tenderloin and now turkey.....so it is no wonder that Parker asked Sean the other night, "Daddy, where are the cigarettes?" Sean starts laughing and then proceeds to question Parker about why he would ask that question........I guess Parker somehow related "smoking turkey" to "smoking cigarettes"....so we laughed all weekend over that one! And just to be clear, they didn't smoke any cigarettes.....(even if the picture of Parker in his sunglasses below does look a little suspect. Ha!)

3. Parker always wants to hold Owen in the rocking chair and every time he does he says to me, "Oh, mommy, you have got to get a picture of this." Ha! I wonder where he has heard that? So I humored him and took a picture, and sure enough, every picture that Parker is looking at the camera didn't turn out! Why is it that kids can look so cute and the second you go to take the picture they make the most ridiculous face?

4. Owen is 1-month old and I CANNOT believe it! Seriously.....where did the last month go??!?! Last week I took him to get weighed at breastfeeding support group and he was 10 lb. 13 oz. I call him my little piggie....He is already changing so much and it makes me sad to think he will be as big as Parker before I know it! Here are some pictures of him from Saturday night....gotta love the double chin :)!

So here's to another week of doing puzzles and feeding Owen....and maybe we'll be able to squeeze in a game of BINGO and slapjack if we're lucky :)! While I regret that Owen is growing up so fast, I am looking forward to spring and summer so we can play outside and leave the house without worrying about getting sick!

Thursdays at Grandma's!

2009-02-06T16:05:00.004-06:00

So we have a weekly tradition that we spend Thursdays at my mom's house. It is a nice break from being at home and the kids look forward to it.....and so do I! Anyway, yesterday was so nice outside that the kids got to play outside with no coats in the sandbox....and they got to make their own pizzas for lunch.... and Sophia and Owen got to take naps.....

We attempted a photo shoot of all 5 kids and this is how it turned out.....hey, at least no one was crying or throwing a fit :)!

True Love...

2009-02-02T15:45:00.006-06:00

I could watch him sleep all afternoon......and so maybe I did.....and was completely overwhelmed by my love for him....

Brotherly love...

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers."
1 John 3:16

Thank you Lord for your sacrifice. May I never say, "I love you" again without understanding and recognizing the depth of your sacrifice. Thank you for my boys and the way you reveal yourself and your love for me through them.

2009-01-30T20:05:00.008-06:00

It has been a great week. Owen is such a good baby...He nurses good, sleeps great, and rarely cries. He had his 2 week doctor's appointment this afternoon and now weighs 9.13 lbs. Things are feeling more normal and Parker is starting to like Owen. In the morning the first thing he always asks is, "Mommy, where is Owen?" and he always says to Owen, "It's okay Owen, I am right here."

Here are a few pictures from our week........ENJOY!

Sean came home from work early one day this week and took Parker out to play in the snow. Parker has been begging us to build a snowman......but the snow wasn't wet enough to make a snowman so they made snow angels instead.

1 Week Old

2009-01-25T20:25:00.003-06:00

I can hardly believe that Owen is a week old! Parker has been having a hard time getting used to the fact that Owen is going to be around for good, but he is making strides toward liking him. This morning he was holding him and said, "Daddy, I am getting used to Owen......it is just hard waiting for him to grow up."

Then later this afternoon Parker wanted to hold Owen by himself.....so I sat them in the chair and Owen just looked at Parker and listened so intently as Parker talked to him.

We are all still getting used to having Owen around, including me. I feel like I forgot so much about when Parker was a newborn and now I am realizing it is because it truly does go so fast. And that is what gets me through the sleepless nights, realizing that this newborn stage won't last forever and it is such a precious time and I want to cherish every moment while it while it does last.

Owen Jackson Ablott

2009-01-22T12:20:00.005-06:00

He's Here!!!!

2009-01-21T16:59:00.002-06:00

Owen Jackson Ablott was born Monday, January 19th at 2:53 p.m.

He was 9.0lbs and 22 inches long.

He is beautiful and looks so much like Parker did! He is a great eater! We are praising God for a healthy baby and anxious to be home. Sorry I don't have a picture up yet.....I will post one soon....thank you for your prayers.......

Above all we thank you Lord for Owen's health and a safe delivery, he is a miracle and we are so humbled to be entrusted with being his parents! We marvel at your miracle of life and the creation you have done in Owen. We stand in awe and are amazed....all glory, praise and honor be Yours, Oh, Lord!

I SURRENDER!!!

2009-01-16T14:27:00.006-06:00

So after asking God to help me to choose surrender, He faithfully did.....in the way of the seemingly deadly virus called "24-Hour-Stomach Flu-While 39-Weeks-Pregnant". Tuesday night at 2 a.m. I woke up thinking I felt sick and not 2 minutes later I heard Parker on the monitor saying, "Mommy, I puked in my bed." I went downstairs and cleaned him up, stripped his bed, brought him upstairs to lay in bed with Sean and we both proceeded to throw-up VIOLENTLY for the next 24 hours. I had no choice but to surrender and spent all day Wednesday and Thursday unable to move off of the couch and thanking God that I had not had the baby yet...

Isn't it good to know that even when it seems God is allowing pain and suffering in our lives He is usually protecting us and guarding us from something so much worse......(i.e. having a baby and THEN getting the stomach flu and having your day old baby sick and your 2-year-old sick). Thank you Lord for your faithfulness!!!

I had a doctor's appointment this morning and the nurse weighed me and got this weird look on her face and said, "When was the last time you were weighed?" My reply, "On Monday." She says, "Why have you lost 5 pounds in 4 days?".............Yeah, it was that bad.....Poor Parker was so good though.....he kept saying, "Mommy, I sure don't like to throw up." I am just thankful we are getting better and now I can disinfect the house before the baby comes.....which should be any day now!

Since this blog serves as the only type of "scrapbook" that I have, I did want to post 1 last picture of my belly....Hope your week was better than mine.....and I hope my next post has much cuter (more handsome :)!) pictures.

And for a little fun today....leave a comment to guess birthdate, time, weight and length of our new baby boy!

Something to make you laugh....

2009-01-13T15:36:00.009-06:00

The first thing Parker says to me when he wakes up from his nap.......

"Mommy, when I grow big like you I want to have a really big baby like you.....and have a big head like yours.......and a shirt like that........and eat peanuts......Okay? Now let's paint some sharks."

Choosing Surrender

2009-01-13T14:23:00.005-06:00

It has been a long week and it is only Tuesday....I went into the Dr. yesterday with hopes and plans of being induced this week....so far that is not happening. I go back to see him on Friday and I am praying that something changes. Please pray with me!

So here i sit, 39 weeks pregnant, getting some pretty crazy ideas about how to make myself go into labor.

To pass the time Parker and I have been playing lots of slap jack....yeah, the card game. He learned it at his grandparent's house this weekend and seriously would sit and play cards for hours on end. I am finding it to be a good tool to teach him his numbers....and as an added bonus I can just sit in a chair and not move. So then after not moving for an hour we head down to the basement and take turns walking on the treadmill....and then that makes us hungry so we have to have a snack and play slap jack again....

Sean and I spent last weekend cleaning the house, going out for our "last date", and battling the dreaded stomach flu.....again! Seriously, this is the second time it has been a guest in our house this winter and I am SICK of being SICK!

I think the reason I am most frustrated that I am not being induced this week is because the house was spotless, the laundry was done, and the groceries were put away, and now we have to live here another week before the baby comes.....so the house will get dirty, the laundry will need washed, and the groceries will get eaten! Yes, I know, the many logical worries of 39 week pregnant woman. I guess I shouldn't have been praying so hard for a relaxed and laid back child this time around.......seems that he is a little too laid back....

Once again God is showing me that I have no control over soooooo many things in my life and once again I am resisting the lesson and choosing to cling to my frustration....and that is just what it is, my choice.

Lord, please help me let go of my frustration and choose surrender!

.....and here he goes again with the hiccups for the 45th time today....

Yeah...it really is January 7th 2009....

2009-01-07T15:14:00.008-06:00

Highlights from the past few weeks......

1. Parker helped paint his brother's room......

2. Parker got TWO dump trucks, baseball bases and a tee, a horsey that really makes noise and about 293 other things for Christmas.

3. Parker learned how to clean a goose, and loved it.

4. I am now 38 weeks, as big as a house, and I am officially "nesting" and by that I mean laying on the couch doing as little as possible until the baby arrives :)! (Sorry, no picture to document this one, you will just have to take my word.)

Christmas was great and we got to spend a lot of time with family which is always fun. Parker had all of his aunts and uncles around to harass and spoil him and he is having a hard time remembering how to play by himself. Please be praying that I go into labor within the next week...as Parker was 7 days early and weighed 8 lbs 7 ozs and I am totally unwilling to have a bigger baby than that......unless of course I have to :).....

God has really been stretching me and asking me to surrender a lot of worry and anxiety and to trust Him in all things. I have been encouraged by 1 Kings chapter 3 and Solomon's wisdom. In 1 Kings 3:5 God appears to Solomon in a dream and says, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

And so what does Solomon ask for? He asks God for a discerning heart. (1 Kings 3:9) And God replies in 1 Kings 3:11-12, "Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart..."

I am beginning to realize that when worries overwhelm me it is easy to pray for God to ease the pain, bring comfort, give wealth and good health and long life, but that is not a wise request.....I need to be asking God for a discerning heart and the wisdom to know what to do in every situation He brings me to.

Lord, thank you for your faithfulness....You are more than able to impart wisdom and give us the ability to discern your will in all circumstances, if that is truly what our heart desires. May we know you more everyday.

P.S. I have been attempting to change my background and it isn't working....I will try and get the happy holidays background changed soon because whenever Parker sees Christmas lights of trees still up he says "Don't they know Christmas is OVER!"

Christmas Fun!

2008-12-19T14:25:00.005-06:00

It has been a crazy couple weeks since Thanksgiving....and I can hardly believe that Christmas is next week....which means this baby is going to make his appearance soon....and so maybe we should also decide on a name sometime....but in the meantime we have been enjoying the Christmas season.

We took Parker to Disney on Ice a couple weeks ago and he LOVED it! He sat through all 2 hours of the show and was amazed. He couldn't stop talking about Pinocchio for days after we went! We went with another family and here is Parker and his friend Hailey.
We have made Christmas cookies and learned all the lyrics to "Frosty the Snowman" (thanks to cousin Hannah and grandma Diane's great Frosty costume)...you know, learning all of the important and meaningful things about Christmas!
Yesterday we had a little Christmas party over at Great-Gram Phelps's place and the kids had so much fun. They ran up and down the halls pretending to be Prancer, Cupid, and Rudolph and sang "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" to anyone who would stop and listen.

Some days I would love to just freeze Parker and Rebekah at age 2 forever....when they play nice together and have their "deep discussions" it is too sweet for words! I am so thankful for Parker having cousins so close!

I am looking forward to the next 2 weeks and having Sean home some extra days so we can finish up some things before the baby comes and do a little relaxing as well....Hope you are enjoying the season wherever you are, and remembering the TRULY important things to celebrate this Christmas season....Thank you Lord for the gift of your Son and His sacrifice so that we may have life! Hallelujah!

I'm just being a kitty...

2008-12-03T14:20:00.003-06:00

I was trying to actually accomplish something today since most days I have zero energy...So I started some laundry early this morning and after I put it in I couldn't find Parker. I was looking all over the house for him and finally found him in the laundry basket "just being a kitty". During breakfast we read the story of Noah's Ark in his bible and have since then been pretending the story over and over and over....He built his ark on the couch and filled it with all of his animals, but was very distressed that he didn't have a turtle. He called me "mommy Noah" and he was "Parker Noah"....It eventually quit raining and the dove came back with an olive leaf, so we could leave the ark and do something else.

I had a doctors appointment yesterday and everything looks good. I go back in 2 weeks and I will be 35 weeks and I can hardly believe it! I am feeling very big and uncomfortable, but I have to constantly remind myself that it will be worth it in the end. However, the past couple days I have been struggling with anxiety and worry....I find myself constantly worrying about things that aren't even true....stupid things that waste my time and energy and it seriously wears me out...physically, mentally and emotionally. So when worry and anxiety start creeping into my thoughts today I am claiming this verse and I am believing that this truth will give me freedom from worry and anxiety today!

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." Philippians 4:8

Sophia Elise

2008-11-24T14:52:00.005-06:00

My sister Katie and brother-in-law Josh welcomed their 3rd baby girl into the world today at 12:30 p.m.

Sophia Elise, 7 lb. 10 oz.

BINGO!

2008-11-18T13:45:00.004-06:00

One of Parker's new favorite games is Sesame Street Bingo. It is pretty funny when a 2 year-old walks up to you several times a day and says, "Hey, do you wanna play bingo with me?" Today after I got out of the shower he came running into the bathroom and yelled, "He is really scary and he won't quit bothering me!" And I asked him who he was talking about and he told me it was the Count.....So I was relieved that there wasn't some strange man who snuck in our house during my shower.....needless to say, I hid the Count Bingo card.....

When I was getting Parker dressed this morning we were going over Colossians 3:12-14 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." And after I said the verse I asked Parker, "So what else does God want us to put on every day besides clothes." His response, "God probably just says, 'put your clothes on and get to church.'" Ha! I did laugh out loud and then explain the verse again.

I am now 31 weeks pregnant! So here is an updated picture to show you all that this boy is growing big.....fast....and I cannot wait to meet him in a few weeks! We have narrowed down the name list, but are still undecided on what his name should be. I am thinking we might wait to officially decide on his name until we meet him....as long as we have some options to decide from...right?!?!?! In the past few days I have heard from one person, "Oh, you don't look very big for being due in January." And, "Omigosh, you aren't due until January?" So what do you think? Do I look big or small for 31 weeks.....I would love to hear from you :)!

Have a great day and in Parker's words, "Just put your clothes on and get to church!"

"Why did God make you so small?"

2008-11-13T21:55:00.003-06:00

Parker: Mommy, please carry me up the stairs....

Me: Parker, I can't. You need to walk.
(considering he weighs 35 lbs. and I have gained about 30 lbs. I can't bear an extra 65 lbs. on the way up the stairs)

Parker: Can daddy still carry me?

Me: Yes he can because daddy is big.

Parker: No, mommy he is HUGE!

We walk up the stairs and I thought that was the end of the discussion.

Parker: (In a disgusted voice) Why did God make you so small?

Me: Good question....(I really could use a few extra inches in my torso these days :)!)

Another week gone by...

2008-11-13T15:07:00.006-06:00

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is Friday! It is strange to me how the days can seem so long at times, but the weeks seem to fly by? Time is weird if you really think about it. Everyday, except yesterday, has been cloudy and rainy and I cannot complain. I am enjoying it.

Parker's combine was "broke down" so he went downstairs and got his "welding tools" to fix it......Yeah, that is what he told me.

So Monday I wrote about praying for Parker 7 times a day, everyday....I am here to report I have done pretty well and some of the scriptures have become so alive to me! I love Philippians 2:14-16 and I find myself using that scripture constantly throughout the day with Parker.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that you may boast on the day of Christ that you did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16

We were at Kmart today and I think I mentioned that verse about 20 times as we walked around the store and he started arguing with me or complaining about something. In the check-out line he kept trying to say "arguing" and it was so funny....until he started screaming about wanting a sucker.....and then refused to hand the coupon he was holding to the cashier....now, Parker is usually pretty reasonable, but today was an exception. He screamed and threw the biggest fit I have ever experienced with him and I was soooooo embarrassed! Discipline ensued when we got home and I felt like he understood that he could not act like that.....HA! Since then he has had about 5 fits and I feel like we have done nothing BUT argue today! He went down for his nap without reading stories (BIG deal to him) and I am hoping he wakes up in a better mood.

After asking God, "Why, after praying for Parker all week, and using scripture to reiterate these truths throughout the day, do I feel more discouraged and Parker is more disobedient than ever?!?!?!?!"

His answer.....the enemy hates prayer....the enemy hates truth (scripture)....the enemy hates when we are victorious in our commitment to God....

So my encouragement today to any of you who are joining me in this prayer challenge. PRESS ON! Continue to pray for and with your kids, speak truth (scripture) boldly and with confidence all day long.... When I was talking to my sister this afternoon about how discouraged I was with Parker, she said this...."You won't see fruit right away, and you may not for a few years, but continue to do what you are doing...if you don't do it now how will you handle him when he is 10 or 15..." So true.

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." John 10:10

"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11

Lord, may these scriptures encourage us to press on....that we would cling to you when we feel like giving up...give us patience and perseverance to wait for the harvest of righteousness in our children....you are a faithful God.

The call to prayer...

2008-11-10T13:53:00.004-06:00

I think we all know how important it is to pray for and pray with our children, but when the house is a mess and there are no clean clothes to wear it is easy to be so distracted during the day....at least it is for me. I was recently challenged by Angie Smith's blog about praying for your children. (wife of Todd Smith of the Christian group Selah) Anyway, I placed the link on my sidebar that is the picture of the little girl praying and it says 7x7. Her challenge is for mom's to commit to pray 7 times a day 7 days a week and she gives specific prayers and scriptures to pray at specific times of day. I thought it looked like a great challenge because of many things.....

1. All of the prayers are scripture and there is nothing more important to pray than TRUTH!
2. Each scripture prayer correlates with things you are already doing throughout the day.
3. It is often during these times (getting kids dressed, bath time, meal time, etc.) that are sometimes the most stressful times of day for me and this would be great for me to take a moment and pray when I am at my wits end :)! I mean, it is hard to pray and speak the truth, unless my heart is right before God.
4. Repetition is a great way to memorize scripture, and Parker is like a sponge right now, so how great for him and I to be prayerfully learning 7 scriptures together.

I will let you know how I am doing on this challenge and I pray you would consider joining me. You can find her full entry about this prayer challenge by clicking on the button on the left side of the page. And her blog is really encouraging as well.....her story about losing a daughter to Trisomy 18 is very inspiring and she is full of wisdom!

Pray you are all enjoying the "wintry mix" outside today.

Big Day!

2008-11-04T13:29:00.003-06:00

Big day at our house today......I took a shower and got ready this morning! oh, and election day and my glucose tolerance test (so pretty much the only reason I showered and got ready is because I had to go vote and go to the doctor) As you can see by this picture, Parker had he run of the house this morning while I was in the shower, and though I am happy to report he had no accidents in his underwear (and hasn't for the past couple days!!!!!) he went ahead and helped himself to whatever he wanted. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "I am just playing cards with my monies!!!!"

Parker also slept in his new room downstairs last night and did surprisingly well. He got up at midnight and said he didn't want to sleep in his new room anymore, but after Sean laid down with him for a little bit he went right back to sleep until 7:15 this morning! I think him sleeping in the basement was harder on me than him last night, but we all have some adjusting to do before we welcome baby #2 in just 10 weeks!!!!! I put him down for his nap in his new room, and I just checked and he is sound asleep! I am praying that each night just gets easier....on me that is :)!

Since I have my glucose test today I have been trying not to eat any candy, which is a huge challenge for someone who eats about 15 tootsie rolls an hour....hey, what can I say? it is left over halloween candy and I am not going to let it go to waste ;)! And I am hoping it doesn't backfire on me....watch my blood sugar be super low when I get it tested today since my body is used to so much sugar! Anyway.....this is just rambling so I will quit.

If you haven't voted yet today I encourage you to get out and vote.....and if you don't have a glucose tolerance test I encourage you to eat the rest of your leftover halloween candy.....

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

Thank you Lord that your sovereign will cannot be thwarted by the plans of men. We pray for your will to be done today in the election, and trust in you (not our government) to be our only hope for a better life, a better country, and for eternity. You alone are worthy of our praise!

Some say Boo! others say Moo!

2008-11-01T09:56:00.004-05:00

Parker had such a fun time Trick-or-Treating with his cousins last night! However, he insisted that he only say "Moo!" because he was a cow....and clearly cows don't talk and say "Trick-or-Treat" or "Happy Halloween".....I am posting all the pictures we took to show that we tried and tried to get a good picture, but the excitement combined with the amount of sugar they had consumed made it a little tough!

Showers and Pumpkins

2008-10-30T15:39:00.007-05:00

The other night Parker came up from the basement after showering with daddy and had a towel wrapped around his waist. He was pretty proud. He told me that the shower downstairs is like a waterpark!!! Thank goodness he enjoys the showers since I have a hard time bathing him with a huge belly. (That is in reference to my belly being big, not Parker's)

We carved our BIG pumpkin last night. This is the pumpkin that Parker grew in the field with grandpa. He was pretty excited, but was not interested in helping clean out all the yucky seeds.....I pretty much did the whole carving myself since Sean claims he has NEVER carved a pumpkin because it is so evil. Yes, I agree Halloween is, at its roots an evil holiday, but carving a pumkin in and of itself does not seem evil to me. Then after we lit the candle inside the pumpkin Sean went on and on about how it was the scariest thing he had ever seen....I am glad to report that he (Sean) didn't have any nightmares over the whole ordeal though! Ha! After all, if you look at any holiday we celebrate in America there are pagan roots.....Hopefully Sean decides that Christmas trees are evil so I don't have to put one up and then put it away when I am 9 months pregnant :)!

Sunny and 66 degrees outside today....we will for sure be spending the rest of the afternoon outside!!!

Boys do wear make-up!

2008-10-29T14:09:00.004-05:00

I was getting ready this morning and this is our conversation....

Parker: Mommy, I neeeeeeed to put on make-up too!
Me: No, Parker, boys don't wear make-up.
Parker: Yes they do!
Me: Does daddy wear make-up?
Parker: Yes.....sometimes.....
Me: He does not.
Parker: Fine, I will just do this...(grabs a bag of fingernail polish and dumps it out, finds a fingernail file and starts filing his nails...and I am in a hurry so I don't address the fact that boys don't do their nails, and hey, some guys probably do file their fingernails.)
Me: Parker, lets go.....I am ready....(I grab my purse and open the door)
Parker: (Looking at me with a frantic look on his face) I guess I will just wear my duck calls like a purse today! (and he flings the lanyard of duck calls over his arm and we are off!)

We then arrive at my sister's house, which is full of girl toys.....he starts playing with Hannah's doll house and I begin to thank God we are having a boy so Parker will have someone to beat up on and wrestle with! On the way home after lunch, I called Sean and told him Parker needed some major male-bonding time with him tonight :)! And I continue to pray that Parker will grow up to be a man in spite of me and the many women in his life!

Is it really only Tuesday?!??!

2008-10-28T19:11:00.012-05:00

What a crazy week it has been, and Parker and I have only left the house twice! Cleaning, organizing, eating, potty training (yes, still) and sleeping....I have been super hungry and tired for the past couple days and am hoping it is because the baby is having growth spurt. (and consequently, so am I)...I need to get an energy burst to motivate me to get some projects done in the next few weeks before I get too huge...but, with the amount I have been eating I will be getting huge much too soon :)! Oh, well...Yesterday Parker informed me that he was going to paint his new room blue, yellow and orange. Not sure when or how he is going to do this, but I am not helping!

It was super COLD yesterday, but Sean had to mow the lawn, so of course Parker was helping. All bundled up....

And then today was pretty nice. Now please understand, it was not shorts weather...BUT they are long shorts, and Parker didn't want to change after his nap, and I didn't want to have to wash another pair of pants, and I was super hot and needed to get outside ASAP, soooooooo he wore shorts for about 20 minutes while he played outside....and he loved every minute of it.

Parker: "Mommy, run with me."
Me: "No, I am too fat and tired today."
Parker: "No, Mommy you are NOT fast today, just tired. And I am VERY fast."

He then proceeded to fall and "break his legs" which brought him to the ground pleading for God to heal his legs since I told him I couldn't...

And as soon as he realized I was taking his picture, he told me he needed a picture of him with a nice smile. Now that is a really nice smile Parker! Ha! So natural looking!

It's Snowing!!!

2008-10-22T15:17:00.007-05:00

Here is the view out my front door today....yesterday was rainy and cold...today has been rainy, cold, and if you can even believe it, it is SNOWING. It is wet snow so it isn't really accumulating, but nonetheless, it is snow. I am glad Parker and I were able to play outside on Monday, because it has been a challenge to keep him inside the past couple days. Luckily Sean will be home tonight and he has promised Parker that they will be "basketball players" in the basement....

Here are a couple pictures from our time outside on Monday afternoon. Parker had gone into the field and picked some soybeans and brought them to his picnic table and was "cracking" them (taking them out of the pod and laying them on the table.) Then he ran to his swingset and put each little soybean down the slide and said, "Weeeeeee" as they went down.

You may notice a scrape on his chin....Sunday night we were making a tunnel with the couch cushions and Parker ended up falling and hitting his chin on the frame of the couch. Yeah, any harder and we would have been in the Emergency Room getting stitches.

Flashback...

2008-10-20T15:30:00.006-05:00

I was organizing my photos in iPhoto and came across some pictures I had to post....Every year at harvest I have taken pictures of Parker and it is so fun to see how he has changed!

Parker 5 months old....hahahahaha...this picture makes me laugh out loud!

Parker 17 months old

I don't have a good picture of Parker in the field this year yet, but you know what he looks like....

I was getting him dressed today and he started throwing a fit because he didn't want to wear warm-up pants. He was screaming and freaking out saying that he needed to wear jeans.....I didn't really care what he wore, so I put his jeans on him without question. A little while later I saw him with his hands in his pockets pulling out two little corn cobs.....Now I understand why he can't wear warm-up pants, he needs POCKETS!!!!!

Warning: This post may bore, scare or offend.

2008-10-16T13:37:00.007-05:00

I subscribe to a newsletter by Joel Rosenberg. His newsletters basically look at world events and and how it relates to biblical prophecy...I know I am already losing some of you and if you don't want to read this, please don't! However, I always find his newsletters very interesting and thought provoking. After reading the one from today I felt I must share....It is long, it is controversial, but I pray that somehow it will draw you closer to our Sovereign and Holy God.

For more information about Joel Rosenberg, you can visit joelrosenberg.com.

Newsletter Article Follows:

The U.S. is experiencing the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression. Our enemies know it. They smell blood in the water. Consider the latest developments:

* "Wall Street stocks plunged Wednesday in the second biggest single day point loss in history and their worst percentage fall in two decades, ravaged by fears the world's biggest economy is slipping into recession. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 733.08 points (7.87 percent) to close at 8,577.91 in the worst one-day point loss since last month's record 777-point decline and the steepest percentage drop since 1987. In an even more brutal decline, the broad-market Standard & Poor's index plunged 90.17 points (9.03 percent) to 907.84." (AFP)

* "We are living through financial history of the tragic kind. As of Friday's close, America's stock market had declined in value by well over 40 per cent compared with its peak a year ago. Already, this ranks as the fifth biggest stock market decline since the 1920s." (U.K. Independent)

* "U.S. stocks [in recent days have] plunged the most since the crash of 1987, hammered by the biggest drop in retail sales in three years and growing doubt that plans to bail out banks will keep the economic slump from deepening….The S&P 500 has tumbled 38 percent in 2008 as losses and writedowns from mortgage-related investments at financial firms worldwide topped $640 billion….The S&P 500 has tumbled 42 percent from its Oct. 9, 2007, record and the Dow has lost 39 percent from its peak the same day." (Bloomberg News)

* "Japan's key stock index plummeted more than 11 percent, South Korean shares shed 9.25 percent, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was down 4.8 percent. Floowing Asia's lead, benchmarks in Britain, Germany and France slipped about 3 percent. Russia's RTS also fell." (AP)

* "U.S. Forces Nine Major Banks To Accept Partial Nationalization" - Washington Post

* "The White House said G8 leaders were expected to meet this year on the worst financial crisis since the 1930s Great Depression. Governments around the world have pledged $3.2 trillion in emergency measures - roughly an equivalent to the economic output of Germany or China - including taking stakes in banks to help them stabilize, rallying world markets on Monday and Tuesday. But optimism quickly gave way to fears that government intervention would not save major economies from recession." (Reuters)

This is not a temporary glitch in the global financial software. The problems are real, deep and systemic. The best explanations and analysis I have seen have come from Steve Forbes, editor-in-chief of Forbes magazine, the nation's foremost business magazine (see Steve's recent columns).

The big question now: What does it all mean and where do we go from here? A few thoughts on the implications of this financial apocalypse:

1. First things first: our national security is inextricably tied to our economic security. Economic weakness is an invitation to radical Islamic terrorists to hit us again. It's also an invitation to other rogue nations to pursue their evil plans while thinking we are unable or unwilling to stop them. The U.S. cannot lead the world in defeating tyrants and terrorists and creating an environment of peace and prosperity if we are collapsing at home. Stabilizing our economy, reforming our financial institutions, punishing and imprisoning those who have criminally undermined our economy, and getting us back on the road to free market growth and entrepreneurial health and vitality must be the top priority of the next Commander-in-Chief.

2. I don't believe one U.S. political party or the other is specifically to blame for our own financial crisis. There is plenty of blame to go around and the problems have been developing for years. That said, it is becoming increasingly clear to me that the U.S. stock markets are tanking especially hard right now in part because investors believe Sen. Barack Obama is going to win on November 4th. As polls for Obama and Congressional Democrats have risen - and Americans have begun to sense that Obama's election as president and expanded control of Congress by Rep. Nancy Pelosi and Sen. Harry Reid and their liberal allies is inevitable - investors' fears have not been calmed. They have been exacerbated. True, investors don't see a complete and convincing economic rescue plan from Sen. McCain. But they see disaster in Obama's plan and the likelihood of full control of the U.S. government by the Democrats. The Obama-Pelosi-Reid prescription, after all, is the worst possible medicine for the economy - $1.3 trillion in new federal spending, dramatic tax increases on small businesses, dramatic tax increases on big businesses, dramatic tax increases on those who create wealth, a major new tax on energy producers, as well as nationalized health care system. We are not simply on the brink of a serious recession; we are on the brink of another Great Depression. How, then, will massive tax increases and massive government spending help us fight our way out of this crisis? Answer: it won't. And Main Street and Wall Street know it. Just ask Joe the Plumber.

3. Are there prophetic implications of this financial crisis? It is hard to be definitive. The U.S. does not show up specifically in any end times Bible prophecies. But this fact alone raises a sobering question: If we are really in what the Bible describes as "the last days" before the return of Jesus Christ, then how is it possible that the United States of America - the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the face of the planet in the history of mankind - does not play a significant, notable role in Biblical end times events?

The honest answer: I don't know for certain. But here's what I wrote in Dead Heat (p. 154): "What Bennett had never really considered carefully until now was the possibility that something else might devastate the American people, rendering them ineffective heading into the last of the last days. A financial downturn on Wall Street. The sudden collapse of the dollar. The beginning of another Great Depression. A series of devastating earthquakes. Or hurricanes. Or other natural disasters, like a tsunami. [Or ] the most cataclysmic terrorist attack of all time - five nuclear warheads. And there might be more to come. None of it was clearly prophesied in the Scriptures. Not that he could find. But perhaps he should have foreseen the neutralization of America by more carefully reading between the lines. If so, what else was he missing? What exactly was coming next?"

4. Finally, let us consider the possibility that the Lord is allowing this economic meltdown in part to shake our confidence in anything but a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Is it possible that God is trying to shake us loose from trusting in our wealth, from trusting in our political leaders, from trusting in our own ingenuity and our own hard work? Is it possible that He is trying to get us to shift our focus from worldly, materialistic things to how much He loves us, and the truth that the only person we can truly trust in life to never leave us or forsake us is Jesus Christ? Is it possible that He is trying to get us to read the Bible more, and the stock tickers less? To pray more, and to worry less? To store up our treasures in heaven, and not concentrate so much on our treasures on earth?

Anyone who is feeling fearful during this turbulent economic times would do well to meditate on the words Jesus told His disciples in Matthew 6:19-33 --

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also….No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other You cannot serve God and wealth. For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life? And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."

Thank you Lord that we can trust you always and no longer live in fear.

"Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared." Proverbs 3:25-26.

New Footie Pajamas!

2008-10-14T15:27:00.007-05:00

Last night we went out to eat for my birthday in Grand Island and then went to Sam's Club. Parker loves strawberries and they had some good ones...he also found some pajamas with footballs, soccer balls, and basketballs on them...now these are the kind with the feet sewn in them and I hadn't bought him any like them because I thought he would hate them. Of course he wanted to wear them to bed and since it was 10:30 p.m. I was in no mood to fight with him, so I took the tags off and put them on him.

About 2 a.m. I hear him crying...this is not usual for him to wake up at night, so I went into his room and found him naked in his bed! Yeah, he must have been playing with the zipper and not been able to zip them back up and decided to just sleep naked! And he felt cold, so I know that he had been naked for awhile. And at 2 a.m. I am not thinking that clearly and I start to wonder if I had forgotten to put his pajamas on...I looked all over his bed to see if they were in there and they weren't on the floor, come to find out this morning that he'd thrown them behind his bed...Luckily, I had some clean laundry sitting in a pile in his room and found him some new pajamas and we were all back to sleep in no time!

I am not sure we will be wearing those pajamas again, especially since the temperature in our house today is hovering around 63 degrees. I called Sean a little bit ago to see if I should turn the furnace on, his reply, "If you are cold you could just go walk on the treadmill for a little bit." I guess he wasn't getting the point that I wouldn't be turning it on for me, but for Parker to keep warm during his nap.

"Show me your ways, O LORD,teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalm 25:4-5

What are you hoping in today? Yourself. Your Husband. Your Finances. Your Home. Your Kids. If so, this is all fleeting hope that can change in an instant...may your hope be in Him today...after all He is the only hope that will last! Blessings and Love.

26 Weeks

2008-10-13T15:10:00.033-05:00

So I decided to post a new belly pic for those of you who so enjoyed the last one :)! I can hardly believe how fast it is going and how big this boy is growing! It has been a little scary for me to really think about having 3 boys in the house and being the only girl....but my biggest fear is this...FOOD! Yes, food. For those of you who know Sean, you know he has a huge appetite. And since the day Parker was born he has been an eater. And now this baby, whenever I eat something he starts moving all over, kicking like crazy! The other night I made a big 9x13 pan casserole and the three of us ate the whole thing...and I was still hungry! Please pray for God to give me a love for cooking LARGE meals!
Parker wakes up in the morning with one thing on his mind...farming. He wants to know if it is too wet to pick and if daddy is in the tractor or at his office. He goes in the field next to our house and picks corn and then spends hours on end shelling each and every piece into a bowl. And no matter what, at the end of the day you can check his pockets and you will find soybeans!

It is a sad day for me. I am drinking my last cup of spiced tea and this is the second batch I have made this year! BUT supper is in the crockpot and for a woman with hungry boys in the house this is a HUGE sigh of relief. It is cold outside today and I love it since my internal furnace set to about 105 degrees everyday! Sorry this post is so random and all over the place, but that is how my mind is right now...so I guess now you know what it feels like in my brain today!

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe." Proverbs 18:10

May the name of the Lord be your strong tower today!

Oh....Abby I haven't forgotten, here is the recipe for the chocolate chip pumpkin bread muffins...

1 3/4 cup (1 15 oz. can) pureed pumpkin
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
3 eggs
3-4 cups all-purpose unbleached flour
2 tablespoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 cups chopped walnuts or chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350. Combine the pumpkin, brown sugar, butter, and eggs and mix until creamy. In a separate bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients except the nuts or chocolate chips. Mix 3 cups of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then add as much of the 4th cup as necessary to achieve the proper consistency (moist, but thick enough to stand a spoon in). Add the nuts or chocolate chips and stir in.

Pour or spoon the batter into muffin tins or greased bread pans. Bake on the center rack until a toothpick poked into the center comes out dry. Muffins should take between 20 and 25 minutes to bake, small loaves between 25 and 30 minutes, and full sized loaves between 50 minutes and 1 hour.

Worms & Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

2008-10-07T15:12:00.007-05:00

It rained yesterday, so there were lots of worms outside this morning. Parker came in the house with three worms in his hands and said he needed a big cup to put them in so they wouldn't get away.

A couple minutes later I saw him on the front porch by the pumpkins and asked him what he was doing.

His reply, "Just showing the worms my pumpkins." And so he did, show the worms each of his pumpkins.

We also made some Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread, but I decided to bake them in muffin cups. Parker helped stir and encouraged me the whole time saying, "You are a good baker mommy....a really big good baker."

If you know Parker, anything that is "really big" doesn't necessarily refer to its size, but rather how much he likes it. Regardless, I am a little paranoid that he was referring to my size. The baby has been so active the past couple days. I went to the doctor yesterday and she kept having to move the doppler around chasing him to get his heart beat. He was having a real party in there! Last night about 10:30 I finally got out of bed and ate some cereal and he finally calmed down...yes, it is scary that already it is food that comforts him and calms him down. I have been telling Sean that I am going to have to start buying food at Sam's Club and will have to start investing in some "really big" (and I am not using the term the way Parker uses it) pans to cook in.

And I couldn't resist this photo...Parker found Sean's headlamp in the garage and asked me to help him put it on. So I did and he walked over to the oven and sat there watching the pumpkin bread bake. He is so resourceful!

Saturday

2008-10-04T19:11:00.002-05:00

I think this photo sums up our day today. And if you were wondering what to call the wristbands they are wearing, they are called "slap straps"....yeah, Hannah coined that term. Parker loves his cousins so much!

Just Another Day...

2008-09-30T10:23:00.008-05:00

Parker loves farming...so you can imagine his excitement when they harvested the beans in the field next to our house. Last night he took Sean out in the field to "mourn" the fact that all the soybeans were gone for the year. They did happen to pick up a few that were left in the field and that made him feel a little better. You might have to look really hard in the picture to see Sean and Parker...it was getting dark.

His fravite (favorite) thing is his pet lion who sleeps with him every night. This morning he was so funny sitting in the couch talking to the lion...then he told me that we needed to take a "cheese" (which means picture) of lion. So here is our photo shoot with Parker's fravite lion.

"Lion first mommy."

"Now I will cheese."

"Now I will give him a squeeze."

"Now I will be like a lion too."

Oh, and this is what will happen to your playdough if you make worms and holes and then smash the worms in the holes....Yeah, your guess is as good as mine on this one. When I asked Parker why he was mixing all of his playdough colors together he replied, "I am just making worms and smashing them in their holes."

Parker hasn't been napping the best for the past couple days and so all I get done during his nap is worrying...about him falling asleep, and that he will give up his nap before the baby is born and I will be a wreck, and that I need to move him downstairs to his big boy bed, but if I move him to his big bed he will just get out and play during nap time, and he really needs to be completely potty trained before the baby comes, and I need to take a shower, but it seems like a waste of time, and I need to put the clean sheets on the bed so I can finish the laundry (okay, you get the point)...and then he finally falls asleep (yes, after 2 hours of worrying) and I start to worry about him not going to sleep at night because he took his nap so late.

Why do I worry? It is just a nap!!! And I just wasted 2 hours of my life worrying!

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7

What if I would have spent that 2 hours praying instead of worrying? What do you worry about? I challenge you to join me in this...Everytime you start to worry about something, confess it as sin and with thanksgiving, just pray about it...

But please remember, the verse promises that God's peace will guard our hearts and minds...It does NOT promise that your child will take a long nap, or that God will finish the laundry for you and potty train your child...BUT in these things He will give you peace. May His peace be yours today. Love to you.

Pumpkin Patch

2008-09-28T17:10:00.006-05:00

Saturday morning we headed to the Pumpkin Patch and had a GREAT time! The weather was perfect, nice and cool and not too windy, and by the time it started to get hot we were ready to head home for naps.

Parker was enjoying the slide with Grandad, but after seeing a little boy go by himself, Parker said, "Maybe I should try that." So he did go by himself, and he was scared to death and crying at the bottom.

So this morning at breakfast he was rehashing the day yesterday and talking about how scared he was on the slide and how he cried a "little" bit. We have been learning Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous for God is with you." and so I said, "Parker, do you remember what Deuteronomy 31:6 says?" And he responds, "I can't say it right now, it is too hard....but mommy, when I was scared on the slide Grandad was with me too." hmmmm.....yes, Parker he in fact was....God was with you and Grandad was with you too! Hey, at least he knew what the verse said right?!?!?

Parker vs. the Pear

2008-09-25T19:47:00.015-05:00

Parker had a pear after his nap today for a snack and was very intent on eating every last bite. I guess I didn't realize that you could eat so aggressively...I think Parker won this battle.

Sean was home tonight and Parker loved every minute of it! He got to go up to the attic above the garage...

He got to try on Sean's hunting vest...

And he came in the house yelling for me with a pink string tied on his finger and says, "See this mommy! Daddy says this is a reminder not to whine, see this is a constant rewinder not to mind." Or something like that Parker...Sean may be on to something here!

Days like today make being a mom so rewarding. Thank you Lord for our family and for Parker.

Pink Ice Cream with Sprinkles!

2008-09-22T14:47:00.008-05:00

Where has the past week gone? Seriously....has it been a week since I posted last! Well, this weekend Sean was busy with seed corn harvest so Parker and I went on a double date with my parents, Grandad & Grandma Diane, to Grand Island Saturday night. We even got to end the date with a treat at Coldstone! Parker wanted "Pink Ice Cream
with Sprinkles!" and ate most of the sprinkles and hardly any of the Raspberry Sorbet.

This morning we got to play with the McNair girls. Parker loved playing and was sad when he had to take his nap and they had to leave....no, they did not all nap in the bed together...even though I am sure they would have slept really good like that.

My bible study group has been studying the book of 1 Kings and if you haven't ever read the Old Testament it is full of so much history and TRUTH! Last week I was so challenged by this that I must share...(Warning: the rest of this post will be about my study in 1 Kings, so if you are already bored, you will want to stop reading here.)

If you want to set yourself up for this I encourage you to read 1 Kings chapter 1. Here is a brief summary of what is going on....

King David is old and dying so his oldest living son, Adonijah, declares himself king. Bathsheba and Nathan the Prophet get wind of this and tell David. David immediately has Solomon, his son with Bathsheba, annointed King. When Adonijah hears of this he "repents" and grabs the horns of the altar in fear of Solomon and what might happen to him for trying to take the kingship.

This is what Matthew Henry's commentary says regarding 1 Kings 1:50-51...

He (Adonijah) took hold on the horns of the altar, which was always looked upon as a sanctuary, or place of refuge...Perhaps Adonijah had formerly slighted the service of the altar, yet now he courts the protection of it. Many who in the day of their security neglect the great salvation, under the arrests of the terrors of the Lord would gladly be beholden to Christ and his merit, and, when it is too late, will catch hold of the horns of the altar.

How true! How many believers ignore the service of the altar until we need the protection of it?

Oh, Lord...may we never treat you like a God we only need in times of trouble to give us what we want. That we would love you, serve you, obey you, and know you at all times of life whether in plenty or in want...For you alone are worthy of our lives.

"Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance. You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all of our iniquities into the depths of the sea." Malachi 7:18-19.

Love to you all, Jess.

22 Weeks

2008-09-15T14:50:00.007-05:00

So Jen requested I post a picture of my growing belly, and I am not one to disappoint! However, I am having a hard time wanting to do this....with Parker I only have 1 picture of me when I was pregnant. I don't really enjoy being pregnant, at all, and I guess at the time I think, "Why would I want to remember looking like this?" and, "How could I ever forget looking like this?"

But, eventually you do forget. You forget and in a strange way you want to remember....not like 9 months long of remembering, but just for a second, you want to remember what it was like to be pregnant. So I posted the picture, mostly for Jen because she asked, but also for ann, erin, jed, jill, eric, and those of you who will get a smile on your face when you see the picture because I am fat and you are not :)!

And even though pregnancy is not fun, and it makes your body look different than you could ever imagine it looking, children are a miraculous gift from God! It is so worth it....and it is worth remembering.

Lord, may you receive the glory due to you for this amazing gift of life!

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one's youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full** of them." Psalm 127:3-5

**I did a little study on the word "full" in this scripture and the Hebrew word for "full" actually translates into the English word "two"....if you don't believe me you can check for yourself.....so I guess this means my quiver is full......at least that is what my bible says, I am not sure what yours does :)! (that is supposed to be a joke....get it?)

Hannah's 5th Birthday, Rain boots, Wheelbarrow Rides & Frogs

2008-09-14T13:32:00.024-05:00

It was a full weekend of fun! Friday night Parker's cousin Hannah had her 5th birthday party.The kids made puppets, visors, and ate pizza and Eileen's cookie.

From the left in the picture above: Parker, Holli (friend), Hannah, Rebekah, & Caiden (friend)
It was a puppy and kitty party and Parker loved every minute of it. The kids started telling knock-knock jokes at dinner and we were all laughing.....and not because the jokes were funny. Parker woke up the next morning and said, "Mommy, remember knock-knock, who is it?" and he burst out laughing....
Parker, Hannah & Rebekah all got new rain boots from Grandma Bev and it was perfect because it had been raining all day. They loved getting to go outside and play in the rain.

Saturday was beautiful and we played outside as much as we could. We went over to Grandma Diane's & Grandad's and were entertained all day. Wheelbarrow rides were a real hit!

They also loved looking at the frog in the red bucket and screaming and saying, "Yuck! It bit my finger!" And if you know Rebekah, try and say that in her language and you will laugh.

My sister Katie had fun riding the red tractor.....(Ann this picture is for you!).

Hope you all had a wonderful and relaxing weekend!

Farming

2008-09-11T14:28:00.005-05:00

Parker spent the day yesterday with Grandma & Grandpa Ablott on the farm. He loves working in the shop with Grandpa, watering flowers, swimming when it is hot and sitting in the hot tub when it is not, riding on the Honda, checking the pivots, and playing with daddy's old farm toys. Yesterday the weather wasn't as nice, so Parker had to work in the office with Grandpa instead of the shop. He quickly learned how to use the adding machine and went through an entire roll of paper....

They brought him home and we all went to pick up the last load of pipe. Parker was thrilled to finally get some real "work" done because as he will tell you... "I am a farmer and I get sweaty." He also got to pee outside, which is something he thoroughly enjoys.

We checked on the pumpkins that Grandpa (& mostly Parker) have been growing in the field. He can't wait to bring the BIIIIIIIG pumpkin home and carve it.

It has been such a blessing for Parker to grow up close to all of his grandparents. He loves them all so much! (and so do we :)!)

Baby Names

2008-09-10T15:42:00.006-05:00

With Parker we didn't have to try and think of names because we had decided on his name way before I was even pregnant. And his middle name wasn't hard either, with both of his grandpa's and Sean having the first name of Douglas it was a no brainer. However, with this new baby boy, I have no ideas...so I try and think of names I might like and when I pray for the baby and talk to him I try to use those names and by the end of the day nothing sticks.

So I ask Parker, "What do you think we should name your baby brother?" Deep in thought, Parker waits for a minute and says, "Well, probably something like giraffe."

Apparently his favorite animal at the zoo must have been the giraffe...and he thinks it would be fun to have a giraffe for a brother...and it is unique, I have never heard of anyone with that name before....

So what do you think? What boy names do you like? I could use some suggestions here, because I am sure that giraffe won't stick either :)!

Ginger Cookies & Spiced Tea

2008-09-09T14:15:00.005-05:00

In my "Changing Seasons" post I mentioned two of my favorite fall treats. I wanted to share the recipes so you can enjoy them too if you would like...

Ginger Cookies
2 1/4 Cup Flour
2 Teaspoons of Ground Ginger
1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
3/4 Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Teaspoon Ground Cloves
3/4 Cup Butter
1 Cup Sugar
1 Egg
1/4 Cup Molasses

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, and cloves. Stir together and set aside. Beat butter until creamy. Beat the butter and egg together and then add the molasses. Stir in the dry ingredients. Roll into balls, roll in sugar and place on pan. Bake for about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Spiced Tea
3 Cups of Water
3 Cups of Sugar
1 Can of frozen Orange Juice
1 Small can of frozen Lemonade
1 Quart Bottle of Cranberry Juice
3 drops of Cinnamon Oil
3 drops of Clove Oil

Combine all ingredients in a large stock pot and bring to a boil. Boil for about 5 minutes. (Be careful not to boil it over :) not that I have ever done that before, but I assume it would be a HUGE mess to clean up.) Cool and store in a bottle in the refrigerator. Make a cup of tea as usual and add 2 Tablespoons of Spiced Tea Mix to your tea and enjoy!

What are you favorite fall recipes? I am looking for some good casserole recipes to fill up hungry boys....any ideas????? Just think if we all shared a new recipe we could have menus planned for weeks :)!

"We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you." Psalm 33:20-22

May your hope be in the Lord today...that His unfailing love would rest heavy on you today....so heavy that it drives you to your knees in prayer and praise....for He alone is worthy! Love to you all.

Bitter Seeds

2008-09-08T19:39:00.000-05:00

This summer Parker and I planted a garden. We grew tons of cucumbers and tomatoes. My mother-in-law taught me how to can pickles and Parker and I canned about 50 quarts of pickles. Just ask him and he will tell you he is a pickle canner. With the cooler weather, our tomatoes have slowed down, but I had about 15 on the counter that I wanted to do something with rather than throwing them out. Since it was so cool outside I decided to boil them and make some good homemade chili soup.....Sounds delicious doesn't it.....

So if you have ever done something like this, you may know that the seeds in the tomato make them very bitter tasting. That is why every educated person would take the seeds out prior to boiling them......After taking my first taste of the soup I immediately decided I was going to throw it out and just go to the store to buy stuff and make new.

When Sean came home for lunch and I said, "Hey, taste this soup, I made with the tomatoes from the garden." He tasted it and said it was good.....Now, every good husband knows that when your wife asks you to taste something you say it tastes good. (And I know Sean is always very hungry at lunch so he may have just been overly hungry and that is why it seemed to taste good). Regardless, I now felt guilty about throwing it out, so I spent all afternoon adding stuff until I thought it tasted edible. In case you want to know how to make bitter tasting tomatoes taste okay, just add some sugar and baking soda.....What would I do without the internet?

Since I spent Parker's whole afternoon nap making the soup edible, that was my only quiet time of the day. I thought a lot about bitter seeds....I was frustrated that the sweet tomatoes we had been eating all summer could taste this bad just because of the little seeds. And it made me think of my life and seeds of bitterness that I may be carrying around and how a few little seeds left to "boil" can cause the whole "batch" to taste terrible....and they don't just taste bad themselves, but make everything else you add to them taste terrible. I was convicted about a few things....

1. My first inclination was to throw out the entire pot of soup: not only is this wasteful, but it speaks volumes about how I deal with certain things in my life......not good.

2. God revealed certain attitudes, situations, and people that have been causing me to "boil" bitter seeds in my heart.

3. These bitter seeds, left to boil in my heart, will only make everything around me taste bitter and that is not okay!

How do you deal with bitter seeds in your life? Are you aware of any that are currently "boiling" and causing the everything else in your life to "taste" bitter? I encourage you to ask God to show you any bitter seeds and deal with them as He commands...

"Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.But let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:30-32

After all, don't we just want a tasty bowl of homemade chili soup for supper anyway!

Changing Seasons

2008-09-08T14:27:00.000-05:00

I love the changing seasons. When people ask me, "Which season is your favorite?" I never know what to say. I think it is because I don't love a particular season, I just love when it changes. A few months ago I was so ready for summer to come, and now I am so ready for fall and the cool weather, changing leaves, maternity jeans with a huge front panel :), spiced tea and ginger cookies!

The same is so true in my life. I have never been in a season that I wanted to last forever. I have heard some women say, "I wish my kids would stay this age forever." And I have never felt that. I do love the stage Parker is in right now. His developing vocabulary and the things he says just make me laugh, but I don't want him to stay this way forever....I look forward him growing up. I want him to learn how to use the potty chair (desperately), to learn how to put on his own clothes, take his own bath, to learn to obey his parents (oh, wait that is probably a season that will never change). Another season I don't want to stay in forever is pregnancy, and thankfully I can count down the weeks until this season of pregnancy is over (only 19 more to be exact!)

But each season, as soon as it is over I miss it. I look back and say, life goes too fast. So what is the balance? How do I learn to anticipate and love the changing seasons without wishing them away? How do I learn to enjoy the day God has given me without looking ahead at what is to come, or behind at what I miss?

So today I will enjoy Parker peeing in his underwear every 15 minutes and know that this season will change and one day I will look back and say, "I wish he was running around in his cowboy boots and underwear peeing all over the floor." Today I will smile when I want to puke, because I know in 19 short weeks I will miss the feelings of my baby boy kicking me all night long while I am trying to sleep. Today I will praise God for this season, realizing how short it is and how quickly the next will come.

Thank you Lord for your blessings this day, and the changing seasons you bring!