A Clay in the Life

Boyly Man

2012-01-27T13:01:00.000-08:00

Noah: "I'm glad we didn't watch Cinderella at Kellie's house last night."

Me: "Why don't you like Cinderella?"

Noah: "Because I'm not a girly person--I'm a boyly person and Cinderella is not for boyly people."

Sea Bands: My New Best Friends

2012-01-27T11:09:00.000-08:00

I have begun the initial round of medications for our IVF cycle. If you can't remember from last time, this pill makes me extremely nauseated. Upon finding this out, a lady from church recommended that I try Sea Bands; just these little unimpressive-looking elastic bands with a protruding button that presses into a nerve in each wrist.

"How could this help?" I asked myself as I sat in the CVS parking lot, putting them on.

But they do. Oh, how they do! Call it Dumbo's Feather if you want, but I promise you they are making life much more bearable for me right now. Thank you, Susan!

Two weeks of these yucky pills, and then Lord-willing on to the next round of meds (shots! gasp!). Right now it's looking like an end-of-February retrieval and transfer. You know me. I'll be posting more!

Please keep praying.

Slight Interest In Pinterest

2012-01-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

No, I am not the next big Pinterest fan. Being the mother of all time-sucking websites (sorry, but it's true), I do not intend to join, but I was looking for a fun and easy cheerful Valentine's craft for Noah and me to do on Monday, and I found one on there! Here is the link to how to make our Valentine's wreath that we did on Monday. It's so cheerful and fun!

The Dreaded Call

2012-01-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

My sister Leah called me the other night, and I knew the second I saw her number pop up that it was Not Good News. My mom lives with her, and being as I'm such a phonophobe (a word I made up, meaning I-can't-stand-the-phone-to-the-point-that-I-avoid-most-phone-calling-situations. Sad, but true.), my sister and I just don't communicate that much by phone. Well, anyway, I answered it and found out that my mom had fallen in her room on Monday night and hurt her knees badly. She was in the hospital, and would be for a while. Leah was using words like, "bone chip" and "foot dropped" (you know how if you're sitting on something high and your feet just hang pretty parallel to the floor, and you can flex and point your foot at will? My mom's is currently pointed down at the floor and there isn't anything she can do about it. She can't flex it upward at all.)

I'm sad for my mom, hurting and going through therapy and rehabilitation until she is able to walk again. I have been praying for her a lot throughout the days, and if you think of it, maybe you could too! I know she'd appreciate all the prayers on her behalf. Pray for her physical strength, yes, but more importantly for her spiritual encouragement. Hospitals aren't very restful places, and I can imagine it's easy to get discouraged, especially when you can't even walk across the room to grab a tissue or what-have-you.

We love you, Mom! Praying for your recovery and that you'd grow even closer to the Lord during this time!

Quotable Quotes

2012-01-17T12:56:00.000-08:00

Here are 3 of the deep ponderings and observations made by Noah, age 4, over the last few days. (I NEED to start writing more of these down)

"Everything is good for you if you eat just a little bit. (thinks for a second) "Except concrete and walls and caulk and glue...."

"Bagels hurt my hands to pick up--they're so wide!"

(holds up a scroll-like object) "This is JUST LIKE what they used in Bible times when they didn't have any paper: a squirrel!"

Favorite Shirt

2012-01-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

Noah has about 4 Favorite Shirts. (You can tell they are his favorites by the various and sundry stains on them. Because to a boy, "shirt" and "napkin" are synonymous.) Perish the thought that all 4 of these shirts would be dirty at the same time!

Laundry day for us is on Mondays. This means that Noah wears a Favorite Shirt each day from Monday through Thursday, and then spends Friday through Sunday asking if I'm doing laundry because none of his Favorite Shirts are clean. Repeat cycle each week. :) Today being a Monday, Noah was so happy to be able to wear a Favorite Shirt when he got home from school. He was crestfallen when he discovered his drawer devoid of said shirts, but perked up when I told him they were clean in the dryer. I sent him out to recover one, which took a while. When I went out to see why, this is what I found:

Because Favorite Shirts are just that worth it. :)

That's all.

Well Blow Me Down!

2012-01-09T13:08:00.000-08:00

I took this video on Saturday while we were cleaning up the yard and Noah was wearing the backpack leaf blower. No, wait. Maybe IT was wearing HIM! See for yourself:

I'm sorry I didn't keep recording. Just after I shut off the camera, Noah lost control of the leaf blower and it spun him around! :)

The World of Pooh (and other recent reads)

2012-01-05T12:24:00.000-08:00

Noah has decided he LOVES chapter books. Since finishing Runaway Ralph in October, we moved on to Charlotte's Web in November, which he loved, by the way. The part at the end where Templeton got strings from Charlotte's egg sac stuck in his teeth had Noah in stitches! In December, we read The Boxcar Children (which he endearingly kept calling, "The Caboose Children.") and Noah enjoyed that one too.

So far his favorite--as judged by the frequency and loudness of his laughter-- is The World of Pooh, by A. A. Milne. I'm loving it too! The cute childish thinking and dialogue make this one irresistible. It is such fun to curl up under the (electric) blanket with Noah and read before his nap. I hope we can continue this for a very long time, even after Noah can read reliably on his own.

In the adult world of reading, Josh and I have been enjoying Oliver Twist for the first time. Plastered on the front of the book are the words, "Children's Classics", which I have to doubt. There are sentences in there which I have to re-read to be sure I understood the meaning. But anyway, I've been reading that aloud to Josh here and there, and we are really getting into the story! Can't wait to see how it turns out. (Don't tell me if you know!)

We've also picked up a book recently by recommendation called, "Just Do Something" by Kevin DeYoung. It's about biblical decision-making. It seems like it will be a great read, though I can't endorse it yet, as I've only read the first 2 chapters.

Just thought I'd share what we've been reading lately.

IVF Update

2012-01-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

Things are slowly progressing with IVF. Lord-willing I should be able to start the initial meds toward the end of this month, with the actual procedure taking place in February or March. I'll keep you posted! Thanks for praying. :)

The Drawing Board

2012-01-04T11:00:00.000-08:00

Josh told me when we put Noah in preschool this year that he wanted me to start doing art projects again--he thought it would be good for me. Well, the Fall slipped by and nary a sketchpad was brought out from hiding. But the other day, in a fit of New Year's Resolutions, I decided to take Josh's advice and draw again. Maybe paint.

So today, while Noah was at school, I dug out my drawing pencils and drawing board. Couldn't find any sketch paper, so I had to use Noah's drawing paper. My drawing pencils yawned, stretched, and blinked in the light of day, which they hadn't seen for years. And here's what they did for me in the 20 minutes I had:

The proportions are off, of course, and I didn't have time to do any shading. But for the first time in about 8 years it was me, my pencils, and Vivaldi (music is key!). It was sheer bliss. I hope soon to do another drawing of this same picture, taking more time to get it right.

Art, I've missed you!

A New Year

2012-01-03T12:41:00.000-08:00

This new year caught me a little off guard. You wouldn't think so, since it's no surprise that after December 31 must come January 1. How many times have I seen that happen? I think it had something to do with Christmas and New Year's Day falling on Sunday this year. As fitting as it is to attend church on those days (especially on Christmas), I have to admit it threw me a little off. I've been scatter-brained enough on my own these days without adding date confusion! Anyway, enough about my quirks.

Except I have to tell this story:

Noah started back to school today, and while he was there, I went over to Jen's to do some planning for the ladies' meetings (y'all should come--they have all the makings of GREAT times!). When we finished, as I stood up to leave, I headed over to Brianne's room to do the customary, "Ok, Noah, time to get your shoes on." Only I didn't see Noah. He's been into hiding lately, so I looked in Titus's room. No Noah. I turned to Jen. "Where's Noah?" Blank stare from Jen. Then she kindly reminded me that I hadn't brought him and he was at school.

I thought I'd give you a glimpse into the kind of stuff I've been struggling with lately. Throwing away checks worth $300 (you don't want to know!), forgetting the whereabouts of my son, stuff like that. No big deal. *sigh*

SO, assuming I don't completely lose my mind between now and the end of the year, here are some of my goals for the New Year:

1. Spend more time with the Lord. I have a regular Bible-reading plan in place (read through the Old Testament once and Psalms and the New Testament twice. Hello, Robert Murray McCheyne!), but I'd like to spend more time in prayer this year.

2. Spend less time on Facebook. Gasp! I haven't decided yet whether to completely quit or just greatly reduce time spent there. I am fully convinced that FB has some merit, such as the encouragement of others, but it can suck time like nothing else. Not to mention the pangs I feel when I see yet another pregnant belly photo or complaint from one of the high percentage of my friends who are pregnant. Just keeping it real! Anyway, I haven't been to FB in nearly two days, and I'm fine! Maybe I'll check it once a week or something. I don't know; still tweaking this one.

3. Reinstate Noah's chores. I had a great chore chart that we were using, and then gradually over the last few months I began to do Noah's chores for him. For shame! I don't know when or how it happened, but one day I watched myself setting the table (his job), clearing the table (his job), and finally it hit me when I found myself making his bed (yep, definitely his job) that This Has Got To Change. This week I printed out another chart and got the stickers ready. Now for the follow-through...

4. Figure out what to do about homeschooling vs Christian schooling. Ask me today which way I'm leaning, you'll hear one answer and tomorrow you may very well hear a different one. This cannot be. Sometime before August (probably before) we have to figure this thing out! Prayers for wisdom appreciated!

5. Exercise regularly (at least 5x a week). I went to put on a pair of khakis the other day, and they wouldn't button or zip. Nuff said. :)

There are probably other ones, but that's enough for now.

Trip to the Fallons'

2011-12-29T12:40:00.000-08:00

This time we managed to take a trip to the Fallons' AND get some photos of it! ;) Here are a few pics from our great time with great friends.

Every Good Gift

2011-12-25T16:58:00.000-08:00

I find it a joy to give gifts to my family. For months, Noah had been asking if he could have a hat like Robin Hood's. (Think a felt hat with a feather in it). Earlier this month I purchased a pattern and some felt, dusted off my sewing machine and brushed up on sewing basics (how do you clip a curve again?). I then made a Robin Hood hat and did my best to make some shoes as well. Here's a video of Noah opening that hat this evening. He put it back on after this video and still hasn't taken it off. :)

On this day when gift-giving is central, I'm remembering the ultimate gift of sacrifice given by our Lord Jesus in coming to earth to die for us. God is so good to us, and if I'm tempted to believe God doesn't love me, all I have to do is remember that He died for me. Point proven. In addition to this greatest gift of salvation from sin, God is so liberal in His gift-giving. He has given me a husband who loves me, and a son who is such a joy among many, many others.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T16:16:00.000-08:00

For those that did not get our Christmas letter in the mail, it is either because I don't have your address, have the wrong address, or forgot to put your address on the envelope. And yes, I did that. For example, I'm pretty sure I mailed Matt and Jen's letter with only their names on the front of the envelope. No return address, no mailing address. Yeah. That's floating around in Postage Land somewhere. :)

Anyway, here is our Christmas Letter and photo for those who wish to read it:

Christmas 2011

“Blessthe Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits.” Ps 103:2

Dear

We hope you are counting the Lord’s blessings inyour life, and are reflecting on His great sacrifice of love for you. Would you believe this is our tenth Christmasletter? Josh and I can scarcely believethat we are celebrating ten years of marriage this Christmas season, but it’strue. Several gray hairs, a lot ofexperience, and boatloads of God’s grace later, and here we are. J

Josh’swork schedule doesn’t seem to change much from year to year, which is probablya good thing! He is just as busy as everwith rehabbing houses and landlording, though this year I have seen him growand change in his management skills. Onthe home front, he has become an even better husband and father! If Josh works on Saturdays he usually takesNoah along, and he displays such patience with Noah’s inquisitive ways. It has been such a blessing to see him be agreat dad.

Joannahas rediscovered “free” time this year since Noah started preschool. I now have 3 extra hours every morning withwhich to get my work accomplished. Thishas afforded me an uninterrupted Bible-reading time, and piano practice time,in addition to time for the everyday errands and housework. I had forgotten what it is like to meanderthrough the grocery store thinking complete thoughts! Parenting gets more challenging and humblingwith each passing year, as I see just how far I have to go. God has been working in my heart, everstretching me and urging me to rely on His grace—it is sufficient!

Noah,at four years old, is fully engaged in LIFE! This boy constantly pleads, “Watch me do this!” Weapons fascinate him (he’s a boy through andthrough), and it is remarkable to me how just about anything can be pretendedinto a sword or gun. JHe is learning to read, which delights him to no end to find that he knows whatsomething says. We continue to teach himBible memory verses each week, which he enjoys, and teach him about theLord. One of our prayers is that Noahwould trust the Lord as his Savior, as that is his greatest need.

We have enjoyed seeing lots of friends and familythis past year, and hope that we can visit with many more of you in 2012. If you would like to keep up with what isgoing on in our lives, please feel free to visit our blog at: http://aclayinthelife.blogspot.com/.

Merry Christmas and HappyNew Year!

Anniversary Celebration

2011-12-24T16:06:00.000-08:00

So what did we do for our anniversary? We dropped Noah off at Matt and Jen's and went to a local dinner theatre! The Alhambra Dinner Theatre was performing Dickens' A Christmas Carol. So, see? We did find something that was somewhere between a ballet or a monster truck rally. :)

The food was outstanding, and the play was too. We had been a little concerned that it wasn't going to be worth the money, but it totally was. What a great way to spend our 10th wedding anniversary! And here is a photo of what Josh got me to remember the evening by:

Two dozen roses and a gigantic card which reads: "Happy Anniversary, Joanna my wife, my one and only. Here's to 10 years and forever to follow. Love, Josh."

Very special.

10 Years Ago

2011-12-22T04:30:00.000-08:00

Josh and I have officially been married 10 years--how crazy is that!?

In honor of our 10 year anniversary, (Happy Anniversary, Josh!) I'd like to post some pictures from "back in the day"--our early years dating and married. Bear with me; my technological skills are such that I have to take a photo of the photo, and then upload it. Scanning is just not in my repertoire. If you're trying to think of what to get me for Christmas, perhaps a basic computer class would be called for. :)

Raise your hand if you think we looked young.

Happy Anniversary, Josh. You were my best friend then, and you're my bestest friend now, if that's possible. I love you so much. I'm so thankful the Lord brought us together.

Love,

Quickest Draw

2011-12-09T10:00:00.000-08:00

I'm beginning to think Noah was born wearing a gun pouch. Or a sword sheath. Or an arrow quiver. Point is, he's rarely without some sort of weapon-holder on his hip these days.

Boys! :)

Life These Days

2011-12-08T10:00:00.000-08:00

It's time for another book report of What's Going On Around Here. Exciting, I know!

We're getting ready to send out our 10th (tenth!) Christmas letter/photo, and soon to follow celebrate our 10th (tenth!!) wedding anniversary. Stay tuned for fun snapshots of Josh and me when we were twenty-one and the world was our oyster. Followed by pictures of us now, when we're thirty-one and we're realizing how much we still have to learn. :)

Side note about getting older: you know the haircut I posted about recently? Well, the hairdresser actually recommended that I start highlighting my hair to cover up my grays. I never thought I would hear those words. *sobs*

Whenever Noah hears us talk about life before he was born, he'll say "where was I?" but he doesn't understand the state of not existing. He totally doesn't get it. To him, there's only "when I was a baby" and "now". There was no "before". And then try explaining it to him....

I've been going through old blog posts with pictures and videos of Noah when he was a tiny tot, and it's just crazy to me how much a child changes in a few short years. Slow down!

Josh and I have been planning our anniversary celebration. For a while we talked about going away overnight, but (call us cheap) the cost of that started really adding up (to say nothing of the fact that we need to save lots of pennies for IVF Lord-willing next month!). I think instead of going away, we have decided to still take a kid-free night by ourselves--thank you Matt and Jen!--and just stay home. That way we'll probably be able to go out to a nicer restaurant, and maybe do something else in addition. I would love to go see a ballet, but Josh would probably rather be poked in the eye with a stick! Hee hee! It would be the equivalent of offering to take me to a monster truck rally. Not. Happening. Hopefully we can think of something we'd both like to do. :)

I picked up Noah from school today, and the teacher asked me to talk to him about his language and using appropriate language for school. I panicked, as visions of my four-year-old using 4-letter expletives popped into my head. As far as I know, he hasn't heard any of those yet. Hopefully I can keep it that way for a while! But anyway, the teacher said he had called someone a "poopy-head." Where do kids come up with this stuff? So Noah and I had to have a little discussion about that...

And now, for fun, a poll of sorts. Be honest: When you get Christmas letters from people in the mail, do you read them? Do you read it all? Skim it? Just pitch it? My curious mind wants to know...

Open Letter

2011-12-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

It was inevitable. With my last haircut taking place way back in the foggy memories of August, it was either get my hair cut or cut it myself. If my hair grows much past my chin, I start looking like this, only not on purpose:

It's what my hair likes to do when left to itself. Don't get me wrong, she was great in her day, but it's just not me. So this morning I marched myself to the hair salon (the bajillionth one I've tried in 8 years of living here--Josh commented to me that he doesn't think I've seen the same hairstylist twice. He's almost right!) and came out with this:

*yawns* It's okay. But definitely not what I asked for. Again. AND! This time, the lady cutting it had the exact haircut I wanted, which I thought would make things super-easy. I basically told her, "I'll have what you have." And got something entirely different. Fine, acceptable, but different.

SO. I give you an open letter to my sister-in-law:

Dear Andrea,

You are the only person on earth who has ever understood what I wanted in a haircut and done it. Would you please convince your husband to move down here and set up shop in Jacksonville? Thank you soooooooo much!

Love,
Joanna

Funds Are In!!

2011-12-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all who prayed for the second house to sell. IT DID!!! And amazingly enough, it actually closed a day early--yesterday!

This is nothing short of miraculous in my mind. If you are aware what kind of market we are in right now, you see how impressive it is for the Lord to provide (1) a buyer (2) with funds (3) who wants to buy our buildings! Praise the Lord! I don't think I should be surprised that all of this happened literally in days rather than months, but somehow I still am. :)

Now that the funds are in, we could move right ahead with IVF. Josh and I have decided to wait one more month though, and begin Lord-willing in January. December is already a busy month without adding IVF to the mix. Also, it would be better tax-wise to wait until the New Year (something that had never crossed my mind!), and Josh wants another month to prepare and keep praying for a natural miracle.

SO we keep praying and wait to see what the Lord has in store for us! Thank you for praying with us.

One Down, One To Go

2011-11-30T12:12:00.000-08:00

We began praying not long ago for the Lord to help some buildings of ours to sell if it would be His will to provide for IVF that way. Well, yesterday, one of those buildings sold! Praise the Lord!!! I am so surprised! Usually when we pray for buildings to sell, it takes months and months, so what a blessing that this one went so quickly! I keep praising the Lord for miraculously working to sell this building. Buyers are not easy to come by in this market, so finding a buyer alone is a miracle.

We are about halfway there--we would need at least one more to sell to be able to fund IVF. The good news is, we have one that is supposed to close this Friday! Would you pray with me that it closes and on time? If it does, we would be able to start IVF in January, Lord-willing.

It is indescribably wonderful to see the Lord directly answer prayers!

This Picture

2011-11-29T12:10:00.000-08:00

You've seen those t-shirts that say, "My grandma went to the Grand Canyon and all she brought me was this t-shirt," right?

Well, I need one that says, "We went to the Fallons' for Thanksgiving and all we got was this picture:"

Seriously? Not one single picture with the most gracious hosts in the world? (more on why I call them that later...) I even went through the pics in my camera to verify. Not one picture of people! The table was beautiful, accented perfectly by the pumpkin-colored walls. But we went to visit the Fallons, not their table! (*kicking myself*)

You may remember we were invited to their house last year for Thanksgiving (that was when Noah went swimming in their freezing cold pool!). Invited for the second time, we joined them again this year for their Thanksgiving meal. (Pretty nice table, huh?)

Only this time we brought someone else's child. Or so it seemed, for Noah was on his Absolute Worst Behavior. When asked how our Thanksgiving was, I'm tempted to answer "humbling." And the Fallons loved us through it all, and even invited us back for Christmas (!). If that's not true love, I don't know what is!

We did have a great time, possible only through the "love covers a multitude of sins" kind of attitude on the part of our hosts. Noah again swam in their pool (it was 70 degrees this time), we did a teensy amount of Black Friday shopping, ate a ton, shared our blessings, and Mrs. Fallon gave me an impromptu piano lesson.

All that, and all I got was this picture!

Camera Cleanout

2011-11-22T12:30:00.001-08:00

The following are some photos from this month that were just sitting in my camera. I figured I'd clean them out and post them. This is some of what we've been up to this month.

The zoo! We went one Saturday morning before Noah's soccer game.

Our first fire of the "winter."

And more reading practice. In case you can't see the photo, the chalk sentences on our driveway say, "Noah had fun with Mom." and "The frog jumps up on a stump."
Noah loves to practice his reading! He reads sentences similar to the ones above, and is also reading short beginner books from the library. This is such a fun milestone! Right now it rivals learning to walk for my favorite developmental stage. :)

On Sunday during church, I passed Noah a note which said, "Sit still." Wow, was I thankful to be able to convey a message to him without talking! Of course that opened a whole new can of worms when he became so thrilled that he was able to read my message, that he whispered very loudly, "I know what that says!!" But that's another post for another day... :)

Our IVF Appointment

2011-11-17T12:29:00.000-08:00

We had our appointment on Monday as planned to discuss doing IVF again. Our biggest concern right now is the financial cost of it. This is a procedure that costs over $10,000 to do! We are still praying for wisdom, and right now are waiting on the Lord to provide if it is His will that we do this. It would be no trouble at all for God to provide the money upfront if He chooses, and so that is what we are praying. We have a couple of buildings that we are trying to sell. If/when they sell, we could feel comfortable moving forward in the IVF direction. Until that happens, though, we wait and pray.

Would you pray with us?

1. For us to have wisdom and clarity of direction

2. For God to provide the money in a clear way if this is His will

3. For us to have the right response no matter what, and especially while we wait.

"Delight yourself in the Lord,

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him and He will do it.

He will bring forth your righteousness as the light

And your judgment as the noonday.

Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him..." Ps 37:5-7a

Teacher Sightings

2011-11-17T11:56:00.000-08:00

Did you ever marvel as a child if you saw one of your teachers out in public? "Wow, she goes to restaurants?" I remember, at least for me, it was always so weird to see a teacher out doing normal people things. Like there's this unwritten assumption that teachers live at school.

Yesterday we saw Noah's preschool teacher at Publix. Noah just stood there, dumbfounded. You could see a thousand questions going through his mind as he contemplated the fact that his teacher goes grocery shopping.

It was just funny to me. Had to remember it. :)

Big Decision

2011-11-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

Recently I listened to an online message from the book of James about trials. The speaker reminded me that part of what makes trials so difficult is that there is usually a decision to be made in the midst of them, and we don't know what to do. We seek God for wisdom, and God promises to give wisdom "to all generously and without reproach." if we ask without doubting. (James 1:5-6)

Well, Josh and I have been seeking wisdom over the last 3 years about how to grow our family, and/or if we should even be pursuing that. If you've been reading this blog for any length of time, you know all about my health issues and also my intense desire to have more children. What is the right thing? What would God have us do? This is such a personal matter, and I don't know who or how many people read this thing, so I'm probably not going to go into a lot of detail about the decisions and variables we were wrestling with or what this process will involve.

I did, however, want to let people know (and for the purpose of record-keeping) that we most likely will be pursuing IVF again this winter in hopes that the Lord would give us another child. I have an appointment with our doctor, Lord-willing on Monday morning, to discuss all of this and try to come up with a timetable and plan.

If you pray for us, pray that the Lord would give us and the doctor wisdom. We want to do what is pleasing to the Lord first and foremost. I'll be updating as I know more!

Have a Little Patience

2011-11-04T13:18:00.000-07:00

I have been extremely short-tempered with Noah lately. Foolishness abounds in that child; from using one of our kitchen knives in a saw-like fashion on our dining room table, to bossing me around as if I were his inferior, to throwing a fit about some disappointment, to arguing with me about absolutely everything.... We've had our share of challenges here lately (and all of that was just this morning before Noah left for school!).

I sat down, defeated, to read my Bible this morning and these verses were what "happened" to be on the docket for today:

"Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men. For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy...." Titus 3:1-5

Remember, Jo, you used to be that way too! (and if I'm honest, I still am to some extent. It's a battle every day) But God saved you! And not because you were anything great or impressive, or because you were righteous, but because He is so merciful. So stay faithful, keep doing what you know is right with Noah, and remember "to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men." And by all means, keep praying for Noah's salvation--He needs the Lord's help too!

I needed that. Thank You, Lord!

Chef Noah

2011-11-04T11:35:00.000-07:00

Check out Noah sporting his new apron from Mom Rowley. She heard me say that he wanted a child-size apron, and brought one to him! Now we can really let the flour fly!

Visit with Libby

2011-11-02T12:18:00.000-07:00

We visited Jen and Libby in the hospital last night. Noah was SO excited to be able to hold Libby (whom he keeps calling "Lily"). I had told him he might not get to hold her, but he was ecstatic when Jen said he could. Can you see it in his face?

I always get a little misty-eyed holding a brand new baby and last night was no exception. (When I went so see Titus as a newborn I all-out cried. But let's not talk about that...) Thankfully I was able to keep back my tears this time, since crying in public is not something I enjoy. :)

Welcome Libby Jane!

2011-11-01T12:12:00.000-07:00

Matt and Jen had baby #3 early early this morning! Libby Jane entered the world on November 1, 2011 (9 days overdue! But who's counting? *cough*) at 3:33am. She is 7lb 15oz.

Congratulations, guys!

Pardon

2011-10-31T13:21:00.000-07:00

This is the phrase that's been singing itself through my head today:

"The vilest offender who truly believes, that moment from Jesus a pardon receives."

Name that song. :)

I love how the Lord ministers the truth to my heart through song. Can you tell what I've been needing today? I'm praising the Lord that He pardons me, the vile offender, the moment I ask!

Amen.

Reading Practice

2011-10-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

One of Noah's favorite activities these days is for me to write out words and let him sound them out. He gets so excited when he gets them right! Yesterday I decided to start writing a full sentence to see if he could get a whole idea. Now, these sentences are not complex by any means: Six words at most, and usually the words are 3 letters or less.

Today I made sure to get a video of Noah practicing his skills on a sentence he'd never had before,

"The cat is on a hill."

Chapter Books

2011-10-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

Over our vacation, I delved into the world of reading chapter books with Noah. The decision was as simple as not having enough room in our backpack for more than a few diversions. So, rather than pack 10 or so very large and heavy picture books, I grabbed just 2 very small paperback books: Runaway Ralph, and Charlotte's Web. Problem solved.

Only I wasn't sure if it would actually work: if Noah would sit and listen to a story with no pictures to look at. I had the opportunity to try it on the car trip to Pennsylvania, and thankfully Noah adapted with no problems! He sat and listened to me read 4 chapters straight through. In the days following our trip, we have read the remaining chapters one at a time before naptime. Today we finished Runaway Ralph, and Noah is already asking when we can begin Charlotte's Web!

This is so exciting to me, as I have dreamed of the day when I can read my all-time favorite children's book aloud to Noah, "The Trumpet of the Swan." My second-grade teacher read that one a chapter at a time to my class when I was 7, and I fell in love with that book! Loved. It.

On a nostalgic side note, I can clearly remember the day I discovered that Noah could sit through a picture book with a plot, rather than just concept books with a page devoted to each concrete concept. ("Orange. Tree. Cup." That sort of thing.) The day we moved on to books with a plot was a grand day indeed; it opened up new worlds of reading and made it something I actually enjoyed doing with Noah. And now we're on to chapter books! I will still do a lot of picture books though, as Noah really prefers to see illustrations...

And finally, I had to share a funny. I picked up our copy of Runaway Ralph at a yard sale for a quarter. It looks like the one pictured above, and its pages are brittle and falling out. Noah asked me how long that book had been around. Seeing the printing date of 1970 in the inside flyleaf, I said, "This book was printed 10 years before Mommy was born." Noah, in wonderment said, "Was Noah from the Bible there?"

Ha! Ho! Hee!

Maybe that's not as funny as I thought. :)

Vacation Recap

2011-10-21T11:44:00.001-07:00

We returned Wednesday from a week-long trip up to Connecticut and Pennsylvania to visit family and give Noah a chance to experience Autumn firsthand. He's only ever read about changing leaves in books! Here's a little of what we did last week (including several rousing games of Monopoly Deal as shown in the photo above):

Lots of dirt bike riding with Grampy.

Lots of traveling by air and by car. (In case you're wondering how I snapped this photo while driving, don't worry. I was stuck in a traffic jam. Which brings me to my next item..)

Lots of traffic. This was on the way to Pennsylvania. It rained. The. Whole. Way.

The sluggish traffic gave me multiple opportunities to take photos of the foliage from inside the car. So what if the window was streaked with rain?

Noah and Josh got to explore Penn's Cave near where my mom lives in PA. If you've never been in a cave, this is pretty much what it looks like:

Hee hee! Seriously, though, when you could actually see, it was like this:

This is the gift shop to the cave, where there was this enormous stuffed bear. (Real!) Sadly, this picture didn't turn out very well. Par for my course.

More driving. Less traffic.

Knoebels Grove amusement park! This is my kind of place, because parking and admission are free; you just pay for the rides you want to ride. There's Noah on the bumper cars.

We met a friend of mine, Ruth and her kids, at the park. Noah is sitting with her son Ian in this ride.

Josh being goofy.

Back in CT, this is the view from Talcott Mountain.

Grampy went along too!

Deciding which walking stick would be better. Deciding on both! :)

I did not get pictures of so many friends and family that we saw, once again hammering home the reminder to glue my camera to my hand. Got it.

We had a great time up North, and are back to life as we know it here!

Leaf Peeping

2011-10-18T13:10:00.000-07:00

We have been away on a leaf peeping/family visiting trip up north for the past week. Lord-willing we head home tomorrow. Someday I hope to post some of the pictures I took while we were gone. For now I thought you could enjoy this view from the top of Talcott Mountain in Connecticut.

Mommy & Noah Time

2011-10-07T14:22:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of the rain, Mommy & Noah time was brought to you today by Play-doh,

some cookie cutters,

and by Mommy's inner ballerina.

Sometimes I just can't help myself. :)

James 1:19

2011-10-07T12:49:00.000-07:00

Don't we all need to work on being "quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger?"

October Already

2011-10-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Seeing as I haven't been blogging very faithfully despite my new found time each morning (ahem!), I figured it was time for a news report of sorts.

This is a picture of Noah and his soccer team. It is really the only recent picture I have of him. I need to get better about taking pictures. What else is new? If you can't find Noah, he's the one with the drink in his hands, and the shin guards peeping out of his socks. I love four-year-olds. :)

Noah's team has lost 2 out of 3 games they've played, but don't tell Noah. He just has fun playing!

Here's what else has been going on:

I had 3 teeth removed last Wednesday. "Removed" sounds so delicate in comparison to what it was. In my opinion, people should not be awake while things are being extracted from their bodies. Just saying. They gave me Laughing Gas which really, contrary to its lighthearted name, is anything but. At one point they overdosed me and I found myself feeling so completely out of control and unable to move or communicate except to cry. Thankfully they got the message and turned down the gas, at which point I began to feel much better. That is, apart from the fact that there was a pair of pliers in my mouth causing undue pressure and uneasiness. *shudder* I return to my point that people should not be awake while having body parts extracted...

Praise the Lord, I seem to be recovering quite well, and was even spared the chipmunk cheeks I was dreading. Blessings!

We are planning, Lord-willing, to take a trip up North to see friends and family, not to mention some pretty fall leaves. Noah has only read about autumn in books, so I can't wait to show him what it really looks like.

Noah seems to be transitioning out of naps. At least, maybe he should be. That child still has no trouble whatsoever going down for his nap. It's waking up that's the issue. He will sleep 2 1/2 to 3 hours almost every day, but usually wakes quite grumpy. Some days I even have to wake him up! BUT. Then when he goes to bed, we hear him awake in there until 10 or 10:30pm. I don't think he needs to be sleeping as much during the day (perhaps not at all?), yet our evenings don't lend themselves to early bedtimes. I would think if he gave up napping, his bedtime would have to be earlier. Opinions? Transition times are always tough.

This last item will have to wait for its own post because I'm out of time. And yes, I'm going to leave you in suspense. It's probably not what you think. :)

Hop On Pop

2011-09-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

Normally I'm not a big Dr. Seuss fan. Maybe it's the utter silliness of the predicaments featured. Maybe it's the crazy illustrations. Maybe it's the made-up words. Barring whatever it is though, I picked up a copy of Hop On Pop at a yard sale over the summer. Today we read it for the first time.

Or I should say, Noah read it for the first time!

It took him almost half an hour, but he successfully sounded out each and every featured word all by himself!! Okay, so he didn't read "Constantinople," which is actually in there, if you can believe it, but all the other ones he did! I was so proud of him!!

Maybe there's a little bit of value in Dr. Seuss after all. I know of no other book that puts all those simple words into one (very silly) story.

Burning Questions

2011-09-27T11:16:00.000-07:00

Does every child

feel the need to blow bubbles through the straw into his drink?
step in puddles, walk a few steps, and then look back to see the wet footprints they've made?
rebuke other people for opening their eyes during prayer? (this is truly foolish!)

I was just wondering.

10 Things I Love About You

2011-09-23T12:40:00.000-07:00

1. Your winning smile and laugh. They are infectious!

2. Hearing, "Mommy, I love you" when I least expect it.

3. Your little hands, still pudgy and dimpley.

4. The way your tongue sticks out when you're deep in concentration.

5. Your quick mind and love of learning.

6. Hearing you sing yourself to sleep at night.

7. Your expressive face; I never wonder what you're feeling!

8. Your desire to help, no matter what it is we're doing.

9. Hearing you pray.

10. Watching you learn and change as you grow.

Bon-Bons And Pedicures

2011-09-21T11:55:00.000-07:00

When I first knew we would be putting Noah in preschool, and the prospect of a virtually endless expanse of time each morning stretched before me, I admit that visions of bon-bons and pedicures danced in my head. Why, with three whole kid-free hours to myself each and every morning, is there any limit to the possibilities? I could accomplish nothing or everything. Visions of bon-bons aside, I went with "accomplish everything." I can't help it; it's who I am. :)

The prospect of three empty hours was pretty exciting until I realized that those three hours go very quickly, and are not exempt from normal everyday snags, like forgetting your coupons and having to run home to get them before you actually go to the store (hate it when that happens!). Or the fax machine sticking its tongue out at you and refusing to send the fax (it's occurred once or twice).

However, snags and all, I must admit I'm getting spoiled with Noah in school. Don't misunderstand me: if you're still picturing me lounging around in my pj's, reading a book, and eating bon-bons or waiting for my nail polish to dry, you are mistaken. So that I could remember for myself in the future, and perhaps quell your curiosity, I thought I'd write out how an average day goes for me. Remember, this is average.

6:00am Exercise. I love/hate this part of my day. :)

7:00 Shower and get ready

(Noah usually gets up while I'm in this stage, at which point I set him up for a video. Call me lazy. You do what you have to do.)

7:30 Make Josh's lunch and everybody's breakfast

8:00 Eat breakfast

8:20 Oversee Noah as he gets dressed, brushes his teeth, etc. Clean up the kitchen

8:40 Take Noah to school

9:10 Finish kitchen clean-up, make bed, tidy bedroom, fix my own appearance a little

9:30 Read Bible

10:00 Practice piano

10:30 Laundry, Work for Josh, office work, etc. Run errands, grocery shop, etc

11:50 Go pick Noah up from school

12:30pm Eat lunch

1:00 Noah Nap. I keep plugging away at my To Do List. Usually (praise the Lord!) it all gets done!

3:30 Noah gets up. Regroup, snack time

4:00 Mommy and Noah time. I love this time of day! Since I had all that free time and was able to accomplish stuff, I can spend this time in uninterrupted, guilt-free, unhindered time with Noah! We've been able to paint together, go on scavenger hunts, go for bike rides, shoot marbles, do reading activities, bake things, etc. He eats this up and looks forward to this time all day. So do I!

5:00 Noah Roomtime. He plays in his room or in the dining room while I make supper. Sometimes he helps with the meal prep.

5:45 Eat dinner

6:30 Evening Family Activities. This has also been more enjoyable since Noah started school, because I've usually gotten the work done earlier, and so can spend time with my family.

So that's the real blessing in all of this newly-acquired "free time." Not to use it on personal laziness, but to use it to accomplish what I need to, so I can devote more time to Josh and Noah. Also, Jen is due to have baby #3 in about 4 weeks, and I'm planning to help out over there as much as I can as they need it.

There you have it! My average day in a nutshell.

Not a bon-bon in sight. :)

The Better To Hear You With, My Dear

2011-09-16T14:16:00.000-07:00

Noah got stung by a bee yesterday on his ear. Youch! Granted, he was beating bushes where bees are known to reside, so in that sense he had it coming, but that didn't prevent me from feeling compassion for him. I've only been stung twice in my life, and they were both experiences I never want to repeat. Poor Noah, this is already his second sting, and strangely enough, it's also the second time he's been stung on his ear!

I can't quit looking at it. It's like a car accident; you just can't keep yourself from staring. He was stung on the upper lobe of his ear, but the whole thing has blown up and out to crazy proportions. He reminds me of Dopey from Snow White, bless his heart.

Noah wanted me to take a video of him spinning around, so I did, but all I could see was that big ear. I hope the swelling goes down soon--I think he's picking up radio stations with that thing! :)

Do You Smell Something?

2011-09-13T11:47:00.000-07:00

Was reading today, among other passages, 2 Corinthians 2 as part of my devotions.

*slight rabbit trail*

I've been reading my Bible using the McCheyne Bible Reading Plan. If you follow it, you will end up reading through the entire Old Testament one time per year, plus the New Testament and Psalms twice. It's a lot more reading than I used to do, but it's been a blessing! I like that I read from 4 different sections of Scripture at a time. That way, you tend to get the viewpoint of Scripture as a whole instead of camping out, say, in genealogies or ceremonial laws for weeks on end. :) Google "McCheyne bible reading" if you're interested.

*anyways...*

So here are some verses that grabbed me today:

2 Cor 2:14-15

"But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing..."

Really? I am a fragrance of Christ in this world? That's a convicting thought. Especially when I call to mind all those times when "stench" would better describe my actions than "fragrance." May all of us (me especially!) be a sweet-smelling "fragrance of Christ" to everyone we meet today; to our family members, and to the grocery store clerks, to our husbands and children, and to our neighbors. It takes complete dependence on God, for everything we do in our flesh tends to smell foul, rather than sweet.

I'm just preaching to myself here!

Monkey Bars

2011-09-09T11:38:00.001-07:00

In light of the beautiful weather, I took Noah to the playground yesterday. As you can see, he is working on conquering the final frontier in playground equipment: the monkey bars. All summer long, all he could do was hang from the first bar before letting go. Yesterday, though, I watched in amazement as Noah expertly took off across the bars, swinging like.....well.... a monkey! I had no idea he could do it! I guess they have monkey bars at preschool, and Noah had to have been practicing.

I stood there with my mouth hanging open before I remembered to get out the camera. I asked him to go across again so I could take a video. He did, but we both started laughing, and he was already tired from the first time across, and so he fell. FYI, laughter is the arch enemy of monkey bars. Don't believe me? You try maneuvering your body across the monkey bars, dangling from your hands (a tough enough challenge!), and then have someone make you laugh. I tried it without laughing and can't even make it across, period. When did I become so wimpy? My arms felt like they were going to come right out of their sockets. But anyway...

Enjoy the video!

Open the Windows!

2011-09-09T11:34:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous. Our weather this past week has been positively heavenly! Every time I go outside I find myself praising the Lord for such great-feeling air. June through August around here is Sauna Time, but September comes and usually the humidity dial is turned way down, which we all appreciate. This is our prize for making it through the heat of summer. What joy!

Failures and Falling Shorts

2011-09-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a fiction book in my spare time, one by Jamie Langston Turner (a very good author--you should check her out!), and I love how she sees the hilarity of goofed grammar in the everyday speech of normal people. She wrote in one of her books of a well-meaning person who prayed aloud in church, asking the Lord to forgive all their "failures and falling shorts."

I've had a lot of those recently, it seems. (The failures, not so much the falling shorts. :)) Maybe it's just my imagination, but it seems like I'm having more than usual. I blow up and get really angry over something pretty minor. My patience wears thin. I allow my flesh to rule me. Selfishness smells up to high heaven.

How thankful I am that the Lord forgives more than seven times! It seems I have to ask forgiveness for the same offense that many times in a single hour.

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;

Who pardons all your iniquities

Who heals all your diseases;

Who redeems your life from the pit,

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

Who satisfies your years with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle." Ps. 103:2-5

One Thousand Gifts

2011-09-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

My friend Carrie recently recommended a book to me called One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp.

Read it.

I had to say that right off the bat in case you skim the rest of my review and then move on to something else. You need to read this book! It will change the way you look at everything. It has taught me (and I'm still trying to learn it) to truly give thanks in everything, in everything to give thanks. Big things, small things, beautiful things, ugly things, all is grace from God, and all is to be given thanks for, because God has chosen everything in my life to be there on purpose, and He is all good all the time.

See what I mean? You need to read this book.

Here is a link to the trailer for One Thousand Gifts, which sums it up better than I could:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhOUaszMGvQ&feature=player_embedded

Now go reserve a copy at the library!

Soccer Practice

2011-09-02T11:33:00.000-07:00

As if we needed one more activity to add to August, we decided to sign Noah up for our community's fall season of Soccer. I had no idea that practices alone were so entertaining! The games must be a hoot! First game: Sept 10. Stay tuned for pics of that.

Noah seems to be enjoying soccer so far. Josh and I enjoy the together time on the bench watching Noah practice. Really, it's win-win. If you'll excuse my lame humor. :)

What Birthday?

2011-09-01T12:46:00.001-07:00

I turned 31 in August, on the 16th actually. Trouble is, we were smack dab in the middle of one of the craziest months on record to really notice it. VBS week (with the added bonus of 5 house guests!). Noah starting soccer for the first time (hmm.. I need to post about that). Wilds Week. Everybody in our family has had a cold. Noah beginning preschool. Mom and Dad Rowley were here for 2 weeks. And! we have some more company coming tonight. The more the merrier around here. :)

*slight disclaimer* Company is great! If you stayed in our home this month, we were so glad to have you! Please come again. I simply include you in my Craziness List because life is always a bit different with company in your house. But you already know that.

Anyway, so now I'm 31 and it happened sometime during the week we were at the Wilds. Josh tried to take me out to dinner last Saturday to celebrate, but I wasn't feeling very well, so we had to postpone. Hopefully before my next birthday we can celebrate this one! :)

Little Man Starts Preschool

2011-08-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

I have several other things to post, but this one is so big that I wanted to make sure it got done even if none of the others do!

Whatta smile on Noah's face his first day of preschool! I don't think I ever wrote about our decision to put Noah in a formal preschool versus me teaching him at home. I plan to do that now, but first, more pictures!

I call this, "Aw, Mom, please don't make me turn around and show you my backpack!"

There are some things in life that make kids look cuter and smarter. A backpack is one of them. Just saying.

Which one of us is more excited? You decide.

Teaching is overwhelming to me. The thought of homeschooling, while it has its advantages, leaves me feeling as though I'm staring at the foot of a mountain which I must climb with no equipment. Yeah, "overwhelmed" pretty much describes it! In college, I was given the choice of changing my major to Art Education, but I think I almost broke out in hives at the thought. I'm just not the teacher type. That's not to say that I couldn't teach if I had to, just that if given the choice, I would choose not to. I'm more secretary material. Quiet. Office. Papers. That sort of thing.

Take tying shoes for example. I attempted to teach Noah to tie his shoes only to discover that I couldn't explain it! "You cross the laces like this, and then... and then.... here, let me just do it." But maybe that's just me.

Last year, I was mentally preparing to start homeschooling Noah for preschool this year, but Josh suggested we put Noah in a preschool. We heard about VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten) that is offered at many different schools, including many Christian schools, and decided to check it out. We found Seacoast Christian School a couple miles from our house, and after reviewing it and praying about it, we signed Noah up!

I'm not saying we're going to keep him in a school all the rest of the years, or that I will homeschool him...we simply haven't decided yet. If you think to pray for us, you could pray that the Lord gives us wisdom this year as we decide how we can best please Him; whether that means homeschooling or placing Noah in a school.

After the first week at school, I can already say that he loves it and so do I! If you haven't caught on yet, Noah is a very social child. He LOVES being around other kids. I LOVE having the mornings free to get things done. Now in the afternoons after his nap, I can actually play with him (novel concept!) instead of shooing him outside to play, since I've had all morning to accomplish my work. So far this week, we were able to do a scavenger hunt, paint, and play together in the afternoons, just Noah and me with no distractions.

School is great!

The Wilds in Pictures (and captions)

2011-08-23T12:20:00.000-07:00

The whole family.

Josh and Noah on the paddle boats

Love this view between the shoulders of my two favorite guys.

Mom and Dad Rowley

Matt, Melanie, and their family.

Matt and Jen with Titus. Brianne is on the back. Trust me. :)

Joel and Hannah with Lauren. This was as close as I could get in the boat!

You know these folks!

Headed to the top of the creek for a tube ride. Don't we make quite the sight?

The water was FREEZING. If you see people in crazy positions on their tubes, it is likely because they were trying to avoid the numbing cold. :) It was actually very funny to be there in person.

Crazy position illustrated. :)

And again.

The kids didn't mind the cold water!

Trying to avoid a log-jam

Matt and Titus

Craft shop

Hanging out at Joel and Hannah's

What's a trip to camp without a campfire?

And a fun family game of volleyball

The Shoals

What a fantastic week!

Use Your Noodle

2011-08-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

The week before all of the busy stuff started, Josh and Noah went out in our "creek" behind our house for some "swimming." Lots of quote marks going on here. You'd understand if you saw our "creek".

Vacation Bible School 2011

2011-08-23T11:53:00.000-07:00

Truth Baptist Church of Connecticut sent some of their teen group to help us here at Truth Baptist Church of Jacksonville put on our second Vacation Bible School. From August 6-12, we housed the girls from that team and had VBS by day, and slumber parties by night. Above are some photos from VBS.

Retrospect

2011-08-23T11:49:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Well, as back as can be, I guess. What a CrAzY month we have had. Perpetual motion just barely describes our life lately. I would love to take about 2 days and do nothing but blog about all the things that have happened but that's just not possible. Instead, I'm going to try to catch up on all the events in the small moments I have.

August Crazies

2011-08-11T13:09:00.000-07:00

I don't think there ever was a fuller August for our family. Here is a brief overview of what we are up to Lord-willing this month:

Aug 8-12 Our church's second Vacation Bible School

Aug 6-12 hosting in our home the girls who came from CT to help with VBS

Aug 11 Noah begins soccer!

Aug 14-20 trip to the Wilds of NC for a Rowley family vacation

Aug 22 Noah starts school!

Aug 20-? Josh's parents will be with us for 2-ish weeks while Dad works on some houses down here.

Each one of those things deserves its own post, which I will get to Lord-willing as soon as I remember my own name. :) Thought you'd like to know what we're up to!

Bible Doctrines

2011-08-07T12:54:00.001-07:00

The other day we were in the car and Noah was giving me his usual "Mommy, did you know?" monologue, which consists of him randomly asking me if I am aware of certain facts. Within a long series of these, I got the following question:

"Mommy, did you know that God's Word is very pokey? And that it can cut up things?"

What a literal mind children have! He's heard me talk about Hebrews 4:12, which states,

"For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword; piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."

For my sword-loving boy, this may be his favorite verse! :)

The Eye Of the Beholder

2011-08-03T11:52:00.000-07:00

Every now and then I love getting out the paints for Noah to use, but it's kind of rare I have to say. Because you can't just get out the paints; no! Then it's the towel to drape over the chair, the paper plate that stands in for a palette, the paintbrushes, the cup of water to rinse the brush, the newspaper to protect the table, the paper to paint on....

Next thing you know, it's a scene right out of If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Exhausting, to say the least.

The other evening, at 5:04pm (classic supper-making-time), Noah decided he wanted to paint. I was up to my elbows in raw meatloaf (you've not lived til you've mixed your meatloaf with your bare hands!) at the time, and the thought of the whole production that we call painting just made me sigh. I suggested he draw instead. (Drawing requires just two resources--paper and pencils--instead of 27).

When he was done, he declared that he had drawn a picture of monkeys, and wanted to show me. As usual, I expected to see a jumble of unidentifiable squiggles and scribbles, which is very typical of his drawings, but surprise! For the first time ever, I was able to recognize his drawing for what it was. Now you look, and tell me; can you see the monkeys?

Cliff Notes

2011-08-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

I was going to try to post about everything that's been happening since my computer decided not to post my blogs anymore, but then I realized how great a task that would be, so No. I'm just going to give some highlights. This is not by any means my preferred way to blog, but when you've missed so many opportunities like I have, you just have to pick up the pieces and move on. Instead of the book, you're going to get the cliff notes.

I have to start this with a huge THANK YOU to my husband Josh, for working on my blog problem last night. If you haven't already figured it out, I am a next-to-computer-illiterate. Encountering a "javascript void" message made me want to start a new blog on a different site (way to solve a problem, Jo!), but Josh stuck with it and found a solution. Thanks, Honeybear!

Noah's birthday party was a success in the sense that everyone had fun. We did water balloons, a pinata, and had cake and ice cream. What more do you need?

I've been reading a book, which I hope to review on here soon, called One Thousand Gifts. It is so SO good! I've also been greedily hoarding a few other books which I can't wait to read, and saving them for our upcoming trip to the Wilds. A 7-hour car ride each way, plus a week of naptimes with no housework calling me, leave me licking my literary chops in anticipation. ;)

Our washing machine and vacuum cleaner broke on Monday last week. Unfortunately, I forgot about both (!) until Monday rolled around again and my To Do list said "Laundry" and "Vacuuming." Hence the time to blog on a Monday, which is normally unheard of. Hopefully tonight we can fix both problems.

The past 2 Sundays I've been playing the prelude before the morning worship service. I have LOVED it! The pressure isn't high, since no one is sitting there staring at you, and no one is trying to sing with you (the thought of both of those makes my hands sweat). Actually, I found it helped to prepare my own heart for the service. Usually I'm chasing Noah down, making sure he's used the bathroom, disciplining him, or taking him outside to make him run around before he has to be still for 90 minutes (a difficult feat for my active 4-year-old). Instead, the past 2 weeks, I've been able to dwell on the words of the hymns I've played. I guess I should ask how Josh has fared the last 2 weeks, since corralling Noah has fallen to him. *wink*

By way of an update, Noah has been doing much MUCH better going to bed at night. You may remember last November began months upon months of literally painful bedtime routines. Well, praise the Lord, Noah is finally going to bed sweetly almost every night. We have issues about one night in seven, as compared with seven nights out of seven, like it was all those months ago. I cannot tell you what this does for my blood pressure and sanity to have bedtime running smoothly again. More importantly, I'm thankful to God for answering this cry of my heart.

My diet is still going, though I have to admit it's limping along and threatening to quit. This has been a summer FULL of birthdays, get-togethers, church dinners, sicknesses, etc, all which make it next-to-impossible to keep up the fight. And it has been a fight. Salad after salad, it has been a fight to keep going. I would think I was seeing positive changes, and then the next week witness a complete downward spiral of everything I thought had been achieved healthwise, and run for the nearest chocolate bar. Currently I would say I'm on an upward trend, and I hope it continues.

That's about all my time will allow for now. It is so nice to be back blogging again! I've missed you!

Technical Difficulties

2011-07-29T10:18:00.001-07:00

I am having technical difficulties with posting my blog. Couple this with the fact that "busy" does not even begin to describe the last couple of weeks, and you'll see why I haven't been posting. Hopefully soon I will be able to figure out why I cannot post, and can fix it. Scratch that; it should say "have my husband fix it." :)

P.S. Does anyone know what "javascript void" means? I'm guessing it's not good...

Not Forgotten

2011-07-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

My blog calls to me every day. "Write!" it says, "Remember!"

On the other hand, my dishes and laundry and meals and the dirty bathrooms and the floors and empty refrigerator and my family all call my name too. Daily, hourly. And this is fine, I promise! I'm just explaining why sometimes you see me and sometimes you don't. Sometimes life is conducive to me taking a breather and recording my thoughts, and I am deeply grateful for those times. Other times, life is simply not conducive to that and I'm grateful for this too.

Life has been very full lately. We've been celebrating Noah's fourth (!) birthday, visiting splash parks to beat the heat, shooting water guns, growing sea monkeys (a birthday gift), making thank-you cards on a rainy afternoon, playing Uno; enjoying each other.

I'm so thankful for these blessings and more. :)

Noah's 4th Birthday

2011-07-21T11:43:00.000-07:00

After greeting Noah yesterday morning with "Happy Birthday! You're 4 years old today!" he looked down at himself and declared slightly deflated, "But I don't look any bigger. I think I'm still 3."

Noah opened a bow and arrow set from Josh and me yesterday, which provided hours of entertainment as he learned and honed his skills as an archer. He's big into Robin Hood these days, and wanted a quiver to put on his back, but we rigged one up on his side instead.

Being that his birthday fell on a Wednesday (we go to church on Wed nights), I told him he could have his favorite meal for dinner, and then we will have his party with the cake on Friday evening. Here he is in front of Macaroni and Cheese with Hot Dogs, his all-time favorite meal. And yes, I most certainly did serve the mac n cheese out of the same pot it cooked in. That's just me being my classy self. :)

More birthday news and thoughts to come after his party this weekend, Lord-willing!

We are so thankful for our little 4 year old!

My Beautiful Mother

2011-07-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

Today is my mother's 77th birthday and I wish more than anything that I could have shared it with her (Hi, Mom!). My mom, who taught me how to tie my shoes, and drive a car and mend a relationship, and everything else. Which is an understatement of course. How many "everything elses" are there in life? Can we even count them? How many things do we learn from our mothers? My mom, who loved me when I was unlovely, and poured herself out for me daily without much thanks: this beautiful lady turns 77 today!

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you!

Step On My Toes Why Don't You

2011-07-15T12:22:00.000-07:00

One of my friends posted this link on her facebook page, and it was like looking in a mirror to me, so I had to post it on here. Keep your toes covered when you read this--they might get stepped on!

Priorities

Don't we all need a wake-up call every once in a while?

Birthday Mania

2011-07-14T12:09:00.000-07:00

With Noah's birthday just 6 days away, the little guy is letting everyone (and I do mean everyone) know about his approaching big day. Only he has no concept of time, so it comes out like this:

"Did you know it's my birthday? My birthday is on Wednesday. So tomorrow is Friday and after that it will be next Wednesday soon, and that will be my birthday."

Clear as mud.

This is the first year he has been eagerly anticipating it, and it kind of took me by surprise. Ever since Brianne's birthday last week, he has been So Excited for his own birthday, which he knows is in July as well. Up until this year I have been able to get by with waiting until the actual day before telling him that we will have cake and ice cream, and giving him a gift. We have managed to keep it very low-key, and invited only family.

Not this year.

Before I could stop him, I heard Noah announcing to all his neighborhood friends yesterday that he wants them to come to his birthday. (He never said "party" interestingly enough.) So now, my almost-four-year-old has invited half the neighborhood to his birthday. I guess it's time to plan! I think what we'll do is invite those children, plus our family for cake and ice cream one evening next week.

Noah's birthday list is a mile long, also a first this year. He had been keeping it simple; items such as a sword, a bow and arrow, a gun.... and then today he asked me for a chainsaw. I told him he already had one (Matt and Jen gave him a toy one for his 2nd birthday), and he said he wanted a "real" one. I told him that "real" chainsaws are "real" dangerous, and said maybe for his 19th birthday he could have a chainsaw. Maybe.

So this is yet another reminder that my boy is growing up. Able to create birthday lists and invite party guests, and next thing I know he will be 19 for real and reminding me that I said he could have a chainsaw. He will, too; you just watch! The memory on that boy is astounding.

Hopefully through this blog, mine will be too. *Sniff*

My Memory Verse

2011-07-10T17:14:00.000-07:00

I've been chewing on this verse for a few days, and committed it to memory because it was so helpful to me:

" 'Do you not fear Me?' declares the LORD.
'Do you not tremble in My presence?
For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea,
An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it.
Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.' " Jeremiah 5:22

The Lord is indeed in control of everything in our lives! If He is able to place the sand as a boundary to the sea, and contain the sea by His power, then He can control the tiny and big events in my own life and yours.

I'm remembering that and clinging to the truth as I enter my fifth week of illness. I have another cold; my second one in less than a month. Praising the Lord for His sovereignty and grace in my life! Praying that this one doesn't settle in my ears again, if that be His will.

The Chicken or the Egg?

2011-07-09T12:53:00.000-07:00

Though I know the answer to that age-old question "which came first?", I am experiencing a similar riddle with my diet. I know two things:

1. I am back in the middle of all my female health concerns.

2. I am not sticking to my diet as well as I could be.

I just couldn't tell you which was the cause and which was the effect or if they're even related at all. Did I start experiencing cycle issues, and so I answered the hormonal call of chocolate, bread, and dairy? Or did I first give in to temptation and thereby open the floodgate of hormonal problems? I just can't remember.

This has not been an incredibly healthy month for me. Cold, ear infection, ruptured eardrum, cycle problems, and 2 other infections which shall remain nameless....

I am at a crossroads of sorts.

It would seem I need to either quit the diet and assume it's not working at all, or become even more strict and cut out ALL foods that are questionable. Either way it seems I'm risking my sanity. :) Eating what I like excites me because I don't have to be so concerned about all the ingredients, I can start cooking one suppertime meal again, and let's face it: chocolate soothes on many levels. However, if eating what I like brings hormonal problems: well, that's just not worth it either.

What has helped me over the last month is to realize that God is still in control. Even when I feel crummy or don't know what to do or how to fix my health problems, God does. I'm praying He gives wisdom to us.

I plan this week to put a call in to the Naturopathic doctor and ask if she has any advice. I was supposed to repeat the saliva test last month, but in light of all my infections and concerns, I put it off. I'll ask if it's even worth it to take that test, and where to go from here. I do believe she is saved, so hopefully God will give her wisdom in knowing how to help me.

I need all the help I can get! :)

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-08T12:19:00.000-07:00

This Fourth of July went down as one of my favorites in recent memory. The blessings of spending holidays with family are numerous. Dave and Andrea were able to come down for a visit, and Matt and Jen and their family were here too. We had a very relaxing day riding the jet-skis, eating great food, and spending such fun times with everyone.

On the beach July 2nd. Pre-haircut. Eesh.

Dave and Andrea on the jet ski. Andrea trying not to be worried. Telling herself it was going to be okay. It was!

Matt getting ready for a tube ride. Hold on tight!

Josh, Noah, and a neighbor girl pulling Matt on the tube.

Aunt Andrea and Uncle Dave with the kids

Admittedly not the best picture of Jen. But she's happy because she just got the best haircut of her life! :)

Brianne telling herself it was going to be okay. It was! Brianne's haircut made her look like such a big girl!

Titus coming after Uncle Dave

Long Commute

2011-07-08T11:18:00.000-07:00

I have found a new hairstylist. THE hairstylist. The one that I have been looking for all my life; who listens to me, and gets me, and does what I ask. Imagine that.

Take a look at what she did:

This is the first haircut I have had in a LONG time where I have not had to tell myself, "at least it will grow." Who accomplished this amazing feat?

The newest Mrs. Rowley. :)

Dave and Andrea came from Greenville, SC for a visit here July 4th weekend, and upon request, Andrea brought her scissors. Jen, Brianne, and I had a haircutting party on Tuesday morning and Andrea quickly established herself as the best hairstylist any of us have ever had.

Jen and I are now concocting plans to make the 6 hour commute every 3 months or so. Or get Dave and Andrea to move down here. Either one.

Responsible Blueberry Muffins

2011-06-30T12:17:00.000-07:00

Awhile back I posted a recipe for Scrumptious Blueberry Muffins. I stand by that recipe. My husband LOVES those muffins, and so do I. Trouble is, just about the only ingredient in that recipe which I am allowed to eat while on my current diet is the blueberries! Bummer.

So after acquiring some spelt flour, which is much more light and airy than oat flour, I followed the recipe for what I am calling "Responsible Blueberry Muffins." Because let's face it, these are not nearly as good as the Scrumptious ones. They're the Minivan when you really want to drive the Ferrari. But you must admit, the minivan works, and with much less guilt! :)

Responsible Blueberry Muffins

1 C Spelt flour

1 C Oat flour

2 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 C sugar

2 Tbs honey

1 C almond milk (you could use cow's milk)

1/4 C canola oil

1 egg, beaten

1 C blueberries

Heat oven to 350. In large bowl, mix dry ingredients together. In another bowl, stir together the honey, almond milk, oil, and egg. Lightly combine dry and wet ingredients. Fold in blueberries. Fill each muffin cup to the top. Bake 18-20 mins or until toothpick comes out clean. Makes 12 muffins.

Honeymooners

2011-06-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday evening, a young couple visited our church. They were glowing. I went to go meet them after the service, and the girl told me they were on their honeymoon; they had been married a little over a week.

On our way home from church, I told Josh that the couple was on their honeymoon. He made some kind of indistinguishable noise, and said "Those were the days! Real life hasn't started yet, you've been showered with gift cards to all kinds of stores, you have no responsibility, and everything is wonderful!"

I think he was a little jealous. :)

We don't get much vacation time. I should say we don't take much vacation time. Not vacation in a way that I would define it anyway. I can't ever remember a vacation or even a weekend or even a date night where Josh's phone didn't ring and he was responsible to do something about the call....except while we were on our honeymoon. Nine and a half years ago.

So my wish (whether or not it will happen remains to be seen) is to take one night away, just the two of us, for our 10 year anniversary in December. With no cell phone. No. Cell. Phone. I'll bring quarters and find a pay phone if we have to make a call.

That would feel like my honeymoon all over again. :)

Stumper

2011-06-28T10:30:00.000-07:00

As I was putting Noah down for his nap today, he came right out of the blue and asked:

"Mommy, how old is God?"

I started explaining about God not having a beginning and that He was never born, so we can't measure how old He is, etc etc. Blank stare from Noah.

Maybe I should have just said, "Really Old" and left it at that...

P.S. You're getting a lot of Noah stories lately. I know, and I can't help it. I keep looking at him and seeing a kid who is almost school-age looking back at me, and I feel compelled to record as much of his life as I can. I don't want to forget any of it!

Sharpening Iron

2011-06-27T12:48:00.000-07:00

This morning Josh left a book open on the counter with a passage marked "Jo." Here is what it said, and may I just say that this was just what I needed today! Thank you, Josh!

"Many mothers have asked us how they can handle an unruly child. One of the first things we have them do is see how many times a day they rebuke the child and how many times a day they reward and praise him. Proverbs 16:24 says, 'Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.' Also, how many times does the mother say--and mean--'I love you'? A child needs to know that he is loved whether his behavior is good or bad. Often parents of unruly children give all rebuke and no reward. It is not the lack of punishment, but often the overuse of it without any positive, loving encouragement that causes the difficulty."

-from Formula For Family Unity, by Walter and Trudy Fremont

Story Hour

2011-06-27T08:23:00.000-07:00

I took this video while we had Brianne and Titus over this morning. It was such a rare moment of sharing a story together that I had to get the camera in case it never happens again. Kidding, sort of. :) Noah and Brianne argue a lot, so for them to be sitting together sharing a happy moment was a treat to be sure. In this video you can also see Titus walking around. He would have loved to get my camera. Little guy will be one year old next week!

Noah's Prayer

2011-06-25T18:23:00.000-07:00

Tonight in family devotions, our Bible story was about Joseph's brothers selling Joseph into slavery. Here was Noah's prayer after we were done:

"...and dear Lord, please help Joseph's brothers to be kind to him and not throw him into that big deep well..."

Clearly this is a child with no concept of time and the passage of thousands of years. And clearly, this is a child with faith that God answers prayers! I just had to write this one down. :)

Sword Drill

2011-06-24T11:42:00.001-07:00

"Turn to the book of Amos," the pastor might say. I gulp and start sweating as I try to flip like I know what I'm doing through the books of the Old Testament, hoping that Amos will magically fall open and I won't be the last one with pages turning. I should have learned the books of the Bible by rote as a child, but I didn't. I learned them over time by trial and error, and those minor prophets still give me pause. Thankfully, Noah's Sunday School teacher has begun teaching her class to memorize the books of the Bible, and hopefully Noah won't suffer my same palm-sweating hesitancy later on. :)

So far, Noah knows up through Jeremiah, though I think in this video he skips Psalms. This is mostly for the grandparents, and Josh and me of course, to look back on years from now and marvel that he was ever that little. I've been doing that a lot lately--going back through my blog, looking at old pictures and videos of Noah and laughing and crying.... but that's another post for another time. Enjoy!

Count It All Joy

2011-06-24T11:14:00.000-07:00

I've had a lot to "count as joy" these days. :) For some reason, the Lord has seen fit to allow multiple physical trials into my life over the last month or so. To my shame, I have not always had a good attitude about them, but by His grace He can help me to rejoice even in the midst of them. It is a moment-by-moment battle for me. I know that God is sovereign, and that there are no accidents with God, and for that I do rejoice! I am so thankful for a God who always acts on purpose, and always loves me enough to allow the best thing for me into my life. I do pray that I would bring Him glory in my "momentary, light afflictions."

You know all about the Eardrum Thing. Well, after a week on the antibiotics, I have acquired a secondary infection (which shall remain nameless due to squeamishness) as a result of all the good bacteria being flushed out with the bad. My body threw the baby out with the bathwater, so to speak.

Right now I am praying that the Lord will spare me from any worse infections if that would be His will, and that I would learn to praise Him in the midst of my trials. I cringe to think of the disgrace I have brought to His name by all my griping and groaning recently! Forgive me, Lord!

Father's Day Thoughts

2011-06-19T17:39:00.000-07:00

This morning after breakfast, Noah and I made Josh cards for Father's Day. Noah couldn't even wait for the ink to dry before running into the bedroom and showing Josh his card. It was a very sweet moment. For the first time, I let Noah make the whole card himself. I told him how to spell "Daddy", which he wrote on the front, and then he signed his name on the inside. He chose a stamp and proceeded to stamp the inside of the card as many times as he could. So typical. :)

I love my husband dearly, and am so thankful I have the opportunity to see him be Daddy to our little boy. I'm thankful for his patience and willingness to be involved in discipline, and how he loves working side-by-side with Noah. It's really special for me to see them working on a project together.

I miss my own father, who died right before Father's Day the year I was 11. I always remember him at this time of the year. I don't have very many memories of him, but the ones I do have are mostly sweet. I miss him.

I love my father-in-law, who is a very godly example and a great father and grandfather himself.

Most of all, I am thankful for my Heavenly Father, Who loves me with an everlasting love, and Who is all-forgiving, all-compassionate, all-knowing, all-holy...too many "all" adjectives to list. :) May we learn from His ultimate example, and grow to know and love him more each day.

Happy Father's Day!

P.S. The day got away from me without taking any pictures of Josh and Noah together! I'll have to fix that this week.

Hearing Deficiency

2011-06-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

Being able to hear out of only one ear is a singular experience. (ha HA! I just caught that totally unintentional pun!) I've done it before for maybe a day during an illness, but this is the first time in my life I can remember days upon days of feeling like I'm underwater.

My biggest challenge is in places with a great deal of background noise, such as being outside with the cicadas chirping to beat the band, or in a grocery store. I never realized before how much background noise there is in this world! Why do I notice this now? Because being able to hear out of only one ear, all I can hear is the background noise, where before I would just tune it out. I am now incapable of tuning it out. It's so weird.

Example: I went to the grocery store this morning where, usually unbeknownst to me because I tune it out, they had music playing over the intercom. Also, I could hear some sort of fan/refrigeration/air conditioning hum. Could I hear what the cashier was saying? Nope. Had to read her lips.

All I can figure is that ears must work similarly to eyes. Did you know you need both eyes functioning to have depth perception? I think with ears, you must need both functioning to be able to tune out unnecessary noise, and to be able to decipher what is peripheral noise and what is "important" noise. If I'm standing at the sink with the water running even a little bit, I might as well be deaf to what someone is saying 3 feet away; all I hear is the sink.

I'm pretty sure I will be this way, kind of "half-deaf", for a few weeks. I can say that this has made me appreciate so much more being able to hear well most of the time.

I take so much for granted in life....

Thank you, Lord, for ears that can hear!

My Church Family

2011-06-18T12:16:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed to be part of our church family at Truth Baptist Church! I never expected the outpouring of love and prayers over something as simple as a ruptured eardrum, but I got it! I mentioned Wednesday night at church my prayer request, and since then have received emails, phone calls, and even a meal and offers for a meal delivered to my door. It's astounding and so encouraging that the Lord uses His saints to minister to a child of His who is going through a trial. It's humbling and reminds me to do the same for others who might be facing a rough time.

Matthew 25:35, 36, 40
"For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me...The King will answer and say to them, "Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me."

Thank you, church family, for serving the Lord by serving me in my time of need! :)

Candy Land Master

2011-06-16T11:45:00.000-07:00

We have been playing Candy Land and Chutes & Ladders with Noah for a while now, when we can stand it. Those games are pretty tough for me to enjoy as an adult anyway, but when your opponent literally has no idea where he's supposed to move his piece from one turn to the next, it gets pretty boring.

Why boring? Think with me now: if you're playing with someone who doesn't know where to move next, and so you're basically telling him where to move and what to do when he gets to that space, one of you is unnecessary. For all intents and purposes, you are playing against yourself! And if I'm going to play something with myself, you can guarantee it's not going to be Candy Land. ;)

But! At long last!

It rained on Monday, so we brought out the games. Noah got the game set up, and proceeded to play without one iota of help from me!!!! A card with 2 orange squares? No problem. He moved the correct number of spaces without any help. He finally got it, too, when he was being sent back for drawing a character card that he had already passed. The last time we played, he had no clue. This time, he TOTALLY GOT IT.

The game was actually fun this time! :) Yay for progress!

Speak Up, Sonny

2011-06-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

Remember my cold from last week? It morphed into an ear infection and peaked into a ruptured eardrum last night.

That's right, a ruptured eardrum.

As in, worst pain I think I have ever felt, bar none. Labor was fun compared to this. Really.

As in, I can't hear out of my right ear.

As in, all I can hear in that ear is a constant high-pitched ringing that has got to be right at dog-whistle-frequency.

As in, I now have a constant trickle of ear-fluid leaking out of my ear. Gross!

(As if you really needed to know that last tidbit, but it's true nonetheless. While I'm at home, I have been hanging a tissue out of my ear to soak up the yuck.)

So enough about the grossness. How did this happen? Yesterday I laid down for a 30-minutes snooze on the couch while Noah was napping. When I woke up, I could not hear out of my right ear. "Interesting," I thought, and went on about my day. We were preparing for a ladies' meeting at our house, and I had a gigantic mess staring me down, so I started in on that.

About 4:00 I noticed I was in some pain.

By 5:00 I had to lie down again on the couch to try to get the pressure in my head relieved. I took a couple Tylenol because I knew I'd never make it through the ladies' meeting without something to mask the pain.

At 10:30 last night, I was in sheer agony. I would have cried, but I was afraid that would create more pressure in my already-crowded ears. I took 2 Tylenol and 2 Ibuprofen and finally went to sleep.

That wore off about 2:45am, and I groggily opened my eyes and realized the pain in my ear was back. I turned over to try to relieve some pressure, felt a horrendous sharp pain, and then heard a bunch of crackling and popping. Think a bowl of Rice Krispies. It sounded just like that. After that, fluid started leaking out of my ear.

A show of hands: how many of you think I was able to go back to sleep? Right. Not happening.

I called the doctor as soon as they opened, and was seen at 9:15 this morning. It was all pretty matter-of-fact. I told the doctor "I think my eardrum ruptured." She gave me a look and made a sound like, "Suuuurrre it did." She didn't roll her eyes, but she might as well have. Then, looking into my ear, she said, "Oh. Yep! It did!" She issued me a prescription for a very strong antibiotic and a pain prescription, and sent me out the door, telling me my ear should heal on its own within a few weeks.

So it would seem I'm stuck with the dog-whistle ringing and minimal hearing for a while. In the meantime, y'all are going to have to speak up!

If you think of it, please pray that the antibiotic wouldn't cause all the heinous side effects that are emblazoned on the side of the bottle. In this case, I think the side effects are worse than the ear infection. Lord, help me!

P.S. I have to share one more of my "Are You Kidding Me?" doctor moments:
I told no less than three staff members at the doctor's office why I was there before I ever saw the doctor. (Earache, possible ruptured eardrum, etc) I told the appointment scheduler, the front-desk receptionist, and the triage nurse...

Doctor walks in.

Says, (and I'm not making this up!!) "So how long have you been having urinary problems?"

Me, wondering if I've heard her right with my bum ear and all, "Excuse me?"

Doctor, referring to her computer, "Oh. That's not what you're here for?"

Um, no.

I ask you: why can't doctors communicate with their staff or read my chart? I'm beginning to think this is epidemic!

Summer Cold

2011-06-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

Noah caught a cold early in the week and was kind enough to share with his mommy! Thank you, sweetheart! :) This cold has come complete with a fever, which always wipes me out and plants me on the couch for the duration. God's grace is always new though, and today I discovered that I *can* mop the floor and keep up with the cleaning in spite of my achyness (who knows how to spell that?) and general mental incapacity. Blessings! Noah managed to bounce back after only one day with a fever, but so far I've had 2 days of it.

Being sick as a mother has taught me so much about God's grace, and has reminded me to be thankful for my own mother, who also never got a sick day. So to all of you who have ever yearned for your pillows, some tea, and a bottomless tissue box, and got a broom, mop bucket, and a child with bottomless energy instead, Thank You. And keep on praying for more grace--you'll need it!

P.S. I'm supposed to sing in church on Sunday, which at this point seems laughable. I'd appreciate your prayers for healing so I don't have to cancel. Thanks! :)

Busy Busy Busy

2011-06-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

Josh has been working overtime lately on a myriad of new projects. He recently bought a 16-unit property (a group of 4 buildings with 4 units in each), plus he's been managing a few other properties for his dad. And I thought Josh was busy before! It has been reminding me more and more to take my own advice to Dave and Andrea at their wedding: don't find your sufficiency and your joy solely in your spouse! I can be happy and joyful even if Josh leaves earlier, comes home later, and works more days.

"I have set the LORD continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely...In Your presence is fullness of joy..." Ps 16:8, 9, 11b

Little Evangelist

2011-06-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

I overheard Noah talking to our neighbor girl from across the street as they were playing together. Noah had picked a scab on his leg (one of the many!) and it had started bleeding, which must have triggered his next thought:

"Did you know that Jesus uses blood to wash our sins away?"

I was convicted. When was the last time I shared the gospel--or even part of it--with one of my unsaved neighbor friends?

Do I Hafta?

2011-06-03T12:01:00.000-07:00

Brianne was feeling a little shy on Dave's wedding day. They had asked if she could be the flower girl, and she wasn't quite sure about that. She buried her head in Jen's skirt anytime someone asked her about it, so Matt and Jen began preparing for "what if Brianne chickens out at the last minute, and won't go down the aisle?" They thought maybe Noah could walk with her and help her be brave.

They practiced.

Well, it must have seemed a little too real for Noah, because he wandered off by himself just before Dave's wedding. After scanning the beach, we spotted him down by the water (I know! I won't comment now on all that did to my insides as a parent, because I'm sure you can imagine). I ran down to retrieve him, and after a stern "what were you thinking" type warning, I told him it was almost time for the wedding, and we needed to hurry back.

Dragging his feet, he said, "Mommy do I have to marry Brianne?"

"No, sweetheart. I can guarantee you don't have to marry Brianne. Not now, not ever." Bless his heart. ;)

Oh! And in case you were wondering, Brianne did fine walking that aisle all by herself. Good job, Brianne!

Dave and Andrea's Wedding

2011-06-01T12:50:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos from our time away at Dave's wedding. Based on how long it was taking these to upload, I had to drastically reduce the number of photos I chose to share. Also, some of these photos are borrowed. Here's a hint: if it looks too good to be a photo of mine, it's somebody else's. :) Enjoy!

Mom and Dad Rowley with the grandchildren who were able to make it.

My honeybear and me!

Brianne as Flower Girl. There's a funny story about this that I may tell one day if I remember and have time...

Andrea walking down the aisle

Dave hugging his mom.

Andrea hugging her too. These were very sweet moments!

The Kiss!

Happily married

Josh's immediate family. There is a pic somewhere of all of us, including the wives and kids, but I'll have to go track that one down.

Yes, this would be an example of a photo I definitely did NOT take, but wish I did. :)

At the reception

And THIS! This is baby Lauren, Joel and Hannah's new baby who was 7 1/2 weeks early. Here she is on her due date, weighing something around 6 pounds. Everyone together now: "Awwwww."

Dave's motto in life

Papa Joel with Lauren

2.5 minutes after getting in the car to head back home. My sentiments exactly!!

A Memorial Day to Remember

2011-05-31T12:24:00.000-07:00

I had the strangest dream that Josh's brother Dave got married yesterday.

Oh, wait.

HE DID!!!!

That's right, Dave got married. Last week at this time we knew nothing about any wedding, and today we've just returned from Charleston, SC after having witnessed his marriage. We have always teased Dave about his secretiveness, and in fact he and Andrea had talked about eloping, but thankfully (a BIG "Thank you," Dave) he called us all last Wednesday night and invited us to his wedding. I'm so glad he did!

So Dave is married now. Dad Rowley asked each one of the brothers and sisters (and sisters-in-law) to give a short charge to Dave and Andrea during the wedding, in lieu of a typical wedding sermon. I think this was a great idea, though I was way nervous to have to do such a thing. Have you ever tried to give marriage advice with your spouse standing right there listening to you? It's very sobering. Everything you say, you have the earthly person who knows you best listening to your every word. While I was preparing my charge over the weekend, I had to seriously search my own heart and talk with Josh (and ask forgiveness) about some areas where I have failed. That one simple charge that was meant for Dave and Andrea ended up doing me some good instead. It was also wonderful to hear everybody else's words of wisdom.

And are you ready for this? I took a hundred pictures of our trip. One Hundred. That is unheard of for me! Part of my success was that everyone else was snapping pictures, and this reminded me that (a) I have a camera, and (b) I should use it. I'll share many of those pictures in the next post.

Congratulations, Dave and Andrea Rowley!

Classy

2011-05-24T10:11:00.000-07:00

We went swimming with a new friend and her little boy today, and got home only to discover that the tag was still hanging from my brand-new bathing suit.

I'm just classy like that.

*sigh*

Enjoying My Son

2011-05-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

As time goes by and we remain unable to conceive, I keep reminding myself to drink in every moment I have with my little boy. He won't be little much longer; the baby years are already behind us! *sniff* I was noticing at the beach today that Noah's little baby pot belly is gone. This would be easier to take if I knew I'd have a new little one to blow raspberries on.

Where did this little guy go?

Or this one? Chubby face all covered in ice cream, wearing his little "Noah and the Ark" romper? I saw that romper on Titus a couple weeks ago.... *sniff*

So Noah is almost four years old, and every day I have to keep reminding myself to soak it up, to remember, to blog. Many of my memories have been helped by this blog, and I'm so thankful I began writing this stuff down so I won't forget it.

So, for memories' sake, here's what I want to remember about Noah at this age:

1. He never. stops. talking. I know (I know!) this is something I'll miss in years to come, like when he's 15 and doesn't want to talk to me about anything. (Hopefully this won't happen, but if he's like most 15-year-olds...) The nonstop chatter about everything. Soak it up, Jo!

2. He must show me some new cool trick he can do. "Mommy! Watch THIS!" I must hear that about a hundred times a day.

3. His boundless energy.

4. His love of life. This kid is so cheerful and optimistic. He loves to laugh, and his laugh is incredibly infectious; I can't help but laugh along with him.

5. Our little game we play: "I love YOU!" Here's how it goes: I say, "Guess what, Noah? I love you." Then Noah says, "No, I love you!" I say "No, I love you!" and we start saying it at the same time, faster and faster until we're both saying "you, you YOU!!!" Yes, I realize you probably have to be there, but this blog is for me, right? At least I know what I'm talking about. :)

6. How everything becomes a sword, a gun, or weapon for getting "the bad guys."

7. His little hands are always grubby, and his feet are perpetually dirty. There is always a scab (usually multiple ones) somewhere on his legs. This may be a more a reflection of my parenting than of Noah himself, but my point is I just love that he is all boy. All. Boy.

8. I love how he prays "for Mommy to have a little baby." The only thing that has changed is that over the years he has learned to pronounce "little" correctly. Oh, the faith of a child to keep praying!

9. He wants to be right in the middle of whatever I'm doing.

10. I love hearing him sing as he's going to bed. Unfortunately, the singing is still coming after being chastened for resisting bedtime, but he usually does go to bed singing. And the other night, at 4 in the morning, I distinctly heard his little voice singing, "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing." Don't know if he was awake or asleep, but it doesn't matter.

I love my Noah!

Pardon My Absence

2011-05-20T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have been having technical difficulties with my blog over the last few days, which has prevented me from blogging. I'm still here and I hope to pick things up again. I've missed it!

How's Your Diet Going?

2011-05-14T12:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks for asking! I have had a lot of people ask me lately how the diet is going, and whether or not I think it's helping, so I thought I'd answer that. And really, thank you to those who have cared enough to ask!

It's going well. I am becoming used to what I should and should not eat, as well as those foods that will be most beneficial to me. I'm feeling a difference, usually when I consume something I shouldn't have had. I notice heartburn after I eat tomato products, for example. And call me crazy, but I do feel better after eating a meal consisting mostly of the beneficial foods. I have not had any red meat or pork in about 2 months, but I'm eating a ton of spinach (for the iron, you know). Popeye would be proud.

Preparing food is not getting much easier, since my family is still very much fond of spaghetti, hamburgers, hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, etc, all of which are current "no-no's" for me. You should have seen me on Thursday night this week; I was a little stressed. I had planned on spaghetti; normal white pasta with meat sauce for Josh and Noah, and brown rice pasta (did you even know there WAS such a thing?) with salmon sauce for me. Plus a salad. This meal required all four burners, and took an hour to prepare. Every cupboard door in my kitchen was open, and I do believe I used every dish in my kitchen. Well, maybe not quite, but it sure felt like it. But, we made it! Everybody ate, and everybody enjoyed their meal. And the next night I made just one dish for everybody to make up for it. :)

Overall, I am noticing a difference in my health. My previous issues seem to be on their way to correction. This is a HUGE answer to prayer! Is this diet fun? No. But it seems to be helping, and that's what matters right now.

P.S. The chocolate cravings have not gone away, in case you were wondering. Someone gave me a whole bar of dark chocolate for Mother's Day, all for me. It's gone, and I enjoyed every single bite of that bar, one small square at a time.

Don't Hold Your Breath

2011-05-12T10:21:00.000-07:00

You're looking at the last of the Mother's Day flowers from church. These were extras, and since Matt and Jen were heading out of town for 2 weeks, they got sent home with us. Not that I'm complaining, since I love fresh flowers! It may be hard to see in the photo, but there are several white tulips with 2 purpleish ones. This is an important fact, because at lunch today Noah asked me:

"When are those white flowers EVER going to turn purple?"

Poor guy.

But isn't this what I do with God? He has made me this way on purpose, with my own set of skills and quirks and limitations. He made me "white" if you will. What business have I wishing myself to be "purple?" That's not to say I shouldn't strive to do the best with what God has given me, and repent of sin, but there are certain things I just can't change. White tulips are certainly beautiful, even though they're not purple. And a sidenote: I'm so thankful that God made a variety! What a blessing to have multiple colors of tulips! The spiritual applications here are endless.

Anyway, all that to say, "Don't hold your breath." Those tulips will remain white!

Mother's Day Recap

2011-05-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

My wonderful family took me out to eat at Olive Garden on Saturday night, because we knew Sunday would be packed out. It ended up working out great, because we had so much food left over that we were able to enjoy it again for Sunday lunch, which meant twice that I didn't have to cook! Blessings!

I am so thankful that the Lord has made me a mother, while at the same time, I feel compassion for those who are still waiting for their turn. In fact, I found myself with mixed emotions about my own situation: always thankful for Noah, yet praying that the Lord would give us another child. Mother's Day remains a bittersweet day for me.

I am also really thankful for my mother and for Josh's mother. What an incredible gift a godly mother is! I still pray for God's grace to be a mother He can be pleased with.

The Rise and Fall of the Quiet Bag

2011-05-06T11:50:00.000-07:00

*what I am about to post may be controversial. That's not my intention; for this post I am not intending to pass judgment on any other person's methods. I am simply stating what has and has not worked for us. Please take this as such, and please don't bash me in the comments section. Thank you! :)*

Ah, Sunday church training. The transition every church kid must master; too big for the nursery, yet not quite able to sit through an entire service at church. Noah has been at this (I was going to insert "delightful", but realized I'd be lying) stage for a few months with varying degrees of success.

We began training him with a Quiet Bag, which is just that; a Bag full of stuff to keep a kid Quiet. Bible story books, an Etch-a-Sketch, a coloring book, an activity book, a bag of crayons. He was then required to be still and quiet during the church service so as not to be a distraction to others.

Only it didn't work.

I'm sure other children would do well with this system, but Noah has not shown ANY improvement over the last 5 months and has, in fact, gotten worse. Mine is a child who cannot sit still to save his life, and who simply must talk. He lives to talk. I have often commented that if Noah is awake, he's talking. And moving.

And so a typical evening church service, equipped with a Quiet Bag, would go something like this:

Rifling through the bag to determine what he wanted first.
Opening an activity book.
Whispering as loud as he can, "Mommy! What does this page say?"
"Look, Mommy! I colored that train in and I stayed in the lines!"
Deciding he wants something else, shoves the activity book into my lap like a hot potato, whispering "HERE!" (see this post) and slips down off his chair, which scoots across the floor a few inches, making a loud noise.
Rifles through said Quiet Bag some more (which I am now beginning to doubt the name of).
Pulls out Etch-A-Sketch.
Begins to spin knobs, then 3 seconds later wants to erase it, and so shakes the thing as hard as he can, hitting me with it in the process. That will leave a bruise.
Deposits Etch-A-Sketch into my lap, and whispers even louder than before, "Are we almost done?"

Now, I have not begun to address in this summary any disciplinary problems, which are myriad. The whispering after being told not to. The pulling away when I try to tap his arm to get his attention. The fussing when we have had to take something away. The marching out-of-doors to handle any of the above.

And now I ask you, after sitting through a church service like that, tell me, what did the pastor speak about?

Take your time.

Ummm, yeah. Exactly. I don't know either.

And that's very, very sad. Because let's say through some miracle that the poor people seated around us managed to listen to the message (I'm so sorry, folks!); at the very least, Josh, myself, and Noah came away with Absolutely Nothing except a boatload of frustration.

And that needs to change.

We have known for a few weeks that what we were doing was Not Working. Josh pointed out to me that in the current setup, I have become for Noah a t.v. of sorts. "Oh, you don't want Distraction #1? Well, then, that's easy; change the channel and see what's behind Distraction #2!" He pointed out (and I had already observed) that over the past few months, the Quiet Bag has expanded as I've realized the need to add more distractions to it. It was spiraling out of control.

We enjoyed very much a short visit from a longtime family friend on Wednesday night. She had the privilege (curse?) of sitting right in front of Noah during the service, and she observed (heard? felt?) our problem. I told her afterwards what we were doing, and asked her advice, and she said she never embraced the Quiet Bag idea for all of the above reasons. It doesn't (in my opinion) teach the skill of sitting patiently and attentively through church. It has taught Noah that he can be quiet as long as he's sufficiently distracted. No distractions, or not exciting enough distractions, no quiet. Among other things.

And so we embark on a new plan:

The past two mornings, Noah and I have had "church practice." I set up 2 chairs in our office. He is allowed to hold a Bible (pictureless) and a small notebook with a pencil, just like Mommy and Daddy. We have turned on one of Pastor's sermons (ironically the ones I have missed due to the above issues or nursery duty) and sat, listening. Yesterday I set the timer for 10 minutes, today we did 15. There is no talking about anything. There is no getting out of our seats for any reason. We just sit and listen.

Surprisingly, Noah has caught on to this, as if it suddenly makes sense. I have given him the background reasons for why we are doing this (which are too lengthy to post right now; I feel like I've already written a book!) and he gets it. I'm hoping to increase the amount of time by 5 minutes per day, unless we hit a period of time which is particularly difficult, and in that case we will stay at that level until he can handle it. So far, at home, he's done phenomenal! Now, I'm very curious to see how this will translate when we do this For Real in an actual church service. For now, though, we're practicing at home where there is less at stake. For all I know, we'll endure massive failure at this too, but I sure hope not. For Noah, I think this is the ticket...

I'll let you know how it goes!! :)

Splash Park

2011-05-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

It is a fact universally acknowledged that kids + water = FUN! Jen and I took the kids to the splash park at the zoo last week.

Once again, Titus couldn't help himself and dozed off. Yes, he's sleeping under that hat!

So Jen took pity on him and reclined him, poor guy. :)

Here are Noah and Brianne sweetly standing together, for once. Theirs is a very odd relationship where one minute they are fighting like bitter enemies, and the next they are begging for each other's company. I'm told that's how brothers and sisters are, but I wouldn't really know.

My Energizer Bunny

2011-05-02T10:52:00.000-07:00

We went to Publix this morning for yet another cartload of fruits and vegetables (I feel like I'm there all the time, replenishing my stock. A vegetarian-esque diet will do that to you.). We were there approximately 20 minutes, and in that time I had FOUR people say about Noah:

"Oh, to have half his energy!"

I get this comment All The Time, but this was the first day I received it four times in 20 minutes! Guess he had a lot of energy today. :)

Up A Creek With A Paddle

2011-04-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

Lest this video scare you: remember that the creek behind our house was only about a foot deep (and going down) when this was taken. And Noah was wearing a life jacket. And Josh or I could have waded in to help, should he have needed it.

That's all. :)

A Thing of Beauty

2011-04-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, some ladies from Truth Baptist Church got together for a ladies' meeting over at Laura's house. Only this wasn't some ordinary meeting, the was a Ladies' Luncheon. And it was at Laura's. Meaning: it was going to be beautiful.

I run the risk of embarrassing Laura, but I think you need to know that she has a real gift for making things special and nice and, well, beautiful. I can't think of another word to describe it. She knows that ladies crave beauty, and that it feeds our souls in a way, and she works to create beauty for us all. I admire this in her, because I tend to be the opposite: get it done as practically as possible. Functional. Perfunctory. It's not something I'm proud of, but I notice when I'm hosting a party I'm the one drawn to using paper plates. Tablecloth? It'll just get spilled on; don't use it. Get out the Sharpie so everyone can write their names on their red plastic cups. That sort of thing. Which makes it all the more wonderful when I can experience true graciousness and, here's my word again, beauty.

We all brought food, and it wasn't the picnic fare that is so often served for a crowd. There wasn't a bottle of ketchup in sight. No, instead there were Chicken Salad Croissants. Fresh fruit. A gorgeous salad. Lady food! After the delicious meal, we enjoyed a discussion of the Proverbs 31 Woman, who embodied true beauty. I think we were all challenged and refreshed. What a great time!

Easter

2011-04-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful that Jesus came to die in my place, but also that He rose up from the grave!

"Lives again, our glorious King, Alleluia!
Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!
Dying once He all doth save, Alleluia!
Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!"-- Charles Wesley

We had a good Resurrection Sunday this past weekend. I decided to forego all the egg-dyeing, egg-hunting, and baskets full of candy (ie: distraction) this year in favor of a quiet, reflective time. Since Noah doesn't know any differently, I'm glad we did that. Instead, we enjoyed dinner after the church services with Matt and Jen's family, along with some others from church.