Summertime Happenings...

NEW BLOG...

2009-08-18T14:41:00.001-05:00

From now [August 2009] on, I will be posting at our new blogsite:

www.goffstersblog09.blogspot.com

**Birthday Photos will be up soon!**

Megan~

ok...

2009-08-18T14:14:00.003-05:00

so...deleting photos from Picasa, apparently didn't erase all the pictures off my blog...nor did it allow me to post pictures...it's still telling me I don't have enough space...hmm...any other ideas?

Pictures...

2009-08-18T11:23:00.002-05:00

Ok, well, I really want to post pictures, but I still can't figure out how to free up storage. Is there a way to save my blog onto a disk and then delete it and start fresh?? I tried making a new blog, but it still won't let me upload picture, b/c I've exceeded the quota. Could I delete all my pictures off of Picasa? I'm really clueless as to how all of this works. Any one know??? Help!

~Meg~

4:54 a.m.

2009-08-18T07:29:00.002-05:00

At 4:54 a.m., August 18th, 2005, I became a Mom. Today is Samuel Justice's 4th birthday. We've already sang "Happy Birthday" twice. Later we will make his cake. He wants chocolate. :) For supper, he wants pizza. I'm so thankful that God has given Samuel to us for 4 years. Wow, time flies!

On Motherhood and Profanity...by Elisabeth Elliott

2009-08-16T13:58:00.001-05:00

On Motherhood and Profanity by Elizabeth Elliott

"OK now, which one of you clowns put that bag of M 'n' Ms in the grocery cart?" The mother looks harried.

Two boys, maybe five and seven, eye each other and race away toward the gumball machine near the supermarket door. There is an infant strapped to a plastic board on top of the groceries, and a two year old occupying the built-in child seat in the cart. The mother picks up the M 'n' M candy bag and starts toward the aisle to return it. The two year old screams and she relents, throws the bag in with the rest of her purchases, patiently waits her turn at the check-out, fishes five ten-dollar bills from her purse, receives her small change, and pushing the cart with the babies in it, herds the two boys through the rain to the station wagon in the parking lot.

I go with her in my mind's eye. Jump out in the rain. Open the garage door. Drive in. Close door. Babies, boys, bags into the house in how many trips? Phone rings. Answer phone, change baby, wipe muddy tracks from kitchen floor. Feed baby, put groceries away, hide M 'n' Ms, start peeling vegetables, take clothes out of dryer, stop fight between two older children, feed two year old, answer phone again, fold clothes, change baby, get boys to:
1) hang up coats,
2) stop teasing two year old,
3) set table.
Light oven, put baby to bed, stop fight, mop up two year old, put chicken in oven, answer phone, put away clothes, finish peeling vegetables, look peaceful and radiant--husband will be home soon.

I see this implacable succession of exigencies in my mind's eye. They come with being a mother. I also see the dreams she dreams sometimes--write a novel, agents call, reviews come in. TV interviews, autograph parties, promotional traveling, a movie contract--preposterous dreams. Try something a little more realistic. Cool modern office, beautiful clothes, make-up and hairdo that stay done all day. A secretarial job perhaps, nothing spectacular, but it's work that actually produces something that doesn't have to be done over at once. It's work that ends at five o'clock. It means something.

I know how it is. I have a mother. I am a mother. I've produced a mother (my daughter, Valerie, has a two year old and expects another child soon). I watched my own mother cope valiantly and efficiently with a brood of six. ("If one child takes all your time," she used to say, "six can't take any more.") We were--we still are--her life. I understand that. Of all the gifts of my life surely those of being somebody's wife and somebody's mother are among the greatest.

But I watch my daughter and other mothers of her generation and I see they have some strikes against them that we didn't have. They have been told insistently and quite persuasively that motherhood is a drag, that tradition is nonsense, that what people have always regarded as "women's work" is meaningless, that "roles" (a word we never bothered much about until a decade or so ago) are changing, that femininity is a mere matter of social conditioning, that it's time to innovate. If the first-grade readers show a picture of a woman driving a hook-and-ladder and a man doing a nurse's job, see what happens to the conditioning. Abolish the stereotypes and we can abolish the myths of masculinity and femininity.

I hear this sort of claptrap, and young mothers often come to me troubled because they can't answer the arguments logically or theologically. They feel, deep in their bones, that there is something terribly twisted about the whole thing but they can't put their finger on what it is.
I think I know what it is. Profanity. Not swearing. I'm not talking about breaking the Third Commandment. I'm talking about treating as meaningless that which is freighted with meaning. Treating as common that which is hallowed. Regarding as a mere triviality what is really a divine design. Profanity is failure to see the inner mystery.

When women--sometimes well-meaning, earnest, truth seeking ones say "Get out of the house and do something creative, find something meaningful, something with more direct access to reality," it is a dead giveaway that they have missed the deepest definition of creation, of meaning, of reality. And when you start seeing the world as opaque, that is, as an end in itself instead of as transparent, when you ignore the Other World where this one ultimately finds its meaning, of course housekeeping (and any other kind of work if you do it long enough) becomes tedious and empty.
But what have buying groceries, changing diapers and peeling vegetables got to do with creativity? Aren't those the very things that keep us from it? Isn't it that kind of drudgery that keeps us in bondage? It's insipid and confining, it's what one conspicuous feminist called "a life of idiotic ritual, full of forebodings and failure." To her I would answer ritual, yes. Idiotic, no, not to the Christian--for although we do the same things anybody else does, and we do them over and over in the same way, the ordinary transactions of everyday life are the very means of transfiguration. It is the common stuff of this world which, because of the Word's having been "made flesh," is shot through with meaning, with charity, with the glory of God.

But this is what we so easily forget. Men as well as women have listened to those quasi-rational claims, have failed to see the fatal fallacy, and have capitulated. Words like personhood, liberation, fulfillment and equality have had a convincing ring and we have not questioned their popular definitions or turned on them the searchlight of Scripture or even of our common sense. We have meekly agreed that the kitchen sink is an obstacle instead of an altar, and we have obediently carried on our shoulders the chips these reductionists have told us to carry.

This is what I mean by profanity. We have forgotten the mystery, the dimension of glory. It was Mary herself who showed it to us so plainly. By the offering up of her physical body to become the God-bearer, she transfigured for all mothers, for all time, the meaning of motherhood. She cradled, fed and bathed her baby--who was very God of very God--so that when we cradle, feed and bathe ours we may see beyond that simple task to the God who in love and humility "dwelt among us and we beheld his glory."

Those who focus only on the drabness of the supermarket, or on the onions or the diapers themselves, haven't an inkling of the mystery that is at stake here, the mystery revealed in the birth of that Baby and consummated on the Cross: my life for yours.

The routines of housework and of mothering may be seen as a kind of death, and it is appropriate that they should be, for they offer the chance, day after day, to lay down one's life for others. Then they are no longer routines. By being done with love and offered up to God with praise, they are thereby hallowed as the vessels of the tabernacle were hallowed--not because they were different from other vessels in quality or function, but because they were offered to God. A mother's part in sustaining the life of her children and making it pleasant and comfortable is no triviality. It calls for self-sacrifice and humility, but it is the route, as was the humiliation of Jesus, to glory.

To modern mothers I would say "Let Christ himself be your example as to what your attitude should be. For he, who had always been God by nature, did not cling to his prerogatives as God's equal, but stripped himself of all privilege by consenting to be a slave by nature and being born as a mortal man. And, having become man, he humbled himself by living a life of utter obedience, even to the extent of dying, and the death he died was the death of a common criminal. That is why God has now lifted him so high. . ." (Phil. 2:5-11 Phillips).

It is a spiritual principle as far removed from what the world tells us as heaven is removed from hell: If you are willing to lose your life, you'll find it. It is the principle expressed by John Keble in 1822:

If on our daily course our mind
Be set to hallow all we find,
New treasures still, of countless price,
God will provide for sacrifice.

"Anything, if offered to God, can and will become your gateway to joy." Elisabeth Elliott

Chaos and Order, and Main Things...

2009-08-15T13:50:00.006-05:00

It's amazing to me how fast things go from order to chaos. I was just reading that the natural tendency of everything in the universe is to move from order to disorder. I believe scientists call it "the law of entropy". How true it is with housework and even relationships. It's amazing how much of my day centers around keeping things orderly in my home and the relationships herein. Actually I would say that 95% or my time is spent on my house, my children, and my husband. Those are my priorities and it's amazing to me how much time, energy, thought, and effort those things take!

I get a free little magazine each month from Focus on the Family. It has great articles. Dr. Dobson was replying to a question about the natural progression of a marriage heading toward being more distant instead of more intimate. Dr. Dobson answered explained about the natural principle called "the law of disintegration" He writes..."the natural tendency is for husbands and wives to drift away from each other unless they work at staying together...it is as though they were sitting in separate rowboats on a choppy lake. If they don't paddle vigorously to stay in the same neighborhood, one will drift to the north of the lake, and the other to the south. That is exactly what happens when marital partners get too busy or distracted to maintain their love. If they don't take the time for romantic activities and experiences that draw them together, something precious begins to slip away. It doesn't have to be that way, of course, but the currents of life will seperate them unless efforts are made to remain together. I wish every newly married couple knew about the law of disintegration and actively protected their relationship from it."

How true it is. Life sometimes gets in the way of what is most important. Having Christ at the center of marriage is really the key to true unity and oneness...but even that takes work from both sides. Walking in communion w/ Christ and our spouse takes some forethought and consious effort...especially as life gets busier. Taking time to talk, even, takes T-I-M-E! Adding children and long work hours makes it especially pertinent to focus on those main things.

I've been more conscious the past couple days of really focusing on my children and the Lord, especially. Walking in communion w/ the Lord throughout my day has been something I'm seeking to do. I don't have lots of time to read. Somedays I'm able to snatch some time, if I wake up before everyone, but instead about getting distressed about my lack of Bible-reading...I've decided to look for a solution. For this season of my life, it's having the frame of mind to focus on Christ, regardless of whether I have my devotion time or not. Some days, it just doesn't happen. I don't always need more information, I just need to live out what I already know. Living in continual communion w/ Christ is my goal. Praying w/out ceasing(mostly silently), memorizing the Word and singing w/ my children has helped me set my focus on the Lord throughout my day.

I've also been reminded to really require first-time-obedience out of my kids. It is saving my sanity and my patience. I don't have to yell or get mad. After the first time they don't listen, or disobey,or whine...then I can calmly point out their disobedience and hand out the consequence. I've seen a lot of improvement just after a few days. But goodness, that takes constant diligence and lots of patience! I think a lot of times I get so focused on the job at hand, I don't notice that Samuel didn't obey what I told him to do and Madeline is into the "no touch" items again, and William is usually off getting into something. :) Reminding my 4 and 2 year old 5 times, get's old really fast and grates on me. It's that ability to prioritize my kids over the ever-important job I'm doing. "People over Projects", right?! Well,I'm working on it. ;) Easier said than done!

I'm also really been working w/ them on picking up after themselves and having them "help" me w/ housework. They think it's way more fun than playing w/ toys by themselves, plus I have the hope that they'll be doing these chores by themselves in a few years. I was explaining to Justin that to accomplish any given task takes twice as long and makes twice as much mess! That's ok, I'm wanting to teach my kids to have fun working and hoping to tie heartstrings w/ them at the same time.

Deep cleaning the bathroom was on my list to do this week. I had the shower and the floor left to do. I gathered 2 old coffee containers, filled them halfway up w/ water and put a scrubbrush in each one, and told the boys that they were going to help me wash the bathroom floor. They had a blast. We had lots of water on the floor, but it did get cleaned and they had fun "helping" me in the process. We did the same thing when I cleaned out the car. Goodness, I cannot believe how much stuff was in my car, that didn't belong there! While I vacuumed, the boys and Madeline washed the floor mats w/ the same containers and scrub brushes. It was nice to have them occupied and not wandering off in 3 different directions while I was in conquer mode. I think sucessful mothering is 75% creativity and thinking ahead.

My house is in continual need to cleaning and organizing. I pretty much stay up w/ the cleaning and tidying. It's the organizing part that really takes some time. I love to be organized and have everything in it's place. Right now, my closets and drawers are disasters. I keep thinking I'll go through and organize everything once the weather turns cold. I'm just not sure I can wait that long. It really eats at me. I guess I just haven't made it a priority because it makes a huge mess to organize and go through stuff and we've been doing lots outside. Keeping up w/ my garden and freezing sauces has kept me busy...too busy to organize closets or blog. Some months it's good if I have time to balance the checkbook and organize my pictures and write out checks!

So...here's to being disciplined enough to add the elbow grease it takes to manage a home well, train up children, and invest in marriage...all w/ God's grace and help.
*Happy Weekend* Monday's a new week! Yeah!

I luv date nights...

2009-08-13T21:46:00.002-05:00

...because I get to be w/ the guy I love most in the world! Tonight was a significant date night b/c I wore the dress I bought in Mexico on our honeymoon 4.5 years ago. Haven't fit into it for one reason or another. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it fit! I thought that I would end up wearing sundress #2...but I guess not! We even ate Mexican...yes, corny, I know...but I think it made Justin smile at the effort. What we do for a fun memory! Date night #479 was exciting...ate Mexican, shopped at Walmart and spent double of our grocery money budget(oops...I didn't just say that, did I?), got gasoline, and got a root beer float at dog-in-suds...I just like hanging out w/ my hubby...doing something exciting or fancy isn't always necessary. Talking and just being together is fun. Laughing like teenagers and being goofy is fun too! We were cracking up at Walmart. Hee... When we got home, it was back to reality. The babysiter-who will remain anonymous-took William's diaper off and forgot to put another on back on, and thus the puddle that happened on the desk while Justin and the boys were watching a video on you-tube. And just general chaos after arriving home w/ lots of groceries and 3 kids overly excited to see you. William acted like I'd been gone for 3 weeks...maybe I should leave more often. ;)

Madeline's 1st Birthday...

2009-08-07T07:15:00.004-05:00

Baby girl turns 1 today! I still remember my Mom waltzing into our house in the wee hours of the morning today of last year singing "Happy Birthday" to herself. She was thrilled that Madeline would mostly likely be born on her 49th birthday! Besides labor taking all day, everything went smoothly and we welcomed our little girl to our family at 5:04 p.m. August 7, 2008. Madeline has been such a delightful addition to our family. I love having a little girl around the house! It's caused me to be more aware of my example to her.

She woke up bright and early this morning. She doesn't have a clue that today she turns one. She and I have had some 1-on-1 time. The boys are still snoozing. :) We're going to a petting zoo and the sprinkler park today w/ some friends. Then, this evening when Justin's home, we'll have a lil' b-day celebration w/ just our family.

I'm still trying to figure out Madeline's personality. Sometimes she's very sober, and other times, jibber-jabbering and sociable. She plays very well by herself, and is entertained and toughened up by the boys. Her name means "strong woman"...Justin always says that w/ feeling, and a "watch out" attitude! I suppose w/ 2 older brothers, she will learn to be tough. ;) However, I pray that she will be a "strong woman" on the inside. That she would be made of real-stuff...strength and beauty that comes from knowing and walking with Christ. It's our prayer for Miss Madeline, that she would come to know Christ as her Savior, and follow Him all of her days. I have a feeling, that to survive w/ the Lord in her generation, she'll need supernatural strength to live for Truth and Righteousness. It's tricky in this generation and culture to live out godly womanhood...I can only imagine, then next!

I had these verses on my mind this morning, so I'm claiming these promises for my little girl, and praying that she will be an example of such things when she grows up...
"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your heats, to the which also you are called in one body; and be ye thankful." Colossians 3:12-15

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindeness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5-8

**I have some adorable pictures to upload, but I'm out of space...so if anyone knows how I can free up more space w/out paying $$...I'd be happy to know!**

Random thoughts

2009-08-05T22:09:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, we took the boys and Madeline on a near-2 mile hike, right before supper. Justin would't allow the boys to slow down or give in to a piggy-back-ride. William's short legs walked that whole way. And, you know what?? He went right to bed...well, only tried to get out once. After that, he conked out and slept soundly till 8:30 this morning! Hmm...I guess I need to do better at wearing him out! Those of you who know William, have heard of what a night owl he is. We're still trying to figure out how to induce sleep w/ him. He seriously goes and goes, then crashes and is out for 10 hrs!

Oh, while I'm on this random-subjected entry, I was wondering how other Moms organize their pictures. I seriously feel like pictures are hanging over my head! I like to get creative w/ "photo shoots" of the kids. I take a lot, and get so behind either blogging them, or uploading them to walmart.com and printing them. I got caught up in January. I was only 18 months behind! I did really well, till April...and haven't printed since then. It also gets expensive! So, what are your tips??

I made a big batch of spaghetti sauce today and a gallon of V8 Juice. (all homegrown, except the carrots and celery) I suppose I should say I made V7 Juice, since it had 7 different veggies, instead of 8. ;) I discovered the trick to making spaghetti sauce. Mine is always too watery. So, I drained the tomatoes overnight in colanders in the fridge. There was alot of clear liquid that drained out! (they were skinned and chopped) So, anyway...I put several gallon ziplocks in the freezer tonight.
I ordered another 40 lbs of blueberries. So I'm planning to go pick those up tomorrow as well as some goats milk, for William and Madeline. We're hoping next year we'll get some strawberries and blackberries of our own! We love growing our own food. It's nice to know where it came from and that it hasn't been sprayed. I'd like to make salsa...my cilantro is kinda over, though. My peppers are a little slow this year. Hmm...maybe in a few weeks. It was so rainy this year that some of my tomato plants didn't do too well. My Roma's are doing great. The plants look a little brown and wilty, but the tomatoes are great!
Hmm...well, that's pretty much all that's going on here. I'm trying to be consistent w/ exercising. It helps to have a walking partner or two. :) The kids and I are starting to memorize Psalm 23. We've been enjoying summer...and actually got to go swimming today, since it was hot enough! Bye for now!

anyone know?

2009-08-05T20:44:00.004-05:00

ok, so i'm not allowed to upload any more pictures, b/c my Picasa storage quota is filled. anyone aware of how to correct the problem? can i erase my pictures from Picasa? and get more storage that way? i didn't know blogger was connected w/ picasa. hmmm..any hints? oh...and i don't want to pay money to acquire more space. ;)

St. Louis Adventure...

2009-08-02T14:50:00.005-05:00

So, here are some picture from our St. Louis trip. Blogger is not allowing me to upload anymore, for some reason. I feel like I'm wasting my time to keep trying! But anyway...enjoy the new pictures!

Last weekend, Justin and I were still mostly asleep and he said to me, "Hey, let's take the kids to the St. Louis Zoo today. What do you think?" I was still trying to wrap my mind around Justin being so spontaneous, and said, "Sure, why not?!" Usually he's the one who has to research thoroughly, plan out the trip, etc... He also is a home-body on weekends, since w/ work, it's always GO-GO-GO. So, anyhoo...we packed up the kids and were on the road 50 minutes from when we woke up. That's pretty impressive for us. ;) It was a pretty quick trip, but it was fun to get away, just as a family. Justin had a full week, and the kids hardly saw him. We rode the train and the carasol, and hit the "majors"...the monkeys and the lions...and a few in between. We hit "Old MacDonalds" (the kid's fav) on the way home and the kids had a long nap on the ride home. We rolled in around 5:30; just in time for FPU!

An overview of July...

2009-07-31T22:43:00.017-05:00

So here's what we've been up to...

Last week, was the VBS progam at our church. I've haven't been involved in a community outreach, and it was a blessing to me to see the church body functioning together. I subbed for my sister for 2 days, since she was out of town. I had the 1st grade class, and wow, the potential there for God's kingdom! The kids were so sweet and cute. So many different personalities and creative minds! I loved the funny things they said. They were all so enthusiastic too!

Each of the activities tied into something in the lesson. The memory verse for the week was Joshua 1:9. I added actions to the verse, to help me and the kids remember it! That reminds me, I need to work on scripture memory this week with the kids. They're like little sponges, and I want to fill them w/ as much of the Word as I can! It's amazing to me, how easy it was to memorize scripture when I was little! I love the promise in Proverbs 6:20-23, where it says, "Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck. When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." So my job, is to get the Word into my children's minds, and I'll trust the Holy Spirit to use it to change their hearts.

A few of the teachers and helpers...

Getting ready for a game...
(goodness, doesn't Samuel look little?! a year or two really makes a difference. they allowed pre-schoolers who really wanted to come. Samuel was thrilled)

Madeline and I hung out in the nursery the other days, to keep an eye on Samuel and just to be around people. Justin had a crazy week, so the days seemed long! Being around all that energy helps!

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Library Hour was last week, for 3 days. Samuel and William had so much fun. There's a sweet lady from church who has done this project w/ the community children, since her son was little. Each day, the kids would listen to Miss Alison read a story, then they would do a craft, and then they would have a snack. I think the older ladies who work at the Library, enjoyed having so many children there. I'm so thankful for dear ladies who serve in this way. The last day, each of the kids planted a flower to take home.

Samuel was quite proud of all his crafts. I'm afraid his marigold bit the dust, while we were in Chicago for 2 days. We transplanted it, and it got a little too thirsty. Oh, well.

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2 weeks ago, Krista came down and played a wedding w/ me. We had a blast and got all our chatting in! My very sweet hubby watched 4 children under 3...including 2 1 year olds. When we checked in, he had the kids down by the creek in the wagon of the 4-wheeler. They were all excited b/c they saw a turkey. They had a blast and everyone stayed safe. ;) Krista and I stayed up late and watched a movie! (Flywheel: same producers as Fireproof. It was a good story line!) I never do that! :)

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The kiddos' friend, Alaina. We ate lunch at K & G's house a few weeks ago. Although we felt like we dined and dashed, we had a good time! We're planning to go on a double date soon!

I think Alaina was a little overwhelmed at the commotion the Goff kids brought to her world. Overstimulation might be a better word...

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Bountiful harvest. The kids love to help us harvest produce from the garden. Madeline and William will lug around big zuchinni or squash. There favorite tomatoes are the green ones. ;)

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Blueberry Picking...just South of town...we ended up w/ 7 gallons! The kids' buckets weren't too full...but their tummies were! I ended up ordering 40 more lbs from the Amish. We go through lots of blueberries throughout the year. They're easy to freeze and the kids and I eat them every morning for breakfast. Either on oatmeal or in a smoothie. Justin likes them as a snack in the evening...right out of the freezer. Yum!

The blueberries were huge this year! And big clusters too! Made for fast picking!

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Pre-school Finance Class :) Samuel's doing FPU Junior (www.daveramsey.com) He gets a commission (not an allowance) for his designated chores. He has 3 envelopes for his cash: Give, Save, and Spend. He's saving up for a new pop-gun. The chore chart helps me stay on track, and not do too much housework. It takes extra diligence to train the kids to pick up after themselves. I know in a few years, it'll pay off, though! It just seems like now, it takes twice as long. ;)

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Inside fun: Playdough! = BIG MESS!

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Catching some rays and relaxin'

Visitors...

2009-07-31T07:36:00.005-05:00

Well, I'm still having trouble uploading pictures. For some reason, the pictures from VBS last week, won't upload. So, anyway...we had fun last weekend w/ Justin's step-bro and family. We had fun visiting, playing, eating, and working...we did put them to work pulling onions. You know you're a city-slicker, if you think gardening is "fun". Hee. (actually, gardening is one of our hobbies...we like it!) They actually posed for that onion picture. Justin was teaching them the art of onion harvesting.

Uncle Brian helping Madeline ride her horse.

The boys had fun "camping out" in our room, on the floor. When Justin went to check on them, this is what he found. I'll use this as footage when they're older. ;)

"The Guys"...I meant to get a picture of "the girls" but forgot. Must've been too busy cooking or talking. Ha!!

Keep trying!

2009-07-29T15:02:00.002-05:00

I keep trying to upload pictures from the last couple weeks. For some reason, blogger is not letting me. So anyway...we've been busy! Hopefully there will be a picture post soon! For now, I'm freezing zuchinni puree for the freezer. The kids are down...for now. Better go get my stuff done!

Madeline and Dolly

2009-07-29T14:19:00.004-05:00

Pooltime!

2009-07-15T13:20:00.002-05:00

Here's Samuel and his friend, Krayten. They became friends 2 years ago and it's so fun to see them actually interacting w/ eachother. It seems like for a long while we'd have playdates, but they'd play separately. They entertained eachother, imagined they were swimming to "Chicago", and swam for a few hours.
Here they are on the "island" This is actually at Krayten's Grandma's pool. Lots of fun swim toys!
Madeline loves the water!

Where's William, you ask? Pulling security. He walks the perimeter, most times. Occasionally sticking is big toe in to test the temperature.
I feel like I have 3 at totally different stages: one very enthusiastic little swimmer, who always wants to swim in the "big pool", one who's scared to get in, and one who scares me b/c she's not afraid at all. Madeline actually dove into the baby pool 2 days ago. She was right next to me standing up and before I knew it, all I was holding onto was an ankle. She came out sputtering and crying....heart pounding wildly. Goodness!

Princess Room

2009-07-08T21:23:00.004-05:00

Awhile back, I promised pictures of the kid's newly decorated bedrooms. I think I may've posted about the boys', but I know I haven't put up any of Madeline's. I just finished it last week. I had been brainstorming about how to make a girly canopy over the crib. Finally, after several different tries, I used some sparkly tulle left over from the weddings and pinned it up w/ some white thumb tacks and string. I need to find some fishing line to replace the string. It may not be as noticable that way. Until then, string works. ;)

Madeline's name is above her bed...it's the same vinyl lettering that I have in my kitchen. Cool stuff! If you click on the picture, it will enlarge so you can see what it says.

The picture of the girl playing the piano is especially meaningful to me, since Justin gave it to me for my 19th birthday. I was hoping to use it in Madeline's room. Amazingly, the matte matched the wall color perfectly! I decided on the wall color after I picked out her bedding. I white-washed the frame, to match a little better.

The rocker was a garage sale purchase that my Mom made when she found out she was expecting my brother, Isaac. She handed it down to me, and Krista recovered it w/ "boy" fabric...blue plaid. Since Krista wasn't around in February, I took it upon myself to recover it. Looks great...just don't look behind the cushions. She's a seamstress, I'm not. I used some scissors and a glue gun. Hey...I figure, if I need to change it back to the blue, I'll just peel off the glued fabric. Yes...kinda funny, but it works! (You'll have to check out my job on that, next time you're down, K)

I saw these picture ideas in a magazine and thought it was cute. I bought 2 wooden skirt hangers from Walmart and 2 8 x 10 mattes. Tape the picture on, and waaalaa! Cheap way to display pictures...and handy to change out!

This is what you see when you walk down my hallway...looking into Madeline's room. I love the lighting in there 1st thing in the morning. It's especially welcoming to see a sweet face peeking through the slats or over the top rail. She's awake usually at the crack of dawn. ;)

The shelf in the middle, was an old shelf from when I was little. I used it in the boys' nursery. Now it's a basket shelf for Madeline. I painted all the baskets (the used to be orangy-colored) the same as the wall color. I also repainted the lamp and hot glued the matching valance onto the lamp shade. It worked out perfect, and definitely was way cheaper than the matching lamp that went w/ the bedding set!

2 Brothers + a Sister...

2009-07-07T19:45:00.003-05:00

Summertime Fun!

2009-07-07T16:18:00.004-05:00

The Celebrations Have Begun!

2009-07-02T14:24:00.002-05:00

In the Goff Household, there's at least several "parties" to celebrate a birthday. Since *everyone* has to be included in the celebration, we have to have a couple of them. Here's some footage from the first one...

Our Lil' Firecracker turns 2!

2009-07-01T15:16:00.012-05:00

...this was at the fireworks show...the day before he was born...looking awfully chipper!

William Noble came smiling, bouncing, screaming, & laughing into our lives on July 2, 2007. After a night and a day of labor, he was born at nearly 9 pm. We snuggled our bald-headed, scrunched little bundle and watched him look around the L & D suite. It seemed as if he was trying to decide what to make of his new surroundings and the world he was born into. I think from that moment, he decided life was to be one big party, and thus, was born...Mr. Cheerful. Now, to try and describe our second child with mere words, is um...impossible. You just have to know him. Be around him. Watch him operate. He's our child that make us look at him sideways. You know, the 2nd born. The extrememly special one. The one that makes you glad there are lots of child training books out there! We call him "Wild Bill" What a nickname for a blond-headed, smiley little 2 year old! He's the child we found happily riding his big wheel down our front hill one morning...and the child I found half-way up the grain bin the other day. (he was going to check on the baby birds, you know.) There wasn't even a hint of guilt on his face...just a big cheesy grin and loud laughter. That's what get's me about him...he could care less, about most things! I guess his motto is: "when in doubt...laugh!" (guess I need to do that more often!)

Perhaps it's this 2 year old stage, but William is either laughing hysterically, smiling w/ bucky-beaver teeth, or screaming. We are working on him. I know God has great things in store for him...we're just wondering what they are. His Daddy thinks he will either be in the Special Forces or the Circus. That's the kid I'm attempting to describe here.

He's our night owl. He's a great sleeper, once he falls asleep. Until then, it's go...go...go!! Usually he's still awake, staring at the ceiling, or talking to himself when we go to bed. He now knows it's in his best interest to stay in bed...at least when Mom and Dad are awake. He no longer wanders out of his bed. He usually comes strolling out of his bedroom with a big smile and his blankie around 8...sometimes close to 9 a.m. Yes...good thing he's not in school yet. He'd be getting lots of tardy slips!

William likes to play baseball and hit off the tee. When he runs, he usually does at least 1 face plant. It doesn't even phase him...he's off to the races as soon as he gets up.

Books interest him a lot right now. He does the ABC Bible Verse Book with Samuel and I every morning. We go word by word, and he repeats each verse after me. Sometimes we sing a song to go with the verse. He does a good job, especially considering that he just started talking the past month, or so. I've been amazed at his progress with his speaking. I was getting a little concerned at his lack of communication...besides sign language, and frustrated screaming. It's hard when he would try to tell me something and I had no idea what he was saying! He's all of a sudden started speaking in sentences and repeating lots of what Samuel says. He even has the same intonation and enthusiasm! The clarity of his speech still needs improvement. We know what he's saying, but I'm not sure anyone else would. Samuel tries to intepret for him. It's so hard not compare child #1 and child #2. They're SO different! I suppose I assumed every child I gave birth to would be like Samuel...not so. But, that's good! I'm realizing each one of my children are unique individuals with special talents, gifts, strengths, weaknesses, personalities, and needs. I'm glad God has made each one unique. Otherwise, life would be boring! ;)

William is loves his brother and his sister. I often see him hugging or kissing Madeline. Usually, he gets bullied by his big brother, but Justin warns Samuel of the day when William will be bigger than him and get sick of getting pushed around. Justin tells Samuel, "And I won't feel sorry for you, either...because you deserve it! William! Get Samuel." (that lecture followed by lots of laughing, tackling, and wrestling)

I think William's personality is a mixture of Justin's and my Dad's. Although I didn't know them as children, William is what I imagine them to have been like. In looks, he looks just like his Daddy.

My Dad mentioned to my Mom one day, "I can't wait till William starts talking, so we can find out what he's so happy about all the time!"

William:
I'm so thankful to God for giving you to us. I want to savor each day I have with my little boy. I know you will grow up fast. There's much to learn. May you love and look to Jesus for all things, all of your days. May God preserve your life. May you seek to honor him. Till you come of age to decide these things your Daddy and Mommy will be praying for you, teaching, training, and instructing you.

We love you, buddy. More than you will ever know.
Happy Birthday, Mr. 2 Year Old!!

Here's a promise I'm claiming for you:
"The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul. The Lord shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." Psalm 121:7-8

"Every kid is lazy, unless he is taught to work"

2009-06-20T15:04:00.002-05:00

Quote for our fridge this week:

“Our only permanent investment is in the souls of our children. Let’s not sacrifice our children on the altar of our perfectionism.

What is life really all about? Yards and homes and possessions are just a physical vanity, all destined to decay.

Our children are our masterpieces—our life’s spiritual work. They are the only works we will leave behind by which others will know who we were.” -M.P.-

...to read the rest of the article, click on the link "No Greater Joy" in my sidebar. The article is called "The Only Trophies"...

Happy Weekend!

Last Weekend

2009-06-17T22:27:00.006-05:00

Late Saturday afternoon, Justin and I headed out to attend his 15 year High School Reunion. Wow...that makes him sound old! I knew a few couples from a wedding I attended 5 years ago. Everyone else, I got to meet for the first time. It was nice to put faces with names, since Justin sometimes has "flashbacks" from High School. :) I think the 2 things I said all night were: 1. "Nice to meet you 2. "Oh My!" (there were lots of ...ahem...interesting stories w/ my hubby involved. ;)

Mom and the fam graciously watched our children till midnight, thoroughly entertaining them, spoiling them a teeny bit, and wearing them out. Thanks guys! Mom took the kids early enough for me to actually have time to leisurely get myself ready...I got my make-up on, and took the hairdryer AND the curling iron out! Woohoo! Here are a few pix Max shot right before we hoppped into the truck.

Here's an ol' buddy of Justin's. That's the only picture I got the entire evening. I was kinda surprised they didn't get a group shot. (maybe they were waiting for the boring fuddy-duddies to leave.;) Anyhoo...this guy and his wife are stationed in San Antonio, TX (he's in the Air Force) His wife and I had plenty to chat about, since they have 2 children under 3, and she plays violin. ;)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sunday, Justin's Mom and Lou came down for a visit! What fun it was to see them. The kids were so excited.

Janeen and "Little Justin"--I've gotta scan some old pictures of Justin. William looks identical!

The boys w/ Grandma Janeen. She bought them each a cute little baseball bat. So they can beat eachother up w/ them...oh, I mean, so they can play ball in the house, and practice getting home runs. They'll be in good shape for T-ball! Thanks, Janeen! :) (*grin*)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here are a few more pictures I edited from the past couple days...I loved the ones of Justin and Madeline. She's a Daddy's girl. If he talks to her, and tells her she's pretty, she starts to get all embarrassed and hides her face. It's so funny!

My kids seriously don't really play with their toys. They'd rather have a big bag of tools, kitchen utensils, or even, the dishwasher. I usually don't let the kids do this...but I was trying to get the kitchen cleaned up, and Madeline isn't as heavy as the boys. It did the trick...kept her entertained, we visited, and I got my kitchen cleaned! I had to grab my camera, to remember this memory.

Kiddos Picnic, Coffee Drinking, Dress-Up, Laundry, and etc...

2009-06-15T22:06:00.002-05:00

June Birthdays

2009-06-15T14:39:00.002-05:00

Happy Birthday, Papa Chris & Dad!!

Happy Belated Birthday, Grandpa Max!

Love, Justin & Megan, Samuel, William, & Madeline

Madeline: 10 months

2009-06-12T07:20:00.001-05:00

Madeline is 16 lbs., usually serious, very petite, likes table food, stands by herself, entertains herself easily, and has 1 tooth. Happy 10th month birthday, Sissy Girl!

Samuel's new stunt!

2009-06-12T06:36:00.005-05:00

Samuel is excited beyond words to be able to ride his bike without training wheels. He asked Justin to fix his chain and take the training wheels off last night. He and Justin practiced for a little bit. I was so surprised when he ran in to tell me he could ride his bike without the extra wheels. I thought it would take him a long time to learn how to do that! So here are a few pictures and a video to document this milestone. :)

*note: William [the "cheerleader"] in the background on his "clown bike" (ie. bike-w/-the-broken-wheel)

Guess who is 10 months old today?

2009-06-07T21:16:00.000-05:00

Tis the season...for asparagus!

2009-06-03T22:05:00.003-05:00

Did you know...

...that asparagus has been cultivated since ancient Greco-Roman times..and was originally hailed for it's medicinal properties?

It's a good source of rutin, a substance that prevents small blood vessels from breaking.

Medieval medicine valued asparagus for the treatment of heart palpitations and as a diuretic.

Asparagus is high in carotenoids, B Complex, folic acid, vitamin C and vitamin E, potassium, iodine and zinc.

I've been meaning to post some of our favorite ways to eat this veggie. We're blessed to have a farm nearby that grows it. (no chemicals, and super fresh!)

Spicy Asparagus:
Lay asparagus on a jelly roll pan...drizzle w/ olive oil...sprinkle w/ steak seasoning. Broil till bright green and hot.

Asparagus with Orange-Ginger Butter:
(this one is better than it sounds)
Steam 1-2 lbs of asparagus. Drizzle w/ this mixture:
1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. marmalade
1 T. ginger
1 T. balsamic vinegar (I used ACV, since I'm out of the other)

Garlicy Asparagus:
Saute several minced cloves of garlic in olive oil. Add 1 lbs of asparagus and cook till tender. Sprinkle w/ sea salt.

Scrambled Eggs w/ Spring Veggies:
(tonight's supper)

Saute green onions in butter. Add pre-cooked asparagus. Saute for a minute. Add egg mixture, sharp white cheddar cheese (shredded) or feta cheese, salt, pepper, and lemon thyme. Cook over low heat (that's the key! like #3 or 4) till cooked. Serve in a warm tortilla w/ a garden salad. Yum!!

My kids like it...we eat it hot or cold...it's even good steamed w/ a little butter and salt.

...family...and more family!!

2009-06-03T16:07:00.006-05:00

Everything about the wedding was beautiful...the bride and groom, the pastor's words, and the party afterwards. I kinda felt like I was on vacation (except that the love of my life wasn't able to be with me :( Krista and I (and the babies) shared a suite at the hotel...so we had fun catching up. The girls were up in the wee hours of the morning both nights, so it wasn't too sleep-ful. ;) All 4 of us ended up in the king size bed. Ha! You should've seen Gracie's expression when she saw Madeline and I in "her" bed! The girls got to swim too. It was Madeline's first time...ah...third child strikes again! I didn't even get 1 picture! All, in all, we had a great time. That makes 5 of us cousins married...and maybe more in the next few years!

Black and Whites...

2009-06-03T16:00:00.005-05:00

Wedding Pictures...

2009-06-03T15:26:00.002-05:00

We attended my cousin's Ashton's wedding this past weekend in Missouri. It was so fun to be with family...and of course, witness the vows between Ashton and Ryan. Last Christmas we were joking around w/ them saying that all the cousins had their first babies before the 1st anniversary...not sure they're on that plan, though. :) More pictures to come...

Very Busy Little People (and some goofy big ones)

2009-06-03T13:23:00.004-05:00

Such the 3rd child...

2009-06-03T13:16:00.003-05:00

Madeline can be happy she's #3. The boys NEVER would've had popsicles or cookies before age 1. It's not quite as easy to "hide" the treats when 4 people in the family are enjoying them. Madeline's diet is a little not-so-perfect as the boys'...but I don't think she minds. :)

Happiest Birthday...

2009-05-24T21:58:00.000-05:00

...to Auntie Leah...Hope it was a good one! Can't beat cheesecake w/ chocolate and strawberries!

Sunday Afternoon Naps...

2009-05-24T21:52:00.003-05:00

...Are the best!

I love to see my kids sleeping, and couldn't resist taking these sleeping pictures.

We've had a restful weekend, after a crazy week. Justin took the boys camping in the backyard...they're too funny! (he forgot to position the tent away from the security light...hope he gets some zzz's)

What we did today...

2009-05-20T22:00:00.002-05:00

Justin got home around 9:30 pm, so it's been a super-long day for him. (he left around 5:30 am) I'm tired too, so I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. My friend, Kelsey, and I hear the funniest things as we walk around town w/ the kids. Someone asked us yesterday if we had a daycare. :) Not quite. :)

friends..

2009-05-18T09:58:00.001-05:00

...a few thoughts...

2009-05-17T13:25:00.007-05:00

Back in the early 1920's there was a doctor who realized that surgeries could be performed with a local anesthetic instead of putting a patient completely to sleep. This type of surgery was unheard of back then, and no one would volunteer to be the "guinea pig". The Dr. realized that he had performed nearly 4000 appendectomies, so it was a common procedure for him to undertake. One day, he finally had a willing participant. The patient was prepped and wheeled into surgery. The Dr. performed the routinue surgery with a local anesthetic and an awake patient. The next afternoon, the patient was up and about, recovering well. (Before this "new" type of surgery, the normal recovery time was over a week in the hospital) The patient who was brave enough to be the "guinea pig" was the Dr. himself!
[The Pastor used that story to illustrate the spiritual surgery he challenged us to do on ourselves this morning during the sermon.]

"Ye are the salt of the earth; but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men."

I was very encouraged by the preaching this morning. (maybe b/c I was in the front row and had no children to wrestle this morning. :) Matthew 5:13-16 were the verses of discussion. The need for Christians to be salt and light was the theme. Here are a few points from my mental notes I took. :)

~We are called to be salt. What is salt? It's a preservative, a seasoning, a purifier...

~We (those who have Jesus in them) are the light of the world. That's an amazing thought, that as we allow Jesus to take the throne in our hearts, he, instead of us, shines through. In our actions, words, responses, and choices. Whoa...I see a lot of Me in myself, instead of Him!

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

~The Bible says that our faith shouldn't be personal-a keep.it.to.yourself.faith- Our lights (the Light of Jesus) should shine before men/the world. And it's not for our glory, but that glory may go to Jesus

~I need to rid myself of ritual and routinue (yes, my kids help out in that area!) in my Christian walk, and get authentic. Get to practically applying what I already know! Realize that Life is in the little things...my actions, my responses, my attitude.

~People are either influenced positively for negatively by how we live our lives. This is imperative that I realize this, because we (Christians) are carrying Christ's name with us. Am I bringing Him honor or shame in how I conduct my life?

~The statistics show that "Christians" have the same alarming statistics as non-Christians. (for divorce, teen pregnancy, lying, cheating, etc.)

~Am I authentic in my Christianity...meaning, am I genuine? the real deal? What would those who know me best say? What about those I barely know? Would they see Jesus in me?

~Am I salty? Am I a light?

~The major challenge I came away with, was...How am I being a salt and light to my children? They are unsaved little sinners. I have been given these children to train and teach! Do they see Jesus in me? It's so easy to operate daily in "the flesh" and let the "real me" spew out instead of Jesus. This week, I'm going to focus on being more intentional in my responses with the little ones God has intrusted to me. If I fail to lead them to Jesus (even in the daily things), in what I tell them, and what I exemplify, I have failed at my most important task. Who cares if I lead others to the Lord, but loose my own children, because of neglect, ignorance, selfishness, or lack of vision. Do my children see Jesus in me? Or do they see me as a complaining, crabby, impatient mother. It is my desire to live an authentic relationship with Jesus, and that my passion for and the work of Jesus in me, would stir in them a desire to want Jesus in their own lives.

Thank goodness, for grace, mercy, and truth. I'm thankful that God answers prayers and that he is the God of second chances. I certainly don't want my children to ride of J and my "coattails" of Christianity. When God knocks on the door of their hearts, I pray that they would allow Jesus to be their King...that they will allow Jesus to be their Master and Lord.

~Thanking the Lord, today for a refreshing perspective and a clearer vision.~

Pressing on with joy and enthusiasm!
~m.e.g.~

"Take time to be holy,
The world rushes on;
Much time spend in secret,
With Jesus alone;
By looking to Jesus,
Like Him thou shalt be;
Thy friends and thy conduct,
His likeness shall see."
W.D.L

4 Generations...

2009-05-14T13:23:00.007-05:00

Justin and I have grown up in a generation where peer-segregation has been a popular thing. Preschool, public school, & youth group, captializes on peer segregation. About midway through my growing up years, my parents noticed the negative side of peer-segregation and encouraged us kids to venture out of such segregation. They provided opportunities for us to be involved with people of various generations. Thus, our social circles and various entreprenurial work venues began to include others of all ages. I'm blessed to have friends both older and younger than myself. Personally, younger people refresh me and older people inspire me.

(I realize Justin blinked, but it was much cuter of the kids! sorry honey!)

There's an older lady in our church, whom Justin (esp.) has befriended. This sweet older woman has developed the art of no-bake cookies, of which Justin is quite fond of. Thus, an immediate bond: she likes to cook 'em; he likes to eat 'em! After a potluck a few weeks ago, Justin was invited to a "Scotch-A-Roo No-Baking Lesson", with Mrs. Southards, as the instructor. He was to meet at her house on Tuesday evening at 7, and was to bring a 9 x 13" pan along. (I tagged along as the photographer and child-chaser)

First, she made a batch and had him watch. Then he made a batch by himself, with her overseeing.

While we were there, we learned the story on this little chair. The chair belonged to Mrs. Southard's grandmother and was thrown from an upstairs window of their burning house. It was the only thing salvaged from the fire and was obviously well made to weather that fall without breaking! The kids had fun sitting in it!

On his way home from work, he mentioned to his friend, Kyle, that he had a hot date. Kyle asked where he and I were going. Justin had to break the news to him that he wasn't going on a date w/ his wife...it was some other lady. Immediately, the tone of the conversation changed, as Kyle expressed his concern. After explaining that it was a harmless baking lesson with Mrs. Southards, I think he was a bit jealous. (Kyle is an outstanding cook/baker)

Although, still true to his self-entitlement, Justin still has never baked in his life. Yet, he is able to say that he is now not only the grill master, but also master of the Scotch-A-Roo NOBakes!

I taste-tested a teeny-weeny corner of it, just to make sure they were good, while Justin was putting the boys to bed. They were terrific! He brought the rest of them to work. The guys told him that they understood now why he kept me around. He proudly informed them that it was he who had whipped up such a delicacy. I'm not sure he ever got those construction guys convinced...although, they sure enjoyed them, as the empty pan testified!

So, that's the story of our delightful evening spent with Mrs Southards, and now, our new ability to made the deliciously scrumptious cookie-bar: The Scotch-a-roo!

...a rare evening...

2009-05-13T21:43:00.000-05:00

...a friend from college gave a concert at UI last week. Despite the craziness before I left the house, I managed to make it there in one piece. I really wanted to get "dolled up", but I had very little time to get ready. Makeup and some perfume had to do! But, what a refresher that was to sit in a beautiful concert hall and listen to a very entertaining and beautiful recital, sung by my friend, Courtney. She has been blessed with a gorgeous voice and won a big award last summer and is singing at Carnegie Hall in June.

Lil' Visitor...

2009-05-13T13:57:00.004-05:00

Madeline and her little friend, Alaina. They both have the same middle name: Hope. They don't exactly play together yet, but I'm sure they will pretty soon! Madeline just likes to grab the toys away, and Alaina likes to chew on them.

(I actually think that Alaina was a little scared of Madeline.) *smile*

Justin's b-day pictures...

2009-05-09T15:03:00.004-05:00

Samuel is at such a fun age. He loves birthdays. He was pretty pumped about Justin's "Party" we had for him last night.

William loved the blueberry pie. Actually, we all did!

Madeline included!

We "made" Justin's favorite food: Fried Chicken! (I pretended like I made it...took it out of the box and put it in one of my dishes...hee!) He also loves homemade apple pie. I thought I had apple pie mix in the downstairs freezer, but I realized yesterday, that I only had blueberries. So we improvised. The improvisation turned out wonderfully. I think I have a new favorite dessert. Can't beat homemade pie crust! It was yummy. I remember now, why I hadn't made a pie in a while. It takes some time!

Here's all of us at the dinner table. (usually we dine at the island...but we're quickly outgrowing it!)

Our attempt at self-portrait-family-pictures. Kinda goofy. Like the one of the boys' expressions. We were laughing so hard...there were only about 5 re-takes. Ahh...memories!

So, that's the conclusion of J's b-day celebration. Next one up, in our family, is William. Samuel and I will have to start planning. ;)

the kiddos

2009-05-09T14:58:00.002-05:00

My 9 month old Sweetie:

How 'bout a picture of all three...well...maybe not.

(william was eating a pretzel and yelling for the balloon I was holding. they didn't turn out that great, as you can see. Oh, well. )

Happy Birthday...

2009-05-08T09:52:00.002-05:00

Happy 33rd Birthday to Justin [Hubby & Daddy]

The kids and I have some "plans" to make it a special day for Justin. We're headed out for a walk, right now. When we get home, we'll head out to go shopping and put some of our creative ideas together.

Goodbye Winter...Hello Spring!

2009-05-01T14:10:00.007-05:00

So, the past few weeks I've been using my extra time to get organized around here. While these tasks used to take me a few days of mega organization, they now take several weeks...and I'm still not done. I have to do most of the jobs when the kids are sleeping, so either very early, very late, or during naptime. Thankfully, Mom wisked the boys away for a morning, so I could go through my scary closet and sort through tubs and tubs of clothes. I was so thrilled w/ the feat of putting winter clothes away, and taking spring/summer clothes out! It's funny that a person can get such a high from something so mundane. Oh well. I thought I was running out of storage space too, until I organized. Now, everything is in it's place, the tubs are organized, all the infant stuff is packed away. Nice! I feel like I'm entering a new stage, without a tiny infant and being non-pregnant! All the adorable infant clothes and maternity clothes are packed away or loaned to friends. There's a certain satisfaction I feel about "graduating" from that stage, at least for now. A sense freedom, I suppose...yet, at the same time I was sad about packing all the baby-baby things away. Madeline had a blast exploring around all the interesting looking things. She's my lil' sidekick. ;) My next spring cleaning project around here is my windows (both inside and out...I think the insides are worse...ha!) and finishing my woodwork.

We planted our garden about 2 weeks ago. Just the early things...like onions, garlic, spinach, lettuce, beets, and peas. Justin and I are excited about landscaping...we love to talk about future plans. I'm not sure if it'll happen this year, but it's fun to plan! Justin has to do some drainage work and grading first. I'd love to put a white picket fence around my house w/ lots of flowers! Besides doing lots of organizing and cleaning, we've been gardening and spending all the time we can outside. We tend to eat later and put the kids down a bit later, since the days are longer and the weather is so pleasant. All the boys want to do, is be outside. They love dirt and mud.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Madeline has been mobile all month! She started crawling right before she turned 8 months. She's now standing up to things and will stand all by herself. I'm impressed w/ her sense of balance. As I remember, the boys were a bit clumsier. ;)

I suppose these pictures don't do her cuteness justice...I just grabbed the camera, so I wouldn't forget what a little honey she is. She's so tiny, in real-life. And too little to be doing this already. My baby is growing up!

She'll stand at the window for a long time and watch the trucks, cats, and other moving things or people.

She gets to bouncing with excitement, if she spots the boys or Daddy (or Grandma Bobbie)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Gracie celebrated her first birthday on April 11. She loved her presents and all the auntie/uncle/cousin attention. The only thing she did NOT like was her cupcake. Tsk, tsk, Gracie...you come over to Auntie Meg's, and I'll teach 'ya how to enjoy yummy things like cupcakes, and Ghiradelli chocolate, and other treats. ;) (that's what aunties are for, shh...don't tell the boys!)

Gracie's 1st Birthday...lots of family to celebrate with!

Missy and Mommy [my, she's exited about birthdays, huh?! i actually think she was wondering what was plopped on her head!]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Auntie Leah and Madeline

Easter Egg Hunts...fun, fun!

Guys, you get so little press...here you go. ;)

Justin's encouragement

2009-05-01T06:59:00.007-05:00

"Patience is where love & wisdom meet." (he said he read that recently)

And, to all of you Mom's out there w/ young children, I thought you'd appreciate the note he left me the other day.
How apropos! He knows what I'm up against! Like...

This!!
;)
...and this...(Madeline apparently forgot that the cds are "no touch" items)

Wow! Messes happen instantly around here. I can have the whole house clean, and when I turn around, it can look like this! Justin reminds me of the Proverb that says..."Where there are no [children] the house is clean." (that's his version) :) Most days I'm running from 1 mess to the next. The kids and I do usually have the house restored to order by the time Justin comes home. Disorderliness messes with my brain, if it stays around too long. I love to organize, plan ahead, and have my ducks in a row. (good luck, you say, huh?! ;) I'm workin' on that!

My sweetie

Can't you just hear the noise??

My cool dudes...Samuel is really into his new shades. ;)

~I've been busy around here with spring cleaning, so I haven't taken time to post anything. I have some cute pictures, I'll put up of the kids. We've spent lots of time outside, since it's been so nice.~

~Samuel went to work with Justin today. They were going to pump water off of a job. Samuel was beyond thrilled to go to "work" He was even more pumped that I sent his breakfast in Daddy's lunchbox...he made sure I sent 2 of everything so there would be one for him and Daddy. ;)

Happy May Day! (My lil' night owl (guess who?!) is still snoozin', and Madeline just layed down for a nap (she was up a lot last night!) so I'm going to go crack open my Bible...wow, this is a treat!

Have a great weekend!

"Sacrifice is the ecstasy of giving the best I have to the ones I love most." a.w.

...Wholesome Words...

2009-04-19T22:49:00.002-05:00

"A word spoken fitly is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" Pr. 25:11

"He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life; but he that opens wide his lips shall have destruction." Pr. 13:3

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life..." Pr. 15:4

"He that hath knowledge spareth his words...Even a fool, when he holds his peace, is counted wise; and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding." Pr. 17:27-28

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..." Pr. 18:21

"He that keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Pr. 21:23

"She opens her mouth with wisdom and in her tongue is the law of kindness." Pr. 31:26

"Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God...therefore let thy words be few." Ec. 5:2

"The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious..." Ec. 10:12~Just some verses that I was looking at this afternoon. I need to listen more, and speak less!

Intentional Motherhood...

2009-04-17T14:18:00.002-05:00

There's an excellent talk on motherhood on www.reviveourhearts.com
It's encouraging and challenging. Just wanted to pass that along.

I couldn't choose just 1...

2009-04-10T13:16:00.000-05:00

Pretty in Pink

2009-04-09T23:06:00.002-05:00

I'm so thankful to have a little girl...

Boys...

2009-04-09T22:56:00.003-05:00

When the boys break out in a fight, Justin always reminds them that they're going to need eachother, someday. And, that they best not fight eachother! I like these photos, b/c they remind me of my boys being best buddies.

"As iron sharpeneth iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend." Proverbs 27:17

...my such personalities! Maybe I think these are funny, just b/c I'm their Mom. :)

Oh, to have captions for each one!

Easter Pictures: All 3

2009-04-09T22:51:00.002-05:00

Please help me decide which 1 or 2 are the best...

So glad I captured these little "moments", for memory's sake.

THE most STRESSFUL photo session...

2009-04-09T15:18:00.002-05:00

So, today was "Easter Photo Session Day" I knew it would be tricky, but goodness, I was so stressed-out by the end. My sister, Therese, came over to help them smile. Instead, she got them all wound up. William was extremely squirmy and generally doesn't stay in 1 place more than a few seconds (much less look and smile, too), Samuel was being wild and silly, and Madeline was fussy, because she was missing her morning nap.

Something should've tipped me off after William threw his oatmeal bowl on the floor and shattered it. And also after William got out of the tub, left a puddle on the kitchen floor (that was not bath water) and aparently had to go potty, but made it as far as the living room carpet and the bathmat. I heard him laughing about something, and ran to check on them. Yeah...ahem... Didn't they know it was "Picture Day" not "Let's-Stress-Mommy-Out-Day?"

So, I did finally get their clothes ironed, got them dressed, and fixed their hair. Therese sang silly songs, got out every noise-maker I have in the toy box, and expended lots of energy to get them to look AND/OR smile. I.think.it.worked. The best pictures I got of the boys was in the old recliner that spins. Yeah, Therese got creative. She'd spin, stop, and they'd smile...you know, the REAL, genuine smiles. So, thanks to my fun sister, I did manage to get some cute ones. I'll post them soon! And, I need votes on which ones are the *best* (printable)
Whew! Hopefully this will get easier?!!!!! Now, off to make dinner (I have guests coming), start some laundry (it has babies during the night), and put together my ransacked house! Oh, and take a shower...yes, that would be lovely! :)

Busy!

2009-04-07T22:41:00.003-05:00

My lack of posting the past couple of weeks was made up in one day! So here's what we've been doing...

I visited my Grandparents and my sister, Krista, recently. We've had dr., hair, eye, and dentist appts. We've also been busy w/ : a wedding, a birthday party, a playdate, having friends over for dinner, accompaning the church choir, some clothes shopping(that's a whole 'nother post!), a few dates, and nice weather (here and there) When it's nice outside, we enjoy it!

Last week was super busy! I'm used to staying home, and venturing out 1 x a week for errands and groceries. I think I scheduled all my appts last week! It's amazing how adding 1 or 10 more things to your day or week, really throws off the routine! I kept thinking last Friday, was Monday...catch-up day! I try really hard to stay organized and plan ahead. And, with the kids, stay consistent w/ a routine. I have a big to-do list for this week, so I'd better get to bed. Lots to do tomorrow!

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us; and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it." Psalm 90

Wild Ones...

2009-04-07T22:18:00.006-05:00

Whatever Justin undertakes, he does it to a T...top-notch...the-give-it-all-ya-got, type of guy. So, here is Daddy, building the bestest lego tower, er, I mean, Hotel. It's serious business. Note: the "helper" in the background.

She sure thinks somethin's funny!

These 2 pictures are for my Auntie Lisa...she'll get a kick out of them--for sure!

William LOVES shoes...doesn't matter if they're his, or not...or even if they're too big, or "girl" shoes. He loves to drag them around the house.

Here's what we were doing this morning, while getting dressed. "Hide and Seek"...hmmm...wonder where they are? Can you tell how much fun they were having?

Try as I might, my kids jump on the beds. Yes...I know, they're monkeys! I put an ax to that pasttime once it gets dangerous. :) They're boys...what-to-do?!

Can you believe I caught William in a quiet moment? Silence usually indicates a BIG MESS. I was relieved to see him reading his fav. truck book, while riding his steed.

Any ideas what they were up to here?

Madeline is 8 months old TODAY!

2009-04-07T14:34:00.006-05:00

Yesterday, my Mommy caught me standing up, looking into the boys' drawers. Standing up!!! My Mommy can't believe her baby is doing that already!

I'm learnin' to crawl...although I'm not in high gear...yet! Gotta start keeping up w/ those boys.

Busted! I was supposed to be taking my morning nap, but instead, thought it would be more fun to sing songs to myself and start standing up in my crib.

Last week, I went to the Dr's. I weighed 14 lbs. 13 oz...my Mommy doesn't remember how long I measured...OOPS! I was in the 10% for weight and 75% for height.

I'm a good eater...all table food now. None of the yucky stuff anymore. (ie. baby food)

I have a very feminine voice, compared to my brothers. I like to sing, "da, da da" (in an adorable sing-songy voice) I can say "Ma, Ma" too.

I like to suck on puzzle pieces and chew on books. I'm following in my brother, William's footsteps.

~My Mommy has been super busy the past 2 weeks...that's why ya'll haven't seen too many pictures. :) ~

Visit with Grandpa & Grandma, Krista & Gracie

2009-04-07T14:21:00.001-05:00

Madeline and Grace

2009-04-07T13:43:00.001-05:00

A King Size Bed...a worthwhile investment...

2009-04-07T13:10:00.001-05:00

...and after that night, a guarantee of a bad night's sleep!

Celebrate!

2009-03-21T22:04:00.004-05:00

Our nephew, Owen, turned 2 today! Wow! Time flies. We buzzed up to meet him, soon after he was born. I thought these pictures were so cute!

Connor and Samuel look so little! (And William was just a "bump" on my tummy:)

The big 2 year old, with his Mommy

The cousins, Aunties, and Uncles...

Happy Birthday, Buddy!

Visit

2009-03-21T21:49:00.003-05:00

Our Auntie Becky and Cousin Alyssa came and visited us last week! We had lots of fun with them. Yeah, our Mom and Dad stayed up till around 1 am chatting and cracking up. When Auntie Becky and Daddy get to laughin'...it's pretty funny! We got to sleep on the floor in our Daddy and Mommy's room. Madeline was so excited that they were here, she didn't fall asleep till 2:30 am. Ahh...those Aunties!

We had fun hanging out and showing Becky and Alyssa our tricks. William actually chipped his front tooth by trying out one of his newest stunts: his super-duper somersault. Bummer, huh. Oh, well, it'll fall out, eventually.

Ok, the rest of you, Aunties, when are you going to come have a sleepover? The pressure is on!

Just ask Auntie Leah

2009-03-21T14:32:00.002-05:00

So, this is what a girl does when she doesn't have any hair! (My Nana loves headbands on little girlies!) Just ask my Auntie Leah. She knows all about headbands and bonnets!

Happy Weekend!

Ok, so I had to post this...

2009-03-17T13:53:00.003-05:00

If you're lacking in motivation for cooking, I just found a great site! This lady ("pioneer woman") not only cooks, but she's a photographer too. I didn't have much time to peruse her site, but it looks fabulous and full of fun ideas. I LIKE pictures, when it comes to cooking. (makes it look so easy!) My sis was saying that this lady just finished a cookbook and also does some things for SouthernLiving. WARNING: do not look at this site on an empty stomach!
www.thepioneerwoman.com

My Newest Invention...

2009-03-14T15:36:00.002-05:00

Honey Bunches of Oats:

3 c. small oats
1.5 c. rice krispies
1.5 c. cornflakes
1/2 c. slivered almonds
1/4 c. sesame seeds
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
2 T. flaxseeds
1 c. honey
1/2 c. olive oil

Mix together, spread on a cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees, till 1st signs of golden brown. Take out of oven and cool. (it will crisp up as it cools) Store in fridge.

excerpts...

2009-03-14T14:31:00.004-05:00

~Oh, just some things I've been re-reading and reminded of...

"The world is a powerful, unrelenting undertow, pulling children to destruction. Looking at statistics alone, the probability is overwhelmingly against their moral survival. The training parents give and the wisdom they impart can make all the difference in their outcome. You hold an eternal soul in your hands. You cannot afford to give in to weariness, indifference, laziness, or careless neglect. God chose you two as the parents of these children!"

"Fathers and Mothers, you are the window through which your young child understands God. A child learns the character of God by observing it in his parents. Parents don't have the be perfect; just be a balanced representation of God's personality."

"...As the child relates to the figurehead of parental authority, in like manner he will later be prone to relate to God. If parents allow their commands to be treated lightly, the child will take the commandments of God lightly also."

"...those disciplined to lovingly obey their earthly fathers are more ready to obey their Heavenly Father."

Tying Strings:
~First and foremost, look at your children with pleasure, and smile at them. Bathe them in facial expressions of pleasure adn satisfaction.

~Enjoy their company, and demonstrate it by inviting them to go w/ you when the only reason is a desire to have them with you. For the very young, look at pictures or read a book together."

~Sit on the floor and play. Tumble and roll, laugh and tickle.

~Take them on outings of adventure, excitement, and "danger"

~If they can walk, they can carry in groceries. Brag on their achievements.

The idea is for them to feel that they are very special to you, and for them to know that you find great satisfaction and delight in sharing with them. If you order your life so your children feel needed, they will desire to walk in harmony with you."

New Site...

2009-03-11T13:32:00.002-05:00

Hey Moms!! I just found this great website for saving $$. It's www.neverpayretailagain.net

There's a way to get 2 pkg Huggies Diapers and 1 pkg of wipes for $11. So if you're interested...you may want to check out the site!

Happy Birthday!

2009-03-09T08:10:00.009-05:00

Today is my baby sister's 5th birthday! I was 21 and finishing my last semester of college when she was born, late on March 9th. All of us girls were in the delivery room + my dad. We got a good laugh when we found out that all the nurses decided my Dad was a lawyer. He had rushed Mom up to the hospital and was still in dress clothes, from a seed corn luncheon. He does look pretty dapper in all the pictures. :) Evangeline was a chubby, round faced 8 pounder.

Eva is named after two great-grandmas: Eva Miller and Rose Marthaler. She's the caboose on the end of the family and definitely the exclamation point. I've seen a huge change in her the past year. She's definitely calmer and has learned how to handle her frustrations: by communicating. :)

She and Justin became best buds after the infamous Lasagna Plate Throwing Night. Now she will eat lasagna, no questions asked, w/ a smile and her bro-in-law. And, don't think she'll ever try that one again.

Eva's all girl. She loves to paint her nails, and even got a manicure for her 5th birthday. (the bonus to having older sisters) She loves to sing loudly and make up the words. She reads fluently and is raising our eyebrows w/ her ability on the piano. (guess that Mozart Effect has some truth to it, huh?)

At the tender age of 18 months, Eva became an Aunt. She actually takes her position very seriously, though I don't think she really thinks of herself as an Aunt. Maybe more like "cousins." She, Samuel and I-man are the 3 musketeers. She's also a very good policewoman, when it comes to making sure Samuel and William tow the line. She's a fun auntie, and will have fun introducing her lil' neices to dolls, house, and dress-up soon!

We're so glad you're in our family, Evangeline! Life would definitly have been pretty boring and sleepful w/ out you. :)

Happy, Happy Birthday!
Love,
Justin and Megan
Samuel, William, and Madeline

Smoothie Recipe

2009-03-08T13:44:00.000-05:00

1 c. frozen blueberries
1/2 c. pineapple
1 banana
3 cups orange juice

Blend in a blender till smooth. I like to add several spoonfuls of yogurt, for extra creaminess. These are great bedtime snacks or breakfast drinks...and much healthier than ice cream. ;-)

laughs

2009-03-06T11:54:00.001-06:00

...so I had to post these funny pictures of my Nigerian relatives...

An update of sorts

2009-03-05T06:43:00.004-06:00

I've been bad at taking pictures since our Florida trip...I suppose because we've been busy with projects and I took my fair share of pictures on the trip. I just uploaded 330 pictures to Walmart.com to print. I've vowed to keep up w/ printing pictures, since I got 18 months behind and just caught up in January.

I promise to post pictures soon of our renovations soon. I gotta have Justin help me hang up some pictures and move the curtain rod in Madeline's room. But, when we officially get "done", I'll show you all what we've been up to! I really like how they turned out!

Now, I'll shock you guys again by posting this picture of my 6 month old, going potty on the potty! Yes, we're trying infant potty training this time around. Hey, I'm willing to at least try it! I get the heeby-jeebies when my kids hit around 1 yr. old...when I'm changing MY OWN CHILDREN! (that's bad when you're the mom, and think it's gross!) SO, my sister has had w/ success w/ Gracie, so I thought I'd try it w/ Madeline. I had heard of it before, but thought, "Yeah, right, that's for people w/ 1 kid, who do nothing but wait around for their child to have to "go". Well...I've realized that it's not my 100% consistency and you don't have to start when they're newborns. But you start conditioning them to realize that going potty on the potty is the "norm", not in their diaper. Hopefully I won't have to "untrain" this time.

Having Justin home for a few weeks was a huge blessing! He's never been home for more than a 3-4 day weekend our whole married life! Yeah...hopefully the next baby comes during his "slow season". That'd be glorious to have him around for several weeks, instead of days! So...he's been doing lots of projects w/ the boys, helping my dad on the farm, & helping me do my honey-dos. And, I might add, that we've been gloriously off-schedule! I am happy for a routinue, once again!

We've been just enjoying each day of life we have together. With the passing of Justin's Grandpa and a 26 year old friend, we've realized that each day is a gift and tomorrow is promised to no one. We have a more sober perspective on life, and what we're here for. With the state of our economy, the culture, our country, and the world we live in, it's been an eye opener for us to concentrate on the important stuff: God, the Bible, teaching our children, fortifying our marriage, being wise w/ our finances, investing in relationships, praying, & serving others. We've been reading through a book about the end-times. Wow, that's interesting. For the 1st time in history, all the major players are set! It's exciting to be living during this time in history. I have to keep reminding myself that God has not given me the spirit of fear. That's what I tend to do, when I start reading through Revelation. The good thing is, that I'm on the Lord's side, so really, there's nothing to fear. I guess it's just the "unknown" part that gets me. ;) Yes, and it's good to be reminded, so we can live preparedly. Several things I've been reading have said that the Rapture can take place any time. It says in the scripture (corinthians) that it will happen "in the twinkling of an eye" It's a reminder, that's for sure!
"Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last"

So, there's an update w/ some picture for you. I'm ready for warm weather!

I'm eatin'!

2009-03-05T06:39:00.002-06:00

I'll be 7 months on Saturday and I love to eat! I remind my Mommy of Samuel, when he was a baby. I eat everything my Mommy gives me...even peas, green beans, and avocado! I'm a big girl! Oh, and I like smoothies too. My Dad makes them and they're excellente'!

Wild Bill

2009-03-05T06:35:00.000-06:00

So here's what my 20 month old has been up to!

for my Aunties

2009-03-05T06:30:00.002-06:00

Hi Aunties...

Come visit me soon!

My Aunties keep me stylin'

My Aunties like to give me smooches (esp. Auntie Becky!)

I miss you!

Love, Madeline

random

2009-03-02T14:45:00.002-06:00

So, time for another post. Justin is back to work...time for a routine again. Mondays are full days. Weekend recovery mode, ya know. The boys and I did "school" this morning, read lots of books, started laundry, tidied up, and played. Madeline takes a few naps still, but in between those, she likes to sit in the middle of the living room and just watch everyone. And smile a big cheesy grin when I walk by her. I've been working on a meal for some friends, while the kids are taking naps. I almost burned the cookies! I have been really bad about taking pictures, recently. I have a few on the old camera. I'm ready for spring to come. It was 15 degrees this morning. Brr! Justin and I have been re-painting the kids' rooms. They've done a switch-a-roo. I have also been working on my white woodwork, which has needed to be finished since we moved in 4 years ago! Wow, the parts I've done look so much better! It's very tedious work, though. Not much to report, really.

M~

Playdate with friends...

2009-02-21T08:52:00.001-06:00

Samuel, William, and Madeline had fun playing at Micah's house yesterday. Lots of kids 4 and under and only 4 moms! ;)

Makin' some friends...

2009-02-20T21:29:00.003-06:00

It is not my intent to use our family blog for controversial issues, however, since I have opened a can of worms & accidentally lit some people's hair on fire by posting the quote below, I will attempt an explanation.

Our beliefs do line up with the quote I posted, hence our plan to homeschool our children. I merely thought the quote, stretching and thought-provoking. Also, I thought that I should clarify that the quote is pointing toward the philosophies and ideologies of the public school SYSTEM. If you read the quote, in context, it, in no way, slams the individuals who are IN public school.

If you disagree with the quote, that's fine. I believe we can lovingly agree to disagree. Aparently sticking to mundane subjects like laundry and diaper changes, soothes the palate a little better. ;)

--Just an lil' housewife lookin' to add some spice to life--

Quote of the day...

2009-02-19T21:37:00.002-06:00

I just read this on Vision Forum/Doug's Blog...

"If you believe that education is neutral; that it is the role of the state to train and disciple our children; that the youth culture of the modern school is healthy for children; and that the children of Christian parents should be immersed in the religious worldview of evolutionism, secularism, and humanism; then government education may be a very viable option for you.

For those of us who reject the above presuppositions, government education is not merely a disaster — a testimony to much of what is wrong with modern America — but in its foundations, methodologies, and track-record, it represents the antithesis of the biblical vision for education. This is why we firmly believe that parents who are serious about raising up a Christ-honoring generation of biblically-minded Christians will flee government education."

Hmmm...some food for thought.

toes

2009-02-18T14:44:00.000-06:00

Family Vacation

2009-02-14T14:29:00.010-06:00

On the winteriest day of the year (so far), we set out on our 1st family vacation. It was 14 degrees when we left and conditions were very snowy!

Kentucky was a mess...it was actually in a state of emergency because they had so much ice. All the trees were broken off and the power lines were sagging from the weight of the ice. There weren't any gas stations open for miles, but thankfully we had a full tank. Everything was shut down, even the hotels. Thankfully we made it close to Chattanooga the 1st night.

After driving, and driving, and driving, we finally arrived at our destination: Sanibel Island, Florida It was spring-like, green, and warm!

We found out that the resort had upgraded us to a beach-front condo. We had made it through a snow storm, and ice storm, frigid temperatures, and William's ear infection and sickness. We were determined to have a great time. :)

We brought our own food, and cooked at the condo. Wow, eating out can get old very fast! We had a blast just playing outside, enjoying the sunshine, and the beach.

I suppose the ocean will always have it's appeal to us, since that's where we started our first week of marriage. It felt kinda strange to be back at the beach, but w/ 3 more of us! There's something so calming, beautiful, and powerful of such a place. I love it! I love the sound and smell of the ocean. The kids had fun exploring and hunting for shells. Shelling can get addicting! William was hilarious...he kept finding "treasures" Justin called his finds, "William's Sea Trash" He kept picking up the orange spongy things...boy he liked them.

I love sunsets at the beach. And, you can't really mess up beach pictures...it's just so pretty!

The second day we were there, we rode bikes around the Island, and ended up taking the long route to go see the Island's Lighthouse. Just being outside, being active, was so exhilarating, after being cooped up in the house the past couple months. I was wiped out after that bike ride...toting the kids around, adds a little extra to the workout!

People were so friendly and complementary to us...there were a lot of older couples. Lots of midwesterners (huh, wonder why?) :) We even saw an Amish couple!

The wildlife on Sanibel was interesting. We got to see a Gopher Tortoise making a nest...up close! There were lots of seagulls who weren't afraid of people and plenty of pelicans floating in the water.

Daddy and his boys

Making sand castles and watching the sun set was fun and relaxing.

Sunshine, Sand, and Water

2009-02-14T13:51:00.009-06:00

Some more pictures of our memory making with Samuel, William, and Madeline...

We went to a couple different beaches. Bowman's Beach was VERY windy and pretty chilly!

Samuel and Madeline ended up getting sick, as well. We had one trip to the Emergency Room late one night, but, all's well that end's well. Madeline was the most puny, pretty fussy, and slept a lot. I suppose the sunshine helped, though. Here she is sitting on the bed, playing w/ sunglasses, while the boys took naps.

We found several live starfish.

We went to Captiva Island to eat at the Bubble Room. It was a very colorful, quirky place, that kept the boys entertained. They didn't eat much, but they stayed interested. The boys even got a huge slab of cake, just for being cute. ;)

The boys met a little friend, Justin, from Canada. They had fun playing w/ him!

William was scared and curious of the coconut that washed ashore.

Justin took me and the kids out to a nice seafood restaurant for my 26th birthday. Thankfully the kids behaved like a dream, the food was delicious, and the desert, excellente'! That was a great birthday gift!
My hubby went shopping while the kids napped. He brought back a beautifully wrapped small box...I like those kinds of gifts! He picked out a white-gold sand dollar necklace...it's very pretty. ;) He as good taste.

All in all, we had a wonderful time w/ great memories. We did decide to wait a few more years before we go on a vacation again. ;) Or, better yet, we'll just bring a nanny and photographer w/ next time.

Sage Advice

2009-02-12T08:42:00.000-06:00

"The trouble with cleaning house is it gets dirty the next day anyway, so skip a week if you have to. The children are the most important thing."
~Barbara Bush~

Comfort...

2009-02-08T22:06:00.001-06:00

"...I am He who comforts you; Who are you that you are afraid of man... who have said to you, "Bow Down" ... put on your strength, shake yourself from the dust and ARISE; Loose the bonds from your neck O captive daughter of Zion! You shall be redeemed..." Is. 51-52: 1-2

Gone Home...

2009-02-07T15:19:00.007-06:00

~Our sweet Great-Grandpa Sturm passed away this week. He was the dearest of dears. And in Great-Grandpa Sturm's self description, "I'm just an ol' codger." (then a big hearty laugh)" He was a big gardener, was married to Grandma Lois Sturm for almost 65 years, enjoyed a beer at 11 a.m. each morning, and faithfully sent us the monthly "Portals of Prayer" (the Lutheran version of "Daily Bread"), with a handwritten note. Each letter was written w/ shakey handwriting and contained predictable topics: the weather, the crops, sports, his health, and his well-wishes for the boys. I've kept each of those letters, for posterity's sake.

I'm kicking myself, now, for not taking more pictures of him and the boys. And one after Madeline joined the ranks! I have some in the photo album, of when Grandpa visited our home. I was pregnant w/ Samuel, at the time. I have some of him at each holiday. (locating them on my computer, is a different story!) I also wish I would've interviewed him more about his life.

I thought Grandpa Sturm looked thinner at Christmas, when we saw him. He was in good spirits, as always. He enjoyed the lebkuchen I brought. Those good German genes...you know. He didn't seem bothered by all of the kids, the noise, the dogs, and the Chrismas craziness. He just said to me, "And to believe, Lois and I started all of this!" (then a big laugh)

Grandpa Sturm was 91, when he passed away. He was active, lived in his own home, and drove his own car. We got a call while we were on vacation in Florida, that Grandpa Sturm had a severe stroke.
Justin told me today, that the Lord had answered his prayer. Justin said he had prayed that if Grandpa wasn't saved, that he would remain alive, till he could go share the gospel with him. Justin learned from his Mom today, that as Grandpa Sturm was passing from this life, to the next, he was reaching out and waving. His passing was peaceful and we believe that angels were escorting him into heaven, based off of the story in Luke 16:19-31.

"The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness." Proverbs 16:31

Vacation at the Goffs in January

2009-01-27T15:24:00.001-06:00

~a hot, sunny vacation near a large body of water sounds great, just about now~ William. is. ready!

Hmmm...which ones should I frame?

2009-01-23T12:38:00.006-06:00

...if only I had enough wall space! I'd frame all of them, but... I think I'll put 3 in the bathroom and a couple in her *new* room...but which ones???

Bathtime...

Madeline is 24 weeks old = 6 months!! Can't believe she's that old already. She seems so petite to me.

Madeline likes to:
~chew on everything (William the 2nd!)
~play w/ toys
~watch the boys
~laugh at the boys
~roll over both ways
~pull hair
~take a bath
~have her socks pulled off

Today she had her first cereal. I was trying to stave her off as long as possible. I've read a little bit about starting grains too soon, but the last few weeks have been rough at night. She wakes up every couple hours to eat. I can tell she's growing. I'm happy to have exclusively nursed her for 6 months...that's a milestone for me. ;) I hoping to continue to, for another 6 months...we'll see how that works out. :) Tonight will be the test...I'll keep my fingers crossed that she (and we) will sleep all night. (Samuel has been up a lot at night w/ bad dreams. Justin was in an out of bed ll night last night, poor guy. It'll probably be that Baby will sleep all night, but the boys will be up...that's how it goes, though :)

Miss Madeline:

She looks like her Daddy...at least that's what I keep hearing...

...she's rubbed almost all of her hair off...

Here she is in her Great-Great-Great Grandpa's rocking chair!

~thanks Elisha, for taking my pictures~
~Madeline~

Stages...

2009-01-20T14:18:00.007-06:00

...kiddie faces crack me up...the good, the goofy, the funny, and the ugly! I love Baby Girl's innocent lil' expressions, William's-guilty-toddler-look, and my wacky-3-year-old's-face...couldn't help posting these...

Madeline Hope:
5.5 months old

Something surprised Madeline!!

Mommy & Madeline (missin' Daddy)

I love having a little girl! There's nothing like it! Her smile makes me smile~

I'm enjoying each "stage" my children go through. I look at these "everyday" pictures, and can't help but post them. They reflect "real life" for me. Mom tells me this is the "easiest" stage (that's from her perspective;) I'm sure each "stage" of parenting has it's unique challenges. For the moment, I'm trying to remind myself to ENJOY it. I know time goes so fast! For now, the word, explosion, defines my life (and my house, and my laundry, the diapers, and the trash cans) I seriously, have trouble keeping up! The house can be in order, and 5 minutes later, it looks like a tornado rolled through. I suppose, it's due to me, letting my helpers "help" me, and our lack of a basement or toy room. ;)
~Samuel and William counting their money...all was quiet, and I went to go investigate...this is what I found. (kept them busy for 30 minutes!!) This was serious business!

William found Daddy's dress-up Army shoes...pretty snazzy!

Samuel came home from Mom's completely thrilled w/ this dress up ensemble: swim goggles, a leather cowboy vest, and his "happy camper" shirt. Dad talked him out of the water wings. I just had to look in his eyes and smile...his enthusiasm and innocence just made me want to crack up and squeeze him to death...I love my 3 year old! He honestly had no clue how hilarious he looked!

Playtime w/ legos (thanx Auntie Becky!!) Samuel was into making towers and William just enjoyed disassembling them and putting them back in the box--good combo!

I love this picture of Justin and William reading...havin' a little 1-on-1 time. (I remember doing this w/ Samuel!)

good food and fun friends!

2009-01-19T20:43:00.007-06:00

A few of our last date nights have been "double dates" We're friends w/ a sweet engaged couple: John and Christina. One night we ate at a super-duper-steak place, the other night, we ate at a Japaneese Steakhouse. The chef cooked our dinner right in front of us, on the grill. My favorite "tricks" were the spinning egg and the onion volcano.

Madeline is our lil' sidekick. She doesn't take a bottle yet, plus we feel bad leaving all 3 of our chickadees w/ the worlds-most-fun-auntieunclepapaandnanasitters. Soon enough, she can join the boys. ;)

J and C's wedding date is this June...they're pretty excited! (i think they're such a cute couple!)

We had a lot of fun hanging out w/ them, talking about nothing-in-particular, laughing, eating coldstone ice cream, & getting parking tickets. There's a different dynamic when you hang out w/ younger people, who aren't at the same "stage"...it's actually refreshing, and brings back all those courtship memories. Wow, time flies!

I love to celebrate people getting married...and then having children. It brings such hope and expectation. Justin and I know several couples who are getting married, and several other couples expecting babies. I enjoy witnessing new families being born, and young couples training their children for God's glory. Better get some gift ideas rolling. ;)

...tasty treats...

2009-01-14T11:05:00.002-06:00

Hi There!

I made some yummy things yesterday, so thought I'd share the recipes. I've made both before, but was reminded how good they were! And, perhaps they just tasted exceptional, b/c we had a special someone unexpectedly at our supper table last night! ;-)

Sweet Potato Rolls:

1 pkg yeast
4 T. sugar
1.5 cups sweet potatoes
1/2 cup warm water
3 T. butter, melted
1 t. salt
2 eggs
3 c. flour (I used spelt and all purpose)

~Disolve yeast , warm water and 1 T of sugar...let stand 5 min.
Add remaining sugar, sweet potato, butter, salt, and eggs. Stir to mix well. Stir in 3 c. of flour. Knead 2-3 minutes...just till it's soft and not-too-sticky. Place in an oiled bowl. Cover and let raise about an hour.
~Punch down and allow dough to rest for 2 minutes. Divide into 20 balls and place in a 13 x 9 inch pan. Allow to rise till doubled.
~Bake at 375 degrees for 12 to 20 minutes. Serve warm
(These were just the perfect texture...and I accidently baked them the perfect amount of time. Usually mine turn out too dry. Very yummy w/ some butter on them)

Two Mustard Chicken
(I must confess that I was too "chicken" to try this recipe. We ate it at Kyle and Gretchen's house last summer, and it was delic!! It's now a stand-by of mine...and super easy!)

1/2 c. Dijon mustard
1/4 c. coarse-grained mustard (I was out, so I used horseradish---it turned out wonderful!!)
1/4 c. honey
8 chicken breasts

Heat oven to 375...Spread mixture on both sides of chicken. Bake about 30 minutes. Serve w/ brown rice and a veggie.

Mega-Christmas-Picture-Post

2009-01-07T13:40:00.004-06:00

~The Christmas gatherings we attended this year were very fun! I think we saw everyone this year...which was great! I can see now, how the average person gains 3 lbs between Thanksgiving and New Year's! Sometimes those rich foods and sweets are way too accessible. So here's our pictoral Christmas, for ya! (p.s. sorry about the commentary not lining up correctly...anyone know what I'm doing wrong there?)

~~~~~~~~~~~Christmas at Grandpa Kendall's~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Justin and his Dad)

Kendall and Carolyn bought the kids some fun toys. They loved them!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas at Lou and Janeen's:
Janeen had quite the spread for dinner! Yummy soups and finger foods. We had fun chatting and kid-chasing. The laughs and memories are priceless! One of the things I really appreciate about Justin's fam, is their ability to laugh and have a great time! Jolliness is healthy! ;) I think it must come from that hearty German stock... Hee.

Here's Justin and his sweet mom, Janeen, w/ the beloved sock monkey. (flash back from 30 years ago!)

Santa (aka: Poppa Lou) was quite the hit this year. He's one of a kind, let me tell you...we were laughing so hard! (*you'd just have to be there*)

Lots of kids, dogs, and presents!

Auntie Brookie

Madeline and Justin takin' a siesta (and Madeline getting a whiff of the ol' armpit)

The Empty-Nester-Love-Birds (thought you'd like that, Becky:)

Poppa Lou and his crew

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Christmas Day at Dad and Mom's
....arm wrestling...

Dad, exhaused from all the excitement!.
..the infamous "tickle test"...

...music...

Feasting...

Some pretty gals...

Aunt Carolyn, Grace, and Krista (our Aunt is closer in age to us, than she is to our Mom...fun!) I think that has happened more than once in our family!

Carolyn and Matt

...sorry Krista, couldn't resist...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christmas Morning:
...began w/ Justin reading The Christmas Story...then, one by one, we opened our gifts to eachother...all of it was practical things~

...so fun to see Uncle Bruce and Aunt Lisa...they were both popular w/ the little ones....

Singing Christmas Carols...w/ Leah at the pIana :)

Krista and Dad

Me and my Honey

George and one of his honey's

Aunt Lisa speaking William's "language" He was wondering about her ;) McKenzie sure thought it was funny!

Spreading some cheer up at the Oaks Manor on Christmas Eve. I'm so glad we got to play together a little bit. We have some very fun Christmas songs..."The Grinch", "Sleigh Ride", and a beautiful arrangement of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel"

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Christmas Eve Eve w/ The Extended Miller Family
...look alikes??

Twin cousins...

Krista and Briggs

Max and Briggs

Leah and her friend, Christina, from Tiawan (and Madeline)

Uncle Jim at the new white elephant gift exchange tradition...I laughed so hard, my mascara was running down my cheeks

The cousins in height order...5'11 to 5'5

Krist & me

...some big eaters...

looks like a serious conversation!

...the newly engaged: ryan & ashton

Nana & Grace

The 3 new Miller additions: Grace (4-08), Briggs (7-08) & Madeline (8-08)

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Fun W/ Daddy...

Happy 19th!!

2009-01-06T14:31:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday, Therese Anne!! You're one of a kind. ;) We look forward to what God has in store for you these next couple of years. We love you!

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee. Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established." Proverbs 4

Congratulations!

2009-01-06T12:00:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to Kyle and Gretchen!!

The proud Papa: Alaina Hope (1-2-09)

Justin and I were on a date, and had to swing in to congratulate our friends and meet the Little Miss.

Gretchen looked great! Alaina is so cute! She was not even 12 hours old in these pictures. They were so excited...and so are we!

Re-reading a good book

2009-01-04T22:21:00.002-06:00

I'm re-reading an excellent book I read last year. It's called "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God." It's one of those on my highly recommended list. One good enough to re-read. It's good because it hits so close to home...struggles that women struggle with...AND the biblical exhortation to go with it! Thought this was good...

"If you're feeling overwhelmed and desperate, you won't find the answer in yet another self-help book or in a temporal bottle of pills. More self-esteem won't quiet those inner yearnings or fears any more than a "better" body or new clothes will. Only Christ can satisfy your anxious heart and give you peace. Long for Him "as the deer pants for the water brooks" (Psalm 42:1). When your soul is disquieted, hope in God and prais His Holy name (Psalm 42:11)."
-taken from the Preface-