Sportin' the VBS crafts

The boys are wearing crafts made at VBS tonight. The blue tie dye is Luke, the red/yellow is Drew, the purple is Evan. They haven't taken them off...they even are trying to go to sleep with them on right now...it's not working. I'll have to go make them take it off. Imagine how popular that will be.

How sad my Creator must be...

This is not for the faint at heart. I caution you.

My stomach turned a few times upon seeing these images. I have seen some before, but these...these were somehow more disturbing to me than the others ever had been.

I don't understand it. I just can't understand it.

That's why I will always vote for the man or woman who opposes this. No matter what else. If we don't value life itself, what else is there?


































This is a view inside the placenta.

How many people would adopt these beautiful babies if they were only given the chance? It makes me ill to think about it. I encourage you to follow the story that Peter Heck has been airing as it unfolds regarding Planned Parenthood. The numbers are astounding. www.peterheck.com

Add a trophy to the piano

Luke got his second trophy in two days. Tonight's was from t-ball...too cute! I'll get some pictures up here...
First picture is of Drew and my Grandparents...I love these people! I hate when they leave for Florida! :)













This is Luke's tball team tonight. Luke is the last one on the right standing up. Chad is right behind him. My niece, Sammy, is the second one from the left on the first row. The next picture is Chad (coach), Luke, and Sammy.

















This one is of Luke and some kids from church, including my nephew, singing on Mother's Day. I was so proud. I don't think I put this on here before, so I thought I would add it. Luke is in the peach and Colton, my nephew, is in pink. They sang "Blessed Be the Name of the Lord." I think Tree63 sings it. It was really sweet....










Sorry I don't have one on here of Evan or Gabriel...It seems like I always post pictures of Gabe...and Evan just goes through phases where the he doesn't take many pictures for whatever reason, so it always seems like I have fewer of him. I'll try to make sure to even it all out soon! Well, that's it for now. Have a great day!

Surviving the Storm...in more ways than one.

The Kids Camp that I do every year is now over for the summer! Hallelujah! That crazy time is over and life will calm down - if only briefly.

Luke was voted as the most improved boy by the high school "staff" and it was great! He got what he called "his first real trophy." Chad was gone and not able to attend, and he kept calling and calling his dad. He now has Chad's cell phone number memorized. Luke said, "He's gonna be happier than he has ever been!" He is so proud. So the piano has a new ornament on top! Luke moved stuff over and gave the trophy a new home. He ran up on stage to accept his award, and he was sooooo happy!

It made my day! Not only because he takes an interest in something so special to me (music and performing)...but because he did so well this week that the kids recognized him. (He was up against 6 other nominated kids...)

Even if he wouldn't have gotten an award, I would have been proud of him, but this was a great end to the week of camp! It's always a HUGE amount of work, but at the end, I always look back with fondness...

On an other note, the REAL excitement of the day was the HUGE storm that happened as many of the kids working my camp were waiting for their parents to pick them up. It had 80 mph winds. NASTY! It tore the roof off and blew out the sides of the bus barn right outside the performing arts center at our school, so of course, we all watched that happened. That was crazy. Since Luke was with me, it made him pretty anxious.

The next thing I knew, the assistant principal was on the p.a. saying to seek shelter if there was anyone in the building (by this time it SHOULD have been just employees because summer school hours were over and my kids, like I said, were waiting on rides). So since they didn't realize we were still in the building, I told them we would head to the front so that if something major did happen, they would know where we were....so we started the 8 mile trek (well, it's long - but not that long) to the front office. We were met by a few custodial people and the assistant principal who was screaming at us to take cover....get in that restroom. Sit near the wall! Cover your heads! Of course, that sent Luke in to hysterics. One person with me was a parent who literally almost could not walk in to the building. When he had gotten there for his two kids, he decided to take cover inside the building. This was the same time the barn was being damaged. When he opened the door (which was near impossible), it felt like a sand storm. Instantly all of us standing there couldn't see because of the debris and dust in our eyes. It was rather exciting. Surprisingly, I stayed REALLY calm. Almost eerily calm. I think it was because I was "in charge" of those kids and my son was so upset. When we got in the restroom, I sat him on my lap on the floor and held him. While we waited, I let him play Garfield bowling on my cell phone (which was a great $3.99 investment), and that helped him. It occupied him while he had to sit so still and wait, and he didn't mind me holding him tightly and covering his head with myself and arms. All in all, the assistant principal was probably a little over -reactive, but who is to say that I wouldn't have been if Luke wouldn't have been there and I was in charge and I didn't know who all was in the building....It made for good stories and memories, though. Huddled in one women's restroom. At least it's over.

Now Friday? RELAXATION (I hope) before VBS next week. Then it's off to Maryland! YAY!

AWESOME parenting advice...from me. And I repeat, AWESOME!

Seriously, when you are too exhausted to find out why someone has poked the other one, why the older one is screaming like a banshee (did I spell that right?), why the baby is laughing but the other three are fighting, why three boys just ran from one end of the house silently and sat without so much as a peep and when you look at them they are smiling at you on the couch suspiciously,....I find it best to just say, "Kick him back...." and then I usually follow it while that one is running away with a "Get ready, [insert name here], here it comes!"

Also, Gabriel and I went in for hair cuts last Friday. Here are the results. I love the fact that it took 5 minutes to completely dry and style. I had 8 imches cut off....there was a time when I wouldn't have even considered it...Now, I realize it looked much better this morning after I had done it, but a day at school, wrestling with 4 boys, and some hot weather later, this is the result....




I ALSO realize, Dan, that based on previous conversations in Baldwin, you DO NOT like it. :)

Busy days....

Well, besides the fact that my house is a disaster area, I have the biggest week all summer coming up for me. Granted, it's not as busy as a normal week during the school year, but any disruption to the laziness of summer makes my head spin slightly. I always have done a camp for one week in the summer. Last week I spent three days at the school preparing. Next week, we have 4 days of camp and then a concert Thursday evening with an award ceremony. This means the kids have to get up early, which means I have to make sure they are in bed and ASLEEP at a decent time. Daylight Savings has been messing with them.
And I have a big weekend as well. This morning was a rehearsal at church (which 2 people - 1 being me) came to. SOOOOO when all is said and done, I will have made up practice time with people and rehearsed Sunday's worship 3 times before we do it in the two services on Sunday. By that last time, I should probably have things memorized.

Luke had his last (hoooooooraaaay) T-Ball game today in the scorching sun, and he did GREAT! He hit both times (which I missed the first one because the twins wanted the "sheshession stand" and it took about 3 years in line and then another year to walk back because they didn't want to spill their drinks. (ugh) So, I managed to see the second time Luke hit, which was good. He really hits well! BUT the highlight was that he actually got someone out at 1st! In T-ball, this is almost unheard of. The crowd roared, and he was so proud! :) It was great! I mean, I still hate baseball, but it was really neat to see how proud he was of himself, and rightly so.

So after the game, we get home to our disaster we call home. Chad starts yard work , and I begin cleaning the kitchen. I'm pooped. Thankfully, it's pretty much done. I just can not consider it clean yet because of all the laundry in there still lurking...waiting to be finished....I truly believe that I will die doing laundry.

Now, I am waiting for them to go to sleep because Chad has come inside and fallen asleep with the baby. When they go to sleep, I will be off to practice for the 2nd but not last time for tomorrow's service. I REALLY LOVE doing the music there, don't get me wrong! It's been one of the most satisfying things I have ever been a part of - I feel complete after serving, and I love it. However, it's a little irritating that I have to change and add to my already-booked weekend because someone else didn't show up.

Oh well. I will get over it. I'm not as upset about going to rehearse as I am that my husband gets upset that I have to do more than planned, as if I called them all and said, "Hey...don't show up. I want to change plans and anger my husband today."

After camp week at school, then it's VBS. I'm excited about it. My kids are going to LOVE the superhero theme they are doing this year. Then...the next week, it's VACATIONING with my family in Maryland.... We're really excited about going to see Todd and Micah!

Have a good weekend if I'm not on here again for a while. God bless!

I'm going to kick myself in the morning.

Wait. It IS morning. Can't sleep. I tried. Went to bed. Turned all the "stuff" off (TV, etc.). Laid there. Decided to go to the restroom. Heard something strange. Saw Drew peeing in the trash can beside the computer. Sleep walking. Interesting. Haven't seen that before from Drew.

Cleaned it up.

Watched TV. The end of a movie. No need to watch the beginning now because I know who dies at the end.

Still can't sleep. Gotta get up at 8 AM and go to work tomorrow. I'll hate myself for this in the morning...but I can't sleep.

It's probably because of all the emotion I went through tonight in a much-needed meeting. Probably because my mind is still spinning. I should have said this....I wanted to say that....I should not have used "weak." I should have used a different word.

Bottom line? I can choose to take this information from tonight and I can choose to let God lead, or I can choose to let Satan force me to wallow in it some more. I'm choosing God.

God is in control. His ways are higher. His love is enough. No matter what, He will still be Lord of my life.

All tuckered out.

Today, after a long day of running errands with Mommy and his brothers, playing on the playground, and eating a big dinner, I gave Gabriel a cookie. I think I wore him out, don't you?

THE BREAK UP

My friend, Darcey, and I got a chance to get away! Tonight I had the pleasure of seeing "The Break Up" starring Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent D'Onofrio, and a few others...the lady who played the mom to the boy on "Big Daddy" with Adam Sandler was also in it. The one with the annoying voice?

Anyway, it was a decent movie. I mean, there were a few nudity blurs that we could have done without, and the occasional F-Bomb could have been avoided, but it was PG-13, so I probably could have expected it.
The plot was pretty good. I enjoyed it. The two people have the typical (or at least stereo-typical) arguments after getting a condo together and decide to call it quits. SHE decides this because she believes he will see how much she does for him and how much he needs her...He lets pride stop him from apologizing for his rude behavior.

It takes his buddy/bartender for him to get the "aha!" moment. I won't say too much more because I don't want to ruin it for you.

It was good to see Nenee (as my kids call her) and Becca there as well! :) Of course, we didn't see them until the gigantic diet coke had forced a pitstop after the movie...but nonetheless, it was good to see them out and having a good time with each other.

The new movie theatre was REALLY nice compared to the old one. I'm glad that I got a chance away from the house and the kids and the dishes and the neverending pile of laundry. I would say that reclining seats would have added to the new theatre's appeal, but either way, it was a good experience.

Afterwards, it was dessert/coffee, and then a drive home. Good movie. Go see it. Some REALLY funny parts in it. Vince Vaughn's performance was great! He's just entered my top-favorite guys in a movie list. To this point, wasn't all that impressed with all of his stuff. But then again, when Jennifer Aniston is your co-star, how can you go wrong?

I would say that the movie coming out later this month with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves looks GREAT! We're planning on seeing that one as well. I think it's called something like "Lake Cabin" or something along those lines....

I'd give "The Break Up" two thumbs up!

Brand New!!

OK, remember how a while back, I wrote on here about a friend and I wanted you to ASK me if I had called her and invited her out to church and whatnot??

Well, today she showed up at my house! She stopped by to tell me that this week she had quit drinking, smoking, and had also rededicated her life to Christ! WOW!!!!!!!! I am really excited about it, as I should be, and as the angels are as well!!!

So pray for M. She is in a very vulnerable spot with the cold-turkey quits! But she is headed in the right direction!! Her parents are also a great support system for her! The next step is to get her plugged in...now I can't do that at her parent's church. So either pray that she will visit mine and like it so I can help her...or pray that her preacher (she seems bored with him...) or someone at that church will help her get plugged in.
She said the hardest part is having to find "new friends" - she still cares about those she has been hanging out with, but she knows their influence isn't the best. I'm flattered that she would come to me and Chad. It makes me feel like we have done something right along the way!
Praise the Lord! She's a brand new girl!!! (Oh. I guess we're old enough to be brand new women, huh? )

One

One sin left behind is one step closer to God.

King Kong and Stanley

The hamster we call King Kong got loose tonight...while we were gone. It took a while, but Chad found him and returned him to the cage. One of the kids left one of the openings open....they, of course, blamed the baby....

I'm SOOOO glad that Chad found it. I don't think I could sleep if he didn't. And so anyway...it's a good thing that I stayed up so late "chatting" with Russ or I never would have heard what I heard. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have never believed that the hamster could climb up the side of the cage and literally unscrew a section of the lid to try to get out. Stanley was peeking its head out looking at me when I got to the cage after hearing the weird noises...I guess that none of the kids left that part off after all. I took the lid and pushed him back down in there. Then I freaked out just knowing they could do that! So...after "discussing" all my options with Russ via im...I decided to tape it. No tape in the house! Remembered some in the van. So...here are a few pictures. No way they get out now!

Here's the whole cage. The hamster climbed up the left side on the wires, and literally unscrewed the part that is now taped down. Sneaky boogers!













It's a little dark...but the black stuff is the tape...and it is definitely taped up. To the point that you probably can't tell in this picture below that the lid is actually a bluish purple color.

Petting Zoo Population Down 2

No...not the hamsters...although I injured one of them tonight... It's too difficult to explain on here.

BOTH frogs died today. We had a ceremonial flushing. As they went down the toilet, Drew said, "Bye bye, we love you, froddies!"

It was cute.

Other than that, the highlight of my day was cleaning up an overflowed toilet from Drew stuffing an entire roll of toilet paper in the bowl, and Evan flushed it multiple times until Luke came running out to me yelling and laughing, "Evan made the toilet pee everywhere!!!" Gabriel was just standing there tapping me over and over and pointing at his brothers in disgust...and wouldn't you know it? THIS week I decided to buy the triple rolls!!!!

Never a dull moment!

Prayer Request

Hey guys,

Thanks for reading this, and if you get a chance, will you please pray for Chad and I? We are facing some decisions that need to be made, and we would like to have God's Hands leading ours. Don't worry about us. We are fine, our kids are fine, our marriage is fine...it's just that we need to make some changes, and we'd appreciate your help in prayer.

Love you!
Michelle

Two new additions

Either I'm a sucker for my kids and their grins and giggles or I'm just not very smart. We now are the proud? owners of two teddy bear hamsters. Luke's is golden brown and named "Stanley." This is because he had a guinea pig a while back named Stanley. He must like the name... Drew and Evan are sharing one. It's name is quite interesting. It's full name is Batman Superman King Kong, but we're calling him King Kong for short. He's grey and black and white -ish. This now puts us at 1 dog, 2 frogs, 2 hamsters, and 5 fish. Chad is helping them handle them because they are still pretty wild. When Chad was getting King Kong out tonight, it bit him in two places....needless to say the kids were somewhat alarmed. Better him than the kids. So I asked Chad, "How are we going to tame them if you won't let the kids hold them?" He just gave me this look...and I know where it was headed...I said, "You're going to have to handle them every day and get them tamed." He laughed and said, "Nooooooo! You bought them. What do I look like the hamster whisperer?" We'll see how that turns out...

Anyway, it's been an eventful evening.

So that's how our day has been spent!

My Belle

Before I got married, I got a Shih Tzu and named her Belle. She was the BEST little puppy ever! I LOVE her. When Chad and I found out we had twins on the way, he STRONGLY suggested giving her to some friends of his parents....I hesitated, but it came down to being submissive. I often tell him that giving her up was probably the BIGGEST act of submission I could ever manage...
ANYWAY, I saw her tonight! The kids were with me, and they loved her. Of course, they didn't understand why "my" dog was leaving with someone else. BUT I LOVE THAT LITTLE GIRL! She was just as spunky as ever.

I'm glad I occasionally see Lou walking her, but it DOES make me miss her. I love her! Someday, I hope to have another Belle.

My baby. My Father.

Gabriel will sit for long periods of time on my lap in front of this computer. Most of the time, he doesn't want anything from me. He just wants to sit with me. Be near me. For the most part, he doesn't even give in to the temptation of pushing the keys on the keyboard or playing with the mouse. He is amazing. He doesn't talk much yet, but I know he loves me. He wants to be with me almost everywhere I go. When I wash dishes, he sits on the counter. When I fold clothes, he takes them out of the dryer. When I want to watch TV, he wants to be right there with me. I remember it being this way with the other boys, but with Gabriel, there is something unique about him and his desire to be with me. I can't really explain it.

As I am sitting here reflecting on the beautiful gift that is watching my fingers move as he gently strokes my arm and rests his head on my chest, I wonder if this is how God feels. Or am I holding up my end of this scenario? Do I give God the feeling that I would be content just to sit with Him? Be near Him? Just sit and watch His every move?

It is my goal to make God feel the way Gabriel makes me feel. I love that Gabriel wants to be close and occasionally turn his head around, and tap me (which seems to be his main form of communication) just to see if I am paying attention to him. Do I make God feel this same way? How much more does He love me than I love my little one? I stand amazed.

Will Gabriel always be this way with me? I truly hope.

Will I always be this way with my Father? I truly hope.

Father, I love You. Just to be with You, I'd do anything.