mud-ducks-boys!

I will always be indebted to Dr. Dobson for writing "Bringing Up Boys." Coming from a family of all girls, and now raising five fiery boys, has forced me to read his chapters over and over again.
However, one chapter was excluded from his book. That was the chapter on MUD.
Mud pies, mud cakes, mud balls, muddy boots, muddy fingers, muddy toes, muddy faces ,muddy hair, muddy doors, muddy clothes, and even muddy carpets at times...

Dr. Dobson did not warn about the frustrations that MUD causes a mother.
He did not write that it is not worth building a bridge, because boys will just walk through the stream anyways.
Dr. Dobson did not give necessary laundry suggestions on how to get mud stains out of white school socks. He failed to give different mop product reviews. (Right now I have three different mops on the go.)


During this particularly wet, cold April, our boys have loved roaming through the back fields and up and down the streams. This has been great for the boys- especially after a long winter. I would be fine with it too IF they would just leave the same muddy clothes on all day. But instead, the boys get wet and chilled and then they take their clothes off; leave their clothes scattered here and there, and find more outdoor play clothes. This happens all day long. By evening, the mountains of muddy clothes and boots are exploding.

 

                                 These are the small piles of muddy clothes!

Who else has washed a caterpillar?

In my rush to get the laundry done, I forgot to check boys' pockets for their "treasures."

And now on to more beautiful things. Like Ducks. I can hardly get the laundry done, because I am busy watching these stunning bufflehead ducks in our pond. The male has especially captured my attention with his dives and graceful swimming patterns. I am not sure how rare bufflehead ducks are, but I hope that they make a nest and stay for the summer.

  I am not sure what this bird is but it keeps busy along the shore eating up bugs.

Caleb is also fond of the outdoors and if his brothers are all playing outside he is desperate to be with them, BUT he is quick on his feet (surprise, surprise) so he has to wait until I can go outside with him to watch him.

      And this picture says it all. Dirt, frogs, lifejacket...his constant companions.

April Fools Day

April Fools Day has come and gone but I think our boys will remember that day for a long time!

 Playing a joke involves strategy and careful planning and for me the anticipation of the joke is just as fun as the joke itself.

 On the evening before April Fools, after the boys had gone to bed, Adam and I set the house and van clocks an hour behind. The next morning we woke up in a sudden panic! We had "slept in" and now we needed to do some serious rushing if we were going to make it to school on time.

 The boys flew into action mode grabbing their lunches, dressing, and patting down their hair. I told them that there wouldn't be time to eat breakfast but to grab a hand full of cereal.

During this mad scramble the boys had a few interesting comments about it still being dark outside and that they still felt tired.

 The three older boys ran into the van and we took off trying to get to school before the bell rang. Along the way I asked them if they had a chance to eat something. I heard a hearty "No" and bemoaning the fact that snack time would take "forever" to come. 

At that moment I turned the van into a parking lot of a breakfast restaurant and yelled "April Fools!"

The boys broke out into a grin and told me they thought something was up. Poor Andrew was just relieved after the bustling morning that he could eat breakfast. Within minutes, Adam arrived with the two youngest boys and we had an enjoyable breakfast together celebrating one of the best days of the year!

Serve

It was a brisk autumn Monday morning.  I sat with the boys at the bus stop spending a few moments in conversation before the big yellow bus made its appearance.

"Boys, last night when the college and career group was over, all of you went to bed without complaining and that was really helpful. It was also great that you stayed in bed. With your great attitude, it helped daddy and I lead the bible study group without any distractions.
Did you know that by your attitude, you were serving God?

As these words left my mouth, God nudged my heart and mind.

How was my attitude when Adam went on family visits or to church meetings?  I knew the answer. Not good. Often as Adam left in the evening I would look at him with "tired eyes." Homework, dishes, baths, bottles, and diapers - I wanted him to notice that this would be the evening in front of me and he would not be around to help. I was not serving God with my attitude.

When God nudged my heard and mind- I finally got it. When I serve my family, I am serving Him! When Adam leaves for meetings and my attitude is showing that it will be alright here at home (with much reliance on God), I am serving God!
How great God is that He gives us these opportunities to serve Him during this season of life.

S.E.R.V.E.

*Smile (At home, in the office, at the store; even on the phone, a smile changes the sound of your voice and     sends a message of warmth and friendliness)

*Explore and Empathize (Observe others, ask questions, and show-interest and compassion)

*Reconcile (Be a peacemaker, always ready to confess, forgive, and reconcile others to one another and to   God through Christ)

*Value (Express appreciation and admiration for what others do)

*Encourage (Give courage and inspire, always leaving others with more "wind under their wings")


"As you reflect on how God has loved and served you, and pray for His redeeming grace to fill your heart, you can do one or more of these things to every person you meet throughout your day."

***The S.E.R.V.E. acronym was shared at our ladies Bible Study. It was taken from Ken Sande's blog.

Resource BOOKS

Our Church Library Committee put together a list of resource books for our elders and deacons to help them minister in special cases. 

I wanted to pass this list along, to help equip you if you are struggling, or if you are walking along someone who is.

*the books are in no particular order

ADULTERY:

Ordinary Marriage by Justin & Trish Davis

Red Like Blood by Joe Coffey & Bob Bevington

Unfaithful by Gary & Mona Shriver

To Walk or Stay: Trusting God Through Shattered Hope and Suffocating Fears by Lara Williams

ALCOHOLISM:

Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave by Ed Welch

Waiting for His Heart by Joy McClain

ADDICTIONS:

Addictions: A Banquet in the Grave by Ed Welch

Waiting for His Heart by Joy McClain

Sexual Detox by Tim Challies

Sexual Sanity for Men: Re-Creating Your Mind in a Crazy Culture by David White

Sexual Sanity For Women: Healing From Sexual and Relational Brokeness by Ellen Dykas

HOMOSEXUALITY:

Love Into Light: The Gospel, The Homosexual and the Church by Peter Hubbard

Washed and Waiting by Wesley Hill

MARRIAGE (Sexuality):

This Momentary Marriage by John Piper

When Sinners Say "I Do" by Dave Harvey

Ordinary Marriage by Justin & Trish Davis

Unfaithful by Gary & Mona Shriver

Marriage Matters by Winston Smith

What Did You Expect? by Paul David Tripp

Sex & Money by Paul David Tripp

Sex, Romance and the Glory of God by CJ Mahaney

What is the Meaning of Sex? by Denny Burk

Sex in Not the Problem (Lust is) by Josh Harris

Marriage by Design by Dr. Voddie Baucham  (DVD)

DEPRESSION/MENTAL ILLNESS:

This Stubborn Darkness by Ed Welch

Broken Minds by Steve & Robyn Bloem

Christians Get Depressed Too by David Murray

When the Darkness Will Not Lift by John Piper

INFERTILITY

A Hope Deferred by J.Stephen Yuille

PRODIGAL CHILDREN:

Unconverted Sons and Daughters by Carl Muller

Engaging Today's Prodigal by Carol Barner

TECHNOLOGY:

The Next Story by Tim challies

You, Your Family and the Internet by David Clark

God's Technology by David Murray (DVD)

PORNOGRAPHY:

Finally Free by Lambert Heath  (Recommended to read for ALL elders)

When Your Husband is Addicted To Pornography by Vickie Tiede

Sexual Detox by Tim Challies

At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry by Steve Gallagher (also study guide)

SEXUAL/MENTAL/VERBAL ABUSE:

Sexual Abuse - Beauty for Ashes  by Robert W. Kellemen

The Emotionally Destructive Relationship by Leslie Vernick

Shame Interrupted by Edward T Welch

Sexual Sanity For Women: Healing From Sexual and Relational Brokeness by Ellen Dykas

FINANCES:

Money, Possessions and Eternity by Randy Alcorn

Make your Church's Money Work by John Temple

Money Before Marriage (A Financial Workbook for Engaged Couples) by Larry Burkett

Victory Over Debt by Larry Burkett

LEADERSHIP:

Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons by Thabiti M Anyabwile

The Elder and His Work by  David Dickson

Called to Lead by John MacArther

Am I Called? by Dave Harvey

The Shepherd Leader by Timothy Z. Witmer

With a Shepherd's Heart by John R. Sittema

COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY:

Thriving at College by Alex Chediak

How to Stay Christian in College by J. Budziszewski

Stand Strong in College by Alex McFarland

GRIEF:

Comfort those Who Grieve:  Ministering God's Grace in Times of Loss by Paul Tautges

From Grief to Glory  by James W. Bruce III

Treasures in Darkness by Sharon Better

When God Weeps by Joni Eareckson Tada

Holding on to Hope by Nancy Guthrie

Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie

FORGIVENESS:

The Freedom and Power of Forgiveness by John MacArthur

Choosing Forgiveness:  Your Journey to Freedom by Nancy Leigh DeMoss

We are also able to offer suggestions on a variety of other topics, ie: parenting, pre-marriage relationships, devotionals, prayer, family worship.

 The Library Committtee

road trip part 2 - Charleston

 We arrived in Charleston with much anticipation. Wars, beauty, and grandeur make up this enticing, harbour front city. After walking around for a bit, we learned that this city is not appreciated by children. Pointing out beautiful gardens, and cast iron gates just didn't "do it" for little people. We needed a plan. As we stood at a stop sign and tried to figure things out, two teachers from our school came walking down the road - one of them being Liam's teacher! They had been busy touring Charleston and suggested that we go for a horse and buggy tour. That spurred us on and off we went in search of a tour. We didn't need to look far, because Charleston is full of horse and buggy tours and for a good reason. Going on a tour is worth EVERY cent! Riding down the old cobble roads behind a horse and buggy...amazing! The tour guide pointed out things that you would never find in a tour book. 

We spent the night in a cute, nautical Inn just outside of Charleston called, "Shem Creek"  a lovely name for a really neat little town.

We spent a full day touring the USS. Yorktown Aircraft Carrier, a destroyer, and a submarine. The boys loved it and found it all very exciting.

The chocolate chip cookie recipe is hard to read, but it gives the ingredients for a 10,000 cookie batch! The poor cooks!

The navy personnel slept in small cots stacked three high. These men had little room or privacy.

Touring the submarine was even more shocking. Long and narrow, moving from room to room required flexibility. The submarine was dark and stuffy and we were not sure how those men lived in a submarine for months at a time without going crazy.

Leaving Charleston, we headed to the mechanics to pick up our sprinter which was fixed while we were in Hilton Head. We sure missed the space of the sprinter while we rented the mini van for a week. When the sprinter broke down on the way to Hilton Head we had to transfer everything into the mini van and the only way that worked was to put the boys in the van and then load up all of our belongings around them and in some cases on them. I had packed lightly for the trip but I had not packed efficiently thinking that I had more than enough space. By the time we were done loading up the mini van, we could only see the boys' eyes! 

Leaving for Home!

Tips and Tidbits:
*Old Navy had a sale and I bought matching bright t-shirts and a sweater for each boy. This was a great help especially when you had to do a fast head count which happen A LOT.
*As Adam was packing, he purposefully threw in matching t-shirts too. He knew what I did not know- he could of been a tour guide. He was a man in motion, exploring and teaching the boys (and whoever else happened to be listening) history lessons. There were times when I included him in the head count too!
*Adam had booked our hotel stays on PriceLine where you place a bid for your night. Our stays included breakfasts, and by the time we were done eating, we were not sure if the hotel made any money off of our family!
*The best days were days when we had a plan. We had to be flexible with a baby, but when the boys knew what was happening, the day seemed to run smoother.
*We were thankful to God for the opportunity to spend time together as a family.

road trip part 1

We welcomed Washington with enthusiasm and energy. The smell of the city's turned-up soil and the sight of budding trees thrilled me to no end. We spent two days touring and exploring the U.S. capitol and learned about their fascinating history. 

The Lincoln Monument

Capitol Hill

The museums in Washington are incredible. There was almost too much to take in with their

details and facts, hands on learning, and films. We toured through the Air and Space Museum, the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum. All of these museums are FREE! They just require time because there is so much!

After Washington we headed down to the bottom of South Carolina. We had rented a small villa on Hilton Head Island and looked forward to biking, sun, and exploring. However...
A few weeks previous we had bought a Sprinter vehicle for work. With passenger seats, this van turned out to be excellent for travelling. We had enough room to move around and stand and best of all we could fit all of our belongings. We sat up high in the sprinter making it perfect for sight seeing. Just as Adam and I were giving each other a high five for this brilliant way of travelling, Adam lost steering power. We managed to coast into a hotel and ended up staying put for the night. Early Saturday morning Adam had the sprinter towed to a mechanics and much to our dismay the parts for the sprinter would not be in until the following week. While Adam waited for the mechanics to look at the van, I was stuck in a small hotel room with five boys and the room grew smaller by the hour. It was a day that I never want to redo. Finally after sitting in the lobby for an hour with five non-sitting boys (we got kicked out of our room after 2:00) Adam arrived with a rental van. We were finally on our way again.

One of the things Hilton Head Island is known for is the biking. The paved trails are surrounded by giant, moss covered trees. Board walks and bridges over swamps added to our enjoyment. We had fun looking for alligators, counting turtles, and watching the frogs jump into the ponds.

Discovering a hobby farm created lots of excitement.

Some of my family stayed close by in a condo and it was fun to meet up with them. My uncle Ted and aunt Heidi had a heated pool where they were staying and they kindly invited us to join them. This turned out to be a good thing. In the villa where we were staying there were people living above us and this caused me much stress with our carefree, loud, country boys. The boys woke up early every morning and we spent the first hour saying, "shhh...be quiet, lower your voices." We would hit the biking trails as soon as possible in the mornings. During the  afternoons we would find something different to do and swimming was enjoyed by all.

We heard comment after comment about our boys.

"Are all of these boys yours?"  became the question of the week.

When we answered "yes" usually there would be a rather long pause. This at times became awkward, because I wasn't sure if I should apologize! But most people loved it and wished us the very best. They told us to enjoy these years because they fly by.

One man surprised when he told us that he had six boys. They survived by sending the boys into the basement and throwing raw meat down! After spending an enjoyable week on Hilton Head Island, we headed off towards home with a stop in enchanting Charleston. Those pictures are still to come.

Personal Perils Create Pearls

A woman shared this devotional in our Bible Study:


         "For many women, wearing jewellery is part of personal adornment. Throughout the centuries women have worn rings, earrings and bracelets made of gemstones and precious metals. If you have ever stopped and looked at the display cases in a jewellery store you know that these things cost a considerable amount of money! The pearl is one such precious stone, which in many ways portrays the Christian life.
Pearls are formed inside a living creature - an oyster. They are formed as the result of a fascinating biological process. Occasionally a foreign substance slips into the oyster's inner body and cannot be expelled. It's like the oyster gets a splinter. To protect itself from the foreign substance, the oyster covers the irritant with layers of the same substance that is used to create the shell. Over many years this forms a beautiful pearl.
As we travel our way into the future and ultimately to the New Jerusalem there is much to be learned from the formation of a pearl. Each of us is like a precious pearl in the eyes of the Lord. We are woven together like a beautiful necklace. But how do we get formed into what we are and shall be? The sufferings and tribulations that we experience are irritants that cause us considerable discomfort, but, as Paul reminds us in Romans 5, they are producing something beautiful. Those irritants are what make us into a precious pearl. And where are we formed? The church of the Lord Jesus is our "oyster."  In the community of God's people we face perils and tribulation. Yet when those irritants are surrounded with the shell of the gospel they become something precious.
We can rejoice in the hope of eternal glory. When faced with tribulation and suffering, know that God is making a pearl. We can "glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3) May that adjust our expectations and attitude. Our identity is not defined by what we achieve, but by what we have become- a precious pearl in the necklace of Christ."












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I have also added a new blog to my blog list  called "For Your Tomorrow."
It is a new blog written by Tim Challies' sister. Maryanne writes in such a comforting, encouraging way. I have learned a lot from her already. I would love to have a nice, warm cup of tea with her.