how we beat the heat...

Everybody please bring your squeaky tricycles inside and ride laps around the house. All while screaming with excitement.

Or like today when Streed had 2 neighborhood friends over. The five year old was squealing to the tops of his lungs while playing with a cars race track. Then somehow Nate's diaper came off and they were all (including Ella) running around the house SCREAMING "naked nate, naked nate"! I guess Nate thought, "It's getting hot in here. I'll take off all my clothes."

It gets better when they all run from Ella into Streed's room and shut the door. Ella then proceeds to beat on the door while screaming "LET ME IN!".

Or after being outside they come in saying they are thirsty and the 8 year old opens all my cabinets looking for cups and almost hopped on the counter to get one. I immediately had to let it be known that this was my house and if they needed something they needed to ask.

Ahhh. We do want our house to be where the kids play. It is just a new phase in life for me. I guess I better get used to it.

more projects

kids vanity before
(I do not have an after picture yet)

my vanity after
(mine was the same color as theirs)

Our bathroom vanities too were quite hideous. I have become a fan of the $3 sample pints of paint at Lowes. Since I usually goof on colors it is better to spend $3 on a sample than $20 on a gallon of paint. I bought a "swiss chocolate" pint for our bedroom. It was way to dark for the walls but was PERFECT for the vanity. I just love it. It only took the pint to paint the whole thing. Since mine turned out so well I got 2 "navy" sample to do the kids' since theirs is bigger than ours. I just love theirs too!

Our vanity tops are marble so I do not want to change them even though they are "slightly" outdated in their color schemes. Ours is a swirl of aquas, off-white and light tan. And the kids' is a swirl of greens, off-white and light tan.

I decided that a dark contrasting color on the vanity base would be fine as long as the wall color was chosen from among the swirls in the top. Eventually the walls in my bathroom will be "Aqua Smoke" and I think the kids will be "Pale Camel". Mine may end up "Pale Camel" too. The "Aqua Smoke is definitely going in my bedroom. My vanity area is actually a part of the bedroom. So, I don't know yet if I am carrying the color in there or making it appear separate. I am looking forward to that day when it is all finished. I have, however, come to terms with doing a little along the way.

since we've been home

I have been in major "do house projects" mode. I find that if I am being creative or getting things done that I am a much happier individual. So, Chip told me he was not doing any projects until all the clothes were washed and put away. He knew this would motivate me. Soon though I figured out that he said "HE" wasn't doing any projects. And that he did not say "WE". So, while he was out having a lunch meeting with our associate pastor I got after something I have been dying to do.

This here is a falling down planter box
in the middle of our patio

this here is after I hauled all the bricks away

this is after I hauled much dirt away
and smoothed it out

There is a stump in the middle that Chip has been working on. I am not quite sure how we are going to get it gone. But, the plan is to lay pavers in this square and make a pretty focal point to the patio while expanding our usable space.

Whooo that was a project. I worked up quite a sweat but it gave me a feeling of accomplishment. The box before was ugly and dangerous. I love making progress.

Day 29

I am HOME! I am sitting on my couch, not my bed. And we will be here for a good 3+ weeks. We may head to Mobile for a few days but here the majority of the time. I am so tired but energized that I am home.

Last night Nate had another hard night of not sleeping and Ella had a fever. Around 2am Chip just made the decision that we were leaving early. I was not that disappointed. I was sad though that we did not tell many people good-bye. All of the students were at work when we left. However, we will be back in about 4 weeks.

Day 28

More women time today that was really good. Then we had lunch with the speaker. She is a 57 year old lady who has been on staff with a ministry for 30 years with her husband. They spent 11 years in Indonesia and even followed the Lord's leading in sending two of their kids to bording school in Malasia while in Indonesia. It was a major faith lesson for her (and for all of us who were listening).

This evening I took some pictures of Ella & Totsky at the beach.

Day 27

Today started the Leadership Symposium. I did not know what to expect going in. I was much encouraged in a short 3 1/2 hours. I do not know about the guys time but I would not say the women's time was focused on Leadership as of yet. It was more focused on our character, heart, and intimacy with God. We also looked at the character qualities of Ruth and the impact she had in being the great-grandmother of King David. It was a lot and it gave me a lot to think about. I am looking fwd to tomorrow. Glad I wore my Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara. This stuff is awesome. It is waterproof. I normally hate waterproof mascara because it is so hard to get off. Not this. It comes off with warm water!

Day 26

FATHER'S DAY!

Happy Father's Day to the best daddy I could have picked for my three kiddos. He works hard day and night and yet is super helpful to me and the kids. They love time with their daddy--whether it is playing, reading, loving, resting, being outside, or doing nothing. They go nuts when he gets home...everytime he gets home. From him they will learn to love God & people, value family & friends, the importance of hard work, the fun of sports & just goofing off, the feeling of accomplishment when you do projects yourself, to appreciate a well-manicured lawn, along with many other things.You are loved and appreciated much!

Thank you for all you do. I could not find a pic with all three kids so I thought this would be funny

Thank you too to my daddy. Who prayed for me since before I was born. Who taught me the importance of God's word and the Body of Christ. And who prayed for my husband too! My children will also learn much from you. I love the time you get to spend with them.

Day 25

Much of the staff left today. We stayed to go to a Leadership Symposium next week. A new group of kids came today and my kids are so excited.

on a side note:

I bought a chandelier off of Pottery Barn Kids online clearance for the kids' bathroom. Our bathroom light fixtures are awful and they are centered above the mirror and sink area. I did not know what to do in their bathroom till I saw this light. I have been looking at old pictures of the kids that were taken in the bath tub or in a hooded towel etc. This will be the theme of their bathroom. I still do not know what color to paint the walls. PBK has been doing white or off-white walls with a colored trim in kids rooms/playrooms. Thinking about that. Anyway, I say all that to say I am looking fwd to getting home and tackling that project. This is it except ours is navy blue. I would have loved red but it was gone. And for $39.99 I could not pass it up.

Day 24

New floor in my room--laminate. It is so nice and clean! Too bad the pipes broke 3 weeks into the project. :)

Project picture night which means...family picture night.

Day 23

Lately at night the kids get to play a little after dinner because it is so bright and they are so wired it just seems to early to go to bed. This however seems to backfire in my household. Nate goes to bed early most nights and then gets rudely awakened by a combination of: a light being turned on, giggling, fighting, spankings &/or crying. Last night Chip had enough and told them, "That's it. You will not go outside tomorrow to play!" I am in the other room thinking, "That sounds like a great plan for someone who WILL BE AT WORK ALL DAY!" I told him that was punishment for me too but that I would do it. So, as our friends played we stayed inside. There was much whining and crying going on. Around lunch I had had enough. I lost it a few times.

Once they were down for nap I just had to escape to the blazing heat of our "front porch" and cool off. I ate a yummy wrap and drank ice cold water which made me happy. Then I pulled out The Valley of Vision that Jill gave me for my birthday. It is a collection of old Puritan prayers that are rich. I usually turn to Sections 2: Redemption & Reconciliation; or Section 3: Penitence & Deprecation. Today was no different. I read three prayers that I am going to share. They were great for me and I know some of you will benefit from all or part of them as well. I hope this wets your appetite enough to click on the link and purchase a copy for yourself or someone you know--or even just to fall at His feet and pray.

The Convicting Spirit

THOU BLESSED SPIRIT, AUTHOR OF ALL GRACE AND COMFORT

Come, work repentance in my soul;
Represent sin to me in its odious colours that I may hate it:
Melt my heart by the majesty and mercy of God;
Show me my ruined self and the help there is in Him;
Teach me to behold my Creator,
His ability to save,
His arms outstretched,
His heart big for me.
May I confide in His power and love,
commit my soul to Him without reserve,
bear His image, observe His laws,
pursue His service,
and be through time and eternity
a monument to the efficacy of His grace,
a trophy of His victory.
Make me willing to be saved in His way,
perceiving nothing in myself, but all in Jesus:
Help me not only to receive Him but
to walk in Him,
depend upon Him,
commune with Him,
be comformed to Him,
follow Him,
imperfect, but still pressing forward,
not complaining of labour, but still valuing rest,
not murmuring under trials, but thankful for my state.
Give me that faith which is the means of salvation,
and the principle and meduim of all godliness;
May I be saved by grace through faith,
live by faith,
fill the joy of faith,
do the work of faith.
Perceiving nothing in myself, may I find in Christ
wisdom, righteousness, sanctification,
redemption.

The Cry of a Convicted Sinner

THOU RIGHTEOUS AND HOLY SOVEREIGN,

In whose hand is my life and whose are all
my ways,
Keep me from fluttering about religion;
fix me firm in it,
for I am irresolute;
my decisions are smoke and vapour,
and I do not glorify thee,
or behave according to thy will;
Cut me not off before my thoughts grow
to responses,
and the budding of my soul into full flower,
for thou art forbearing and good,
patient and kind.
Save me from myself,
from the artifices and deceits of sin,
from the treachery of my perverse nature,
from denying thy charge against my offences,
from a life of continual rebellion against thee,
from wrong principles, views and ends;
for I know that all my thoughts, affections,
desires and pursuits are alienated from thee.
I have acted as if I hated thee, although thou art
love itself;
have contrived to tempt thee to the uttermost,
to wear out thy patience;
have lived evilly in word and action.
Had I been a prince
I would long ago have crushed such a rebel;
Had I been a father
I would long since have rejected my child.
O, thou Father of my spirit,
thou King of my life,
cast me not into destruction,
drive me not from thy presence,
but wound my heart that it may be healed;
break it that thine own hand
may make it whole.

The Awakened Sinner (my favorite so far)

O MY FORGETFUL SOUL,

Awake from thy wandering dream;
turn from chasing vanities,
look inward, forward, upward,
view thyself,
reflect upon thyself,
who and what thou art, why here,
what thou soon must be.
Thou art a creature of God,
formed and furnished my Him,
lodged in a body like a shepherd in his tent;
Dost thou not desire to know God's ways?

O GOD,

Thou injured, neglected, provoked Benefactor
when I think upon thy greatness and thy goodness
I am ashamed at my insensibility,
I blush to lift up my face,
for I have foolishly erred.
Shall I go on neglecting thee,
when every one of thy rational creatures
should love thee,
and take every care to please thee?
I confess that thou hast not been in all my thoughts,
that the knowledge of thyself as the end of
my being has been strangely overlooked,
that I have never seriously considered
my heart-need.
But although my mind is perplexed and divided,
my nature perverse,
yet my secret dispositions still desire thee.
Let me not delay to come to thee;
Break the fatal enchantment that binds
my evil affections,
and bring me to a happy mind that rests in thee,
for thou hast made me and canst not forget me.
Let thy Spirit teach me the vital lessons of Christ,
for I am slow to learn;
And hear thou my broken cries.

Day 22

It is time for another Wednesday off day again. I must admit that it seems like we just had an off day. I think with the older kids going away for the weekend made the time go faster or something. Anyway, we went with two other families to St. Andrews State Park for several hours this morning. Before today I was really wanting to hurry up and go home. After today I am really going to just make the most of the next week. We are home a good 10 months of the year. I need to just enjoy a measly 4 weeks in the Redneck Riviera. At home we would not swim daily OR drive 10 minutes to the beach OR sit out every night talking to friends while our kids ride bikes with their life-long buddies ALL WHILE watching students lives change for Christ.

A dose of perspective is good for the soul every now and then.

So here is our day in pictures!

Daddies are fun! They dig deep holes!

Streed cracked me up. He was so scared when going to snorkel.
I asked him what he was scared of. He wispered, "the bad fish".

Nate looks like he is carrying an imaginary football
and forcefully making his way to the end zone

Here is Ella looking like she has never before
seen a camera. Really she is thinking,
"woman, could you please!"

Streed cried this morning when I told him Bailey
was leaving this Saturday. That makes me
really sad too. He loves his staff friends.

I could have stayed longer but Chip had to make his 1:30pm tee-time. (I mean, it is HIS off day and he has not played ONCE this summer) It is good we left when we did because the kids really were getting too much sun. See!
This place was great. It was behind the jetty's so it was really calm and really shallow. The kids could walk out probably 100ft and be completely fine. You could also snorkel over by the rocks. My kids did not really care about that too much. I think I had more fun than they did. It was way more relaxing than even going to the pool here. I did not have to wrestle with Nate at all!

We came back "home" to bathe them and put them down for a nap. After we turned off the bath faucet we could still hear water running. And the carpet by my bed was soaked. Chip immediately ran to the office. The owner quickly got a plumber here. And now the wall looks like this:
As I have been writing this post the plumber has been fixing the leak. It is repaired. Now the wall will need to be repaired. And the owner wants to rip out the carpet. So, this means we potentially will change rooms. Chip does not want to. I do not care either way. Since some of the staff are moving out Saturday we may try to just make it to then and then move to one of their rooms. We are on the back of the hotel. The only available rooms right now are on the front--on Front Beach Rd. It is so loud! I do not want to move rooms twice. We may just camp out in the kids room for a few days! :)

Day 21

The day is dawning and I am just rising with a UTI, a UTI ...

Thankfully my doctor's office in Hammond is awesome and called me in some meds to the Walgreens here. Plus I went to Wal-Mart and got some OTC pain killers and some good ole cranberry juice. So, I am good to go now!

Day 20

And Chip still cannot remember to take a key with him when he goes running before 7am. And then he comes back and knocks on the door and wakes up Ella of all people . And then he decides to wake me up (after I let him in and then went back to sleep) to tell me he is getting in the shower. He had serious brain lapse this morning.

Day 19

19 days. Does that sound like a lot? I think it does. 11 more to go. The staff actually leave project this coming Saturday. But some of us are staying extra for a Leadership Symposium. My sister is coming to babysit while I am at the meetings. It will be fun. Staying here those days will be interesting. 7 people in 2 rooms.

As far as the project goes, I have nothing to say. I wish I knew more in order to communicate but I just do not really know. I basically just do "normal" life here. I have been so out of the loop for the past few years that I do not know many of the students. For former project attendees you will understand my terms. It is a small project (40 students). This is great because people hang out a lot during their free time. It makes for a really close-knit project. The room leaders area actually team leaders and vice versa. They live with their discipleship groups. They do not work with them because they attend the staff meetings. I think it is a great idea. We have been tweaking things the past few years--schedule, leadership, dress code etc. We change things and then change them back the next year. CO Gulf Coast is in and has seemed to be in a changing pattern for a while now. This year is no different. The only constant has been change.

Day 18

before heading to the wedding
on my favorite swing
I take pictures of all the kids here

at the wedding--
Trying to eat, chat and contain Nate

3 Southeastern Grads--former neighbors and friends

My cutie

Enjoying a roll, a chicken tender & Byron's phone
(former CO staff member)

5 minutes after we left the wedding

...after he awoke
Eating a TWIX on the way back to project...
anything to keep him from whining

Wedding day for Lindsey, a former Southeastern Louisiana student--involved with CO and our old next door neighbor. It was really sweet to watch her sitting on the lap of her new husband, with tears in her eyes, while her sorority sisters sang to her. I remember talking to Lindsey and another student (one of her bridesmaids) after their first sorority meeting as pledges. They were in tears thinking they had made the wrong decision to join a sorority. Jill and I talked and prayed with them about the impact and fun they could have. They stuck it out and really enjoyed their time as Theta Phi's. I also remember talking to Lindsey in 2005 on her first beach project after she met Adam, developed a crush yet all the while never thought she would have a guy like him.
4 years later they are husband and wife!

Day 17

Time is moving right along. We are in Dothan again. Brought the kids here again because we are going to a wedding in Montgomery on Saturday. We are taking Nate with us but the other two went with their Nana & Papa to visit Aunt Jodi and Uncle David for the weekend. So, we are enjoying our short time at a clean house with one little pack-n-play baby that goes to bed early and sleeps all night.

Day 16

my camera was foggy from just coming outside
but you get the idea

Day 16 was actually 2 days ago. Oops. It was my friend Leanne's birthday. One of the staff girls baked 2 cakes in my room for the project to eat in honor of her day. So, my room smelled divine--I love birthday cake! I knew I was not likely to get any of that cake since it was going to be at the rally and I was not. It was in my mind to run to wal-mart and get some cake. I battled for a little while and then my lack of self-control won. Ella and I loaded up at 7:45pm while Streed played outside with the other kids. We came home at 8:15pm with some cake for everyone to share. That's right, at 8:15 the kids chowed down on some chocolate cake. Then we ushered them off to bed. Nice. I was too selfish to eat mine with the vultures hovering so Kim and I waited till they went to bed. That's right, I ate cake at probably 9:30pm and then ushered myself to bed. Nice.

ps--I found some small pieces of cake already cut, portioned, and packaged for 2 adults in the bakery section for $1.50. I am glad and not-so-glad that I found that.

Day 15

Off day #2. We took the kids to the Sunspree. They loved having Daddy there. It was work for me because Nate just wants to do things he cannot do yet. All in all it was a good time.

That night we went out with the Louisiana staff. (one couple was missing & one guy is in Brazil) It was a fun environment on a high deck over looking the gulf. I should have taken a picture of the kids with their baby sitter when I got back. They had such a good time. They fight me and try to make me feel guilty for going out but when we are gone they have a blast.

Day 14

Nothing really significant to share. Normal day. I did attempt dinner with the students again. It went much better this time. Afterwards we let all the kids play outside at the hotel in that big field. Soccer turned out to be a disaster. The girls thought they were being left out. We tried duck-duck-goose and kicking the soccer ball in a circle. I was just trying to give them a break from riding bikes on the concrete. Oh well.

I spent the latter part of the night looking at homeschool curriculum online. I am definitely going to attempt it now that we live in Baton Rouge. The kids will attend preschool but I may start at home with Streed next year.

Day 13

The kids went to VBS today. I volunteered. Chip actually asked me in front of the Children's minister if I would volunteer. I ended up working the nursery. If you volunteered your young kids got to go to the nursery. I really needed to because Nate is still super fussy. This was not my ideal situation but I am glad I did. Because now I know I will not volunteer again. It wasn't terrible but it was 4 hours in one room basically. I think my kids will have more fun just being at the motel.

I spent $2.25 per load of laundry today. But we had to wash towels desperately.

Chip took the kids swimming today. I walked Nate out there after his nap. He was not dressed for the occassion. His little Luvs held up quite nicely.
Ryan & Leanne volunteered to keep our kids tonight. The students had their discipleship groups so the staff was free. So Chip and I went out to eat for an early birthday dinner.

Day 12

I have been saving this picture for a day when I had nothing to say.

I call this our water feature. This is the constant state of the faucet in our room. This is as far off as I can turn it. So I hear a constant hum as water is pouring into the sink. I am so used to it now that I rarely ever turn the water "on" anymore. The stream is enough to wash my hands and wet my toothbrush.

Day 11

pretty landscaping and carousel

In Ashford it was all about Streed and Ella. Down here it was all about Nate. He woke up at 4:15am with a fever but after Motrin and some lovin' he went back down till NINE am. I was so refreshed! The three of us went to Chick-fil-A for breakfast then to Pier Park for a little escape. We love this place. It is such an awesome addition to Panama City Beach. Nate got some new kicks from the Crocs store, a new do from Cost Cutters, and some new digs from Carter's. After his nap I took him to the Holiday Inn Sun Spree to play in Kidland. This was his first experience there. It was fun for him.

Day 10

Took the older kids to the grandparents' today. They will stay for the weekend. Nater is still not himself. I think he is getting his molars too which is causing some major pain.

So, this is what my weekend will look like...

Day 9

It started for me at 5:30am when Nate woke up crying. He was on fire. He only wanted me most of the day. I started the antibiotic this morning. By this evening he was starting to perk up a bit. And it rained today. So, while Nate was taking his morning nap the kids and I made the most of it. I found some great sites from a friend of a friend. We did several alphabet games online as well as learned about some animals on National Geographic for kids. After dinner the kids and I took a nice walk. It felt great. I really want this to be a part of our lives...early dinner then walk. All I have to do is make it happen.

I give God thanks for giving me the energy I needed for today.

Day 8

even her little sandy buns are cute

The first OFF DAY for Chip since we got here! So, we (I) were (was) super lazy this morning. Chip actually went to the gym. Then we went to the beach with some friends. It was overcast much of the time which was nice. Not so nice for Chip's back. Those bad UVB rays scorched his back. It was the kids first time at the ocean this year. They loved it. It took them a little while to get used to it. But, if they were with Chip they were fine. That was about the extent of our day, except a trip to Wal-Mart for me and then a trip to the After-Hours clinic for Nate & Me. He woke up from his afternoon nap with a fever and I thought he may have an ear infection. I was not really impressed with the care we received there. They were nice and the facility was great. However, Nate still had a 100.3 fever after being on Motrin for an hour. All the PA told me was that he may be in the beginning stages of an upper-respiratory infection and here is your antibiotic scrip. It is just sickening how quickly antibiotics are handed out. I filled it but am going to wait and see how he does through the night. I personally think he is at the beginning of an ear infection. Mom does usually know best. No offense Shana. I was wishing you were there to look at him. I know you would have done a much more thorough job.

Day 7

We got out a sprinkler today
trying to kill time before naps

what i do during naps--
i don't have to always sit outside
now that we have our second room

what i found when i opened my new box
of diapers tonight. i was shocked

somebody snuck that in i am sure

how i have to bundle up in our room
thanks to the frigid wall units
i guess i should be thankful it is not hot

i was listening to a sermon from our home church in BR.
they are preaching a series on the "psalms of ascent"
Psalm 120-134
i never knew what that meant till a few weeks ago

check it out at:
thecornerstonechapel.org/blog