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Our vanity tops are marble so I do not want to change them even though they are "slightly" outdated in their color schemes.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.