Favorite Child

I have heard several times that every mother secretly has a favorite child. At first I was thinking that is crazy! The more I have thought about it though, I agree. I do have a favorite child. It is the one who isn't throwing a fit at that moment. Who is obeying. Who comes up and cuddles. Who is kind to someone new at school. Who is running crazy through the house crazy like. The one who is sensitive because someone was mistreated. So yes you may have figured it out. Both of my kids are my favorite. It is because they are different and have qualities that are different and make them individuals and so very precious.

God can change you 2

I have to give you a warning. One thing that happens when you open your heart to the Holy Spirit to come in and work through you. Well, you may get put into uncomfortable situations. Ones that aren't always in your "Spiritual Gifts" column. This has happened to me lately. So, the neighbor boy is good and all that. And my husband and I are really called to a group of non christians. Not totally sure how it all happened it just did. It started out (however) and we really gravitated to the 3 couples in the group who had kids. They were close in age to ours and they all played well together. Well the one lady whom I felt I knew the least. Her son is younger and they live out in Turner, where as the rest of us are west siders. Her and her husband came to the birthday dinner my hubby set up for me. Well, she plops herself right next to me and proceeds to tell me that she went to church on Sunday. I mentally made note not to let my jaw drop. And she was telling me that the pastor challenged them to choose a word for the year. She chose learn. She has one other friend that was a Christian, however, she had decided to become jewish and since that just didn't seem very solid to just switch that way. Well, she asked if I would mentor her and help her understand it all better. Yep thats right HOLY COW. If you know me, that isn't me. My spiritual gifts are not teaching, leading any of that. Now if you need me to encourage you, have faith or show hospitality. I am all over it. Needless to say I am freaking out and yet so excited that God feels like I can do this. We have invited one of the other ladies to join. Not sure if she will yet or not. Her husband has been asking mine questions and they do upward with us. But, since all that I feel like satan may be attacking her. Just strange things she is doing. So, I am praying harder for them and their marriage. So again I give you a warning be careful what you pray. And yet be ready for the ride of your life that God will lead you on.

God can change you!

God sometimes puts you in places or situations you didn't ask for and if you are willing he can use that for his glory. Last year I took two additional neighbor boys to school. Not a big deal. They were on time and easy. But they were off to middle school and so I was excited to have it just be my son. However, that was not to be. Right before the school year started our neighbor came down and asked if I would be willing to take his son to school and pick up. Here is a little background on our neighbor. First, they are nice and all and have been through so much. But, the little boy is rowdy, wild, and had no supervision. His mother had died before he turned 5. He lives at Great Grandmas house. With Grandma, dad, uncle, sister (17) and Brother (16) and himself. Needless to say he was at our house a lot and sometimes just wore me out. But, it is someone to play with and like Jim said. Would you rather not have a kid for our kids to play with? I know, at least they were always at our home and I could supervise. So, I begrudgingly said yes I would take him to school. Well, every morning I would pray for patience and that I would grow to care for him. I was encouraged by the people who told me good job. He needs this and my husband telling me I was becoming like a mother to him. Another neighbor saying they could tell he was with me a lot because he was getting Sparkman manners. (I expect my kids to have good manners) I started kind of side hugging him when he would come out after school. He started leaning in. He has started being even more respectful in the mornings and he LOVES good news club after school. So much that his grandma called and asked if he could go to church with us. Now you must know. I was still praying about him but I have grown to LOVE him!! I don't worry now about dropping him off after school if I have stuff to do. I just bring him with me. So of course I told his grandma YES he is more than welcome to come with us. The kids were estatic. They couldn't wait for Sunday. However, that first week was not to be. They overslept. That was okay. My kids cried and we prayed he would be able to come after Christmas since we were going to be gone. Well, last week I had to go to the church after school on Wednesday to set up coffee for my mom's group and so I took him with me. His grandma asked for the churches address so that maybe they could come. We got there and he loved it. Again we weren't doing anything amazing. There was no programs or anything. But he asked several times if he could come back with me. I said of course. Just come down Sunday morning. Well, he didn't come but I saw his dad and grandma getting in the car and figured they had something to do. Well, they did. They ALL came to church. They didn't stay for Sunday school so we are going to see if he can stay late with us but they all came. I am so feeling loved by the Lord in all this. That yes he can for sure use me where I am and how I am loving on the kids in my life. Jim and I have always said 2 kids was for us and we wanted to be open to having kids in our home that need us. I just didn't think it would be happening when ours were so young. So excited about his leading. I will post another one on some other things he is doing. :)

Another sad thing of Divorce

Our kids are growing up in an age where divorce is so "normal". I hear my kids playing it, they tell me when they get their new mommy or daddy. It breaks my heart. I explain to them that that won't happen to mommy and daddy. It is so sad to hear of separations and divorces of friends and people we know from church. It is so hard to here how they must have let their focus come off God. I know marriage takes a lot of work but it is so worth it. Now I know there are some situations where it is a must and it is safer for all involved.
So, I pray for our kids and that they realize how sad divorce is and that they should be so thankful that we have no plans for divorce. Today I think it actually sunk in to Riley how sad it is. I clean a new house where the dad was married before and his daughter from that marriage comes only a couple days a week and then he is remarried and has a son.
So as we are driving there and I am explaining who lives in the house. I left out the daughter. And she asked if they had a girl. I went into the divorce and remarriage and how there is a girl just not all the time. She got quiet and then she said, so she doesn't get to see her daddy everyday. I said no. Isn't that sad? She said yes that is really sad. Made me glad that she got it and yet sad that we even had to have that talk. And so happy that she loves her daddy SO MUCH she can't imagine not seeing him every day.

Christmas Baking

I was just thinking this morning as I looked around my kitchen. Why do we do all this Christmas baking. In my house I usually do sugar cookies and some gingerbread and chocolate covered pretzels. But each year I try something new. (tried some candy cane cookies, taste good don't look good) But as I looked at it all I wondered why? I don't enjoy eating it, except the pretzels, and no one else in my family does after the first day. So it ends up going to Jim's office or my neighbors. Which if they enjoy getting it then I am glad. I think I am going to slow down on the baking. I just isn't needed and I want less dishes to wash.

I know

Once again it has been to long since I posted. I don't know why I don't post more. I mean yes we are busy but so are all the rest of you. And I read a lot of your blogs at night. So no excuse.
We are happily preparing for Christmas. This year it is coming faster than I thought it would. However, we will be heading to Canada this year so I think that is why. I know Christmas can be so stressful for so many but for me it isn't. I really try to keep life low key. So when I say I am busy that means I cleaned one house that day (not my own), ran kids to and from school, maybe did some work for my husband at his office and then came home and played with the kids and tidied up our home. Okay so seeing it on there does seem like a lot. But most evenings are home and that is where I feel my days feel busy. Is if I do that all day and then have to go out at night.
Life is good. Christmas is coming. This is the first year in a long time my husband hasn't been stressed financially at this time of year. He usually is stressed with Christmas and finances and making it all work. This year God just keeps blessing us with work. Either cleaning jobs for me or more houses closing for Jim.
This year as a collective family we drew names. There are 8 of us adults. So that makes it nice. I only have to buy for one person. So much less stress. Jim will handle his man gift just fine to. So on the gift level we are just about done. So we are enjoying baking, listening to Christmas music and watching Christmas movies. Just such a great time of year. Hope you are all having a wonderful season.
Now just bring on the snow. But in all reality since we are traveling I would like it to wait until January. But I love the snow!!

Marriage

I again am going to go on a rant. But first I have to just throw some thing out there. I guess I am going to embrace this by typing it on here. I can't cook. I can bake and I enjoy it. But I can't cook. I again tried it last night. I thought fried chicken with mashed potatoes sounded good for supper. Yep, it didn't turn out. So I again am at least blessed with a family who is so gracious to me and they don't care and at least try everything I make.

On another note our chickens have started laying eggs. We have one that is ancona. We have named her Ramona. All the anconas we have had are super friendly and LOVE Brayden. That is why they are named Ramona. Because Ramona always chased Davie around the play ground trying to kiss him. Anyway Ramona is laying eggs now. How do we know they are hers? Well they are a light green. So for 13 days we have gotten light green eggs. So Riley has been saving them for something special. So we are going to make a cake. It will be fun. Again, I can bake. Just not cook. So the cake will be fine.

Now on to marriage. I may have ranted about this before but I just am so sad about it and how this has so affected society. Why as women do we not lift our husbands up. I have a t-shirt that says "My husband Rocks" I completely believe that my husband is awesome and he works so hard for our family. He plays with us and loves the Lord and is awesome. Now, I know not everyone has a great awesome husband. But, I believe that men tend to live up to what is given them. What I mean is if you are nagging them, down on every flaw they have, getting together with your friends and talking about all their problems and yours. You are for sure going to not see the amazing man for what he is. So, yes my husband isn't perfect. But I could focus on the negative or I could encourage and build him up. Which makes such a difference.

So my challenge to you is text your husband today. A fun text about how you think he is a Sexy stud, or he is your hunk a hunk of burning love. Or how much you Respect him and how hard he works to take care of your family. You will for sure see a difference.

Health food stores

I am a funny one at times I know. I think you would call me old fashioned at times and yet I am not totally there. I love technology and all it has to offer. (Except Facebook keeps changing and that is hard for me) I love that I can teach my kids where there food comes from first hand. Like they gather the eggs and we kill chickens and have them for supper. They go with me to the butcher to pick up the meat. I can and they also help with that and making jam. I feel like it is important for my kids to eat healthy. I however, don't buy everything organic or fresh or all that. I the other day thought it would be fun to make my own vanilla. Now the question was poised to me, Why? I didn't know just thought it would be easy and fun. However, after going to Trader Joes (which I LOVE) and them not having any vanilla beans. I went to a health food store here in town. I CAN'T STAND that place. I don't feel I have ever talked down to them but they always seem to talk down to me. AND it stinks in there. While there Riley had to go to the bathroom and even their soap stunk. They also had some strange things on the shelf. That is why I have decided that my family will eat healthy but if I have to go there to get the healthy stuff we can do with out. Now again Trader Joes will be fine. I can still get good healthy food other places. I think it also has to do with the fact I feel like a hippie in there.

Cooking

I have realized a few things about myself lately. I am working at embracing these things about myself. I don't stress about them. I am just not that type of person. I have realized that I am not a gardener. As much as I LOVE veggies grown fresh from the garden. I am not a gardener. I can grow a few things but what happens is I am all go in the spring. And then I forget to water them and well they die. So, I have accepted this about myself and am fine with it. Especially since my neighbors garden and do GREAT at it and they have more than enough and share their bounty. You see if I truly could garden then there would be so much bounty and it would go to waste. So I am really helping them out.
The other thing I have realized about myself is that I am not a cook. I am a baker. Not a cook. I don't like having all kinds of spices. I don't like how it smells. And it works great, my family are really basic eaters. We love Brinner (Breakfast for dinner) and we like the basics. I do try knew things and sometimes they are a hit. But I am just thankful that my family isn't picky that way.
So, even though I still make the attempt. I just know that I won't be like Giada, Martha or Rachel Ray. Oh well, I still love their shows. Great baking ideas.

My sister

I am sure most of you who read my blog know a little about my family. I would like to start off by saying they are the best. I am the oldest of 4. It is me then my brother Ryan, Sister Jodi and Brother Kyle. We are very spread out. I have been married just about 12 years and have the two kiddos. Ryan and Meggan live in Seattle and just got married a year ago. Then there is Jodi who is just about 21 and Kyle who will be 19 here in a couple weeks. My youngest siblings are closer in age to my kids then I am to them. (my Siblings that is)
The thing is. We are all very close. Even though Ryan and Meggan live 4 hours away we are all very tight. I do have to say technology helps that very much. We are a crazy texting family.
Anyway this is supposed to be about my wonderful and amazing sister. (Another thing you have to know about me is that I say that about all my siblings)
Jodi LOVES JESUS. She is 100% in love with him. I look up to her in that way. Nothing can keep her from doing what God has called her to do. She is thinking about doing a mission trip. Which we support completely. But can I stop for a min and say. I have been having doubts about it lately. She just took a temporary position at Western Mennonite in the girls dorm. Now again if you have ever met my sister. She is amazing. Young girls flock to her. Yep, that is right they flock. Because she radiates Jesus. So that is why I am having my doubts about her mission trip. She is so amazing with young people. ( Yes, I know she is still a young person) She is just so patient, loving and kind with them. Willing to give up her time to spend time hanging out with them, listening. Starting bible studies. Her passion is helping them grow.
So please pray for my precious sister. Pray that she listens and knows when, where and if she is to go.
Oh and on a side note she is a great Auntie. My kids are beyond excited for her to come over today. Another advantage to having younger siblings is they babysit.


The original four of us.

Us with our spouses

I am so doing this

I am not sure how to connect to other blogs but I found this amazing one on 21 days of Prayer for Sons. It starts Sept 6 and I am going to do it. Especially with school starting and I believe so strongly that God will and can do amazing things through prayer. I also feel like our sons are thrown so many things that girls aren't. Don't get me wrong girls are thrown a whole different load of things. I would also participate in one for girls. But I wanted to spread the word on this.
The website is Warriorprayers.com

Summer ending

I am a mom who LOVES having her kids home with her. I have been reading an amazing book about public school. It is called "Going Public" I am a mom who would homeschool if I felt called to it or felt it would be best for my kids. Purely because school is SOOOO long. I don't like being away from my kids. Every once in awhile for a date or something with my husband but on the whole being with my kids is what I prefer.
Anyway back to the book. It has really encouraged me about public school. As we get closer to school starting up again I start getting sad. My kids are growing up so fast. They will be in 2nd and Pre-k this year. I am not excited. So to ease the sadness I started reading this book that was highly recommended. It has encouraged me. Most of the things they are saying aren't new to me. They are actually the reasons Jim and I feel strongly that our kids should go out into the public system when they are young. Some of the ways they have handled situations that have happened have inspired me.
I am very sad summer will be ending and our lazy summer days will soon be ending as well. I am just glad God has cushioned that with his promises to love and care for my kids. He loves them even more than I do.
We are switching schools as well and so with that transition will be an exciting new venture of Moms in Touch. I am excited about getting to start off in a new group. They are just starting up this year. So I will be connecting with moms at a new school as well as covering my kids, theirs and the whole school with Prayer. It will be good.

Busyness

Isn't it crazy how our expectation of how things are going to go and how they actually go are two different things. Summer is here. The days are nicer and yet I feel like I am running non stop. I clean houses which is fine but I do a vacation rental that has been incredibly busy. Then we have had weddings and birthday parties, graduation for my brother and even a baby shower. July is looking better. Today is another busy one but with the promise of a down Sunday and a wonderful 4th of July. I LOVE 4th of JULY. One of my favorite holidays. Then on Tuesday we take Jim to the airport. Praise the Lord it isn't another 6 am flight. The kids can actually come. Then we will go to the zoo. I also LOVE the zoo. The rest of the week should stay fairly relaxed. Fun stuff but not over running stuff. More play and less work.
Then B goes to camp. So, Riley and I are going to play. I have noticed she is grumpy more and I am guessing it is because she isn't getting as much one on one. So that will be good. Then after camp we are going to Seattle and the beach and by then July is just about over and we will have Jim home again soon. August really doesn't have much going on which is great. One wedding and a adult weekend away.
Have a wonderful 4th of July. Hope you all get to be outside and enjoy the sunshine with friends and family. Go to a parade and have a yummy BBQ and fireworks. I know I sure will.

Summer

I am really enjoying summer so far. Not to hot. There have been rainy days however not to many. I really like not having to get up and out on time. I have been busy cleaning but yet even that is low key enough. I am realizing about myself that I like to get a lot done in one day. So, I have really been working at stopping to play. Today we put a ladder golf thing together and played. It was so much fun. Brayden also has had one birthday party already. (Jim is gone for his birthday) And recieved lots of games. So even though it was hard. I stopped putting the kitchen back together from breakfast and stopped and played a game.
Jim and I have been very busy with birthday parties, graduation (my youngest brother) and weddings. So, Saturday we will go to another. Then we are done for awhile. He heads off for a month with the Army. Not a big deal. But life is going to be crazy if you look at the calendar and yet so chill cause it is fun stuff. We are going to Seattle and the beach. B has camp and Riley and I have some play dates to catch up on.
I hope summer is treating you well also.

Camping

I love being outside. I enjoy hiking, walking, playing games, fire pits, sprinklers, trampolines, swimming, all of it.
However, as I have gotten older I have realized I don't LOVE camping. Oh it is fun to leave town and relax. But camping is a lot of work. As I have gotten older I have also realized that my body doesn't sleep well camping either.
So as we have done in the past, tonight we built a fire in our fire pit and enjoyed our dinner and smores. The best part. I got to have a hot shower and I get to sleep great in my own bed and if I have to go to the bathroom, It is right there.
Now I know with the kids that I have camping will happen again. However, until that happens. I hope to keep them happy with a fire pit in the back yard.
I was a great first day of summer vacation. Tomorrow my wonderful grandma comes. We are so excited.

Change

I am sure I have posted about this before but I don't like change.

School is almost out which I am thrilled about. Except that then Brayden will be in 2nd grade. He will no longer have Mrs. Huff. The BEST teacher. And we will no longer be at Harritt and he is growing up. All of those things make me very sad.
We have been so very happy at Harritt. The staff is wonderful, the kids are great. We are so fortunate to have had an AMAZING teacher. She is a wonderful Christian woman. She is very sensitive which is great. Brayden is as well. So even though I am excited to have the freedom and relaxation of summer. I am so sad to be leaving the group at Harritt. I am sad that Riley won't have Mrs. Huff.
Other changes that we have going on are Jim being gone. He has to leave for a month this summer. We are way bummed. I know that sounds silly since we have done so much time away. However in the last 2 years he has been home a lot more. So having him gone now is really weird. So, I am planning lots of fun times for the kids. We are going to make the most of it. It will be great.

We are very excited that Jim will be in town for the last of my siblings to graduate from High school. He was not here for the other two. And we are so proud of Kyle. He is amazing. We love him and how great he is. My other brother and his wife are buying their first house in Seattle. So I think on of the things the kids and I do will be to go visit. And my amazing sister is possibly going to head off on an adventure of being a missionary. We are praying so hard for her. She is amazing and would do awesome at it. Oh and my grandma is coming. We have her all set up to come and visit over Kyle's grad week. Very fun. The kids keep talking about all the stuff we are going to do with Nanny. I love my grandma and can't wait til she is here.

I was also so proud of my son tonight when he informed me that we should go to Africa. I asked why and he said well they need to know about Jesus. Love that kid.

Oh and to make sure I get this down so I don't forget. Brayden defended a girl at school. I guess she accidentally hit a boy while running and he was not happy and wanted to hit her. But B stepped in the middle and told him he can't hit a girl. Then spent the rest of recess making sure he didn't.

Feel very blessed to have such great kids.
There I think I semi got us caught up.

Suburbs vs. country living

I have made it no secret that I love country life. The simplicity of it and the joy of peace and quiet. I still love those things. However, today as I was cleaning out the chicken mess and picking up dog poop, I realized something. I really like living in town. I love that my kids love playing together in our good sized back yard. They have neighbor kids to play with. We live close enough to town that to run down the hill for ice cream or a movie we can.
I also believe I have mentioned how I am a hard worker. I am not afraid of hard work and do so whenever I need to. I realized today as I was cleaning out the chickens and pulling weeds, how much I like my nice sized yard and small flower beds and that the chickens are here just for a few more weeks. I like that for the most part my work load at home is simple, basic and not all the time. I am able to play with my kids and jump and swing with them.
All these things to say I am so thankful and content at where God has us. The other thing about country living is that it tends to be harder to be involved. So much more driving and planning and just work that has to be done.

Looking pretty

I clean houses. Not just mine. (Although that has suffered the last two weeks) But I do it to make extra money. I don't mind normally. However, whenever I clean a lived in empty house. I come home in almost a coma. It is HARD work cleaning other people's left behind dirt. It makes me feel 2 things: Dirty and that I am never going to move. I don't mind cleaning peoples homes that live there. The people I do on a regular is great. They all think they are SO dirty. They are so not.
Anyway. I came home from a 5 hour cleaning of an empty house yesterday and thought I was dying. My left hand and wrist hurt so bad. My knees hurt so bad. I fell asleep on the couch after the kids were in bed. (okay that happens often)
But today is a new day. I clean today but it is for my neighbor. They think they are SO dirty. Again they so aren't. She called me over yesterday for a disaster. I laughed. She said no Kristin, really it is a disaster. Again I got there and laughed.
Anyway after yesterday and longed to be pretty. I wanted a shower and lotion. Feeling much better this morning. But I will actually do my hair and I might even get all crazy and wear makeup.
Off for a fun day of bible study and cleaning. Then to Brayden's school choir concert.

Our new babies

I realized that I blog so much. (In my head) Then I sit down, I completely forget what I was going to write. Easter was nice. We weren't with family this year so that was strange. We have some great friends who are like family, so we were with them. It was nice.
We have started T-ball again. LOVE IT. It has been so fun. Jim is the HEAD coach this year. Brayden thinks that is so cool. I am the team mom. Not a major job but it is good. We have amazing parents and the kids are so fun.
I am craving sun. The sun was out on Saturday and it was so great. Just lifts the spirits and makes life great. However, thinking of places that are sunny all the time is a bummer. I love having our down rainy days at time. Don't get me wrong. It has been wet far to long this spring. Hoping for a stretch of sun. But, it does make me grateful for the rain and that it isn't snow. When I saw pictures from where I am from in Canada. Yes, that's right they still have snow. Even with the rain Easter would be very odd with SNOW.
Brayden and Riley shot the bebe gun yesterday. They had such a great time.
Anyway on to what I originally was posting about. We have chicks. We are enjoying them. The kids go in the shop and talk with them. Riley did rock in her chair next to them and sing. They will be here a little longer and then head to our dear friends, where we get all our eggs, and live with the bigger chickens. Chickens are so easy and really very friendly. When we go to our friends house they follow us around and chatter on and on to us. The kids run around on their 10 acres and the chickens go with them. The Black lab does not bother the chickens, so they come right up to the house and wait for us to come outside. The reason we need new chickens? Something is getting the other ones. Last year we started with 19. Then we had to "take care of" 4 roosters. Which left us with 15 and now we are down to 6. So we have 4 to add to it and are hopping that we can catch what ever it is that is taking off with them. We really like our farm fresh eggs.

Food

So, I enjoy food. I used to have a weight issue due to eating so much of what I loved. However, I was blessed with babies who sucked the fat right out of me and made me smaller post kids than pre kids. I am not normal I know and I am so very grateful. I have kept the weight off and have changed some eating habits. We also don't eat fast food. We have sandwich places but we don't eat at Burger king, DQ (except for ice cream) Taco bell or any of that. Occassionally we do have McDonalds for the kids. Jim and I usually don't get anything. Funny thing about taco bell, one of the kids friends was talking about Taco Bell and my kids asked what that was. I actually took them there because they didn't know. I did get a burrito. Ended up not feeling good the rest of the night.
I have noticed, it must be age, but things are changing. I can't eat much salt or I wake up with little sausages for fingers. (even though I drink so much water) I also have been finding that meat gives me heart burn. I also am having harder times with red sauces. I used to be able to go out and have a drink but now, I can still do that but even one drink wakes me up in the night and I can't fall back asleep. So, no alcohol for me. Not like I mind, never been much of a drinker. But don't like to miss out on sweet sleep. I also don't like donuts, pie and things that have that yucky filmy feeling that stays in my mouth. Not all of the stuff do I mind having problems with. I mean it probably helps my weight staying off.
I am just glad that my husband also has the same problem. Hey maybe it is me getting sick because he has had tummy issues for so long. I don't know. It makes me just want to eat cereal and fruits and veggies. I also think it is interesting how Riley doesn't really enjoy meat. She took one bite of her hamburger. But cleaned the plate of lettuce, tomatoes and cheese. I don't think that is bad. I am guessing we could be veggitarians. We eat enough peanut butter to cover our protein intake :)

Has this happened with anyone else? As you have gotten older has your tastes and tummies changes?
Oh and don't even get me started on hot dogs and asian food.