Too Many Thoughts

My wireless router died so my laptop use was minimial for the past week or so. Plus, I just haven't felt like blogging. I have too much on my mind and no idea how to condense it enough to make any sense to anyone but myself. So, instead I will just post pictures. We have now had 5 weekends in a row of snow. This is very unusual for Denver. I miss the sunny warm days that usually come to melt the snow between storms. Matthew and I built a cardboard castle in the basement and I managed to get myself inside with Tyler in my lap. We had fun until I started feeling claustrophobic. Matthew is wearing his Frog halloween costume.

Hearts

I love this story sent in my weekly e-mail from MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers)

Hearts by Jolita Peterson, Council Coordinator

"Feel my heartbeat, Mommy!" My five-year-old daughter grabs my hand and places it upon her chest so I can feel the rapid thump-thump beneath my fingers. She is fascinated by hearts - both kinds. She loves to get out her Human Body book and look at pictures of the human heart with its valves and chambers. She enjoys my (rather limited) explanation of how the blood gets pumped throughout the body. She also adores the I-love-you kind of hearts and practices drawing them at any opportunity. I was out of town for a few days recently and returned to find all the mirrors in the house covered with "I w U" written with dry erase marker in kindergarten scrawl.Someday she will ask me about the connection between the heart organ and the heart symbol for love. Someday I will tell her that my love for her is as much a part of me as the blood that flows through my veins. That I began to love her from the moment that my blood began to nurture her body. Someday she will know that I love her so much that I would shed my lifeblood in order to protect her. That love and life are intricately connected in a way that goes beyond vital organs and written symbols. Someday she will understand how very much I love her. Until then, I'm content to demonstrate my love in ways she can understand.I put love notes in her lunch box, cuddle her when she is sick or sad, and kiss and hug her every chance I get. I do my best to listen to her when she has a story to tell (even long and boring ones) and to be patient when she is grouchy (I don't always succeed at that one!). Someday, (all too soon!) these opportunities will be gone and I'll be looking for other ways to show her my love - from my heart to hers.

New Year, Old Friends

Steve and I had the pleasure of spending a brief visit with our old friends Brad and Debbie Ellgen last weekend. Brad was preaching at our church as he and Debbie prepare to go to Germany with Cadence Internationl Missions to run the Baumhalder Hospitality House to serve the army base there. I came away from our visit with a lot of great memories and a fresh reminder of the type of people I want in my life. Brad and Debbie had a profound impact on Steve and I when they were leading the "Change Point" singles group at our church 7-10 years ago - where Steve and I met and started dating. Brad is so down to earth, real, and approachable in his personality and his teaching. There have been very few people in my life who could reach to the core of who I am and make me laugh and want to follow God more than Brad and Debbie. Their lives are about ministry - best done over a steaming cup of coffee or hot meal in their home. I miss them dearly and relish any time that I get to spend with them. I pray God's comfort, strengh, and love for them as they move so far away. The best part of technology is that in a strange way they will still be close through, of all places, their myspace sites.

Snow and Water

Yes, the news reports are true. Denver is getting the second major snowstorm in two weeks and we all have cabin fever. Today was the pinnacle. I got out in the jeep to get us some water and movies. When I got home I placed the five gallon bottle of water on Matthew's wooden stool in the kitchen. About an hour later I heard a noise and rushed to the kitchen to see what Matthew was doing. I got there just in time to see the five gallons of water spilling out of the broken bottle all over the kitchen floor. Dinner didn't get on the table 'til 7:45 after I got most of the water vaccuumed up. Ah well...tomorrow is another day. I have to find a way out of this house!!!

Mr. Fix-it

Matthew got "power" tools for Christmas and he is helping Daddy.

Merry Christmas!!

We got so busy opening gifts I forgot to take pictures - but we did get 60 minutes of video! This is after the present festivities. Tyler loves his new toy!

I couldn't get Matthew to stay still to take anymore photos. He was running around the basement "dancing" to Daddy playing rock n' roll.

Like, dude, what's up?!?!

I Agree with Emerson!

I found a book of quotes all about boys and can't seem to stop myself from sharing them all with you! One of my favorite I quoted to Steve last night after we got both boys to bed.

"There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

That sends a little chuckle through me!!! :-)

Sweet Baby - 4 Months

Tyler is now 4 months old. Hard to believe! He is growing so fast.

Baby Boy

A beautiful treasure,

more precious than gold.

My own baby boy,

to love and to hold.

Like Father, Like Son

We gave Matthew a toy guitar for his birthday. He has barely put it down! We fashioned a "strap" from a belt so he could be just like Daddy. He kept asking Daddy to take him to church so he could play guitar with Daddy's friend Mike and Paster Scott.

Happy Birthday, Matthew!!!

Our sweet Matthew turned 3 today. Because of the 2006 blizzard we thought Steve might have to work Friday and Saturday so we celebrated yesterday (12/21). This dear boy is made of opposites. One minute he is telling me "you're really nice Mommy" while stroking my face and the next he says "I hate you, that is not fair!" trying to hit my back. I try to remember the former and forget the latter. He is growing up so fast and his little mind is working so hard to understand the world around him.

He is CONSTANTLY asking questions - seemingly in staccato succession
what is that mommy?
what is that sound mommy?
what did you say mommy?
are you ok mommy?
what are we doing today mommy?

and if I don't answer right away he keeps asking the question until I respond. Fortunately he is mostly past the "Why?" stage. We had a running joke... when he would ask why over and over I would finally tire of giving a real answer the dialog would go like this:

Matthew: Why?
Mommy: Because elephants are pink.
Matthew: Why?
Mommy: Because clowns are funny.
Matthew: Why?
Mommy: Because horses fly.
Matthew: Horses don't fly Mommy! - giggles and giggles.

Matthew, may you never loose your inquisitive delight in life and learning. Daddy and Mommy love you soooooo much and want to teach you and guide you with humility remembering that ultimately you are God's, lent to us for a few brief years to love and then let go.

BUILD ME A SON, WHOSE HEART WILL BE CLEAR,

WHOSE GOALS WILL BE HIGH, A SON WHO WILL

MASTER HIMSELF BEFORE HE SEEKS TO MASTER

OTHER MEN, ONE WHO WILL LAUGH, YET NEVER

FORGET TO WEEP, ONE WHO WILL REACH INTO

THE FUTURE, YET NEVER FORGET THE PAST.

-AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Peace

There is a beautiful commercial on TV that shows sleeping babies with "Silent Night" as the only sound...although I can't remember what product is being promoted. I love the commercial because SLEEPING babies are so sweet, but I got to thinking about babies in general - how few worries they have and how little stress shows on their sweet faces.

Then I got to thinking... isn't that how God wants us?

He wants us resting in his perfect peace, safe in his loving care with full surrender to his will and full assurance in his perfect plan. Too bad it is so hard to get myself out of the way to experience that peace more often. I want to remember that state of peacefulness this Christmas and carve out those moments when I can experience his perfect peace.

Thoughts on Boys

Boys are found everywhere

on top of, underneath, inside of,

climbing on, swinging from,

running around or jumping to.

A boy is truth with dirt on its face,

beauty with a cut on its finger,

wisdom with bubble gum in its hair,

and the hope of the future with a

frog in its pocket.

-Alan Marshall Beck

Life is either a roaring ADVENTURE, or nothing.

-Helen Keller

A boy's will is the wind's will. And the thoughts of youth

are long, long thoughts.

-Henry Wadworth Longfellow

NOBODY KNOWS WHAT A BOY IS WORTH,

----------------------------------------

WE'LL HAVE TO WAIT AND SEE,

----------------------------------------

BUT EVERY MAN IN A NOBLE PLACE

----------------------------------------

A BOY ONCE USED TO BE.

Tyler 3 months

He's such a happy guy!

Tyler has lots of bodyguards!! ;-)

Snow Days

Matthew loves the snow, especially falling down and pretending he can't get up!

Thanksgiving

We went up to Loveland, CO for Thanksgiving this year with our friends Doug and Sherilynn Zerbst and their two kids Savannah and Jeoffery. It was great to have two playmates for Matthew and Sherilynn loved holding Tyler for her baby fix. They made most of the dinner - I think I would have lost my mind had it been all up to me. Matthew "helped" me make the apple tart. He ate all of the left over pie crust - brought back great memories of when I used to do the same as a kid.

November 2006

Matthew decided both he and his brother needed to be in the bed. Tyler was telling me a story and Matthew thought the best photo would be with his blanket in his mouth.

Tyler looks a bit worried!

Tyler and Daddy - love the hands.

Matthew in his "spaceship".

Silliness

More pictures of the boys! Yes, that is underwear on Matthew's head. He was calling them his helmet and running all around the house. You have to make potty training fun some how!

Family Pictures

Matthew wouldn't let me take a picture with his pants on. It was only after he got his sucker for pooping in the toilet. Toilet training is soooo fun!

Matthew took the picture of Steve, Tyler and I. He did a pretty good job.

Mischief

I went looking for Matthew after realizing I hadn't heard him for a while and found him in the garage "painting" my car with spackle. I decided to take pictures for evidence and memories later in life.

Halloween

Matthew and I carved a pumpkin and put it out by the front steps - the next morning we came out to find the face had been eaten by the squirrels. Bummer!




We went trick or treating to some of our neighbors. Matthew keeps asking when were going again. Sweet Tyler put up with the idea of being an ice cream cone - as if obliging his brother.