4th of July

We had talked about throwing a 4th of July Party. But with all the work that we've been doing in the yard and on the shed (that must read: we are exhausted!), we both figured it would be more overwhelming than fun.

So...last minute we decided to invite my parents and a couple of friends (the Crumleys -people who are like our second parents) over for an impromtu, very laid-back BBQ. We're all about laidback.

After eating, Mom pulled out some huge sparklers for the girls. Sparklers that put off way more smoke than sparkle.


Surprisingly, Selah didn'tt drop it. Even though it was HUGE. ...I'm thinking I might have been tempted to drop the thing as a young girl!

Hours later, as we watched the last of the televised revival in Lakeland, Florida (after 11pm...4 hours past bedtime), Selah fell asleep on Grandma's lap exhausted.

But neither girl wanted to go to bed. They were adament about watching all that was happening, especially since there were young children being baptized. (note: the other day they were baptizing each other in our pool...so to see it for real must've been pretty cool to them!)

I have no idea why I didn't get more pictures. But until I get some copies from Mom's camera, this is all I have.

First Time in the Pool

My girls would stay outside all day if they could. But it never happens because Mommy is only one person and Raegan needs naps. of the indoor variety.

BUT being that Daddy has been home and outside constantly, the day these photos were taken, the girls did just that. They maybe came inside three times: to go to the bathroom and to get their lunch to bring it back outside to eat it in their new playground (story later).

From morning to night, they ran from their pool to the playground and back again non-stop. Charis, incredulous at the end of the day, said "We've never stayed outside ALL DAY!" :)

So today, as Charis and Selah remained outside playing, I decided to give my youngest daughter what she wanted:

Swim Time with the Big Girls. God help me, because life in the Backyard will never be the same for any of us...


Let me in!! Let me in! I can do it, I promise.


Oh, okay. I can wait a minute while I finish this bad boy off. Mmmm

Can you see the joy?!

The "Oh yeah baby I'm chillin' with the big girls now" look?

The whole floaty bathing suit thing didn't last long. She kept lunging forward...in order to keep her from inhaling water, I had to be bent over the entire time. Not comfortable for anyone. Especially being 7 months pregnant.

So Hello Independent Mobility!

Out came the Heavy Duty flotation device. One complete with a steering wheel and horn. The girls LOVED it.

Screaming and yelling and pushing and pulling...

Raegan went after them like nothing else. It. was. hysterical.

My big girl swimmers....

Caught in their sorry attempts to avert Raegan's mad dash to run them over with her water SUV.



See that crazy look in Raegan's eye? yeah...gotta watch out for that one! She LOVED her privileged seating arrangement.

But all too soon, she realized that what she thought was fun was only a fraction of what the Big Girls were getting to do.

She wanted REAL freedom. The kind that didn't come with her "trapped" in a dumb ol' seat.

Amazing how fast perceptions of our situations can change. Because after she clued in that the grass was greener, she wanted "Out!

At least I was able to get a little video before the sad revelation occurred. :)

Update on Raegan Roo

It seems on a daily basis that my little Rae-Roo matures and develops into something less resembling a baby girl...

She's begun to really hug! I love love love this stage when the Littles first start to squeeze your neck. It's so endearing because the hugs are no longer one-sided.

Of course, there are times when Raegan does it because she doesn't want me to put her down or she doesn't want someone in the nursery to take her...but seriously, who cares?! :) The end result is still a death-squeeze of a sweet hug.

She has always been an easier baby. At least after the first 6 weeks, when Jet and I thought we'd die from sleep deprivation.

But since that time, she's gone to bed easily. Talking and reading in her bed before going to sleep. Talking and singing to herself when she wakes up in the morning, waiting for us to come and get her.

Jet and I have always made it a habit to put our girls down to bed early. Usually by 7 or 7:30 PM. I recently told someone (when questioned about the early time) that it's because Jet and I need a life outside of our children because we are still married...and not just co-parenting. Thus, our girls think anything experienced during the 8 o'clock hour is REALLY special. Like a sunset for instance...they never see one during the summer months.

Well as of last week, Raegan's newest bedtime ritual emerged because we kept them up a little later than usual. 7:45 PM!

Raegan walked into the room where we were all sitting. Declared "Night night!" Proceeded to dole out kisses to anyone within reach. And then, while continuing to yell "Night night!", she promptly walked over to the gate on the stairs to wait for us to take her to her bed!!!

It was the cutest thing ever!!

And the other day, as Jet was putting in a new door at my parents' house, Raegan did the same thing for naptime. She suddenly decided that I wasn't going to put her down and took matters into her own hands, running to "her" room at Grandma's. I came into the room with her trying to climb up the port-a-crib.

I don't think she could be any easier in the whole realm of sleeping. Of course we DID pray while she was still in the womb for a baby who needed lots of sleep. :)

She's also begun to speak in sentences (more than the rare times she did it some months ago). "It's a doggie!" "There's a baby!" "That's a no!"

Not surprisingly (with two very talkative older sisters), her vocabulary has, again, taken off as she is adding new words daily. At this point, there's no way for me to keep up with all that she's saying. She's already at the stage where whatever you say, she says it. Or will knock herself out trying.

And on top of her loving, smart side, her aggressive, bold nature continues to blossom. Usually it's a good thing. Yesterday, not so much...

I walked into the room to find her armed with a broom. hitting our ever-so-sweet doberman repeatedly on the head. He just looked at me pitifully, doing nothing.

Though he's large, he's relatively harmless. Unless you are a stranger and "his girls" are out in the yard playing. Then, not quite what I'd dub "harmless".

But regardless of his sweet nature with the girls, you have to consider it from her point of view. It's like she's looking up at a very large horse, showing no fear, and taking matters into her own hands by beating the large beast into submission.

Just to give you an insider's view at the size difference... here they are together a few months ago.

Bottom line, the girl is fearless.

Busy Busy

picture added just because it's stinkin' adorable...

Life continues to plow ahead.

These past few months have been crazy busy. Jet's job at the Engineering Firm is always hopping (huge understatement). Add the fact that he's juggling night school, we're preparing for our fourth baby, and I'm spending every night going over detailed planning for the upcoming homeschooling year, and you have one very busy family...

But as of two weeks ago, his intensive 5 week summer class is over. (insert large sigh of relief here) and he has 10 days off from work!!!

*Somewhere angels are singing the Hallelujah Chorus because I know we are!*

Lots planned for the next little while. Hopefully some of that will include my picking up the camera to take some pictures and blog for memory sake.

A Special Bond?

How can you not love this little face? Especially that sweet smile and those alluring dimples?!


She's sweet, to be sure! So when she suddenly looks like this...

And this...

It about breaks your heart. Until you find out that it's because she's being disciplined for biting this...


her sister Selah's knee.

Why she goes after Selah is a mystery to me. She loves her fiercely. Has been known to wake up in the middle of the night, calling for Selah's name. She follows her around her house, trying to emulate everything Selah does. Raegan's face literally lights up when Selah comes into the room.

Yet. When it comes to who she chooses to pick a fight with...it's always Selah. She goes after her time and time again. Usually bypassing Charis to go for Selah.

Thankfully, Selah is as sweet as she is patient with Raegan. How she does it, I don't know. Because I'm not sure I'd be so gracious after having my hair yanked out and teethmarks driven into my body.

The love of a sister is a mysterious thing.

Summer Days

Around here, Summertime gets comfortably predictable.

While Raegan naps, the girls play outside. Usually in their bathingsuits....

... eating Icees. Our snack of choice for hot, sticky days.

Before and after consuming multiple Icees, we play in and with and around the "Watering Hole".

Isn't that the cutest little hinney? :) I just want to squeeze her.

Of course, we don't always keep the water IN the pool. Sometimes you just gotta soak your sister. or your daddy. or the dog for fun. or even a small patch of grass for no reason at all.
Because when you are the one in control of the WaterHose, why relinquish the power? :)

A glimpse at our life today

I love these little faces. and their personalities. and the way that they interact with each other.

Jet and I just look at each other sometimes and say, "I seriously don't know how we could be any more blessed." I can say, without a doubt, that we truly love being around these little ones...watching them loving life together.

Raegan especially loves being wherever the Big Girls are. doing nothing less than exactly what they do. Not the easiest thing for me, trying to keep her from breaking bones as she tries everything her athletic sisters are doing. But it's definitely sweet.

Well. Or so I thought until today, when she started climbing on the girl's school table to be near them. We officially have our first Furniture Climber. Oh glory.

Charis

This little girl isn't so little anymore.

She is reading the book "Charlotte's Web". By herself. She reads outloud to Selah with more dramatic feeling than most adults. Seriously. (I don't know where she gets her dramatic flair *grin*) She is adding three numbers in her head. She tells me random bits of information that she reads in her library books during rest time; things that I didn't know. :) My motivated little learner is begging to do whatever school book I'll let her get her hands on. Makes homeschooling so difficult, let me tell you. *Yes, note the sarcasm*

She daily thanks Jesus for "making this world and all the people in it". I don't know why she first thought to pray that over our lunchtime meal, but I do know she has a genuine heart for others. She is truly truly concerned about how others feel...

For instance, the other day she and Jet were playing outside. And while they were racing across the yard, Charis stopped at her designated "finish line". Jet was unaware of this and ended up running right into her. knocking her over. falling himself. and kicking her head in the process. Poor guy, he was horrified. And she, obviously, cried.

But the first thing she said, amidst her sobbing, as Jet picked her up was "I love you, Daddy. I love you so much." She held no bitterness. no self pity. no anger. She just wanted him to know that he was still loved.

It truly amazed me because there I was, the adult, completely annoyed at him for daring to accidentally fall down and kick my precious child. Meanwhile Precious Child, the one who actually got hurt, was showing no sign of anything negative towards her Daddy. Amazing.

She has an intimate knowledge of Jesus. She has seen angels. And dreamt of heaven. I've asked her radical, far-fetched questions concerning what she saw, thinking that maybe, as a child, she'll go with whatever I say she saw. But, no, she is firm every time. She describes what she sees and nothing more. I know her eyes have been opened to a realm of glory.


I remember being her age. I actually remember being a lot younger. And I remember feeling so big. so grown up. very much my own person with my own thoughts, my own feelings, my own hurts when adults disregarded me because I was so young.

And remembering all of that, it's my heart to be careful to honor her for the person that she is. Today. Just as Jesus obviously loves on her and reveals himself to her regardless of her young age, I want to treat her and her thoughts and feelings with respect. In this season of her young life.

She is truly a precious, precious girl. And she's only five! I'm so very excited to see what God has in store for this little...or, rather, not so little...one.

In need of some caffeine

Oh, to have her energy.

I don't do coffee or sodas. We have caffeine-free tea, last I checked. So me? I get my daily dose of caffeine in the form of cocoa beans. Of the milk chocolate variety.

But regardless of where the 'bottled' energy comes from, I need it. Desperately. Because right now, I am so tired I can barely keep my eyes open, not to mention maintaining an upright position as I feel like I will fall over. Literally.

I am constantly eating, in attempts to bring up my energy level. but yet have no real appetite.  I'm thinking my already-fast metabolism has kicked it up another notch? Because today, I swear I'm thinner around the waist than I was yesterday. To the extent that it worried me... I went to lie down on the couch to make sure I felt our lively little girl kicking. I did. :)

I don't remember it being like this with Raegan?! Was I walking around like a zombie? Did I block that whole section of time out for sanity sake?

So for next time...here is documented proof that it did happen and all was "normal."  Though really, isn't everything considered "normal" during pregnancy?! (I.E. Usually my teeth and gums hurt. Shockingly enough, that has not happened this go round.)

I'm off to try and convince my littlest one to take another nap, even though she just got up from one. Ironically, my oldest two are sleeping soundly in preparation for tonight's sleepover at Grandma's house. And I, the pregnant zombie, am left alone to entertain a very active 15 month old.  :)

In the beginning...

"Let us make man in our image."

When I read this, I hear an excited statement. In fact, I can almost imagine God's sheer thrill by comparing it to what I see in my girls when they get excited about an idea: "Let's open our presents!" "Let's go get ice cream!" "Let's have a party!"

Their eyes light up. They clap their hands and jump around. They don't even try to hide the enthusiasm at the thought of what's about to happen.

This is exactly what I envision when I read the above words. God's excitement over what was to come. A physical indwelling of the Trinity, in the form of man.

Pretty sweet, huh? Creator of all the universe actually getting giddy over the thought of creating me. I know it sounds cliche, but try to wrap your brain around the depth of that thought. It's amazing.

But here is where my thoughts begin to shift...

Because, based on some things I've heard, this is where a lot of people seem to believe the "in his image part" of the story ended. I mean, sure God went on to create Eve, but only because he didn't want his Golden Boy to be lonely. Right?

So while Adam's got the Godly Mirror Image thing going on....Eve gets the left overs. The bit taken off of Adam's ribcage. He gets the glory covering. She gets the bone.

Kind of like the dog.

At least that's how I've felt concerning it through the years, whether by teachings or self-imposed interpretation.

Yeah, maybe it's hasn't been that blatant. But close. I mean, no one is going to compare a woman to a dog. But yet, the mindset that the woman is the lesser creation (gender) is a hard thing to ignore. In a lot of denominations, women don't speak. They don't teach. They don't lead. They are beautiful, for sure. But too emotion-driven for anything of concrete importance. anything worthy of true leadership role. And if they are allowed to lead, it is in the arena of hospitality. serving. cooking. children's ministries. You know, the basic household, homemaking skills put to good use. Only in God's house instead of their own.

But I just can't swallow that. At least not as a complete picture of what Godly women are being called to be by God Himself.

When God created Adam, He put in him the completeness (is this even a word?) of His likeness. He filled him with, what I would imagine, every aspect of the Person of God. His power. His depth of compassion. His warrior spirit. His beauty. His ability to rule over the earth. His creativity.

Adam was a complete image of God in and of himself. Until God said, I will make a helper fit for him (Gen. 2:18).

Yet, if you notice, God did not create an entirely different person. He didn't need to. For He had already spoken the perfect one into existence. Instead, God chose to tap into the depths of what was already in Adam: the full likeness and image of God.

Essentially, calling upon man to share in the task of being the complete image bearer.

And from what was placed in Adam... came Eve. Both incredibly different, yet both incredibly needed in order to complete a true representation of God, here on earth.


...These thoughts jumble around in my head for a few different reasons. Obviously one of the reasons being that I am a woman. A strong one. So I've had to come to terms with GOD's intent for my life as a woman. a life that He has filled with specific leadership giftings and callings.

But aside from that...aside from My life... my thoughts revolve around my family of GIRLS and how I regard that truth when raising four women-in-training. For I fully recognize that my mindset, as their mom, will essentially lay the ground work in establishing their mindset of themselves as women, in general. As Christian Women, specifically.

We've had many prophetic words spoken over us as a family (even before our first child was born) that we are a family of warriors. You know, those big bad soldiers who passionately and aggressively go after the enemy and take them down. Yep, them guys.

Only I do not have guys. I have my own version of Little Women.

So how do I balance knowing that God has, in deed, called us to be a family of warriors...and all but one are female? How do I teach my children to embrace their femininity in all its wonder, yet to not despise it when considering the leadership giftings I KNOW God has placed in them?

Because if they allow themselves to be held back from all that God has called them to be as his image bearers, they will be inadvertently withholding the fullness of God's image. And jipping the Church-at-large.

Lord, please continue to open my eyes to your heart for me as a woman, a warrior, a leader, and a mother. Show me how you don't compartmentalize these traits, but embrace them in their entirety. Show me SO I can "train up my GIRLS in the way they should go".

In the way that you have intended for them since the beginning.

Not so innocent entertainment

Some might say I'm over protective when it comes to my children. To which I have to say, "You'd better believe it! It's my job."

Do I try and shelter them from life? Hardly. It's our desire to introduce them to all types of people. all walks of life. all sorts of fun. To let them get really comfortable with the fact that there is a world full of crazy experiences awaiting them.

But in the midst of all that, to let them know, upfront, that there is a definite right and wrong way to interact with all that surrounds them. There is the choice to glorify Jesus in how we live our lives. Just like there is the choice to not. And regardless of what or how others live, we need to chose Jesus. We need to choose Life.

"I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your descendants may live..." Deuteronomy 30:19

Sadly, I find this concept especially trying as a parent when considering children's entertainment. The books. The movies. Even the TV shows that come on PBS... Take this example for instance:

The other day, I walked into the kitchen to hear Selah say "Charis, let's pretend to be a wit*ch."
"Selah! What did you just say?!"

She shrinks back because she knows that I don't agree with that type of play. I explain that, again, in the clearest way possible...and she begins to cry, "I'm sorry, Mommy! I'm really sorry."

Thus, opens a door for a discussion about Do*ra. Though that character may talk about wit*ches like they are nice, that is not truth. Because, in fact, they are people who do very bad things. They hate Jesus and all He stands for, period. And therefore, we will not try to be anything like them, even in play.

But I know it has to be so confusing as a child. You love Dora. You read her books. She teaches you Spanish and how to be friends with people who are different than you. Yet she's lying to me about a wit*ch being good? It just doesn't add up.

Will they still get to watch Do*ra? Yes. I actually like most of what she talks about on that program. But my children will be armed with the truth concerning the people who really dabble in wit*chcraft. And if an episode comes on involving wi*tches and such, we will turn it off.

But as Jet and I are considering what movies our girls can watch, we're finding it's less a matter of the blatant "Okay, so you cannot emulate Wi*cca." Rather, it's more often about the fact that I don't want my kids to think it's okay to treat other people like the interactions seen on popular children's TV programs.

More times than not, I'm hearing the words 'moron' and 'idiot' and a plethora of other put-downs mixed into the threads of a Disney movie. Or a PBS show like Ses*ame Street and Dor*a. ??!!Even phrases like "Oh my god!" or "What the?!" or "I hate you" have shot out at me from my TV screen. Definitely attitudes and actions that I don't want my impressionable little girls adopting into the framework of their minds.

And it's not like we have ANY channels. Not even PBS. We carefully screen the library movies we let the girls watch. But even then, those rude interactions and disrespectful attitudes pop up unexpectedly... :(

To me, it's sad to have to say "No" to Aladdin and Toy Story and...whatever other movie is popular and loved by so many of little people. Movies that I actually like, but am finding that I cannot, in good conscience, let my girls see now.

Because, honestly, the bottom line is that we want to train them up with the knowledge that they have to be careful concerning how their time and thoughts are put to use. We want to train them up knowing that if we want to be a family walking in the Power of God, we have to be a family dedicated to making sure our entertainment and free time and subsequent attitudes don't hinder the Holy Spirit.

So as Selah said tonight as we tried to watch Aladdin for the first time ever: "We'll have to put that movie in the yardsale. Right, Mommy?"

It's a hard call, but it's one that the Lord taught me not to long back myself...

Grandma Lovin'

My daughters wholeheartedly love their Grandma.

They act like her.

They dote over her.

And the highest praise of all? They hope to one day be like her.

Preggie Update at 26 Weeks

How is it possible that I'm almost ready to cross over into the Third Trimester?!

Because in a matter of days, I'll be on the last leg of this pregnancy!!  A pregnancy where, during the first trimester, all I could do was lay on the couch and cry "I don't think I can do this again" and "Is this ever going to end?!"

Yet...a few months and 15 lbs later, I'm thinking "I so could do this again" and "Time is hauling some major booty and racing by!" In no time, I'll be holding my little girlie.

But man oh man, I'm SO thankful that the whole sickness part did pass. Ick.  The older girls got so used to me throwing up that it didn't even phase them after a while.  I mean, yeah, they were still concerned and empathetic and all but not freaked out like they were in the beginning.

I'd come out of the bathroom and they'd say "Did you spit up again?" like it was nothing at all. *laughing*  In fact, the other night, I got sick out of the blue and Charis said, "You haven't done that in a while, huh?"  My little girls miss nothing.  I love that about them.

Though, I have to say, it does make it hard to get away with eating chocolate 13 waking hours a day. Which obviously I can't let THEM do and be the health-fanatic mother, can I?  Because here I sit eating off the last of the honkin' huge chocolate bar my mom brought back from London.  

Don't get me wrong, I'm NOT hungry.  At all.  But there's just this innate need for the hand to mouth movement to happen.  Over and over and over.  And what fun would that action be without a fist full of fat?  I mean, really!?

When a bunch of guys were over here the other night and dessert was served, I didn't have any.   It was one of those RARE moments of "Nah, just don't want any right now."  They were all like, "But you're pregnant! Can't you eat whatever you want?"  "You have your entire life to work it off."

I was like "People! Please, this is a rare moment of self-control and lack of pregnancy craving, allow me to revel in it."

But normally, I'm popping chocolate like it's my dying breath, as it's a constant craving right now.  So obviously, I'm not worried too worried about it.  Maybe tomorrow I'll actually put our weights and treadmill to use?  No wait. We have a party.  So Sunday maybe?  Well, that's supposed to be a day of rest. Wouldn't wait to break the Sabbath now, would I? :)

But one thing that I truly love about this stage of pregnancy is that when I wear fitted clothes, people know that I'm pregnant instead of just "bigger". 

Yet I'm still able to sleep on my stomach...which is my preferred position. I truly hate when that is no longer an option, as I can't sleep well on my back. So right now, with looking pregnant and sleeping well at night, I have the best of both worlds.

Anyway...that's the Preggo Update.

My Alma Mater Reunion

One of the ONLY normal pictures I took... ...of my dear dear college friends.

December of 1997, I graduated from a state university and headed out to Texas for a year-long training school with YWAM. I was excited about the next step in my life. I was all too happy to leave behind the endless exams, term papers, and deadlines.

But I was NOT looking forward to leaving behind my girls! The ones that I met being a part of the freshman Young Life meetings...and then later got to know on a deeper level as we all joined the university's chapter of FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) . These are the women that became my best friends during my college years.


This is us...after a LONG day of catching up. It's 10:30 PM. We're all exhausted. I'm getting ready to leave. And we suddenly realized that we hadn't taken any group pictures together. Thank goodness for Jana's automatic thing-a-ma-bob on her camera.



Though there were a ton of other girls that were a part of our close group of friends, these are the some of the ones that I hung out with the most. Stephanie, Serena, Heather, Wendy, Jana.

Boating. Long talks over a gallon of ice cream being passed around the apartment living room. Worship. Conferences. Early morning jaunts to the gym. Hanging out with the FCA guys. Getting dressed up for an 80s dance party. Sneaking around in the middle of the night playing pranks on said guys...

Wendy and I actually went driving for an hour, looking for roadkill to pick up. We finally found one very dead, very squished possum. Then, we proceeded to drop it off in a strategic and very specified spot near a guy friend's car as a 8 AM surprise. AND the two of us spent weeks collecting bags and bags of cut that was hair from different hair salons. Just so we could drive, by cover of night, to an apartment complex to slather "grease"...and hair on a guy's car. We never got a picture, but it was a Hairy Car! *gag*

Weren't we horrible?! ;)

But through all the crazy and hard and hysterical and heartbreaking times, these ladies meant so much to me. When I was in the process of ending a destructive relationship, these were my shoulders. my confidants. my encouragements.

When we were all fried from exam week, they'd be there to "decompress" with me. Laughter truly is the best medicine. In fact, I specifically remember Stephanie once telling me that she had read that 5 minutes of hard belly laughter was an amazing ab workout. Soo...being the intelligent, always-up-for-a-challenge women that we were, we layed on her bed and made ourselves laugh like hyenas for as long as possible. We had some pretty tight abs back in the day. *wink*

When we just needed to veg and have a Girls' Night, these were the girls I'd usually hang with. Once there was a planned Friday night All Girl Hang Time with about 12 girls. But I couldn't come due to last minute RA duty (Resident Assistant of a girl's dorm), which meant that I couldn't leave my room all night. I had to be available...in my room...by the phone...and ready to do dorm "rounds" every hour. I was sooo upset.

But they all surprised me by bringing the Girls' Night TO MY ROOM. I walked up to my RA apartment after doing hourly rounds and there they all were. *sweet*

They brought a TV. movie. snacks. Honestly, I don't know that I've ever felt so loved by a group of friends before. I'm sure I cried and laughed at the same time.


All of those times...plus some that will remain hush-hush *laughing*...were these girls.

Years have brought huge changes. Four of us are married with 11 children (plus one on the way) between us! One is training for a National Ballroom Championship. One is hoping to go to Jordan as a full-time missionary soon. One is in the process of planting a church with her husband in the Carolinas. One is doing youth group ministry. One is trying to keep up with her three boys, aged three and under.

We're all busy busy. We're all different than what we used to be. But still after all these years, we had REAL times. Tears. Laughter. Prayer. Bonding over non-stop eating. What's can be better than that? :)

I love these ladies!! Hopefully our plan to make it a early event will happen...