Boys

Raising a son has me worried. I'll just come right out and say it. I have no experience with boys at all. I never had any brothers, and I really wasn't close to any of my boy cousins growing up. Hunter has already thrown me for a loop several times in his 4 short years, and I know there are MANY more to come! The closer Hunter gets to going to school the more and more I question the school system and the more I wish I could home school him...unfortunately this doesn't look like an option for our family at this point, but it sure is something I pray for God's guidance on daily!

I found this article that I think has some VERY good point on boys...enjoy!

http://www.newsweek.com/id/157898/page/1

The Shack

I just finished an incredible book this morning. "The Shack" is a MUST read for everyone! If you've ever craved to be in the presence of God - this is the book for you! Although it brought me to tears before page 100, I would highly recommend it to anyone. It did push some of the religious ideals that I've been raised to believe, but opened my mind and heart to new ways of thinking, a new outlook on life and those I'm surrounded by. I have to do more research into the validity of the story, but regardless - go out and READ IT!

theshackbook.com

Here are a few quotes from the book that really hit home with me...

"I already told you that forgiveness does not create a relationship. Unless people speak the truth about what they have done and change their mind and behavior, a relationship of trust is not possible. When you forgive someone you certainly release them from judgement, but without true change, no real relationship can be established. ..."Forgiveness in no way requires that you trust the one you forgive. But should they finally confess and repent, you will discover a miracle in your own heart that allows you to reach out and begin to build between you a bridge of reconciliation. And sometimes - and this may seem incomprehensible to you right now - that road may even take you to the miracle of fully restored trust."


"...just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means that I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors."


"Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears. They can be healing waters and a stream of joy. sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak."

Sleep Woes

So I woke up this morning and feel as though I've been hit by a truck. It's not because I am tired...in fact, I've been getting more sleep lately than I have in a long time! Graysen's been doing wonderfully...waking up only once a night usually! Last night we were all exhausted and the entire family was in bed by 8:30! (We're old, I know...) Seriously though, it was awesome! Although Graysen did get up more than usual (1:30, 5:00, and 7:00), I got about 10 hours of sleep! Holy Cow! Anyhow - back to the point...my back and hips are in some major pain today. If my body hurts like this at age 25 what in the world am I going to feel like at age 80??? Yuck, I can't think about it.

My mom suggested that maybe it's my mattress...what a genius, why didn't I think of that?! So...now I'm on a hunt for a great mattress...

What mattress do you sleep on - would you recommend it or not?

Don't Cry Over Spilt Green Beans

Something's wrong with me. I was just making the kids lunch and went to put the container of green beans in the microwave when I lost my grip and they fell and spilt all over the counter and floor. What did I do? Not calmly say "sorry guys, it's going to be another minute before lunch is ready, silly Ashley spilt the green beans." No...I burst into tears. I swear. The kids are now calmly sitting at the table eating their lunch (turkey, cheese, crackers, and green beans) and everything is fine...but for that one minute today - everything was NOT fine...but I just reminded myself (outloud may I add...)

Don't Cry Over Spilt Green Beans!

Outside my box...

I've done several things lately that have made me step outside my box.

1. I started a fantasy football team this year. I've never done this, although it's been a passion of my husbands for several years now. I decided I was going to see what all the hype was about - and hopefully develop a passion for one of the same things as Lincoln. (I have not been too interested in it, but it's going for what it's worth)

2. I signed Hunter up to play soccer this season! I'm not a fan of team sports...actually, just not a fan of sports at all. But - my son and husband sure are, so I knew Hunter would be thrilled with finally being old enough to play on a team. He had his first game tonight and LOVED every minute of it. I can tell you already that sitting outside in the weather and listening to those soccer moms (yes, they are already there at pre-k soccer games) is going to stress me out every Tuesday night...but it's worth it to see the smile on Hunter's face after the game!

3. I read a sports book! "Why My Wife Thinks I'm an Idiot" was great! I'm often "privileged" enough to watch Mike and Mike in the Morining with Lincoln on TV and I do find both Mikes very funny. When I was desperate for a book about a week ago Lincoln suggested I read one from him stack of "to reads" (that doesn't get depleted nearly as fast as mine does...). I thought he was funny, but picked this one (because I also think my husband is an idiot at times and was curious what made 'Greeny' think his wife thought of him as one as well). Turns out the book was a wonderful easy read with tons of amusing stories told from a father's point of view. I'm actually getting ready to hit amazon.com and see if I can find anything else written by him...and I'm looking forward to Mike and Mike in the Morning tomorrow! :0)

4. I watched "Baby Mama". I usually don't care for "light hearted" movies about pregnancy or parenthood because I get on a high horse about people who take pregnancy and healthy children for granted. But - my girlfriends and I watched it last night and I was able to laugh at a lot of it! It wasn't nearly as funny as people had hyped it up to be, but it was at least - finally - a light hearted look at pregnancy (and some of the problems associated with it) that I wasn't offended by. Kudos to the script writer and producer!

Lincoln's Like List

My husband and I are so very different. I'm reminded of this at least once a day, but, somehow we semi-balance each other out. We tend to do things to humor the other one - such as this "love list" that Lincoln started for me. He couldn't get very far - not sure if that's because he doesn't love many things, because he's embarrassed to do such a thing, or because he just wasn't interested in it enough to sit down and actually think about it - but either way, he started it and promises that he'll keep adding as he thinks of things.

Here is Lincoln's "love list":

1. Doing nothing for a whole day
2. The yard after it's just been mowed
3. Manual vehicles
4. CD's that you can listen to from start to finish
5. My wallet
6. Jeans
7. Folding Laundry
8. My kids
9. Coming home from work and knowing that the kids are going to be excited to see me
10. Going to the movies
11. Putting clothes on straight out of the dryer


I was reminded twice today that we're so different...

1. Lincoln would sit and watch Sunday Football ALL DAY LONG - I could never do this
2. I'm always looking for a new house (and calling my brother in law - our realtor) - Lincoln would stay in this house forever

My prayer is that, no matter our differences that we can always find some common ground to connect on. Someday when our kids are grown and gone I think that ground is going to get smaller and smaller - but we're working on making memories now that we'll share forever and establishing things that we do have in common...what are you doing to make sure your marriage lasts forever...?

Tour of Missouri in STJ

The Tour of Missouri was in STJ today. You would've thought the President himself was coming to visit. I thought the amount of things the city had planned was ridiculous really. Sorry if I'm being a Party Pooper, but honestly, must we try to make ourselves out to be this big city when really we're just a little bitty town where everyone knows everyone else and their business? No - it's a lot like the people who leave here and then come back (either while in college or afterward) trying to "prove" to those of us who choose to make our home here how much "better" the "outside" is. (yes, i know there were a lot of quotation marks in that sentence.) Now...don't get me wrong, I don't think everyone tries to do that, but there are a fair amount who do and they drive me NUTS! But - I digress. Lincoln and I decided to take our family out to Redburn's and watch the race from their front yard, that way we didn't fight the street closings and crowds in town. It was awesome to be that close to them while they were actually racing (the race didn't start until they turned on B Hwy). But...if you blinked you missed it. There were TONS more cars and support vehicles than bicyclists, and they were so crammed together that they went by in 5 seconds flat. Big time disappointment and let down for all of us. Oh well, at least we can say we saw them.

Happy Birthday to a Great Friend!

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Bethany....
Happy Birthday to you!

I hope you have a great day - let me know how 26 feels! :0)

in a rut

Well...I'm in a rut. Just kind of in life in general. I feel like I need to branch out a bit. Try something new. Experience something new. It seems that day in and day out I do the same thing. Luckily looking at my calendar (which I live by) I have some exciting things coming up before the close of 2008.

Exciting things...

#1: Hunter starts his tumbling class tomorrow! This will be his first organized class and I can't wait to see how he reacts to it!

#2: Hunter starts soccer this Friday! He is really looking forward to playing on a "real team"! They will have practice and a game each week for 10 weeks!

#3: The kids and I are going to the Springfield Zoo on the 13th.

#4: Lincoln and I will be taking our first overnight trip together away from Graysen on the 25th. We are going to STL to the Cards Game that afternoon and spending the night up there...coming home on the 26th. I'm sad because it will be my first night away from Gray, but excited because Lincoln and I desperately need a rejuvenating date!

#5: I am doing the Walk For Life on Sept. 27th - it's a fundraiser for the Pregnancy Resource Center of Rolla!

#6: October is coming, which means a trip to the pumpkin patch, new Halloween costumes (2 this year!), a Halloween Party with our friends, and a trip to the farm to ride horses, and go on a hay ride! (I must plan all of these outings very soon!)

#7: November 8th I am going to the Lindenwood Dance Concert, their first one in their new theater! Some of my girlfriends are performing in the concert and I can't wait to watch them dance and see what's become of the program that I poured my heart and soul into during my years at LU!

#8: November 27th is Thanksgiving! I love this holiday with no stress of purchasing gifts, but enjoying the company of family and good food! :0) This is also Miriam's 1st birthday!

#9: November 28th is Graysen's 1st Birthday! Wow! My kid's birthdays are my favorite days of the year, and I'm so excited to have another one to celebrate this year!

#10: December 12th I leave for my 1st husband and kid free vacation in over 5 years! This also marks the first time that I will ever be away from Hunter for more than 1 night. 2 of my best friends and I are going to Chicago - we leave at 6:30 Friday morning (from Union Station STL) and arrive home at 12:30 p.m. Sunday night (or Monday morning)! Yippy for girlfriend time and a first trip to Chicago.

#11: Christmas! I love Christmas morning with Lincoln, Hunter, Graysen, Mom, Kara, Charlie, and Grandma. It's some of my favorite hours all year long. What a great way to close out each year!

Dislike List

1. Women who don't take care of themselves or their babies, yet never have any problems with pregnancy.
2. Lawn Seats at UMB Bank Pavillion
3. People who change plans at the last minute
4. People who think that divorce is okay just because it's common
5. Black olives and mushrooms (unfortunately this is Lincoln's fav. pizza!)
6. Abortion
7. People's dumb comments when someone is going through a loss (if you haven't experienced it before, just don't say anything at all - find another way to SHOW them that you love them!)
8. Pictures of scenery
9. Trying to fit into clothes that just don't fit anymore
10. Hot Apple Pie with ice cream
11. Black Coffee
12. Public "release of gas"
13. Drunk people / night clubs
14. Playing sports
15. People who give their opinion without being asked
16. Sushi
17. People who raise their sons to be wimps (hard to explain, but very evident when you see it!)
18. Thinking about funding retirement
19. Teachers who don't leave adequate notes for their subs
20. People who come back to STJ and try to prove how much they've changed or have bettered themselves.
21. When people are mad at me or disappointed by me
22. The thoughts of going to a class reunion
23. Spending the night away from my kids
24. Leftovers (although I'm getting much better at this...)
25. Not having caller ID
26. Touching the food on dirty dishes
27. Scary Movies and Stupid Humor movies (not sure what the technical term for that is)
28. Lincoln's snoring (before I fall asleep, afterward it doesn't bother me)
29. Fans who yell at sporting events on TV
30. Football games
31. Little girls with unkept hair
32. Bugs, spiders, mice, and snakes
33. Getting sweaty
34. Fake crying (out of children)
35. Messy eaters

Love List

Yet another challenge...can you come up with a list of things that you love - as random as can be???

1. Chocolate covered bananas
2. Being Married
3. Being a Mommy
4. Getting to sleep - anytime, any place!!!
5. "Me" time
6. Seeing Hunter and Graysen grow up and experience new things and explore new places
7. Dancing in a studio by myself
8. Stretching
9. Thinking about seeing my children in Heaven
10. IC Mocas
11. Red Lobster
12. Cinnamon and Sugar Toast
13. People who nurse their babies (not forever...lol)
14. Traveling out of Missouri
15. People who are confident in their body types
16. Family Hugs
17. Manual Cars
18. Singing with Lincoln and Hunter
19. Looking at / taking pictures of people
20. Sleeping with music playing
21. Blogging late at night
22. The smell of Bacon
23. The smell of rain
24. Reading books to myself
25. Buying new clothes
26. Cold Apple Pie
27. Ruby's Ice Cream
28. Christmas Decorations at the Mall
29. Sweet Tea
30. Girls Nights
31. Talks with my sister
32. My wedding ring
33. Getting my hair cut and colored
34. The feeling I get when I know without a doubt that Lincoln and I are on the same team...always.
35. My kids birthdays
36. Being pregnant!
37. Gerbra Daisies
38. Whitney Houston and FFH
39. Wearing and apron (and getting a new one!)
40. Moby Wraps
41. My Bread machine and homemade bread
42. Getting out of a hot bath and crawling straight into bed still wrapped in my towel
43. My husbands kisses
44. Family heirlooms (like my table and step stool)
45. Seeing other people's taste in home decor and dreaming about what my house will look like when I have the time and money to do what I really want with it!
46. Reusable shopping bags
47. Bumbo Chairs
48. My Pearls
49. College Memories
50. Learning from my mistakes

Challenge - Love

My friend has challenged me to do a study on Christian Stewardship! The verses that I will be studying and responding to are the following:

Love - John 15:9
Sacrifice - Romans 12:1
Possessions - Proverbs 3:9-10
Ownership - Psalm 24:1
Relationship - Leviticus 26:12

She defined Christian Stewardship as this: Being Responsible and Generous with the Gifts God has Entrusted You.

Here's what John 15:9 - 17 says:

9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other.

My response: Wow! What a call! When I read this the first time I was so overwhelmed with the calling and I sat and read it 3 more times before I began to write this. Although the command seems simple at first glance - love each other - putting it into practice is not that easy is it? When I think of it in terms of Stewardship I think that God is calling us to take our talents, whatever they may be, and use them in a way to show His Love to others. If you're a great hostess, have people over to your home, show them the "love of Jesus" (as my small group likes to say). If you have a beautiful voice, sing at your church, if you can knit, make baby hats to donate to the hospital, or afghans for the nursing home.

I guess, the overall picture that I got out of these verses is to share your love with people...and let them know that the reason you're doing it is because Jesus first loved you.