What's Up?

This was what Drew looked like when he woke up this morning. Much improvement since the previous post. He is fine, I am happy to report. He hasn't had a headache all day, and it's not that swollen anymore. It only looks swollen shut first thing in the morning. Isn't he purty, as he would say???

I enjoyed another field trip today. Today was Jonah's and Noah's turn, and their field trip was to the Botanic Gardens. It is so beautiful there. It was cold today, but still pretty. They had such a great time, we all did, but their favorite thing was riding the bus there. They slept on the way back to school. They were exhausted. We ended the day out with lunch together in their classrooms. Fun times had by all.

I checked Jonah and Noah out because, after all, it was field trip day, but also because Jonah had a doctor's appointment with the urologist again. It went well~I saw what he meant by him not being sure if there's a kidney or not...there does seem to be one, it is just smaller than the other one. The left one measures at 8 cm and the right one, if that's what we're seeing, measures at about 5 cm. So. That's that. He wants him to have one more test...a renal (sp???) scan. They will give him an iv and inject dye into it. We will then go to the doctor that we saw today, and by that time the kidney(s) will have started to filter it, and it'll give the doc an indication of whether or not the right one is functioning. Worst case scenario, if there is no kidney, it still stays there. It's not bothersome, and the doc and Pediatric's Association tells us that we do not have to alter his lifestyle. If he wants to play football, then so be it. We'll schedule this test sometime after school ends.

We froze our behinds off at ball practice tonight. It was sooooo cold. And sooooo windy. The wind was what was so bad. We had a couple new kids show up tonight~Todd went Saturday and only had three kids come. If this is any indication of what is to come....well, then I don't know what. At least the 2 tonight were new to him. They did great, considering the cold temps. It was great. Jonah and Noah did great...I can't wait till the games start!!!

After practice, we went to Wally World. Todd and Graham went in and got a few things and took forever to come out. So Graham comes running out and asks, "Mom, do you have your purse?" To which I answered, "No." Graham told me that Todd left his wallet home as well. Lots of good they do us at home, huh? Not a minute later, Todd and Graham walk back out...with the groceries. There was a man standing in line behind Todd who asked him how much he needed. Todd figured he thought he needed a couple dollars, but it was $25. The man put his stuff with Todd's and told the cashier he would pay for it all. Todd tried to stop him, saying it was no big deal, that we could go home and get his wallet and come back. But the man insisted, saying, "Consider this a favor from a friend in Jesus." Can you believe that?!?!?!?! Good people DO still exist! We can't quit talking about it. I was reminded of the Bible verse that says to watch how you act because you may be entertaining angels unawared!!!

So, how was YOUR Monday? Mine was fantabulous. This is the best week...it's holy week. I love, love, LOVE this time of year, friends. It is all about Jesus, and what He did for us. I want to encourage you to find some time for Him this week, and thank Him for what He has done for us and in us. And if you're not planning on it, please consider going to church if you usually don't. What an amazing time for His children to come back home to Him! I love you all in Christ, and am praying for you this week. Be blessed.

So On The Day After His Birthday, He Got Another Present....

This. It is our first official goosegg. Poor thing. Todd sent a picture to my email, and I just about croaked. It looks really nasty, doesn't it? Poor little guy. Todd said at first, it was just a scratch but just a few minutes after that, it turned into this. Todd said he immediately took him inside the church and got him some ice for it. Drew took it like a champ~he didn't get upset, and he's still playing. He didn't have his glove up over his face, so the ball collided with him. I'm wondering what his eye will look like later today...

We survived the sleepover. They had a blast. They had to lay down at 11:30 because all of the boys, and I do mean all 7 kids, had baseball practice or a game today. One of the boys had a tournament. It only took them 10 minutes to fall asleep. Drew had a great day yesterday and an even better time last night. Aunt Lisa made him a baseball cake to top it all off. We went to her house to eat and open gifts, and to wish Jaret a happy birthday, as well. Him and Drew share their birthdays.

Today, I'm just hanging around home doing some things while all the boys go to practice. Jonah's and Noah's first practice is today too, and they are beside themselves. They've been ready since 7:20. Tonight Todd's cousin is getting married, so those are the plans for tonight. Church tomorrow! Church has been ahhhhmazing lately, so I can't wait for tomorrow. Well, I'm going to go make beds and fold some clothes. I just thought I'd share our first goosegg with you all. Love to all and have a blessed weekend!

Jesus

The Word for Today

with Bob Gass - Friday, 3rd April 2009

Good morning Jennifer

Today On TheVine: Meet people and make new friends
Today's Article: Thinking About Engagement (more articles)

Go Overboard For The Lord!

Peter heard him say, 'It is the Lord'... and jumped into the water.

John 21:7 NIV

After the disciples had fished all night, catching nothing, Jesus said to them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat" and they caught 153 fish. That's how it works; one word from Him and suddenly everything changes for the better.

Then we read, "The disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, 'It is the Lord,' he… jumped into the water" and went straight to Jesus (John 21:7 NIV). Notice, Peter had to decide whether to leave his fish and go to Jesus, or stay behind and enjoy what he'd worked hard for. It's a test we all face when we've accomplished our life's objectives, our nets are full, and we've finally 'made it'. The challenge is - do we stay and guard our blessings, or go overboard for the Lord and commit ourselves fully to Him?

Paul briefly refers to his career success: "You know my pedigree… from the elite tribe of Benjamin… defender of… my religion… meticulous observer of… God's law" (Philippians 3:3-6 TM). Career-wise, Paul was doing well. But listen to him now: "Things I… thought were so important are gone… dumped… in the trash so that I could embrace Christ" (Philippians 3:8 TM). Paul realised that his true identity lay not in his accomplishments, but in his relationship with Jesus. Do you feel that way? That night it probably felt like Peter was forfeiting everything, yet when he reached the shore he found Jesus busy - cooking fish! Whatever you need, God has it. Whatever you give up, He will repay many times over. Whatever you're willing to walk away from ultimately determines what He can trust you with.

*I love this story! It made me thank Jesus this morning for His grace and love, and it makes me want to keep running to Him with my arms wide open. Be blessed today, friends.*

HaPpY bIrThDaY, dReW!

Nine years ago today, Andrew Myles Goodwin entered into my life. I have not been the same since! I should have known that he would be the "different" one, because nothing about his delivery was normal. They gave me an epidural, but it didn't work. He was also almost a whole pound more than what Graham had been~he weighed in at just under 9lbs. He was the one baby that I actually nursed, but {and you're gonna laugh here b/c he's still the same today!} it wasn't enough for him! So he got both! That cracks me up. Maybe it was a sign of what was to come...

Drew was an incredible baby, he always had a smile on his face. He never got colicky like his big brother did, and he was easy to please. Again, this is still what he is like today! He LOVED getting into all sorts of things and was creative in the way he played from the very start. He loved to wear a long~handled bowl on his head, and he loved to hide in my cabinets. This one time when he was one year old and standing but not walking yet, I found him standing in the middle of the kitchen table, reaching for the string to turn the fan on. That was the kind of kid he was. He also has talked since he was eleven months old~no joke. He would say, "I go 'side." and that would mean he wanted to go outside. He actually translated for Graham all the time. Go figure.

Drew has brought sunshine into our lives~he's a joy to be around, and you NEVER know what is going to come out of his mouth. Last night he was cracking Todd and me up~so hard that we were crying. He is hilarious. He has a knack for making everyone happy, and old people love him. He also loves them. This one time this little Down's Syndrome boy kissed Drew on the lips and I asked Drew what he did, and he just smiled and laughed and said, "Nothing. He was just happy." I love my Drew.

Well, I have to get a start on our day~Drew has requested McAllister's for lunch. He wants a French dip roast beef sandwich, chips, and root beer. He also requested a cookie cake. So I'm going to deliver. God love him. Food makes him so happy.

Ummmm???

I don't know what to write. I know what I want to write about, but will not do so. I have prayed, I have released some pent up frustration, I have emailed a friend and asked for her to pray, now all that's left is for me to write. I love Jesus. He is so kind to take the burdens off of my shoulders and to put them onto His. I will serve and love Him until my dying day.

Do you ever feel frustrated about anything? Do you ever pray endlessly over something, only to keep being disappointed time after time after time? I feel that way. I felt that way tonight. BUT GOD {those are my favorite words!} is bigger than all of that, and He will be glorified in some way throughout this time. I know He will. That is the only thing that helps me feel better.

Moving onto another subject, Noah and I are downstairs watching The Incredibles. This is my all time favorite movie. Ever, ever, ever. Disney/Pixar outdid themselves with this movie. It's so good and so suspenseful that you forget you're watching a cartoon. I still want an Incredibles tshirt. Someday, I will have one. Muah ha ha ha. Imagine the deep voiced laugh there.

Todd took Graham and Drew to Sports Authority to buy cleats and sliding pants for baseball. He bought Jonah and Noah some pants, too, which they will be thrilled about. He also bought them a new bat this week~he just informed me how expensive kids were. Then Graham pops up in the background saying, "But Dad, it would have been lower if you hadn't bought you a pair of cleats." Kids. I love when they rat out the offending parent! They are really fun. Jonah and Noah are currently running and sliding on the floor, testing to make sure their sliding capabilities are all they're cracked up to be. And so far, they are.

Baseball season has started, my friends, and I am so excited. I love all things related to this sport. The cleats, the pants, the jerseys and hats, the dirty faces and bodies, even their grubby little puppy dog smell. I love mommying me some little boys. Well, I am gonna hang out with my babies for the rest of this stormy night. We're going to finish this movie together and enjoy being a family. Love to all and good night.

My Current Favorite Song

What I Did Today

We had an amazing day together, Drew and I. It was the perfect day for a walking field trip. It really could not have been any better. It was cool at first, but in the sun it felt great. By noon it had warmed up and it felt amazing having the sun beam down on us like that. It was gorgeous. Mrs. Claney, the principal, very graciously gave me the day off. Her words were, "You work at your kids' school, you are entitled to perks like this." I feel blessed.

Of course you know, I am going to post me some pictures. I got there 20 minutes before the kids (I cheated and drove because of my foot), and to pass the time, I took like 30 pictures. Of the most beautiful church. This first one is actually not a church anymore, but a renovated steakhouse. Hmmmm....and a very pricey one, I might add. I do not see a night here in our future. At $120 for 2, it's not all it's cracked up to be, I'm afraid. But it's still nice to look at. I love the red door.

These next pictures are of the first place we went and visited~St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. It was built in the late 1800's, and lots of it are still the original building. Like the windows, the bell, the inside ceiling. The lady officiating the tour told us that last year when they had the new roof put on last year, they discovered that the only roof on there is just that...from the inside of the church, while undergoing that roofing process, they could actually see through to the outside. So this time, they laid down lots of plastic first, then the shingles.

This is what I picture the Garden of Gethsemane to look like. Only bigger, better and prettier.

This is the "Jesus window", which is the first thing you notice when walking in. It symbolizes that all of our attention should be placed on Him alone. Pretty smart folks they were, back in the late 1800's. I want a Jesus window in my house.

This is the "Bible window", which is the last thing you see when walking out. This symbolizes the fact that we should open God's word every single day of the week~not just on Sunday! Again...hmmmm.

This is a cool shot of the train they toured. I had fun playing with the new (well not so much) camera. I love photography, too, and this beautiful day we had inspired me. I'm seriously thinking about having some of these shots (or one of the other 60) enlarged and framed. I would much prefer something original like this hanging in my home than something meaningless.

Drew and his friend, Drew C. Another Drew C., I might add!

Cutie in a cool phone booth, posing like always!

I love this clock, and thought the picture turned out really cool. Another one I'd like to have framed. Or drawn on canvas.

Me and the almost~birthday~boy! We had an amazing day, one that I will never forget.

I love days like today. My feet hit the floor, and I knew it was going to be "one of those days"~the good kind. It's funny how we know so soon in the day, too. And either it is, or it isn't. I've said this before, and I'll say it lots more, but my pastor says that the most important decision we make everyday is our attitude. We can choose to let things bother us, we can choose to get mad and sulk, or we can choose to have joy~the joy in our salvation that God gave us! When you stop and think about that, how can we NOT be joyful?

Todd likes the phrase, "keep smiling", and I do too. It's hard to let the world and all its troubles get to us when we're smiling, ya know? I have bad days, trust me, I have bad days. Ask my husband, he can attest. BUT I know that it's only temporary. A friend on facebook asked me if I ever had a bad day. That's why I'm writing this now...because I do. I just take my focus (or try to) off of the situation, pray about it, release it to God, then put all that attention on Him. I love to praise Him in whatever I go through~and by giving Him praise amidst my problems~it's powerful, let me tell you. I think He blesses those who bless Him, and besides my family, the biggest blessing He has given me is joy. I feel like a new woman.

Well, having said all THAT...our day was fantabulous. I always feel refreshed after spending time with Drew because of his carefree little self. He can get into a bad mood faster than I can blink, but he's so easy to please. He has pure, unadulterated joy, and I love it. He laughs a lot and loves life. He can put anyone in a good mood, just by being around him.

This is the week for field trips~Graham has one on Friday that my dad is accompanying him on, and Jonah and Noah have one of Monday. Graham is taking a walking field trip to the Wolf River preservation area (a 2 mile walk), and Jonah and Noah are going to the Botanical gardens for a butterfly exhibit. That one I cannot wait for...rest assured, more pictures are to come.

Well, I hope you have a marvelous evening doing whatever you may decide to do. Love to all and good night.