sticks and stones...

...really might break my bones, afterall.  Because of this fact, we started a new thing today. 

I'm picking a Bible verse each week for us to memorize and pick apart.  Today, we're learning about our words and how good they can be...or how hurtful they can be. 

This week's verse is very, very close to my heart.

Psalm 19:14  May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. 

I wrote it out, and so did each of the boys.  We each read it out loud, then we talked about it.  We discussed our words, and our thoughts.  And how much God actually knows us...every little teensy, tiny detail.  Every word spoken, and every thought we have.

Then we tried to recite it from memory.  My heart leaped with joy when they recited it from memory back to me. 


I posted each index card on our fridge, so that each time we open its doors, we'll be drinking in God's word. 

I pray that this truth sinks deep into our hearts (mine, Graham's, Drew's, Jonah's and Noah's), and that the next time we want to retaliate with our words...that we'll stop and remember this verse. 

I pray that God's word lives and speaks through each of us. 

Oh, how I love Him. 

I'm Home!!

There are so many things I would love to share about our trip to Iceland.  It's almost too much.  I've started writing it all out this morning, and it's already about 6 pages long!  And I'm only on day 3 of our trip in the journal!

I would love to tell you all about it...but I'm going to say it all in short little thoughts, all the things that God did this week.  Love to all.

HE...

provided traveling mercy
showed His faithfulness
gave us peace
gave us rest
gave us strength...not our own, but His
showed us His love through Mike and Sheila and the people of the Westman Islands
blessed us through a family we will NEVER forget
spoke to me through Amazing Grace being played on a trumpet at 2:30 in the morning
allowed me to feel His presence at that same exact time
opened my heart to follow His Holy Spirit
worked through my fears
showed me how being obedient is the best thing ever
spoke to me through a sweet, heartbroken lady through the same song, Amazing Grace
showed Himself to us through families who invited us into their homes and their hearts
gave me comfort when I was so far away from my kids
allowed us to form new friendships with the team from our church
proved to me how fortunate we are for a loving, supportive church family
blessed me in having my husband by me for our first missions trip (hopefully the first of more to come!)
blessed me beyond measure

There is so much more to share...but for now, this will have to do.  It's almost overwhelming.  As amazing a time we had, it's great to be home with my sweet kids.  I missed them so much that I physically hurt.  There is no place quite like home.  :) 

3 days and counting

Till we fly off into the great blue yonder.  Is that a song?  It should be. 

Todd and I were talking last night about our upcoming trip, and whether or not we were excited.  And of course, we are excited...but it hasn't really hit yet.  We're leaving the country.  For 8 whole days.  Not only are we leaving the country, we're leaving the country and will not be easily accessible. 

Holy cow. 

It's kinda scary for a mom who hasn't been without her kids for more than a night or two in six years. 

So.  That's where I'm at.  Dreading the goodbyes.  Although I do feel better that the kids won't be riding to the airport with us.  Because you all know how much of a cry baby I can be...especially when the people in my presence cry in front of me.  It's like I've got this rule that says that they are not allowed to cry alone!  I join right in with them.  And there would be teary goodbyes at the airport.  We're leaving home at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday morning to meet the Iceland team at our church at 6.  So we're going to say our goodbyes Monday night.  Mom is spending the night with us and Trish will be here at some point on Tuesday to begin her duties as their week-long Mom.  :)

I sure do hope she's ready!

We're spending practically the whole day at church tomorrow.  I have to be there at 8:30 for praise team practice.  We're going out to lunch with the Iceland team after church, then going back to church for one final meeting from 2:00-3:30.  Choir practice is at 4:30.  Praise team practice at 5.  Church starts at 6 and we're getting commissioned to go. 

!!!!!

I really am getting excited.  This is a dream come true for me.  One of my favorite hobbies is traveling, and the fact that we're traveling to Europe???  Shut your mouth.

Oh, and about that, technically Iceland is neither Europe nor North America.  Click HERE to find out more.

We've decided against taking the laptop with us.  Where we're going to be is not internet accessible.  Even to talk to our kids is going to be quite the feat.  With the 5 hour time difference, and the texting first, and then the actual phone call...whew.  It makes me tired just thinking about it. 

So, I will have to journal (yikes, with actual PEN & PAPER?!?!), and then hopefully blog about it when I get home. 

And download the hundreds (thousands?) of pictures to the computer.  To share with my peeps.  :)

Well.  That's all for now.  I'm going to go make another big dent in the book I'm reading and head to bed.  Tomorrow is coming bright and early and I need my beauty rest.  LOL. 

G'night.

iPad adoption fundraiser for the Goodwins

My dear sweet bloggy peeps,

Have you been wanting one of those cool iPad's? Do you have kids in your home that you're thankful for?? Are you thankful that God has made your cup overflow with blessings?

Well. My brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Tracy Goodwin, are in the process of adding to their family. If you are able to do one of two things, I would greatly appreciate it. One, above all is to pray for this family. They have Nathan who is 7 and Joseph (who grew in their hearts instead of Tracy's tummy) who is 4. They are so thankful for those 2 blessings that God has given them.

God has laid it on their hearts to adopt again. This brings me to favor #2. Will you consider donating to help them along the way? For every $10 that you donate, your name will get entered into a chance to win an iPad.

If you are able, will you help? Their home is not complete yet...and it would be an honor if you could help to make it happen.

Click on the website below and see how to get started.

Thanks, and love to all. God bless. Oh...and go love on your kiddos tonight.

iPad adoption fundraiser for the Goodwins

it's funny how when school's out...I don't mind Thursdays

Isn't that funny?  I only dislike them when school is in session.  Hmmmmm.  Just something to sit and think about.

We've had a busy, water-free day.  Drew's not feeling good, so I took him to the doctor.  He has swimmer's ear.  :(  While we were there, I had him check the other boys' ears and mine (since I'm about to spend a LOT of time on a plane), and found out we're all fine and dandy.  Except Drew.  Poor thing.  He has a wick in his ear...it's soaked in a steroid antibiotic ear drop and needs to stay in for a few days.  He's kinda miserable.  We need to invest in some really good ear plugs. 

So we decided to stay out of the water today.  We had lunch with my mom at Steak-n-Shake.  YUMMY.  Then we came back to The Ville and went to Target. 

*Insert big, happy sigh here.*

I love that store.  Seriously. 

We got Drew's prescription for a steroid ear drop filled, then we shopped a little.  I got them each a shirt, and I might have gotten a thing or 4 for me to take to Iceland. 

I'm looking for a messenger bag style purse (that doesn't cost $60) to wear while I'm there.  I found one that I liked at Target, but I wasn't wild about how accessible it is.  As in it didn't have a zipper, and I need a zipper.  So.  I might search some more.  And hope that I find one. 

Jonah and Noah are spending the night tonight with a friend and are so excited.  Noah has asked me every 5 minutes for the past 30, how much longer it would be.  :)  You gotta love a 7 year old.  And he knows how to tell time, but prefers to ask me. 

Can you tell he's the baby in the family?  He's used to people doing things for him. 

Todd has a game tonight.  If the rain stays away.  We're going to go there and watch him play and hope they win.  Since they haven't since the first game.  Except for the one that the other team had to forfeit.  Then, who knows? 

Tomorrow we're hanging out with my dad.  He mentioned Mud Island, but I'm not sure.  If it's 157 degrees, then I am not interested in going.  Neither is my head...since I get headaches from the heat. 

Well.  That's all I've got.  I'll write again soon.  Love to all. 

procrastinating

If I sat down and made a list of all the things we need to do before we leave for Iceland, I'm afraid the list would be a mile long.  But for some reason, I can't bring myself to get started on it.  Hmmmm.  Yes, I do get like this sometimes.  I guess because I know how much I can get done in the day or two before trips.  Maybe I'm finally getting smart and saving myself from all the pointless middle part.  Like list making. 

Whatever the reason...I'm sitting here blogging AGAIN, and enjoying some quality time with Noah.  I was enjoying quality time with Meredith, Matt, Ann and Al before he came in and stole the remote away from me.  Oh well.  He's so cute, I'll let him get away with it.  Maybe it's sucking up to him because of the fact that we almost DROVE AWAY WITHOUT HIM last night. 

He was at the neighbor's house playing with another little boy and I thought he was in the car.  Whoops.  He rode with Mimi and Papa to the ball game and when he got in their car, he said, "Nobody called for me to tell me we were leaving!" 

Whoops.  I had to apologize.  And hey, sometimes, the kid is really quiet.  As in you forget he's there quiet.  Sometimes.  Yeah, I'll say that to make myself feel better. 

Last night Todd opened up his Backyard Barber Shop.  Not really...but he did buzz a kid's hair.  Eli is on their baseball team.  His mom, Amanda, and I were best friends when we were in middle school and part of high school.  Her son Eli had really long hair and decided last night that he wanted it buzzed.  So Todd did it for him.  Anytime we can help a friend save some money...our backyard is open. 

So...that's about it.  We're doing more of the same today...hanging out here until it warms up enough for the boys to swim.  :)  Working on the tan some more...so I can take it to Iceland with me and look strangely and oddly out of place.  Laundry this morning, some light cleaning, a little vacuuming...then off to the pool we go!! 

Have I mentioned that we have the most incredible neighbors in all of the world?  The fact that they let us use their pool every single day is the nicest thing.  Besides that fact...they're never allowed to move.  I've told them that repeatedly, and I hope they believe me.  I dearly love the both of them and I would be sad if they left. 

Well.  I'm going to go get my second cup of coffee for the day.  Love to all. 

brownies, the Karate Kid, and other odd ramblings

I seriously need to go to the grocery store.  I've been going here and there in small trips, but I am about to have to make a big one.  The reason for this title, you wonder?  My kids are eating brownies for breakfast.  :( 

I know I stun you with my amazing parental qualities, and how I make sure they eat 3 well balanced meals a day.

Stand back in case that lightning strikes.

So last night after our cookout and swim, after we were all showered and pajama'ed, my hubby found The A Team on Netflix's instant queue.  So for the next hour and a half, him and all 4 boys sat glued to the television as they watched episodes 1 and 2.  Graham came downstairs wanting to watch the next episode this morning.  He called to Todd to ask how to set it up, and Todd told him he had to wait on him to watch it! 

So Graham and I perused other instant queue options and added some movies for us to enjoy.  So right now, with tummies full of brownies and sweet tea (we're out of milk, I told you I needed to make a grocery trip!), we're hanging out watching The Karate Kid.  I also added 2 and 3 to our queue.  I'm a sucker...these were my favorite movies when I was young!

Well...I say we're sitting here.  4 of us are.  The youngest is playing fetch with Twinkles the Cat who thinks she's a dog.  She makes us laugh.  You can throw something and she'll go get it.  Sometimes.  Other times she just looks at you as if you've lost your mind. 

She loves to watch tv, too.  And she digs through their toys until she finds her most favored thing: a rubber snake.  I told you.  She's weird.  But she makes us laugh. 

We're not doing much today.  We'll probably swim at some point, but before that I have movies to watch and laundry to fold!  And lists to make, and a grocery stop, and...and...and...

Nevermind.  I'd rather just watch this movie and not think about it all. 

We have a baseball game tonight.  :)  I'm ready for it to start back, since it's been a couple weeks since the older boys have played.  My sweet mom-in-law is coming to hang out with us this afternoon.  The adult conversation will be nice. 

Well, speaking of those lists...I'm going to go start the first one now.  I hope you all have a fantabulous Tuesday!  Love to all.