Caramel Apples

Somehow, in our craziness, we didn't get to the pumpkin-carving this year. We were battling illness that week, but anyway... I asked Ellie how it would be if we made caramel apples to make up for not doing the pumpkin thing. She was very excited about that!!

Had to have a silly-face pic! :)

How beautiful is this pic.

Date night for Macky and I! :)

Pics FINALLY!!

John is dressed in the 'costume' he wears daily... our Hero!!!

We had BEAUTIFUL weather this evening...

adorable Miss Aliese, the Butterfly, came by for some treats!

A random little trick-or-treater said to me, "Are you a Fairy Princess?" I was so overjoyed that she got my costume!!! :)

We had a Ninja with some serious skills,

an adorable dalmatian pup,

and the cutest kitty-cat I have ever seen!!!!

Jacob

got

outside

for

the first time in about a week today. John was piling up some leaves and got the kids out for some pics.

Couple random shots of Nate and Jacob.

And the football pic! Jacob is right there on the end in yellow, his number was 20.

The girls were in a play a few weeks ago. Ellie in orange hair and a yellow romper. And Phoebe was a chameleon.

WHEW!! I feel so much better to have some pics on here again!!! Enjoy!

Stolen...

1. I’m going to wake up each morning dedicated to doing my best; and accept that on some days my best will be excellent and on other days my best will be allowing my good enough to be good enough.

2. I’m going to cover my children in prayer. I’m not going to ever have all the answers. Despite my desire to control my life, I was not given that responsibility. It’s not my job. But I’m on a first name basis with the One who is in charge. And I can call on Him…not just for the answers, but as the Answer.

3. I’m going to enlist my inner “Mama Bear” to capture, shackle, and kick out every stinking lie that invades my heart. Lies like I’m a failure as a mother; God made a mistake by thinking I could handle this (fill in the blank); and, I’m going to ruin my kids. Once those culprits are vanished, I’m going to plant truth in those empty spaces. Truth such as, I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind – 2 Tim., 1:7; I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit – John, 15:16; and, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength – Phil., 4:13.

written by Angela Nazworth, to see post in its entirety visit here: http://www.incourage.me/2009/08/the-question-mark.html

~Yep, I copied and pasted this. It struck me and I want to remember it and read it again. Maybe you will get something from it as well!

Love, Adrian

God Bless!

Nicknames

Nicknames!

I just realized... I love them!

I surely didn't used to...

remember in school the meany-pants kids who figured out a way to taunt you using your NAME, OF ALL THINGS! I mean this is the lowest... come on, a person's name?! Tease me about my horrible hair, my non-name brand jeans, or the fact that I tripped over nothing! But my name?! I can't do anything about that! My parents picked it! And secretly, I like it! But, I had nothing to do with it! And it won't be forgotten tomorrow like the tripping thing!

I remember vividly 'the incident' in grade school when my name came under attack by the cute, popular (MEAN) boy in school. My middle name is Nichole and my parents nicknamed me Nicki as a baby. So this is what I went by. On the day I was the lucky one to be picked on, he called me... Icky Nicki. Noooooooo... but then I remembered! I have another name! Ha! I replied, It isn't my real name! My name is Adrian! Ha! But the Name-Taunter has a talent. He can rhyme with almost anything!!! If only my name was Orange...

Anyway, he triumphantly, retorts with... Adrian the Alien.

Oh no...

Ah, well...

I like the quote about childhood being what you spend the rest of your life getting over. True story.

And now, years later,

I love nicknames! And I am a Nick-Namer!

I shower my children with nicknames, a new one falls from my lips without warning, almost every day!

Sickening example: When Nate was born, we baby-talked to him. Frightening, isn't it? Have you heard people or yourself talk like this? It is very... laughable. But in the privacy of our own home we did baby-talk to him. There. Confessed. So, 'Nathan' became 'Naffin', which then became 'Finners.' Cute, huh?!! Ha!

Then when we named our second son, Jacob, he had an uncle already nicknamed Jake, so I started calling our baby 'Cub', 'Cubbie,' which becomes

'Cubbie Wubbie was a Bear!'

Nicknames that fly around our house:

Cookie, Jammie, JellyBean, Zoobah, Macky, Natey, Tater, Punkin head,

La-la, Pheebs.

Good stuff, huh!
And the best ones of late:

Ciabatta and Wasabi!

HA-HA!

Wanna share your nicknames???

~Butterfly~

These are the things I'm thinking of today (and Google-searching)...

I love the verse in 2 Corinthians 5:17 about being a new creation: Therefore if any is in Christ, he is a new creature, the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

And butterflies are such a lovely representation. They start out as caterpillars (wormy little things), and then transform into beauty. Kind of like us, eh? From inching along on the ground to flying free through the air. Ahhh.... flying free. Our souls get to experience flight in the peace and joy we receive from His Spirit within, still, at times, or often, we are abruptly grounded by our flesh. But one day, my friends, one sweet day, we will be free of our bodily cocoons and our wings will fully unfurl to carry us forever away from the distractions and weights of this world that hold us down. Mmmm...

This day in history....

Haha, its not really one of those very interesting facts about some thing that happened on this date in history. Its about my day today. ;-)

Which started last night when I took two night-time cold medicine liqui-gels, and went to bed at 9 o'clock. (With my heating pad under my guts which felt like they had gotten run over by a truck... if you get my meaning, great. If you don't, don't ask. :)

Woke up this am, after sleeping fairly well, probably due to the meds, at 6 am, which is late for me. Get ready for the day, wake up oldest son who has once again turned off his alarm, not just snoozed it, and fallen back asleep 45 minutes past his time to get up. Get children ready by helping them through the routine of every morning, like this;

"Girls, get dressed, its a school morning we need to have breakfast, get snacks, and get the hair basket. Jacob, remember your snack. Come on, girls, finish getting dressed, what do you want for breakfast? We have to leave a little early today, because we are picking up my friend's baby to babysit today. Jacob, sit down and finish your breakfast, did you get you snack? You have football practice at what time tonight? Phoebe, come with me and we will fix your hair, grab some socks, okay? Did you get you snack yet? Where is your backpack? Ellie, remember to grab a snack, you have practice for the play right after school, so come right out and I will try to remember to bring a snack for you to eat on the way there. Bye, Nate, love you, have a good day. Do you feel ok? Do you want to take some cold medicine? Do you want to take one with you to take at lunch? Remember you have piano lessons today after school. Ride safely, see you after school. Jacob, grab a snack and ride safely on the scooter to school. Love you! Bye. Ellie and Phoebe lets go, say good bye to Daddy, do you have your snack? Get your socks and shoes on and grab your backpacks, make sure your folder is in it. DO you need library books or anything today? Ellie, here is your permission slip, you need to cut the bottom off. Here, come here, we need to brush your hair. Ok, lets go! Yes, I am driving you today, so say good bye to Daddy." Meanwhile during this entire time John is repeating everything I say or saying things like, what are you supposed to be doing? What did Mom just tell you to do?!' (And on a 'good' day, I would have also been reminding them all to read their devotionals while they ate their breakfast and to take their vitamins...)

....

Drive to Kacye's house, pick up her 3 month old son, Cayden. We load up Cayden, his bags and his swing. Then off to Phoebe and Ellie's school. Kisses, have a good day, love you, see you later.

Then Cayden and I go home and shortly after, Aliese arrives, the 18 month old I babysit every Tuesday and Thursday.

...Cayden gets picked up at about 2:30 and Aliese and I get ready to load up and pick up the girls. We remember to pack a snack along because we are driving Ellie straight to practice for the play she is in on Saturday. When we get home from dropping Ellie off at practice, we pick up Nate, who just got home form school, and take him to piano lessons. We kill about a half an hour at home before it is time to go pick Nate up. When we get back from that, we take Jacob over to football practice, he doesn't have time to walk today b/c of homework. We come back home and unload for about 15 minutes, Aliese's dad picks her up and Phoebe and I head out to pick up Ellie, first swinging back by Jacob's football practice to drop off his wrist guard which he forgot. :) Now we drive 'across town' to pick up Ellie. Visiting with my sweet friend, Vicki, while there and making plans to have dinner together this weekend. How we dare to make plans away from our calendars I do not know! Maybe it our degree of desperation! HAHA!

After picking up Ellie we get home for a dinner/homework/shower scramble. And as John is working his dinner magic on some banana pancakes (OH YAH!) I run to pick Jacob up and whew!

Now the night version of the morning;

"Finish your homework. Did you finish? Remember spelling words and reading time. Sit down and eat your dinner. Phoebe did you find your Awana book? Read your verse to me, please. Ellie did you finish your spelling words? Jacob, if you don't finish your homework before its time for your shower and you have to stay after school to finish it tomorrow you are going to really regret your decision! (Ooooooooo.) Okay, girls, its time to get in the shower or bath. Take your clean jammies and underwear into the bathroom. Ellie, did you finish? Yay! Did anyone feed Daisy her dinner? Daisy: Rawr, rrr, rrr! Brush teeth, put on jammies. Nate, don't forget to wash your face and floss when you brush. Jacob, its time to go down and shower, brush and floss while you are in there. Girls, its time to get out, make sure your hair is rinsed and when you get out, brush your teeth, its time for bed."

There is more, you know, it goes on and on until all of their sweet, clean little heads are asleep on their pillow. But, alas, I am weary of typing out my life! As I am sure you are weary of reading it!

I thought it might entertain you to read of our day today. I hope!

Much love! XO

It's a sweet life.... *edited 09/29/09*

I am so enjoying our time 'off the beaten track' here in a small town. Y'know life is a blessing and my God is a God of A Love Story. He rescued us from the race and brought us into a spacious place because He loved us. We were in a rut in Boise and even as I finally realized it and attempted to try to get us out of it, only managed to 'dig it deeper.'

Life is pretty sweet here, aside from the massive hole in our heart, longing desperately for our family and friends in Boise. Aside from that, God is sweetly wooing my spirit here, believe it or not, in the middle of nowhere.

Small town life...

Riding bikes all over town.

Walking all over town.

Running errands in 20 minutes vs. 3 days.

Seeing people you know on every errand.

Visiting with 'the regulars' at the coffee shop and hearing them greet each other and visit.

My boss saves the paper when one of our customers children is in it to give to them.

I see the people I made coffee for this morning later at the school when we all pick up our kids and smile and say hi!

My pastor is at the school picking up his child and he is visiting with one of my regular coffee customers who is picking up his grandchild.

My child's teacher comes through the coffee drive through with her daughter who is in my daughter's class.

Walking on the Wellness Path with some friends each week. (big time b/c we each only have to drive a minute or two to get there from all different parts of town!)

Running to the great little locally owned market that 1. is NOT Wal-mart and 2. is about a thousand times smaller than Wal-mart, which I LOVE! to grab a roast and some potatoes and home all in about a half and hour! There, shopping and home! Half an hour! And at this market, my children go and greet the sweet woman who owns it and she is so happy to see them and even buys fundraiser chocolate from Phoebe. (Disclaimer: I do shop at Wal-mart most of the time. ) **I know there is no room in heaven for Wal-Mart, though, only delightful little farmer's markets full of delicious and beautiful things.***

Nice people who know you and greet you and say nice things and miss you when you are gone.

Teachers who people know and can tell you how great they are.

People from your church who are the teachers and principals in the schools.

Football practice is close enough that Jacob can walk there.

Nate rides his bike to jr high and home... and I don't worry.

When John stops in to say hi to me at the coffee shop, my boss, her husband, and even a customer or two all greet him and visit with him.

Waving to everyone you pass in vehicles or otherwise. And knowing many of them!

Knowing the owner of another little coffee shop downtown.

Having a friend who owns a little shop with baby/kids clothes.

Seeing my husband's designs on windows of businesses around town.

Seeing people we know from church and Awana and VBS at the bank working.

Knowing the owner of the little Bible book store downtown, which also has a beauty chair in the back and we get our hair cut there by sweet Miss Sandy!

People figure out where you live by who used to live in your house.

My kind boss, who isn't a grandma yet, comes to Phoebe's school to be a 'step grandma' for Grandparents Day and tells me that she went to that Elementary school when she was a child!

One day we hope God will grow us up enough to be able to send us back into the 'rat race', not that we miss the rat race, but that is where our family is and we would like to be there with them. In the meantime, I am loving it here... not enough to not want to move back near our family, but I am so appreciating God's blessing us with this time here to just do the small town life thing.