8 is Great!

To the boy who is always two steps ahead of me…you’re 8 now! You were born one month after 9-11. You came at a time when the world changed in an instant. You were hope in the midst of confusion. New life starkly born into a dying and fallen world. It was always fallen, but I never noticed it like I did in 2001. It was a difficult year on many fronts, but you brought hope and joy to our family. How eight years have come and gone so quickly, I can’t understand. It’s the cliched saying of a mother or father, but it’s cliche because it’s true…where does the time go?

You’re quick at everything you do, Gabe. God has given you a good mind. You are our budding linguist…our first to talk (at 15 months) and now able to do verbal gymnastics better than most kids I know. You are genuinely witty and, as Dad notices frequently, good at thinking outside the box. And speaking of boxes, you like to salvage any that you can for future projects. In fact, you like to salvage many things…like chicken bones. We all still marvel that you thought saving them under your bed for your imaginary dog was a good idea. Last week you wanted to tape a pancake to your bed because Luke made breakfast in the shape of everyone’s initials. You have a perpetual sweet spot for babies and are excited to have another brother whom you may get to room with.

You love 2nd grade and are reading up a storm. You look up to your big brothers as if no one else matters though you all can fight pretty well too. I marvel how you and Ty can play all day on any given theme: from cowboys to soldiers to horses to star wars. Amelia cried the first day you moved out of the Sunday School you were in together. She holds pretty tight to you too. You are our middle child in so many ways, but as I see our family grow, I see the middle is the glue that binds them all together. You are reflected strongly in each of your siblings and of course in our lives.

I pray in the coming year that you will feel the great extent you are loved. That you will grow in wisdom and stature with God and men. May you humbly learn to look to Him! Happy Birthday dear Gabe!

The birthday snack idea came from Gourmet Mom on the Go.  If you give it a try, make sure to follow her directions and use paste rather than liquid food coloring.  I didn’t and had a gloppy mess, so we reverted to white crayons which worked out just as well though not quite as authentic.

Putting Up

From our garden boxes, originally uploaded by kedsrus.

The one thing I asked for both Mother’s day and my birthday this year was garden boxes. My husband did put in two 8×2 raised boxes, and much like they say about tatoos, I think I’d like some more.

It was a great learning year and I made notes for next summer, but I want to be able to “put up” (to borrow a term from previous generations) more than what these little boxes afforded us. They graciously fed us green beans and cherry tomatoes all summer. We’ve had red cabbage slaw and hot peppers in soup and salsa. But I would like to do a whole lot more beans as well as dedicate a whole box to vertical plants so I can put those Ball canning jars my Aunt Cynthia gave me to use.

Either way, this was one afternoon’s yield. The kids loved giving me progress reports and would pick what they found–ready or not at times. We had 3 little pumpkins. Two rotted on the vine as it got a blight, but this one made it’s way into muffins.

It was the summer of jam around here this year: strawberry, black raspberry, currant, concord grape–all sitting on our shelves waiting for winter. We were gifted much and also did our share of picking. The kids were eager helpers in picking…mostly because of the all-you-can-eat fruit factor, I’m sure.

And that brings us to the fall…routines, rhythms, and reason all in full swing. I’m looking forward to enjoying the fruits of this labor during the bleak months when I may need a reason to put a smile on my face. The memories we made ought to help do the trick.

First

On the other side of a decade now.  What an amazing and terrifying week it’s been.  The Monday night before your birthday, you stayed up a little past your siblings helping me make your giant-sized cookies to take for school.  It was a nice time together.  I told you how blessed I was to be your mom and you hugged me and reciprocated the blessings.  These are the joys of motherhood…to watch you grow into a fine boy and beyond.  As the week progressed, I was quickly reminded how the role of parenting is a mixed bag of joys and trials.

You are facing the tween years and that within the fury of a godless generation.  All too soon talks will have to take place and already are in small ways.  You are recognizing your capacity to sin and praise God, with that, your need for forgiveness.  This is a work of God in your heart.

I see the path of parenting lying before us–a steep and rocky climb ahead for you and us.  You are breaking us in, firstborn son…just as you have with everything; paving my heart and understanding for what will be a well-worn path tread by those who walk behind you.  We will stumble and we will not always know which trail is best, but my prayer today is that our Lord will be our guide and that you continue to follow the guides God has given you.

May the coming year have His strong hand upon your life and heart.  May we continue to press toward the prize and find that God is the one who is faithful to bring us to the finish.

Happy birthday, firstborn son!  We love you!

Noticing Things

I’ve been trying to slow down a little and capture the remarkable things simply waiting to be noticed.

Like this cute little thief among the tomatoes

Or my mom’s dear hands tending what she picked from my Grandpa’s vines

The amazing process of change

How glorious a flower can be

Two sweet faces that look very similar when I pause to see it

The kitchen crew when we camped over Labor Day

The stew that brought some stress to the weekend, but was enjoyed by us all.

Punky Brewster

Six…an age I vividly remember as a little girl. First grade was the year I had one of my favorite teachers, Miss Talis. We did fun things in her class like The Breakfast Club which consisted of each student recording what they ate for breakfast for two weeks and culminated in an early morning field trip to Frisches’ Big Boy where we got to order a healthy breakfast with our teacher. We relocated our classroom for a short time to the gym…I remember having missions week about China and learning about Hudson Taylor. We took our shoes off and ate on blankets to model the Chinese. It was the year I learn The Goups and one of my favorite songs to this day “This is my Father’s World”. My mom let me get bright red Nike tennis shoes that year with rainbow reflectors. I was very proud of those crazy shoes.

You are in first grade now…and I wonder what your memories will be.  I hope they will be the sort that make you look back and smile with fondness much like mine.  This year we have spent time together in fun ways.  I am praying for wisdom as I see rearing you will require different approaches than I’ve had to take with your brothers.  I pray we might someday have a relationship like I have with my own mom.  I have alot to learn!

Here is one very memorable tale that happened this year.  I’m pretty sure it made a mark on you as well.  We paid our respects to a dear family that lost their mother/grandmother this past spring.  Their 5 year old son has been smitten most of your kindergarten year.  I had not mentioned this to you as I don’t see it fruitful to muddle your mind with kindergarten crushes.  Yet some things rise to the top whether you pay them mind or not.

While we stood to greet them at the end, this little guy came over to you and said very purposefully, “I need to speak to you in private.  I’m going to whisper it in your ear”.  There was a pause as he whispered to you. You then leaned over to me and whispered in my ear that he had just asked you to marry him!  In a moment filled with sadness, this was incredible comic relief.  His seriousness was not to be mocked.  But the courage he showed and the purpose he displayed made you blush and my eyes pop…and then we couldn’t help but crack up!  His mother then sweetly took you to meet a few relatives to whom he had already talked to about you.  As we were leaving he yelled, “I’ll see you at my wedding!”

A marriage proposal at five!  It was incredibly sweet and funny.  His mom jokingly assured us he is a good reader and speller, he is a hard worker, and if he’s anything like his dad he’ll be a very good husband.

They say there’s something about weddings and funerals. I guess so.

Happy Birthday, “Punky Brewster”.  We love you!

Nine and Counting

For just about a year now you have been making your birthday list.  Waffling between one thing and another.  Always at the top of the list was a pet to call your own.  Luke had Skip, our beloved black and white dwarf rabbit.   Turtles just aren’t as cute and fun to play with as critters.  So we agreed to let you give it a go.  A guinea pig it was…or two rather.  One for Ty and one for the rest of the crew as everyone knows they are better in pairs.  It was so fun to watch the look on your face as you chose the one you wanted.  Proud and excited.We celebrated your day with family–a steak dinner with lots of fresh fruit ala Grandma; your kind of meal.  You took big cookies to school and as is always the case, you enjoyed your day.

Eight was a growing year for you…I feel like we’re growing too…learning what works best for you as you are clearly your own man.  You loved your teacher this year and sometimes I think you might rather have lived at her house.  You are a pretty easy-going kid with a great arm for baseball and a good amount of patience.  You have lots of friends and you know how to be silly.  You are a good brother to Jack and Britta and though you would not dare admit it, we know you love the other ones too.

I pray the coming year holds good things for your precious life.  That you will do your best at all you put your hand to, and that we will listen and instruct you with faithfulness and wisdom.  You are dear to us Ty!  Happy ninth year!

Spring Cleaning

This week I plan to get my house set to rights. Life has been a little hectic lately. It seems I need to actually spend some time at home in order to make it more of a home.  Maybe I’ll enlist Jack-Jack’s help.  I used to strap sponges on my feet as a little girl in order to help my mom mop.  I think his way looks equally fun.  Maybe I’ll even join him for old times’ sake.

I also hope to open a can of “spring cleaning”. (I wish it was as easy as opening a can.) So, I’m making my list and hoping to be scarce on the virtual scene while I tend to my real, tangible life. God’s blessings!

Happy Valentine’s Day

I don’t care if people say Valentine’s day is designed just so Hallmark can meet its profit margins. It’s a great reason to add color and love to the doldrums of winter. Paper love notes and sweet sentiments bring smiles to our faces…and so do beautiful flowers. Poo-poo to the critics, I say.

Enjoying

This very good rendition of St. Nick. I think we’ve seen too many bad ones this year.

These peacock Christmas colors gave me good vibes.

Brown paper packages tied up with string. This is our advent “calendar” with a treat and scripture reading on each package..25 in all. This is a time consuming but very rewarding tradition.

This dreamland train at the Bass Pro Shop.

Our yearly tradition at Doebel’s where I usually get the kids’ ornaments. It’s normally my mom and whatever kids are home, but this year it was my dad too! Retirees! We had a nice time with Mia, Jack, and Britta in tow.

I’m definitely loving this one. The girl, the color and the light. But mostly, the girl.

Luke went to town with a package of clay I brought home. Here is his hunter. The camo is so cool in my humble opinion. He is working on a claymation video. If it works out right, I’ll post it.

Warmest wishes for a blessed Christmas and Happy New Year!

Catching up

Since I seem to be playing catch up around here, I thought I might as well keep in that vein and post something about each of the kids.

Two weeks ago I had the privilege of volunteering in Gabe’s class. They had a thanksgiving feast and then I stayed to watch gym class and music. It was so much fun to be there with him. I need to do this more often–for all of the kids. It was worth the effort to get there. And thankfully he was excited to have me. I always worry they’ll be like “mom! why are you here!” But he wasn’t at all, so that was good he was happy to see me.

Amelia got her haircut and her father was the stylist. Kevin was helping her comb through her knots and said enough is enough. Her fine hair gets so easily tangled. Ten minutes later she had a cute “dump cut” ala dad.

I liked hers’ so much, I decided to cut mine too–yes, myself. I thought, well Kevin can just fix it. Turns out it was a bit too challenging for him, and I went to a stylist instead. She gave me exactly what I was looking for. Whew!

Luke loves to fish and went over the summer with my dad and mom on the lake. Here he is helping prepare them (from the freezer) for dinner. Kinda neat to know that he caught our dinner. Kinda sad that his mother’s recipe made them taste like cardboard. We ate them anyways and look forward to more in the future. Gotta get a better recipe before then.

He is wearing his sports goggles because he has lost 2 pairs of glasses in 8 months. Uuugh!

Here’s Britta’s hilariously toothy grin which she flashes every time she’s up to something. Here she found a Dum Dum sucker on the ground and was having the time of her life. We got some video too, but those teeth speak volumes about how much she enjoyed it.

Happy Jack is consistently the last one at the dinner table. Often he goes straight to bed from the dinner table because 1. he has sat there so long it’s bedtime, or 2. that is the consequence for his’ not eating. At least he still has a smile on his face in between bites.

I realize this picture looks very scary, it’s just the way Ty tilted his head in at the last minute that made it so. Rest assured he was perfectly safe and supervised as he whittled away on a bar of soap in efforts to earn his Whittlin Chip for Cub Scouts. It’s a great (smelling) way for beginners to practice.

Well I think that’s all for now. Hopefully I can post a bit more regularly throughout this month.