His swimming skills are still limited to the backfloat and the doggie paddle but hey it keeps him afloat!!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Lessons from a child
Yet again, Javan's simple mind and BIG heart amazes me. (and teaches me a lesson or two).
Over the past few weeks we have been doing a devotional every day at dinner time. Today the story was about Sampson and it said "God gives each of us special gifts to use for him. But if we forget about God, we lose our power, too. Ask God to help you stay strong in his power for your whole life."
And then we talked about our special gifts and following God's will and of course the convo about people who don't believe in God and so on....
Devotional was over and we were just eating and talking about who-knows-what. I just remember facing Lance when Javan, out of the blue, folds his little hands and bows his head and prays:
"Dear God. Please help me to know who doesn't believe in you and who does so I can tell them all about you. Amen."
It got me to thinking that we complicate Christianity so much as we grow and learn and my sweet little 4 year old got it just right. We should be asking God when we begin a conversation with someone. "Help me to know who doesn't believe in you so that I can tell them all about you." Its so simple but so often I forget to include God in my conversations. I just start blabbering.
Over the past few weeks we have been doing a devotional every day at dinner time. Today the story was about Sampson and it said "God gives each of us special gifts to use for him. But if we forget about God, we lose our power, too. Ask God to help you stay strong in his power for your whole life."
And then we talked about our special gifts and following God's will and of course the convo about people who don't believe in God and so on....
Devotional was over and we were just eating and talking about who-knows-what. I just remember facing Lance when Javan, out of the blue, folds his little hands and bows his head and prays:
"Dear God. Please help me to know who doesn't believe in you and who does so I can tell them all about you. Amen."
It got me to thinking that we complicate Christianity so much as we grow and learn and my sweet little 4 year old got it just right. We should be asking God when we begin a conversation with someone. "Help me to know who doesn't believe in you so that I can tell them all about you." Its so simple but so often I forget to include God in my conversations. I just start blabbering.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Random thoughts
We went to church tonight.
Its kind of nice to be able to go to church on Saturday nights from time to time.
For some reason it seems to always happen that at several points during the church service I will have all these ideas that "I've gotta remember to blog about that."
Never fails.
And like a really awesome dream, ... those ideas tend to disappear by the time I get home. I probably should have jotted them down somewhere so I wouldn't forget. Just notes, I don't think the pastor would appreciate me blogging during the service... :-P. (plus, the message was great and wouldn't want to miss out on it).
I am beginning to think that this happens because I don't give myself a chance to sit down and THINK at all during the week. Probably something I should work on. Scratch that. Definitely something I should work on.
Is it too late for New Years Resolutions? Well, I don't usually even go there because I never keep them and then I get all disappointed. But, IF I did.. here would be a couple of things I would do.
1. Check facebook only ONCE a day.
2. At the end of my work day - literally SHUT DOWN my computer.
3. Make 2 lists of things to do. The first list would be things that should be done weekly, the other list of bigger projects that I could work on tackling when I have free time.
4. Read more. (this would go along with shutting down my computer, Read during the extra moments of free time - the moments that I'm not spending QT with the little buster or the hubby.
5. Keep a prayer journal. (I had one ages ago. It truly was the best thing for my prayer life.)
I'm sure there are more. I know there are more. That's a good start.
Truthfully, I have been working hard on making that stuff happen, but I won't call it a New Years Resolution because I cheat too much.
And that's just discouraging.
Lance is now officially a student. All the more reason for me to have the time to work on my list above. He is taking 3 online classes at the community college. This week has been a little crazy with him getting used to the website that they use and getting all the books and caught up and stuff. (If you know Lance at all, then you would know that he is a "get stuff done - play later" kind of guy.)
Hence the....This week has been a bit hectic comment.
But, I have to give him props for doing a great job balancing it all without getting too frustrated. He is going to do great this semester!! The online courses are pretty awesome. I wish they were more popular when i was going to college. The lectures are on a video so he can repeat any parts that might be a little confusing (or fast forward parts that are totally boring. LOL! Totally something I would do...) Lance however, nope. He'll read every word in the book and listen to the lectures until he understands them.
Not a shortcuts kind of guy.
I admire him for that.
Most of his books are online too, with tutors available and video lectures as well. Suweet!!
Javan has been learning a lot too. He says the most startling things sometimes and I don't know if he learns them from Sunday School, Preschool, Awana, or me...
Because I'm sure I have entire conversations with him that I don't even remember... that's just who I am...the same person that gets lost almost every time I leave the house. tee hee. Lance had to draw me a map today. Seriously. I've lived here for long enough, I should be able to get around this crazy city. Especially since it is in grid form... pretty easy...not sure why it confuses me so much. I'm just used to windy roads and directions like "turn left after you go over the bridge and pass that crooked tree." .
You know its bad when even Javan notices it and asks whenever I get in the turn signal "Did you go the wrong way again"
Anway, Javan said to me this week "You know some people don't know God. Some people don't even PRAY. Some people think that God doesn't answer their prayers!!" I wish there was a way to describe his tone of voice. Absolutely appalled at the thought!! and then he said "And, Mom, some people listen to Satan and do bad things that Satan tells them instead of listening to God."
I have heard variations of this conversation so much this week that it didn't sound all that unusual until we were at Walmart today and Javan said (in a normal 4 year old SHOUTING tone of voice)
"Mom, I don't listen to Satan. Sometimes Satan tells me "its okay to pick your nose" but I try not to listen."
And the lady standing next to me gave me the STRANGEST look.
WHAT?!?! Your kids don't talk to Satan from time to time. Sheesh.
Some other cute Javan quotes:
1. Doing neck rolls - "This is my favorite exercise. It helps me grow taller" Must be something he learned at preschool because I don't usually do neck rolls that often. Although I should.
2. Javan: "Mom, can we move to Pennsylvania"
Me: "We don't plan on moving to Pennsylvania anytime soon, but we can visit there sometime."
Javan: (obviously realizing that discussing this with me is getting him no where) "Dear God, Would you please move us to Pennsylvania so i can play with Mom mom and Pop Pop and Jeremiah, Ryan, and Nathan (sorry JR and Kim, Your children obviously take priority over you guys cuz your names weren't mentioned). AMEN.
Now, THAT'S my kind of prayer... but i don't think that is in the cards for us. Javan might soon be learning a lesson about how God says "not now" sometimes.
3. Javan was pointing out a new-found little cut on his foot (one of those mystery scratch's that I have no idea where it came from). I said "I think its ok, but we can put some medicine on it to help it heal" Javan: "Nah, that's OK Mom, I don't need medicine. God will heal it." BANG! I love that kid!
Its kind of nice to be able to go to church on Saturday nights from time to time.
For some reason it seems to always happen that at several points during the church service I will have all these ideas that "I've gotta remember to blog about that."
Never fails.
And like a really awesome dream, ... those ideas tend to disappear by the time I get home. I probably should have jotted them down somewhere so I wouldn't forget. Just notes, I don't think the pastor would appreciate me blogging during the service... :-P. (plus, the message was great and wouldn't want to miss out on it).
I am beginning to think that this happens because I don't give myself a chance to sit down and THINK at all during the week. Probably something I should work on. Scratch that. Definitely something I should work on.
Is it too late for New Years Resolutions? Well, I don't usually even go there because I never keep them and then I get all disappointed. But, IF I did.. here would be a couple of things I would do.
1. Check facebook only ONCE a day.
2. At the end of my work day - literally SHUT DOWN my computer.
3. Make 2 lists of things to do. The first list would be things that should be done weekly, the other list of bigger projects that I could work on tackling when I have free time.
4. Read more. (this would go along with shutting down my computer, Read during the extra moments of free time - the moments that I'm not spending QT with the little buster or the hubby.
5. Keep a prayer journal. (I had one ages ago. It truly was the best thing for my prayer life.)
I'm sure there are more. I know there are more. That's a good start.
Truthfully, I have been working hard on making that stuff happen, but I won't call it a New Years Resolution because I cheat too much.
And that's just discouraging.
Lance is now officially a student. All the more reason for me to have the time to work on my list above. He is taking 3 online classes at the community college. This week has been a little crazy with him getting used to the website that they use and getting all the books and caught up and stuff. (If you know Lance at all, then you would know that he is a "get stuff done - play later" kind of guy.)
Hence the....This week has been a bit hectic comment.
But, I have to give him props for doing a great job balancing it all without getting too frustrated. He is going to do great this semester!! The online courses are pretty awesome. I wish they were more popular when i was going to college. The lectures are on a video so he can repeat any parts that might be a little confusing (or fast forward parts that are totally boring. LOL! Totally something I would do...) Lance however, nope. He'll read every word in the book and listen to the lectures until he understands them.
Not a shortcuts kind of guy.
I admire him for that.
Most of his books are online too, with tutors available and video lectures as well. Suweet!!
Javan has been learning a lot too. He says the most startling things sometimes and I don't know if he learns them from Sunday School, Preschool, Awana, or me...
Because I'm sure I have entire conversations with him that I don't even remember... that's just who I am...the same person that gets lost almost every time I leave the house. tee hee. Lance had to draw me a map today. Seriously. I've lived here for long enough, I should be able to get around this crazy city. Especially since it is in grid form... pretty easy...not sure why it confuses me so much. I'm just used to windy roads and directions like "turn left after you go over the bridge and pass that crooked tree." .
You know its bad when even Javan notices it and asks whenever I get in the turn signal "Did you go the wrong way again"
Anway, Javan said to me this week "You know some people don't know God. Some people don't even PRAY. Some people think that God doesn't answer their prayers!!" I wish there was a way to describe his tone of voice. Absolutely appalled at the thought!! and then he said "And, Mom, some people listen to Satan and do bad things that Satan tells them instead of listening to God."
I have heard variations of this conversation so much this week that it didn't sound all that unusual until we were at Walmart today and Javan said (in a normal 4 year old SHOUTING tone of voice)
"Mom, I don't listen to Satan. Sometimes Satan tells me "its okay to pick your nose" but I try not to listen."
And the lady standing next to me gave me the STRANGEST look.
WHAT?!?! Your kids don't talk to Satan from time to time. Sheesh.
Some other cute Javan quotes:
1. Doing neck rolls - "This is my favorite exercise. It helps me grow taller" Must be something he learned at preschool because I don't usually do neck rolls that often. Although I should.
2. Javan: "Mom, can we move to Pennsylvania"
Me: "We don't plan on moving to Pennsylvania anytime soon, but we can visit there sometime."
Javan: (obviously realizing that discussing this with me is getting him no where) "Dear God, Would you please move us to Pennsylvania so i can play with Mom mom and Pop Pop and Jeremiah, Ryan, and Nathan (sorry JR and Kim, Your children obviously take priority over you guys cuz your names weren't mentioned). AMEN.
Now, THAT'S my kind of prayer... but i don't think that is in the cards for us. Javan might soon be learning a lesson about how God says "not now" sometimes.
3. Javan was pointing out a new-found little cut on his foot (one of those mystery scratch's that I have no idea where it came from). I said "I think its ok, but we can put some medicine on it to help it heal" Javan: "Nah, that's OK Mom, I don't need medicine. God will heal it." BANG! I love that kid!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
So Lance, as usual, hits amazing husband status and had flowers delivered to the house...Wow..I know I keep saying it but seriously, is this a dream?
Well the irony was that Chad ended up returning Jav on Wednesday anyway so I wasn't lonely after all. :-)
And while I'm bragging about my amazing family, Jav has truly been impressing us with how well he has been behaving. Not that he misbehaved much before but the fine tuning with the little things (the usual whining, cleaning up after himself, and testing with talking back that most 4 year olds go through) has really paid off. THANK YOU Parenting with Love and Logic AND hats off to my parenting partner (that would be Lance if there was any question).
You win some, you lose some
One day this week I was feeling particularly adventurous in the kitchen.
Well, at first I was a bit hungry so I whipped out the new food processor and made some BANGO guacamole...
A recipe I know by heart since I make it so often (btw, if you ever feel like making some guac, throw in some uncooked corn right off of the cob... YUM! ....seriously, try it... uncooked corn is awesome in any dips.. its super sweet. We throw it in our salsa and pasta salads too) .
Back to the guac - I have always made it with one of those potato mashers and squooosh the avacodos but since I got a new food processor for Christmas, I thought - why not...Anyway, for some reason the guacamole made with the food processor lasted OVERNIGHT in the fridge without turning brown. (possibly could have lasted longer but guac doesn't last that long in this house). Wish I new about THAT sooner...
So, I'm sitting there munching on some chips and guac and decided. I'm going to pull out the pasta machine and make some PIEROGIES. YUM!!
My mouth was watering thinking about my amazing dinner that I am going to serve to my awesome little family. Oh ... it was going to be SO much better than the boxed frozen variety... and I began my pierogi making adventure....
AND THEY WERE HORRIBLE!!! I guess I didn't flatten the dough thin enough because they didn't cook right and I guess I didn't seal them very well because the potato filling squished out into the water. It was AWEFUL!
a terrible, aweful, MESS!! haha.
So, you win some you lose some. My family had frozen chicken patties with maranara and melted mozzerellla cheese on top (chicken parm) for dinner. Not the healthiest meal but that's the way it goes.
I made up for it on Saturday when Javan and I went to the farmers market... bought a whole bunch of discounted tomatoes and red peppers (they were too ripe for the market, but PERFECT for me). I roasted them in the oven with some olive oil, salt and pepper at 325 for 2 hours (with some onions too). Then bumped it up to 400 for 30 min. tossed it all in a food processor and canned them. (I saved some for dinner that night...spaghetti)
BOOYA!! Fresh and delicious homemade sauce in my cupboard and ready when I need it. All i have to do is pop open the jar, add a little water (or white wine or vinegar or sour cream or milk or butter or whatever i feel like throwing in there that day) and some spices and TADA a fast easy dinner. I'll save them for those busy days at the "office"
Totally made up for my pierogi disaster. Don't worry, friends....I'm not giving up. I plan on giving those another try....
Well, at first I was a bit hungry so I whipped out the new food processor and made some BANGO guacamole...
A recipe I know by heart since I make it so often (btw, if you ever feel like making some guac, throw in some uncooked corn right off of the cob... YUM! ....seriously, try it... uncooked corn is awesome in any dips.. its super sweet. We throw it in our salsa and pasta salads too) .
Back to the guac - I have always made it with one of those potato mashers and squooosh the avacodos but since I got a new food processor for Christmas, I thought - why not...Anyway, for some reason the guacamole made with the food processor lasted OVERNIGHT in the fridge without turning brown. (possibly could have lasted longer but guac doesn't last that long in this house). Wish I new about THAT sooner...
So, I'm sitting there munching on some chips and guac and decided. I'm going to pull out the pasta machine and make some PIEROGIES. YUM!!
My mouth was watering thinking about my amazing dinner that I am going to serve to my awesome little family. Oh ... it was going to be SO much better than the boxed frozen variety... and I began my pierogi making adventure....
AND THEY WERE HORRIBLE!!! I guess I didn't flatten the dough thin enough because they didn't cook right and I guess I didn't seal them very well because the potato filling squished out into the water. It was AWEFUL!
a terrible, aweful, MESS!! haha.
So, you win some you lose some. My family had frozen chicken patties with maranara and melted mozzerellla cheese on top (chicken parm) for dinner. Not the healthiest meal but that's the way it goes.
I made up for it on Saturday when Javan and I went to the farmers market... bought a whole bunch of discounted tomatoes and red peppers (they were too ripe for the market, but PERFECT for me). I roasted them in the oven with some olive oil, salt and pepper at 325 for 2 hours (with some onions too). Then bumped it up to 400 for 30 min. tossed it all in a food processor and canned them. (I saved some for dinner that night...spaghetti)
BOOYA!! Fresh and delicious homemade sauce in my cupboard and ready when I need it. All i have to do is pop open the jar, add a little water (or white wine or vinegar or sour cream or milk or butter or whatever i feel like throwing in there that day) and some spices and TADA a fast easy dinner. I'll save them for those busy days at the "office"
Totally made up for my pierogi disaster. Don't worry, friends....I'm not giving up. I plan on giving those another try....
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Fun in the snow!
This has been a super fun couple of days. We got a few flurries on Sunday morning
By the evening on Sunday there was enough snow to have a little snowball fight as we rode our bikes around the neighborhood.
Monday morning we woke up to 3-4 inches - which is a whole lot to us Kansan's!!!
We made a snowman
and then did a little sledding. It was Javan's first time in his life to go sledding and my first time
in (eh hem...) probably 20 years. We had LOADS of fun. Javan picked it up like and old pro and rode that sled all the way to the very bottom. Only one time did he have a couple of tears over a snow "crash" and some snow in his face. I think he's going to LOVE snowboarding someday...:-)
For more pics check out the web album (it also includes Christmas pictures and
pictures from mom and dad's visit: http://picasaweb.google.com/Merriettgrace/Winter20102011#
Here is a video of Javan's first time down the hill. Of course there were many times after that and as the snow got matted down he would go FASTER AND FASTER!!!!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Proud mama
We were in the car and I was talking away when Lance goes "SHHHHHHHHHh"
Slightly appalled at the fact that he just Shushed me, how dare he, I gave him a puzzled look.
He quietly said "Listen, Merrie"
and in the backseat Javan was counting...as I listened I was totally shocked to hear him count all the way to 59 WITH NO HELP FROM US! This was the first time I heard that from him.
He is also reading so well now... he's pretty good at sounding out words in Phonics books. We will read through them but it takes a little time. However, he is REALLY good at memorizing words. Street signs and restaurant names, etc. Yesterday, mom and Javan were putting together a new Toy Story toy and he said to mom "that sign says Sunnyside." He probably did a little bit of sounding out to figure out the word but most of it was that he knew it was a toy story 3 toy and he remembered the name of the day care and figured it out.
We are so proud of the little guy!
Slightly appalled at the fact that he just Shushed me, how dare he, I gave him a puzzled look.
He quietly said "Listen, Merrie"
and in the backseat Javan was counting...as I listened I was totally shocked to hear him count all the way to 59 WITH NO HELP FROM US! This was the first time I heard that from him.
He is also reading so well now... he's pretty good at sounding out words in Phonics books. We will read through them but it takes a little time. However, he is REALLY good at memorizing words. Street signs and restaurant names, etc. Yesterday, mom and Javan were putting together a new Toy Story toy and he said to mom "that sign says Sunnyside." He probably did a little bit of sounding out to figure out the word but most of it was that he knew it was a toy story 3 toy and he remembered the name of the day care and figured it out.
We are so proud of the little guy!
Monday, January 3, 2011
A little procrastination
Well, my new hours have officially begun. I can barely contain my excitement.... and ironically... I need to get work done tonight so that I can get Javan to preschool, Mom-mom to her hair appt, and get some grocery done. My cupboards and fridge are looking so extremely scarce it frightening.
So, what better to do when I have work to do... procrastinate! (my sister would be proud!!)
Ok, really, though, this needs to be quick. I'd like to get to bed at a fairly normal hour... but I thought I'd write a few things that have been rattling around in my mind over the past week.
Seriously. I'm quite impressed that I haven't forgotten these things.
First of all... a continuation of the "dirt and sticks saga"
Chad's parents and sister decided that since Javan is so terribly deprived of junk food, they would feed him whatever he wants... as much as he wants. Well, he was a happy little camper when he got home with his box of chocolate candies and a tummy full of movie theater popcorn and soda (that was after the mcdonalds).
He was NOT, however, a very happy camper at 1am when he woke up and THREW IT ALL UP! He layed in bed with me and said "I learned a lesson. I shouldn't eat too much junk food" HAHA. He still only attributes the barf-fest to the box of candy even though I've tried to explain to him it was the mcdonalds and soda and popcorn too. I suppose another lesson will need to be learned.
Even I had to learn that lesson the hard way. It was sometime last year, after I had given up soda for the most part, that I took advantage of free refills a little too far and ended up getting sick in the middle of the night.
TRUE STORY.
Anyway, Christmas has been magical, fun, and NEVER ENDING haha. We have barely been home in the past 2 weeks (hence the empty fridge and cupboards). Javan really enjoyed all of the gifts that we got him. My favorite line from Christmas morning was when he got his pillow pet he immediately says "and did you know it is EVEN MACHINE WASHABLE?!?!!" Too many commercials for this kiddo !! haha.
Mom -mom and Pop-pop have been here to visit this week and it has just been a dream for Javan. He just absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVES playing with Seth everyday (I wish we could get those two together even more often) and loves getting spoiled by Mom-mom and loves all of the fun things we get to do with them. We have just had a great time with good food and fun. We will be sad to see them go tomorrow...
and a little happy to get back in the normal swing of things :-)
Oh and it was cute. Javan said to Pop-pop. "Its fun having you visit. You should have brought Jeremiah and Ryan" I am getting anxious to make a trip out to PA, I'm missing it.
Ok, really, now.. I gotta get to work. Sheesh!!
So, what better to do when I have work to do... procrastinate! (my sister would be proud!!)
Ok, really, though, this needs to be quick. I'd like to get to bed at a fairly normal hour... but I thought I'd write a few things that have been rattling around in my mind over the past week.
Seriously. I'm quite impressed that I haven't forgotten these things.
First of all... a continuation of the "dirt and sticks saga"
Chad's parents and sister decided that since Javan is so terribly deprived of junk food, they would feed him whatever he wants... as much as he wants. Well, he was a happy little camper when he got home with his box of chocolate candies and a tummy full of movie theater popcorn and soda (that was after the mcdonalds).
He was NOT, however, a very happy camper at 1am when he woke up and THREW IT ALL UP! He layed in bed with me and said "I learned a lesson. I shouldn't eat too much junk food" HAHA. He still only attributes the barf-fest to the box of candy even though I've tried to explain to him it was the mcdonalds and soda and popcorn too. I suppose another lesson will need to be learned.
Even I had to learn that lesson the hard way. It was sometime last year, after I had given up soda for the most part, that I took advantage of free refills a little too far and ended up getting sick in the middle of the night.
TRUE STORY.
Anyway, Christmas has been magical, fun, and NEVER ENDING haha. We have barely been home in the past 2 weeks (hence the empty fridge and cupboards). Javan really enjoyed all of the gifts that we got him. My favorite line from Christmas morning was when he got his pillow pet he immediately says "and did you know it is EVEN MACHINE WASHABLE?!?!!" Too many commercials for this kiddo !! haha.
Mom -mom and Pop-pop have been here to visit this week and it has just been a dream for Javan. He just absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVES playing with Seth everyday (I wish we could get those two together even more often) and loves getting spoiled by Mom-mom and loves all of the fun things we get to do with them. We have just had a great time with good food and fun. We will be sad to see them go tomorrow...
and a little happy to get back in the normal swing of things :-)
Oh and it was cute. Javan said to Pop-pop. "Its fun having you visit. You should have brought Jeremiah and Ryan" I am getting anxious to make a trip out to PA, I'm missing it.
Ok, really, now.. I gotta get to work. Sheesh!!
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