Keeping Kids Busy #1

I'm home from church with the kids today. Elliana was throwing up during the night last night. Two of the others have colds. Not to mention they were all up way too late last night. But we had a great time with family. It was worth it!

So here are some ideas about what to do to keep kids entertained.

I plan to make some applesauce in my crockpot. Yum! Warm applesauce on a cold day! Other things kids can help make are good. My oldest two love to peel things, apples, potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc. The little ones like to stir. Cookies, brownies, pudding, jello, etc.

I got some videos from the library on Friday. The kids are watching them now.

My three little ones LOVE to color. So I'll print some pages for them to color.

Two of them have some homework to do. Grace has a letter to write to Jose Fernando and Enmanuel.

A scavenger hunt is always a good idea. Make a list of household items for the kids to find. I put them into two teams because only Grace and Olivia read. I still have Halloween candy stashed to use as prizes.

Dusting. My kids love to dust!! I'd better take advantage of that while they will still do it.

Naps. We were out way late last night so they need naps so I can get them up in the morning without too much wailing and gnashing of teeth.

I am going to order some crafts from Oriental Trading for future days like this. They are really economical. They cam make great gifts, too. For grandparents, teachers, etc.

Talk to the kids about Advent and what it mean. There are some great resources on this on the web. Here is one I found.

Room Rescues! Believe it or not, this can be fun! When a room needs 'rescued' (cleaned up) I turn on the music and the kids try to have it picked up before I turn it off (usually about 5 minutes.) It is amazing how quickly they can pick up if it is a game.

Make paper snowflakes to decorate the windows! Always fun and someone can run the vacuum afterwards. My two oldest fight over who gets to vacuum!

Games. We enjoy playing games as a family. Sorry and Uno and Yahtzee being the current favorites. I will probably invest in checkers soon. Can you believe we don't have a checkers game? Weird!

Laundry. Keep bins in the laundry area so the kids can sort. Even my littlest ones can do this. Towels in one bin, whites in another, colors, pinks and reds....you get the idea.

Read to the kids. It makes for great cuddle time!

These are just a few ideas. I'll keep adding as the winter goes. There are lots of things the kids can do besides veg out to the tv all winter! If you have some other ideas, leave them in the comments and I will compile them in a future post for all to use!

For These I Am Thankful

The sacrifice of my Lord, Jesus Christ

My husband

Grace

Olivia

Josiah

Charis

Elliana

My sister and her husband

Madison

Abigail

My sisters in law and their families

My brother in law and his family

Jose and Yamile

Jose Fernando

Enmanuel

David

Daniel

My amazing parents

My mother-in-law and father-in law

My wonderful girl friends

My husband's friends who keep him accountable

A warm home

Enough to eat

Enough clothing

Support on this weight loss journey

Giggles and laughter

Ornery little boys

Pink things all over the house

Books

Music

Fresh air

Sunsets

You know, this list goes on and on, but on this day, I truly am blessed. And I hope you are feeling that way too!

Olivia's Birthday

Better late than never!!

I'm Back!!!!

YIPEEEEEE!!! Will be catching you all up on our lives tomorrow!!! Thank you to my computer repair man!!!!

Kid Stuff

Charis: Mommy! Look at me wint! (Wink) I am the only one who can wint in the whole city!!

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The Democratic Process at the Jobes house. We vote on everything, usually at dinner!

"Raise you hand if you like french fries!"

"Raise you hand if you like mustard!"

"Raise your hand if you love mommy!"

"Raise your hand if you love daddy!"

(you'll be glad to know they all love mommy and daddy but only 2 of them like mustard!)

Olivia Is 7 Today!!

Today my Olivia is 7! She has had a great day. Her best friend is spending the night. This afternoon, I took Grace, Livi and her friend to see High School Musical 3. They loved it. It was better than I expected. Now they are drawing pictures. They had popcorn, pizza, chocolate cake and ice cream.

I got this picture from Hilty Sprouts. And I thought it was perfect for today. On every time it is her birthday, I say extra prayers for her birth parents in China. I know and she knows that we are her parents. Her REAL parents. We are the ones who love her and who take care of her, who laugh with her and discipline her. If you want to tick off an adoptive parent, ask them where their child's real parents are.

So happy birthday, my princess. We love you beyond what you will ever understand, until you become a parent yourself.

(I will post birthday pics when my computer is up and running!!)

An Apology

I haven't been on line much this week. My computer will not start. A friend has ordered the part. Hopefully, I will be up and running early next week!

No Words Will Be Sufficient

You Know You Are Parents to Five Children....

when the youngest throws up in a restaurant and you calmly empty the condiment container for her to throw up in. Twice. And you don't even think to tell the waitress until you are leaving. And the rest of the family keeps eating while they watch.

(and yes, you're welcome, to all who are glad I DIDN'T include a photograph or even clip art!)

Brenda and Bekah Came to Play!

They brought 66 (!) cans of Playdoh. But they made up for it by ordering pizza for the kids and sending Kevin and I out for dinner!! They were in town so Rebekah could play soccer at 7:15 this morning. YUCK! It was freezing, 40s and raining during the game. Brenda, dedicated mother that she is, stood out in the elements to watch her only daughter play goalie. Not that I would really know how nasty it was, as I was in my nice warm bed! I only rub this in because, did I mention, she brought 66 cans of Playdoh with her??

My Lap Band

Is just not tight enough! I went back and got another fill this afternoon. We'll see how this goes. I've been stuck at the same weight for a while. I will lose a little and gain a little but never stay consistently down. I want to make sure it is not possible to gain weight over the holidays! (Admit it, there are times you'd LOVE to throw a fit like this chick is!)

Thankful Thursday

I am so thankful that God loves me all of the time. Especially on those days when I am not feeling so loveable. You know how those days go. Feeling kind of down, kind of grumpy. Having a bad hair. Zits and age spots at the same time. The kids are yelling at each other. When I ask what's going on they yell at me, and then I yell at them not to yell at me. The house is trashed and I have no energy to pick it up. Piles of laundry and I really don't care.

But you know what? I have a day like that and God still loves me! He still sees me as his beautiful child. For this, I am truly, truly thankful!

The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. Psalm 45:10-12

For more Thankful Thursday go to Grace Alone

Everybody in the City

Charis started it. Of course. She starts everything! A few months ago, at bedtime, she started telling me, "Mama, I love everybody in the city!" It eventually began to make it's way into her prayers. "Tank oo for mama an daddy an Gracie an LiLi and Ziah an Bella an everybody in the city!

Josiah's take on it, is to ask, everytime we are in the car is "Are we still in OUR city?"

Ella wants to know if Mama knows everybody in the city? (No dear, that is your father's department.)

But I must admit, they are a great reminder daily, sometimes hourly, to be praying for "everybody in the city."

Testimony......

On Saturday, Kevin and I went to see Third Day (!) in concert with a couple of his former students. One of them had an amazing testimony. As it is not my story to tell, I will just say he was delivered from some pretty amazing demons and vices and is now amazingly in love with Jesus. Kevin, too, has an amazing testimony, of which I am a part, but it is his testimony.

Well, the amazing lady we were with, I'll call her Amanda, and I started talking. She was raised in a christian home and just always knew God. I, too, always knew God. I went to Sunday school as a child. As a teen, friends took me to church. Sometimes I wandered away, but God was never too far. I always knew that I was special to him and that he was guiding me.

So Amanda and I were talking about not having one 'amazing moment' when we were delivered from something and accepted Jesus, and how sometimes it almost makes you feel like a 'lesser christian' because you don't have this experience.

But the more I thought about it, the more grateful to God I am that I don't have that 'aha' moment. Because I wasn't addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex. I wasn't homeless. I wasn't terminally ill and then cured. I wasn't abused. I wasn't neglected. Thank you, Jesus, I was none of these things.

And I hope my children can say the same thing. That they were brought up knowing God and loving God. That he has always been real to them. I don't want them to have to go through something horrible in order to know our God and Savior.

They will still have a testimony, as I have a testimony. I have so many instances where God has worked miracles in my life and in the lives of those around me. And it doesn't make me any less of a christian, or any more of a christian for that matter. My God will use the story that he has given me to bring to him the people he has chosen. Isn't he just too cool??

What a Week

Busy, busy, busy. I'm sure none of you feel that way! LOL

Lots of errands this week to get a package ready to send to Cub@ this weekend. Hopefully all of the folks at Grace Church are getting letters and pictures together. Please pray for the people of Cub@ as yet another hurricane is headed their way. Food is already becoming harder to get. Please pray for Pastor Jose as his visa has still not come through. If it takes much longer he may not be able to be here by the 8th of December as we are planning.

Yesterday, the Melody Makers, the volunteer choir made of fourth, fifth, and sixth graders at my children's school, gave their first perfomance. Our Gracie is quite the performer. Really animated. She had so much fun on stage. She also has a roll in the Christmas play next month. And yes, I said CHRISTMAS!! In fact, her principal referred to it as the Christmas play. Not winter or holiday, but CHRISTMAS!!

Parent Teacher Conferences for Olivia and Grace were this week. I am so proud of my girls. Their teachers said the same thing about both girls. They are working to their potential. I cannot ask for more than that. Well, I can. But that was answered, too. Both of the girls are very well behaved and treat their teachers and classmates with respect. (Just like they treat everyone at home, right? NOT!!)

I've had three straight days of migraines this week. I promised Kevin I'll call the doctor this morning and make an appointment. It's getting really hard to function. I have the best husband. He's worked all morning and then come home and taken over the household so I can take pain pills and crash. He is simply amazing.

I AM NOT FORGOTTEN

Do you ever need reminded of that? I do. No matter what is going on God is there. You are his favorite! The apple of his eye. He knows YOUR name!

I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name.
He knows my name.

Light over darkness
Strength over weakness
Joy over sadness
He knows my name

I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name.
He knows my name.

Father to the Fatherless
Friend to the friendless
Hope for the hopeless
He knows my name

I will praise You I will praise You
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

I am not forgotten Never forsaken

I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
I am not forgotten
God knows my name.
He knows my name.

(by Israel Houghton and the New Breed)

Conversations with Ella

Ella: Mom! Look at my boobs!! (A word I don't use.)
Me: Ella, you're two, you don't have boobs!

Celebrating Life

On Saturday, the ladies of the church and friends and family of my friend, Erin, gathered to celebrate the life of her son Caleb. Caleb is scheduled to enter this world on the 26th of January. Of course, he might disagree with this date, but that remains to be seen.


Erin and her 'cute husband', Keith, are obviously thrilled to be expecting their first child. A child who will be loved and cherished. We, her family by blood and through Christ, are happy to celebrate this new life with them.

In church on Sunday, we celebrated All Saints Day. They day to celebrate the lives of those who have gone before us to the throne of heaven.

7To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7) These are the words of Paul. You see, those of us who belong to Jesus are called saints.



We had six church family members go to be with Jesus this year. And we celebrated their life. And we celebrated our lives in Jesus Christ.

And we should celebrate. We are eternal beings. Born to love God. Born to be saints. We should celebrate the lives of children to be born. We should celebrate the lives of the saints who have gone before us. And, as the saints here on earth, we should celebrate the gift of our lives as children of God. Saved by the blood of his son, Jesus.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:17b-19)

Halloween a few days late

Here's the neighborhood! These are my kidds and the girls who live on either side of us. Poor Josiah, look at all of the girls.

On Halloween, Kevin stayed home and passed out candy. My friend, Linda, and her sweet puppy came along to help me out with the crew. We had a really good time, and the kids came home with way too much candy! I am grateful for daylight savings time. It was light for half of Trickor Treat. Much safer. And the high school kids tended to stay away while it was light. I must admit we were one of THOSE families. We ran out of candy early. The horror!! Crazy we had 200 pieces! So we had to turn off the lights and hide inside!

But, one funny story. One of the houses we visited had the yard all decorated. I really try to avoid the gruesome ones. But this yard had a fenced off area with some figures. Inside one little structure there was this green man. Think of the guy from the Adams Family. Uncle Fester. He wasn't doing anything when we walked up and all of the kids were chatting on about 'the green man.' We got our candy, said thank you. By the time we left the creepy guy was lifting his head off of his neck and then replacing it. Kinda gross but no biggie. No one was too frightened. Except maybe the puppy who was growling at him.

But Miss Risi kept talking about 'the green man.' The whole time we were Trick or Treating this went on. After we were done and back home, the kids were in pajamas. Ris was sitting on my friend's lap talking about that green guy. Suddenly she was telling Linda how she kissed the green man. "You kissed the green man?" Linda asked. "NO!" replied Risi. "YOU kissed the green man!!" That is her story and she is sticking to it! The imagination of that child is incredible!! Wish my batteries hadn't died in my camera! Or I'd show you that green guy! Linda can do much better!!