Lahloos and Other Tales

A busy week!

This week is going to be INSANE!! 

I love my job..I always have.  I love that my job lets me or rather insists that I spend time encouraging, building up, helping teenagers into a deeper relationship with Jesus.  I like that I can do that by showing up a game, concert, or just meeting someone at Sonic for a quick watermelon cream slush (TX's answer to no Ritas!) 

That having been said...this week is nuts!  I have long days and and an even bigger weekend...

The pumpkins arrive on Saturday at 9am!  Over 1,000 pumpkins will grace the lawn of our church...over 2,000 people will participate in the Patch on some level....from buyer to youth worker!  Friday we set up the patch to prep. the area for all those pumpkins... Thursday, Wednesday and Tuesday I am meeting with kids to make copies of coloring pages, "How to care for you pumpkin sheets", and organizing other details.  Today I have a parent newsletter to get out, another meeting for a church event of which I am the co-leader of, and an office that needs some attention in the cleaning department!  

All this and we are out of milk, bread, apples, catchup and few other Granger house staples...Noah's got soccer, Keighley's got gymnastics, Rick is teaching all day and the laundry is filling up the house!! 

All this and still I say..I AM BLESSED with work!!!!  It is days like today and weeks like this one that I praise God that He gives me more energy than I know what do with most days!  Whew....

See you next week!!!

The Water Table

Two weeks ago a good friend of mine challenged all her friends to drink half their body weight in ounces of water a day.  I thought my friend crazy.  But I also knew that I needed to change something in my diet.  Like her I abhor diets and dieting.  They are impossible and always the weight comes back!  I knew she was right, that eating until satisfied and drinking more water would be good choices for me!

So, I took her challenge!  I started just choosing water over other drinks...don't get me wrong I love a good cold dr. pepper or a nice glass of sweet tea...but it really wasn't hard.  The competitive person in me wanted to see if I could acutally do this for the whole week!  (The intial challenge was for one week)  She didn't say I couldn't have other drinks, but to drink those oz. was the trick.  The first day was easy.... I figured exactly how many glasses I needed to drink... by day three I was feeling better than I felt in years! 

Who knew hydration could make a person feel so great!  I did have a glass of tea and a soda...and one night I didn't have ANY water with dinner or after and my body rejected that...it was screaming for water and I felt horrible that night!!! 

I did it!  I made it the entire week and I have kept up with it too!  If I don't drink mostly water throughout the day I feel awful by bedtime.  I had been on medication for high blood pressure and my blood pressure is WAY WAY WAY down...(to a normal level!)  I am off the meds. and i have even lost a little weight...

This has been wonderful!  I like to have lots to drink (not alcohol!!!!) with my meals..there would be some meals I'd have two to six glasses of whatever (usually soda or lemonade)  I started just drinking water instead...most of my oz. came at meal times...and I felt fuller from the water and ate less to boot.  All and all I highly recommend drinking water...ice cold refreshing wonderful water! 

The long summer that would not end...

It has been an unbelievably long summer...a hot one too!  I have neglected writing for so long...partly b/c I was super busy with all sorts of things and partly b/c I just didn't know how to put down all that was rambling through my head at any given moment..thus I did not write at all! 

I am back. I am hoping to get back to writing here more..I know I have some who follow and I am hoping that my FB page will help too. 

The long summer that would not end, ends on Monday.  I am actually grateful and a bit relived.  It is time to get back to school.  In fact, most of the kids I work with feel the same way.  They are ready for a new school year, new teachers, friends and getting back at the daily grind.

 I have been out of the office for almost three weeks...I am sure that there are some who are anxious for my return.  With Noah and Mono it would have been impossible for me to get back any sooner...that and Rick started in-service and his first week of teaching the same exact time Noah came down ill.  They are all very gracious, but I am ready to work from my desk there instead of here at home. 

My summer was filled with teenagers, which is the best way to have a long summer.  BBQ's, bowling, missions trip, weekly events and so the list goes.  There is a great core group of kids that you can count on to come to anything...I LOVE THEM... they make youth ministry in Seguin a happy place!  The days when I wonder why on earth God brought us here are the days when those kids show up and make me remember once more! 

The kids have had a fun summer I think...although if you ask Noah he hated every moment of it.  His expectation was that he would be allowed to do pretty much whatever he pleased.  He thought that meant playing outside 24/7 and no bedtime, bath time, reading time...eating whatever whenever... part of that was true...bed times were pushed, menus adjusted...but it being so bloody hot here this year there was no way we could play outside 100% of the time.  We aimed for early park times...but come 10am it was already in the 100's...we'd head for the children's museum or a a/c play place but those locations were also stuffed to the max and not much fun after awhile. 

We had a visit from my mom and David..that was a highlight for sure...with each kid taking turns staying over in their hotel room.  We had access to a pool and were treated to some special trips!!  We had a ball.  It was good to be with them! 

Much of my summer revolved around the mission's trip.  A two day drive to AZ and a week working and then a 2 day drive back all with a bus that was broken before we even left.  We arrived home safe and sound...the 21 of that went had a ball and really grew in lots of ways.  I am happy to be home...but miss the cool AZ desert nights! 

Toby turned two!!!!  He's grown so much..he's not only taller..but speaking in sentences and even pulled off his diaper yesterday and brought out the potty all by himself!!!  Nothing came of it..but it's a start! 

Our gardens were a total bust!  I was so disappointed.  Really wanted fresh tomatoes, zucchini, and pumpkins...alas it was just too hot!!  It all withered and died.  We got NOTHING!!!! 

As we end our summer the last thing we are going to do is build!  We are going to enclose our porch and make an office!!!  Rick is super excited...as am I ..but at the same time it will be a long hot day with kids underfoot!!!  We are hopefully getting some help, but nothing is confirmed.  It's not a big space, but it will add 100sq feet of space to our house!  We have dreams of bumping out the kitchen, living room and playroom to make a larger kitchen, living room and a bedroom so that Keighley can have her own room...at the same time this time next year we may just move to a bigger house!!!  We'll see!!!!

Noah goes to meet his first grade teacher tonight...I remember my first grade teacher....she was an odd duck!!!  Thankfully, I don't really remember a whole lot about 1st grade.  2nd grade is where my favorite school memories begin!!!! 

Isaac is excited that he gets to have his fav. pre-school teacher starting on Monday!!  Keighley too is excited to be starting Kinder...even if it is with me at home!!!!!  Toby starts school and for that I am really thankful!!!!!  Office time alone for 4 whole hours a day!!!!!

It is nap time...Toby is the only one left who takes them willingly...the rest just crash on the couch when the are tired!!! 

Forts, fights, and frogs....

Summer is in full swing around here!  It's hot, sticky, and did I mention hot???  It was 101 today, and I only looked once...

After our morning walk, our ploy to sap energy from the kids as early as possible. Where we also saw a dead frog that had been flatted by a car...complete with flies and other bugs eating it...we headed off to the outlets...the kids needed some new shoes and I am tired of spending $$ at Wal-Mart to only have to go spend the same amount in a few weeks...so I was hoping Stride Rite would have something of quality that would last longer.  We also saw some sandals/sneakers that Keighley liked and the place to get them is Striderite....

After a misunderstanding and learning that Noah is in fact in a size 1 shoe we left the store with Keighley and Isaac in their new shoes....and we headed home....lunch was well recieved and the heat kept us inside hovering by the a/c...toys were exchanged and the castle set up... tantrums were thrown and nap time abounded (isaac and toby).  Ran to get yarn for Noah....

Rick finishes up his class tonight..his presentation is over and the latest text message said that all is well...other than suffering the next class to watch others present he is DONE with his course work...still praying for a teaching job for the fall!!!!

Dinner was breakfast complete with toast...Toby then proceeded to empty most boxes on my pantry shelf...wheat thins, croutons and cereal...off to bed he goes.  The coffee table has become a fort...Duck Tales is the entertainment and the splinter has been removed from Noah's 5 mintues outstide today! 

All this and not a drop of caffine today...no wonder I have a headache!!!!!!  Bedtime is NOW and then I will clean up the kitchen/livingroom and put in a movie while I work on my journals for the mission trip!

The Summer Plan

This week is a fun week and a crazy week and a slow week all rolled into one.  We have been invited to a few graduation parties, graduations are this week and last days of school...but also we go into a more relaxed summer ministry schedule and will spend time planning out next year! 

We have a plan...not a grand one...but a plan none the less...b/c we are homschooling Keighley for Kinder this coming here (while keeping her in preschool at the same time) we are going to get a head start and do three units of her Social Studies this summer...we are going to do Egypt, Greece and Rome.  Noah is really excited that he gets to be part of it too!!!  Little do they know what we have planned!!!  Making a papermache pyrimd is just ONE of many surprised for them. 

Basically, we are planning on running an early childhood center out of our home for our kiddos this summer..water table, gardens, painting, Social Studies, languages...chinese for one!  As well as working on handwriting and reviewing for school next year...if there is one thing our kids are its hungry to learn new things!  We've reveled a little of our plan and they can't wait! 

We are most excited for my mom to come this summer...the kids have plans for G-ma and Pap!!  Zoo, pool, picnics, building track and much more.  Isaac asks everyday if we can go to the hotel where they will be living and see them! 

Well..we are off to the parties!!! 

A Pox on our house!

I knew way back in 2006 when we got kicked out of the Garden City Pedatircs for simply ASKING questions about the chicken pox vaccine that we'd be in trouble down the road...

When Isaac was two days out of the hosptial we had our first visit to the doctor...loved the practice b/c they were open 24/7 and had a call in that would call your prescritptions into the CVS for you etc... loved them... but our doctor was a little crazy... Isaac was our #3...so we knew a little more about babies by the time we got to our first appointment...

I was in 5th grade when I got the pox...it was the night Brian Boitono took the gold in the 88' winter olympics...and a bat flew around our house... the doctor made a house call....killed the bat and told me I had chicken pox!  He said it was a good thing b/c I would never get them again!!!  YAY for me...

Now...flash forward to 06'...I am wondering why not let this childhood illness just run it's course...it's natural immutity (GOD DESGINED at that) better than a synthetic one?  How long does the vaccnie work? Will they need booters later in life?  Isn't getting Pox as an adult far worse and called shingles?  and on the questions went..until the Doc finally said

"Well, if you aren't going to do it then you can't be part of our practice!"  Two days later we got a certified letter telling us the same thing!!!!  We felt like we had just been dumped by our jr. high date to the dance!!! 

We found another doc...a much better family practice and were all very happy...she gladly answered all my questions...calmed our fears and she simply said "It' like measles...they found a way to prevent it so why not!"  That made sense to me...and so they were vaccinated for chicken pox!!!

"Mommy, i have spots!" came the cry from Keighley yesterday...and sure enough up both legs, belly and back she has "spots"...Noah too...legs and arms...Isaac is just behind them... we called the doc. and her only opening today is at 3pm!!!!!!  But we kept them out of school...

I am glad they got them...I am happy that they will have a natural immunity to them...but in the mean time..I have three itchy kids...and Rick and I are both down with bad allergies...Toby seems to be the only one not affected!!!!! 

More to come!!!

Affirmed

They tell you that when you go into ministry of any kind that you shouldn't do it for the money or the fame...it's true..you shouldn't...ministry...youth ministry in particular is hard stuff.  A good friend once told us that if you can see youself doing ANYTHING else to do that...b/c ministry is just that taxing...you really need to be called....

Over the years we have found that to be true...Youth Ministry (YMIN) is not a money maker and hasn't made me famous...and it's been hard...we've been run out of town, I've been told my calling doesn't count and isn't really from God, I've been ditched by my sending organization and ever told, we've been led in circles, we've been misunderstood, we've had to defend ourselves to parents and pastors alike that having a standard is really a good thing...we've had to be blunt and bold...we've had to be humble and quiet...we've had to do it all...

YMIN isn't a job that you EVER expect to be reconized...it's the kind of job that everyone takes for granted and ignores unless something is going wrong...or something got destroyed!  So when you do get a nice complement you cherish it...I can live on a good complement from a parent for a good 6 months!!!  Like I said...YMIN won't make me famous..that's not why I signed on! 

This past weekend a wonderful thing happend to us...a card appeared in our mail box...it was a wonderful "THANK YOU" card...it said how great a job we are doing and that others in the church are noticing that the youth ministry is really impacting the lives of the youth and the church...and how they just wanted to let us know that we were loved and appreciated!!!!!  WOW!!!  Included was a gift certificate to a really really really nice resturant in town (enough to cover both our meals and dessert!!!)  

 The card was from the Sr. Pastor and his wife!!!!

We know with out a shadow of a doubt that we are CALLED into YMIN...we've tried to get out of it many times...and God always slams the door and says NO!    We also know that for this time in our lives, however long it may be, that we have been CALLED to this town, this church and these familes!!!  So, it was so wonderful of God to prompt our pastor to choose this time to affirm us... to let us know that God was right (he always is...but sometimes we question that!!)  and that he did bring us here to bloom and grow and we get to watch HIM work in these kids lives!!!!  

I'm good for awhile...Thank you Steve and Vickie!!!  Dinner was wonderful!!!

26,000

• Each day, over 26,000 children under the age of 5 die from preventable diseases such as malnutrition, malaria, diarrhea, and acute respiratory infections. Malnutrition is associated with over half of those deaths.
• More than 840 million people in the world don't get enough to eat.  That's one of every seven people on the planet.
• 143 million children under age 5 in the developing world are underweight because of poor nutrition.  That's about one in three children in developing countries.
• In the last 50 years, 400 million people worldwide have died from hunger and poor sanitation. That's three times the number of people killed in all wars fought in the entire 20th century.
• Moderately underweight children are more than four times more likely to die from infectious disease than are well-nourished children.  And under-nutrition contributes to 53 percent of deaths among children under 5 globally.
• Countries in which a large portion of the population battles hunger daily are usually poor and often lack the social safety nets we enjoy, such as soup kitchens, food stamps, and job training programs.  When a family that lives in a poor country cannot grow enough food or earn enough money to buy food, there is nowhere to turn for help.
• Of the 6.6 billion people in today's world, 2.1 billion live on less than $2 per day.

.  This weekend we did something about that!!  21 of us fasted (went with out eating any food) for 30 hours to raise awareness and money for World vision to help children and families get food, schooling, clean water, proper sanitation and medicine!  Our total $$ count isn't it yet..but so far we have raised a little less than $1000! 

The cost of a download for your iPod = food, shelter and care for 1 child for 1 day

The cost of going out to eat = food, shelter and care for 1 child for 1 month.

The cost of a gaming system (wii, XBox etc.) = food, shelter and care for 1 child for ONE YEAR!!! 

We were all hungry,and tired..but very excited b/c our efforts will make a difference in at least 3 kids lives.  We all learned something new about hunger, poverty, AIDS, malaria, and what world Vision is doing all over the world.  We learned that hunger and poverty isn't just something that happens "over there"...but happens right here in the States.  

To learn more check this out: www.30hourfamine.org  there is a great video clip on the home page!! 

I am EXHAUSTED!!  I am so very proud of these kids.  They are amazing and they MADE A DIFFERENCE!!!!

 

 

Spring

when I was a kid my mom always planted....flowers, veggies, herbs, tea....Im not entirely sure why she loves to garden, but she does..still does in fact!  One of our many jobs on Saturdays and in the summer was to help plant, weed and of course water.  All three of these I loathed!  Gardening just wasn't an activity that I enjoyed. 

It was always hot, messy, wet....the weeds were annoying and always seemed to overtake the garden.  One year, I asked if I could plant some wildflowers...we got this great tube of mixed seeds and I planted them....it was great..they all bloomed and I rarely had to weed that patch...simply b/c we didn't know which were weeds and which would be flowers!  That's my kind of garden!!!

Here's the thing though and I can't seem to put my finger on it other than "Im becoming my mom"... I wouldn't mind becoming my mom...she's a great woman....

but I just can't figure out WHY ON EARTH I PLANTED A GARDEN!!!!  Not just one....but FOUR!!!!

I planted squash, tomatos, peppers, cucumbers, sunflowers, wildflowers, zenias and daisies.  We did a small pot of mixed herbs and the kids pumpkin seeds are EXPLODING with potential pumpkins!!!!   Not only did I plant THREE Gardens (kids can be so cute!)  But I did it with excitement...and it was really hard work... the ground around our house is super hard to dig up....it took me two Saturdays to get it all done. 

The kids are super excited...they LOVE watching the progress in thier gardens.  Everything (but the peppers) is sprouting and growing.  The Sunflowers are supposed to get to be over 5 feet tall!!!  Noah's garden has tomatos growing as well as cucumbers.  When I asked Isaac what he wanted to plant he said "Blue flowers...but I don't want the bees to come!"  Well, sorry kiddo...flowers=bees...but we did plant blue flowers....(he has the wildflower patch!!!) 

Nature?  Nurture?  Family culture?  I am leaning toward the third one...it's just what you do in the spring...you plant things..you grow things..you make your kids help with the hard work!!!

The really great thing is that Rick rigged up a sprinkler system b/c we also planted grass...and it waters most of the gardens and flowers!!!  Keighley and Noah both help pull weeds and we are all enjoying watching things grow. 

Spring has sprung in Texas...gardens and all!

The Gift that almost wasn't...

Living here in TX has its benefits!  Car insurance is almost 50% less expensive than PA, our mortgage is 200% less than MA, and we have Noah at one of the best schools in the whole of the district!  We are doing well here in smalltownville!  But...money is always tight and costs continue to rise for food, pre-school and gas.  Just last week we found out that pre-school for the three youngest will go up by $40 per child next year!!!!!! 

When we first got here last year the Sr. Pastor at the time somehow got us into our churches pre-school using $$ from a Pastor's only fund.  It was a generous gift and allowed us to work and get settled and have the kids totally taken care of M-F til noon!!!! 

When the new Sr. Pastor got here mid-June, he had other uses for that $$ and we were told that we'd have to start paying...well, that took a few months to figure out and he also tried to negotiate a discount for church staff and told us that we were OK until the new budget was passed...the discount was vetoed in the preschool board (not the church board!!) and at the end of Jan. the new budget was passed...we did get a nice raise but not enough to cover the cost of Keighley and Isaac's preschool. 

RIck started subbing and God is good we are able to cover their costs!  WHEW!!!!  Well, there was a miscommunication about January's payment...we thought we were covered for Jan and come to find out that we weren't...we were brainstorming with ways to pay for it when we recived a gift from a few members in the church ($320) in CASH!!!! WOW, AMAZING....what a generous and well timed gift!!!!

The Sunday night the envelope was handed to me was a crazy one...we had our kids to get in the van, youth group kids to see off, stuff to load up, papers to be handled, Adult leaders with questions and so on...the envelope made it into the van and then disappeared!!

It was gone...vanished...not in the van, not in the office, youth room, bedroom, other van, garbage, under the couch, in Noah's piggy bank, in Keighley's basket, in the bathroom, kids room, kitchen, front porch, recycling....it wasn't ANYWHERE!!!

A stoney silence came over the house as Rick and I really wanted to cast blame on the other and we couldn't...we couldn't remember who had handled it last....I had opened it, but Rick had cleaned out the van...I had unloaded stuff but Rick had cleaned off our kitchen shelf that keeps all our paperwork... ARRGGGRRGGG....it was very stressful....

A few days ago I decided to make spring rolls for dinner...needed to check the recipe and make sure I got the right stuff...as I opened the cookbook out slide an envelope....THE envelope...full of cash!!!!!

That dreaded night of long ago, we had made cookies in youth group to illustrate a point and I had my cookbook there...one of us must have put it inside for safe keeping...it found its way back on the shelf...but not remembered when the search was on....

So, with much relief and much gratefulness we have our wonderful gift.  RIck and I made up...and life continues on here in smalltownville TX!