Lake Ella...

Today, the boys and I went for a walk around Lake Ella and fed some ducks. I tried to get a few pictures of them because it is always so beautiful there however...they really didn't cooperate. Here's a few!




Gabe




Noah


Joel a few days before his 2nd Birthday!!!






Crazy boys!

A weekend with no boys!!!

Last Saturday morning, Jonathan & I drove to Blounstown to meet my Mom. My parents decided to take all three boys for the weekend since Jonathan and I had to be in Gainesville early on Tuesday morning. This is the first time I have been away from the boys over night since Joel was born and away for a few days since Gabe was born. WAY OVER DUE!!! Saturday was fun, we went to a Birthday party with no kids. It was great not being stressed about the boys and not sweating from chasing after them. We then went to a few stores that we wouldn't want to take three boys in. We just enjoyed the afternoon. Later we grilled steaks! After about 2 hours of being home it was just way too quiet so we went to Books a Million. It was so nice not to have to go to the kiddie section. We each got something yummy to drink and just sat reading our books. AAH!!!

Sunday, we skipped church. Sorry Pastor Matt! We slept in (very rare at our house) and drove to St. George Island for the day. It was wonderful. We enjoyed just sitting and doing nothing. Jonathan built a sand castle even with no kids around or bucket & shovel. We also got to see some dolphins not twenty feet from us. I tried to catch a picture but like kids...they move too fast. We loved not having to bring an entire car load to the beach and just enjoyed each other! When we got home we met up with Brad and June and went to Olive Garden (one of my favorites) which is way to expensive to take all three kids. Then the four of us went to Seminole Bowling. What a fun day & night!

The castle!

St. George Lighthouse

Monday, Jonathan had to work so I slept in, went for a walk and then took my time at the grocery store. I then put all the groceries away and cleaned a little bit. I think I even took a nap! I later went to the gym and just had a relaxing night of NO arguing, fighting, or whatever ever else my boys can do. (All which they are doing right this very second! HA!)

Tuesday morning around 4:30 we were off to Gainesville, which is a separate blog. What did I learn from being away from my boys??? That I love them very much and our life has become very noisy but entertaining. I enjoyed spending time with my husband. We could have grown up conversations and even do things without planning. I loved how we picked on each other like we used to and could even laugh when one of us said something really dumb and not have to explain it to a six year old that has to know everything. Jonathan did still catch me spelling out things even with no kids around. Overall, the most adult conversations I think we have had in a very long time. Thank goodness for Grandparents!

Kelly's Health News...

Last Tuesday, Jonathan and I traveled to Shands in Gainesville to find out exactly how bad my bladder was and to confirm my IC diagnosis. After a few hours of waiting to be called back...it's finally my turn. The doctor explains that they are doing a "simple" procedure to find out the capacity of my bladder...the procedure takes 10 minutes but I have to be put to sleep because it can be painful. I wake up...in a lot of pain. The nurses give me tons of pain medicine to try to help me but nothing is helping. I finally am able to get up and go to the bathroom and find a little relief however now I feel like I am about to be sick. They get me back into the rolling recliner and finally wheel me to Jonathan. After several doses of nausea medicine and another bag of fluids...Jonathan then tells me the NEWS!

A normal bladder for a female my age should hold 1000 cc's. Someone with IC's bladder will hold around 750 cc's. My bladder would only hold 450 cc's. WHAT?!? The doctor was able to stretch my bladder to hold 500 however there is nothing he can do to fix the damage. Wow! No wonder I have been miserable the last year and had these problems most of my life!!! I go back in a few weeks, July 7th, to see what else there is to do and to be put on the only medication prescribed for IC. So, please just keep me in your prayers. It's great to know what has been going on but also not so nice to know you have a very damaged bladder!




Jonathan took my picture right before I went in for the procedure!!

Easter 2009 Pictures

All three boys Easter Sunday!





Gabe's Baptism






Gabe was so excited & the water was SOOO cold!

Both boys ready before their t-ball games at the same time....different fields. The fun begins.

Gabe's Witness

This morning, Kelly was dropping Gabriel off at school. You'll remember in my last post I said he is being baptized this week. Well, his teacher pulled Kelly aside and said, "Yesterday, Gabe told me he was going to be baptized this weekend." Kelly confirmed this and the teacher continued. "When he told me that, another little boy asked 'What does Baptized mean?'" The teacher told Kelly that she couldn't answer that question or talk about religion, so she just acted busy with her papers. The little boy then looked to Gabe. Gabriel told him what it was and meant. What happened next was amazing. The teacher said that the boy asked Gabe how you get baptized. Gabe's first reaction was "Well, you go talk to Pastor Matt..." I laughed when I heard that. But then he stopped and said..."actually, first you need to have Jesus in your heart." The little boy and Gabe apparently talked a little while longer and the boy responded by saying..."I don't go to church so I didn't know what baptism was, but now I want to ask my mom and dad if they'll take me to church so I can be baptized!" The teacher said it was awesome. She told Kelly that she couldn't have answered the boys questions any better. I was amazed at how quickly the Holy Spirit has begun using Gabe. He just had his first witnessing experience and God spoke through him. Praise God for surrounding Gabe and for speaking through him yesterday. I hope he continues being a light of Christ.

Gabriel's Baptism

I am so very proud of Gabriel. Last night, he and I had a conversation with our Pastor and Gabriel is going to be baptized on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009!! The Holy Spirit has been at work on Gabe for a couple of months. He has been asking a lot of questions and Kelly and I have talked with him at length about everything. After he started asking so many questions, I decided to walk with him through several versus in the Bible and really get an understanding of where he was. Then, one night after we'd talked, I was putting him to bed and he called for me. I went to his bedside and he said he wanted to ask Jesus to come into his heart. So, we talked for a few minutes and I made sure he knew what that meant and really understood it. I was satisfied with his answers and I helped him pray. That night, my oldest son became a Christian! We then went to visit with Matt, our Pastor and he asked Gabe some tougher questions than I did, admittedly. Gabe was not quite comprehending eternity and destinations, etc. completely, so Matt didn't think he was totally ready. So, we didn't push him and we just kept talking with him occasionally about everything. Then a couple of weeks ago, Gabe started asking and saying some very interesting things. Finally, when I asked him how long you stay in Heaven and he proceeded to tell me "Forever...well, at least until new Heaven..." (I never told him about new earth) and he continued explaining to me that he was referring to when heaven and earth come together (thank you Awana and G-Force) I knew he was ready. So, again...we went to see Matt and Gabriel knew and understood everything. Matt said he was ready and we are having a baptism service on Sunday!! I am really kind of beside myself with this. It all came about so fast and I can only hope I've been and will be a good Christian example for him. The road isn't easy and this is a journey that he is just now beginning. But, I know where the road leads and that Gabriel is with God.

Hulu and the Masters of the Universe

Alright, so I've just recently (Superbowl ads do work) discovered Hulu and I must say...awesome! Having full episodes of your favorite shows virtually commercial free (they play VERY short ads occasionally) is just plain, well, awesome. However, it's also like crack, so be careful.

Anyway, I just discovered something about Hulu that I didn't expect. It has brought my sons and I together in a way that wouldn't have been possible without it. We now share a bond that will never be broken, for it was forged in the fires of Eternia; in the halls of Castle Greyskull. Yes, my sons and I have discovered full episodes of He-Man and the Masters of the Universe!!! And, I am proud to say that my sons wanted to watch episode after episode and I didn't just say yes...I said "I HAVE THE POWER!!!" and clicked play! It was AWESOME!!!

It was so cool seeing them glued to a little bit of my past and seeing what I probably looked like when I was glued to it in 1983! When I finally decided to make them go to bed...they ran to Gabe's room and grabbed the three or four surviving He-Man toys from my childhood (yes, I still have them) and we're going crazy as He-Man, Skeletor and King Randor. For the first time, they now understood why those toys are so DANG COOL! And, when I heard Gabe yell, "I have the powerrrrr!!" as he held He-Man aloft...there might have been a tear...and this time, I didn't cringe when they smacked them together...for now they understand the awesomeness of He-Man and The Masters of the Universe!

Gabe on the news.....

http://ww2.wctv6.com/global/video/flash/popupplayer.asp?clipId1=3548576&at1=Sport&vt1=v&h1=11pm+Sports+3%2D14&d1=363300&redirUrl=http://www.wctv6.com&activePane=info&LaunchPageAdTag=homepage&clipFormat=flv&rnd=60344957


Gabe's class did a Fun Run on Saturday. Click on this link and about 3 minutes into the segment it talks about the race. He is on the clip about 3 times. He has a hat and green shirt on! Had to share!

Kelly

Joel...

Well...I am getting a new cell phone hopefully tomorrow and finally figured out how to get these pictures off my phone without deleting them. I cry every time I look at them because of how we felt during this time. The emotions just come rolling back like it is happening all over again. I still haven't been able to watch the video we took for his birth. I know I am so blessed to have this sweet guy in my life, who makes me laugh and keeps me on my toes...it's just still so fresh in my mind! Just so blessed and thankful for this little bundle of energy! Can't help but to spoil him rotten!

Pictures for Angela

Gabe on Friday after his school program.



Noah picking strawberries!




Joel in the bath tub fully dressed I think this was the 2nd time he did this.




My sisters & me with my sweet baby niece!

Songs that make me happy.

You have to be ready to turn up the volume and enjoy these three. They aren't crazy...they're just some of my favorite songs to lift the spirits. So, if you're down...remember these songs as fun pick-me-ups.

1. I love this song. In fact...I've recently taken the step to call it my favorite song. There are more than just musical reasons. I'm a sucker for nostalgia and this reminds me of when I was little, hanging out at home in the afternoons with my big sisters. In the time frame between getting home from school and the absolute deadline to begin cleaning and have it done before our parents came home, they would force me to watch MTV. I would rather have been watching He-Man, Transformers and G.I. Joe. But, every now and then...this song came on and it made me laugh. It isn't He-Man...but it's almost as enjoyable to the 9 year old in me. It makes me happy. (Thanks for the memories Annmarie and Melanie)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=945FOiz7nMA

2. This song is just awesome. I like it. A lot. It is one of my favorites and the man singing it has a cool story. He died young, but touched a lot of lives and lived life happy, thinking of family, friends and community over himself. He was loved and at the end of this you'll see the kind of love people had for him at his traditional Hawaiian funeral. This song makes me happy and want to close my eyes and think of good things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D68ymfjpw98

3. A classic. It just is. And it makes me happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI&feature=related

So what songs make you happy? The ones that make you smile when you hear them, no matter how your day was going before it came on?

I'm telling Mommy!

A few days ago I decided to take a quick shower while Joel & Noah were playing. I came out of the bathroom and Noah said..."Mommy, Joel had your make up but I took it from him." I said well thank you Noah! However take a look at the evidence on his face! I couldn't help but laugh & laugh! He was tattle telling but was covered with the evidence! Kids are so fun!

Joel's New Bed!!

Well, we've had lots of fun at our house lately! Joel has been talking up a storm and just does things to keep us laughing. He climbed out of the crib a few months back and we thought...here it comes, but to our surprise...he didn't do it again until about 2 weeks ago. He just fell out! He had this huge red mark on his head and I decided it was time to take the front off his crib and let him be a "Big Boy!" My other boys were already out of their cribs by 18 months and didn't mind us putting a full size bed rail on the side so they didn't fall out. In fact...they never touched it! However...Joel is a different story. He hates it! He pushed it off and just started playing all around his room. I let him play thinking he would get tired and just go back to his bed. WRONG! I decided to go check and this is what I found. Yes, sound asleep in the Thomas ball pit! The only way I found him was the toy in the ball pit made a noise and then I saw him.









He has been very fun! At night he goes right to sleep because it is dark and he can't see, but during nap time....it's an adventure. He's fallen asleep at the door on the floor after several minutes of yelling "Knock Knock Mommy"! The lastest today was just too funny! He was playing instead of napping and was having a great time. I decided to go back into his room to put him back to bed and when I got to his room, he had taken about 40 diapers and thrown them out of the basket they are normally in. I opened the door and he said..."Made Mess!" I couldn't help but laugh!

I know the Truth, but don't completely understand it.

(Note: Please comment on this post with your thoughts. I'd love to have your insights and hear from other Christ followers. We understand things together.)

This is going to be another "controversial" post for some. Let me start by saying that I want my faith to be that of a child. I hear the questions my sons ask me. So sincere is their heart in wanting to understand God, faith, death. That's the way I want my faith to be. Pure, sincere, open and to the point. So I am going to be blunt with childlike realism. I have over the years (and a lot recently) been trying to get to the core of what I believe spiritually. At the core, I believe in God. I believe He hears us. I believe in His love for us and that He sent His son to die for us. This I believe. I have faith in that.

Now, let's get to the harder stuff. I truly believe in asking questions of God when you don't understand. I think it's good to question. I think He wants us to question. I think questions are okay. I think fear is okay. I think admitting that you don't have a clue or shred of understanding of God, His plan, His world or His heaven is okay. All of these are okay as long as you are seeking the answer. Don't let doubts turn your heart, but rather ask it bluntly and most importantly, be open to His answer.

Here are some of my biggest questions and I'm okay with saying I don't know or understand them. I'll even go as far as to say that sometimes I doubt them. But one doesn't learn without asking. I say these things out loud as David did and John the Baptist did. I ask these things of God quite frequently as God says we can. To ask is to learn. To question is to gain wisdom.

Why the game? Why this long game of cat and mouse with Satan? He could have destroyed Satan in the war in heaven. Why cast him down with humans? If I'm battling a snake in my yard, do I throw it in the house with my children? Why let him run the Earth? Why converse with Satan so casually about the suffering of one of God's children (Job)? Why not strike him down then? Why reveal Satan to us in scripture only to have us battle with his attacks, when in the end Satan's efforts are all futile. Is it simply to strengthen us through battle? Is it simply to force a choice for us? Is it because only through trial do we show our true loyalty? Aren't good people lost because of this game? People that would have chosen God if it weren't for the game? I don't understand this game. I don't know the rules. It's real time strategy, but I don't control very much of the map and I can't see the enemy. I wish I knew the gameplan, but I have faith in His leadership.

Prayer: Yes. Shock!! I don't understand prayer. Prayer has been proven, even by science to be good for you. It makes you healthier, happier, and less stressed. Sometimes, I can't help but to have questions though. Is prayer God's spiritual placebo? Does He really answer prayers? The fact that we can just dismiss an unanswered prayer as a "No" seems to easy. With some prayers being answered, many not and many we just forget about, I can't help but to wonder if it's all just coincidental. What if God wants us to pray because it's good for us. It helps us "give it to Him" because that's the way it happens anyway. He is a practical God. He gave really practical laws to the Jews regarding health and cleanliness. It helped them through the black plague. What if things just happen because that's God's plan and praying is just something to help us deal with it? Or, maybe He does answer prayers. I don't know. But I do pray, though not enough and I know He hears us and I know that in the Old Testament He did answer them and even changed His mind when Moses lobbied to save the Israelites. But, I'm no Moses. Regardless if it's for an answer or just for peace of mind, I pray and will pray...if for no other reason than a chance to talk to an awesome God and remind myself that He is in control.

Heaven: Yep. No clue, there. Don't know what it's like. Don't know where it is. Don't know when you actually go there (right when you die? or before, during or after the Second Coming?). Don't know what happens when you get there. I just don't know or understand anything about it and I also have a fear that when I get there they'll laugh and say "there's been some kind of mistake." Come on, I'm not the only one scared that will happen.

Earth and Creation:

(Big category) I'll try to keep this one short, but it has a lot in it. Dinosaurs (when, why, how long, what's the purpose, why before man)?

Is man really the only creature with a soul on Earth? Look, I'm not an animal lover. In fact, I don't like very many. However, it isn't hard to notice that there are other animals on Earth that are capable of immense compassion, complex thought, mercy, maybe even love (Great Apes come to mind). These animals feel and react to pain both physical and emotional. Are they soulless? Are they throw away beings? I don't think God thinks that.

How about those animals and how they got there. This is really hard to put out there, but I have questions about Noah. Every animal? Two of them? On a boat? Only survivors and just two of each species repopulated the entire earth? Genetically, it isn't possible for two to make a sustainable population. Researchers are trying to save species around the planet, but when they are down to two...it's over. There is no saving the species. So, either God stepped in (which could have been the case) or more animals survived the flood and Noah just had the best stock. The studs if you will. Who knows?

Finally, the big one. Adam and Eve. On the same note as above...we know two can't make a sustainable population. Incest, etc. come in there as well and that has always bothered me. Did God create more humans and it just isn't mentioned? Did he just make it possible for that time? We see the damage this kind of breeding can have. How did it happen then? How did it work for both Adam and Eve and Noah (who also had to repopulate the Earth)? I don't know.

I want to say again, that I am not saying that any of these are impossible or that I don't believe in them. I have faith in each of these. We are talking about a mighty God who can do anything. I'm just saying that these are topics I wonder about. Do we really have a grasp to understand this stuff? I am not one to just say "it is so because it is and to question it is wrong." I also believe these are major questions that seekers wonder about and to be dismissive of them and explain it away as "it's supernatural so deal with it" is something we can't do. I plan to try to get an understanding of these things through His word and His workers. I just wanted to share my questions and encourage anyone who has questions that it's okay to admit that. Seek Him in your doubts and He will show you the answer.