Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tooth Fairy Visit
The Tooth Fairy paid her very first visit this week to Camp Clark. Taylor lost not one, but TWO tiny teeth on the bottom row. Actually, mom had to give them a bit of a tug but the tears and blood were short-lived and now it's ALL smiles. Her new ones are already coming in fast as you can see from the first picture below. We have one very proud little munchkin on our hands!! She was so excited to be the first to lose a tooth AND get double the money from the Tooth Fairy. She can't wait to show Cinderella at the Royal Castle!! We are off in the morning to DisneyWorld - YEAH!!!!
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Pray for Haiti
Last spring in Sunday School and again at VBS this summer, LTD learned about the impoverished people of Haiti through a wonderful ministry known as "Healing Haiti". They thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the people, specifically the orphanages in Haiti and how small acts of kindness and generosity can help these poor children tremendously.
When the earthquake hit Haiti earlier this week, it was absolutely heartbreaking. We shared the news with LTD and showed them a few pictures and videos so they could see how badly these people are hurting and desperately need our help, more specifically our prayers. LTD have been so worried and asking questions non-stop about Haiti. So we set up our own family fund and they have willingly and lovingly contributed money from their piggy banks and will continue to do so. Most importantly, we are praying for Haiti every day and for the inspiring ministries, charitable organizations, military, missionaries and ordinary people who have stepped up to help these people. It's amazing how God is working through major turmoil by bringing us all together to help others in need.
Many of you may feel the same despair our family does. We ask that you please join us and keep Haiti in your prayers daily. If you feel called to do so and can help financially, there are many excellent organizations (ex: Salvation Army, American Red Cross) that are accepting donations. Another option if you want to make sure that your money will go directly to those who need it vs. the lovely beurocrats and corruption, here is a link to a ministry that you can absolutley trust:
www.healinghaiti.org
What a perfect time to count our blessings and be grateful for everything we have. God bless you!!
When the earthquake hit Haiti earlier this week, it was absolutely heartbreaking. We shared the news with LTD and showed them a few pictures and videos so they could see how badly these people are hurting and desperately need our help, more specifically our prayers. LTD have been so worried and asking questions non-stop about Haiti. So we set up our own family fund and they have willingly and lovingly contributed money from their piggy banks and will continue to do so. Most importantly, we are praying for Haiti every day and for the inspiring ministries, charitable organizations, military, missionaries and ordinary people who have stepped up to help these people. It's amazing how God is working through major turmoil by bringing us all together to help others in need.
Many of you may feel the same despair our family does. We ask that you please join us and keep Haiti in your prayers daily. If you feel called to do so and can help financially, there are many excellent organizations (ex: Salvation Army, American Red Cross) that are accepting donations. Another option if you want to make sure that your money will go directly to those who need it vs. the lovely beurocrats and corruption, here is a link to a ministry that you can absolutley trust:
www.healinghaiti.org
What a perfect time to count our blessings and be grateful for everything we have. God bless you!!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Challenging Times
Just this past Sunday, our pastor talked about "The Serenity Prayer" in its' entirety and what that means to us. It was an amazingly powerful sermon and really hit home with Dave and I as we are faced with many challenges and uncertainty in this particular mile of the journey we call "life". Some of these trials include: dealing with residential and commercial property investment issues, getting our house ready for market (LOTS to do!), actually selling our home for a fair price (by Owner), searching for a new home within a family-friendly neighborhood in a good school district (at a fair price), job hunting and all that entails (Dave wants to return to mechanical engineering full-time), keeping up our home (snow removal, cleaning, laundry, etc), all while continuing to raise three vibrant 5-year olds and keep up with their daily needs, activities and energy. It's been exhausting, especially for Dave, which is why this well-known prayer (and our pastor's sermon) gave us the extra inspiration we so desperately need right now.
The Serenity Prayer - by Reinhold Niebuhr
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
Trusting that he will make all things right
if I surrender to His will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next.
AMEN
And one of my favorites I have posted in my office:
TRUST in the Lord with all your heart
and do not lean on your own understanding;
in all your ways, acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
What a wonderful reminder to keep our focus on Him and He will guide us and lead us according to His will. We pray that if any of you may be suffering from worry, stress, financial difficulties, job issues, marital problems, depression, self-doubt, etc.........lift up your burdens and hand them over to God - He will gladly take them and lighten our loads. We ask for your prayers for our family over the next several months. In return, please just ask and we will GLADLY return the favor. Prayer is incredibly powerful.
God bless you!!!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
5-Year Stats
Dylan's Stats:
36.4 lbs, 42-1/2" tall
Taylor's Stats:
Taylor's Stats:33.6 lbs, 40-1/2" tall
Lindsey's Stats:37 lbs, 41-3/4" tall
Recently the kiddos and I made the annual trip to the doctor for our 5-yr check-up. What a day! First, I had a long, in-depth conversation with their doctor as to why I did not want to give our children the flu or H1N1 shot. He disagreed with me quite strongly which is fine; I expected that. We each do what we feel is best for our children and based on the research and information Dave and I have collected, we believe NO flu shots are what's best for our family.
LTD had vision and hearing checks in different rooms and the nurses sent them back into our family exam room where I waited. The only comment I heard was "they sure know their letters well". OK, so I am assuming everybody passed......right? But it was hectic (lots going on) and I never got around to actually asking. I just assumed they would tell me if the results were questionable. When I got home that afternoon, I realized I never did receive feedback on the test results. So I called and that's when I learned that Taylor and Lindsey did not "partake" in the hearing test, Dylan passed and they all passed their vision test. Don't you think they could have told me right then and there so I could have at least stepped in the room to help them feel comfortable and encourage them to partake in the test? That's what mothers are for! Nope, now I have to go back another time and pay another $100!! UGH!! That will definitely be a medical bill worth disputing.
Initially, the kiddos were super excited to go to the doctor and couldn't wait to see how much they've grown (42" is a magic number for DisneyWorld). Boy did their happy outlook change when the immunization needles arrived in the room! I fought hard against flu/H1N1 vaccines but agreed to Polio, MMR and DTP vaccines - does that make sense? They assured me there was no mercury in any of the shots so we proceeded. Dylan was first up because he said "I'm the bravest, I'll go!". He did well on the first two injections but burst out crying hysterically with #3. Lindsey and Taylor were hiding under the exam table, wedged behind it so we could not reach them, crying at jet-decibal levels. Note to self and clinical staff: when giving shots to little people, take the other little people waiting for shots to another room or at least back to the waiting room. GEE, ya think?? What child in their right mind would say "I'll go next!" after seeing their sibling cry out in pain and fear?? So they called in another nurse to help me hold down Lindsey for her 3 shots and it was painful to see the tears and fear in her eyes. There was more hysterical crying during ALL 3 of her shots while Dylan and Taylor added to the lovely concert with their own loud shrills. Next up, tiny Taylor. It didn't go so well. She was screaming "NO! NO! NO!" and tears were rolling down her cheeks like a river. It broke my heart and tears filled my eyes and rolled down my cheeks as well. The nurse got mad when Taylor bumped the needle (it hit the table) and she scurried away in a huff to get another sterile needle. She returned with yet another nurse (that makes 3 nurses, 1 mom) to help assist in the process. When the shots were delivered and the team left the room, I noticed many of the nursing staff had gathered outside our room to get a glimpse of what was going on in there. I asked them, "like the show, ladies? Maybe next time you can move the other children to a different room!!". I was steaming but simmered down to try to maintain composure in front of the kiddos. Then, LTD were telling me between their pathetic sobs that their legs hurt "really bad" so I asked the nurse for some pain reliever to give them. She snottily said, "don't you have some with you?" to which I snapped back, "would I be asking if I did? Isn't that what the free samples from the drug reps are for; your patients??"
LTD had vision and hearing checks in different rooms and the nurses sent them back into our family exam room where I waited. The only comment I heard was "they sure know their letters well". OK, so I am assuming everybody passed......right? But it was hectic (lots going on) and I never got around to actually asking. I just assumed they would tell me if the results were questionable. When I got home that afternoon, I realized I never did receive feedback on the test results. So I called and that's when I learned that Taylor and Lindsey did not "partake" in the hearing test, Dylan passed and they all passed their vision test. Don't you think they could have told me right then and there so I could have at least stepped in the room to help them feel comfortable and encourage them to partake in the test? That's what mothers are for! Nope, now I have to go back another time and pay another $100!! UGH!! That will definitely be a medical bill worth disputing.
Initially, the kiddos were super excited to go to the doctor and couldn't wait to see how much they've grown (42" is a magic number for DisneyWorld). Boy did their happy outlook change when the immunization needles arrived in the room! I fought hard against flu/H1N1 vaccines but agreed to Polio, MMR and DTP vaccines - does that make sense? They assured me there was no mercury in any of the shots so we proceeded. Dylan was first up because he said "I'm the bravest, I'll go!". He did well on the first two injections but burst out crying hysterically with #3. Lindsey and Taylor were hiding under the exam table, wedged behind it so we could not reach them, crying at jet-decibal levels. Note to self and clinical staff: when giving shots to little people, take the other little people waiting for shots to another room or at least back to the waiting room. GEE, ya think?? What child in their right mind would say "I'll go next!" after seeing their sibling cry out in pain and fear?? So they called in another nurse to help me hold down Lindsey for her 3 shots and it was painful to see the tears and fear in her eyes. There was more hysterical crying during ALL 3 of her shots while Dylan and Taylor added to the lovely concert with their own loud shrills. Next up, tiny Taylor. It didn't go so well. She was screaming "NO! NO! NO!" and tears were rolling down her cheeks like a river. It broke my heart and tears filled my eyes and rolled down my cheeks as well. The nurse got mad when Taylor bumped the needle (it hit the table) and she scurried away in a huff to get another sterile needle. She returned with yet another nurse (that makes 3 nurses, 1 mom) to help assist in the process. When the shots were delivered and the team left the room, I noticed many of the nursing staff had gathered outside our room to get a glimpse of what was going on in there. I asked them, "like the show, ladies? Maybe next time you can move the other children to a different room!!". I was steaming but simmered down to try to maintain composure in front of the kiddos. Then, LTD were telling me between their pathetic sobs that their legs hurt "really bad" so I asked the nurse for some pain reliever to give them. She snottily said, "don't you have some with you?" to which I snapped back, "would I be asking if I did? Isn't that what the free samples from the drug reps are for; your patients??"
Now that I am cooled off, I must say how incredibly grateful we are for our great health, our minds (most of the time), and our current health care system, minus frivalous law suits and fraud, and a few run-ins with the nursing staff. We have so many "positive changes" to look forward to when ObamaCare hits the fan................NOT!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Resolutions & Conversations
Happy New Year! It's that time of the year where we hunker down, clean up our act and resolve to make positive change. Dave and I have made just a few resolutions which we plan to stick to (or should I say HOPE we stick to). One thing I personally vow to NOT change is taking time to capture the lingo that takes place in our camp. Now that LTD are 5, the conversations are absolutely hysterical. Too bad we can't have a video camera running 24/7; it truly is a comedy show worth sharing. Hopefully a few of these may bring some smiles to your face as much as it deepens our laugh lines more and more. Cheers to humor and a new year filled with laughter, health, love and promise!
"Lindsey, that's just downright rude!" (as she toots at the breakfast counter)
"Taylor, look who's come to town......Mrs. Buttersworth!" (while eating pancakes at breakfast)
"Lindsey, I'm gonna need you to pull my finger." (he toots loudly when she does). Nice lesson from Dad!
"Where are we going?" Mom tells him we are going to deliver the Operaton Christmas Child shoeboxes. "To Africa?!"
We are watching a family movie and a man goes into a confessional and the priest slides open the screen. Dylan looks confused and asks "is he in jail?"
After Dad backs into the garbage can in the driveway and breaks our tail light, Dylan asks "is Daddy driving like a woman?" (YEP! thank goodness it wasn't me!)
After searching around for his lost slippers, he asks "do you think the liberals took them?"
While nibbling on a graham cracker, he holds it up and shouts "check this out, Oklahoma! (it truly resembled the state of Oklahoma). A few minutes later, he held up another graham cracker he was taking small bites out of and yelled "WOW, it's Minnesota!" (again, it looked just like MN).
Lindsey's recent haircut and color (temporary, thank goodness)
While watering flowers and bushes outside in late fall, Lindsey sings. "Work all day, no time to play!"
"Taylor, remember how I kept you safe from the SCARY yard at Halloween?' (yah) That's how brave I am, you silly goose." (as they compare how brave they each are)
Lindsey told her teacher, "if you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a fiddle in the band" (after listening to some Alabama in the car). Back in the car Taylor jokes, "if you're gonna play in Texas, you gotta have a toilet in the van!" (laughing hysterically)
Lindsey says to Taylor, "honey....I'm gonna need you to brush your teeth, sweetie. Now, go on."
Lindsey preaches to Dylan and Taylor "Santa knows what you're thinking and doing. Now, let's write a list of what you want for Christmas, ok. If you're good, he will leave it by the fireplace on Christmas eve."
Taylor asks Lindsey to come and play. Lindsey sighs, "Oh Taylor. I love you but I just can't. I'm too busy making gifts and thinking of others."
"Dylan, no hitting! That's a Camp Clark rule!"
"Tayloooor.....you're not listening! We need to work on your listening skills."
"I'm a good listener. I don't want to frustrate you, mommy."
As a car drove by Dylan shouted out, "MUSTANG!". Lindsey argued "No, Dylan. That was not a Mustang." Dylan argues "Yes it was, I know my cars!" Lindsey sighs "Oh Dylan, it is what it is!"
Taylor opted for sparkles vs. color
As we are eating dinner, Taylor asked to be excused. After a few minutes she hadn't returned yet so I asked "Taylor, where are you?" From the bathroom we hear a SUPER LOUD grunt and she yells "POOPING - I almost done!"
As we are watching football I asked the kiddos to cheer loudly so the Vikes could hear them. Taylor yells from the kitchen counter "I'm just TOO busy reading my Bible right now".
"You're a good mom. I'll bet Santa will remember you."
"This futon is splendid." (as we snuggle on it one morning to read)
Dad asks if the beds are made yet. Taylor proudly pipes up "I made my bed all by myself! You didn't saw me...you didn't ask.....I just did it."
"I'm so happy, I could cry!" (after we deliver shoeboxes to Operation Christmas Child warehouse)
While playing "hide and seek" Dave asks if Lindsey is hiding under our bed. Taylor smiles and says "No, just my Christmas present is hiding under there." (Busted!)
With hands on her hips "Dylan, I'm not going to ask you again....clean up your mess!"
On our drive to Bismarck I ask "which Christmas CD shall we listen to now: Go Fish or Chris Tomlin?" Taylor pauses momentarily "Neither.....I want 'Jessie's Girl' (Rick Springfield). THAT'S my girl!
While at Target picking out a toy each with Christmas $, Taylor says "I just HAVE to have enough money left to buy Grandma some Christmas shoes....I just HAVE to!" (thanks to the movie "Christmas Shoes" which we watched over Christmas break)
"I miss Zoe, Mom. She has SO much love in her heart." (the dog we babysat over Christmas break)
Dylan's fabulous chop and color (red, of course)
"Mom, why is that guy driving like a woman?"
"Lindsey, that's just downright rude!" (as she toots at the breakfast counter)
"Taylor, look who's come to town......Mrs. Buttersworth!" (while eating pancakes at breakfast)
"Lindsey, I'm gonna need you to pull my finger." (he toots loudly when she does). Nice lesson from Dad!
"Where are we going?" Mom tells him we are going to deliver the Operaton Christmas Child shoeboxes. "To Africa?!"
We are watching a family movie and a man goes into a confessional and the priest slides open the screen. Dylan looks confused and asks "is he in jail?"
After Dad backs into the garbage can in the driveway and breaks our tail light, Dylan asks "is Daddy driving like a woman?" (YEP! thank goodness it wasn't me!)
After searching around for his lost slippers, he asks "do you think the liberals took them?"
While nibbling on a graham cracker, he holds it up and shouts "check this out, Oklahoma! (it truly resembled the state of Oklahoma). A few minutes later, he held up another graham cracker he was taking small bites out of and yelled "WOW, it's Minnesota!" (again, it looked just like MN).
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