Saturday, January 16, 2010
Pray for Haiti
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
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
5-Year Stats
Lindsey's Stats:37 lbs, 41-3/4" tall

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
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).
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Christmas Joy!
On Christmas Eve, we went to the Children's Mass and LTD got to go up front for the sermon. Dylan was super loud, as usual, when the priest asked all the children questions about the Christmas story. He was really into it! Taylor was a big hit with the lady who sat behind us. Taylor gave her a picture she colored in church and the woman grabbed my arm with tears in her eyes and said, "this is the best Christmas gift I have received this year! I will make sure to put it on my fridge. I don't have any children and this means alot to me!" Just one small act of kindness and a sweet little smile brightened a stranger's Christmas - how wonderful!
We enjoyed sharing time with Papa & Grandma Good, Papa & Grandma Kemmet, cousins, aunts & uncles, friends and each other. Grandma and Papa Good made Christmas especially joyful with all the decorations, home-baked treats, thoughtful gifts, TLC, making LTD's favorite meals, letting mom and dad sleep in, etc. Thank you, mom, for the extra care and fond memories - we love you so much and sincerely appreciate you and Egg!! We also got to sled, play in the snow, make Christmas cookies with Grandma, listen to loads of Christmas music, watch a few family movies ("Christmas Shoes" was a a tearjerker; "Sound of Music" is still an all-time favorite), share some adult beverages with dear friends (mom and dad's night out), play at the indoor playground with Aunt Heidi and the girls, and go out for pizza with Papa & Grandma Kemmet. We missed Papa & Grandma Clark since they are in Texas already but they were in our hearts. Aunt Heidi invited us over so we did get to play at their house which is a favorite of LTD's. Don't worry Grandma Clark, we patched up the walls pretty good after our play fest :)
Zoe was a special guest this year at Christmas which added some fun flair to our activities. She is a cute little fluffy white dog that we watched for 2 weeks for a friend. Not only is she hypoallergenic (Dave's saving grace), but she is so sweet, cuddles with everybody, never bites and travels well. LTD enjoyed taking care of her, taking her sledding and snuggling-in with her. She left today and we miss her already. Such a sweet pup!! I guess that means a dog may be in our future come this summer since Dave liked her and LTD passed the "care" test. Yeah!!
Christmas is now a quaint memory and our focus is on the new year ahead of us: so much promise, so many changes ahead, and SO much to do to prepare for it all! If we can survive the next several months, we can survive any storm. Please pray for us! May God bless you and may the new year bring many blessings. The Best is yet to come!!
PS - Stay tuned for a December KodakGallery Update - LOTS of photos and memories. Check out a few below for now.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Preschool Christmas Program
Their teachers did a phenomenal job putting together a wonderful Christmas play/musical about the birth of baby Jesus. Taylor got to play the part of Mary and smiled big and bright as she rocked Baby Jesus. Lindsey got to hold up the star of Bethlehem and Dylan shouted at the top of his lungs as he proudly held up his letter "L" for one of the songs. All 14 children performed so well and were absolutely adorable. Unfortunately, Dave picked up the "Bad Videographer of the Week" award so we are left to share a few select photos instead.
This Tuesday, LTD get to have a Christmas party at school and exchange gifts with their friends. They are super excited to share the cards they made themselves with their teachers and friends along with special gifts for their teachers for all their patience, love and guidance. We are so grateful to them for making LTD's school experience so positively nurturing. God bless them!!!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Santa & Singing
Lindsey, Taylor & Dylan here. We wanted to tell you about the great weekend we had!!! On Saturday, we practiced singing at church for a big concert on Sunday. After practice, we sang "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and then gobbled up some tasty birthday cake and played with our friends from church. Right after that, mom took us over to meet Santa at Lindsey & Taylor's dance studio. He was round and jolly and said "HO HO HO" right as we walked in. We giggled and ran up to him as fast as we could!! We sat us on his lap and told him how good we have been all year. He said he was very proud of us and that he would make sure to bring presents on Christmas. YEAH!! We were so happy and told him we will remember to leave cookies and milk by the fireplace and that we will leave enough for the reindeer too since they will be hungry, especially Rudolph. We even took a picture with Santa. Check it out!!
