Day 12 - I'm thankful for beautiful daughters

(Wo)Man - it's good to be a girl!



You can wake up in a cute and comfy night gown, get all dolled up, play with dollies and ponies, sew, wear jewelry, imagine your life as a princess, wear nail polish, AND get hugs and cuddles, just about any time....

...and then...

you can make mud pies, build a lego mansion, ride a bike, ride a scooter, kick a ball, defend your own honor in a Nerf Dart gun battle, put holes in the knees of your jeans, look for bugs and earthworms for pets and do just about anything a boy can do.

It's good to be a girl!

Day 13: I'm thankful for boys and their Legos

I think a child's imagination can be inspired and encouraged, but it can not be forced. Every imagination is completely unique. Legos have been the muse to many imaginative moments in our home, especially for Zakey.
Often during the big kids' school times, Zak and Maggy are looking for things to do. If he decides that Lego's are that 'thing' - I am ever amazed at what he can produce with a box of random blocks. There are sets that come with very specific pieces and instructions, and he is beginning to be able to follow those directions. But when he starts building on his own, and usually he is building a space ship, airplane or base - always with some kind of gun (I think he likes Star Wars), I begin to see that in his mind there is a whole world envisioned.

All the kids have developed a game with their Lego's - "Lego Store". Each child gets a pile or box of pieces, begins to build until they find that the need a piece that is not available. Generally each person will specialize in certain types of parts: wheels, guns, men, etc. They either use "money" which is the gold and silver pieces that came in a treasure chest or they trade. This entire game was developed with 4 children under the age of 8, playing nicely together in their room. This makes their Mommy happy and proud.

Our neighbor, Nicolas.

And just about every friend who comes to play gets in on the imagineering.

Our friend, Patrick

14: I'm thankful for my Dad and his care packages

My dad is a REALLY great guy. REALLY great!

Just one of the super sweet things that he does is sending care packages for birthdays, holidays and sometimes, just for a day. He likes using the Priority Mail prepaid boxes, and if I had to guess, he always has a stack of them waiting and ready to be filled.

I really enjoy making yummy food for other people and I really enjoy giving it to them, even if I don't get to eat any of it myself. I think I must get that from my Dad!

The last package arrived just in time for Noah and Shane's birthdays. Included was:

• A bag of Puppy-chow (the choc/pb crispex snack)
• A bag of "whip" (seasoned oyster crackers)
• A bag of "Nuts and Bolts" (family recipe chex mix)
• a butternut squash, from his garden
• about 3 lbs of soup potatoes
• Birthday card for Noah
• Birthday card for Shane
• A gift for Noah (a set of classic reference books about minerals, trees, shells, etc)
• An envelope of coupons, that he faithfully clips every week and sends me about once a month, and this time a clipping from the paper - a classmate's wedding announcement.
  

the Nuts and Bolts are my favorite... you can get the recipe here!

Day 15: I'm thankful for service men and women in service now and the Veterans who already served faithfully.

John 15:13 "and here is how you measure it- the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends."

Thank you to all who serve, in what ever capacity that might be, you are sacrificing yourself for our freedoms and comfort and security.

I'm sure there are many more, but a few of the heroes we know, thanks to you!

Robert Baldwin (My grandpa) - WWII
Alan Dedrick (my dad) - Army Field Medic
Kenneth Fredric (father in law, "Grandpa Ken) - Army Infantry Vietnam
William Vertner (Shane's Dad)
Robert Baldwin (my uncle "Bobby") - Air Force Career
Greg Cullison (Shane's uncle) - Army Reserve
Cathe Frederic ("aunt" cathe)
Justin Morgan (Shane's counsin)
Tristan Theilman (friend)

Day 16 - I'm thankful for Shane

and I'm thankful for Shane, every day... not just on his birthday.

He is an amazing father, true and honest friend, wonderful Christan husband, provider, funny guy, teacher, coach, companion and the one who can fix everything from sticky jar lids, to minor car problems, to lost iTunes and even the occasional crying baby.

Happy Birthday Honey - I love you so much!

Day 17 -I'm thankful to be Noah's Mom

Happy 9th Birthday to Noah!

Sometimes I feel as if my life didn't exist before being a mom. And then sometimes, I can't believe how quickly 9 years flies by.

I really couldn't be more proud of who he is becoming. Just in the last few months I have begun to see glimpses of the man he's becoming. I couldn't imagine a better big brother for my kids.

Just a few examples of his wonderfulness (if I may)....

We were busily trying to get through breakfast, dressing, packing for an outing and trying to get out the door in time. I was cleaning up from breakfast, still in my PJs, and the babies were trying to crawl up the stairs. Noah stops me and said "I'll finish the dishes, you can get dressed and get the babies dressed." The same morning he also managed to fill and distribute water bottles to each of the other kids in the car and carried one of the babies to the suburban and buckled him in. I didn't ask any of it of him.

This week at Costco, we return to the car, he opens the door and moves the seat so that Zak, Maggy and Hannah can climb in the back, he stays with one baby in the cart while I'm buckling the other in, he unloads the groceries into the car. He then returns the cart, gladly, to the front of the store "so if someone else needs a dry cart, it won't get wet in the rain." Today at the grocery store, he returned our cart as well as two others to the front of the store.

A week or so ago, the flu trampled through our house. The twins were struck first. Noah was ready and willing to take a fussy, clingy Nathan, even at the risk of being puked on.


I remember being told that it will not be the lessons we teach our children, but what we learn from them, that is more significant. Going back to his birth story, as we rehearsed it with him tonight, and realizing that there has been a recurring theme of challenges and struggles that will make us stronger and bring us closer.

My pregnancy with Noah was faced with abruptions, bleeding, preterm labor and eventually delivery 5 weeks early. I really was so unprepared to be a mother, but because of these challenges, we were forced to charge in and find our way. Not with out mistakes, but better for all of it.

Nursing didn't come easily for the boy who wasn't quite developed enough to suck-swallow-breathe. I was pumping, feeding, supplementing- an exhausting process. Eventually, I got the gumption to end the cycle and marathon nursed for about 4 days until he could be satisfied with a complete feeding in less than 30 minutes. And we nursed to a year. I'm so glad we did.

I remember telling people that we were going to homeschool, to hear their response "I'd kill my kid if I had to be their teacher AND mom." And I could relate! It seemed that we were such different personalities that we might never find a way to work together. And here we are, into year 4, and he's my favorite student! As much as I knew we were challenged in working together, I also claimed that we would find a way to make it work and be better for it.

I thank God for my son, and for all the lessons I've learned by being his Mom!

Happy Birthday Noah!

Day 18 - I'm thankful for the gift of Music

I started to play the piano when I was 6. I started to play the flute when I was 10. I minored in music in college. I have always been drawn towards music. But I don't think that my so-called talent is anything I can take credit for... it is a GIFT.

"My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness."...

2 Corinthians 12 : 7-10

I believe now, that as I look back on my experiences as a musician, and I can see how God was working, even in the times when I didn't know him, to craft and develop this talent and PASSION for music, that it would bring him glory.

This summer, my wonderful husband made plans for us to take a, much needed, weekend away. We got a hotel room and went to FishFest, a music festival sponsored by the local Christian radio station - 104.1 The Fish. (Eventhough the festival was being held in Vancouver - only a 30 minute drive from home). It was a fabulous weekend to reward ourselves for being so intensely engaged in our childrens' lives.

Jeremy Camp

We splurged on a Platinum ticket special that gave us access to meet the artists with about 3 dozen other people. While the general public waited in lines, sometimes for as long as 3 hours just for an autograph. Thousand Foot Krutch - yes that guitarist has MASSIVE dreads - and he rocked them!
Anyone who thinks all Christian Music is mamsy-pambsy needs to meet these guys!

We were seated right in the front. I used to think it was only crazy obsesive fans who would need to be that close to the stage, but no. There is a wholly different musical experience being that close.

Matthew West

These artists are just people, there isn't anything superhuman about them... except Jesus shinning through them. Jeremy Camp, Brandon Heath, Matthew West, David Barnes, Thousand Foot Crutch and, my favorite, Britt Nicole all have an authenitic relationship with God that is clearly expressed in the music and when speaking with t hem in person.

Brandon Heath

I was familiar with Britt Nicole's music prior to the performance, but after seeing her, I realized how perfect of a role model she is for our daughters. The music of her message is love. Scriptures flow from her in normal conversations. We saw her meeting with fans, listening to their stories and then praying with them. Britt Nicole

She gave us an autograph to give to Hannah and she included a reference to 2 Chronicles - calling her to boldly accept her place as a chosen one of God. So cool....

But that weekend has really come to mean so much more to me. It intensified my passion for music, especially for the music of Praise. It seems that since that experience, every opportunity to worship makes me want to move, and dance, and sing and harmonize!

I had someone tell me that they enjoyed standing next to me in church, which really honors and flatters me. But I know that my joy in the worship is greater than any attention I'd ever receive for the worship. It is truly an AWE-some joy, beyond words. It is a gift. I am very, very grateful for that gift.