Serving God By Being Me

I wrote this encouragement/testimony post on the Muddy Mamas blog today, and I think it's such a great story!  So please click over and read it!  Serving God By Being Me

Playing with Esther

Justin has a colleague at work who moved here from China and actually began work at SBU the same semester Justin did.  He and his wife are wonderful people, and they have the most adorable little girl, who is exactly a year younger than Elias.  At the beginning of the summer, they had us over for a cookout, and it was neat to see Esther and Elias playing together.  They speak Chinese at home, so Esther doesn't know much English, but she is the most charming girl, and we all played just fine together!  So here are a few pictures they sent me - I forgot my camera!

Baochuan pulling Esther and Elias in a wagon he made himself!

If you click to enlarge this one, you'll see Esther's beautiful smile!  She is such a doll!

Adventures with Daddy

Justin is quite possibly the best daddy on earth.  He and Elias have such great times together, and Justin is so creative coming up with fun things to do!  Elias' daily motto has now become "Let's go on an adventure!" because he's so used to doing fun things with Justin!  Sometimes our adventures are just simple things like going out to eat, going to the park, or going out to do some shopping.  But other times, we do more special things.

In June there was a Pie Festival held in Bolivar's town square, and Justin took Elias to sample some pie and hear the music.  Elias didn't care for the pie, and the bluegrass band had stopped playing by the time they got there, but Elias still had fun!  He loves just being out and seeing people, and they still had some music playing over the loudspeakers that apparently Elias just thought was too good not to dance!

The way Justin tells it, people just thought Elias was hilarious out there grooving in the middle of the street by himself.  I think he's pretty funny too.

Then the next weekend our county had its county fair, so Justin took Elias out to that too.  They had fun food, and inflatables, which Elias of course loved.

Then it wouldn't be Southwest Missouri if they didn't also have a pig show! 

According to Justin, Elias was too afraid to pet the pigs, but he enjoyed the show, and he really liked it when there was a pig named Bash, which is the name of one of the trains on Thomas & Friends.  Ah well, whatever works.

But I'm so very thankful that my son has such a fun dad that comes up with such fun things to do with him!

Neighborly Fun

Our neighbors across the street are friends from church who have a son about a year younger than Elias.  One day we had a couple other friends over from church, and our neighbors were out riding on their golf cart.  So when they saw our group playing outside, they came over and offered to take the boys on a ride...  And even their yellow lab went running along behind them!  Elias loved it, and he loves watching the video below.  Fun memories with friends and neighbors!

Elias and his friend Cougar petting Riley-doggie while Mr. T Jay and Bo observe.

Big Boy Swing!

You may have noticed that Elias is a rather large child.  ;)  So for a very long time, we've been trying to convince him to swing in the big boy swings instead of the baby swings.  It's difficult to get him in and out of those baby swings!  But he's been very resistant to the idea... until we were at the park with some friends a couple weeks ago.  He saw his friend Abby swinging on the big swings, and he just up and decided he wanted to swing with her!  So he just jumped on and hasn't looked back!

I'm proud of my big boy, but I'm a little nervous about how he was so easily swayed by a pretty girlfriend!  ;)

Evening at the Park

One evening in June before it got TOO hot, we spent an evening at the park.  We took some old bread to feed the ducks and geese.  Elias wasn't too sure about that, but it was interesting and educational nonetheless.

We saw a huge family of geese with about 15 goslings!

 

 Then we played on the swings, and Elias always loves it when Daddy pushes him!

Silly boys!

This was an interesting trip to the park because we ran into a couple there who had apparently brought their 3 pet parrots with them.  One of them was a blue macaw that looked just like a parrot that's in one of Elias' favorite Thomas movies.  (See image at right.) So we went over to say hi, and the people actually let their cockatoo sit on our shoulders!  This terrified Elias, but he still talks about it to this day "The cockatoo said 'Pretty bird!'"  I didn't get any pictures because I either had a bird on my shoulder or a terrified toddler in my arms the whole time.  But it was still an experience we'll remember!

First Georgetown Visit

At the beginning of June, Justin spent a week in Ankara, Turkey to scope out job possibilities for us to potentially move there.  You can read his write-up of his trip here.  While he was gone, Elias and I spent that time in Kentucky with my parents.  They had just moved back to Kentucky from Cincinnati, so this was the first time we had been to their new house!  We had such a great time with them, and I was so thankful for their help caring for Elias since I was still recovering from mono at the time.  Here are a few pictures:

We made this trip right after Elias' birthday party, and this was a Thomas book he got from his Aunt Jessica and family.  It has buttons to push and then a sound plays and a little picture shows up on a digital screen.  He spent HOURS with this in the car!

Grandma & Grandpa's new house is on a lake, so we enjoyed the peaceful and beautiful setting!

Grandma, in her desire to be the World's Coolest Grandma, had saved this huge box from moving for her grandkids to play in, and Elias did in fact love it!  He still talks about the Ginormous Huge Monster Box!

One day we all went to the car wash together and gave Grandma's car a bath.

I was skeptical that Elias would actually be interested in washing the car - I expected him to be running out in the street.  I was wrong, though!  He loved helping!

Fun, new experiences with Grandma & Grandpa!

It was such a blessing for Elias to be able to spend that time getting to know his Grandma and Grandpa, and them to know him!  Grandma and Grandpa were so generous with us - they even made an extra trip to drive us all the way home again so I wouldn't have to do all that driving myself.  SO THANKFUL for my family!  Love you guys!

Happy Father's Day!

Here's another great shot that Nana snapped when they were here, and I thought it was incredibly appropriate to wish my husband a happy Father's Day!!!

I am so thankful for the daddy that Justin is.  Elias is so blessed to have him, and I am thankful for his help and example in raising Elias to be a godly man!

I am also exceptionally thankful for my own dad, and I'd like to wish him a happy Father's Day too!  I was sorting through an old tub of childhood mementos that Mom gave me recently, and I found a few old drawings that maybe say it all...

Well, actually, this one doesn't say anything besides that you're my dad...  (And that life in your house is so magical that we don't melt from the heat of a giant sun, tiny rainbows sprout from nowhere, and grass grows from the sky!!!)  Let's try another.

Hm.  Well, I guess I appreciated you're a good provider?  Although my wording makes it sound like Mom was paying you to work around the house...  Let's look at one more.

Well, all this one says is that I really appreciated your rockin' mustache!!!  (Note: This is an exceptionally good rendering of what my dad looked like as I was growing up!  The rest of the family I didn't do so well with, and my poor sister definitely did NOT have scoliosis!)

Regardless of what I could find in my old artwork, I have always appreciated and still do appreciate my dad!  I'm so thankful for you!!!!  Happy Father's Day to both the special dads in my life!!

Summer Fun at the Park

My mother-in-law snapped this photo of us on the swings when we went to the park one day while they were here.  But I thought it was so adorable, it deserved its own post!  Sweet family times.

Family Fun for Birthday Week

We were blessed to have several family members come into town for Elias' birthday party!  Justin's parents came in a few days before the party, so we were able to spend some really great time with them.  Then my mom came in for the party and stayed a few days after.  We were all so pleased at how well Elias did with them - he's definitely remembering them between visits, and we have fun together!

Cheesing with Granddad

Nana sneaking a hug and kiss!

Rascal stealing Granddad's hat

Playing footsie with Granddad

Elias and Granddad made up a new game where you try to throw the ball into the little hole on the goal's base.  Hey, whatever makes him laugh, right?

Nana & Granddad got him a GeoTrax train set for his birthday - LOVE at first sight!

He LOVES this train set, and he'll play with it for hours at a time!

He has fun getting creative with it, too.  He likes the tunnel the train goes through, and also the crane!  He says the crane is Old Wheezy from Thomas, who sometimes goes crazy.  So here he is playing Crazy Crane with Grandma!

Grandma also brought him a musical birthday card that we had a lot of fun dancing to!

The song is the "Hot Diggity Dog" song from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Check out his moves!

We're so thankful to have such a loving and generous family that we have such fun with!

Dark Before the Morning

I've heard this song many times on the radio before, but it really ministered to me today.  I believe with all my heart that no matter what my circumstances, in Christ I always have a reason to sing.  If they're tough right now, it's just the darkness right before morning comes.


Before the Morning - Josh Wilson

Do you wonder why you have to
feel the things that hurt you?
If there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending.
Some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see.

Chorus:
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
It can't compare to the joy that's coming.

So hold on, you've got to wait for the light.
Press on and just fight the good fight.
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning.

My friend, you know how this all ends,
and you know where you're going.
You just don't know how you get there,
so say a prayer.
And hold on, 'cause there's good for those who love God.
Life is not a snapshot; it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture.

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
It can't compare to the joy that's coming.

So hold on, you've got to wait for the light.
Press on and just fight the good fight.
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning.
Yeah, yeah,
Before the morning,
yeah, yeah.

Once you feel the weight of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory.
Once you feel the weight of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory,
memory, memory, yeah...

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
It can't compare to the joy that's coming.

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing?
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
It can't compare to the joy that's coming.

Come on, you've got to wait for the light.
Press on and just fight the good fight.
'Cause the pain that you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing.
Oh, the pain that you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning,
before the morning, yeah, yeah,
before the morning.

Birthday Party

Elias' third birthday was on May 21, and we held his birthday the following Saturday at the Railroad Historical Museum in Springfield.   We had never heard of this place, but a friend of Justin's at school had mentioned it to him as a neat place that offers free admission and is also available for private parties!  So we booked it without having ever even seen it...  I mean, how can you go wrong with a train museum as a location for a Thomas party?!?!?!  And boy, it sure didn't disappoint!  We didn't even realize it, but the museum actually IS an old steam train that has been restored, and you can explore all 4 cars.  We kept it very simple, just come-and-go with cake, and the kids could explore the train.  Since it would be fun and free, we just sent mass invitations to everybody, and we ended up with more than 40 people coming to his party!  It was SO MUCH FUN, though, and I'm so glad it was such a special day for Elias.  For most of the photos below, you can click to enlarge and see them better.

This was his e-invitation...  Cute and appropriate!

Elias and Daddy in front of the big steam engine.  Elias called it Gordon, like the big express engine on Thomas.  You could pull that rope to make the bell ring on top of the engine...  That was a big hit with the kids!

The 4 cars of the train, from left: engine, museum car, "dining" car, caboose.

The volunteers who ran the museum were so precious!  They gave Elias that framed photo of the engine back in its working days, and they signed the back wishing him a happy birthday!

The museum had several working models, which the kids loved!

Elias' favorite was this working model of the old steam engine!  He could've watched those wheels turn all day!

Inside the "dining" car.  It had the kind of seats where you could flip the back to face either direction, or flip it up to make a table.  That was PERFECT for our party!

Elias was thrilled over his Thomas cake, with the Thomas and #3 candles!

I'm glad we opted for the half sheet - I ordered it before I knew how many guests were coming!

Daddy helping Elias blow out his candles.

Elias ate about 2 bites of cake before he was done.  I had forgotten we learned last year that he doesn't really like cake...  Next year we'll do just ice cream!

He sure did love playing with the Thomas balloons we used for decoration, though!  He is, in fact, still playing with them 2 weeks later - there are still about 5 that haven't popped...

My sweet 3-year-old!  Note the adorable personalized train shirt from For Your Little Monkey on Etsy.  She's the same one who made his personalized birthday shirt last year!

The train museum is part of a larger park with playgrounds, tennis courts, water park, you name it.  So after the party, Elias and Daddy made a little stop at the playground to ride the triceratops!

The Past Month

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, you've seen that I've been majorly down for the past month (well, actually more like 5 weeks) with a bad case of mono.  I was so exhausted that my entire life was pretty much put on hold!  But I'm starting to feel a bit more like myself, and I have some major catching up to do, including on here!  So I hope to catch the blog up soon on all these things that have happened in the past month:

- Elias turned 3 & had an awesome birthday party!
- Justin took a trip to Turkey
- Elias and I spent the week Justin was gone with my parents in Kentucky
- Umm, probably a whole lot more that I can't even remember because I was in such a fog!  I'll post whatever pics & videos I've got, so stay tuned!  ;)

Three Years Old!

My little buddy turned THREE on Saturday!  So proud of my so big boy - he's turning into a little man right before our eyes!  We're having more of a birthMONTH celebration since his birthday party is next weekend.  So the day itself was kind of anticlimactic.  We actually began celebrating early in the month when we saw his name come up on the PBS Kids Club birthday list for the month of May!  (His is the third one down - click to enlarge.)

That was pretty cool seeing his name on the TV - they put up the list every Tuesday and Thursday for the whole month, so we still have a few more chances to glimpse it before birthMONTH is over.

He didn't actually open any presents on his birthday - we like to spread them out so he can appreciate and enjoy each one rather than getting them all at once.  He did open a few cards, and he received one from my Uncle Jim and Aunt Mary that he just LOVED!  He always likes cards that play music or make noise, and this one fit the bill!  He's never seen Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, but he knows the characters.  He just sat and listened to this over and over again for hours!

So thanks to Jim & Mary for knocking it out of the park with the card!  :)

For something special to do on his big day, we blew up our little inflatable pool and went out "swimming" twice that day.  He loved splashing and playing in the water!

Doesn't he just look so BIG??

And speaking of big, we had his 3-year checkup today, and he's still ginormous.

Height: 41.5" (99%)

Weight: 43 lb. (99%)

We've had friends warn us with things like "If your twos weren't very bad, your threes will be!" and "When he turns 3, it'll be like a switch flips and he completely changes!"  And it may be looking like they're right!  Not really - he's still my precious buddy - but he's thrown a few MASSIVE tantrums the past couple days, including at the doctor's office today.  Seriously, all they wanted to do was measure his height, and he FLIPPED OUT.  It took 4 adults to restrain him.  Lord have mercy.

So anyways, we've embarked on the journey of having a preschooler in the house - new phase, new adventures, new developments!  Bring it on!

Elias' Best Day Ever

A few weekends ago, Elias apparently had his best day EVER.  We didn't know it was going to be so special to him, but he's STILL talking about it.  So I thought I'd record the day to remember it forever, since apparently HE will.

It was the day of the City Wide Garage Sale in Bolivar, so Justin got up early to hit the sales and see what he could find.  (Justin is a way better garage-saler than I am...  He must have some kind of radar to know where the best stuff is for the lowest price!)  Elias and I ate breakfast together while Daddy was out.  Saturdays are already great days for Elias, because that's the only day Thomas comes on TV, so we get to see new episodes.  Then Daddy came home with some new toys & clothes for the little man, and Elias was just over the moon over two toys that cost us 25 cents each!  There was a little toy James (the red engine on Thomas) and an inflatable beach ball.  Those two things don't go together, but since Elias got them together, he associates them in his mind and tries to play with them together.  So James often will drive on the ball.  Whatever, dude!  Here is a video of Elias playing with James on the first day he got him.

Seriously, he did this for like 30 minutes at a time.  I'm dizzy just watching him!

Then after lunch, Justin had seen in the paper that there was going to be a dog show in town to benefit the local Humane Society, so he took Elias.  And since Elias loved his new toys so much, yard sale James went with them to the show.  I didn't go, so I can't tell you much about it.  But apparently at one point they pulled a kid out of the audience to compete against one of the dogs to see who could do a trick faster.  They told the kid to pretend he was a dog, and they said he was a dachshund mixed with a yorkie, which would make him a "dorkie."  Har har.  I think that's funny, but there's no way Elias would get it.  However, that must've made an impression on him, because to this day Elias still talks about Dorkie the Doggie!  LOL!   

(One day last week, Elias grabbed yard sale James and ran to the door asking to get in the car and go see Dorkie the Doggie!  It was a shame to have to try to explain to him that Dorkie the Doggie was just a one-time show, so we won't be able to go see him again.  The child cried.)

So then to top off a perfect day, Elias had his first experience with the Ice Cream Truck.  We've watched them go by many times before, but we had never bought anything from them until this day.  So when we heard Mr. Jack's music approaching, we ran out and got some ice cream that E and Daddy split after dinner.  He was in heaven, and although the weather hasn't been nice enough for Mr. Jack to be out much since then, Elias still talks about getting ice cream from his truck!

So we didn't plan ahead for this day to be so special to Elias, but it turned out to be his Best. Day. Ever!  Justin can fill in any blanks in the details, since most of the stuff was with him.  :)

Birthday Anticipation

Plans for Elias' 3rd birthday party are in full swing around here!  I cannot BELIEVE my baby is going to be THREE in less than 2 weeks!  He, however, seems to have a full handle on the situation:

You may note that Elias is making goofy faces as he's talking.  One of his favorite things on earth to do is get on the "iPad & say hi to Elias John!"  He loves seeing himself smile like a goof on the iPad.  Ah well, easy entertainment!

Branson Getaway

Easter weekend we took a little family getaway to Branson, and we had a fun time! The weather didn't cooperate very well, with storms and rain pretty much the whole time we were there, but we managed to have a good time anyway. I didn't take a whole lot of pictures, but I'll show you what I got!

We arrived there on Friday afternoon, and we knew that was going to be our only good weather day, so we went to Branson Landing, which is an outdoor mall right on the lake. We enjoyed walking by the water, and Elias loved watching the geese and playing in the fountains.

Saturday morning the rain had begun, so we tried to think up something fun to do indoors. We decided to try wandering a little mall, and the mall turned out to be pathetic, but the fun part was that they had live entertainment all day there! So even though it was only 9:30 in the morning, there was a lady on stage singing and tables and chairs so we could sit and watch. Elias really got into this, and for one of her songs, he got up and started dancing! I didn't the camera out fast enough to catch his real dancing, but here he is running around with Daddy to the music.

*Note: The singer LOVED that Elias enjoyed her music so much, and she said that Justin must be a great daddy to be willing to dance with his son. Then she asked us a trivia question about the song she had been singing, and Justin knew the answer. So then she said to me, "He'll dance with his son, and he's smart too! You've got yourself a keeper!" Yes, yes I do. :)

Then Justin went to a John Denver Tribute Show while Elias and I did some shopping. Then in the afternoon, we had planned our one big splurge for the trip - we went to see Noah: The Musical. This is a really neat stage show of the biblical story of Noah's Ark, and it was really cool because they used live and animatronic animals in the show. We thought Elias would enjoy that, and he did. I did too! :) The show was 2.5 hours long, so we didn't make it til the end, but we really enjoyed what we saw! Here are Justin and Elias outside the theater.

So then Sunday we visited one of the biggest churches in Southwest Missouri - we'd been wanting to try it ever since we moved here, and of course it was great. I already talked about that some here.

So anyway, we had a nice little family trip!  It's getting more and more fun to travel with Elias the older he gets!