Sick and Tired

Well ,we have not been able to post in a while because everyone has been sick. I think it is just a bad cold. Eli seems to be the sickest. Last night, him and I bonded at 1:00, 2:00,3:30, 4:00,etc... He has only been sick one other time and that was nothing like this. One thing I noticed is how they all handle being sick so differently and I am wondering if this any indication of their little personalities. Eli is normally a very easy baby, but he seemed to flip a switch last night. He just screamed when we held him and screamed even louder when we put him down. The only way he would quit, was to walk around the house with him. Any time that I quit walking, he would holler. Susanna just wants you close by when she is sick. I seriously think she enjoys it. She likes for you to sit with her on the couch while tending to her every need. NOw, Luke, he just throws up wherever he is at the moment and moves on. He doesn't let a little bug stop him. Not when there's a house to destroy. Sam is pretty similar to Luke. I can hardly tell when he's sick. The only sure sign is that he doesn't eat as much. Sam has the biggest appetite and when he's not eating,we know that he is sick.
Just to let you know... Last night, Luke started making weird sounds with his nose during American Idol. We kept asking him to quit and he finally told us that he had a peanut stuck in there. After a bit of sheer panic and about 30 blows, we were able to get that peanut out. I will not tell you about how hard it shot out and who it hit in the eye. It was a blessing!

A Quiet Time

Tonight, I was able to go over to my Mom's house tonight alone. Jeff, being the awesome husband that he is, told me to go and take a break. That's what I love about Jeff. He just always knows when I'm needing some time to refresh and relax. Mom and I went to Old Navy(By the way, they are practically giving away their clothes right now....50 percent off of their clearance. I got some great deals for the kids) We also went out to dinner. It was very nice to not have the loudest table in the restaurant. Wow!!! This week had been a hard week. The kids have been cooped up in the house for too long, I can't seem to get the house cleaned up,Sam and Eli have both had ear infections, as well as other minor things. It is so easy to get distracted with insignificant things. They seem to sometimes blind me from seeing the truly important things and all of the blessings that I have been given. Sometimes, one worry clouds all of the joys. Well, I got back in from being with Mom, and the house was sooooooo quiet. Now I feel ready to take on the Noise! Bring it on kids!:)
Oh, Susie was talking about Daddy working at the church and she told Holly that he was a "rusher". Holly said, "Do you mean an usher? She said,"No, a Rusher! He rushes everyone into the church. :)

Frosty the Snowman????

On Friday, my sister, Holly, and I took the kids with the Elevation playgroup to a place called Charlotte at Play. It was a really neat place for the kids to play. They had a castle, a pirate ship, a grocery store, fake snow, a stage to play music on, etc... Susanna and Luke loved it! They especially loved the stage. They were so excited to meet Frosty as the advertisement said that they would. Well, when the lady with the tiny puppet of Frosty came out, Luke must have had a feeling that this cannot be what I've been waiting for. He blurted out, "Mom, where's the real Frosty? The lady said so sweetly, "This is Frosty." Luke said,"No, Frosty is big and he doesn't talk like that." I could have died. Oh well, it makes for good memories.:) Holly and I were talking about how hard it is to be a "supermom" We always laugh at each other about all of the dumb things we do as Moms. We just started talking about all of the things that we just can't seem to master. Such as:
You know that you're not a supermom if:
1. You can find a whole super value meal in your carseats.
2. You "get fixed up" by putting on your shoes.
3. Some days bath time takes place wherever there are wipes and lotion.
4. Your kids have the whole lineup of PBS cartoons memorized.
5. You have ever brought the kids to nursery using a grocery bag as the diaper bag.

We were getting a kick out of it and probably listed about 50 of them. Sometimes it just helps to laugh about all of the crazy things that we do as mothers. I guess it makes for some good memories too.:)
Here's some pictures of our day...

A Heart of Worship

Tonight we had our family Bible Study at Holly's. Mom led it this week and it was about something that the Lord had been working on my heart for quite a while. The passage was Psalm 24. We studied about having clean hands, a pure heart, having no other idols, or swearing by what is false. But the part that I've been thinking about all night is verse 7,"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in." There are so many gates and doors in my life that have prevented me from living a spirit filled life. All of the legalism, my sin, my own stubbornness, etc.. I feel like God has shown me how wrapped up in the rules of being a Christian I have been. Jeff and I have been going to Elevation Church for about 6 or 7 months now. When I first visited I couldn't help but think that 1. I am older than the pastor 2. The music is way too loud 3. There are way to many people raising their hands 4. The pastor is wearing jeans 5. The sermon is way too practical. I am ashamed to even type this. But every week I wanted to come back and I couldn't imagine being anywhere else. I can't believe how wrapped up in tradition I was. The Lord has been radically changing so many people's lives in front of mine own eyes. It is so exciting to see this! His Word is so powerful and alive! He has just shown me that if I don't open up those barriers I'm going to miss out on some awesome things.

Letter to Dad

Dear Dad,
This week marks the one year anniversary of your death. I hate to use that word. It sounds so terribly final. One of my favorite authors, Beth Moore, said in one of her books, that the reason death is so hard is because we were not created to have to endure it. We were created for eternity. I find comfort in that. Thank you Lord for the day that you will tear down the veil. Every time we sing at church or at home I almost always am brought to tears thinking of you doing it with our family. I know that you are. I can hardly believe it has been a year without you here. Susanna and Luke still both remember you and talk about you being in Heaven. You loved them all so much. I wish that you would have been able to see Elijah. The week before you left, Dad, you had told me how special Sam was to you. You said," Don't you worry about Sam, Mel. He's so special and I know that God has great plans for him. I know that you must have known that you were leaving soon. That conversation is one that I will never forget. You told me how lucky I was to have Jeff and how wonderful each one of us was. You always made us feel so special. Time might heal the sharp sting of pain but it doesn't take it away. I miss you, Dad! Your death has brought new life to our family. We all miss you so much and long for the day to be with you again.
Love you,
Melanie

The Fancy Voice

Today, Susanna said the funnniest thing. One of Sam's doctors called me and as I was talking to her, Susie said to Jeff, "How come Mommy doesn't talk to you in her fancy voice when you call?" It was pretty funny but also made me realize how much she's paying attention to. SO, I'll try to use my fancy voice next time for Jeff.