Roommates

I've never been real good with change. If I had it my way, everything would stay exactly the same, all the time. How gracious of God, to have allowed so many changes in my life. It seems like change, no matter how small, disrupts my little world and makes me reach for Him, reminding me that my primary source of comfort and security is always Him. And the most amazing thing of it all: He never changes.

Well, a few days ago we moved Corrie and Mac into the same room so that Davey could have his own room (Corrie's old room). I have been putting this change off big-time, both mentally and in reality. I am so glad God has placed Ellis as our leader in our home, and when he said it was time, I knew it was good to follow his lead. And I must say, Mac and Corrie's room turned out to be pretty sweet!

Of course we've had a few growing pains with this new change. Mac found a new way to get in and out of bed, which of course I had to discipline even though in my heart I would have loved to be doing the same thing if I were in his shoes!

The first night was a bit of a trial, as the kids were up waaaaaaaaay past their usual bedtime. Corrie actually did a good job of staying in her bed, and I only caught Mac out once (he tried to run back in bed before I could see him, but I caught him red-handed on the camera!) They did stay up late talking. I let that slide.

And I do love Davey having his own little room...makes him seem so grown up!

There is a sweet little corner where we put his changing table, and it has become a special little sanctuary from the busyness of the day. I discovered when Mac was about this age that the repetitive tasks of changing diapers, laying them down to sleep for naps, etc. are great chances to memorize scripture. Each time Davey and I are together in our little corner, we spend a little time in 1 Timothy. Special little bits of time being in God's presence together.

Of course, the biggest concern of mine with this whole change has always been the sleep factor. The last thing I want to deal with these days is less sleep, for me or the kids. I was concerned about Corrie. Mac is up and ready to go at the crack of dawn, whereas Corrie is more like me: she likes to sleep in. How was that going to work with them in the same room?

Well, on the first day they were both up before 7am. They both know to stay in their rooms in the morning until we come to get them, but on this morning I saw them both walk out of their room together, holding hands. It was so cute I almost didn't want to discipline them...but I did.

The next day I awoke to the sound of Corrie crying. I went in the room to see Mac in her bed saying, "Corrie, stop crying!" I put Corrie in our room and went in to talk to Mac.

"Mac, you cannot wake Corrie up, and you must not get in her bed. You must stay in your bed."

"But Mommy, I didn't wake her up, I didn't!"

"What did you do?"

"Well I just went in her bed and put my fingers in her ears and then I put her pillow and blanket on her head and then I pulled them off!" 

We had a pretty stern talk about staying in his own bed and not going in Corrie's bed in the morning. Well, this morning, day 3, I went in and this is what I saw:

"What are you guys doing?"

"Oh mommy Corrie brought her pillow and blanky in my bed and we are just playing games together!"

I think I'll let that one slide, too. :)

Family hike

Saturday was just one of those beautiful days. Around 9am, Ellis and I looked at each other and said: "Let's do something outside!" How about a hike? Great idea! When? How about now!

So we loaded up the kids and left, taking about 10 minutes to think about planning/packing, etc. Of those 10 minutes of planning, I would say Ellis did all but about 30 seconds of it. I am pretty sure I dressed me and the kids, but it's a blur, really.

We headed up the Skyline Drive and I tried again to remember where in the world that one trail was that we did with the Rocke's over a year ago. Last time I tried to find it, we got just slightly lost...
I realized we were starting off in the wrong parking lot again (I think?), but we just picked a trail and went with it.

I took a picture of the map in the parking lot before we hit the trail. And it's a good thing I did. We actually ended up having to reference it a few times.  

First time hiking with three kids. Mac was having a blast getting to run free:

 A few minutes into the hike he found a "bug friend" (some kind of beetle). Kept that poor thing squeezed up in his closed, sweaty hand as he hiked! I was okay with it as long as he didn't find any tick friends. 

Here we are about half-way through. Notice the orange froggy in the pocket of our baby carrier. Corrie insisted on hiking with her froggy, but after about 6 drops (which she would alert us to by saying, "uh oh my froggy!" always at least 25 yards past where she dropped it) we decided that froggy would be riding with mommy and Davey for the rest of the hike.

Mac picked pretty flowers for Corrie:

As opposed to the last hike, Mac actually got tired this time. Time for some REAL hiking to start for me! Davey and Macky both in tow...felt so good to be active and taking on a physical challenge. That night I actually dreamed that I played soccer and then went to a gym and lifted weights!

After a little while we were ready for a snack break. I put Mac down and said, "Mac, let's look for a nice log for you to sit on to eat your snack...how about that one?" (Pointing to a nice-sized log just off the trail). "Oh yes!" Mac said, and then ran over and sat down on this "log"pictured below.

We helped him and Corrie find a little bit bigger log.They ran over and sat on it together like this and shared their snacks. Pretty cute :)

On the way back home Ellis suggested we have a lunch treat at our favorite burger place. Sounded like a great idea! It pretty much was a great idea. We even got to eat outside where there was a fish pond. Mac and Corrie didn't eat much, as it was way too much fun to put sticks in the water and pretend that they were fishing.

Davey was such a great little trooper on his first hike. Even sat with us so nicely while we enjoyed our meal.

Things were cut a little short though, when a lady came over and said: "Whose little boy is that with the red hair?" Oh man. "Uh, mine?..." I wondered what this lady was going to say next. "Well, he's peeing himself."

Sure enough, I looked over and there was Mac, standing awkwardly with soaked shorts. Thankfully I had stocked the car with spare clothes when I started potty training, but unfortunately I hadn't updated the stock in over a year. (Yes, we've been potty training for that long). Mac ended up having to wear a pair of 18-month-sized girl pants (see below), but that didn't slow him down a bit. Right back to the fishing!

Mac's First Cast

Nope, nobody broke a leg. The first "cast" Mac experienced yesterday was actually his first real cast with a fishing pole. He did have a little help from Grandpa Dean with the casting, but he hooked a fish all by himself on his very first try! A green Warmouth fish. Pretty special.

The whole afternoon was pretty special, actually.

Finding worms in Grandma's garden:

The anticipation-filled walk down to the lake (Mac said, "I'm gonna catch a WHALE!")

Watching Grandpa put a worm on the hook:

Reeling in the first cast (which just happened to have a fish on it!)

Getting to hold and study the fish:

Waiting with Grandpa for another fish to bite:

Another fish! (A sunfish this time)

Throwing that fish back (poor fish)

Yep, it was a pretty great day. One of those bittersweet days as a mom, actually. How can my little baby boy be growing up so fast? But at the same time, what a joy it is to see him grow up! Speaking of growing up, look what happened to Corrie yesterday:

Painted nails already?! What happened to our little baby girl? She has been loving her "pretty pink nails" though.  :)

At least we still have one little baby around here. This is how he looked when I checked on him before I went down to the lake with Grandpa and Mac:

And here he was when we got back:

Sweetest little guy!

Unless the Lord builds the house...

"Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain." Psalm 127:1

Remember the story of the three little pigs? Mac and Corrie have been reading that one on our android tablet lately while I feed Davey. I can't help but see myself in that story. Apart from the Lord building our house, we have no resources of our own but wood, hay and straw.

We've had some tough times. I keep seeing wall after wall come crashing down. Those flimsy walls looked so strong to me! What a scary thing it is to have our security in such fragile things...especially when they are blown away...leaving us exposed.

Is it possible to make a wall of straw and paint bricks on it? I've pretty much perfected that. I've felt pretty secure in my own little house...my little fantasyland house.

In many ways I have built my life with straw walls - the best that my own resources have had to offer - and I have painted Jesus on it. "Look at me! Look at my strong house! Look at our strong family!" 

God has kindly intervened by allowing storms to come and expose reality. I can't pretend anymore that my straw house is something that it isn't. It has been obliterated, and I am left scrambling like those little pigs. Right about then, a strong brick house starts looking really good. Jesus starts looking really good.

Right about then, I am willing to allow Him to build the walls, His way.

My savior! My firm foundation with strong walls. My reality. It is so good to be in His arms...whatever the cost.

"Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.  For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost?...So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." 

-Luke 14:25-33

Death by evaporation

When we got Corrie her Betta fish, we didn't expect it to live long. I assumed it would die of starvation or poor sanitation, but death by evaporation? Didn't see that one coming.

I am usually not motivated enough to clean the tanks until they smell so bad I cannot stand it, or until the water is so dirty we can't see the fish. Several months ago, the pet shop lady gave Mac and Corrie each their own snail to go in their fish tanks. Who would have thought such a tiny little thing could keep a tank so clean? (See that tiny little dot in the upper right-hand corner? That's the snail).

The other day I looked at Dori swimming around and realized just how long it had been since the last tank cleaning. Half of the water had evaporated. My first thought? "Oh the water can go a lot lower than that!"

Poor fish.

Davey

I realize now I haven't had the words right to this hymn, but Davey doesn't seem to mind :)

All the Way My Savior Leads Me

All the way my Savior leads me;

What have I to ask beside?

Can I doubt His tender mercy,

Who through life has been my Guide?

Heav’nly peace, divinest comfort,

Here by faith in Him to dwell!

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well;

For I know, whate’er befall me,

Jesus doeth all things well.

All the way my Savior leads me,

Cheers each winding path I tread;

Gives me grace for every trial,

Feeds me with the living Bread.

Though my weary steps may falter,

And my soul athirst may be,

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see;

Gushing from the Rock before me,

Lo! A spring of joy I see.

All the way my Savior leads me

O the fullness of His love!

Perfect rest to me is promised

In my Father’s house above.

When my spirit, clothed immortal,

Wings its flight to realms of day

This my song through endless ages—

Jesus led me all the way;

This my song through endless ages—

Jesus led me all the way.

Pinewood Derby

Lately, (and by lately I mean for the last few months or so), there's been so much going on. I do not have the energy or strength to think through very much or plan our events...but somehow they just appear. This past Sunday a friend asked if there would be a good time to call this week, and I thought, "well anytime!" But between that thought and Monday morning, somehow every morning has been scheduled, along with most of the afternoons and some evenings. How did that happen? I really don't know, but I am thankful. God has filled our lives with good things.

I am grateful to God also for making sure Mac has been attending his AWANA meetings in the midst of all of our eventfulness. The other week when I picked Mac up, I heard them discussing the pinewood derby. Pastor Bobby, who leads our AWANA group, was kind enough to give us a kit and even cut the car for us. I imagined that Mac and I would place a few stickers on there and maybe scribble with a marker a little...hey, as long as it could roll down (or slide down - I don't know how to put those wheels one) the track we'd be happy.

On Friday we got our car and I told Ellis about it. The race was Sunday. I was not expecting him to get so excited! Next thing I knew, Ellis was off to the church to cut and sand the car down to a perfect specimen of aerodynamics. Big Mac, Sue and EJ visited this weekend, and the pinewood car became a family project for us all (well, I didn't do anything but take pictures and videos...I don't even know how to put the wheels on, remember?)

Big Mac helped little Mac put the stickers on the car. This interaction was so sweet that I had to record it. It's a bit long, but I am posting it for little Mac to watch when he is older:

Later Mac got to help Daddy put a clear coat of spray paint on the car. I think the expressions in this video are priceless:

Even Corrie had her hand in the process; helping Grandpa make the wheels faster

Before we knew it, it was time to head to the church for the big race. We grabbed the finished product, which Mac named his Yellow Arrow Car, and we were on our way!

True to form, we barely made it to the derby on time. And by "on time" I mean we were about 15 minutes late. My friend called us while we were on the way and said "Where are you?! They are already inspecting the cars and they aren't waiting for you!" 

Yep, that was us in the silver minivan screeching up to the church doors at the last possible second. Ellis and Mac jumped out while I parked and came in with Corrie and Davey. As soon as I stepped in the gym I saw Mac's car already on the track to race it's first heat. Phew! We made it!

You can see Mac's car on the bottom left of the picture below. I couldn't believe how creative and amazing the cars were on that table. Apparently this race is the big event for the entire year, and many of the kids are planning their cars all year...yep, just like us!

I got a little distracted looking at all of the other cars and then I thought, "wait a minute...I brought Davey, right?" Phew! I looked over to see he was well-cared for. I love our church family.

Mac's car actually won its first race by a landslide. He made it through the next few heats quite comfortably, too. It wasn't until he had to go up against our neighbor, Gage that he had some real competition. Each car is allowed two losses, and Mac's first loss was to Gage. In between races I heard Ellis say, "Hey! He's graphiting!" (He was pointing to Gage's dad, who was applying graphite to the wheels of his car to make it go faster). Ellis ran out to the car to find our graphite. This whole scene was so funny to me. Is this derby for the kids or the parents?

For Mac's final race, he was matched up with Gage again. This time it was the elimination round, and Gage won and advanced on to get third place overall. We got a video of this race. I love Mac's enthusiasm for everything that he does! He was so excited to see his car race. After he picks up his car you can see his excited/happy skip that he does. As you can tell by the ending of this video, he was quite happy with the results of the race...pretty funny. 

Yep, it was a pretty memorable and wonderful experience, our first pinewood derby. Ellis was listing the improvements he was going to make for next year's car the whole way home. "And the best part," he exclaimed, "Corrie will have a car to enter, too!"

Looks like we have a lot to look forward to :)

Another Rug Bites the Dust...

"And another rug's gone

And another rug's gone

And another rug bites the dust..."

Yep, that's the song that's been playing in my head over and over again since yesterday afternoon. If you are at all familiar with our household, you can imagine what precipitated this chorus running through my thoughts. 

Sigh...another nap time surprise! This time from sweet Corrie girl. I will spare you any photos or grisly details (I guess that has gotten old, since these events have now become our norm), but I will say that this time we had a few more casualties than the rug. A bumbo chair, a Lightning McQueen Car chair, and my opportunity to sit down and drink the hot tea I just made also went out with the trash. 

The "fingers crossed" moment after days like this is always trash pick-up day. Will the garbage man accept the rug and two chairs that I crammed into our trash can this time? When I heard the garbage truck pull up today, I waited in the hallway out of sight from the windows because I could not bear to see the man's expression when he tried to get all of that poop-smeared stuff out of our jammed-to-the-brim can. I held my breath until the truck pulled away....

YES! The most beautiful sight: an empty trash can. What can I say? It's the little things these days.

Fishing with Spiderman and Cinderella

We had such a full house today and it was wonderful. I loved walking around and observing the interactions and conversations...so much activity going on.

The past several days have been so eventful. There's so much I want to record for our kids to remember, but I guess a side-product of all of this excitement is pure exhaustion...

And that means I should have been in bed and sleeping at 7:30pm after I got all three kids down (they were pretty exhausted too)...so I'll only scratch the surface here in this post.

Big Mac, Sue and EJ drove down on Saturday night, and today my mom and Dean joined us, too. They brought Mac and Corrie little fishing poles (Spiderman and Cinderella), and Dean held a little fishing tutorial in the front yard for all of the kids (so sweet!)

Dean would patiently cast the little plastic fish out into the yard so the kids could practice learning how to reel them in. Mac and Corrie kept trying to run out into the yard to grab the fish, and in the process they would get all tangled up in the line.

Here's Corrie saying, "Please get me out!!!" You can't see it in the picture, but she's completely wrapped up in her fishing line:

Mac eventually got the hang of reeling in his fish. It was pretty special to see him and Grandpa "fishing" together. Mac has been begging to go fishing more...just wait until he goes to the lake with Grandpa and gets to cast that fishy into some real water!

And a side note: A picture of EJ and Davey...EJ is 7. David just turned 4 months...yep, David is looking more like Goliath these days!

On the list of things to post once some strength returns: our first pinewood derby (so funny!), how Daddy entertains the kids when mommy is gone for the morning, birthday party train-rides, Mac's latest hobby of collecting "bug friends," and much, much more!.....

Happy 18th B-Day, Mac!

Yep. That's your cake! The most beautiful cake ever made...

Your birthday is today, but we actually celebrated it yesterday so Daddy could be with us. Oh, and you are actually 4...but I let you pick out the candles for the cake and you had your heart set on having a 1 and an 8. You love 1 because it's the only number you can write, and I am not sure why you had to have the 8, but you said, "Please Mommy, Please! Eight is my favorite number ever in the world!" 

I also let you and Corrie pick a pack of special candles (which you each put on the cake by yourselves...some of them were not lit because they were upside-down). You picked "letters" and Corrie picked "squiggles." Pretty cute :-). Below is a video of you guys discussing the decorations after you put them on:

And here are you and Corrie blowing out all of those awesome candles!

And the highlight of the night: going to Lowe's with Daddy to get your very own "treasure box" and special "treasures" to go inside. 

You were so excited and proud when you came back home! I was amazed that you knew all of the letters on your new box. Well, almost all of them anyway.

And, just for fun, a few pictures from Birthdays past:

Here you are turning one. Since you were our first kid, we thought this was what every kid does with their first birthday cake.

For your second birthday, some friends made a special firetruck cake to share with your buddy, Caleb. We couldn't even get a picture before you guys got your little hands on it!

Last year, you turned three and had the best time with your cousins. You loved when we sang happy birthday to you and we had a really fun bug hunt together!

You are a special treasure to us, MacArthur Johns. So thankful for the start of another adventurous year together with you!