Welcome home, honey

Oh, did I mention that Corrie woke up from her nap with a fever and threw up all over our floor? That's why she is in the tub right now, and Davey is crying because he is hungry, tired and needs to go to bed. And last I saw Mac, he was running up and down the hallway totally naked with a roll of dental floss...completely uncoiled and trailing behind him like a long kite string.

So, as I was saying, Welcome Home!

6:30am

A little buddy makes the morning extra special :)

Happy Memorial Day

We had a pretty great Memorial Day...enjoyed the very things few people in this world have the freedom to do:

The kids had a fun breakfast with their Daddy (they all ate off of the same plate!)

Then it was off to Grandma's for some fishin' with Grandpa Dean. Dean took this picture with his camera. Apparently Mac wanted to kiss his fish. When I saw this picture, I said, "Mac, did you kiss your fish?!!" He said, "Yes, and I got yucky water in my mouth, HAHAHA!" 

Corrie stayed back with Grandma and Mommy (and Jake) to help in the garden before her nap:

And Davey did what he does: took a nice long nap on the big comfy bed and looked cute.

Love seeing those little baby lips move his sleep:

8:00am

So Blessed!

Who Invented the High Five?

Seriously, when did the high five get invented? What did people do before it came around? It has been a favorite of mine throughout my life; I feel I would not be "me" without it. It's been really fun giving Mac and Corrie high fives. I love encouraging them. Today Mac said, "Corrie, great job taking that bite!" And then he scooted over close to her and said, "Give me five!" 

Another thing I really like: How Davey holds his feet together. I don't know if maybe it's because he has such big feet, but he is always doing it and it is really cute. This morning we were going out the door and I saw his little feet sticking out:

Oh, and I also love how Davey squeals with delight and belly laughs when I kiss and tickle him. Been hoping to record it somehow before he is older and I forget what it is like. Yesterday Corrie had my phone while I was changing his diaper, and she made her first movie. She happened to catch a little of his squeally laughter for us!  

Well I guess I will mention one more thing I really like. For a while now, Mac has loved the song, "Jesus Loves Me." He asks me to sing it to him every night, and a few months ago he started asking to sing it with me. I always tickle him when I say "so" at the end, and he loves that part. Today he was singing a really funny song, and I wanted to record it. I said, "Okay Mac, sing your song," and he started singing Jesus Loves Me instead :).

Nope, I can't end this just yet. I worked really hard in the yard today during nap time and I sat down to write this post while Mac and Corrie ate their snacks. Here is what they have been doing while I've been writing this post. Racing cars on a playdough ramp. I am not excited about the mess, but I do love watching them play and I am so thankful for the chance to sit down and rest. Thanks Guys...High Five! (Just kidding)

Siblings

Corrie was here

7:30am

Lightsaber battle to defend princess spidergirl's honor 

Defending the spin attack!

In other news: Davey has officially entered the "grabby" stage as of yesterday. Watch out for your plates!

Oh no she saw us!

The other night I was cooking dinner and I heard some serious fun going on in the living room. I decided to capture the moment and saw two very naughty kids! I tried very hard not crack a smile when Corrie yelled, "Oh no! She saw us!!!" 

Another funny video of Corrie: we found a new playground the other week and the kids were pretending like the ground was an ocean full of crocodiles. Corrie was riding her horse very fast to get away from them and the way she rode on that thing was so funny.

Sweet Days

For a little bit there, it looked like we would have to cancel our trip to see our friends in NC, but we ended up getting to go and we were so thankful that God granted us that blessing.

Corrie and her dinosaur "Steggy" jumping off of tree stumps at our favorite rest stop on the drive down:

I had a sweet date with a Fireman and a Construction Worker:

We saw God provide in many fun ways:

Mac wore a ponytail to the playground, although he is still confused as to why the "tail" he asked for ended up on his head instead of his bottom.

All four boys playing on the same structure

At one point we let the kids switch cars on the way to a park. I don't know who loved it more, the kids or the mommys. It was so fun enjoying those sweet little ones.

When we got to the park, the boys ran over and sat together on a wooden board. It was a pretty cute moment.

The most common scene of the trip: walking around the block pushing our various toys!

On the way home we hit terrible traffic on 95N (if you have traveled this road you know the sitting and waiting I speak of). Davey was hungry and crying, the kids were restless, and I knew we needed to find a place to take a break. I pulled off at the nearest exit and prayed, "God, show us where to stop, please." I had never been to this exit before and it looked pretty deserted. I just wanted a place that we could stop and eat and where I could feed David. I looked to my left and saw a truck stop. Not exactly what I had in mind, but at least we could park safely there. Then I saw something at the far end of the parking lot: a little picnic area nestled in some trees. Private yet safe, with a table and an open parking space right next to it. "Thank you, Lord!" He is so kind to us. 

Foiled

Being that we live in-town and very close to the main park, the ice cream truck literally drives down our very own street in the Spring/Summer. That strange ice cream truck music blaring throughout our neigborhood has a pied piper effect on the kids. "Mommy...Do you hear that sound?!!!," they say as they walk to the door/window - as if being pulled in a trance. So far, I have been able to keep things exciting for Mac and Corrie by telling them, "the "music" truck is here! Wow, what cool music! Let's listen to it!" And then I quickly shut the door/blinds afterwards, as I have noticed that if the ice cream man gets even a scent of child-interest, he will stop and park his truck in front of the house!

Ok, so I am making all of this pretty dramatic. I just don't want to deal with the begging for 3.00 popsicles all summer. Sadly, my well-laid plans were foiled the other day. We started hearing that familiar funhouse/clown horror film type music slowly approaching our street. Ellis happened to be home, and he thought it was the most exciting thing ever. "Honey? Do you hear that? Is that an ICE CREAM truck? Is it coming here? Hurry!!! Get some money!" 

Oh man. Well, what could I do? Corrie was still sleeping, and by now Ellis had found Mac and they were both filled with anticipation. It ended up being a very sweet moment between the two of them, and Mac was overjoyed to find that Spiderman Popsicles exist.

Another amusing note from that day: I had the very unexpected gift of being able to spend a little time in the mountains.

When I came home, I saw Ellis had the lawnmower out. Our landlady decided to have a man come and spray our lawn for weeds a few weeks ago. I am not sure she realized that our yard is about 98% weeds. So now we have two or three little patches of grass here and there...I could not help but find it so hilarious that Ellis got the huge riding lawnmower out for those little patches. 

And a couple other cute notes:

Corrie is starting to take initiative with caring for Davey. She was playing with him and "cleaning" his spit up with a towel she got from the kitchen. I won't take time to describe her face-cleaning technique, bless her little heart.

Oh, and a song we sang in church yesterday: if you haven't heard it, it's pretty amazing.

Very Wonderful

Several days ago I was awakened early in the morning. I have been operating lately at a level of exhaustion I have not known before, and usually I am so groggy, the only things I can think in the morning are, what time is it? Are any kids up yet?...I really should get up...And the next thing I know I am asleep again. But on this particular morning I was not groggy and I felt called to get up. I think You are calling me, Jesus. If this were true, then it was a first for me. I lay there for a few more minutes, and then I got up. 

I went outside and sat on our porch, and something very wonderful happened. I had been wrestling earnestly with a few things and was confused about some areas of my life...one area in particular that day, where I had sensed for a while that He was calling me to "take up my cross and follow Him." I so desired to obey, but I felt heavily burdened and unable to move. I needed Him. That morning, He came to me and helped me. He showed Himself to me, and that which had been so confusing to me became clear and simple. Suddenly it was an act of great joy to say, "Yes, I surrender even this to You. If You are asking me to let it go, then I know that I don't need it, but I do need You. I will obey what you have called me to do." 

I was amazed at the time He carved out for me that morning, and also that my mind was able to stay engaged with Him and not wander every which way like usual. It all passed by so fast. Later in the day I found myself saying to Him, "Jesus, I don't even know how to describe how my heart feels about you right now." I am not used to articulating feelings like these. The one word that came to my mind, and kept coming to mind, was enraptured. I had never used that word in my life before. Was that even a word? I wasn't quite sure what it meant, but it sounded good. 

This has been a season of life where God has been using my circumstances to teach me to depend on His strength and to entrust myself more completely to Him. A few days ago I was so tired I was on the brink of tears all day. That evening, after I got the kids in bed, I looked at the kitchen, the living room and our master bedroom, and they were all so messy. Ellis had been working all day and was working all night. He had been working so much that he was beyond exhausted himself the few times I had seen him that week. There was no one else I could depend on to help me but the Lord.

I remembered something a friend had told me recently, "when I am so tired and know I cannot do what God is calling me to do, I say, "Your strength, Lord," and He is always faithful to provide His strength for the task He has called me to do." Many nights I can just let the messes around the house go and try to knock them down a little better the next day. But on this night I knew I needed to clean up. "Your strength Lord," (I said through my exhausted tears), "I want to honor You, but I cannot do it. If you want this house cleaned, I need Your strength." 

I really do not know what happened next, but all of the rooms got cleaned very quickly, efficiently, and well. Ellis even commented on it the next day. I was so thankful. Lord! You cleaned all of these rooms for me! I know I did it, but He really did it. And it was only 7:30pm. I made a cup of tea and went out to the porch. I watched the sunset and had a whole evening to rest and be refreshed as I sat at His feet. I kept saying, You did my chores and you gave me a wonderful evening with you! Thank You! Thank you. How could He carve out such time for Him again like this? I just couldn't believe it.

Experiencing real intimacy with God has been so astounding to me. I confided in a friend that some of it seemed a little bit scandalous...was it okay to feel these passionate feelings with Him at times? I do not want to base my relationship with God on feelings, and besides, I wondered if I were going to start sounding like one of those religious crazies. She said to read John 14:21:

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

My friend said, "When you were hardened and thought your way was the only way, He did not show Himself to you like this because you were substituting so many other things in your life instead of Him. As you have surrendered those things and obeyed and turned to Him, He has been manifesting Himself to you just as He says He will." And she also said, "how very wonderful of Him to break through to you, as hardened and rebellious as you were."

Yes, how very wonderful of Him. I am still hardened and rebellious, but as He has been continually breaking me, I have become less so than I was before. This experience of His love breaking through to me has nothing to do with me, but it has everything to do with who Christ says He is and what He says He will do with his disciples. 

Before I went to bed last night, I thought about that word again, enraptured. I decided to google it and see if was really a word:

Enraptured: past participle, past tense of en·rap·ture. Verb. 

"Give intense pleasure or joy to" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

Yes, He told me exactly how my heart feels about Him. Enraptured by Him. I am so thankful for these unmerited glimpses of who He is, who He really is. 

Now that I know what the word means, I am starting to see why they call our blessed hope the "rapture:" 

"Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord." 1 Thess. 4:17

Yes, very wonderful indeed.

We are the Johns'

Yep, that was us outside at 10:30pm working under the hood of our car...in the rain...with the headlamps on.

Ellis: "Don't look"

Me, turning my head away: "Okay....is it safe to look again yet?" 

Ellis: "Yep"

Me, after the second time I had to "not look": "So, was there a bright light or something?"

Ellis: "Oh, no, it's just sometimes the battery explodes when you do this and shards and battery acid might fly into your eyes."

Just as long as long as we aren't doing anything dangerous!

Tough Life

I was just about to go to bed when Ellis came upstairs and asked, "so what did you guys do today?" We found ourselves smiling and laughing together as I told him the events of the day. I think I've blogged plenty enough lately, but I want to remember this day. Not that it's anything out of the ordinary, but I want to remember it because it's so ordinary. So wonderfully ordinary for us.

It all started when I was no longer pregnant with Davey and realized I needed to dress in normal clothes again. I found my pants and jeans...Darn! They all had holes. Hey that's okay, I've got plenty of sweatpants! Then it started getting hot. Time to get out the shorts (you can only turn sweatpants into capris for so long). Darn again! No shorts except those ones I got in college...was that over 10 years ago already? The only way I could get those shorts on was by using an elastic hair band to expand the waist, and even then the shorts were pretty outdated. And shirts...what happened to all my shirts? It's like they all got so short in the waist somehow.

Guess it was time to get some new clothes. I eventually gave up trying to get to the store with the three kids and ordered some shorts and shirts online from Old Navy. When they arrived and I tried them on, the shirts were weird. The shorts were too big. The clothes had a note that said you could return them to your nearest Old Navy store, so I packed the kids in the car and we left this morning for a rainy day adventure.

Here's one thing I learned about Old Navy: Never ever, ever, ever, ever take your kids there.

The place is huge - like a giant funhouse. As soon as we stepped through the doors it was like the place was calling to Mac, "run free!" And there are toys EVERYWHERE (all placed at kids' eye-level). There are mirrors to make funny faces in, and even life-sized fake dogs and children (Corrie kept asking, "mommy, please, I want to see the children." That whole thing was a little unnerving). There are strange manikins everywhere, some with no heads, some with only torsos, and some with only legs. Mac said the ones with no heads were monsters, and they both went around everywhere in awe taking time to stop and hold every manikin's hand (the one's that had hands). There were ones that were cut from the waist down and Corrie thought they were drums and kept playing music on them.

Meanwhile I was trying to find clothes. Why are all of the shorts so short? And why, if America is so overweight, are all of the shirts so tight?! Well, I finally found a few shirts to try on and said, "Guys, come on, it's time to go in the giant closet!!! It's gonna be awesome!" They were pretty excited about that. The lady in the dressing room gave us the handicap room so everyone could fit, and she said, "there's a bench in there so you can watch your mommy's fashion show." 

I can't put into words how far out of my comfort zone it is to go shopping for clothes. I am so thankful for stylish family members who give me nice clothes for Christmas, because I really do not enjoy the process of trying things on and deciding whether or not I should spend the money. But this time was the best ever.

I would say, "And now it's time for the blue stripey shirt!" And the kids would cheer, and Mac would say, "you are gonna be a princess, mommy!" And then he would say, "Dance mommy!" And I danced in every shirt (ever seen Elaine dance on Seinfeld?)

I decided to buy a few shirts and we got to the register, which might as well be a toy store. I was completely amazed that Mac found a Spiderman watch on clearance for 2.00. He has been asking for one of those for months, convinced that such a thing existed. How could I say no to that find? So I told Corrie she could pick a toy, too, and out of all of the princess/girly things there, she wanted a dinosaur. "Well, Corrie, do you want a T-Rex or a, hmmm...what is this one?" She said, "It's a Stegosaurus, mommy," so matter-of-factly! And she was right! That girl is something else.

Turned out Chick-fil-a was right next door, and it was only 10:30am. I thought it would be a great time to get some energy out in the playplace and told the kids we would go there next. We walked out of the doors from Old Navy and Corrie said, "My dinosaur is hungry, mommy." I said, "Oh, is it hungry for Chick-fil-a?" She looked at me like I was crazy. "No mommy. It's hungry for leaves!" Of course! I forgot the Stegosaurus was an herbivore. We picked some leaves off of a bush in the parking lot and Corrie fed her dinosaur.

The kids played like crazy in the playplace at Chick-fil-a, and then we got some food to eat. Corrie would make this funny dinosaur voice and say, "I want leaves!" Meanwhile, Mac was asking the whole time, "Mommy, can I go to those ones?!!" (Pointing to every elderly couple eating lunch at 11:30am and asking if he could go and show them his new Spiderman watch). By the time we left, we knew everyone in the whole place.

Mac admiring his watch

Corrie making her dinosaur talk, "I want leaves!"

"Wow," said Ellis, after I finished telling him all of this. "Tough life," he said, smiling.

Yeah, tough life. :)

And the Million Dollars Goes to...

So (thankfully) Mac is over his last "treasure" obsession. The one and only guess was from Amy Brooks, so Ames, I guess you get the million dollars. Your guess: a bubble pipe that Mac blew his snot into. You know, I think I can see that:

Actually, Mac found a snail shell (with a dead snail inside) on our walk the other day. He would balance the shell on the end of a red plastic stick that he also found on the walk. The stick was important because he would use it to stuff various bugs inside the snail shell (beetles, ladybugs, ants).

Mac holding a lady bug and explaining how he is about to put it in his shell

While Mac collected dead snails, bugs and trash, Corrie collected flowers

Mac explained all about his new find to Davey as soon as we were done with our walk

Mac had his "empty crab shell," (as he called it) in the car yesterday morning. Ellis' comment was, "you are not letting him take in to church, are you?"

Well, if we lived anywhere other than Front Royal, I might think twice about it, but yep, I did let him. He showed everyone he saw, and their reactions were actually very funny in the sense that no one else thought twice about it either! Although everyone did say, "I think that's a snail shell."

So today Mac found a little key in our junk drawer. We went to the mall this morning to get gifts for Ellis' nurses (it's nurse appreciation week), and Mac and Corrie were already outside by the car as I was coming out the door with Davey. I didn't realize Mac had the little key in his hand, and apparently he put the key in the keyhole to the car door at the exact moment that I pushed the door open button the car remote.

You should have seen their faces! Mac shouted, "It worked! It worked!" and that gross snail shell with the red plastic stick were yesterday's news. Mac told every person we saw at the mall about his key and the amazing things it could do (some of which were news to me!)

He's sleeping with that key right now. So funny to see his enthusiasm and excitement about these things. Everyday is a new chance for discovery and adventure.

The car door that opened this morning and started all of the wonder!

Playing at the playplace in the mall...about as clear of a picture as I could get of these two who would not stop moving :)

A whole lot of giggling going on...

I've starting putting Mac and Corrie to bed about an 1 1/2 hours earlier than normal. Since becoming roommates, the've spent at least 1/2 hour giggling and playing peek-a-boo with each other from across the room before eventually quieting down and then eventually falling asleep after that. They are up early playing together, too.

All of this partying together is taking its toll! The crying and melt-downs have skyrocketed over this past week. Corrie, especially, has a knack for the dramatic. There have been at least three times this week that I have bursted out laughing at it all because it is so over the top.

The other day she did not want to eat her salad. Here she is singing "twin-coo twin-coo wittow staw." The drama!

And here is Mac today at church with his latest little treasure.  A million dollars to anyone who can guess what this one is. Has to go everywhere with him, of course!

Random Glimpses into our Typical Day

I mentioned earlier that our days somehow end up being pretty full. I don't know how that happens, but we also seem to have plenty of unscheduled "together" time. Ellis asked me the other morning before leaving for work, "So, what do you have planned for today?" I honestly didn't have an answer for that. "Hmmm, well, we may or may not change out of our PJ's...(I, of course, was included in that statement).

Beyond that, I've usually really got nothing beyond taking care of the house and kids on my agenda. It's actually kind of wonderful...I am realizing this season of "life-unscheduled" is indeed a very sweet and special season...one that will pass soon as the kids grow and have commitments and activities of their own.

Taking a walk in the rain:

Building towers:

Davey:

Random visitors and the ability to visit others. Love, love, LOVE this part of being unscheduled. 

Waiting for mommy to say it's time to start the day:

Breakfast (with a lollypop...that doesn't happen every morning)

Here is about as much coffee or tea as I ever actually drink in a day. As I was telling a friend, you get that one first hot sip, and then you are called away. Eventually you come back and reheat it for another sip. After the 3rd or 4th reheat, it's kind of lost its appeal.
 

Playing at the playground. Here are Mac and Corrie for the first time in this swing. Mac said, "We are in a pirate ship going to Neverland!" They love pretending together. And they love singing together. Couldn't resist getting a video of them here in their "Pirate ship" singing "Jake and the Neverland Pirates"

Enjoying each other:

I asked Mac to give Davey a kiss. He said, "Yes, Okay!" And then he licked him...Mac!

Corrie...today I came in from watering the flowers and she said, "Mommy, I can't stop DANCING!" (As she wiggled and moved her feet all around on the floor). Later, after naptime, she told me she dreamed that the Cat in the Hat went down into the ocean. We sat together in the chair and when I went to take a picture, she delighted in making sure her foot was in the frame!

Watching soccer games while having picnic dinners and playing at the playground:

Mac has instant friends wherever we go. Below is the "monster boy." Mac convinced him to pretend he was a monster and chase him around.

Our days are so simple right now. Wish I knew a hymn to quote that could express how my heart feels about this sweet season. I've been reminded that it can all change in an instant, and I want to thank Him all I can while He has us in it.