Get Educated.

So the owner of Tims company has teenagers, and Jesus can you just please save us all? They are a strong, Christian family and their kids to go private christian school, but boy.... let me just tell you how quickly educated you can become hanging out with a teenager. I went into mild hysterics realizng that my children will one day become teenagers.

I am finishing up Elisabeth Elliots book, The Shaping of a Christian Family. And do you know what? She doesn't believe in teen years. She said teenagers is a coined myth that America has come to expect their kids to act a certian way. And, in their household, the teen years were a breeze. She has been amazing to read and study.

Anyway, I overheard the owners teen talking about Star 94's 90s weekend. Her comment to her friend was, "Oh great, Dad is going to listen to this all weekend... old people's music." I am 29 and I've never been labled old. Until now. I think I sometimes believe I can shelter my kids and play ignorance of what is "current" in their age. That's a bad idea. I want to know what's going on with the culture that will have some (hopefully not a lot) influence on who they are as a person.

I remember my parents being very involved with even the music I listened to growing up. I specifically remember coming home one day with the Offspring Cd. My dad opened in, read the lyrics, and the CD was immediatley thrown in the trash. (To my disfortune, I think the first darn song he read was "Bad Habit". Some of the greatest moms and dads out there with teens have facebook accounts and are friends with their kids. They immediately have access to see more about the friends their kids have made. Anyway, just for fun, I downloaded all the top searched songs for your music enjoyment. Even though I have heard some songs/bands.... admittedly, one or two were new to me.... happy listening! I downloaded the top 15 searched songs. And I had to add this.

Tim did a "test" and asked David, "Hey David, what's mommy's favorite music?" And David replied, "Mommy likes Jesus music. And she likes when Jesus sings." Haha! He thinks Jesus is singing in some of the songs, so cute. But seriously, can we all band together in prayer that by the time are kids are teens, Ke$sha will be long gone?!!

pics up!!

I was informed my pictures from vacation were not able to be viewed! Not that anyone probably cares except the grandparents, they are up!! It is our snow trip a couple posts below =) Tomorrow I am hoping to have our Nellie Mae Yard Renovation pictures up! You can visit the site here to see the before and the process!

Making the Doughnuts

Growing up, my mom always said "Time to get up and go make the doughnuts!!" Doughnuts as in $$$$. So funny to me. I say that to David a lot and he laughs b/c we LOVE dunkin donuts over here, coffee and the donuts!! I by no means think that we were put on this Earth to just make money, we believe strongly in the Great Commission and if you can find what God put you here for and be successful, well then that is a plus!! I would trade contentment over money any day of the week! Anyway, everyone I talk to or see is asking me about Tim and the new company launch!! If you missed it, he does Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning, thus... HVAC. You can wow people now that you know what it stands for =) Well, it is going absolutely gangbusters as Tim and I say when we get over-crazy busy! For the past 5 years, the company has been busier and busier. But, THIS year, they are hitting record numbers and it is only April! Tim is super happy, super busy, and fulfilling ever God given talent he has between doing hands on service, repair, installations, maintainence, sales, and business development. I really can't say more than that, other than if you know the quest we've been on to find what God would have us do here on this Earth for Tim as a career, this is it!!! We are coming up on the 1 year mark (April 23) from when our house sold and Tim was laid off. It is MIND BLOWING what the Lord has chosen to do with us over the past 12 months. I did start a house cleaning business a year ago, and gladly and sadly have had to cut all my people out but 2. It was the original plan, for me to do my business until we resumed normal life. I'm having a hard time letting it go now though! It's become a little outlet for me, so I think as of now I may keep my 2 families! It's really nice feeling like I can contribute a little and have a break from itty bitties at home! So, that's our status. We've literally almost hit every stressful event in the past 12 months, but God is so faithful. For so long it felt like God left us in the storm.... and for what it is worth, my mindset is forever changed. It is during those times in the storms that I learn the most about myself, my faith, and God's relentless love for me to know him more. And because of that, I am forever glad we can praise Him in the storms. Here is Tim's company's website if you need some HVAC work! It is under construction, but has company info posted! http://www.abramsair.com/

Worst Mother of the Year

I am calling myself that because poor little Mackenzie has been going potty since she was 15 months old. For whatever reason, she is obsessed with going pee-pee in the potty. For months now, she would come running up to me and say, "Mommmmmmmyyyy!! Need to go pee pee in the pottttyyyy!!" And do you know what my response was, "It's okay sweetie, just goooo in your diaper, okay?!!" What mother says that? Me, that is who. You see, I believe it's more that the mother has to be emotionally stable than the child. Ha! And that I am not! I was just not ready for 2 small children and potty breaks in public places. Especially since little girls can't stand up when they pee. So, I finally gave in. I pumped myself up and leave it to my mother to finally confront me and say, "Jennifer! Potty trian that poor child before she looses interest!" And she is right, M was so excited about it she basically potty trained herself. I'm so sorry for anyone out there who is in this stage. I pray one of your children will be easy to train, as David was not a walk in the park like her... Anyway, we took a much needed family vacation 2 weeks ago. Yes, I brought my own baby potty and she went in it during our roadtrip. Nothing like the smell of urine while you are all in a minivan. We went to Beech Mountain, where Tim's sweet grandparents have a vacation home there. It was breath-taking! It's been 2 years since we have gone. Well, I knew it might be cold in the mountains, but we got 4 inches of snow!!! Not quite the warm, sunny trip I had envisioned, but the kids had a field day! We watched movies, tv, read books, went sledding, drank 2 boxes of hot cocoa, played boardgames, went out to eat every night, and SLEPT!! It was everything and more that a vacation should be. The kids are 4 and 2 and at the most fun age ever. I can't wait to travel more all together. Here are the pics! And yes, we did fly a kite in the snow when it was 27 degrees and we also got to hear "snow thunder"!

Blindsided.

I have so much to update on that I am having a BLOG-A-THON this week to catch up!! So this is Day 1.

Blindsided, that is what we were.

First, my dad likes to keep us on our toes. We kicked off spring with him in the ER overnight. Long story short, he was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia, had tests and surgury, and is okay now. It is when part of your stomach purtrudes up into your diaphragm. It is complicated, but very common for men in their 50's. Basically, it causes you to strangle... bad side effect. The surgury fixes it and he is on some medication. We are so glad that he is okay! I am so glad our sweet Lord watches over us and always seems to put wise doctors in our path.

Second, at David's 4 year check up, they did a routine eye exam. He was goofing off and acting 4, so they couldn't tell if he couldn't see or if he just wasn't cooperating. They said if I wanted to make sure, take him to a Pediatric Optometrist. I love having peace of mind, so my mother's intuition kicked in and I decided to take him. And I am so glad I did. Turns out my poor baby was practically blind in his left eye. And I had no idea! After freaking out a little, they explained its the only way he has ever seen, so his brain has trained his eyes to "make it work." Basically, his right eye is almost perfect 20/20 and his left eye is 20/100. Thus his left eye being lazy. The plan: David will wear glasses until he is 8 years old, I know! So long!

They are hoping that the left eye will strengthen itself and between the glasses and maybe periods of being "patched" (where they will cover the strong eye for a period of time), he will come off them completely and his eye will correct itself. This happens about half of the time. The other half of kids will stay on glasses because their eye stayed the same, improved a little, or even got worse. They have no idea because you can't predict what an eye will do, but we caught it early. My little man has had a tough time for sure. He does NOT want them on his face =( He can, however, see better! He tells me all the time how well he can see. So, he has a love/hate relationship with them right now. We take them off during his nap/rest time, anything involving water, and at bedtime. Oh, and the trampoline. He is getting used to them more and more everyday, but is definitely aware of other kids not wearing them. Of course, I am his mother and I happen to think he is the most precious child on the planet and looks ridiculously cute. So far, people have said he looks like the little boy from Jerry MacGuire and little Ralphie from The Christmas Story. Ha!! Whatever, but I do pinch his little cheeks all the time! We kind of joke b/c David has similar personality traits of a grumpy old man. He is intense, sensitive, and a little grumpy sometimes. We'll see if his glasses change him at all.... it had to cause frustration and headaches not being able to see clear! And I know he is as smart as a whip b/c the fact he is able to write his name, draw, and do school with one eye is crazy!

This was our first conversation about the glasses:
Mommy- "David, mommy thinks you look SO handsome in your new glasses."
David- "Well, I'll wear them for a little while."
Mommy- "Sweetie, we are going to have to wear them a lot and keep them on so that your eye that is hurt can get better!"
David- "Well.....If I have to wear glasses alot, can I get a cane too?" My poor sweet baby associates glasses with old people b/c we visit my grandma so much at the assisted living home and everyone has canes to walk!
Mommy- "No baby, you don't need a cane. You might hurt yourself of people with that!"
So, here he is!!