Kelly! I’m so glad you have decided to start a blog. I love your writing. it’s entertaining and so great to read whats going on way over in Okinawa and in your family life! You’ll have to check out my friend Isabels blog and Isabel will have to check out yours. You two are both over in Japan….not sure how close or anything, but closer than any of us are.
Still no computer up and running for us. But thankfully I am able to get online once in awhile at my parents house to check in on things!
Well not too much really but I have been having withdrawls from blogging so I thought I would write. Russell and i celebrated our 9 year anniversary on the 17th. Its hard to believe that we have been married for 9 years and together for 12. Doesn’t seem like that long at all. We went to the fair with the kids the evening of our anniversary. We had a good time just walking around and looking at everything. Then Friday along with Steve and Lindz who were celebrating their 6 year anniversary we went to dinner at the Roadhouse in Salem and then went and played mini golf. Of cocurse we followed that with some ice cream at Sharis on our way home. It was a good night!
We have signed Madi up for summer school with a lady from our church who use to be a teacher at a Montessori school and is now teaching school out of her house while she also takes care of her twins. Today Madi is finishing up her second week of it and she LOVES it. I am told that she is already improving on her readind accuracy and fkuency. Cynthia thinks she can get Madi up to grade level or even higher before school starts. They work not only on reading but geography, spelling and math as well. Madi will know how to count by 2’s, 3’s, 4’s, all the way through at least 7. That will really help with multiplication when the time comes.
I am very please with the progress she has already made and the fact that she loves going there. Many of you know about the strruggles of 1st grade that she wasn’t liking school. My hope is that she will have a new outlook on school and learning after this session of summer school.
Lincon is still a momma’s boy and doesn’t really leave my side for much of anything. He is talking so much. it’s crazy to hear him say words that I didn’t even know he knew. He is such a good little listener most of the time. Last night he was playing with his tractor and i told him to go get his jammies. he stopped what he was doing, marched himself into his room and brought out his jammies. This was all after he told me the living room was a mess and helped clean it all up. The struggle we are dealing with with him right now is his pinching problem. He is an aggressive lil guy who knows what he wants when he wants it and if he doesn’t get it he pinches…and pulls. It hurts! It’s embarassing when we have little playdates or are around other kids and he does this. We do timeouts, we talk to him, we make him say sorry all that stuff. he’s always very sorry too. but he turns right around and does it again. Ugh! Like me and my girlfriends who have toddlers always say….as a parent you are always trying to troubleshoot something. He sure is a sweetie though. Even in his pinching phase. 
I was supposed to get to have a free 3D ultrasound done soon. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that in the begining. I always thought it kinda seemed like cheating being able to see you baby that well while it was still in the womb. But after much thought I had decided that I would go for it. Afterall it was free because of the inconvenience of having to go back in the last time. So I finally called to make the appointment and now they can no longer do 3D u/s just for “fun”. What a bummer. I was so looking forward to seeing the little baby again. Guess I will be waiting until October for that one.
Russell has been working like a crazy man! He’s going away next week for a few days to work in New Port. If it were any other week I would pack up the kids and come along, but I am working at our churches vacation Bible school all week. I guess he will be missing a game or two of softball.
Ok well there are the updates. hopefully we will have our computer back in a few more days and I can add some pictures and other things.
Our computer crashed…I think. not that I now for sure because I don’t really know much about computers, but it wont start so I am assuming that means it crashed. very unfortunte!
Lincoln City…It was so windy!
Vanessa and I
Madi, Jordyn, Russell and Lincon working on the lawn mower Charlie found on the side of the road for free. It runs too. He can never pass up a “GOOD DEAL” Thats where Russell gets it from!
Jordyn, Lincon, Karson, and Madi in the crooked house at the Enchanted Forest
Lincon’s first roller coaster ride. He loved it and when we were done he wanted to go again!
We’re on the Golden Gate Bridge. SCARY! We were pretty high up there and it was all I could do not to turn around and walk back down it.
We met this man on Haight and Ashbury where all the hippie movement took place in the 60’s. He was an interesting man who told stories of his religion and beliefs. He even called himself Walter Mary Haight Ashbury. He sang some religious songs that his mother had taught him. There were about 20 of us standing there listening to him tell stories then he asked us all to sing him a song we sing at church. So there we stood on Haight street and sang “Amazing Grace” with him. A moment I will never forget. One of our youth asked to pray for him before we left and he did. It was awesome!
Tanner, Walter, and Nick
Shanda, Walter, Holly and Ashley
All the ladies at Jennifer’s Bridal Shower….and Lincon sneaking into the fruit pizza
We arrived in San Francisco on Sunday where we were put into groups. Heather and I ended up being in the same group along with two other leaders and 11 kids (4 from our group and the others were from other states). We learned what we would be doing for the week, ate dinner and get settled in.
Day 1~Monday
We worked at the Salvation Army Warehouse. I never realized how much the Salvation Army does for the community. We delivered meals to some people that lived in Government housing. It was me, Shelley, and Svea along with one volunteer man. I think he really trusted the area because he walked WAY ahead of us and never looked back. I made sure the girls were right with me the whole time. I mostly waited in the lobbies so the girls could have the experience of delivering the meals.
When the meals were delivered we had the wonderful opportunity to sort through left over bars of soap, bottles of shampoo and conditioner that were donated by local hotels in the area. And, I must say, when I say left over I mean USED. Yep, there were bars of soap we were digging through that had hairs stuck to them. Our task was to pick out the ones that were half decent, re-fill half bottles to make them full and put together hygiene bags. There are two days a week that families come to the warehouse with a case worker and they get to shop. These hygiene bags were one of the things they got to take home with them.
Day 2 ~Tuesday
This day we headed down to another part of town to the Salvation Army Day Camp. As we drove down the main street of this poverty stricken area, I couldn’t help but notice the men lined up down the street. They kept waving their hands at us. I couldn’t figure out if they were flirting or if they thought we were a bus and wanted a ride. Finally I asked Heather what that was all about. She then told me that they were looking for work for the day. They were hoping a construction crew would come by and need their work. As soon as she told me this I had to fight back tears as I tried to imagine living like that. The tears welled up as I thought about the uncertainty of whether or not they would make enough money to have food on the table for dinner that night. I think the things that always hit me the hardest on these trips are the things I can try and relate to the most.
At the day camp we organized a worship time for the kids and basically just talked and hung out with them the rest of the day. Several of the kids I talked to lived on that main street where I saw the day laborers. So, the chances of them being the children of some of those men were very high. So sad.
Day 3-Wednesday
We went back to the Warehouse this day. I got to go to some of the rooms where we delivered meals this day. I remember two instances very clearly. One man we delivered food to said, “Thank you so much. God Bless you. If it weren’t for you guys I wouldn’t be eating today.”
The other time I got emotional this day was outside and apartment building a homeless man came up to our group and made eye contact with each one of us asking for spare change. Unfortunately, none of us had any money on us. I looked him in the eye with sincere apologies and said I was sorry. He looked back at me and said, “Please, mam, my feet, they really do hurt.” I looked down at his feet and he was wearing sandals that were at least two sizes too small and his heals were hanging off the edge. I couldn’t stop the tears this time. I felt awful and helpless.
When we got back to the warehouse we sorted through HUGE boxes of clothes that were donated for the people to come shop through.
Day 4~ Thursday
We went back to the day camp this day. The story that sticks out to me from this day was the story I heard from a sweet little five year old boy, Chris. We were at the park. Shelley had been sitting under the playground with a group of kids for awhile, so I decided to join her. There is where I met Chris. I talked to him about random stuff for awhile when I asked him if he lived with his mom and dad. He said not my mom, they broke up. I said Oh but you still get to see her, right? He said “No, never.” I asked him why and he said “She’s in Heaven.” He then went on to say that she had 101 dalmatians and that they ate her and all her bones. Shelley then said that he told her his mom was shot by the cops. Tears flooded my eyes as I thought about these things he was saying. I don’t know which parts of his stories were true. But, it would be my guess that most definitely some of it is true. How sad it is to know that there are kids out there in this world growing up in homes like this. It really was heartbreaking for both Shelley and I to hear.
Summary of the week~ I was most amazed with some of the changes I saw amongst the kids in our youth group. I really think of each of them as our adopted teenagers or our little brothers and sisters. To see them be emotional about the things they were seeing was absolutely amazing and rewarding in itself. To see walls of prejudices broken down in them. We had kids getting their hearts broken seeing some of the things they saw. We had kids chatting the homeless, watching movies with the homeless, witnessing to the homeless, exchanging e-mail addresses, one girl washed the feet of a homeless lady and gave her a pedicure and manicure. We had kids stepping up as leaders amongst all of the church groups volunteering to help wherever or whenever needed. They weren’t afraid to share their stories at night when we had group time. I learn from these high schoolers and its so great!!
If you are one of the students that was on this trip and you are reading this I hope you know how proud I am of you and how Blessed I feel to be a part of each of your lives. What a Blessing~I love you all!!
Yesterday was my Birthday….what an AWESOME day it was. I just want to thank all of you who made my day so special. We spent the day with family up at the Woodburn stores, ate at Sonic on the way home, and more family came over for dinner (yummy homemade-create-your-own pizzas), cake, gifts and swimming. It was truly a great day. Thank you all for your love and generosity, the phone calls, stopping by and dropping by, myspace comments, texts, e-mails, and e-cards. It is so nice to know so many people were thinking of me on my day! I honestly have the best family and friends.
We leave today at 5PM please remember too keep us in your prayers. Especially now because we are leaving both the kids here with fevers. Not sure what they’ve got, but they aren’t feeling the greatest. I hate to leave them when they are sick, but I KNOW they will be in good hands.
Thanks again! I love you all more than you know!
Grandpa Charlie offered to take Madi andher two cousins, Jordyn and Karson, fishing yesterday while Evelyn, Granny, Pat, Vanessa, Ginger, and I adventured up to IKEA for the first time. What a trooper he was taking on all three kids. Grandpa Gary had Lincon for the day and they had fun jumping on the trampoline, reading books and playing hard. Both Grandpas really pulled through for us yesterday. It was so nice to be able to shop and not worry about the kids whining and crying and tearing up the store. Thanks Grandpas!
Madi was quite the little fisher yesterday. Check out some of the pics below to see for yourself!
This Rainbow Trout was 18 inches long and 2.75 pounds. Madi insisted that they buy Rainbow GLITTER power bait. Must have been the glitter!
Madi and Jordyn showing off the catch of the day!
So last night Russell, Madi, Lincon and I went to a silent auction for a fund raiser. Isn’t the idea of a silent auction to out bid people? Even if it’s right up to the last second?
This lady and I were both bidding on tickets to the zoo. We have family coming from out of state and we will be for sure going to the zoo. When there was 7 seconds left she wrote in another bid under mine. She finished and there was still 2 seconds left. So, I had a pencil in my hand ready to write my bid. I was going to win the tickets. Everyone knows I’m all about a good deal. So I wrote in my bid and they closed the table.
I then get in line to pay and I see the lady come up to my mom (who was working at the auction) Oh and did I mention this other lady was working there too. She wore her shirt to identify herself as someone who works there and was part of the team to raise money for a good cause. She leans over to my mom and tells her something like I cheated and wrote in my bid after they closed the table. Not true. There was two seconds left. I wasn’t going to let her walk away from the night thinking that I cheated.
I chimed in and said “Actually there was one second left when I was finished writing my bid”
“You were still writing when there was one second left” She got a little attitude.
Then the nice me says “If it’s that important to you, you can have the tickets because we are going no matter what.”
She says “Fine I will take them, THANK YOU” (attitude yet again)
“Good have them!” I began to have an attitude too.
Then someone asked me if I really wanted to let her have the tickets and I said “Yeah, I’m not going to stand here and argue about it, thats petty.”
Then she has the nerve to say “you’re the one arguing about it”
I dropped it at that point. My adrenaline was sure going. I don’t like confrontation but I wanted her to know that I did not cheat at writing in my bid. Outbidding is the name of the game. I couldn’t believe that someone who was there to represent Relay for Life would act like that to someone from the outside trying to participate in raising money for a good cause. I think she should be embarrassed for embarrassing the others that she was representing.
Madi was disappointed because all she wanted me to win was the zoo tickets. I had to explain to her the whole situation. I told her that sometimes you have to step up and be the bigger person, even though you may not like it. She is slowly and unfortunately learning that not everyone in life is going to treat you right or treat you good. What a reality check for her. Anyways, there’s my vent. Maybe now that I’ve blogged about it, I can let it go.
The Before
The big SNIP!
There it is! All 9 inches!
She was so proud. At church we do prayer requests and praises. Madi didn’t sit with us last night, but as they were asking for praises or requests, she raised her hand. I thought to myself “what is she going to say?” Here’s what she said in the sweetest cutest voice “Um, I’m thankful I got my hair cut” Followed with a big smile. So cute~
Yes, the ablove photos are real. They have
not been enhanced or tampered with. It is true that the above child formerly known as the “chocolate milk Junkie, I don’t eat vegeatbles, Give me anything thats sweet CHILD” made a miraculaous turn-around today and chowed down on carrots, broccoli and Green Beans…all fresh and crisp! I have to admit I am one proud Momma! He did of course have to dip them in ranch.
Is this really a miracle? Or is it a once in a lifetime thing? I have to have one child that doesn’t take after their father in the “NO veggies” rule. Right? Someone in this house has got to share the love of fresh veggies with me!
