Shannon posted this...so I'm playing along: Answer these 5 random questions about yourself and post your answers for the rest of us to enjoy.
If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?
That's a no-brainer, and my entire family will know the answer before I give it. Cereal. Now that I'm 8 months pregnant that's pretty much the only food I eat anyway. This kid could come out looking like Captain Crunch!
What's the most nerve-racking "close call" you've ever had?
Me or my kids? For me...a few car accidents in high school. For my kids....watching my daughter run over my baby boy's head with her bike. Yep, that sent me into a tizzy. And, watching my oldest son trip over my foot to split his forehead open on a coffee table. A few more centimeters and he would've lost an eye. Thank God for guardian angels.
Name five features your ultimate dream house would have.
1. First-floor master bedroom.
2. Heating/Air conditioning systems for each floor.
3. In-ground pool WITH a pool cleaning service.
4. Landscaping assistance for LIFE b/c my thumbs are nowhere near green.
5. Laundry chute.
(Yep, I'm the practical type. All the fluff is just too much work to keep up with.)
Who has been the most influential non-relative in your life?
Wow...might have to come back to this one. I wish there were one, but I don't think there is. I am influenced most by thoughts, beliefs, faith and the Word of God - not people. Ok...wait...Francine Rivers. Her books have influenced me tremendously. There, I did it!
What one non-physical feature would you most like to change about yourself?
My inability to change. I have become more flexible in the years since I've had children, and my husband is rubbing off on me. But I still freak out a little (ok, a lot) when things don't go according to plan.
Friday
Saturday
Teen Girl Takes Stand For Purity Ring
Here is an article from Great Britain about a teen girl who is going to court to support her right to wear a purity ring to school...We aren't the only culture where Christians are being silenced.
Monday
Boys
I am entering a drawing from Jules at Everyday Mommy. She asked us to write about the most daring, adventurous or cute thing our son/s have done. This story quickly came to mind. Our 3rd child and 2nd son is a humdinger to say the least. There are tons of words to describe him. Maybe you have one living in your house? Spicy, fiesty, courageous, tough, fast, loving, quick tempered, sweet.... I could go on and on. This incident from his early years should have clued me in to the wild ride we had in store for us.
We were visiting family out of state. I took the kids to a local park so they could run off some energy after being stuck indoors for hours. This was a great playground, complete with a Little Tykes bike riding area, tunnels and a pirate ship. Our fiesty son was manning the controls on the pirate ship. The other children were doing their own thing on another part of the playground. I was talking on my cell phone to my mother while trying to keep 2 eyes on 4 kids. When I glanced up and saw Mr. Fiesty surrounded by 2 older boys. At this time our son was probably 3 and the older boys looked to be about 7 or 8 years old. The older boys were doing their best to convince my son that it was their turn to steer the boat. Our son, however, wasn't convinced. I stopped my cell phone conversation to try and listen to the "discussion" among the boys on the ship. When.....all of a sudden......elbows started flying, legs started kicking, and fists started swinging. You'd think the big boys were trying to overpower my sweet, little, helpless 3 year old. But, no. My son was taking out the older boys and.......he was winning! I wasn't sure what to do. I stood there in amazement, as did the older boys. Of course, I eventually scolded my son for fighting but secretly I was proud of how he stuck up for himself and stood his ground even though the boys were bigger than he was.
In the years that have passed we have had a handful of other incidents like that. Mr. Fiesty is beginning to learn that fighting is not the answer, but other children are learning not to mess with him either. All in the same breath I am proud and mortified. That's what it's like to be the parent of Mr. Fiesty... an adventure to say the least.
We were visiting family out of state. I took the kids to a local park so they could run off some energy after being stuck indoors for hours. This was a great playground, complete with a Little Tykes bike riding area, tunnels and a pirate ship. Our fiesty son was manning the controls on the pirate ship. The other children were doing their own thing on another part of the playground. I was talking on my cell phone to my mother while trying to keep 2 eyes on 4 kids. When I glanced up and saw Mr. Fiesty surrounded by 2 older boys. At this time our son was probably 3 and the older boys looked to be about 7 or 8 years old. The older boys were doing their best to convince my son that it was their turn to steer the boat. Our son, however, wasn't convinced. I stopped my cell phone conversation to try and listen to the "discussion" among the boys on the ship. When.....all of a sudden......elbows started flying, legs started kicking, and fists started swinging. You'd think the big boys were trying to overpower my sweet, little, helpless 3 year old. But, no. My son was taking out the older boys and.......he was winning! I wasn't sure what to do. I stood there in amazement, as did the older boys. Of course, I eventually scolded my son for fighting but secretly I was proud of how he stuck up for himself and stood his ground even though the boys were bigger than he was.
In the years that have passed we have had a handful of other incidents like that. Mr. Fiesty is beginning to learn that fighting is not the answer, but other children are learning not to mess with him either. All in the same breath I am proud and mortified. That's what it's like to be the parent of Mr. Fiesty... an adventure to say the least.
Sunday
Do Your Kids Suffer From Nature Deficit Disorder?
I read this article about the decline in visitors to our national parks. It got me thinking about my own children. Park officials say the decline in visitors to our national parks since 1999 is not only due to rising gas prices, but also to over-scheduled children who lack interest in being outside. Now that I think about it, it's true. This generation of kids do not know what to do with themselves if they are "bored." Parents seem to freak out if they hear that "b" word. Oh no! MUST PROVIDE CONSTANT ACTIVITY FOR OFFSPRING OR CHILDREN WILL GROW UP TO HATE ME.
What is up? Do your kids have nature deficit disorder? Is this because we cannot allow our children to play outside without the fear that they'll be nabbed from our own backyard? Is it because there are 3 gazillion stations on tv that are more appetizing to our kids than making mud pies? Is it because we, as adults, suffer from a lack of nature appreciation?
In our family I require our children to be outside at least once a day (even in the winter if it's not too cold.) Sure, the kids think I'm the meanest mom on the block. But hey - there's a whole world to explore out there! Get your butts out there and do something, right? Once they are outside they have fun throwing rocks, climbing the trees, playing hide & seek, swinging, making obstacle courses, collecting leaves, digging holes - I could go on and on. Sometimes I provide structured play outside, but most of the time they don't need me. God's playground provides plenty of ideas!
From the time we got married my husband confidently announced that he would not have mushy-brained kids who could not pull themselves away from a screen. He wanted our kids to spend their free time outside. When we were dating, I gave him the false impression that I could hang with him in all of his extreme sports outdoor adventures. Now, he knows the real me. I'd much rather get something accomplished indoors. But, I have to admit....the man is right. Being outside is good for me. It's good for all of us. Thus the purchase of our ugly, but adorable old pop-up camper. There's nothing better to get your kids to be active outdoors than to remove the tv, computer, and video games. We have been camping together as a family now for about 6 years, and we still love it.
We haven't ventured to any national parks yet, but I'm sure we will. And when we do, our kids will have fun darn it! How do you overcome nature deficit disorder in your family?
What is up? Do your kids have nature deficit disorder? Is this because we cannot allow our children to play outside without the fear that they'll be nabbed from our own backyard? Is it because there are 3 gazillion stations on tv that are more appetizing to our kids than making mud pies? Is it because we, as adults, suffer from a lack of nature appreciation?
In our family I require our children to be outside at least once a day (even in the winter if it's not too cold.) Sure, the kids think I'm the meanest mom on the block. But hey - there's a whole world to explore out there! Get your butts out there and do something, right? Once they are outside they have fun throwing rocks, climbing the trees, playing hide & seek, swinging, making obstacle courses, collecting leaves, digging holes - I could go on and on. Sometimes I provide structured play outside, but most of the time they don't need me. God's playground provides plenty of ideas!
From the time we got married my husband confidently announced that he would not have mushy-brained kids who could not pull themselves away from a screen. He wanted our kids to spend their free time outside. When we were dating, I gave him the false impression that I could hang with him in all of his extreme sports outdoor adventures. Now, he knows the real me. I'd much rather get something accomplished indoors. But, I have to admit....the man is right. Being outside is good for me. It's good for all of us. Thus the purchase of our ugly, but adorable old pop-up camper. There's nothing better to get your kids to be active outdoors than to remove the tv, computer, and video games. We have been camping together as a family now for about 6 years, and we still love it.
We haven't ventured to any national parks yet, but I'm sure we will. And when we do, our kids will have fun darn it! How do you overcome nature deficit disorder in your family?
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