Gwen

Here is Gwen's new eye makeup... a shiner.  She tripped over her towel at bath time and dove right for the bathtub.  Scared us... but she's ok.

Today was meet the teacher morning at preschool.  Gwen will be in a class for a few hours 3 times a week.  I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see how she might handle being in school next year.  She was thrilled with it all and very sad to leave.  It is like she has always wanted more independence.  I just stayed to the side and watched her today.  She especially liked the class chinchillas they have.  She is so excited that she tried very hard to write her full name today and succeeded.  She is my strong willed, compassionate, intelligent and independent girl.  I've started praying over her when she's asleep that the Holy Spirit would direct her strong will to His purposes and His ways.

I heard Gwen this afternoon say "Zeke, I wish you could come to my new school with me."

Five Minute Fridays- Join

So I'm still new to this whole thing, but here is where you can read about Five Minute Fridays.  It's a writing exercise with no editing for 5 minutes.  I'm trying to see if it cleanses my mind or magically makes me a wonderful writer or helps me drop 20 lbs.  The topic this week is Join... GO.

So the other night my friend was over at the house and she saw some laundry that kind of smelled of mildew, saw the construction I was doing on a bedroom upstairs, saw my kids rooms with books all over the place and saw my cluttered pantry.  I thought of joining her being a type A person and having lists and being organized.  Why in the world do all the cups in the cabinet automatically become sippy type cups or character cups?  So, I've purposed in my mind that I will work on one room a day this upcoming week... organizing some small area.  So tomorrow it is my kitchen.  BUT I will also purpose to give myself some grace here and there too.  It is hard to keep it all balanced and together.  Who knows, it might be very healing her seeing all my rough edges.  Friends need to see each others weaknesses don't they?  I think so and I also think that this post is going to change lives... change lives I tell you!  I have one more minute left and what should I tell you?  How about that we went to a party tonight and some lady said "Oh my gosh" and my two year old said, "um... we don't say that in our family."  :)

The Park

Yesterday as we were in the car on the way to the park I heard from the backseat "Zeke, I love you" "I you too" "Zeke you are so special" "yeah".  Very rewarding for this mom.  I took this photo at a red light.  They held hands on their own accord.  

The many faces of Gwen.  All I had to do was point the camera in her general direction and then she started making faces.

My boy.  I look over and he's talking to strangers using lots of hand motions and no one can understand him but me.  He's introducing the entire family.  "My mom is Merdif... my dad is Ben... "

Cooking and Helpers

I toy around with a lot of foods in my kitchen.  I like to try new things.  Here lately it's been raw food recipes.  I made this pie yesterday and I really enjoyed it.  I especially liked the chocolate mousse filling.  It is a very nourishing recipe and sprinkled with chocolate chips or a little whipped cream or strawberries they will not realize they are eating healthy. Try it!  If you've never worked with medjool dates, they are delicious... don't be scared!

1/4 C pitted medjool dates, soaked in water 30 min

1/4 C plus 2 T water

2 T pure maple syrup

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3/4 C chopped avocados (1 1/4 avocados or 1 large one)

1/4 C plus 2 T unsweetened cocoa or carob powder

Place dates, 1/4 C date water that they've been soaking in, maple syrup, and vanilla in food processor and process until smooth.  Add avocado and cocoa powder and process till creamy.  Stop occasionally to scrape down the sides.  Add the remaining 2 T water and process briefly.  It will keep for 3 days in the fridge or two weeks in the freezer.

We were making pizza crusts together and I told them to smile.  This is their "smile." :)

Checking the dough.

Five Minutes- Stretch

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back to Lisa-Jo and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

OK, are you ready? Please give me your best five minutes on:::

Stretch…

So, I'm trying something new... isn't that stretching?  I've done my fair share of stretching and I'm not talking about yoga here people.  Two beautiful kids have come forth from my person and that's a lotta stretching.  Besides that, I think God is stretching me to go deeper in my service.  I'm not sure what that looks like, but I'm looking.  Gwen said tonight when she was looking at the rain clouds at twilight "I'm not sure what God looks like yet, but I want to find out"  I do too Gwen.  I want to see God in everyone I meet.  I wish I could see into their hurts or frustrations or joys and sillinesses.  Is silliness even a word?  It is now cause I just made it one.  Hum... three minutes and that's all I got.  Stretch. 

Singing with Christy Knockles

MOPS Convention

Before I left for Dallas my niece and nephew and Gwen decided to have a fashion show.  It made me laugh.

Chloe the Siberian tiger princess

Gwen the princess

The hotel we stayed at in Dallas was crazy.  I mean, what hotel has a man with stilts wandering around for entertainment?  

The sea of moms.

The two lovely ladies I went with.  Laura is the blond and Heather is the brunette.  They are a lot of fun.

Some guys doing a "stomp" type entertainment.

Christy Nockels lead worship.  She is such a humble person and really gets herself out of the way as she leads.  I was really inspired by her.

On the second day I went to breakfast by myself for the first time in like 1000 years.  This was my view.  NICE!

Everything's bigger in Texas, including the cookies.

Can you tell that women took over the place?

Good Times With Family

My mom, sister, and her two kids have come for a visit.  They are babysitting for me while I go to a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) convention in Texas.  We've had a few days to visit before I leave to go.  I just have to share.. this is where I will be going! (I'm not excited or anything)

  

Chloe and Ben goofing off

Clay and Zeke playing piano

We went to a demonstration on how to make marbles.  It was really interesting.

This is Gwen choosing her "shooter" marble.

They got to choose from all of these marbles to fill their tubes.  All for under $4.

When we got home we decided to try to figure out the game of marbles, but the concrete was so hot that we had to move the game indoors.

Here lately Zeke has done remarkably well with potty training as long as I remind him to go.  He has a new thing of facing this way though because it's easier to get on by himself this way.  He is an absolute doll!

Jesus on the Cross

Gwen drew Jesus on the cross on her knee.  

Flower Girl Again

How many times as a little girl did I get to be asked to be a flower girl?  Exactly 0.  So far, Gwen has been asked twice and the first go round didn't go exactly as planned.  (she refused to go down the aisle)  So... we are giving it another shot in September with Uncle Jake and Melody's wedding.  She got the dress in the mail the other day.  Here she is modeling it.  Oh, and one more thing about Gwen.  She is now diaper free I am proud to say... at night too.  She has been potty trained during the day for some time now, but just recently got off of a diaper/pull up at night.  Can I hear an AMEN?

She told me today she "almost has milk in her boobies."  I told her she has to have a baby first.  She laughed at that.  She also heard the locusts tonight and said, "they are all looking for husbands.  That's why they make that noise."

Our fairy houses.

The Poor

So here's a verse that has been spinning around in my mind and heart these past few weeks.

He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses. Proverbs 28:27


So I've been asking God what it is that He wants me to do.  So, I've been looking.  Looking for people to serve at Aldi, looking at the guy with the sign by the side of the road wanting lawn care jobs when all the lawns are burnt to a crisp here, looking at homeless men and women downtown.  I've been looking.  I still don't know exactly what's going on, but I've been able to sort some clothes, give a guy a job for a few hours and let a pregnant lady in front of me in line.  


I've been studying Nehemiah.  I want to know what I am doing on a daily basis matters.  I know raising children matters.  For some reason I feel moved to serve people that don't look like me.  I'm not talking racially here, I'm talking in all aspects. 


One thing I've been telling the Lord is "Lord, don't let me close my eyes to them... whoever they are." 

Pet Peeve

Things misspelled on purpose.

Things That Make Me Smile

In this kinda heat here in the midwest, you gotta find things to smile about.  I will say, I do thank the Lord for AC every day.  It is too hot for the kids to go outside for very long at a time unless they are getting wet.  So... we've been having play dates and read plenty of books.  

  

Here they are writing together.  This is not a staged photo.  Zeke follows Gwen around like a shadow.

The miracle pumpkin vine is growing into my parched yard!  I water it daily.

Baby pumpkin

Bed Buddies

Last night before I went to bed I peeked in Zeke's bedroom and couldn't find him.  Low and behold, he was in Gwen's room again.  Here's what I came in to see... 

Zeke's Favorite Pass Time

Vanilla Making

My two helpers this year making vanilla extract.

even daddy got in on it this year.

vanilla beans on the face.

I told him I wanted a picture of his mouth.  Well... here ya go.

I made two gallons this year.  Lots to give away and use myself.