blessed to GIVE.

Is it December already?  Crazy how fast this past month flew, but I am READY for the Holidays.  I absolutely love December and the start of the advent month to remind us what Christmas is all about.

  A couple weeks ago my church handed out paper ornaments with names/ages of kids to buy a gift for them, and pray for that child as that ornament is put on our tree.  I went up to the table and selected a 3 year old boy named Sebastian.  I figured that was an easy place to start since I have a 3 yr old boy myself, and know what boys like! 

So written on the back of this ornament were 4 things that Sebastian wanted for Christmas. 

1.  Snowboots-size 8

2.  Comforter

3. Movies

4. Toys

I don't know why...but I immediately looked at "comforter" and felt a big place in my heart to get just that for  Sebastian for Christmas.  If any of my kids needed a comforter to keep them warm at night, you better believe I'm not going to let this little guy go without one too.  Things we take for granted. 

So last Friday evening I took the day to get my Christmas shopping done and stopped at JoAnn's to find the best fleece blanket to make.  I love making tie-blankets, and thought any 3 yr old boy would love a Superman blanket right?:)

I am blessed beyond words to gift this to Sebastian, and wish I could see the look on his face when he gets his comforter for Christmas.  I'm blessed I could be put in a position to give to another human being on the best time of the year, and give him something to keep him warm at night.

Why do our own kids need more things? I encourage all of you to take the time to give to a stranger, or a family in need you don't know....just because.  I'm promising myself to teach my own kids to do this too...instead of counting each present they get each year.

  Remember the reason for the season....and bless someone this Christmas:)

Merry Christmas Sebastian!

newfound anxieties.

Can't sleep...so I'm working on getting my thoughts outta my brain onto here.  It's gonna be deep...but let's see how it goes....

I watched my show Parenthood tonight.  Absolutely love it.  I make myself stay up for it since it's on from 10-11 at night.  Kinda stretchin' it for me to be functional the next day, but tonight is a different story.  After watching this particular episode, my mind just would not rest.  I discovered a couple newfound anxieties that I haven't acknowledged much until now. 

Parenting a teen.....and bullying.

The boy, Max, suffers from Aspberger's, which is a high-functioning form of Autism.  The parents decided to mainstream him in a public school this particular grade.  He's a junior-higher I believe.  Having Aspberger's, he's an absolute genius at math, however has some odd habits and is awkward socially.  So, of course, he is made fun of by his so-called friends.  Max is oblivious to the fact that this is happening, but the parents see it happening after school right in front of them.  So, the mom decides to do something about it and approaches the bully herself.  As parents, they feel better about confronting the situation, and the episode goes on from there. 

It really got to me.  I'm going to be a parent dealing with this situation someday.  And I keep asking myself how I will handle it.  I can completely picture myself being that "Mama bear" and taking control of it right then and there.  I tell ya, it gets my blood boiling just thinking about it.

My problem is, why are there so many darn kids that do it?  Why aren't we teaching them as parents to not be mean and not bully others?  Why aren't we teaching them why some kids are different than they are?

Just the other week I had to answer questions from a child about Isaac.  The conversation simply went like this:

child: "Is Isaac mean at school?"

me: "Why are you asking me that?"

child: "Because he doesn't know how to talk and share."

Me: "Well, that is why he is going to a special school to help him learn how to do those things."

Short and simple conversation with this young child, yet SO MUCH I felt was underlying in these questions.  Why do you think Isaac is mean?  Do you think kids that don't know how to talk are mean?  Do you know my son?  Obviously not.  And WHY aren't your parents talking to you about this child that you're around so much, yet know so little about his "differences"? 

If you're a parent....do me a favor.  TEACH them differences.  TEACH them that not every kid is like them.  Take their blinders off at an EARLY age so they don't hurt another kid by asking them what's wrong with them.  TEACH them that not every one is perfect like they think they, themselves are.

Help them to not be that bully.  It only takes a couple words.

So as I'm awake tonight I also looked up my devotion for the day to see how it would speak to me...and here's what it said:

The title was "Labels"  (how appropriate, right?:))

here's a small excert from it....

Jesus did not create us to wear the labels of this world, even the ones we place on ourselves. Instead, He created us as His “dearly loved children” (Eph. 5:1 NIV).

     Labels get in the way of this. They keep us tagged with unhealthy stigmas, emotions and pieces from our past that weigh on us and stifle His intention for our life.

And now I'm speechless.  God works in the ways only we can understand, because that says it all right there.



TIIIIIMBERRRRR!!!!!!!

Nothing like havin' some big 'ole trees chopped down to provide some free entertainment around here! 

The lot next door to us is squeezing in a home built by Habitat.  So they started the process yesterday by taking these guys down. Not so sure we're going to be thrilled about our new view in a few months when we'll be looking at a wall of another house instead of this=/  Hopefully it's not too bad. 

But here's what Kahler got to watch all yesterday morning:)....

1st 2 trees on the left taken away.....

Those 2 on the left also had some branches right over our house so I'm thankful they'll be gone, however they also provided our yard with much-needed shade=/

WHOAH!

Kahler kept looking out and saying "aw mess!!"

It did look like a big mess...but they did a very good job keeping it out of our yard!

and the new view after. 

Every time I look out the window now, Kahler thinks another tree is going down! ha!

Knollbrook Farm Outing

Finally had the opportunity (with everyone being HEALTHY for once) to do a little outing with the corn maze/fall fun thing with the kids.  Normally we go to Fashion Farm in Ligonier as a tradition, but missed out on that last weekend.  However, Kahler still got to go with Papa, Grandma and the Wogoman cousins....so he got his fill of the fun there!

This year we tried out Knollbrook Farm which is right down the road from us.  It's a super fun, spread out area that's kid (and parent) friendly!  We had our friends, the Clarks, go along with their 2 kids and had a great time!  Weather was definitely feelin fall-ish with the wind, otherwise it would have been perfect!

Isaac on the tractor-bike

Kahler getting his turn on the GIANT slide!

Jenny and Lilly down the slide....Isaac close behind

Tractor-bike Round 2: Brock and Isaac.....VS.....

Graham and Lincoln!!

Me and May in the corn maze!

Hayride time....family pic opportunity:)

The whole crew!  Had so much fun with you, Clarks! 

and I guess I'll mention that this was our "pretend hayride".  We waited...and waited and waited after getting on at 7pm for our ride and no driver showed up...until we were literally deboarding the wagon! But we sat on there and enjoyed it...just no movin'! ha! 

Fun little Saturday....glad our kids had a good time:)

It's time for a facelift!.....

.....on my flower bed:) 

FINALLY got around to it and bought myself some cheap-o mums on Monday.  And from Walmart out of all places and was super happy with how they looked.

Like the before and after affect??

I'll give it to ya, k?

Here's BEFORE.......

wait for it.......

wait for it........

Ok ya ready??:) 

And AFTER!



Ended up mixing things up and did a variety of colors then....




See Mr. Special Ed mum on the lower right?  Decided to keep him around and see how I like him next year:)




Got 3 baby ones into 2 pots.  Each were $1 so I was happy with that.

                                                 Don't you just love a makeover?!:)

                             Now I just need my cornstalks and pumpkins and we're all set!!

                                    HAPPY FALL!! What a beautiful week for it right?!



Wedding makeup continued....

Leah's professional pictures by To the Roof Photography are finished!  Wanted to share these after seeing just the candid makeup pictures from the first post of her wedding.  Thought these photos really captured how beautiful Leah and her ladies looked! 

Thanks Leah, for making me so proud of what I love doing! You looked stunning and "showcased" the makeup beautifully!



More of a candid shot, but Leah was still a blushing bride even towards the end of her night!



The Birthday "Surprise"

Yes, I feel like a big disappointer for those just counting down the minutes until our departure to our mystery destination last weekend!  I know you were all at the edge of your seats in anticipation!!.....

;) 

yes....I know you all are not a bunch of losers either....(most of you!) ha!

As you might have noticed....the cat was out of the bag on Thursday night.  Brock was having issues with the overnight arrangements to stay on Saturday as well.  He didn't feel comfortable making the call on who we should stay with, so that's when he decided he needed my input. 

And spoil his surprise:(  boo. 

So the big scavenger guessing mystery whatever-you-wanna-call-it wasn't such a big mystery anymore, however he had one very excited wife! 

We ended up venturing to the Noblesville area to visit lotsa friends with Kahler and Maylin in tow.  Isaac got to stay with the grandparents, so he had a fun-filled weekend as well!

Anyways, we have 5 couples down in that area that live within 15 minutes of each other that we're good friends with.  It's crazy how many people we get to see within a short couple days! 

Friday night we stayed with Brock's cousin Davie and Jen, then Saturday we spent the day going to my gal pal Andrea's, then my cousin Brandi's, then hit up Josh & Angie's new crib on their moving weekend.  That was exciting!  Then our last stop was at the Loy's for supper, football, and the first Loy/Maust sleepover!  Our boys had a great time together!

On Sunday we headed out the the Children's Museum, which was a great way to top off the weekend for Kahler!  Maylin had her share of fun there too:)

Kahler and his new pal, Brayden....playing with the dinosaurs!!

Riding the racecar

BIG choo choo train!!

The kid-zone room....specifically designed for kids 5 and under....it was awesome!

Kahler playing with boats in the water

They even had a little area for kids 2 and under...so Maylin enjoyed that...she's loving herself in the mirror! what a girl:)

My cutie:)

Brock DID manage to get away with one surprise out of the entire weekend.  To have me curious he asked me a few days before to "pick a color".  He was probably thinking I'd choose something super basic or whatever, but I said "lime green".  Yep...that threw him off.  His response: "hmm,..that does make this a little more difficult" :) 

So.....as we were scrambling around to leave the house on Friday we jumped in the car and what do I find on my seat?!?

A LIME GREEN I-pod shuffle!! 

I'm pretty excited.  I had yet to own anything with "I-" in front of it....so I'm pumped!  Especially the fact that I've wanted one of these to be my new "running buddy" for a long time now!  Now it's the fact that I haven't ran in 2 weeks that will be a tad tough to get back into the groove due to Brock's pneumonia episode, followed up by me being sick.  We've both come to the conclusion that we both got sick a lot easier when we stopped working out super faithfully ever since our work out buds moved away!  (Yes, Angie, if you're reading this I'm blaming YOU!) ha ha! U know I still love ya:)

So yes...beautiful weather ahead this week.... so back into the running game I go!!  Now I need some new running tunes...suggestions??:)