treehouses, tattoos and pancakes

The Whole Fam - before the wrapping paper carnage...

My Christmas Present from my mom


Santa and Rudolph Pancakes

Jason's Christmas Present to the Kids - a treehouse - without a tree


Merry Christmas~ The Thompsons

Monday is Jason's Birthday - the BIG 30!!!!

I remember 8 years ago (when we were dating) that 30 seemed sooooo far away - and yet here it is! I cannot imagine being married to a better 30 year old than him. He is far and away more than I expected and hoped for in a husband/father/friend. The way he shows his love to me and the kids on a daily basis blows me away!
Here is a little video we made for him....We love you!

Baby Josiah

A few months ago I posted about a baby whose blog I ran across shortly after he was born. Baby Josiah was born prematurely and with quite a few health problems. I have followed his story, as narrated by his daddy, and cried and rejoiced as he has encountered and overcome quite a few obstacles. I checked for an update this morning and saw that things are really not good. You can click on "Drew's View" on my side bar and read his update.

Though I have never met him or his parents, I feel compelled to ask for all you who read this to pray for a miracle on his behalf....and for Andrew and Marie that God will give them faith, wisdom, and strength for the road ahead - whatever it may bring.

Conversations

Caleb: I have a stuffy nose
Kylie: Oh
Caleb: Why do we have noses?
Kylie: So we can smell.
Caleb: Why do we have tummies?
Kylie: So we can eat
Caleb: Why do we have legs?
Kylie: So we can walk
Caleb: Why do we have hearts?
Kylie: ...so we can listen to God.


Later...

K: I'm sorry your nose is stuffy.
C: It's okay
K: You can pray and ask God to heal it tonight
C: I don't know about that. I'm kind of shy to Him.
K: That's okay - I'll ask Him for you...

And just for fun - we got a new camera this week! Does anybody see "baby Kate?"

Update on Micah

On Wednesday, Danni, Micah and I traveled to Seattle. We were able to stay with Danni's relatives that own a town house in Seattle not far from Seattle Children's Hospital.
It turns out that Micah's ulna is formed correctly. It did not appear complete on the x-ray because portions of his ulna are still cartilage.
The Dr also said there is a "very high probability" that Micah's right elbow will correct itself just as his left elbow has. The Dr. attributed the popping to "loose ligaments" . Given this symptom, the feel of Micah's skin and some family history the Dr would like us to see a geneticist to see if Micah has a general problem with his connective tissue (which can manifest as heart and other organ trouble later in life).
In order to make sure Micah's elbow is forming correctly and to see the geneticist, we will be heading to Seattle in late January. We pray that the all goes well and that the passes are clear.

Thank you to all who prayed for the little guy.

This evening Micah enjoyed his first concert and checked out Lincoln Brewster's moves on the guitar while wearing his Harley hat. He was also fond of the cool colors the lights the video screens made. He expressed his appreciation by drooling, kicking and talking while chewing on his hands.

- Jason

Micah News

I realize that most of you who read my blog attend The Bridge and have already received an email requesting prayer for Micah. But, for those of you who don't, I wanted to give you a run down (from my very non-medical understanding) and ask for your prayer as well.

When Micah was born, I noticed right away that his arms would pop when I would dress him or hold on to his hands. His left arm and both shoulders have since stopped popping, but when I took him into his 4 month appointment I asked the doctor about his right arm. He felt around and moved the arm a bit and suggested we get an x-ray. After the Dr. reviewed the x-ray, he recommended we see a specialist. It seems that Micah's ulna (the smaller bone in the arm) is not formed properly. The tip of it, where it is supposed to join in with the elbow, is shortened and shaped like a pin tip instead of the mushroom so that it is not properly in the elbow joint. Our Dr. said he has never seen something like this and neither have his colleagues. So, on Tuesday, Jason and I are heading to Seattle for a Wednesday appointment at Seattle Children's Hospital with an Pediatric Orthopedic Specialist.

We are praying that God would work a miracle in Micah - that his bone would grow and be formed perfectly to fit in the joint. I know that God can do this, and that this situation with Micah, however it works out, is not for naught - that He will work this for His glory!

Thank you for your prayers! We will keep you updated!

Birthdays!

It's been a couple of weeks. Kylie turned 5 on the 22nd and Caleb turned 4 on the 1st. Ideally I would write about the wonderful things my kids have done and how crazy in love I am with each of them - how they steal my heart a little more everyday and teach me more about who God is with all the little miracles I experience through them. But, it is 8:36 and I have quite a day ahead of me, so I think I will post a few pictures and let you see for yourself how amazing they are!!!!

Caleb at the pumpkin patch on his birthday two years ago.


Caleb at the pumpkin patch on Monday.
Big Micah Smiles!
Princess Kylie with her princess PJ's and purse from Disney Land.
Macey on Daddy's shoulders...life is good!
navigating the hay maze...


Pumpkin Patch family picture from two years ago (that's Macey all bundled in my coat).
Same Place....one more kid!
Group Shots....
the counsins - Kylie, Caleb, Macey, Micah, Aiden, and Ana
on top of the hay pyramid (notice mom is not up there...I don't care much for the high places + little people combo)

Cathedral Builders

My mom sent this to me today. How she knew that it was exactly what I needed can only be explained by knowing she is an amazing woman who was there once herself. Thanks for helping build Cathedrals, Mom, I hope you see the beauty in it today!



I'm invisible. It all began to make sense - the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone or cooking or sweeping the floor or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.


Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!


One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . My friend had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Danielle, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."


I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Danielle. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You a re building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become." At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.


When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there." As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

The offer of a lifetime-OR-What Kylie said yesterday!

I just had to share this story:

There is this really cool new show on PBS Kids - Kylie and Caleb LOOOOVVVVEEE it! So, I made a new rule: Before they can watch it, they have to have their rooms clean - like really clean. The show starts at 10. At 9 we start the cleaning thing. Their rooms are not that messy (not always, anyway) but it can take quite a while to get it done to "mom satisfaction." Yesterday at about 9:10 Kylie decided she was too tired to clean. She laid out the merits of me cleaning it for her and when simple reason didn't work she said "Okay, mom, I'll pay you $13 to clean my room for me and I'll watch TV." Gotta love 4 year old reasoning!!!


Oh - this has nothing to do with Kylie - but I just got this adorable picture of Micah:

You know you're a mom of toddlers if....

* You know who Kofi Annan is because you saw him on Sesame Street

* During worship the most consistent thing you receive is a chewed up bagel in your outstretched hands

* You have "Rock n' Roll Nursery Rhymes" on your iPod

* You are out with your friends and say "I have to go potty."

* The last time you took communion at church more of it ended up on your khaki pants than anywhere else

* You measure time in cartoon increments (you need to stay on your bed for one whole Clifford!)

And - just an amusing side story:
We were sitting at church during worship last Sunday and Macey was desperately trying to tell me something. As usual, it was very hard to hear her so I told her "say it in my ear" and leaned down to where she was. She looked at me really weird - maybe she hadn't heard me - so I said it again "Tell me in my ear." Again, she looked at me like I was crazy and I got a little frustrated. "Macey - tell me in my ear." Next thing I know - she was wiping her face in my hair...turns out she was asking for a Kleenex and thought I said "wipe it in my hair." Ahhhh...clear communication is of the essence with a two year old!!!

cowboy hats and dress up shoes

Imagination is a wonderful thing! Where did mine go? I wonder....I wonder....

I was sitting in the back seat of the van with the kids the other day. If you have never done this with your kids, I recommend that you do. It allows for a whole new perspective.

So there I was, wedged between a three and a four year old. Caleb has taken to bringing an old coffee tin of toys wherever he goes - today, it was a bunch of match box cars, superman and Buzz Lightyear. He was playing and having a great time and then looked at me with those big blue eyes and said "Mommy, why don't you play with toys?" Hmmm....good question.

My kids can take anything and turn it into something cool. Macey puts on a pair of purple high heels and is a princess, Caleb can take a cowboy hat and goggles and is an outer-space creature, Kylie can turn a box, big or small, into almost anything. Imagination is an amazing thing!!!

At what point did it become "un-cool" to play with toys? When did dress up get replaced by designer jeans and cowboy replaced with the newest hair style? Granted, it may be silly and a bit childish for an adult to play with toys, but aren't we supposed to be childish to a certain extent? I mean, if we think about it, how much do we limit our freedom and potential in the Spirit because of what we think others expect or out of a fear of looking foolish? I remember a great Someone saying some time ago that foolishness and child-likeness is actually a key to the kingdom!

What if the freedom that we are glimpsing, merely glimpsing, right now is just a shadow of what is to come. What would our church, our homes, our lives look like if we just let go - if we let our imagination go a bit farther than normal....? It seems I could do with a bit more of the cowboy hat and dress up shoes mentality.

Today...

So - it was 6:30 this morning - I was sitting outside with my half-calf Folgers (I know, very sacrilegious) coffee and my bible. I had just gotten back from a bike ride and was thinking about the day. The main thought was ---"Aghhhhhhhhhh." I wonder - is it a bad sign if you've been up for only an hour, haven't spoken more than two words to another human being, and already overwhelmed? I think maybe it's not so good. But then, about two hours later I got these pics....Kind of hard to not have a good day when these are the guys you get to spend it with....

Happenings

Another month is almost gone - wow - how time flies.
I am running low on sleep and deep thoughts, or any coherent thoughts at all, are few and far between. But, I figure I can at least post a few pictures from the last month...






























This is how the Thompson kids spent their 4th of July - eating loads of ice cream and being incredibly cute (although Micah doesn't look particularly thrilled)!

Macey turned 2 on the 14th:


Despite the girls having pink eye (yuck) and the three older kids having ear infections, the day was pretty good. However, one of her presents had some trouble during shipping:




























Here is a great picture of the girls being girls!:





































So - that's the short of it! I know there isn't much writing here, but we all now "a picture is worth a thousand words." So, really, this is a super-long blog!!! It's all in how you look at it!

Vacations

We are leaving today for a whole week to a beautiful cabin on an amazing lake with an even more amazing family and another good friend! It is quite an ordeal packing for 6 - our van is loaded to capacity (and maybe beyond)! But, alas, it is done and we are on our way (God willing) in a few short hours!
I've been wanting to post a couple kid stories - so I figured I'd try to get those done before I go:


Caleb has been having a TON of dreams lately. Some good, some not so good. So - we've been encouraging and praying and talking to him about calling for Jesus in his dreams to help him. The other day he woke up and said he had a bad dream with monsters and stuff in the kitchen. I reminded him that he could talk to Jesus in his dreams and he said "Yeah, I know, but I just asked for Spider man and he came to help" Hmmm....sounds like his dream language!!

And then there's Kylie! She was sitting in the van the other day and saw an airplane. She asked "when to Caleb and I get to fly?" I said, "You mean in an airplane? I don't know honey." "No mom - in the air with our wings?" Wow! Ky - I think you can do anything you put your mind to! (Oh - Tyler, I told her to ask you how to fly)!!! Fly, Kylie, Fly!!!







Now, who could forget about Macey. Macey, Macey, Macey - who is EVERY BIT of a two year old! She has chosen to make getting out of bed "THE battle." You know - the one where she will be incredibly stubborn and test mom and dad to see how stubborn we can be with discipline - fun, fun!!! Well this was the scene the other night: She pokes her head out of her room and wanders into the hallway."Macey - are you out of bed." "Ummm....yeah." "Macey - what happens when you get out of bed?" "know" (meaning - I don't know). "Do you get spankers?" "yeah" "Come here" macey takes off running, goes into her room. I follow and say "come here" She looks at me with her very cute, very big blue eyes with her scruffy blonde hair everywhere and says "spank" and swats her own bottom. Pretty cute!!!

What can I say about Micah? Oh man - this little guy (and the big guy) has stolen my heart!!! Take a look at this pic:









Enough said!!

Here's to a great, relaxing vacation with great friends and many more stories to tell when we get back!!!

Adios!

I hope I win!!!!

So - I saw this contest on a friend's website and thought "oh how nice, I hope she wins." BUT - then I was overcome with this strange desire for a custom swim suit, place mats and goodness - I don't even remember what else. So - due to my lack of sleep, crazy hormone rushes and one of the first full glasses of wine (actually it was more like 1/4 of a glass) that I've had in 10 months, and not to mention a whole day of packing and making lists for all 6 of us to go on a week vacation, I decided - hey - I might enter and see if I win!!! Jason is mercilessly mocking me right now, but - what the heck - can't hurt!!! Now I have to figure out how to post a link so I can actually enter! Have fun!!!

Danni

I'm here...really...I think

Wow - I am embarassed at how long it's been since I've blogged. But, here I am - finally. I have lots of ideas, or semi-ideas, for blogs, but nothing is really coming to me right now. In fact, complete thoughts have become a rare commodity! Whoever said that after three kids, adding one more is no big deal??? Whoever they were - they LIED!!!! So we'll see how this goes.



31/2 weeks ago when I was patiently (yeah right) waiting for Micah to let us know he was ready to come out, I remember that I got to a point where I was convinced it would never happen. I felt like I REALLY was going to be pregnant forever. Now, my logical side knew this wasn't true, and that ALL babies are born SOMETIME. But, my tired, achy, hormonal side was telling me that this was an eternal condition. But, on the day that he was born - I think it was shortly before my water broke in the middle of the crosswalk - I was thinking of a spiritual application. How many promises have I heard from God that I have yet to see fulfilled. It seems like it is so easy to discount the promise or to think that it is not coming when it is not on my timetable. In the physical sense, I had every evidence available that Micah WOULD be born - I was huge and waddling and everything within me was saying that the time was near. But it was so easy to forget that in light of my impatience and even excitement - when, oh when would he come. Sound familiar?? God reminded me that day that he has not forgotten the promise - that those things which have been conceived are being grown and nourished in the the time, HIS time, is right to bring the promise forth!


Looking back, I see that Micah was born just on time. Oh, how I pray for patience, Lord, to wait for Your timing - Your perfect timing - for promises to be birthed!!!

Perspective

I popped up my blog this morning to check on some of the other blogs I have linked to, and noticed that it seems like the little baby in the pea pod at the top of my page hasn't moved in weeks. I serisously thought about blogging about how ssssllllloooowwww time is going right now. Then, I looked on the right side of the baby and saw 38 days. Yikes. That looks, and sounds, a lot sooner than 5 1/2 weeks, or a month and a half. It's all a matter of perspective.

I think it's so easy, too easy, to get caught up in what we don't have or what we are longing for and totally miss what is right in front of us. I think of the Haaks (baby Josiah's parents). I almost obsessively check their blog daily. They have captured my heart and prayers. If you haven't checked out their blog, it's linked on the right. Anyway, it would be so easy for them to get caught up in the fact that their little guy's life and future is hanging in the balance right now. April 25th is the big day. It would be easy, and understandable, for them to get wrapped up in grief and sorrow - and I know they have moments of this. BUT - they are holding on to hope, to promises, to the truth of God's word for Josiah. They are choosing not to miss out on the little (big) things - like being barfed on for the first time, Josiah holding Daddy's hand while he sleeps, chunky cheeks, and baby gas....amazing! I love the hope and the perspective that they show.

Oh, that I would be able to carry that into all parts of my life. God, change my perspective, help me to see the promises, the joy in the little things - to look beyond the now, into what You have planned, to look through Your eyes!

God's Potatoes

Today was a pretty good day - all things considered. Despite the fact that my hips feel like they are being spread by one of those chest opening devices you see on doctor shows and little Micah seems convinced the way out is through my belly button (ouch), I still got up, went for a walk, made a good breakfast, got some "nesting" done and washed a ton of clothes, all while maintaining four kids and keeping all of us pretty happy. Not bad, if you ask me. Then (insert suspenseful music here)....Dinner time hit.

Most parents know very well what I am talking about. It's like your children become overcome with the spirits of neediness and naughtiness all at the same time. Macey was wanting "bup" (up) and following me around with her blanket and crying every time I tried to tell her that no - mommy has raw hamburger on her hands and is peeling potatoes. She even said sweetly "mommy" and then spit at me. That didn't fly....nuf said. The two older kids were playing nicely, albeit messily, but nicely until 6 o'clock. Then it was constant screaming and hitting and fighting and yikes....mommy loosing her mind. Seriously - what is it about having to get things done that brings this out? Who knows, maybe it's character building, but ouch, can't it be build someway else.

Anyway, we mostly recovered by the time the meatballs were done and the potatoes mashed and the table set. Kylie likes to help set the table and for some reason we had messed up the number of plates, so she "returned" one and went back to her business of setting out the napkins. Then she wanders back in and asks for another plate. "why," I asked, "I gave you the right amount." "Mom, I need a plate for God." So, I give her a plate and follow her to the table where God received a scoop and mashed potatoes and a meatball - but no gravy.

Not only was this a very cute scene, but it made me think. How often do I make room for God in the midst of every day situations - even the crazy, psychotic dinner hour. My brother has a chair in his house that is for Jesus. His three year old has known this chair was for Jesus since he could talk. The more I think about it, the more I realize the merit. Aiden has known, and will know all his life that God has honored place in his physical home, and I am sure that this will transpire to a very honored place in his life. What an amazing thing to be able to teach our kids - that even though we can't see Him with our physical eyes, we need to include him in everything - even in the dinner time craziness and the mashed potatoes! So, thanks Kylie, thanks Aiden for bringing to light this truth that we as adults tend to overlook!

It's all part of the process

">I had to post this cartoon. I found this great site with some very funny prego cartoons - one for each week of the pregnancy. I'll try to get one up each week until little Micah shows up!

This is the fourth time I have sat down to try to type this post. One time yesterday, I started to type and my 1 year old came up with a book and closed the lid to the laptop...hmmm....point taken.

So - they are now building a house out of pillows and blankets and chairs and who knows what else - so I should have a couple minutes. Hopefully I'll be able to get some coherent thoughts down!?!?!

I am officially in my 31st week of this, my fourth, pregnancy. I think I have finally come to the point of giving in to the "process." Let me explain...

This baby is the most "planned" of our four, though "family planning" is quite an oxymoron if you ask me. But I think I have spent most of this pregnancy struggling against the natural side-effects of the whole prego process. I mean - who really welcomes aching joints, and spreading hips, and stretch marks on top of stretch marks and all sorts of other crazy stuff? But as I was walking with a good friend yesterday, she asked if I had been able to keep up with my workout schedule (again - "workout" and "schedule" are very funny words to put in the same sentence when you have little kids)? I told her that I had to a certain extent, but as the nausea came and went and came and went again, and I as I had weeks where the thought of getting out of bed caused panic and tears, I haven't quite been as consistent as I've wanted...and boy have I been feeling, not to mention seeing, the effects. She responded with something to the effect of "you can't really stress about that in pregnancy, it's kind of just part of the process." Very true, and it got me thinking.

I have always thought metaphorically - since I was pretty little. And sometimes, I know, I tend to over-metaphor or over spiritualize things, but God really started to point to some things out to me about the correlation between physical and spiritual pregnancy/birthing. Here are just a couple that really stood out --

* There will be aches and pains and stretching and growing in pregnancy. It hurts, it's uncomfortable, and you REALLY want it to stop - but they are all signs of growth and that the baby is healthy and developing. But in the midst of all the discomfort, when you feel a kick or a squirm or a stretch from within - it is an amazing reminder of the promise that is growing and coming soon!

* Your lifestyle HAS to change if you want a healthy baby...maybe not dramatically, but there are things you will do differently to keep yourself in shape and to ensure the safety of the little one inside. Spiritually, I think you need to act different and prepare differently when you are pregnant with the things of God.

* Toward the end of the pregnancy, you really, really, really, want to be done - and NOW! But, the best thing for the baby and mom is for the baby to be in the womb until the appropriate time. Premature babies can survive, but generally are not as healthy. Even thought there is an excitement and anxiousness to the coming birth - it needs to happen at the due time.

* Then, of course, there is the whole labor analogy - it hurts, it's uncomfortable, it's a bit scary, but sooooo worth it!

* I was also thinking about after the new little one is born - you don't just plop them down and say "grow." There is a lot of nurturing and helping and feeding and watching that happens to get them to the point where they are mature. And, oh, how nice it is when older siblings help and jealousy does not set in. As Tom says, God likes it when His kids play nice together.

So - there are my musings about pregnancy and birth and the whole (or at least part of) the spiritual aspects. I think I'm ready to give in to the process and ride this thing out for remaining 9 weeks - like I had a choice!!!! Bring it on!

From the Mouths of Babes (or just little kids)!

I just had to share this story - it was pretty cute. I think I laughed myself into some minor contractions!

So - last night we were sitting down to dinner - all 5 of us. No small feat in itself. We really try to make a habit/rule of praying before we eat, but when the kids are hungry and the food is in front of them, it's hard to restrain them. So, after a few "pre" meal bites, we were ready to pray. We usually let the kids pray if they want to.

They got a good start in learning to pray in pre-school, "Thank you, God, for juice and snacks. Amen." For quite a while the dinner prayers would mimic that. Something like "Thank you, God, for potatoes and turkey and gravy and - mommy, what's that - oh - thank you, God, for carrots too. Amen" Kinda cute, huh?!

Well, last night, they shook things up a bit. Caleb started - Dear God, thank you for pasta, and I don't want to eat carrots, Amen." Short and sweet and to the point - kind of like him! Not to be outdone, Kylie proceeded. I kid you not, she sat on her knees, lifted her arms into the air, looked skyward, and proceeded in a very noble voice - Dear God, thank you for the food, thank you for everything, please let it rain so all the things will grow, help all the poor, and let us watch some movies." I about died. It wasn't so much the words, but the posture - cracked me up!

All the while, Macey is mumbling under her breath - baby prayers - and sneaking bites of pasta. I think they have definitely crossed over to their own styles! Gotta love it!

To bring it around to a more serious note - I really was very blessed by the purity of their prayers. I know that I, way too often, pray only what I think God wants to hear, or only what I think needs to be said to bring about what I want. If I am blessed by hearing simply what is on the heart and mind of my children, then how much more is God blessed by their simple prayers and how much more, even, would it bless Him if I were real with Him in the same way. It seems a difficult task to wrap my mind around the fact that the creator, the omnipotent, holy One, wants to commune in such a free and intimate manner with me. It's something I have been taught since I can remember, but I don't think I have ever really made a practice of living it; praying it. What a wonder, what a marvel that He loves us so!

Blessings --

Danni

Baby Josiah

Hey Everyone. This will be a short post. I have been following the story of a little guy in Canada that is having a pretty rough go of it in his first few weeks of life. I linked to his dad's page off of someone who reads Nadine's blog. Anyway - God has really stirred my heart concerning this family. Could be because I have the mommy hormones on overload right now, but I think it has more to do with God's involvement and passion for this young family. I have been especially blessed by his dad's (Andrew) faith and trust in God despite everything that has happened.

If you have a chance, please check out his sight and pray, pray, pray. I actually posted the link to his blog on my site (I know, I know...going high tech)! If I have time later, I'll try to get the baby's pic up.

Thanks everyone!

Danni

The Underside of Things

I am continually amazed at the ways God speaks to me. It would fancy me if there was an angelic visitation, a prophetic word (maybe)!, a vision, a translation or something "spiritual" like that. But, I realized the other day that that may not be the case... I think God speaks to me where I am at, and will capitalize on a free, quiet moment.

The other day I was pretty overwhelmed - a common state of being lately. There is constant motion and noise and activity all around me from the time I wake up to the time I go to sleep. I've found that the best place for me to relax and get away from all that is sometimes that bath tub. Our water bill was WAY up last month! Anyway, the other night the house was cluttered, the kids were grubby, dinner was just over and I was hiding - very honestly - hiding! But, I had cleaned the bathroom just before. Mind you, it was a surface clean - no scrubbing, no cleaner - just making sure there were no underwear on the ground, no T.P. still clinging to the toilet, I even wiped the lid - but it was clean. It helps to try to relax in a somewhat un-cluttered environment.

Anyway, I had just gotten in to a very hot bath (don't tell my mid-wife) and was unwinding. Then I opened my eyes. It just so happened that from where I was sitting, I could see the underside of the toilet rim. Yuck - double yuck. There went my serene, relaxing, un-cluttered bath. Arghhhhh....

Anyway, I had a mild breakdown - crying in the tub - pretty pathetic. But, as God is so faithful - he began to speak to me through my toilet. He has a sense of humor. I started thinking about my life. It is so easy to put on a front; to act like everything is okay. To present your "house" as clean and in order. And it might actually be. But how often are the really gross, really dirty areas left neglected. Too often I will realize a messy spot in my home, or my life, and acknowledge it but feel to overwhelmed to deal with it. But, obviously, the longer I ignore it, the more deeply seeded the stain becomes and the harder it is to scrub it clean.

My goal, my desire, is to arrive at the point where I no longer to crisis management, but am able to maintain order. I realize this may not happen in my home for a while, but do know that it is totally possible spiritually. After all - God calls us to be holy as He is holy - I know it is possible!

I dare to hope....

Rules of Engagement

My life is pretty crazy. I think I am at a point where I can finally, fully admit it. Though, sometimes I wonder if it is more the life I lead or the one who leads it that dubs it as crazy - it is what it is. I know that things could be more hectic - I've seen it in action in others lives, but for me - right now, right here - this is my truth.

For the first time the other day I was aware of trying to schedule, actually schedule, a date night with my hubby. It seems in the past that they kind of just happened, but we were in the car with the kids and doing a run down of my week vs. his week - who was going out when and with whom and who was watching the kids on what nights and can we possibly squeeze in some "us" time - Lord knows we both need it! When did life get like this - was with the birth of Kylie, or did it happen a year later with Caleb. Maybe it got officially hectic when Macey was born or...ughhh - who knows. It's here and it's now and oh my - how do I cope.

Now, that's an interesting thought - coping. I have come to realize in the past week a lot about my coping skills or lack of them. I lived a pretty sheltered life growing up. I didn't have to cope with a lot - I experienced to major tragedies, no deaths in the family, no intense trauma. I think the closest I got to grief was when I was five and my goldfish jumped out of the bowl onto our blue shag carpet and fried himself on the heater - yikes.

As I've looked more deeply and "dealing" lately, I realized that I tend to choose to not deal. Not healthy. Not really even practical - because, hey - even if I don't acknowledge the issue, it's still there, and it will patiently wait and grow and fester and wait and wait and wait...oh, how they like to wait. It's kind of like ignoring a baby elephant in your living room. Whether you acknowledge it or not, it's there - and it's going to grow and it's going to do things that growing elephants do. And if you don't deal with the stuff, then one day you will wake up with a pile of grown up elephant well, you know...not a pretty thought. Not only do I tend to ignore the problem, but everything else as well. If something is already raw, why involve yourself in an activity that could make it hurt worse - and sometimes everything hurts. Sometimes, every little action seems to require attention to the "thing."

I feel like God has calling me to engage more in my issues, in my life, and in the lives of those around me. It is WAY too easy to sit back and let others do the work, to choose to not engage. Being the word lover that I am, I looked up what it means to engage or be engaged. Here are my favorites:

To draw into; involve
To enter or bring into conflict with
To interlock or cause to interlock; mesh

Ouch. Especially the one about conflict. I mean, who wants to choose to draw into conflict - not me. But, as I have learned - conflict is a key to growth, to relationship, to...life. So - bring it on, right?!?! Yikes!

So - instead of withdrawing from life - I choose to engage in it. To seek out ways to interact more with my surroundings - my kids, my friends, my husband - heck, even the lady behind the counter at WinCo. Why not - can't hurt. Oh wait, what was that about conflict...? Anyway - I think I am learning that engaging is good - for me, for those around me, for everyone involved. Why not train that baby elephant to get rid of his stuff correctly while he is still young? Seems to be the wise way to go.

So, here I go - embracing this crazy life that I dearly love and would not trade for anything; choosing to be engaged, whatever it may bring!

Pure Joy

Joy:

a. Intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness.

b. The expression or manifestation of such feeling.

My oldest daughter is 4. And she is VERY MUCH 4, if you will. She is curious and busy and adorable and very outgoing. It seems that I remember, even at that age, being very self conscious of what I said, what I did, how I looked and what people, peers and elders alike, thought of me. Not a good thing for a four year old to have to worry about. Granted, I had some issues that led to me feeling that way - stuttering being one of them, but I have a feeling that even if Kylie stuttered it wouldn't stop her from being who and how she is. She is one of a kind...

The other day when Jason got home, we all piled on Macey's new bed and, as the kids called it, "roughed up." This usually consists of some throwing around, chasing, tickling, and A LOT of screaming. Normally, I would hide in the kitchen and finish dinner or do something else while Jason takes his turn with the kids. But, this night I was in the thick of it, right along with Kylie.

It was a very cool moment for me. I was tickling her and was able to watch just her face. She has an adorable smile - but usually when she is trying to smile for a camera or something, it turns into more of a grimace at the most, and is pretty cheesy at the least. But, this evening, got to see her "pure joy smile."

We have some good friends that have a cabin on a lake. We have been blessed to join them on quite a few occasions. Usually we have at least one late night of cards, beer, and great conversation. One evening in particular it was really late, and toward the end of the week so we were really tired and the conversation was digressing rapidly somewhere in the realm of flatulence. Anyway, my husband was doubled over laughing uncontrollably. When he finally recovered, he commented that he laughed until he "lost control of his face." I was reminded of that when I was watching Kylie laugh. No inhibition, no self-consciousness, no concerns, no worries, just pure joy.

Oh, that I could lose myself like that. To experience on a regular basis true joy. And even more - to seek it out! Can you imagine - seeking opportunities to lose control - yikes! Whether it be in laughing (it does happen occasionally), or in worship, or in anything, I believe that some of the most intense freedom experiences happen when all inhibitions are tossed aside. God, make it more of a daily experience. Let me know the joy of being in YOU!!!!

So, here's to laughing until you lose control of you face!!

Lessons from the little ones

Over the past month since I posted last I have had so very many thoughts and ideas about topics to blog about - but, obviously, they have remained only thoughts and ideas. Most of them have to do with the kids and their antics and challenging moments along with the moments of pure joy they bring me. I had originally aspired to write one blog a week - a very lofty goal for me - but, again, that didn't happen. So, as I was sitting here this morning thinking of looking at bills and maybe hunting for a new car online, I thought - no time like the present. So, here is a quick rundown of the lessons learned and insights gained from my three (almost four) munchkins.

"real parents"
With the imminent arrival of Thompson 4.0 just a few months away, I finally broke down and decided to go the bunk bed route. I am a worrier by nature, and quite consistently had visions of my oldest rolling of the top bunk and breaking herself into bits. Granted, kids have been sleeping on bunk beds for years, and I was a "top bunker" myself for many years, but none of that mattered when it came to Kylie. Of course, if something bad could happen, it would to her.

But, nevertheless, I did it. Two very amazing families in the church gave us their old beds (thanks a ton guys), and now we have two sets of bunks in our two rooms. A boy room (the newest addition is a boy - yeah)! and a girls room. As we, or more accurately, as JASON was setting up the first set I had this overwhelming feeling of "oh God, oh God, oh God" - in a good way, I mean. I think for the last four and a half years I've been so in the baby stage - it's kind of been a blur. Diapers and wipes and potty training and high chairs and cribs and car seats and ahhhhh....all that stuff. But bunk beds are for REAL KIDS - that must mean that we are REAL PARENTS.

Not that the baby stage doesn't constitute as real, but there was this intense realization that they are not babies anymore. My mom would say that they are always your babies, but you know what I mean. My oldest is starting kindergarten in the fall, and my middle is really separating himself as THE BOY in the family - in every sense of the word. And my youngest - the baby, is sleeping in a big girl bed all by herself - no rails, no cribs - she is making her own way!

And to top all that - there is another one coming. I fell blessed. I've heard it said that a "rich man's family" is one boy and one girl. We are going to have two boys and two girls - that must make us rich beyond measure - God is good!

I wanted to post more, but this rich mom's family is needing some attention (ie - sesame street is done) - so I will try to post some more tomorrow or tonight (we'll see how well that goes).

Later.