Archive for June, 2010
Lisa’s Backyard Robins Day 3
June 30, 2010Do Nothing
June 29, 2010This week, I heard the following conversation take place between Baba and N:
Baba: N, what do we need to do to help you not respond in anger to your little sister?
N: Well, you’ve tried everything and nothing is working. I think you should just do nothing and see if that works.
Still No Baby!
June 28, 2010Last week was full of special time with N and J, doing fun things together as we awaited the arrival of our little one. We went out for a doughnut breakfast, went to IKEA so that they could play at the child watch area there, went to the pool, and just enjoyed spending time together. Friday, we got to go to our family’s all time favorite event- family movie night at church.
Saturday I got to go to a dear friend’s baby shower that I thought I wouldn’t get to attend. So, overall waiting hasn’t been a bad thing. I’m just so thankful to be in my own home instead of in another city in someone else’s home like we were for the final month of the previous two births. This alone makes waiting so much easier.
Friday, we took some fun pictures when I realized that we hadn’t taken any tummy pictures at all. They didn’t turn out that great. I mean, the kids were about to get in bed when I realized, “I may not have this belly tomorrow! We should take some pictures.” I guess we could try again if we wanted!
We also had plenty of time to do a fun craft that we bought a few months ago and never got around to painting.
I wonder how many more lazy days we will have before we meet our new sister!
Inspire Re-Post- Beautiful Paint
June 25, 2010Happy one year birthday Willing to Risk Ready to Go! In honor of this blog’s first birthday, I’m going to re-post a few of my favorite inspire posts over the past year. This is conveniently in conjunction with the imminent birth of Baby #3. I started this blog one desire to inspire others to see God’s hand in their own lives. He is omnipresent. He is everywhere. My hope is that these stories will help you see His hand in your life as well!
Beautiful Paint
The most terrifying 20 minutes of my life were the 20 minutes that N was lost in the largest mall in Europe. 6 floors. An escalator just outside the store we were in. Not a clue in the world where he might have gone. It was the longest stretch of time in my life and I was literally running through the mall crying out loud with my hands outstretched asking the Lord to protect him. We were reunited with him at the information desk and learned that he had chased a train that gives kids rides through the mall. Even though he was 3 years 3 months, he didn’t have the language to articulate to us what really happened and so we never knew.
Until about 3 weeks ago. We were in a local mall and the same train drove past. When N saw it, he started recounting what happened when he was lost for the first time! I could tell he knew what he was talking about because he used Turkish in his story and Turkish hand motions both of which he has otherwise seemed to have forgotten. He said there was a man on the train that was saying and motioning ‘gel, gel, gel‘ (come, come, come) to him so he ran after the train and the man picked him up and sat him beside him on the train. He said after the ride the man left quickly and he walked around by himself for awhile before someone took him to the information desk where we were reunited with him.
When I first heard this I thought, “Wow, maybe this man was going to kidnap him but our prayers thwarted his plans.” After a day or two more of processing, I realized, “Whoa. What if the man’s goal was just to get him on the train? What could have happened during that train ride?” My thoughts began to spiral downward and I knew I needed to ask N about this, just to be sure we didn’t need to talk through anything with him.
So, one day when we were just talking together I said, “Remember that guy on the train? What did he look like?” N didn’t remember. “Was he nice?” Didn’t remember. “Did he touch you?” Didn’t remember. “Did he put his arm around you?”
“No mom, God painted me and I was still wet so no one could touch me.”
What?
”God painted me and I was still wet so he couldn’t touch me.”
What?
I was still trying to understand what he was saying because it didn’t seem to make sense. When we can’t understand what N is saying and he really wants to express something he always says “Say it with me mom.”
Next he said, “Say it with me mom, GOD PAINTED ME.”
Then he walked away to go play as if his explaination was the most normal thing in the world. And I sat there stunned.
What a gift this amazing picture of God’s protection over our children has been. He is truly there, even when we aren’t. For the rest of my life, I will pray that God covers them in His Beautiful Paint!
Create- Treasure Boxes
June 24, 2010First, let me say that Baby #3 is due TODAY! Unless there are baby pictures already posted, I am headed to another pre-natal appointment in the med center today. Arrg. Hot. Fat. Tired. Come soon little one!
Back to the treasure boxes…
A few weeks ago, N decided he wanted a treasure box to store his own little treasures. This was completely his idea and the craft lasted all week as we added things each couple of days. First, they picked their own boxes at Hobby Lobby and painted them.
Next, we sprayed them with spray glue and added glitter.
After the glitter, we glued on jewels and then added a layer of deco-page a few days later, in hopes of keeping the glitter and jewels ON the boxes, not all over the house. 
They love their boxes and practice putting small things inside that their soon-to-arrive baby sister shouldn’t have. N has a set group of things he considers ‘treasures’ but J’s treasures differ from day to day. They always pack perfectly into her box where the lid can still fit.
I never realized something so simple would be so much fun for them!
Lisa’s Backyard Robins Day 1
June 23, 2010
Allergies and Gasoline
June 22, 2010A couple of months ago, I took N to the doctor to be checked for a handful of things. I thought I might as well just pay one copay and get them all checked out.
A few weeks after his appointment, I had to go back to the same clinic for my broken toe appointment. He was so excited to be back at the place he remembered! He was a little confused on the details as to the why of his own visit though. Here is what he excitedly told the nurse who had to leave the room to keep from laughing at him:
“I came here too! I had allergies so the doctor but tape on my bottom. Then, I gave my blood! Now, my mom puts gasoline on my bottom every night before bed!”
Sorry, I’m going to leave the real reasons for his visit a mystery. But, I can guarantee no wearing of gasoline in this house!
The Best Day of My Life
June 21, 2010This is what N said today would be when he found out that Baba was taking him to a Rangers baseball game!
The game, a trip to swim and the YMCA, dinner at Chick-Fil-A and Baba home for the whole weekend made for a great last weekend as a family of four. Well, lets just say, if we’re still a family of 4 next weekend, I won’t be too happy!
Nathan’s proclamation that today was the best day of his life reminded me of a song our friend Dave wrote for his wife Jess called Second Best Day. Click here to listen to this amazing Father’s Day song and download it for free!
Job Search Update
June 18, 2010I wanted to write some thoughts about J’s current search for a new job. I decided on interview form, to humour you. So, here’s an interview with myself:
Q: So, J may be facing unemployment again? How did this happen?
A: Well, his current position is a one year residency that will end on August 31. All year we knew this would be the case so he has recently ramped up the job search, yet again.
Q: How are you feeling about the uncertainty of your family’s future and the potential of facing unemployment just 10 weeks from now?
A: Well, thanks for asking. This is why I wanted to write this post. I wanted to be open and honest and say that I’m pretty overwhelmed. I didn’t want people to think we just sit around singing “It is Well With My Soul” without wrestling through real feelings of doubt, frustration and uncertainty. At the same time, we are taking bold steps of faith such as continuing to aggressively pay toward our law school debt instead of saving for a potential stretch of unemployment. We believe that God is going to provide a job and want to live this way instead of shrinking back in fear of the days to come. God has blessed these steps of faith already and I want to write about them as soon as I can sort through what He has done in this area and articulate it clearly.
Q: Has the pending unemployment affected your marriage?
A: Again, thanks for asking. I just want to be honest and say, yes. There are times when I have cried, we have argued and the search for a job has very much affected our day to day interactions. It has to be my choice to trust J to be the provider of our family. I must choose daily to be his helpmate and encourager instead of trying to take matters into my own hands! We aren’t without hope but I daily have to choose to lay down these emotions. Just today I read,
“True faith drops its letter in the post office box and lets it go. Distrust holds on to a corner of it, and wonders that the answer never comes…”
Faith means the daily surrender to choose to let go of the envelop and wait for the answer!
Q: What is the most significant thing you have learned thus far in the journey toward J’s next job?
A: On my lowest day, I spent time asking God to once again, take this burden from me. I realized that I had slowly taken it upon myself and had almost become paralyzed under the weight. I knew that all I could do was cry out to Him and leave this burden at the throne of grace. During this time, I was encouraged by Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the waters…they will not overflow you.”
This quote by L.B. Cowman was a real source of encouragement:
“God does not open paths for us in advance of our coming. He does not promise help before help is needed. He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them. Yet when we are on the edge of our need, God’s hand is stretched out.”
And so, I wait in faith for God to hear our prayers and provide, once again! Although this isn’t always in fun, it is in vain if I don’t strive with all my heart to learn what He wants to teach me during this time.
Tin Can Ice Cream
June 17, 2010Here’s another fun summer activity for kids. If you live in America, schedule a playdate a week in advance. If you live in Central Asia, just go out on your porch, start making ice cream and kids will come!
KID’S TIN CAN ICE CREAM
Printed from COOKS.COM
□ 1 (3 lb.) clean coffee can
□ 1 (1 lb.) clean coffee can
□ Duct tape
□ 2 or more kids
□ 1 (1 lb.) clean coffee can
□ Duct tape
□ 2 or more kids
INGREDIENTS:
□ 1 c. milk
□ 1 c. whipping cream
□ 1/2 c. sugar
□ 1/2 tsp. vanilla
□ Fruit (smashed), chocolate, etc.
□ Rock salt
□ Ice (crushed or small cubes)
□ 1 c. whipping cream
□ 1/2 c. sugar
□ 1/2 tsp. vanilla
□ Fruit (smashed), chocolate, etc.
□ Rock salt
□ Ice (crushed or small cubes)
Pour all food ingredients into 1-pound coffee can. Duct tape lid on securely. Place inside 3-pound coffee can. Layer ice and salt around sides of small can. Duct tape 3-pound lid on. Roll briskly on hard ground for 10 minutes – cement works best.Open lid and drain ice water. Open 1-pound lid and stir, scraping sides well. Re-tape. Re-pack big can with ice and salt. Re-tape and roll again. Makes about 3 cups of ice cream.
Let the kids do it all themselves, even if they make a mess!
Stir, stir, stir!
Set a timer for the rolling portion so the kids don’t wimp out.
Enjoy the ice cream and success of making it yourself!
