Dreamer

Dreamer: Inspired by a true story

This weekend I watched this movie at the hotel. The room was actually cheaper to go with the movie package (???) so Friday night with DD sound asleep DS and I set out to watch a movie. There was MANY to choose from. In the end it was between Fever Pitch and Dreamer. I had wanted to see Fever Pitch(PG-13) with Drew Berrymore when it was in the theater. But it is rare I actually make it to the theater. I ended up choosing Dreamer; it looked kid friendly and was rated PG. It was such a delightful and refreshing movie. Ben Crane (Kurt Russel) and Cale Crane (Dakota Penning) are a father and daughter who live on an empty horse ranch. That is until they take in an injured horse. It is a story of family, faith and responsibility. The filming is breathtaking, rich characters and great morals. I most definately give it my recommendation.

Upon going to their site I was further impressed. They intentionally made this a family friendly film. There are activities to do as a family. Small group discussions with scripture and biblically sound material. Way to go DreamWorks! It is not that often that a movie with such quality and values come together. It does the heart good to see something like this come out of Hollywood.

So if you haven't already seen it, go rent it. Your in for a treat.

Photo Shows

Photo Shows

I have been playing....view at site above.

Ohio

This weekend we suprised my friends in Ohio with an unexpected visit. We had a great time visiting, eating and playing. Highlights of the trip:

• Meeting Elijah
• Dinner out with Chalice
• Swimming at the hotel
• Cleveland Zoo
• Blessing and being blessed

Thanks to Mindy who turned me on to PhotoShow! Here is a PhotoShow of our trip to the Cleveland Zoo. Enjoy

To Be A Blessing

I am excited! God has laid on my heart to be a blessing to someone. He has given me a plan and now it is to be determined the exact timing. I hope it will be this weekend. God is good!

Teaching Mr. Pig

Everyday when I lay DD down for her nap, DS and I spend some time together doing school. It is a nice time of one on one. The format is pretty flexible and laid back. He has been learning letters, sounds, numbers and basic math. Yesterday a new student showed up for school. He is about 5 inches long, 3 inches tall. He is pink and rather cute. It was DS's piggy bank whom I shall call Mr. Pig. DS announced that Mr. Pig wants to learn so he would be doing school with us today. OK, this could be fun. Mr. Pig was an excellent student. He answered evey question he was asked (in a high pitch pig voice performed by DS.) He could read big words like January and Tuesday. He could spell, and loved to learn. This pig was good! DS also enjoyed showing him everything he knew. When it came time to try something new, DS was more than willing to try and Mr. Pig was impressed. It was a lot of fun having Mr. Pig around.

If he shows up today....I may just let him stick around.

Disappointed

I am truly disappointed in my son. Today there was an action...which I will not go into details. I don't want to embarrass or hold onto the wrong. I called DH and together we determined the consequence. Which I feel matched the offense very well. In completing his consequence, truths came out. It saddens me that he was not truthful before when specifically asked about things. Teachable moments!
Truth is big to me. You speak the truth in ALL things. Get it out in the beginning so it doesn't turn into anything bigger. This is not new to my kids. We have chosen not to do traditional things, so that we can honestly say we have spoken the truth to them in all things. They know the truth. I guess I am proud of him for coming clean. The truth shall set you free. Now I need to let it go, not guilt and shame and let him be free.

Dozen- An Egg Game

Here is a game for you. Launch an egg upward to the next nest. Be careful and time it right or you lose your egg. You have a dozen eggs to make it as far up as you can.
The first time I played I got 30...current high score 420. DS loves playing this game and his current high is 200. Are you going to be beat by a four year old? Enjoy.

Incredible Pictures

I love this action shot of DS!

Believe it or not this is our humble neighborhood park.
It has a resort feel from this angle.

We went sledding with my friend Karen and her family. It was her camara that took these pictures. Thanks Karen!

Rocks of Rememberance

Sunday's sermon was out of Joshua 3 & 4 when the Isrealites cross over the Jordan River. The Lord went before them pushing back the flood water so that the people could pass through on dry land. When they arrived at the other side they were told to set up rocks of rememberence to serve as a sign. So that future generations would know what the Lord had done. To be a memorial.
The service included some incredible testimonies of God's faithfulness and His peace. One family had been through a head on car collision and walked away, God had protected them. Another had their home destroyed by fire but God saved them, that night they were all out of the home, instead of in the rooms that were destroyed. They talked about there experiences very openly, the strengths and weaknesses they felt. I cried!
Pastor Brad encouraged us to all think of how God has moved in our lives. Wether it be 10 years ago, last year, last week or yesterday...God has moved! And to not let those things he has done be forgotten. The congregation wrote on post-it notes some of those things he has done and attatched them to a memorial in the atrium. There were some incredibly awesome things posted. Marriages healed, lives saved, God's provision...on and on thousands of yellow post-its testifying to God's goodness.
As a part of a bible study last year we were asked to do a timeline of our lives. Highlighting milestones and remembering what God has done. I think it is time to bring that out....and remember.

Hilarious!

This is a clip from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, I laughed so hard I cried. Funny stuff ...click here.

Updates

DD's noggin is doing well. She still touches it and says "ow-ey"


DS's eye is doing great. We removed the adhesive strips last night. Suprisingly there was hardly any bruising. I had expected a huge shiner but really there is only slight discoloration under his eye. He says he hates our church and that platform thingy. So pray for him, that fear does not become an issue. That he can work through his feelings of what happened.

Kasi and the cats are working out ranks. One cat is completely fine with her and will even eat with her. The other does not like the intrusion and is set out to prove who owns the house in the animal realm. It is rather comical at times. Kasi wanting to pursue the cat and just play. And the cat sitting on her throne planning on how to antanganize the dog. I think overall they are handling things well. In the above picture notice how good Kasi is just sitting there.

At times DD is intimidated by Kasi. In this moment she is happy about her puppy. DD is usually nervous around dogs at first because they get excited and jump up on her. We are working with her to tell the dog down and no. Using her words and not to be afraid. For the record she does like the dog.

Kasi is adjusting great! Going to church Sunday was the first time she was completely alone (in her crate.) That was a blessing. As of Sunday night she is no longer whimpering and crying when she is put in her crate. Potty training is for the most part successful. She prefers snow over rain. I am learning her cues therefore things are always improving. Puppies chew, so I am still having to be watchful of this. She is a retreiver so she likes to steal socks, shoes, toys...yesterday her sock count was 9 I believe. She is very gentle and fun. Loves to cuddle. We are having fun with her.
Now your up to date...if there is anything I missed...ask!

Child Abuse

As a part of the youth retreat in March I underwent Child Abuse Prevention training on Saturday. It was horrifying and sad the statistics and evidence that was shared during that class. In 1998 3 million cases were reported, 3,000 children died as a result of abuse, 1 child is abused every 10 secends. There are 5 primary forms of Child Abuse; physical, emotional, neglect, sexual and ritual abuse. 80% of perpetrators know their victims. URG!! It really iritates me!
Last night DD got a goose egg when she was bumped into a chair by her cousin who was running enthusiaticaly around her. It was so sad. It was instantly swollen and she wobbled over to me and passed out. I have never seen my children do anything like this and it was very freaky. I put frozen green beans on her bump and cuddled with her. I checked her eyes and they were dialating fine. After observing all night she is fine. She tells you I bumped my head..with a pouty lip. My kids and their noggins! It was sort of intimidating going shopping with them all banged up. You never know how other people will react. No one was suspecting or rude but you just never know. It made me thankful there were witnesses to both of the incidences that occured. It made me sick to think that someone may think I had hurt them. And even sicker to think others DO intentionally hurt children.
I guess I shall close with possible signs of child abuse.

• Hostile and aggresive behavior
• Fearfulness toward parent or adults
• Destructive towards self or others
• Burns, facial injuries, patterns of repetitious bruises
• Unexplainable fractures or bruises inappropriate for child's development

They did explain that young children often have bruising on head, arms and legs normal to development. And to look for bruises of different coloring or stages of healing.

Other signs include:

• Depression or withdrawl
• Severe lack of self-esteem
• Failure to Thrive
• Speech or eating disorders
• Inappropriate dress for climate
• Begs or steals food; hides food
• Untreated Medical conditions
• Poor hygeine
• Unusually advanced sexual knowledge
• Promiscuous behavior
• Runs away from home and refuses to return
• Frequent headaches, stomach aches, fatigue
• Fear of the dark
• Nightmares

Obviously children may exhibit some of these symptoms and not have been abused or neglected. But if you feel that a child in your presence, care or circle of influence is being abused notify the proper authorities. Abuse must be stopped!

Transition Fatigue?

Is there such a thing as transition fatigue?
If so I am experiencing it! It seems that I am exhausted and after many hours of dilegent watching I mentally am checking out. Kasi is very well behaved and her bahaviors are typical puppy, so it is not her so to speak. I think it is the change from my normal routine. Added responsibilty perhaps. Is this normal?

Job' Friends

I mentioned I am back in my study on the fruits of the spirit. This morning's study I was reading in the book of Job. For those of you not familiar with Job's story I will recap for you. (The complete and unabridged version is found in the book of Job.) Job is a successful business man, blameless and upright before God. He has much wealth; servants, flocks, family, a relationship with God. One day Satan goes to the Lord and questions wether Job would bless the Lord if he lost it all. The Lord consents to the trail saying do not touch Job but everything he has is now in Satans hands. He loses his flocks, his servants, his children. In mourning he still praises the name of the Lord. Satan comes before the Lord again and says skin for skin, strike his flesh and surely he will curse you. The Lord consents telling Satan he must spare his life. Job is afflicted with painful sores from head to toe. Still he does NOT curse God. Yet he becomes full of despair.

Now here is the part I want you to take notice of: Three of Job's friends come to comfort him. When they see him they began to weep and mourn. "Then they sat on the ground with him for SEVEN DAYS and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was."(2:13) When Job did speak it was words of despair but not cursing.

Where are you? Are you in moments of peace or turmoil? Are you in the midst of a storm, that you are finding hard to stand up in? Take comfort my friend. The Lord your God is with you wherever you go! He is with you in times of joy and in sorrow. He has also placed people in your lives that can be with you in your hard times; your darkest hours. Now your friends may not always offer the best advice...just as Job's friends. My prayer is that each of you would be drawn back to the Lord. That you would be able to Praise his name in all things. Draw near to Him. For true peace can come only from Him.

Remember your not alone....I am here if you need me.

Todays Verse

Todays verse on the side screen is from Galatians 5:16. How fitting! This week my ladies bible study will be starting up after taking a 6 week break. We are studing the fruits of the spirit and living by the spirit. We have already covered Love and Joy and now move on to Peace. I look forward to this study, to time with my ladies and daily discipline in completing the homework.

Joy and Sorrow

Last night I had such a great time playing games with my girlfriends. In the end I laughed so hard I cried and my abdominal muscles felt like they had a workout. Thank you to all my ladies. You bless me!
Today at church we had trauma. DS was running down the hallway and tried to go around two ladies; hitting full force into a sign-in sheet platform. He hit it so hard it ripped off the wall. He has a gash under his right eye. We checked it out atUrgent Care and fixed it up with strips to keep the wound closed. He was a trooper, hesitant but overall co-operative. There is a strong possability he will have a scar. Doh
On a happier note: Kasi is doing very well. We are pleased with her temperment; calm and loving. Potty-training is going great! She does miss her mama, at night she cries for her. I have been laying down next to her crate, turning on the sound machine to heartbeat and gently saying her name when she whimpers. Once asleep she sleeps through the night. A plus for us. I know she is going to be a great fit for our family bringing us much joy in the years to come.

Kasi

A New Addition

Drum Roll Please.....brrrmmddrrmdmrm
Today we are getting a puppy. DS has been wanting a dog for a long time now. If you ask him what kind of a dog he wants his answer is without a doubt a black Lab. This fall we went down to the river and met an awesome black labrador retriever. She was the most obedient dog I had ever seen, and it was there that it was set in a little boys mind that one day a dog like that would be his.
We have talked on and off about getting a dog. Well today is the day. It is one of those deals where you know God has a hand in it. In His perfect time. The puppy is four months old. A black Lab mix. FREE. Friendly. Currently in a home with two young children. We have the extra money to spend getting things set-up. We had a conversation at the beginning of the week with my brother-in-law who out of nowhere asked about DS getting a dog. lol
You want to talk about smiling eyes. DS was beaming when he heard the news. God is good.
So now it is off to the store to get the necessary supplies. I will post pictures of our newest addition as soon as I can.

Turbo Tax

E-file lines are open and return has been filed!
Turbo Tax is brilliant. I found it very easy to use and am confident we got the best return.
Happy filing!