First Day of School…

Today both of our kids had their respective 1st Days of School.  Abbie is a big 1st grader now, and Peyton started at the new Early Child Care Center at Purdue. 

I was only envisioning chaos this morning as we all tried to get out the door, but it was suprisingly calm!!!  I was up early, ready for work and made breakfast…the kids actually got dressed and brushed their teeth with no hassle!  Peyton and I were out the driveway at 7:13 and Jason took care of getting Abbie to school.  I even found a shortcut to the daycare thanks to my iPhone!!!

Peyton was VERY excited about his new school.  Let me just say that I am thoroughly impressed with it too!  We walked right in and Peyton felt right at home.  He wouldn’t even look up and smile for me to take his picture because he was so engrossed in looking at the insects under his mircroscope.  I can’t wait to hear about his day this afternoon!

Jason took Abbie to her first day.  She and Daddy will be walking to school once we get into the new house, so Jason drove over near the house and they followed the same routine that they will in a couple of weeks.  I just can’t believe I have a 1st grader!!!  She loves school so much and is looking forward to having homework!  We’ll see how many years that lasts!!!

HELP!

Okay…calling all moms…I need your help!!!  Just recently, I have run into a new issue to add to my “raising boys” collection.  Like many boys, Peyton is facinated with going to the bathroom outside.  Almost any time we are driving a far distance, he tries to get me to pull over and let him go to the bathroom at the side of the road (I don’t…but he tries anyway).  This, I can deal with.  Our new issue, however…I cannot.

About a week and a half ago I was walking around to my side of the bed and stepped in something wet.  I thought the kids had been playing in water (Peyton also has a facination with water), but upon further examination realized that someone had gone to the bathroom on my bedroom floor!!!  Peyton says he just had to go “really bad”.

This morning, I found the dog drinking water out of Peyton’s construction helmet in his room.  I asked Peyton why he put water in his helmet and took it into his room last night.  His response?  “It’s not water, Mommy!”.   What?  You went to the bathroom in your construction helmet?  Peyton…we go to bathroom in the toilet.  “But I had to go really bad!”

Now, we are WAY past the potty training, but here I am.  He goes to the bathroom all the time during the day…I just can’t understand why he is doing this?  Any creative ideas to address this????

The end, and the beginning…

So my summer is officially coming to an end. This is the last free Friday before I head back to work on Monday! It seems like this summer has flown by…as they always do. The funny thing is, I’ll probably get more blogging done when I’m back at work than I did this summer!

While one thing is ending, another is beginning. Today I get my iPhone!!! As one of my friends from camp said…are you ready for your life to be changed forever??? I’m not sure if I would go that far, but I am really looking forward to this! Maybe my next blog post will be from my iPhone…and I definitely know that pictures will be back on this blog VERY soon!!!

So, help me out…what are your must-have iPhone applications???

Darkness…

I was reading Vince’s blog this morning, and thought I’d share part of it here, because it really articulates something that God’s been impressing on me lately.

God has something against darkness, don’t you think? In the opening verses of the Old Testament we see God immediately warring against the darkness. In the New Testament what happens? God sends Jesus. Why? Because (as we learn in John 1) Jesus is light, and He came to bring light to the darkness. He came to penetrate, dominate, and illuminate the darkness.

So, as those who believe in God and follow Jesus, what are we to do? Attack the darkness.

The problem is that too many Christians want to hang out in the light. Now that’s understandable, the light feels warm and safe and reassuring. We can see in the light. Things are clean in the light.

But God has called us to the darkness. Yes, He sent the light of Jesus into our lives, but once we’ve received that light, we’re to carry it into the darkness. Whether we like it or not. Is it scary, risky, dangerous? Well, yeah, of course. But where in the Bible do we get the idea that following Jesus is supposed to be safe?

…I don’t see Jesus making ministry decisions based on what was easiest. I see Him choosing to attack the darkness.

…doing something that may be impossible, and it may be scary, risky and dangerous, but that’s okay. Those aren’t factors Christians are to include in their equations. Our job is to attack the darkness.

A lot of times, I think we choose not to do what God is calling us to because it will get messy. If we really get close to that person who is hurting…it’s messy. If we reach out to those who are lost…it’s messy. When Jesus came to earth…it got messy.

God has called us to bring the light to the darkness…so let’s roll up our sleeves and get messy!!!

Why I’m Taking The Dive…

So, Jason has been talking about getting an iPhone for QUITE some time.  Every now and again, he would casually bring it up in conversation…and my response was usually–no…we have Verizon, not AT&T.  We are not going to AT&T.

See, we have been Verizon customers since the first time I EVER had a cell phone, what…12 years ago???  All of our family has Verizon, and thus…the IN minutes save us A LOT of money.  So, convincing me to go to another carrier is no easy feat.  Also, I get a corporate discount with Verizon, so that just makes sense!

To make a long story short, Purdue is now offering discounts with AT&T too, so Jason’s argument was gaining momentum.  Then Verizon took it over the edge.

Back in December, I went into the Verizon store to inquire about the discount.  Jason was the primary name on the account, so they had to put my name as primary in order to receive the discount.  I was very specific with my questions and asked, “Is this going to change anything with our account or contract?”.  I was told no…it would not change anything at all, just my name as primary…they just needed our ID’s, my Purdue ID and for me to sign on the line.  To keep the story somewhat short…I was lied to (or the information was miscommunicated, if you ask Verizon).  And what I actually SIGNED was assumption of liability, thus extending my contract for 12 months, and it would cost me $335 to get out of our Verizon contracts.

From a purely financial aspect, it seems silly to buy out these contracts…and that’s where I have been for a couple of weeks.  But what I have been wrestling with is continuing to give this company more of my money.  It almost seems that Verizon is saying, “sorry…your name is on the line, you’re stuck”.  They don’t have to take responsibility for falsely representing anything.   And they figure I will stay with them because it will cost me more to leave them.  Well, I’ve decided that I no longer want to give money to a company that will not take responsibility for the actions of their employees, and has no regard for a customer of many, many years.  Ultimately, it’s an integrity issue.

So, our iPhones have been ordered and are on their way!  Bye, bye Verizon…hello AT&T!!!  (And Mom…now you’ll have to call me after 9pm EST). 

Yes, I am still alive…

Oh, my blog world…how I have neglected you so. Yes, I am still alive…and surprisingly, I’ve been up to a lot…I’ve just not been blogging on here a lot. I’m sorry.

So, here are my random thoughts about the past couple of weeks.

• Getting the stomach flu the night before leaving for a week of junior high church camp is not fun.
• Sitting in your house alone for 2.5 days with the stomach flu isn’t fun either. I actually watched Dr. Phil one day….crazy!
• Speaking at campfire the night I got to camp was rough…feel like I fumbled the ball on that one…and prayed that God used it somehow!
• Got pulled into a tough situation to do some crisis management–I am reminded how pain can be all consuming without Christ.
• I’m loving our Summer Life Group. I am watching my prayer for this group play out. The authenticity of these women is incredible…and the community that it created almost instantaneously is amazing!
• I’ve been spending some time developing an online “community” where we can continue the conversation of our weekly get togethers…another reason my personal blog has taken a hit.
• My kids are hilarious. I’m so glad I get to spend the summers with them!

And my last random thought…I’M AN AUNT! My brother and his wife were kind enough to have their baby while we were in IL (thanks guys!) and could run up and visit in the hospital! Corban Thomas is such a cutie!!! Here’s Corban and his proud daddy…WE LOVE YOU CORBAN!!!

Peyton’s Latest

We had a really fun week “camping” with the kids. We got to spend time with friends and family, as well as just spend some time together–just the four of us. We got home late afternoon yesterday–just in time to prepare for small group! When we got back to the house, the kids were looking at new pictures on Facebook from family and friends…here’s the latest from Peyton.

Things your kids say…Part 3

So yesterday Jason and I headed to IL…it’s about a 1.5 hour car ride.  We ended up having a great lunch with my brother and his wife, but the kids were an absolute HOOT the entire way there.  We’re talking making up songs that made no sense, but made us laugh, and saying the strangest things!

At first I wasn’t sure the trip was going to go so well.  About 20 minutes in, the kids are arguing with each other, and then out of the corner of my eye I see Abbie’s purse swinging through the air and hear Peyton screaming.

Me-  Abbie, did you just hit your brother with your purse?

Abbie-  No…I almost did, but he ducked. (She was more mad that she missed him than that she did something she wasn’t supposed to)

(Apparently, he was taking her toys and throwing them in the back of the car)

Me-  Abbie, what are we supposed to do when someone does something unkind to you?

Peyton-  Abbie, you need to tell God you’re sorry…that makes God sad.

I’m glad Peyton is quick to point out these things, yet doesn’t seem to remember them himself!

Hodge-podge…

Obviously, by the lack of posts lately, you can tell I’m somewhat in a blog “funk”. In one sense, there is nothing that I really have to say right now. In another, there is a lot going on in my mind, but nothing that I feel I can/should/want to blog about. So, for now…please endure the “blog silence” or very sporadic posts. I promise I’ll get back to it faithfully…just not this week or next. But here’s a glimpse of what is going through my mind.

• Had a wonderful evening last night. The kids were getting along great, the weather was incredible, I got to spend time with my wonderful husband talking about life, and the birds and rabbits were having a blast performing for us in the backyard.
• I’m frustrated with myself that I can’t seem to (1) break my Pepsi habit or (2) faithfully get to the gym every morning.
• Looking forward to driving to IL and having lunch with my brother and sister-in-law today. Very excited that I’ll get to meet my new nephew in the next month!
• It’s great to be able to be off this summer and be with the kids. It’s tough though when several times a week they say “Mommy, I wish you didn’t have to work and you could be with us all the time.” I’m really praying through that right now.
• Women are actually signing up to be a part of the two women’s small groups that I’m leading this summer. I’m excited to see what God has in store…
• My good friend here in Lafayette is moving back to IL…I’m very excited for their family, but it makes me sad.
• Finished up the garage sale on Saturday. It was “profitable”, but I am amazed at how much STUFF we have. And how much stuff we STILL have. It’s really messing with me (and will surely be a blog post soon).
• Jason’s still not feeling great…I’m hoping the doctor might have some answers this week, and he can find some relief.
• We have a couple of great weeks coming up! Next week, taking the kids camping for a few days. Away from everything…no computer, emergency phone use only, etc. It will be great! Then off to do be faculty at a week of Junior High camp…I love doing this every year!

If you want to keep up with me while I’m infrequently blogging, you can always follow me on Twitter. Now, off to try and catch up on my to-do list!

Things Your Kids Say…Part 2

This week we are having Kidzone Summertime at church (our version of Vacation Bible School…just a little different).  I was interested to see how this week went with our kids, since they are in different classes for the first time, since Abbie is a “big first grader” now.

So last night as the evening is coming to a close, Jason and I are talking with some of the parents and volunteers in the hall, and one of the women that is helping in Peyton’s class comes up and jokingly says… “I need to have a talk with you two”.  She goes on to explain how Peyton was sitting next to one of the girls in class, gently elbows her and says, “You’re hot!”.  A couple of times.  Nice!  Real Nice!

So, Jason talked to him a little bit last night, but I wanted to talk to him myself this morning.  In re-telling what the teachers told us he said, he stops me to correct me… That’s not what I said, Mom.  I said…”you’re a hot baby”.  Oh great…even better!

So I begin to inquire…what does that mean, Peyton…when you say you’re a hot baby?

It means Hello!

So we continued to talk about how that really doesn’t mean hello, and he has decided that when he wants to say “hi” to a girl…he’s going to say, “Hola!”.  Okay…

And the best part…I ask, so Peyton…where did you hear that?

From Uncle Justin…when we were in California.

I’ll remember to thank him the next time I see him.