Saturday, February 07, 2009

TEN Years Old Today!

In our family, the age of 10 is a turning point. Yes, Nolan is still possibly a child...but we've learned the time between 10 and 18 moves very fast. If Nolan holds true to form, and I see no reason to expect differently, he'll be a full-fledged young man within 2 - 3 years. How we have loved the years of 12 - 18 with each of our children. (We love the older years too - but we aren't so thrilled with the leaving home or leaving behind part which seems to happen sometime after 18).

Ten is also the age when a military "child" is old enough to be issued his very own military id.

Nolan has a gentle heart. Many days his quiet comments or giant hug give me the *umpf* to finish my Mommy Day strong.

Nolan is determined! Nolan has had to battle with a speech impediment. Oh, the pain it caused my heart to watch other children tease him. While it hurt, Nolan never let others' trouble understanding him stop him from talking. He's worked HARD the past 6 years to master his speech problem. He has exhibited an amazing attitude through it all. I've watched Nolan win over the hearts of 3 speech therapists. ::wink:: He's quite a lovable gentlemen already.

Nolan is stepping up to the plate. We've discussed how we expect him to be moving from childhood to being a responsible young man. That's our challenge to him....to be loyal, brave and true...to take the initiative to help out, to begin taking more of a leadership role with the youngers, be more aware of being a protector of the younger girls' hearts and reputations (because the older boys are leaving home)....He's rising to the challenge. We've made some comparisons this year in school to being a child, a page, a squire and finally a knight. I expect to see Nolan moving steadily from Page to Squire in the upcoming year.

Nolan, it's a joy to be your Mom.

And...because I'm feeling nostalgic (knowing that Josiah is 20 tomorrow and was 10 just yesterday)...and I post current photos of Nolan quite often....here are some of my favorites from past years.


4 years old - Iditarod Headquarters, Wasilla, Alaska
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I've always melted when looking into these eyes!
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2004 - 5 years old
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2004 - Nolan (5) and Zander (2)
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Happy birthday, son. We'll have a big family celebration when you (and your siblings) are well.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Psst...the airplanes are to honor Nolan's Christmas/Birthday gift (radio plane) and Josiah's sky diving....his birthday is next.

Birthdays Galore

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2003 - Zander 1, Nolan 4, Jared 9, Jamin 12, Josiah 14....My how the years rush by....

We have 5 boys (and 4 girls). All 5 boys have birthdays between 4 Jan and 20 Feb.

You will have to watch closely to catch all the birthday headers and tributes this week. Friends know that I'm usually fairly frazzled by the end of Feb....but this year I'm doing fine. I'm ahead in Bible Study. We're enjoying life....even with being sick.

We've done various things for birthdays - celebrated each day, celebrated one BIG day, split youngers and olders...this year we were going to celebrate Nolan and Josiah's tomorrow - it may be their last time to share their birthday - but with so many ill we are tentatively planning next weekend.

Preview of our next couple of weeks:

8 Feb - Nolan's birthday

9 Feb - Josiah's birthday

10 Feb - Mom's birthday

11 Feb - Zander's birthday

14 Feb - 25th Wedding Anniversary

20 Feb - Jamin's birthday


Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

New Prayer

{I'm documenting Mommy Moments, which is after all the purpose of this blog.}

Years ago the children began saying, "God bless the cook" at the end of each mealtime prayer. I love it. I can never receive too many blessings, let me tell you.

Stacia has been vying for her turn to pray for quite some time. She has been coming up with the standard, "Thank you for this food, God bless the cook."

This last week her prayer changed. We've heard this about 4x now...and none of us have laughed...though we have smiled big at each other when we raise our heads:

"God, thank you for giving Mommy a little girl - me - that is such an angel. God bless the cook." ::snort:: Josiah was over last night and when we began eating, he looked at me and said, "Did she say what I think she said?" ::snort::

I DO tell her that she is my special gift from God. That God knew I needed one more little girl and gave her to our family. I didn't expect it to become a mealtime prayer.

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

"Mmmmmmm.....that tastes good!"

Stacia has to be one of the sweetest patients I've ever met. She consistently tells me thank you when I take her temp or give her meds.

She STRUGGLES with the meds. Each and every time she has told me she feels all better when she sees me coming.....but as soon as she is finished...she throws her arms around me and says, "Mmmmm....that tastes good. Thank you, Mommy."

It does make me wonder how much stock I should be in her compliments of my cooking abilities.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Illness Update

I suddenly realized not everyone is on Facebook or Yahoo groups with me. LOL I showed the fateful, darling, peaceful, sleeping photo of Zander on Wed. THAT was the start of a wild couple of days.

Thursday Nolan woke up with a fever. He's been down since. Jared had a sore throat but played ball Thursday night.

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Jared woke up Friday morning and had a fever, was wheezing, was noticeably distressed when trying to breathe, had a sore throat, and said his chest was tight. The base had me take him to a walk-in medi center. They did strep swabs, flu swabs (didn't know they could do this), chest x-rays and made him wait on a table for quite a bit of time. I read a whole issue of Family Fun and a chapter out of the book I brought with me AFTER they called us back. ::snort::

They were confident he had pneumonia. Then they were confident he had the flu. His oxygen level was 93 when we left.

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Needless to say, he missed the game. He was relieved when coach reported that all the older boys on the team they were playing were ALSO out sick. The team won 23 -8. This was to be his last game with SACHSA as we won't be here next year. He was disappointed.

We are praying that he feels well enough to attend the Basketball Awards Dinner on Monday night.

Jared woke up this a.m., did the inhaler and went back to bed.

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Stacia announced a bit ago, "Mommy, I don't feel well." She has a 100* fever. I'm praying the four of us that are well do NOT catch this.

We were to have a big birthday celebration for Nolan (8 Feb) and Josiah (9 Feb) tomorrow...but it isn't going to happen. We aren't going to go far away for our 25th either. IF the kids are well we may take the trailer out locally.....and we'll do birthdays next weekend....or maybe not...never know how these things are going to turn out.

Thanks for the prayers.
Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Before there was fever - there was Basketball

I bought these hand clapper things, horns, pom-poms etc for Thurs/ Friday game. I ended up missing Thursday game and we all missed Friday. I wonder what I will do with all these things...I'm moving. I don't need to take them with me.
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Certainly the night before.... LOL
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Mike played with special effects
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Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.

Economic Stimulus Bill Bans "Relgious Worship"?

Yes, our economy needs help. Yes, we need a plan that may actually stimulate the economy. I'm guessing all have heard of the amazing pork in the bill that was passed by the Congress.

Are you aware that there are societal agendas buried in the bill, other than pork? The title above is misleading. No, nothing in the bill bans ALL religious worship - simply religious worship at any public college or university that receives money from this bill. Remember, the courts have defined a simple PRAYER to be religious worship. There are also no stipulations that dorm rooms would be excused from this provision. This provision could lead to a replay of court cases that were won 20 years ago.

The bill passed in the house as written:

The problem in the proposed stimulus bill comes from a provision that states:
"PROHIBITED USES OF FUNDS. - No funds awarded under this section may be used for - (C) modernization, renovation, or repair of facilities - (i) used for
sectarian instruction, religious worship, or a school or department of divinity;
or (ii) in which a substantial portion of the functions of the facilities are
subsumed in a religious mission."

Senator (R SC) "De Mint warned organizations such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ, Catholic Student Ministries, Hillel and other religious groups would face new bans on access to public facilities that would not apply to other organizations."

Senator De Mint proposed an amendment that would remove these lines from the "stimulus" package. It was defeated. You can read the entire article here. The video clip below is Senator De Mint addressing his colleagues. It's a bit long - but gives a good understanding of what is in this bill our Congress and now Senate are being asked to "rush into law".



Now is the time for Christians to be praying and writing their elected officials about a host of issues...OK I listed five issues I've written my elected officials and the White House about this week...but honestly, I think we ALL need to be in prayer over these issues and simply respond as God leads us. I tend to be a communicator and so have been sending lots and lots of emails in the past few weeks. LOL

Choosing Joy!
©2009 D.R.G.