Five-year-old Checkup

Graham had his five-year-old checkup this week. But this wasn't just any 'ol check-up...this was the BIG one...where Graham got to place his imprint on Dr. V's wall forever-and-ever! Every visit, we explore the walls, discussing how "one day" Graham will get to do the same, hard to believe that the big 5.0 is finally here.

The car-ride there was a mixture of happy and sad...knowing that a "shot" might be in store, and also that there would be a little fun involved, as well. Serious boy on the way...

Dr. V knows how to take a kid's mind off of their worries, by making weird animal noises, pulling butterflies or dinosaurs out of their ears, and handing out cookies to cooprative patients. (I wish my doctor would do that! Maybe chocolate...) Last time, he even let Hannah Reece decorate his laptop with princess stickers...now THAT's dedication!

Sissy comforting Graham as we wait...

now for the fun part, painting Graham's hand...a copy for us to take home....

WOOHOO five year old hand print!!

so proud...

What's that I hear???

a dinosaur?!

Later at home...crashed out! Too much excitement for one day...

Changes...

For the last five years, Dan has successfully managed to balance family life, vocational ministry, and graduate studies that include bi-monthly trips to Charlotte for class. God has used this time to stretch and refine us in so many ways....and His faithfulness has held us up through it all. We have been absolutely amazed at his provisions for rest, encouragement, and for everything we have needed to persevere in this journey. The Lord has patiently and lovingly revealed his plan every step of the way.

This is officially Dan's "last year" of seminary at Gordon Conwell. He will graduate (Lord willing!) May, 2010.

Last month, on our monthly pilgrimage, Dan and I started to explore the possibility of reversing our current situation: 3-4 weeks in Bonita Springs/ 1 week in Charlotte, to the opposite, so that Dan could be present, and on campus for his demanding 15-credit-hour schedule this semester. He will return to Bonita Springs for one week, two Sundays a month to fulfill his role and responsibilities at church. (Along with lots of technology to communicate the rest of the month!)

We are grateful that the church leadership has been so supportive of this plan, and have enthusiastically expressed their support and encouragement for Dan to pursue this calling.

All that said, pending session approval on March 19th, we'll be moving to Charlotte on April 1st!

We look forward to Dan having the opportunity to fully immerse himself in his education this last year...he'll have access to the seminary library and all of the other wonderful resources that will only be a short drive from our new front door.

Here's a photo of our new abode...complete with a yard and sidewalks (a huge blessing for a five year old boy and two year old girl with more energy than this little condo can handle!) The back yard has a little hill that meets up with the neighbors back yard, and Graham already has big plans for that hill--thinkin' I'd better figure out where the nearest hospital is located! I'm thankful, excited, and quickly realizing that between moving and traveling back-and-forth regularly, this year is going to be a busy one!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here are some recent photos of our little valentines...

Graham watched his first Star Wars movie this weekend, complete with sub-woofers and surround sound, at Nana and Papa's house. It was Episode 4, the newer ones are just way too gory and gross, well, for a 5 year old anyway! :) The little monkey is the class pet, "Mango"...and Graham was so psyched up about having him for the week. Mango even had to sid at the table to eat with us!

And our little Reecie (know that commercial "how do you eat your Reese's?") decided to pull that trick with her boiled egg this morning...walked back into the room and there was the yolk-fully intact. She usually prefers to play and experiment with her food, rather than eat it!

Tomorrow, we're off to our week-a-month trip to Charlotte so that Dan can attend class at Gordon Conwell. He really looks forward to these weeks so that his focus can be on studies, and we get to play some in-between. The kids are becoming great little travelers...they're troopers at handling the 12 hour car-ride (with lots of breaks, of course). It sounds like the weather will be a little chilly, but I hope we'll just bundle up our warm-blooded, Flordia-weatherfied-selves to enjoy the outdoors. My mom "Nana" will be joining us...it'll be so nice to have her company, especially while Dan's at class and in the library.

Check back in about a week, I'll have some fun news to share................... until then, Happy Valentines Day, dear one!

Confessions of a Hair Changer

Hello. My name is Sarah, and I am a hair-changer. I love a new hair-do! Then I get sick of it...then I grow it a little, change the cut, change the color...I've even enlisted family members to support my habit in the past...you know who you are. :)

After years and years of being blonde-first naturally, and then (after puberty brought brown hair) with the assistance of a trusty stylist-I decided to grow out/cut out the blonde to reveal my "natural" color. Thought I should find out once and for all what color hair God had actually given me before it started to turn gray! Got it all grown out, liked the brown, but truth be told, I missed the blonde hair a little! Although, it was nice having "virgin" hair for once. :)

I gotta say that sweet hubby just rolls with all this nonsense...I think he used to dread my "changes", but now looks forward to, and even encourages! This little adventure to the salon was an early valentines day treat from him, and even included a mani and pedi.

My kids just keep staring at me, they say they like it, but I think they just don't know what to do with their momma all fixed-up more than usual. Poor kids, only used to seeing me with nappy hair and frumpies on.

Just for fun, I thought I'd post a before and after, plus the photo I took into the stylist as "inspiration" for the latest "change". I've dubbed this style "the crooked mullet"...business on the left, party on the right!

Well-said...

Here in "Blogland, USA" I do have a few regular-reads. One of my all-time favorites and daily reads is Elizabeth Esther, writer/blogger/mother of five and self-proclaimed "recovering evangelical" which just cracks me up... maybe because I can relate to some of her thoughts and experiences? Plus, her twin babies are just so daggum cute!

Anyway...today's post really got the wheels turning. I don't keep up much with the news media, unless there's a major catastrophy in the world, and even then I sometimes don't find out till my momma calls! I end up shaking my head, feeling like all hope is lost, as I hear about global warming, iffy government policies, the economic crisis, and even the news of the latest evangelical pastor, someone like Ted Haggard, leading a double life, as it were.

As I reflect on Elizabeth's post today, my resolve is renewed to try to spend less time shaking my head about these situations and more time praying about them. Praying that God would ready me to respond in love to anyone who might need it.

Also, what am I doing to cultivate the roots of faith in my heart so that I can be sure to obey God and seek his will and plan for my life?

In this busy season it's so easy, so natural to just fill every minute with "good things"cleaning, playing, organizing, bible studies, playdates, researching, talking to friends, blogging.......oh I could go on! Taking a few minutes each day to reflect, pray and listen to God through his Word, often seem like a "unique and rare opportunity" rather than a "a given". This becomes evident in my heart in how I respond to others.

And Lord forgive me when I look at another person with eyes of judgement or pride....this passage from the Bible just speaks to me and humbles me today...

"Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. " Ephesians 2:1-10

There is hope....in God alone.

A couple of new additions...

to Sarah's Simple Servings...and coming up next is the big winner of the week... Dan's delicious home-made Crab Rangoon! Just thinkin' about it makes my mouth water!

Chicken Risotto Soup

I have been CRAVING soup like crazy lately! This soup really hit the spot and provided leftovers for lunch for about 3 days...and I didn't even get tired of it! It tasted better each day as the flavors melded together. I did simmer it for about 10 minutes longer than the recipe calls for, the rice was still a little too hard after 15 min. I made these garlic cheese biscuits while the soup simmered, or add some oyster crackers (my kid's favorite!) and voila! Your dinner is DONE!

*You could make this corn-free by using a corn-free thickener instead of cornstarch, or no thickener at all and it'll taste great!