Prayer for our Nation

Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and Set us free. Amen!'

According to ERumor http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/b/billygraham-prayer.htm , this prayer has recently been circulated siting Billy Graham as the author. This prayer was not from Billy Graham but rather from a minister named Joe Wright who offered it in front of the Kansas State House in 1996. Regardless of who said it, the words still ring true for me.

How blue are you?

Our church held a carnival on Halloween and we, of course, took our kids. They had been promised candy and candy they got. Along the perimeter of the gym were several different carnival games. The boys loved it, Addison was not quite as impressed. What did impress her was the fact that anyone (and everyone) would give her candy if she merely approached them. I opened the first candy she got and started stashing the rest in her bag, waiting until she seemed like she was ready for more. It never happened. That first candy was a blue lolipop which she toted around the remainder of the evening. She didn't put it down, not even once - although I think it was probably stuck to her hand 10 minutes in. I took a gazillion pictures of my sweet baby girl and thought I'd share

and of course the pictures of all the loot... Addison decided to belly flop in it!

GOoooooooo Spirit Week!

So, we had GO Crazy to start the week and somehow I didn't get any pictures... Nor did I get pictures of Go Green Day but here are a couple of Go Team Day. My children were forced to support our teams. Raymond was happy to wear Kevin's Maze and Blue, Zachary less excited about my Huskies (0-7) and Addison, cute as every, supported the Detroit Lions. Actually, I think Zach took issue with the elastic at the bottom of his warmup pants more than the color, but who knows. Thursday was Go West day and that was probably my favorite. The last picture, for those unfamiliar with our school,is of our fearless leader, Tim Minge and his wife Denise. Spirit week is always so much fun, or at least shopping for it was, but it is also somewhat of a relief to return to our normal clothes and actually be able to run errands on my break!

Pumpkin patches and more

We had the best time at pumpkin patches this year. Fall is my favorite season and it wouldn't be the same without going to a pumpkin patch or two. The first day, the weather was beautiful and Kevin was at a football game so the kids and I decided to take a drive up to visit Grannie and Grandpa Bob. When we got there, Grannie had found a website that lists pumpkin patches and related info for every state! http://www.pumpkinpatchesandmore.org/ An amazing site with lots of great links. Anyway, we decided to try the Thomasson Family Farm pumpkin patch in Enumclaw. It was fabulous! We had so much fun and there was a ton for the kids to do. I think their favorite (where ever we go) is the corn box. There is just something about it they love. Raymond was especially excited because Grandpa Bob took him through the "big" maze. The next week, Kevin took us to Maris Farms. We've been there before, but they had a lot more to offer this year. Next time, we'll have to go a little earlier in the day so we have time to check it all out. Enjoy the pics!

Back to reality

I have no idea how many people look at this blog or if any of those that do noticed a significant decrease in activity. Decreased to 'nonexistant' I should say. It's not that I didn't have anything to say - I always do! but having returned to work, it is all I can do to keep some semblance of order in our home. But, alas, here we are at the end of the first quarter of school already and I feel like I am just now getting things a bit under control. Don't be fooled, though. Even as I write, the laundry is piled high, waiting to be put away, and the ironing even higher. The floors need to be mopped and the furniture dusted and yet here I type. But if we don't take a moment out of our busy schedules to smell those roses, when will we? As the holidays quickly approach (one month til Thanksgiving and 2 until Christmas?!) time will only become more scarce and I will try and remind myself, as I always must, to slow down and enjoy it... appreciate it for what it is - time with family and friends. Did I mention I am taking my kids to the pumpkin patch tomorrow and leaving all that house work undone?

The stroller incident

So, my sweet baby girl (see blog dated July 28th) is prone to misfortune-usually of her own doing. She is quite mobile now and her favorite pass time is climbing. She has, in fact, made it to Raymond's top bunk without being noticed. Don't ask... so to crawl into the basket of a stroller? No problem. Not her best trick, but it will do when she is bored at the park. Actually, she is always quite proud of herself, regardless of the difficulty of the feat. This last picture is the one I snapped right before she face planted on the ground. Will she ever learn?

I started typing this blog some time ago, but as life would have it, got busy and haven't posted in forever. So, here it is

Happy 3rd Birthday Zachary

His birthday was August 20th... I know, I know... 2 months late! we did celebrate on time ;o)

a picture is indeed worth a 1000 words! It was the first year that he enjoyed opening is presents and anticipted what was inside. I can hardly wait until Christmas this year!