gilbert

I sent out about 120 Christmas cards this past holiday.

I have no idea how many greetings my college friend Julie sent out, but I can only imagine that she sent just as many or more than I did.

What was interesting about Julie's letter this year was that it wasn't just about her adorable family.  It was so much more.

Julie and her husband volunteer with Compassion International by working to find sponsors for children in need.  A large portion of her letter was about a boy named Gilbert who lives in Kenya and needed a sponsor.  Her family had been praying for Gilbert - her young children had been looking at his picture every day and praying that he would get a sponsor.

Her letter didn't end with a simple "Happy New Year, " but it asked us to consider changing the life of this little African boy.

Rewind nearly nine years.

When my Beloved and I first became parents, my compassionate man decided that for every child we add to our family, we would sponsor a child in need.

Dickson, a little boy from Zambia, was our first sponsored child through World Vision.  We have written to and received letters from him over the years.  We still sponsor him each month and he is 21 years old.  I'm waiting for the day when we are contacted to say that his sponsorship has ended.  Usually, that happens when he has a wife and family of his own.

When Sauce was born, we started sponsoring Salile.  She lives in Malawi and has been our most communicative sponsored child.  Her letters usually come with a good story and lots of love.  My favorite was when she told us that while she was washing the family dishes in the river, she dropped one and was unable to retrieve it.  She thought she would get in trouble, but her mother simply laughed.

That letter made me lighten up with my own boys.  Salile turns 15 this year.

Rufus arrived two years later and together, my man and I couldn't pass up a little girl in Haiti named Mylove.  Mylove was born on our anniversary and will be nine this year.  She looks just as cute as her name.

Before Squirt was even conceived, we knew we were planning on a fourth child in our family, and we came upon the opportunity to sponsor my boy Vitya in Russia through a wonderful organization called Children's Hopechest.

I had the opportunity to actually go to Russia and spend a week with Vitya and it gave me new perspective on sponsorship.  He is a real boy with a real life and a real lonely heart.

Although I still have contact with Vitya through a Russian friend I made while visiting, the Russian government discontinued Hopechest's program in his area and our formal sponsorship ended.

So, back to Christmas.  We had four kids in our Christmas picture this year, but sponsoring only three children in need.

I waited several weeks before I emailed Julie.  I thought I could get Gilbert off my heart if I heard that someone snagged him soon after her letters went out.

What do you think she said?

Sadly for Gilbert, he was still waiting for a sponsor. 

Luckily for us, he was still waiting for a sponsor.

I didn't even say yes right away.  I told Julie I would get back to her and she told me that she and her family would be praying for our family.

Hmmm.  Didn't take long.  Pretty clear answer when God puts it in your mailbox at Christmas time and reminds you of a small promise you made when you started your family.

I have to tell you, our experience with Compassion has been awesome.  Gilbert's birthday was coming up (he looks like he's five, not TEN!) and we were able to go online and donate a gift specifically for his birthday.

Then we got our first letter from him.

For less than the price of one dinner out per month, we were able to add some love into Gilbert's life and hopefully make a significant impact on his family's future.

But it isn't about us or the money.  It is about the relationship we're forming.

Some things I immediately love about Compassion are:
- They typically only sign up one child in each family for sponsorship, but it helps the family as a whole.
- They don't support people within poverty, they enable them to work their way out of it by helping them start their own business and support themselves.
- Sponsors are able to attend a Compassion trip and actually meet their sponsored children.

Guess where I envision taking my men someday? :-)

Compassion has an awesome practice of sending bloggers to visit
their projects.

They are in Kenya now and I'm addicted to the updates and scanning their photos for a glimpse of my Gilbert.  They are showing me what I learned in Russia - that these children are real and while we are helping to rescue them from poverty, they can rescue us from wealth.

When wealth means giving $1.25 a day, I don't know anyone who couldn't be a part of the rescue.

Go check out what Kristen, MckMama, and the other bloggers have
to say.

And would you consider sponsoring a Compassion Child?

brain power

Today was the first day in as long as I can remember with the two brain cells I have left, that my eldest and I did not have a giant conflict over school.

Without creating a long-winded, drawn out, boring post about why I started home schooling, I'll just say that all I have thought about this year is when I'm going to stop home schooling.

I have tried every way I could think of, and some ways that others have thought of, to smooth out our day and make third grade more enjoyable for The Hunter.

With no success.  It has been a really tough school year for me.

Have you ever had the thought, "I'm trapped in the situation I created."?

There have been hissy-fits (mostly him, but sometimes me) e.v.e.r.y.d.a.y. and I have realized that the only time I'm not in conflict with my boy is on the weekends.

It has made me very sad.  I have felt like a failure and questioned my decision making as a parent.

But today was a breath of fresh air.  It was still time consuming, and a lot of work, but it was peaceful and productive.

I made a small adjustment in our schedule, and it made a difference for today.  It felt so good to see some initiative out of this boy who I know is so smart and has so much promise.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring....

but I'm grateful for today, and I'm celebrating it.

someone stole my baby

That's what I keep saying around here.

My little Squirt decided that he was a big enough boy to wear underwear back in September.  Easier than any of my first three little men.

Done.

Just.Like.That.

He really hasn't had an accident for months, which is more than I can say for two of his older brothers.  Not even the traditional wet "dribble" circle, as most moms of boys know well.

I've been clinging to the fact that he loves his crib and binky (gasp!) and spends HOURS just trapped hanging out happily in his crib because that is the only place that he was allowed to have the bless-ed binky.

But then he gave up his crib one day.  Just out of the blue he asked to sleep in one of the bunk beds and when I didn't offer his binky, he just went to sleep happily.

And he has only asked for it one time in over a month.

Binky is gone.  Done.

Boo.  I wasn't ready for that at all.  It was not in my control or my time line and it threw me for an emotional loop.

Because then I had no excuse not to take down his crib.

And there isn't another baby coming to fill the crib, so the crib is soon to be sold online.

Along with the changing table, mobile, and other miscellaneous baby items that I have no excuse not to get rid of.

I have commented several times to women close to me that I know there are women out there who can't wait to get out of the baby stage.  They can't wait to say that they are done being pregnant, nursing and changing diapers.

I have heard them say how happy they are to have all their kids out of cribs and in school.

I'm just not one of those women.

Motherhood was something that I looked forward to all my life.  When it finally happened to me, it was a sweet season.  I had great pregnancies, great births, and I just love the baby stage.

So, I am not going to be afraid of what God has waiting in the next sweet stage for me and this awesome family He has given me.

But I will also step tenderly, and a little reluctantly, away from the baby stage - one day at a time.

don't blink

or you might miss them!

Our two oldest boys are in a locals' ski program titled "Learn to Race," however, it is not an exclusive to racing program.  It is an all-mountain skill building program that exposes them to a little racing.

Last weekend, they had their first NASTAR race and my man and I skied over from our lunch break to watch them fly down the hill.

 

 

Our little Squirt is not old enough to join a formal program yet, but I'm certain when he is old enough, this is what he'll look like.

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

our little lounge lizard

Rufus got the dancing genes.

I will leave you guessing which side of the family he got them from.

I'm thinking we're going to have to watch him closely in the coming years.

a letter from a local

Dear Sundance Film Festival Attendees,

Contrary to your own belief, you are not the most important people on earth.

While we Park City locals appreciate our little ski town being on the map for all the glitz and glamour of the ten day movie-fest, I personally have had enough of your arrogance and oblivious attitudes.

I am well aware that this is a vacation for you, however, some of us live here and do have to get our children to school and shop for groceries and all the mundane, every day responsibilities that come with, well... life.  Therefore, it would be greatly appreciated if you would get off your phones while you are driving and pay attention to traffic lights, signs, and other drivers and pedestrians around you.

Along the same lines, please note that our traffic lights and turning lanes are not optional.  Like everywhere else in the good old U.S. of A, these things keep our world a slightly orderly and a little more safe for all of us to get around. 

Please don't sit in the center lane and then turn right just to get around the quarter mile long line of cars waiting THEIR TURN to turn on the next road.

Please don't sit in the middle of the intersection on a yellow light during a traffic stand still, causing me to miss my green arrow and waiting another five minutes to get where I need to go.

Even if you're late for your movie, the above still stands.

And, I know that sometimes you're strapped for conversation, but if you happen to sit next to me on the chairlift, please don't go on and on and on about how you make more money than you know what to do with and that you're really just a hippie in a rich man's life.

It makes me want to barf.

Lastly, coming from a girl who loves to shop for her colors, I thought I might clue you in on a little fashion detail.  Sundance tourists can be spotted from afar simply by your black jackets and movie star sunglasses.

Try to step out of your comfort zone in the fashion department next year.

And remember, red means stop.

Until next year,
A simple PC local

why our long winters are worth it

About five years ago we started talking about what it would be like to be able to ski with each other again.

It has been a long season of having little ones at home with so many demands on us.  We are finally on the brink of our entire family enjoying the mountain.

Today we enjoyed one heck of a powder day with some good friends.  I'm not in the video, but my man is the last one filmed. 

We were with our friends Deb and Doug who, funnily enough, you can hear crash into each other right after they pass by me.

p.s. I'm aware that my video is too wide.  I'm thinking my new HD Fl!p is just a different format than I'm used to.

ain't no stopping them

We desperately need snow to make this snow snob go up again.

My men approach thing differently.

With a smile...

 

sucker!

My beloved and I have been looking forward to this ski season, not for the snow, fresh air, or vertical feet.

We have THREE boys in a locals' ski program this year.

TEN Saturdays.

NINE a.m. until THREE p.m.

For a homeschooling family, this is bliss.  I am with my boys all week, so it is no problem for me to ship them off to ski with excellent instructors for six hours at a time.

PLUS, this is the first year that it hasn't been an overwhelming favor to ask of a friend to watch our angelic little Squirt for a few hours so we can ski together.

OR, my beloved and our crazy friends can drag my butt all over the forbidden parts of our mountain.

May I show you the illustrated version, compliments of my crappy Blackberry phone camera?

Allrightythen.

First off, my husband informed me that the chairlift is actually farther to the left in the trees than my photo shows, but I'm lazy and didn't feel like re-doing the picture.

You get the idea.  We took Jupiter lift up and skied that little hill down.  Then, all in the name of fun, we took our skis off and hiked UP.

About 45 minutes later I joined all the in shape people Kenyon, Pete, and Deb at the top of Pinecone Ridge.

Below are the crazy lunatics that convinced me that this was going to be fun (Kenyon, Deb, and Pete).  I think Deb just likes having another girl hiking with her, but I think she's cool for keeping up with the boys.

Or, she's just happy about the nice nap she had time to take while waiting for me to hike my sorry butt up the mountain.

I realized at this point that all three of them are sales people in the business world and I felt like I got sold a bill of goods.  They are out of my league!

The BAD NEWS was that the snow conditions were sub-par.  To be blunt, it was like navigating skis through thick ice cream.  We all took a few tumbles amidst all our laughter.

The WORSE NEWS is that my posse did not know where in the heck they were going and we found ourselves in a THICK aspen forest.  See Pete disappearing into the trees?

No path, no room, no fun.

In the end, I was a sweaty, sore, frustrated, skeptical woman with broken branches sticking out of my helmet and snow packed down my pants.

We were half an hour late picking up Squirt at Jenny's house.  You can go here to see what she did to fill the time.

Now, if our little ski town would just get about two feet of fresh pow pow, I'll try it again.

With a trail map.

what cartoons are good for

A conversation my beloved and I overheard in the car tonight:

Sauce:  "I know what a record player is."

The Hunter:  "Oh yeah?"

Sauce:  "It's something that's on Tom and Jerry."

The Hunter:  "Oh yeah!  Tom turns it on to play music!"

Who said cartoons are a waste of time?  Our kids are learning history!

FOR SALE

ONE EIGHT YEAR-OLD BOY

For immediate sale, one nearly nine year old boy.

Fiercely independent.

Does not like school in any way, shape, or form.

Delights in being the boss of his brothers.

Doesn't particularly like going to bed when told OR getting up with everyone else in the morning.

Consistently sprinkles when he tinkles.

Wants to grow his hair long like all the ragamuffin looking pre-teen boys.

Likes to play with messy toys with small parts such as Legos and K'Nex, in addition to creating junk with trash also resulting in a mess.

Did I mention he doesn't like school?

All reasonable offers will be considered, including a perfect little girl who sits still during school hours, plays dollies instead of war or hunting, and doesn't think fart noises are hilarious.

All sales final.

if I have any readers left

I have a file full of blog posts started, but not finished.

We have cruised through the Christmas break, not stopping or even slowing down as the new year passed us by like every other moment in time.

My poor blog has been virtually ignored for a few weeks, which is hilarious for two main reasons:

1.  This girl loves to write.
2.  I included my blog address in my Christmas cards this year, so any new readers that checked in here were bored silly.

So, here is my short novel to covered the omitted history:

Chapter One:
We had an awesome visit with my sister Amy and her family, as well as my mom.  It is tradition that we travel to them every summer and they travel to us every winter.  The boys love hanging with their cousins and Aunt Amy makes them laugh so hard.

Plus they give cooler presents than Mom and Dad do.

Not to mention the little ones get to go wild and crazy.

 

 

We did a little skiing, a little tubing, a little eating, gaming, bargain shopping, and a lot of laughing.

 

 

Plus, their family brought so many wi-fi gadgets that they crashed our router about 437 times in five days.

 

 

 

For the second year in a row, their trip coincided with Rufus's holiday preschool program.  Here's a snapshot of his five year old cuteness:

Chapter Two:
Family leaves and I spend seven hours getting intimately acquainted with an 1100+ piece Republic Attack Cruiser.

I would never admit that I had several extra pieces when I was done.  Or the height of my frustration when the boys picked it up the next morning and several miscellaneous pieces popped off.

Chapter Three:
We had a wonderful Christmas.  Presents all around!

Chapter Four:
New Year's Eve poker game until 4:15 a.m.  Ouch.

The silver lining was that the Sweeney's kept all the cash when everyone went home.

Pete was not happy about that:

Neither was Rob:

This crazy hat indicated who was the dealer and it made us all laugh:

Our friends David and Darcy joined our Park City gang and tried their hand at poker. 

They claimed that it was their very first time, but we were all quite suspicious when David won the battle to the death against Christa.

Here is a peek at the action at the table.

David arrived cash-less, so Kenyon and I paid his mighty $5 buy-in at the table.  He then insisted that I keep his winnings.  That's pretty much how generous he and his family are.

I'll still think twice before sitting down at cards with him again!  I think his quick study took everyone by surprise.

The End.

We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging.

p.s. might you leave a comment and let me know you're still out there?

remembering why He came

Merry Christmas.

things I should have blogged about - hunger

It is almost becoming cliche' to say that Thanksgiving and Christmas should be about giving to others.

I believe it when I hear it, but am I really living it?  How many times has, "let's have a small Christmas this year," turned into another huge pile of presents around the tree?

Prior to Thanksgiving, our church planned to be an assembly site for Kids Against Hunger.  Not only did 400 people sign up to spend their Thanksgiving morning packaging food for hungry people, but our church also sent home samples of the food packs for families to "fast" from our American diets prior to turkey day.

One packet of food provides a nutritious meal for six people and only needs hot water to prepare it.  Before I served it for dinner, I wanted my kids to watch the videos on the Kids Against Hunger website so they could know WHY we were doing this and who the food really goes to.

And for them to peek out of their little American window and see how much of the world has very basic needs that are not met.

They all huddled around my computer to watch, but The Hunter quickly began walking away.  When I told him to get his butt back here come join us please, he looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, "I can't Mom.  It is just too sad."

I can't wait to take that boy out into the world someday soon.  I hope my 2006 trip to Russia was just the tip of a big family iceberg.

The dinner was actually pretty comparable to what is normally served around here.

We liked it, so it wasn't much of a sacrifice to eat it.  But it was a great reminder and discussion starter for our family to think about others who are hungry, cold, or even lonely.

Our church is currently exploring a partnership with an organization working in Africa.  My friend Amy sent me this video of a little glimpse of what is waiting there.

Russia just opened my eyes and my heart.  I want them to stay open and focused on the needs of others.

ta-da!

Money is pretty tight around here (I'm sure pretty much anyone can relate). 

Our 12 year old furniture has taken a beating since our men have entered our family, so I decided to try to update the look of our living room a bit by refinishing our tables.

Thank goodness for my crafty friend Katie, who taught me via text message how this process should be done.  Busy moms have a hard time actually connecting live on the phone!

Before:

 

An attempt to show how beat up the coffee table was:

And after weeks of trial and error work and a big fat mess in the basement:

Unfortunately, there is a matching armoire that needs to match the new look but I have no idea where I'll find the time!