Dinner Party Rules

I have a rule when we have company over.  To not be a Martha when guests are in my home!  (Luke 10:39-42)

We had friends over for dinner one Friday evening.  There were a total of 16 of us!!!!  We've done it before.  But we don't do it nearly as often as we should. 

One thing is for sure though.  

The time sitting around visiting and playing games and listening to the (10!!!) kids play is far more important than doing the dishes while they are all here.

My awesome husband told me to come to bed after they had all left.  I was a little uncomfortable with this as I was leaving in the morning with some kids from church to attend a kids conference.  (working on not being as much of a Martha with my family!) But I went to bed and then left the mess and came home that afternoon to it all cleaned up.  Bonus!!!

2 Years Ago...

...we were all sitting around the table having dinner. I was kind of in a rush because My Sweetie and I had a Church Council meeting. I needed to get everyone fed, food cleaned up and everyone out the door and our our way to Church. Meeting nights when we BOTH have meetings can be a little stressful...especially when they are on school nights.

The Boy who was sitting across from me at the table asked for the MILLIONTH time about when his friend who was in town visiting was going to be able to come and play. The Boy's friend had come into town with his family. His dad is in music ministry and had done a performance the night before, Mother's Day. I had thought about going, but I just didn't feel up to if for whatever reason. I can't even really remember what we had done that Mother's Day.

The Boy's friend and his siblings were being left with a family, 2 Pastors from our parish and their daughters, while their parents went on a much deserved vacation together.

So after the MILLIONTH inquiry about the where and when their much anticipated play date was going to be, I kind of snipped at The Boy telling him I would talk to our Pastor friend who I would see the next day at Bible Study.

Fast forward to the beginning of our Council meeting. Just after the devotion and just before the prayer our Pastor asked for us to keep a family in our prayers who had lost a child. He didn't give us any other details because there were still people who did not know of the loss. He told us it wasn't anyone from our congregation, but a family we all knew. I thought nothing else of this after.

Fast forward to the next day, the 15th. I arrived to my Tuesday Bible Study to see my Pastor and his wife rather than the other Pastor who typically led our study. After we had all arrived, he told us that The Boy's friend had been killed the day before in an accident with a horse at our Bible Study Pastor's home where he and his siblings were staying. I remember 3 of us all reacting the exact same way with an audible gasp and our hands brought up to cusp our nose and mouth. My stomach sank, my heart ached.

He didn't have very many details for us. I couldn't even imagine what or how I was going to be able to tell The Boy. Much of the rest of the day I was an emotional mess.

We learned that they were holding a memorial service later that day. My Hubby went to school and picked up The Boy and told him what had happened to his friend. We took BuhBuh to a grandparents house and took The Boy and Little Dude, who wasn't even a month old yet, with us to the service.

There aren't words to describe the service. The dad, a worship leader and music minister lead the service. It was probably the saddest thing I've ever experienced in my life to date. I was sad for the family. Sad for their loss. Sad for the family who was caring for the child and had held his hand as he died. Just sad as watched the the father stand over his son's body and played his guitar and sang the song he had written about his son a couple of years ago. Then we heard his father, the one who watched his son come into the world, say the final committal prayer of the body.

The other part that was almost a little eerie to both My Hubby and I was that as we listened to the father speak of his son, just how alike and how much in common our son had with his friend. I remember during their visits and times together how grateful and thankful I was that they had met and become friends. I remember the time he spent in our home and at church with us. I remember and how much I loved listening to him speak with his Australian accent.

To this day The Boy still can't listen to one particular song that we sang during the service. I can listen to it, but I think of him every time. Whenever I hear the song I can hear his youngest sibling singing it at the top of his lungs through his sobs.

If anything, the death of this amazing young man reminds me of just how fragile and precious life is. It reminds me that sometimes tragic accidents happen to good people. I am certain that his death was not part of God's plans. Sometimes accidents just happen. (But I do believe God can work in us to use tragic events to continue to do His work which He has done for the families involved) It also reminds me of how important it is to live in the moment and to love our children and spouses and families for who they are and where they are in their lives because you just....never...know.

It is my prayer that someday, The Boy will be able to listen to the song we sang at the service without having to leave the room because it is just too painful for him. I hope he is able to listen to the song and think of his friend and smile at all the good things he was able to do in his short life; I hope he is able to listen to the song and recognize that the reason the parents chose the song was because God is still lovely, worthy and wonderful even in the midst of tragedy and will continue to be so even in eternity where the boys will one day play again.

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness.
Opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came
To the earth You created
All for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost

Here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely
Altogether worthy,
Altogether wonderful to me

Giving Thanks

WHEW! It's been a whirlwind of events since Wednesday night!!! I should probably be in bed....BUT, I decided to post here first.

Wednesday night we met with some friends of mine from high school.

We didn't really become good of friends until our senior year....we all had gym class together. These girls truly were a God send for me my senior year. There was a time when I felt so separated and lost from many of my other friends. But the friendship that the three of us had built got me through that season. After graduation and when many of my other friends went away to college and my high school boyfriend broke up with me, AGAIN I was again consumed with loneliness. These girls were there for me offering their friendship and love and rides to school!!! Somewhere between second semester of my freshman year and the beginning of my sophomore year we just all lost touch. We were at one another's weddings, exchanged Christmas cards and shared an occasional phone card. Neither of them have ever been far from my heart.

We recently reconnected and made plans to get together for a visit with our sweet hubbies and adorable kids.
It was so awesome seeing them. There wasn't any awkwardness and sitting there on the bench watching our kids play it felt like we'd never been apart. It felt comfortable and easy and just like it did all of those years ago.

Thanksgiving day was nice. I had made my food the day before and enjoyed a morning in jammies on the couch watching the parade with my precious, sweet family. Little Dude LOVED all of the musical acts and would clap and dance around. We all got ready for lunch and headed to My Sweetie's Aunt's house for our Thanksgiving feast! The kids got to see their Great Grandparents which is such a special treat because of how special Great Grands are.

And they got to spend some time with their cousins
After our bellies were full and we played some games, had some pie and visited we headed home.

Friday morning I got to have breakfast with friend of mine who I use to work with and her son. They live in Virgina now and don't get back home very often, but it's always nice to visit with her when she is home. I am thankful that her and I have stayed friends even all these years since we worked together.

Friday afternoon we packed up our three kids and our niece and headed to an indoor water park to meet up with our playgroup friends. We swam, went out to dinner, bowled,
raced go carts, played lazer tag and lots of video games. It's such a fun place!!! The kids had fun with their friends and cousin and we had fun being with our friends too!

Despite all the fun we had, there was the one time where Little Dude puked all over me while we were bowling. By all over, I mean I just sat there while my dear, sweet friends and husband cleaned up both Little Dude and me! I went back to my room (almost forgetting to take off my bowling shoes) and cleaned him up, took a shower put on my pajamas just in time for him to throw up on me again. Not as bad but I once again needed clean clothes! All that pukin' made him sleepy!!

He was fine the next day.

After Little Dude fell asleep my friend brought BuhBuh and our niece and said The Boy and My Sweetie were in first aide....

The Boy was getting ready to race the go carts....he was very excited!

But shortly after they begun, he crashed into a wall, bounced back, crashed into another car, crashed back into the wall and hurt his arm. Off to the ER The Boy and My Sweetie went while I stayed at the hotel with the other three. When he braced himself for the crash it put pressure on his arm causing a Torus fracture.

Needless to say, The Boy was very limited in what he could do the following day. No swimming, no lazer tag, no go karts.

Saturday after we got home we mostly relaxed at home. The Boy and My Sweetie made a run into town to check out some sales. Today after Church we went and bought most of our gifts for our Angle Family....to find out both of us forgot our wallets!!! Back home we went to get them....and returned to the store an hour later.

I attempted to get a jump start on some Mommy Work this evening because I know we'll most likely be heading to the orthopedic doctor tomorrow.

All in all, the long weekend was great....I have much to be thankful for....my husband, my children, a loving family and good friends.

Photo Dump

I have so many pictures to post....mostly for Sarah and Becky to see!!! ENJOY!!!!!!

Pumpkin Carving pictures....


Little Dude was eating the insides of his pumpkin. I figured it couldn't hurt too much, right?


Halloween 2008


Little Dude's costume was a HIT!!!!

I think BuhBuh won't be satisfied until he dresses up as every Star Wars character there is. I don't like masks...I like to see their faces. He was soooo happy to with his costume. He's wore it several days since around the house.

The Boy fights me every year because he wants to be something scary or evil. I ask him if he loves Jesus, he says, yes. Then I tell him that I don't think someone who loves Jesus should be dressed as something that is opposite of everything Jesus stands for. So, we have to get creative. Can you tell what he is???

He's Starbucks!!!!! HA!!!! Aren't we clever??? :)

My Sweetie's Pumpkin's.

He's amazing!!! He doesn't use a pattern or special carving tools. He just looks at a picture, sketches it out on paper and carves it with a knife. The kids choose what they want on their pumpkin.

The Boy chose a character from Mario, Boo

BuhBuh chose, what else, a Clon Trooper

We chose Clifford for Little Dude...he loves dogs and has enjoyed watching Clifford cartoons.

I had a treat on Halloween night too!!!! A visit from my friend Sarah!!!!

Her in-laws live across the street from my in-laws. The Boy went over to trick-or-treat and saw them and invited them over to see us!!!



These pictures were from a beautiful 70 degree November day...by the end of the week it actually felt more like November-snow flakes and all. So we were trying to soak it up!




This wasn't the frame worthy photo I was hoping for. Little Dude did NOT like being in the leaves!!!

Little Dude's play date with his Little Buddy....


They are so cute! They don't exactly interact with one another yet. So appreciate these few pictures of them together.


The future of tomorrow....

Little Buddies

Is it such a terrible thing that I try to manipulate who my children are friends with?? I want my kids to be friends with other kids who are going to lift them up, encourage them, make good choices and grow up with memories of good, strong friendships. Is it really so bad to sway them in certain directions???

Today Samuel and I met Emery and his mommy Sarah at the zoo. The boys are both "experienced" walkers now. We let them out of their strollers to explore a little more independently. They seemed to have fun. So much in fact, that they never once turned around so I could get a picture of them A. Together and B. Looking at me.

They are both very unaware of one another still. But with some more play dates, growing a little older and some slight manipulation from the mommies, I'm certain they will grow up buds!

Both Emery and Little Dude seemed to like the ducks the best. You see, "Duck" is Emery's favorite word and Little Dude fell in love with ducks on our vacation.


We had a good time. Remember how I said I thought I was manipulating my children's friends??? Well, it got me thinking of all the ways/chances Sarah and I could have met. We actually met on our Walk to Emmaus weekend. But it just so happens that our in-laws live across the street from one another, we both graduated from the same high school within a few years of one another, and her sister is friends with my mom. Hmmmmm.....it seems we were meant to run into one another at one time or another. I have truly been blessed and inspired by her story, her strength, her bravery in showing when she's hurt and/or scared and in the fact that her faith has remained strong throughout this journey that she has been on. I remember reading their Carepage and now Blog thinking how much I was looking forward to our boys being able to meet and hopefully grow up being friends. That day has arrived!!!! I look forward to more play dates and hopefully they will pose for a picture one day!