This might be my favorite time to blog

When I get to talk about my children. I always said I would never be that mom who could only talk about her kids.  But when I start thinking of funny things, of hard things with children, I just can't close the flood gates.

As has become tradition for my sister and now myself, we write Christmas posts for each child. 

I'll start with my first: James Alexander Holdgate

 Going on 7 years of marriage, we have seen alot of ups and many many downs.  However, these children are a major part of the ups, and I guess downs, too.  However, I am continually amazed with watching my children grown. I couldn't find a picture of our little butterball turkey so here are 2 pictures that show a bit of who this blessing is. 

Is is not uncommon to find James, like this picture shows, hands deep in a project. This happens to be a lego set he purchased when he decided he wanted to make some money to buy a toy.  So, we gave him a few extra chores and paid him for it. 

James is super smart and his mind is a sponge.  He absorbs all the information at school and we are only privvy to a portion of that.  Every now and then we'll have a conversation with him and realize just how much his little brain is working. 
He loves school.  Did I say that already, well, He LOVES school!! He loves to do his homework, he loves to draw and make his own paper books with his drawings.  He loves to build.  He loves to explain things to a point where we have to ask him to stop talking and give someone else a chance. 

He is growing out of size 5 and wears size 11 shoes.  He prefers his crocs but will wear tennis shoes when needed.  He, like his dad, would be happy if all I ever bought him were polos and khakis.  Yup. 

He hates tight clothing and tight shoes.  He does not like to wear clothes around the house, but we are working on it.  He does not prefer fruit but has discovered he does like cantalope.  He eats a peanut butter sandwich for lunch, EVERY DAY.  He loves to eat cereal in the morning with his dad. 

So, what would be a good gift for James? Any sort of new project or tool; any sort of new coloring supply, puzzles, legos and cool t-shirts. 

No energy to write

Or cool stories to tell. It's hard to remember all that happens during the day as well as make time to write about it. I do pretty well at recounting a few stories to Alex in the evening, after my glass of wine. But this story is about God's plan.



You see, Alex and I both have a desire to give. Sometimes we give and it makes people uncomfortable. Sometimes we're not able to give because, well, sometimes that's just how it is. I do find it quite healthy and freeing to give away clothes, toys, kitchen appliances, etc.



So last week, Alex told me about this guy who was working for him. He has 2 little boys, 2 and 11 months and his girlfriend. They were evicted 2 weekends ago, had their car impounded and are living in a very much less than desirable hotel room; where even the landlord told Danielle and Andy to stay inside all day. So, as a mother of young children, I couldn't even bear to think of what it would be like to be cooped up in a hotel room with 2 young ones and not even be able to spend time outside. Actually, I can understand and I know it would drive me CRAZY!



A day after that, Alex calls me from work and asks if we should offer them our guest room. At least they wouldn't have to stay inside all day and then Alex could take Andy to work. They agreed and they arrived late Wednesday night.



You know that feeling when something is just right? Well, we have it. So, Danielle helps out around the house, watches the kids if I need to run out and is very happy to be out of that hotel. I am happy to have some other little kids to distract my kids and have an adult to talk to. Alex was happy to have someone help him clean up our backyard.



So today, I was putting some stuff together for Danielle, out of my vast supply of coupon deals and started filling up one of my 31 cosmetic bags for her. This particular bag, I had bought back from a customer ( a year ago) because she didn't like the color of the monogramming on it. So, I look down and see that the monogramming is DC. Her name is Danielle Crabtree. I couldn't believe it so when I gave her the bag, I couldn't help but say that there is a reason God has them here. She says that she knows, she prayed to get out of that hotel.



All of this to say that God does have a plan and he sometimes gives us very concrete, visible signs. What's next for our friends? I don't know. They paid to get their car out of impound, and now it doesn't work. So, they're looking for a car so at least, Andy can drive to work. Alex has enough work for a few weeks for him but we don't know about after that. Then they'll consider moving back to where Danielle will be closer to family and can get some help. I think they'd like to come back to Charleston eventually, once they can get a cushion to fall back on.



So, I'm continuing to pray for their sweet family and sweet little boys. I'm so glad God brought them here and I hope that they will see what God has planned for them too.

Random

I haven't been posting but I have been thinking.  I've been concentrating on cleaning up my house (flylady.net), focusing more on respecting my husband (Love & respect) and reading through Grudem's Systematic Theology (1/2 off at the local christian bookstore). 

House Cleaning: No, it doesn't come natural. My theory, you either get the cleaning or cooking gene, I got cooking.  Can I get an AMEN!!  Okay, so this Flylady Kelly lady tells you certain things to do on certain days. This might come natural to some but not to me! I want a clean house, I just don't know how to do it.  So, I've been motivated to go minimal with our stuff and hoping to make some big improvement this summer.

Respect:  Turns out, I need to work on showing my respect for my husband. Need I say more? I'm looking forward to listening to Love & Respect. 

Systematic Theology: After going to a Holy Ghost sunday school I got inspired to get this book. AND it happened to be half off....I'll be posting more as I read more...

That's what's been going on.

Paper Mache

Ryan told me one day that he wanted to do paper mache.  He didn't announce it appropriately and I'm not sure how he knew how to do it, but he wanted a pinata.  So, he found wrapping paper, lined paper, water and a spatula.  I ended the project soon after this picture because I couldn't handle the wads of water drenched paper all over the kitchen. 

New and Happening

Here it is Jamey.  I have one picture to share.  She turned 2. That should say it all.  Meanwhile, she should be sleeping, but our cat, Gerdy got locked in her room and no nap was taken.  Olivia is upstairs yelling to Gerdy " Gerdy!" "Stop!". Yes, she's TWO!!! 

And she likes shoes and she likes certain outfits.  This skirt, for example, had to be left on at night under her unicorn pj's.  The boots did come off though. Have I mentioned how confused I am by her hair. It falls forward, is fine, and curly in the back.  Alex cut a few of her bangs....Can you tell?

But this was a cute picture I thought my sister would enjoy. 

Lip vs. Comode

I hope that's how you spell that word.  No, I don't blog much because I'm finding it really difficult to think in straight lines anymore.  My blogs sort of end up being random run-on's and partial thoughts.  But this one has a central theme.

Ryan's 2nd ER visit.  Remember the first one where he was 'stung' by a pussmoth?  Well, Ryan was playing in the living room when he got that look in his eye and ran to bathroom shouting " I have to pee!".  That was followed by a very loud thwump which I thought was the sink or the toilet.  I ran into the bathroom after I heard the very loud painful cry to find my sweet little boy holding a very bloody lip.  While still screaming, we managed to look at the lip and the huge chunk that was bit  by his very sharp teeth.  It looked really deep and had a sideways hook design. We were concerned that it was really deep and it did cross down into the chin area. 

So, the pediatrician recommended the ER so we rushed him off again.  We have a friend who is in plastics so we asked him to stop by to check it out. The options:
1. take him home, put on neosporin and keep him from bonking his mouth.  There would be a little scar but nothing too bad.
2.  Wait till 11 to get sedated (while eating no food), put in 1 stitch and still have a scar. 

Our decision was easy; we opted for neosporin which was free cuz they gave us samples. 

We had a great experience there and I even saw one of our nurses today at the fabric store.  We chatted for a bit and I feel like going back to have some coffee with the girls. 

Picture is on facebook.

Running from the Po-Po!

Yes, I know it's their job, but really?!  How many times do I have to have my plates run while sitting at a stop light. I've become so paranoid that when I see a cop behind me, I make the next turn so he won't have time to run my plates.  I"m waiting to get pulled over and have him say" Ma'am, you were yelling too loud at your kids". 

It happens in the same general vicinity, but it's not as though I can avoid ALL police areas.  So, my tags expired because I didn't change the address on my license and didn't get the bill. No big deal, I just have to go to the farthest DMV to pay them and then go to court to show the officer.  He scheduled me for the week we'll be in Texas, so I had to fax in a letter explaining why I should get a continuance.  I am so scared that they'll say NO, that I faxed them my flight itinerary. Just in case they feel as though I'm fleeing my duty to pay car taxes....

So, today on the way to Ryan's school (we were already running late), I saw the flashing blue and had to pull over. I quickly grabbed my license and previous citations to give to him.  I had some sort of excuse about sick kids and no babysitter and he said " I understand. My kid is home with a double ear infection." Yea, so let's see if his wife pays her taxes :)  Anyways, I'm wondering how many more times I"ll get pulled over.  My kids are used to it now that it's fun. I had some donuts in the car so Ryan thought I should give one to the cop.  I didn't.