There isn't a mom around that doesn't wish she had an unlimited supply of money. It is hard enough sometimes just to make ends meet let alone have enough money left over to do something fun with the family on the weekends. So, here are some ways to pinch those pennies that you may not have thought about.
1. Shop Bargain/Bulk Stores.
Not saying that they will be your one and only place to shop, but you should make them your first! Here's why. When you shop places like the Dollar Tree you will find all sorts of things that don't need to be "name brand" like plastic storage containers with lids, glassware, cards, wrapping paper, helium filled balloons, cleaners, kitchen gadgets like colanders, graters, spoons- you name it! (even off brand Mr. Clean Magic Erasers that work just like the real deal!) They have these HUGE resealable vacuumed sealed plastic storage bags that go quick and you can use them for all sorts of things! Just go and browse before you go to the "big" store! If you shop at Goodwill you can buy picture frames, household items, furniture that you can give some TLC and really make your own, and clothes! Another go-to place for budget conscious moms is thrift stores and stores like Big Lots, Burlington Coat Factory, Goody's, Marshals, TJMaxx and the used baby stores for the kiddos. Also, for groceries, try stores like ALDI before going to the big stores and visit Gordon Food Service for some really great deals on food and kitchen items without the bulk store membership! You will be amazed and wonder why you haven't shopped this way before! And for even more unique savings, try the online yard sales on Facebook and Everything But the House for some amazing deals! If you get creative, you can really stretch the family dollar! Ha. Get it?
2. Make Your Own Cleaning Products.
Making your own cleaning products is kinda the new thing. No, really. Moms all around are realizing that if they can use a simple, cheap cleaner to scrub the crud off the toilet and scum off the tub, they would be crazy to want to pay four times as much for the cleaners at the store. They are mostly water anyway. Look around online and search for some really quick recipes for everything from homemade toothpaste to making your own laundry soap! Seriously easy stuff. For example, put white vinegar and a few drops of dish liquid in one of those sponges with a refillable handle and in less than two minutes you have a really good shower and tub cleaner in a ready-to-go scrubby! You can make all sorts of cleaners- the sky is the limit! So, look around. Chances are, YOU can make that fancy-shmancy cleaner you love and save yourself money that you could put to better use on something very important. Like date night!
3. Budget in Family Fun!
Have you ever considered budgeting in a family fun night? There are many creative things you can do on a very limited budget. Home Video Night, for example is a favorite! The kids love to see themselves when they were little, especially when they were born! There's always lots of giggling from the kids and parents love the walk down memory lane. Past vacations are fun, birthday parties and even the old wedding video! Backyard Camp out Night is tons of fun for kids! They really don't care if it's just the backyard; the thought of something different is exciting enough. If you have a fire pit or barbeque, roasting hotdogs and smores is an added element of fun and doesn't cost much or take much planning. Dessert Night Out- cook dinner at home and then surprise the kids for dessert out! Either to a favorite ice cream shop if its warm out or go inside for some warm apple pie, or even hot chocolates and coffee! It gets even better if you orchestrate this with friends and meet for dessert out and conversation! Movie Night In is a cool idea for busy moms who want to something fun but don't really have much time to plan. This one involves going to Redbox and picking out a movie for $1 and then popping some popcorn in the microwave and maybe picking up a couple of drink mix packets for 10 cents at the dollar store and voila, movie night! Mom's done! If you want to take it up a notch, you could make some brownies from a box for less than $2. The library even has movies you can check out for free. Star Gaze, the night where you all go outside with blankets and look up at the stars. If you have a nice open yard its even better. Listening to the night sounds and taking a nice break from electronics is always a good idea!
Friend Potluck, where you invite a friend and their family over for a grill out/potluck and let the kids play and the grown ups can enjoy fellowship, too! It's super wallet-friendly and no one has to care about leaving a mess for the buss boy or leaving a tip as big as the bill...Free concerts and movies thanks to your local park districts. Many times during the summer there are all sorts of different concerts from various music genres. Even plays! It's kinda fun!
4.Kids Eat Free!
If you google kids eat free in your area you will come up with many great starting points. I went to several websites and never once saw our favorite Skyline on the list, so you will still want to call your desired restaurant and ask for more details. The more you inquire about kids east free the more places you will find that offer it. Be on the lookout for the times though, as they can start at 4pm some places and not till 5:00 at others. Many restaurants offer kids eat free on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays, but there are some places that offer it every night. A family of 4 can eat for about $20! With the economy and gas prices we need all the help we can get!
5. 30 Day Rule.
The 30 Day Rule is quite simple. You make a list of things you want/think you need to buy and then wait 30 days. This gives you time to see if you really need the item you want to purchase as well as give time for the urge to "buy it now" go away. If after 30 days you find that you still really need that item, then go buy it. But most of the time people realize that they didn't really need that item as much as they thought they did. So by waiting, they end up not purchasing something they didn't really need. It is also more wise to keep that list in your head and not on paper. In my opinion, this allows you to let the unimportant items you think you need to be forgotten and by not writing them down, you aren't reminded of what you "need". Trust me, if you need it, you will not easily forget about it!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Thursday, February 27, 2014
10 Things Your Family Must Do in Cincinnati for 2014!
It's no secret that Cincinnati has some of the best food, attractions, and historical landmarks around! From the wide range of sports activities from baseball to football, hockey to auto and horse racing; Cincinnati has got you covered! But there may be more to do Cincinnati than you realized. So here's my Top 10 things to do this year for families! I have options for any budget!
In no particular order...
1. Krohn Conservatory Butterfly Show!
The Butterfly Show begins April 12th through June 22nd and displays the most beautiful butterflies from around the world! Dress comfortably because the temperature is hot- 101*! Also, don't forget your camera as you will want to take pictures of these beauties as they land on you as well as the tropical foliage all around! While the Krohn Conservatory itself is completely free, the Butterfly Show requires admission. Rates are: $7 adults • $4 children • 4 & under are FREE! Senior adults are $6. Click here to download your coupon. You can also present your Butterfly Show receipt for $1 off "Flight of the Butterflies" at the Cincinnati Museum Center's Theater! Also spectacular!
For more info visit: http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/butterflyshow/
2. Camp with the Critters!
The Cincinnati Zoo never ceases to amaze! They think of everything! They offer a 4 week series for toddlers 18 months through 36 months as well as pre-K and Kindergarteners. If you're looking for something just as exciting but shorter, they also offer Spring Break camp for 4 years old through 7th grade and Summer camp for 4 years old through 8th grade. They have half day camp and full day camp- and child care isn't a problem. You can drop the kids off an hour before the camp starts for $35 extra and/or pick them up an hour and a half after camp is over for $40 extra. Campers get a t-shirt, snack and they get to sing and do crafts as well as have live animal interaction and learn all about the animals! And if you think that's awesome, the zoo even hosts Family Camp Outs! If your child is 5 years old and up, you are welcome to pitch a tent behind the Giraffe Ridge and then prowl the Zoo for night creatures and crawlies! What fun to camp out under the stars at the Cincinnati Zoo! You can even Sleep with the Manatees! See, I told you they think of everything! Check out this link for more info.
3. ...Rounding for Third and Heading for Home...
Cincinnati is home to the first professional baseball team in the country! We're proud of our Redlegs and all that Great American Ballpark has to offer. I suggest you take your family out to the ballpark this spring or summer on a Friday night because GABP has Friday night Fireworks, which we all know the kiddos love! GABP is so family friendly they have a play area in the KidZone for small kids that may have lost interest in the game. They have a few budget friendly concessions where everything is $1 so feeding the family isn't going to break your wallet. Also, you are allowed to bring in a small cooler of bottled water and some snacks. If you're really wanting to take in some Reds history, you'll want to check out the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum located on the Ballpark complex. It is very cool and has a number of interactive exhibitions like a broad casting booth where you can make calls and a pitching mound where you can try your best to throw a strike 60ft 6in to home plate! This museum definitely takes you on a walk down memory lane as well as give you a deeper appreciation for the sport. A truly fun, family friendly place! Tickets for the game start at $5 and the Hall of Fame & Museum are $10 for adults and $8 for kids.
Game tickets here
Hall of Fame & Museum info here
4. Get Fired Up!
If you've got a firefighter enthusiast in the family then this is the trip for you!
At the Cincinnati Fire Museum you'll learn about Cincinnati's bucket lines and pumpers and the city's first successful steam engine that could spray more water than hundreds of men with a pumper! There are all kinds of historic items including leather fire buckets, silver trumpets, a fire-alarm drum from 1808, the oldest surviving fire engine in Cincinnati, and a hand pumper from 1836! There are interactive exhibits where you and your family can learn about the bomb squad, Jaws of Life and more! Your kids even can slide down a real fire pole and interplay with a modern emergency-one fire engine! You'll learn what a day in the life of a firefighter is like, fire safety tips as well as see an amazing collection of artifacts that have brought people to this museum from all over the country and the world! $8 for adults $6 for kids and those under six years old are FREE!
Click here to plan your family's visit!
5. Ride, Splash, Quack!
Ride the Ducks is the only attraction in Cincinnati where you can experience the city and the river- everything our region has to offer- at the same time! The Captain entertains with hilarious and educational stories from the past and present. The ride comes with free Wacky Quakers that the kids are sure to love (and drive you crazy with at home!). You won't find anything else like this in Cincinnati and it's truly a great experience that the adults and kids will enjoy and remember for a long time! If you're interested in a little more, they also offer a picnic package as well as a very cool birthday package that comes with playtime at GameWorks at Newport on the Levee! Not to worry, all Ride the Ducks vehicles are United States Coast Guard inspected and the Captains are USCG certified. The Duck tours run rain or shine but try and go when it's not too humid. They say the ducks are "climate controlled" but all that really means is they have fans. It is a littler pricier than the other attractions, however, it is also a totally unique experience and well worth doing at least once!
Ticket Information
Tour Schedule
6.Creation Museum!
How exciting this museum is going to be this year! First of all, in 2014 kids 12 and under are FREE. That's right, FREE for the whole year! This amazing museum encounters familiar passages about Adam and Eve living in the Garden of Eden, dinosaurs and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and it really brings the Bible to life! You can visit a petting zoo for no additional cost, Dr. Crawley's Insectorium and see some of the worlds rarest (and weirdest!) bugs, a super cool exhibit called the Dragon Invasion where you'll feast your eyes on some amazing artwork and hear some fantastic tales about these creatures from all over the world...AND....drum roll please... the new Zip Line and Canopy Adventure Tour!! The zip line tour is the biggest and best in the mid west with over two and a half miles of zip lines and sky bridges! There are several zip tours for everyone's budget. You will not be disappointed! Your kids must be at least 8 years old to zip but their Aerial Challenge Course allows kids as young as 5 to participate!
Not to worry if your kiddos are younger than 5, there is fun for all ages at this museum! Visit this site for information for the day of your zip tour for what to wear, when to arrive etc. Visit http://creationmuseum.org/ for more info.
7. Discover the Universe!
The Cincinnati Observatory is one of the neatest places to visit in Cincinnati! It is one of the most individual astronomical conservatories in the country! It sits atop the hills of Mt. Lookout and is home to the oldest telescope still in use nightly. On it's beautiful park-like grounds stands two National Historic Landmark buildings. They have Astronomy Nights year round on most Thursday and Friday nights (the 1st Thursday and Friday night of the month is reserved for members). Make reservations soon because they book up quickly. Thursday's suggested donation is $5 but Friday nights are $7 for adults and $5 for kids under 18. You can take a historical tour on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 1-4pm. Again a donation of $5 is appreciated. If you're looking for something more than just a one day visit, they have FOTOKids! which is a monthly club for kids 6-9 and 10-15+. FOTO stands for Friends Of The Observatory and there is a Family Membership you can join that has many opportunities to learn about astronomy and telescopes. By the way, if you'd liked your very own telescope, the observatory is also a licensed Orion Telescope dealer! To place an order go to telescope.com. For more information and to make your reservations visit http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/
8. Chateau Laroche
Also known as the Loveland Castle, this museum was lovingly built by Mr. Harry D. Andrews, a WW1 vet and Boy Scout leader, in 1929. This "rock castle" was built using stones from the nearby Little Miami River and when those stones ran out he made his own bricks using cement and quart milk cartons! And at the inexpensive rate of $5 per adult and $3 per child 12 and under, you gotta make this a stop on your list this summer! Go to http://www.lovelandcastle.com/ for more info. If you've never been, pack a picnic lunch and let the kids curb their curiosity! Also, while you're in the area, you might want to bring the bikes and take a ride on the Loveland Bike Trail where there are stops for ice cream and shops along the way!
9. Big Bone Lick State Park
If you didn't know it before, this beautiful park also has a campground that is well maintained with plenty of shade on most of the lots. It has a nice little pool and a cute mini-golf course. The trails are easy to moderate, which is good if you have little ones or you have to carry your child most of the way! But of course the star attractions are the bison, the museum, and the sulfur springs. The museum is quite small, but you'll enjoy seeing the huge mastodon skull and other fossils on display. Kids will be impressed with the life-sized Ice Age sculptures behind the museum and if you're lucky, there could be a real fossil dig going on by real paleontologists! This park is just beautiful! There's fishing, paddle boats, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, tennis, softball, soccer, hiking, horseback riding, archery, basketball, Frisbee golf, sky lift, play grounds, picnic area- you name it! There is surely something your family can do in this awesome park! You will seriously want to keep it to yourself! http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick/ Go have fun!
10.Circus Camp!
You have to take your kids to this camp at least once! They accept ages from 5 years old to 14 but parents can stay and watch. They divide the kids up by age and skill level. No prior skills are necessary as this is just for fun! Every week the kids learn a new circus skill and enjoy face paints and balloons and everything fun about the circus! They offer a half day camp and a full day camp which you have to bring a packed lunched for. The camp starts June 9th through the 13th, the 16th through the 20th and August 4th through the 8th. Your kids will love this crazy week of fun! They're really good with kids and they love hanging out teaching them all about the circus tricks. Check out their website for more info!
Well there you have it! What will you surprise the kids with this summer?!
In no particular order...
1. Krohn Conservatory Butterfly Show!
The Butterfly Show begins April 12th through June 22nd and displays the most beautiful butterflies from around the world! Dress comfortably because the temperature is hot- 101*! Also, don't forget your camera as you will want to take pictures of these beauties as they land on you as well as the tropical foliage all around! While the Krohn Conservatory itself is completely free, the Butterfly Show requires admission. Rates are: $7 adults • $4 children • 4 & under are FREE! Senior adults are $6. Click here to download your coupon. You can also present your Butterfly Show receipt for $1 off "Flight of the Butterflies" at the Cincinnati Museum Center's Theater! Also spectacular!
For more info visit: http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/butterflyshow/
2. Camp with the Critters!
The Cincinnati Zoo never ceases to amaze! They think of everything! They offer a 4 week series for toddlers 18 months through 36 months as well as pre-K and Kindergarteners. If you're looking for something just as exciting but shorter, they also offer Spring Break camp for 4 years old through 7th grade and Summer camp for 4 years old through 8th grade. They have half day camp and full day camp- and child care isn't a problem. You can drop the kids off an hour before the camp starts for $35 extra and/or pick them up an hour and a half after camp is over for $40 extra. Campers get a t-shirt, snack and they get to sing and do crafts as well as have live animal interaction and learn all about the animals! And if you think that's awesome, the zoo even hosts Family Camp Outs! If your child is 5 years old and up, you are welcome to pitch a tent behind the Giraffe Ridge and then prowl the Zoo for night creatures and crawlies! What fun to camp out under the stars at the Cincinnati Zoo! You can even Sleep with the Manatees! See, I told you they think of everything! Check out this link for more info.
3. ...Rounding for Third and Heading for Home...
Cincinnati is home to the first professional baseball team in the country! We're proud of our Redlegs and all that Great American Ballpark has to offer. I suggest you take your family out to the ballpark this spring or summer on a Friday night because GABP has Friday night Fireworks, which we all know the kiddos love! GABP is so family friendly they have a play area in the KidZone for small kids that may have lost interest in the game. They have a few budget friendly concessions where everything is $1 so feeding the family isn't going to break your wallet. Also, you are allowed to bring in a small cooler of bottled water and some snacks. If you're really wanting to take in some Reds history, you'll want to check out the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum located on the Ballpark complex. It is very cool and has a number of interactive exhibitions like a broad casting booth where you can make calls and a pitching mound where you can try your best to throw a strike 60ft 6in to home plate! This museum definitely takes you on a walk down memory lane as well as give you a deeper appreciation for the sport. A truly fun, family friendly place! Tickets for the game start at $5 and the Hall of Fame & Museum are $10 for adults and $8 for kids.
Game tickets here
Hall of Fame & Museum info here
4. Get Fired Up!
If you've got a firefighter enthusiast in the family then this is the trip for you!
At the Cincinnati Fire Museum you'll learn about Cincinnati's bucket lines and pumpers and the city's first successful steam engine that could spray more water than hundreds of men with a pumper! There are all kinds of historic items including leather fire buckets, silver trumpets, a fire-alarm drum from 1808, the oldest surviving fire engine in Cincinnati, and a hand pumper from 1836! There are interactive exhibits where you and your family can learn about the bomb squad, Jaws of Life and more! Your kids even can slide down a real fire pole and interplay with a modern emergency-one fire engine! You'll learn what a day in the life of a firefighter is like, fire safety tips as well as see an amazing collection of artifacts that have brought people to this museum from all over the country and the world! $8 for adults $6 for kids and those under six years old are FREE!
Click here to plan your family's visit!
5. Ride, Splash, Quack!
Ride the Ducks is the only attraction in Cincinnati where you can experience the city and the river- everything our region has to offer- at the same time! The Captain entertains with hilarious and educational stories from the past and present. The ride comes with free Wacky Quakers that the kids are sure to love (and drive you crazy with at home!). You won't find anything else like this in Cincinnati and it's truly a great experience that the adults and kids will enjoy and remember for a long time! If you're interested in a little more, they also offer a picnic package as well as a very cool birthday package that comes with playtime at GameWorks at Newport on the Levee! Not to worry, all Ride the Ducks vehicles are United States Coast Guard inspected and the Captains are USCG certified. The Duck tours run rain or shine but try and go when it's not too humid. They say the ducks are "climate controlled" but all that really means is they have fans. It is a littler pricier than the other attractions, however, it is also a totally unique experience and well worth doing at least once!
Ticket Information
Tour Schedule
6.Creation Museum!
How exciting this museum is going to be this year! First of all, in 2014 kids 12 and under are FREE. That's right, FREE for the whole year! This amazing museum encounters familiar passages about Adam and Eve living in the Garden of Eden, dinosaurs and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil and it really brings the Bible to life! You can visit a petting zoo for no additional cost, Dr. Crawley's Insectorium and see some of the worlds rarest (and weirdest!) bugs, a super cool exhibit called the Dragon Invasion where you'll feast your eyes on some amazing artwork and hear some fantastic tales about these creatures from all over the world...AND....drum roll please... the new Zip Line and Canopy Adventure Tour!! The zip line tour is the biggest and best in the mid west with over two and a half miles of zip lines and sky bridges! There are several zip tours for everyone's budget. You will not be disappointed! Your kids must be at least 8 years old to zip but their Aerial Challenge Course allows kids as young as 5 to participate!
Not to worry if your kiddos are younger than 5, there is fun for all ages at this museum! Visit this site for information for the day of your zip tour for what to wear, when to arrive etc. Visit http://creationmuseum.org/ for more info.
7. Discover the Universe!
The Cincinnati Observatory is one of the neatest places to visit in Cincinnati! It is one of the most individual astronomical conservatories in the country! It sits atop the hills of Mt. Lookout and is home to the oldest telescope still in use nightly. On it's beautiful park-like grounds stands two National Historic Landmark buildings. They have Astronomy Nights year round on most Thursday and Friday nights (the 1st Thursday and Friday night of the month is reserved for members). Make reservations soon because they book up quickly. Thursday's suggested donation is $5 but Friday nights are $7 for adults and $5 for kids under 18. You can take a historical tour on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month from 1-4pm. Again a donation of $5 is appreciated. If you're looking for something more than just a one day visit, they have FOTOKids! which is a monthly club for kids 6-9 and 10-15+. FOTO stands for Friends Of The Observatory and there is a Family Membership you can join that has many opportunities to learn about astronomy and telescopes. By the way, if you'd liked your very own telescope, the observatory is also a licensed Orion Telescope dealer! To place an order go to telescope.com. For more information and to make your reservations visit http://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/
8. Chateau Laroche
Also known as the Loveland Castle, this museum was lovingly built by Mr. Harry D. Andrews, a WW1 vet and Boy Scout leader, in 1929. This "rock castle" was built using stones from the nearby Little Miami River and when those stones ran out he made his own bricks using cement and quart milk cartons! And at the inexpensive rate of $5 per adult and $3 per child 12 and under, you gotta make this a stop on your list this summer! Go to http://www.lovelandcastle.com/ for more info. If you've never been, pack a picnic lunch and let the kids curb their curiosity! Also, while you're in the area, you might want to bring the bikes and take a ride on the Loveland Bike Trail where there are stops for ice cream and shops along the way!
9. Big Bone Lick State Park
If you didn't know it before, this beautiful park also has a campground that is well maintained with plenty of shade on most of the lots. It has a nice little pool and a cute mini-golf course. The trails are easy to moderate, which is good if you have little ones or you have to carry your child most of the way! But of course the star attractions are the bison, the museum, and the sulfur springs. The museum is quite small, but you'll enjoy seeing the huge mastodon skull and other fossils on display. Kids will be impressed with the life-sized Ice Age sculptures behind the museum and if you're lucky, there could be a real fossil dig going on by real paleontologists! This park is just beautiful! There's fishing, paddle boats, rafting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming, tennis, softball, soccer, hiking, horseback riding, archery, basketball, Frisbee golf, sky lift, play grounds, picnic area- you name it! There is surely something your family can do in this awesome park! You will seriously want to keep it to yourself! http://parks.ky.gov/parks/historicsites/big-bone-lick/ Go have fun!
10.Circus Camp!
You have to take your kids to this camp at least once! They accept ages from 5 years old to 14 but parents can stay and watch. They divide the kids up by age and skill level. No prior skills are necessary as this is just for fun! Every week the kids learn a new circus skill and enjoy face paints and balloons and everything fun about the circus! They offer a half day camp and a full day camp which you have to bring a packed lunched for. The camp starts June 9th through the 13th, the 16th through the 20th and August 4th through the 8th. Your kids will love this crazy week of fun! They're really good with kids and they love hanging out teaching them all about the circus tricks. Check out their website for more info!
Well there you have it! What will you surprise the kids with this summer?!
Saturday, November 9, 2013
My Henry | My Heart | My Holland
It's been a month, tomorrow will make it six weeks to be exact, since we have been in Holland. Well, not literally, but since we had our son Henry. I can't tell you that I am over the fact that he has Down syndrome but I can tell you that it doesn't hurt as badly as the day we found out. Oh, it still hurts, don't misunderstand. I don't know if I'll fully ever be over it but I think that "getting over it" isn't necessarily the point. It's accepting him the way he is. It's understanding the fact that just because he's different doesn't mean he's bad.
In the short time we've had Henry he has taught me a thing or two. He's taught me that my expectations are different than assumptions. I expected Henry to be distant and not interact with me, but I was merely assuming that he wouldn't be like any other baby. I was wrong. He looks more deeply into my eyes when I talk and read to him than either of my other boys. He has studied my face and memorized my voice. He knows when I'm lying next to him and his breathing speeds up and he kicks his legs as he's excited Mommy's there and then his breathing slows as he relaxes and turns his face toward mine. He's taught me not to assume he's incapable of relationships.
He's taught me perseverance, when he couldn't nurse in the beginning. I wanted to throw in the towel, but I didn't. He's nursing much much better with a lot more ease now. He's taught me that when you've been trying for four and five weeks to accomplish something- don't give up- because you could be one week away from success! I wonder if he'll be that determined to accomplish his goals? I bet he will!
Henry is the sweetest, easiest baby to take care of. He only cries when he's really really hungry or has a dirty diaper. That's it! I'm very blessed with that as my second son was completely the opposite! (But he's very fun now!)
So we're in Holland looking around. We've kind of caught our breath and now we can begin learning the language and start looking for all the neat things that are exclusive to Holland alone...the windmills...the tulips...the Rembrandts!!
In the short time we've had Henry he has taught me a thing or two. He's taught me that my expectations are different than assumptions. I expected Henry to be distant and not interact with me, but I was merely assuming that he wouldn't be like any other baby. I was wrong. He looks more deeply into my eyes when I talk and read to him than either of my other boys. He has studied my face and memorized my voice. He knows when I'm lying next to him and his breathing speeds up and he kicks his legs as he's excited Mommy's there and then his breathing slows as he relaxes and turns his face toward mine. He's taught me not to assume he's incapable of relationships.
He's taught me perseverance, when he couldn't nurse in the beginning. I wanted to throw in the towel, but I didn't. He's nursing much much better with a lot more ease now. He's taught me that when you've been trying for four and five weeks to accomplish something- don't give up- because you could be one week away from success! I wonder if he'll be that determined to accomplish his goals? I bet he will!
Henry is the sweetest, easiest baby to take care of. He only cries when he's really really hungry or has a dirty diaper. That's it! I'm very blessed with that as my second son was completely the opposite! (But he's very fun now!)
So we're in Holland looking around. We've kind of caught our breath and now we can begin learning the language and start looking for all the neat things that are exclusive to Holland alone...the windmills...the tulips...the Rembrandts!!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
God Didn't Stop...
God is truly amazing to me.
The verse in the Bible that tells us the God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts...has been made so real to me this year.
When God made the earth, He didn't stop with the oceans and mountains and valleys... He added animals and humans... He added life.
When God created life He didn't stop there. He created marriages...families... and with that He created relationships. When God created these families He also created friendships. Through Jesus, He taught the value in family and friends and that we should bare each others burdens and love one another as we love ourselves. Through merely creating people, which is miraculous and ingenious in itself, He didn't stop there. He went on further and developed personal, intimate attachments between those people.
God created the early morning dew and the summer rain for the dry, parched ground. He created the fruits of the trees and plants for our food. When He created the oceans and the sunsets and the eagles that fly around the mountain tops, He didn't stop there. He created You and I...to enjoy its beauty.
When we separated ourselves far from Him, He created a bridge. He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sin. A price Jesus didn't have to pay, but He did so willingly. He gave up His life, shed His blood, so that we could have the opportunity to be reunited with God, and to one day live in heaven with Him.
God could have stopped at letting us live our life, but He didn't. He gave us memory. He gave us the ability to keep the precious moments we've lived by allowing us to have a file in our minds to look back on. When those friends and family members are no longer with us, the memories still are... they linger...the past is not forgotten...
God could have stopped in many many areas of the world. But it's amazing to me that He kept blessing. When man didn't deserve a single blessing, He gave one anyway. He gave all.
The verse in the Bible that tells us the God's ways are not our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts...has been made so real to me this year.
When God made the earth, He didn't stop with the oceans and mountains and valleys... He added animals and humans... He added life.
When God created life He didn't stop there. He created marriages...families... and with that He created relationships. When God created these families He also created friendships. Through Jesus, He taught the value in family and friends and that we should bare each others burdens and love one another as we love ourselves. Through merely creating people, which is miraculous and ingenious in itself, He didn't stop there. He went on further and developed personal, intimate attachments between those people.
God created the early morning dew and the summer rain for the dry, parched ground. He created the fruits of the trees and plants for our food. When He created the oceans and the sunsets and the eagles that fly around the mountain tops, He didn't stop there. He created You and I...to enjoy its beauty.
When we separated ourselves far from Him, He created a bridge. He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sin. A price Jesus didn't have to pay, but He did so willingly. He gave up His life, shed His blood, so that we could have the opportunity to be reunited with God, and to one day live in heaven with Him.
God could have stopped at letting us live our life, but He didn't. He gave us memory. He gave us the ability to keep the precious moments we've lived by allowing us to have a file in our minds to look back on. When those friends and family members are no longer with us, the memories still are... they linger...the past is not forgotten...
God could have stopped in many many areas of the world. But it's amazing to me that He kept blessing. When man didn't deserve a single blessing, He gave one anyway. He gave all.
The Saturday, Sunday Slow Down!
Saturday was a great day! We started off drinking coffee outside while the sun came up reading our Bibles and the Sunday School lesson for today. When Charlie woke up at 8am, we packed him up and went for a 2 hours bike ride! Destinations included the Dutch Bakery where we parked on a bench and had breakfast! Then off to see the new Elementary school, Mt Healthy South Elem. Then we came back home and were in need of a nap! After a few sweet, fresh peaches of course, to balance out the donuts! :) The rest of the day consisted off vegging out and watching a couple movies we have been wanting to see but never had the time. It was a day of total rest, one like we have not had in a very long time! Charlie has just gotten over 6 days of diarrhea that felt like 12 and now is battling allergies, I think. So, it was good to keep him home. But we did travel to Max and Erma's for a bite and then to Sam's for more diapers and wipes. The diarrhea-fest wiped us out of them completely.
So, Sunday. Church. Eat. Sleep. NASCAR. Orchestra practice for Jeff. Church. Sleep. :) Eventful yet rejuvenating at the same time!
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
4 Months and Famous?
An Our365 email popped up this morning. Henry is 19 weeks old... 4 months 1 week and 5 days...
Though it feels like he's been a part of our family forever.
This weeks Our365 email was rather....stupid. It was about if Henry has what it takes to be famous or not.
First off, it only made me think right away of his limitations...but then I remembered Teddy Kremer and I realized that Henry will have all kinds of opportunities in life...maybe different ones than Charlie and Wesley, but still his very own, neat opportunities. God must have some purpose for Henry, otherwise He would have made him with 46 chromosomes like the rest of us in this family. But secondly, what is so great about being famous that I should see if my 4 month old has what it takes to deliver??? Um, doesn't the Bible say not to strive for fame?
Sure, I pray about the business opportunities we have. I pray for prosperity, absolutely. I pray for wisdom and for direction and I pray for God to show us those that need our help. Missionaries, those who just need that stepping stone to get to a better spot in life, and those that have never been helped before...but are praying God sends someone to rescue them.
I want to be a wife, woman, and mother that hears her Lord's voice and obeys.
I want nothing more for God to say, "I'll give this task to Kelly; for I know she will obey..."
I want God to smile at me. I want Him to know how much I love Him...and how much I want to raise Heroes for Him and not boys that will do anything for a Hollywood shout out.
I want sons that girls' moms say "Pray about that boy Suzie...he sings and plays instruments for the Lord, he always attends church, he helps out when needed, he has a servants heart, he reads his bible...and he has really godly parents!"
My sons don't need fame when they have Jesus. If Jesus is pleased with them, then all is right in the world. He will bless them in ways Hollywood could never fathom. With real love. Real hope. Real joy. Real riches...They may have their own little family who loves them, maybe children one day, and for Henry, well, God's got something really cool planned for him! He'll be one fantastic uncle! My future grandchildren have no idea how much they're going to love Uncle Hanky-Pank!!
I may just print this out and stick it in my Joy Journal for when it comes to pass...so I can say to Henry, "See!!! Mommy knew it would happen for you! Mommy knew you were born for something very neat and that only you could do!"
It's no secret that I love my sons.
Charlie is Mr. Personailty. fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, and super smart! He loves saying hi to people, asking what their first and middle names are and needs to know what everyone is doing. He loves anything silly and funny and he loves cooking and making crafts. He remembers everything you say and every car someone drives. He was the absolute perfect first-baby. He's got beautiful eyes and lips and hair. He's got such an outgoing personality that draws people to him. He can get in trouble too...he says the darnedest things sometimes...he is all boy!
Wesley is everything sweet, adorable, and tender heart-ed. He's easily hurt...and easily loved. He used to be my Master of Disaster but now he is more like my Adventurous Blessing. He still gets into stuff...mostly he gets into trouble, but he is the first one to hug me, the first one to kiss me, the first to crawl into my lap and cuddle. His smile will make your heart gush...his puffy pink lips are so cute I just could kiss them off his face. His eyes can have the "puppy dog" effect and make you give him anything he wants. I love his fluffy hair that bounces when he runs and his cowlick in front that makes his hair stick up and to the left. :) He's all around cuteness with a kick. I see him rebuilding engines with Daddy for that fast car.
Henry is already loved by everyone. He has a smile and laugh that melts hearts. He's simply adorable! I couldn't have asked for a better baby. Sometimes we see the yellow raincoat...sometimes we don't...But we always see Henry!
I don't want fame for my boys...but I do want them to leave a legacy behind for God...
Who knows what the future holds...
Though it feels like he's been a part of our family forever.
This weeks Our365 email was rather....stupid. It was about if Henry has what it takes to be famous or not.
First off, it only made me think right away of his limitations...but then I remembered Teddy Kremer and I realized that Henry will have all kinds of opportunities in life...maybe different ones than Charlie and Wesley, but still his very own, neat opportunities. God must have some purpose for Henry, otherwise He would have made him with 46 chromosomes like the rest of us in this family. But secondly, what is so great about being famous that I should see if my 4 month old has what it takes to deliver??? Um, doesn't the Bible say not to strive for fame?
Sure, I pray about the business opportunities we have. I pray for prosperity, absolutely. I pray for wisdom and for direction and I pray for God to show us those that need our help. Missionaries, those who just need that stepping stone to get to a better spot in life, and those that have never been helped before...but are praying God sends someone to rescue them.
I want to be a wife, woman, and mother that hears her Lord's voice and obeys.
I want nothing more for God to say, "I'll give this task to Kelly; for I know she will obey..."
I want God to smile at me. I want Him to know how much I love Him...and how much I want to raise Heroes for Him and not boys that will do anything for a Hollywood shout out.
I want sons that girls' moms say "Pray about that boy Suzie...he sings and plays instruments for the Lord, he always attends church, he helps out when needed, he has a servants heart, he reads his bible...and he has really godly parents!"
My sons don't need fame when they have Jesus. If Jesus is pleased with them, then all is right in the world. He will bless them in ways Hollywood could never fathom. With real love. Real hope. Real joy. Real riches...They may have their own little family who loves them, maybe children one day, and for Henry, well, God's got something really cool planned for him! He'll be one fantastic uncle! My future grandchildren have no idea how much they're going to love Uncle Hanky-Pank!!
I may just print this out and stick it in my Joy Journal for when it comes to pass...so I can say to Henry, "See!!! Mommy knew it would happen for you! Mommy knew you were born for something very neat and that only you could do!"
It's no secret that I love my sons.
Charlie is Mr. Personailty. fun-loving, happy-go-lucky, and super smart! He loves saying hi to people, asking what their first and middle names are and needs to know what everyone is doing. He loves anything silly and funny and he loves cooking and making crafts. He remembers everything you say and every car someone drives. He was the absolute perfect first-baby. He's got beautiful eyes and lips and hair. He's got such an outgoing personality that draws people to him. He can get in trouble too...he says the darnedest things sometimes...he is all boy!
Wesley is everything sweet, adorable, and tender heart-ed. He's easily hurt...and easily loved. He used to be my Master of Disaster but now he is more like my Adventurous Blessing. He still gets into stuff...mostly he gets into trouble, but he is the first one to hug me, the first one to kiss me, the first to crawl into my lap and cuddle. His smile will make your heart gush...his puffy pink lips are so cute I just could kiss them off his face. His eyes can have the "puppy dog" effect and make you give him anything he wants. I love his fluffy hair that bounces when he runs and his cowlick in front that makes his hair stick up and to the left. :) He's all around cuteness with a kick. I see him rebuilding engines with Daddy for that fast car.
Henry is already loved by everyone. He has a smile and laugh that melts hearts. He's simply adorable! I couldn't have asked for a better baby. Sometimes we see the yellow raincoat...sometimes we don't...But we always see Henry!
I don't want fame for my boys...but I do want them to leave a legacy behind for God...
Who knows what the future holds...
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Joy in the Meantime...
If you want a serious reality check of the moral compass of the world, just turn on any TV channel and watch what is aired day in and day out; or click on news websites and you'll find not only what's taking place here on our soil, but across the globe as well. Good things, bad things, things we don't even want to know about!
Our moral intellect and faith are faced daily with problems that we can't find solutions to.
If you look back on history, you can see time and time again people doing what is right in their own eyes and not following after the things of God. And how He consistently calls them back to repentance and obedience. How long-suffering He is. How patient He is. How merciful.
It's very hard for me to observe things this way. My human flesh and finite mind want to say, "Why, Lord? Why!? Why do You allow things to go on that are this evil? Why do You not stop them when You have the power to do so?" Do you ever find yourself asking God these questions? Asking Him why is He so inactive in the sufferings of the innocent and why He seems to not care about horrible acts of violence and slow, terminal death of which He can heal but sometimes chooses not to? But God is God and I am not, and He has clearly stated that our ways are not His ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts...We don't get to understand some things, but it doesn't mean that He loves us any less or that He doesn't care about the things that take place every day.
I read a while ago in the book, "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" the analogy the author wrote about his infant son. His tiny baby boy had to undergo a spinal tap. The doctors told the father that this would be painful but after the procedure they would hand the baby to him for comforting. It was a necessary procedure, but neither the father nor the baby wanted it to happen. No one ever wants pain.
After the procedure they handed the baby over just like they had promised and the author writes that his little baby boy looked up at him crying and looking as if he were saying, "Why Daddy? Why did you put me through this? Why did this have to happen to me? Why was it so painful?" And the Dad could have said, "Well son it's a spinal tap and the doctors suspect meningitis and it is very bad if you have it and we have to know so we can treat it so you'll be better"....and on and on with medical terms and reasoning. But would the infant have understood any of that? Would that baby have realized that it was for his good? No...
So all the father did was snuggle him up under his chin and whisper in a still small voice, "It's OK Son...it's OK. I'm here. I love you. I love you and it will be alright..."
Much like our God does for us when we are going through pain and trials and things we don't understand. Sometimes we don't understand how in the world a pain or "procedure" could ever be good for us. But that's when we need to trust Him. When we can't see the purpose in something, we have to put our faith in the One that does. And realize that we are not alone, He is there, holding us close, loving us and with us through all the pain...
I love the very first few statements of the prophet Habakkuk:
"O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou show me iniguity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and the judgement doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgement proceedth."
I could hug Habakkuk right now...I could tell him I feel his anguish and broken heart. I wonder what Habakkuk saw the day he penned these words...I could apply it to seeing the woman abuse the 3 week old baby..."Why do you show me iniquity and grievance and you won't save the baby????" But Habakkuk actually received answers. Habakkuk was a man with honest doubts and wasn't afraid to ask God for help in understanding injustices that he saw.
Chapter 3 verses 17-19 are probably he sweetest verses, the most beautiful hymn in the Bible. They read:
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom
Neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive shall fail,
and the fields shall yeild no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
YET I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
and He will make my feet like the hinds' feet
and he will make me to walk upon mine hingh places
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments..."
Our joy must lay in our confidence in God. A God that hears and a God that rescues. True faith means loving and serving God regardless of our circumstances. Regardless if we understand "why". For when we trust in Him, that's when we receive unspeakable joy. We can trust in the fact that we will have victory over triumph and joy and peace in the meantime...
Our moral intellect and faith are faced daily with problems that we can't find solutions to.
If you look back on history, you can see time and time again people doing what is right in their own eyes and not following after the things of God. And how He consistently calls them back to repentance and obedience. How long-suffering He is. How patient He is. How merciful.
It's very hard for me to observe things this way. My human flesh and finite mind want to say, "Why, Lord? Why!? Why do You allow things to go on that are this evil? Why do You not stop them when You have the power to do so?" Do you ever find yourself asking God these questions? Asking Him why is He so inactive in the sufferings of the innocent and why He seems to not care about horrible acts of violence and slow, terminal death of which He can heal but sometimes chooses not to? But God is God and I am not, and He has clearly stated that our ways are not His ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts...We don't get to understand some things, but it doesn't mean that He loves us any less or that He doesn't care about the things that take place every day.
I read a while ago in the book, "I Became A Christian and All I Got Was This Lousy T-Shirt" the analogy the author wrote about his infant son. His tiny baby boy had to undergo a spinal tap. The doctors told the father that this would be painful but after the procedure they would hand the baby to him for comforting. It was a necessary procedure, but neither the father nor the baby wanted it to happen. No one ever wants pain.
After the procedure they handed the baby over just like they had promised and the author writes that his little baby boy looked up at him crying and looking as if he were saying, "Why Daddy? Why did you put me through this? Why did this have to happen to me? Why was it so painful?" And the Dad could have said, "Well son it's a spinal tap and the doctors suspect meningitis and it is very bad if you have it and we have to know so we can treat it so you'll be better"....and on and on with medical terms and reasoning. But would the infant have understood any of that? Would that baby have realized that it was for his good? No...
So all the father did was snuggle him up under his chin and whisper in a still small voice, "It's OK Son...it's OK. I'm here. I love you. I love you and it will be alright..."
Much like our God does for us when we are going through pain and trials and things we don't understand. Sometimes we don't understand how in the world a pain or "procedure" could ever be good for us. But that's when we need to trust Him. When we can't see the purpose in something, we have to put our faith in the One that does. And realize that we are not alone, He is there, holding us close, loving us and with us through all the pain...
I love the very first few statements of the prophet Habakkuk:
"O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto thee of violence and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou show me iniguity, and cause me to behold grievance? For spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and the judgement doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgement proceedth."
I could hug Habakkuk right now...I could tell him I feel his anguish and broken heart. I wonder what Habakkuk saw the day he penned these words...I could apply it to seeing the woman abuse the 3 week old baby..."Why do you show me iniquity and grievance and you won't save the baby????" But Habakkuk actually received answers. Habakkuk was a man with honest doubts and wasn't afraid to ask God for help in understanding injustices that he saw.
Chapter 3 verses 17-19 are probably he sweetest verses, the most beautiful hymn in the Bible. They read:
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom
Neither shall fruit be in the vines;
the labour of the olive shall fail,
and the fields shall yeild no meat;
the flock shall be cut off from the fold,
and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
YET I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The Lord God is my strength,
and He will make my feet like the hinds' feet
and he will make me to walk upon mine hingh places
To the chief singer on my stringed instruments..."
Our joy must lay in our confidence in God. A God that hears and a God that rescues. True faith means loving and serving God regardless of our circumstances. Regardless if we understand "why". For when we trust in Him, that's when we receive unspeakable joy. We can trust in the fact that we will have victory over triumph and joy and peace in the meantime...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)