Cute Kid Sayings

The other day I was talking with the boys about letting the goats out into the big pasture for a while in case they were bored of being in their little fenced area. Cole looked at me and said "What does bored mean, Mom?"

A Fractured Growth Plate

Near the end of August (during the time of the computer crash) Cole broke his leg. The boys had been out in the woods building a tree fort when Trent chopped off a piece of wood from a branch and it flew and hit Cole in the leg, fracturing his growth plate just above the ankle. I will not be receiving the Compassionate Mother Award this year I guess because I let the poor kid crawl around for 3 days before I finally thought maybe he wasn't kidding and he really did break something. X-ray's confirmed that he had fractured the growth plate and he was fitted with a splint, cast and crutches. Cole just kept on smiling and he never complained about it once.

His mother brought home a puppy in hopes of showing him how sorry she was.

Amazing Grace

We made our annual trip down to the Shriner's Hospital in September for Grace. Six years ago we brought Grace home from India at 19 months old with bilateral club feet. It is amazing how fast time goes! Normally club feet are treated at birth with casting or even as simply as reversing the shoes on a child's feet. Being that Grace had no medical care for her feet they had become severely twisted by the time she got home. When she would try to walk she would actually walk on the top of her feet. Within the first month of her homecoming we had started doctoring at the Shriner's Hospital in the Twin Cities. Before Grace came home I had done quite a bit of research on club feet and found that if surgery was need for correction there was often times pain that continued for the patients entire life. I specifically asked God to correct her feet without the surgery. 7 months of casting, several parasite treatments (parasites were what actually saved her from having any surgery ~ who would have thought we would be thanking God for parasites?!) an investigative surgery that resulted in only an achilles tendon release on both heel cords, no foot reconstruction, another few weeks of hard casts, and 4 years of braces later, we now only have to visit Dr. Aadalen and Chaz every year for a check-up. She was the second oldest child that they had treated for club feet using the Ponsetti method that did not need surgery for correction. One of these days I'll take the time to finish writing our adoption story and go into more detail, but for today we're just praising the Lord again for His amazing hand of healing and straightening these little feet.

Another VBS Post

Whew! We made it through a great week of Vacation Bible School! Being Alexis and Trent were involved in the skits, and I was a teacher and assistant director, we were at church on average 5 hours a night for 5 nights in a row. Not to mention being at church for a couple of hours each the 2 days before, and the whole day of building the hut. Talk about begging God for patience! But there were so many fun memories made! And, hopefully, so many seeds planted in little hearts of the mighty things that God has done.My faithful assistants (whom I couldn't have done it without:).

Alexis. A girl full of energy and smiles, all the little ones fought to sit on her lap.

That wonderful sister of mine Traci was brave enough to stay with us a couple of nights. I can do anything my sister believes I can do, even a full week of tired preschoolers at VBS. She saved the week by bringing her "We're Going on a Lion Hunt" book, and the "fast or slow?" Welcome song.

Casey, Casey, Casey! My last minute, last night, saving helper! She enjoys holding little girls' hands and singing "Fisher's of Men". She was a wave of fresh energy!
And I can't forget to mention Rob and Uncle Jim who even helped a bit with all the little squirrely ones.

Tina, Nina, and Miss Bakari at the Serengeti Animal Reserve. And somewhere hiding back in those bushes is the Blue-Cheeked-Bee-Eater, played by Trent.

Alexis put on a stellar performance as the conniving, scheming, repenting Miss Bakari as she led her group through a jungle safari. Alexis also helped with the songs, and even led them by herself on Friday. It was a joy to watch her use the gift that God has granted her. One of the highlights of the week was going out for games with Jungle Jerry! Lots of wild, fun, crazy safari games.

And, of course, attack Bruce was enjoyed by all! We're gonna see if we can rent him out. Maybe a package deal for all the tired moms??

And, glory to God, I survived one of my worst fears (and actually enjoyed it:). I was in charge of the opening and closing ceremonies on Friday because the director was gone. The peace was from God, and it was fun to hear the kids singing and watch them do the motions to the songs.

VBS Safari Decorations

Our church did a Safari theme for Vacation Bible School and we volunteered to be in charge of decorating. The kids and I had a fun time making different signs out of tree limbs and scrap lumber to add to the jungle feel of it all.

Trent found this neat Y shaped dead branch in the woods, and Alexis painted the "Do not feed the lions" sign for the snack area. We set it up on a sheet of plywood and painted new lion tracks around it every night.
Trent helped me to construct the signs.

I found a kangaroo stencil on the computer, cut it out, and Trent spray painted it for our kangaroo crossing sign.

And we made these cute road signs for our main stage set.

It's not the best picture, but we used a stable set (that was made for a christmas play a couple of years ago) and created a hut with a straw roof for the main stage. The kids and I also had fun making African masks. We added extras like spears, a colorful quilt, an African print curtain, hanging baskets, wild stuffed animals in the trees, benches and yellow gords (summer squash).

We also created spears out of tree limbs. First we peeled the bark, blackened the ends in the firepit, then painted red stripes on them. Trent drilled a hole in each one and we added raffia, ribbons, and beads.

Another big hit for the preschoolers was the Lion box. I simply cut a hole in a box, painted a lion face around it, added some construction paper for a mane, then made 4 bean bags. Instant game of "Feed the Lion." Even the big kids couldn't resist playing it:)

And the finished hut - straw roof and all. It thrilled the kids (and some adults) to be able to walk through it every night for snacks. {Click here to see the building of the hut.}

As we prepared for the week I began to realize how again we had immersed ourselves into the learning of a different culture, their ways, lifestyles, dress, homelife, religions, beliefs, culture, environment, etc., not to mention all the fun we had with painting, sawing, constructing, hammering, and designing. It's amazing how much learning goes on all the time without even trying.
{More VBS fun here!}

Building a VBS Hut

When the sign up sheets came out for Vacation Bible School a few weeks ago I deliberately procrastinated and did not fill mine out. I left my position up to where ever God wanted to use me. Humbly being happy just bringing animal crackers if that was what He wanted. My given title(s): Pre-K teacher, decorator, and assistant director. I could not be happier! I have longed for just such an opportunity for quite a while, and am thrilled to be working on all the preparations! We are having a safari/jungle theme with The Lord's Prayer as the week's verse. Oh the ideas that flow!

The first plan was to construct a replica African Hut for the snack station. So, I went to the guy who believes I can do anything (and is always willing to help me do it:) Especially if it involves kids and God. Blaine brought his chainsaw and machete which made the event all the more exciting:)
We started with a bunch of scrap lumber and tree limbs that Blaine had, and a big group of kids. The kids willingly helped haul and load limbs from the woods.

Then the frame work was put together.

We used lots and lots of twine string to tie everything together, in an authentic, true to form way of building a hut in the wilderness. Rob even had the day off to help:)
Lot's and lot's of lashing.
I was given the string-cutter job. Somebody had to do it:)

The near complete hut. Just needs a straw roof, which if the rain holds off, will hopefully be put on tomorrow after church.
(Most of) the crew.

 

Boys+Rain=Mud Fight

With rain, and mud, and boys, naturally next comes a mud fight. I think Micah lost:)But, just for the record, Cole and Trent did help him clean up afterward.And he was smiling!Even if he was covered in mud from head to toe.And he did get a few good throws in there, too.What are big brothers for, if not to cover you in mud??!