Pictures of Josh : )

I was going to post these pictures of Josh with my last post, but it was long enough already, and I have a lot of pictures. : )

Probably my favorite picture of Josh ever...my handsome boy.  ; )

 He loves to be out there working in the yard.

 Always trying to catch some critter.

 We went geo-caching once, and could not find that pesky box!  Jacob, Ben and I all gave up, but Daddy and Josh kept looking for a really, really long time at the end there.  As usual, Josh's persistence was rewarded. : )

 He's always making something or other.  He made this fun fountain a couple years back.

 Creating different shows with brothers and friends is a favorite thing to do.

 This time a music concert!

 He loves Laser Tag, Nerf guns, air soft guns--any kind of gun!

 Another little play in the backyard : )

 He loves to practice his business skills.  Here he's taking our lunch orders in his restaurant.

 Learning how to tie a cool knot

 He absolutely loves his little Sister!

 Lemonade stand...and why not try to unload some of these books, too?

 Working up at camp

 He loves to be building something.

Helping make the fire on a camping trip. 

I think you can see why Josh is so special.  We love you, buddy!

Joshua!

HELLO!

Did you miss me?!

I took a long break, as you can see.  I was trying to decide whether or not to keep writing my blog.  I spend quite a bit of time reading blogs and writing mine.  Sometimes I'm not sure whether it's always a great use of my time, you know?  Anyway, I took a hiatus, and now I am back...at least for today. : ) 

And today is an important day because..........it's my Joshua's birthday!!!

And he turned 10, which as everyone knows, is a very important milestone indeed.  Double digits!  How can it be so??  I'm so not old enough to have these very big kids running around here.  Anyway...

So, today's post is dedicated to Joshua.  And let me tell you, that boy totally deserves a post completely dedicated to him.  All of my children are awesome and special, and that is the truth.  But I can honestly say that Josh is a really unique kid.  I don't think I have ever met another child like him.  I know God has something out of the ordinary in store for him in his plan for his life.  Something really, really cool!

From the time Josh was a little tyke, he had this incredible smile.  I mean, when he smiled, it took over his entire face!  And his eyes just twinkled like little stars that had something mischievous up their sleeves.  He was a cuddler, and from those early, early days, that boy was happiest if he was WRESTLING.  Picture the smile as big as his face, those twinkling eyes, and these chubby little legs running at you as fast as they could, trying to knock you down.  That was Josh.  And he is still happiest today if he is in contact with you in some way.  Be it wrestling or hugging, or trying to show me how strong he is by showing how he can pick me up, he is not bothered by personal space issues. 

Josh is our most driven child.  By that I mean, if he gets a goal in his head, he will accomplish that goal.  The boy loves sweets more than life itself, but not long ago, he set the goal for himself that he would not eat more than two sweets a week, and he would not break that goal.  He even took carrots to a class where he knew they would have cookies.  He amazes me.  Right now the boys are all in a summer reading program.  He wasn't my most eager reader, but now that there is a goal to be reached, he is far, far ahead of everyone else.  I am always surprised by his willpower.  He has a very strong will, and he knows how to use that will for good.  (And sometimes not so good, but that is for a different post.)  ; )

Josh also loves him some good, hard work.  He is happiest when he is doing man's work.  You know--dishes and vacuuming are not his favorites.  He wants to be outside mowing the lawn, chopping wood, whacking weeds...whatever Dad typically does.  He loves to help his grandpa work up at camp.  Whatever needs to be done, Josh will do it, and do it heartily.  His dream is to spend summers up there working with Grandpa and Uncle Jimmy, and he hopes ten years old is old enough.  : )  He is also an amazing organizer!  He will spend hours cleaning and organizing his room.  Once, he had to stay home from the park because he had had a bad attitude.  When I got home, I thought he would be sad or angry.  Instead, he greeted me with, "Mom, close your eyes, and don't open them until I tell you."  His room was spotless, and everything was in its place, including the closet, desk and shelves, everything.  He spent hours cleaning and scrubbing the bathroom not long ago just because he wanted to do a great job.  I'm not sure he's actually my biological son...

Josh is also my entrepreneur-in-the-making.  He loves lemonade stands, garage sales... any kind of money making venture.  Not long ago I had to spend the day at a homeschool used book sale, selling my old stuff.  Josh wanted to come.  I explained that I would have to be there all day, there would likely not be lots of customers at this particular sale, and that it would be BORING.  He insisted on coming.  So, he came and was a huge help.  He helped carry boxes, helped set up, and sat, sat, sat there with me, even though the sale was largely a dud.  And when we left hours later, he said, "That was fun."

Does he like to play?  Yes.  But he typically doesn't like to play with cars and trains, Star Wars and Legos as much as the other boys and most of the friends do who come to call.  Josh would rather be building a fort, or stringing up a high ropes course on the swingset, or fashioning a parade float out of things he finds in the garage. He loves to shoot guns and whittle with knives, but  he also  loves to put on magic shows for his friends, and create shows on the trampoline or on skates in the driveway.  He just got a great puppet for his birthday.  I have an idea what will be brewing in that boy's mind in the coming days.

He collects rocks.  He loves his little sister so very much.  He wants to play the violin and the guitar.  He loves to sing, and especially loves singing southern gospel harmony with our family. How many boys do you know who love to wear ties?  And better yet, a suit and a tie?   On the flip side, he has very little fear, including when it comes to catching all kinds of critters and frogs... and snakes--snakes that bite and even draw blood.  It doesn't faze him. He loves it! 

He loves to spend time with you.  Spend the afternoon playing a board game with him or hanging out at the mall, and it will make his day.

He gets really, really excited over little things.  Those eyes still light up like mischievous little stars on a regular basis. 

And he is goofy and downright silly. 

He is one of a kind.  He is our own JOSHUA! 

Happy birthday, wonderful boy!!  We love you so much, and are so very proud of you!!!

p.s.. I want to post pictures on here, but I ran out of time tonight. Check back tomorrow, and I will add them.  : )

All we need is a parade!

Here is what Josh does when school is done...

He was out there a long time rigging up this 4th of July float!  (Don't worry, he had that chair secured pretty well, and I was always within reach when someone was sitting in it!)

 Cutest little passenger!

 Everyone gets a turn around the driveway!



Mr. Red in the back there is made of a cardboard box and pvc pipe, and a balloon tied in place somehow.  Josh is available to construct your float as well, if you would like.  Just meet us on our street on the 4th of July, since I am pretty sure there will be a parade........and we kinda need more floats.  : )

Out of the mouths of babes...

In case you have not figured it out by now, I really love the Lord.  I want to love Jesus so much and to be so filled by His Spirit, that He just overflows and blesses others through me.  I want to share with others how He changed my life, and how He will change their's too.  I want to use my talents for Him, and truly live my life with gusto for Him--giving generously, and going wherever He leads.

The problem is, I'm a grown up, and sometimes all these years of living on this earth have clouded my thinking.  Fears and inhibitions sometimes stop me from saying things I want to say, or giving the way I would like to.  Sometimes I am afraid that something I do for God might turn out silly or I might look foolish, or it might turn out badly for our family--so I don't do it.  Sometimes, I do not have faith that God will answer my prayers.  Sometimes, sadly....being a grown up just gets in the way of my dreams of living for God.  I continually need Him to help me overcome these doubts and fears that too often plague me.


And then, there are my children.  I know kids have a long way to go in some areas, but in some ways I'm afraid to say they leave us in the dust.  Sometimes I think that if kids had the resources we do--money and transportation, etc.,  they might do a better job of reaching our lost world! 


For example, my nine year old, Josh, decided the other day that he needed to lead his friend across the street to the Lord.  So he got his Bible, headed over there, struck up that conversation, and shared Jesus with that little boy.  And he did accept Jesus as his Savior! : )  Josh was so excited about it, he was telling me that night he wished he had MORE friends who did not know Jesus.   And, he continually reminds me that I need to get together with his friend's mom, and invite them to church with us.  Never mind that I don't know them very well.


And, last night before bed I was reading the boys a true story about a little girl who spent her spare time passing out tracts and Bibles to people.  With a sweet smile, she bravely gave a man who was drunk a gospel of John.  He took it and read it, and it changed his life.  He accepted Christ, and ended up serving in a church from then on.  After I finished that story, my six year old said, with conviction, "Mom, that's what I want my job to be--while I'm a kid!"


Kids get it.  They understand the mission, and they know God will equip them.  If God says it, then we should do it!  It makes total sense that God says we need to be like a child in order to enter into His Kingdom.  Such perfect faith, untainted by years of the world and the devil crowding his lies into our minds.


Here are the lyrics to a song Josh wrote earlier this year.  I think you will like it...

I will remember You, even in the darkest time.

I will remember You, every hour of the day.

I will remember You as I sing this song,

'Cause You are the Ruler of the earth.

And I will praise You,

And I will never be scared with You, Lord.

I sleep silently every night, with You.

Oh how I love You all the day.

You make me a room to stay every night.

You give me water and food.

Oh how I love You.

I'll sing Your praises.

You will always be my God.

You give us blessings every day.

You are the one and only God,

And how I love You.

Let's pray that God will make us a little more like children this year.  What do you think?

Just plain tired.

Okay, I feel the need to start this off by saying that I'm sorry if it sounds like I'm complaining!  I am still so very thankful for how the Lord has carried us through EVERYTHING.  I am not ungrateful or untrusting, or anything like that.  I know He is with us, and we are really doing well.  Sarah is still doing great!  In fact last night and today, it seemed like she was really showing her true, spunky Sarah colors!  So this little post is just a peek into how I am feeling because emotions are just what they are sometimes, right?  We are human beings after all.

First of all, I am missing my husband.  While I was in the hospital so much, he was so busy with all the daily household things that he got quite a bit behind on his work.  His work he gets paid for.  So, now that I am home, he has been so focused on that, I feel like I have barely seen him, even though he is here.  Hopefully he will be caught up soon.

I am tired of making Sarah drink all the time!  You wouldn't think 20-25 ounces a day would be too hard, but when you are a little 24 pound girl, I guess you just don't want that much.  Every day it is a battle to get her to drink which ends up at least once with her in tears, but they say if she doesn't drink enough, she will have to go back on fluids at night. Ugh. 

I am tired of going to the clinic.  Over the summer we went many times twice a week, sometimes staying for  hours, but it didn't seem that bad.  I guess it feels worse now because I am behind on school with the boys, and it feels like so much more of a waste of time now that there is so much more to do.  Also, since Sarah has to be away from people as much as possible, we don't get to hang out in the waiting room with the other families.  We have to be isolated in a room alone.  Yesterday we were there for 4 hours.  : (  Is it better than being in the hospital though?  Yes.  But that doesn't mean I can't be tired of going there.

Here's a sad little story from yesterday's clinic visit...I woke up tired in the morning.  I got Sarah all ready and we were out the door--a little late.  Cassandra was parked behind me, so I had to wake her up to get her keys.  And as I was putting Sarah in her carseat, she says,  "Poopy!"  Yep.  Love those last minute diaper changes.  So after that and moving the other vehicle, we were late.  They have never said anything about us being late before, but this time one of my favorite nurse techs there gently reprimanded me for it.  (Honestly, it doesn't really matter much since it is not a real doctor visit.  Just a blood draw.)  I was already tired, so I wasn't in the mood. 

Then we went to our room, and I knew we would be there for the time it takes to get a certain medicine she needs, which would be an hour, plus the time it takes to get the results of the blood draw.  Not too bad.  It turned out that even though her white blood cell count was still fine, her ANC was low, so she had to get nupogen, (sp?) and we had to wait for them to order it, get it infused, etc.  So, we took a little (I mean long) walk to the pharmacy and back while we waited. 

When we were finally all done with everything and on our way out, I realized I did not have my ring on.  The ring my hubby gave me when we were still dating, almost 20 years ago.  Where did it go?  Oh yeah, Sarah loves jewelry, and had asked me if she could wear it.  That little voice in my head had told me not to do it, but I had thought, "We are just in this little room and she is sitting on my lap.  Nothing will happen to it."  Well, that's what I thought before I promptly forgot all about it, and we went on that long walk to the pharmacy and back.   So, I searched the little room, retraced my steps, told all the nurses to be on the lookout, and called the hospital lost and found.  No ring. : (     I have been even more scatterbrained than usual lately because I have been tired and have this huge to-do list on my mind all the time since I have been home. 

So sad.

Sooooo...Sarah's appointment with Dr. Aaburg to check for that tumor is on Monday morning!  We are praying that that stinker will be ALL GONE.  Will you pray with us??  Then, we truly will be done with it all.  What a glorious day that will be! 

In the meantime, we press on.  Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!

 More silliness!

 Reading with Josh

 Watching Barney with Ben.  Ben said, "Mom, I just want to spend some time with Sarah alone."  : )

 Ben did a little piano recital for us complete with tickets.  He made up some songs, and figured out how to play some real ones on his own.  I need to get to work teaching that boy!  (Another thing on my list...)

 Jacob sitting in the balcony

 Grandma and Grandpa were here for the concert too!  Ben brought the book to Grandpa and said, "Something for the little one..."  lol

 Me enjoying the concert with Josh ; )

Sarah so happy to be back on that trampoline!  (This time we put a sheet down on it to keep germs away!)

Sunday Snapshot--Brother Love

When we were going to bring Sarah home last October, I knew that our boys would be great big brothers. But I had NO idea that coming up on a year later they would still be so loving--so utterly selfless with their little sister. They go above and beyond what I would ever expect of them in helping out, in playing with her, everything. If I am sleeping in, they will get up with her in the morning, even getting her cereal and a sippy cup of milk. They play with her even if they don't feel like it. Even Ben, my 6 year old is so patient with her. Having a little sister has been the best thing for them as they have learned so much more about caring for others and putting others first. And they have learned how really really wonderful it is to be a family for someone who needs one. I am so thankful for my boys and so blessed to be their mom!

Here are some cute quotes after yesterday's little attack on the television

I am taking a quick break from cleaning as I work to get stuff done before our hospital stay tomorrow-Wednesday.  I came across my little notebook I write down kid quotes in and thought I'd share a few more...


Josh age 6--"How do babies get there?  Does God just open up your tummy when you're sleeping and pop-em in?"

Jacob age 7--When he was getting proficient at reading-- "Yep, I know how to read.  Now all I have to learn is how to go underwater, and then all my learning will be complete."


Josh age 5--Scott's back was hurting and he said, "Why?  Do you have a crap in there?"  (Cramp!)


Jacob age 7--I didn't know that when I drink water it makes me stronger.  Kinda like my transformer cyber key."


Ben age 2 1/2--I was telling him he could play outside and he said, "Yeah, man!  Dude, you're good!"  with a big thumbs up. ; )

What to write...What to write...

I don't like to go too long between posting things. I have lots running around in my mind, but sometimes it doesn't feel like the right time to write it yet. So, I decided that now and then I would just share some of the cute things my kids have said over the years that make me smile. I think you'll like them too. If you have kids, don't you agree with me that they are the biggest blessing in the universe?? The Bible tells us straight out that children are a blessing and a reward. Some don't see it that way for some reason, but I don't get it because they just give me so much JOY!

Jacob age 9--(Talking about our dog, Samson) "He's stinky. He smells like chicken-n-dumplings. In a stinky way.

Ben age 3--(After I took a shower) "Mommy, why did you put your towel off? Your hair looks- um, um, um- not the same as- um, um- your same hair."

Ben age 4--"Are your brains squishy, or not?"

Jacob age 9--(Ben did a page in his workbook and I gave him a sticker.) "Ben, you're lucky you have me for a big brother, because I'm gonna give you an A+!" (And he wrote A+'s on his pages with smiley faces.) : )

Ben age 5 1/2--"I have manly hair. (on his arms.) I can't believe how much manly hair I have."

Ben age 3 or 4--(He really wanted a baby stroller and pacifier and Daddy kept saying no...) "Dear Jesus, Thank you that I took a nap, and please help me to be good and to not have a bad attitude, and please help us to get to heaven quickly because I think there's a baby pacifier and stroller there. In Jesus Name, Amen." (Daddy did give in, by the way.)

And about Sarah...she is doing great! Today she smiled and laughed at everything all day. Even at things that are not in the least bit funny. You would never ever know that little girl just had chemotherapy. God is blessing her so much.

That just reminded me of something. When we started this whole cancer thing, I felt like God gave me a picture in my mind. I envisioned us all on a boat floating on tumultuous seas. But as the waters were raging in the storm under the boat, we inside it were just skimming across the waters not feeling a thing. I felt like God was saying that that was what He was going to do for us. Hold us up so we would barely feel the storm. He certainly is doing that for us, and especially for our Sarah who is blissfully unaware that anything is wrong with her. Praise His Name!

Fun Day!

Our day started with an exciting trip to the clinic. So much fun to waste, I mean spend, over three hours just to get a blood draw! Yippee! At least she did not need a platelets transfusion, which is what we thought she would need. And she actually loves going, and it really is always fun to spend time with Sarah. Praise the Lord her blood count levels jumped up more quickly

this time than last time.




Then we came home, and I was so happy because Grandma and Grandpa brought all the boys home. I simply don't like being separated from my kids for any length of time. I am especially realizing that fact this summer as I have been forced to be away from them much more than usual. So, I sincerely am hoping that all 5 of them are called to serve the Lord when they grow up right smack dab in the middle of the block where I live. :)

All the boys went swimming when they came home. Ben was the last one left in the pool.

My water baby.



Sarah plainly showing that you don't have to have a full head of hair to be beautiful.





Jacob cool and collected after his fun weeks at camp

So happy my Josh is home.

We enjoyed our visit with my hubby's dear parents, (Is anyone else blessed with fabulous in-laws?) and then this evening we went to softball followed by a swim in the pool.....ME INCLUDED-- which is big news because I only get in there like maybe once a year when the water temp. is about 90. Today it was only 85, and if I would have known that before I promised I would get in, I'm sure it never would have happened.

Enjoy some pictures today! I took my camera with me to softball, but realized I forgot to put the card in there. I'll have to get those next time.

Enjoy your weekend!! I know I will!!! : )

Sarah amazed that I was getting in the water


Here I go!




Mark this date on your calendar, boys.

Cassandra had to join in the fun. She jumped right in with all her clothes on!