Bird House..Last But Not Least

Before I forget, I wanted to show you Noah's bird house. He finished it a few weeks ago and we got it hung up in our backyard last weekend. This is his second bird house...the first one got caught in a tiny bird tornado and needed some repair...so Lowe's teamed up with FEMA to provide him with a new home...and he spent another 2 hours or so building, painting and designing this white church. If you look closely you can see the stained glass window on the front...so the birdies can worship in style! Great job Noah!

It's Official - We have a 7th, 5th, 4th & 1st Grader!!

Finally....School is done and summer is here! Today was the last day for Lucas so he is officially a FIRST GRADER! He is a little nervous about 1st grade and who his teacher will be but he is also very excited. He told daddy that he can't ever really remember a time when he didn't go to school...so he will be ok. :) His class had a little award ceremony last Friday and Lucas got Best Manners & Hardest Worker.

Noah & Eli have one more Half day tomorrow before they are officially a FOURTH & FIFTH grader and man are they ready for summer. They are always complaining that they don't get to spend enough time with their daddy during the year so they can't wait for summer when they are here most of the time. We have lots of FREE fun things planned for the summer and I can't wait to work on my tan! The kids are such a joy in our life that I think we look forward to summer just as much as they do...if not more. The older boys also got awards last Friday that included "Best Author" for Eli and "Most Friendliest" for Noah. Noah told me he got the award and then said, "I don't get it." Personally, I think he should have gotten an award for "Driest sense of humor". Overall, the boys did a great job and we are very proud of them!

We also officially have a SEVENTH grader!! It is so hard to believe that Miss Autumn is in J.H. now! She is still home schooled and continues to test above her grade level. Her latest scores showed that she is reading at a 10th grade level so we were very pleased with that. She is beautiful AND smart! She continues to surprise us with her sweet spirit and her creativity. We seem to have a very artistic family and I love that Grandma & I can share that with them!

This is Autumn when she was 8....hard to believe she is in JH now...such beauty...grace...self control...talent...creativity.... We are so very proud of you Autumn!

Lego Exhibit at Crown Center

On Monday, I took the boys to Crown Center to see “The Art of the Brick” Lego Exhibit. The 30 works of art are created solely from LEGO blocks by artist Nathan Sawaya. It is the nation’s only exhibit focusing exclusively on LEGO as an art medium. It was very cool and made me want to come home and make some art!

This was one of Lucas' favorites. The man is building himself.


We all liked this one for its gore factor...

Hanging artwork...all Legos...Know who this is?


How does the artist come up with all of these?


This was our all time favorite piece. It is about 4ft square with a light inside. Very cool!


Here are our little artists working on their own Masterpiece...

This is a great FREE exhibit and we really enjoyed it. We also went to the Wizard of Oz exhibit 2 months ago but I think this one is better...at least the kids appreciated the Lego part of it while I appreciated the talent behind the pieces. They also had a tree, monopoly box, still life with art easel, pencil, apples, sunflower and several flat, abstract painting type pieces. It was very cool!

Happy Birthday Eli!!

Today is officially Eli's 9th birthday! We can't believe it!! It seems like only yesterday he was a shy little 3 year old who had the world's best giggle. When we played he would laugh, giggle and squeal with excitement! He has always been such a lovey dovey who even now will tell you that he is sensitive. He has such a big heart and is always ready to comfort you when he notices that something is wrong. Because his heart is so big...it needs to be filled with love all the time. Eli still loves to be played with and anytime I chase him around the house I still hear that beautiful laugh, giggle and squeal! His laugh is contagious and his sense of humor is well timed. He keeps our family laughing with his goofy dances and showers us with love. I can always count on Eli to run and jump in my arms one moment then to cuddle and talk the next moment. He is an amazing son who we are very proud of. He did a great job in school (3rd) and got a class award for the Best Author. He has written some great stories this year, excelled at math and reads like a mad man. We are thankful for his loving spirit, big heart, beautiful smile and his genuine kindness. We are very proud of you Eli! We LOVE you!!

4 yr old Eli...still the same goofy boy who makes us laugh. (2004)

5 yr old Eli rockin out before our wedding. (2005)


6 yr old Eli hanging out in sissy's room.


6 yr old Eli serving Martin during his Prom dinner date.

We are celebrating Eli's birthday next weekend when we are officially on summer break so in the mean time...we decorated his room and let him open one gift. Since it was so hot and muggy today we thought a 3 lane Slip & Slide was the perfect gift...and the boys did too. By the time Noah got the yard mowed and we got the game set up it started to rain...but that didn't stop us...no sir....we played in the rain and it was a good way to cool down after a hot day. Scott got a couple days off for the Memorial day holiday so he took some time to make Eli a special Birthday dinner. Eli asked for BBQ pork, mashed potatoes and green beans...and daddy made them all. It was a delicious meal and a great family afternoon!

Happy Birthday EMan! We Love you!

What Is God's Will?

Do you think we will ever really know what God's will is? Do we ever really know what it is that HE wants us to do in any given situation? What happens when you have two families, who claim to know Christ but who pray for 2 completely different outcomes to the same situation? How does that work? Which outcome is really God's will? Is the outcome just a byproduct of a fallen world filled with manipulation, anger, mistrust and a desire to remain in control? Is it a consequence of past sins? Is it Satan? Or is it God's will to move us, use us and stabilize us? How do you really know these answers? Where does faith come in? It is so hard to have faith when the fear of what ifs keep getting in the way. I believe that God is in complete control of our life but that doesn't mean that I don't fight Him on certain things. I know he allows things to happen to us and that we can either grow in those situations or wallow in our own "victimness" but sometimes life just seems like one extended fight. You fight for independence, freedom, autonomy, love, life, spouse, children, security, sanity, health and eventually balance.

I have found that there is always someone out there undermining your health, relationships and stability and if you give them too much power they will affect your sanity. Everyone in this life will let you down at some point in time so for the sake of your sanity and spiritual health, I suggest that you don't rely on them to meet your needs or make you happy. If only I could grasp this concept myself. I am in a place right now where I am broken and emotionally exhausted. I am numb and scared. I am scared of so many things and I don't have control over any of the situations. I am working on not thinking or worrying about those what ifs because I am not God and that is not my job. I believe that God's will, will be accomplished no matter the evil that is thrown our way. He will use those situations to change our hearts and I don't need to worry about the perpetrators. In praying for those that seem to hate us and purposefully harm us, I give my fears to God and open my heart to his unconditional love and purpose for my life. When I am broken that is when I hear God speak to my heart and there is peace in the midst of the storm.

Soul Support

What do you do as a bonus parent when there are people who try to poison your relationship with your bonus kids? We have had this happen in the past few years and it resurfaced several weeks ago. Our kids have heard it all....and they are smart enough and old enough now to see right thru it. I know that divorce is hard, I get that...but what I don't get are hurtful and harmful comments that are based on fear and are used to manipulate a sweet soul. Why would you pride yourself on hurting them? Why would you want to alienate them from a parent and an extended family who welcomes them with love? I keep trying to think of a good way to tell these people that they are hurting their relationship with the kids but after almost 4 years I know that they aren't open to hearing the kids' hearts. As a mom, my first instinct is to protect them....but I can only do so much from this side of the fence.

When the kids come home with a crushed spirit and frustrated heart we are the ones who talk them thru it. When you hurt them it just sends them running into our arms. These kids are smart enough to know who loves them unconditionally, who has their best interests at heart, who promotes healthy relationships within their family and who will support them in everything. When you perpetuate a victims mentality you are denying a place for healing and restoration. Yes, God hates divorce but He can bring healing to this family and that is what we are praying for. We are praying that those hearts will change and they will be open to God's plan for all of us. It should not be us against you....it should be all of us, unified in loving, supporting and promoting the emotional, spiritual and physical well being of the children who were given to us. We take our responsibility of SOUL SUPPORT very seriously and will continue to shower them with GRACE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE & MERCY...would you join us?

John 13:35 says "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Mother's Day Gift Building

Last weekend we went to another Lowe's Build & Grow clinic and made Mother's Day gifts. Grandma Holly got to experience some of the fun and was Eli's buddy. The boys have really enjoyed these weekend projects and we are getting quite a collection of handy dandy items around our house! The boys are loving the experience in working with wood, nails and a hammer and it is great way for them to work on self control and following directions. We are really proud of their determination and fine craftsmanship!

Here is our little group getting started on the Mother's Day Planters.

Noah is pretty serious when he works on a project...

I secretly think that Grandma did a lot of "extra" work on Eli's project...but Eli swore that he was building it.....lets see what the photos tell us.... :)

Hmmm......

Hmmm....I must be wrong. This can't be Grandma doing all the work...what was I thinking Eli??


Did I mention that Lucas LOVES this hammer??? He has a handy man bag at our house that he carries around with him while he fixes, cleans and does "handyman" chores. Grammy filled it with tools but he is ready for bigger and better daddy tools!

Here we are after all our hard work. The boys worked hard on these Mother's Day planters. Aren't they sweet? Noah wanted to make his for Grammy and I took it to her on Mother's Day when I visited her at the hospital. She loved it! Lucas wanted to make his for me as another one of my Mother's Day presents so Eli made his planter for his mom. We haven't painted them yet but I'm thinking about it.....I wonder what they have planned for Father's Day? :)

What Would We Do Without You?

I managed to get one Mother's Day post up before the official day was over...but I am ashamed to say that I did not get my other planned post...well, posted...so, this is for my other Mom...

Happy Mother's Day!

I want the whole world to know how amazing you are and how much you mean to both of us. You have sacrificed your precious time to come and help us on several occasions. If we need you, you are here with us. You have worked 18 hours days with me at the coffeehouse, cooked our meals, cleaned our house, washed our laundry, kept us going, ran our household, worked on taxes and kept us laughing when we felt like crying. You are a gracious host who always showers us with love and grace. Thank you for coming back to KS to help while my mom was at deaths door. Thank you for taking care of Scott and my beautiful kids. They love having you here and I love watching your relationships grow. You are a very gracious mother-in-law who welcomed me with open arms and I appreciate that. I am so thankful that we have a great relationship and I look forward to making more crazy memories with you! We Love You Holly!

Happy Mother's Day!

Day 25 of Mom's Heroic Heart Adventure. Happy Mother's Day!

This beautiful woman is the reason I celebrate Mother's Day. She has taught me many life lessons that I use on a daily basis. She teaches me strength, dignity, unselfishness, forgiveness, unconditional love, joy and how to be a loving mother in her every day actions. She loves me unconditionally and tells me how proud she is of me. She has a tender spirit that yearns for a closer relationship with her Lord. She spends her mornings in prayer and devotion time so that her mind is focused on Him. She lifts me up in prayer and has continued to do so while in the hospital. I am telling you, this woman is amazing. I am so thankful for her life on this Mother's Day. I have prayed for the breath of life many times in the past month and my heart is flooded with joy after an afternoon with her. She has a great attitude even in the midst of her pain. She is renewed and happy to be alive and I thank God that I still get to experience life with her. I have a million more conversations in mind for us and I thank God everyday for our second chance.

She told me today that she loves being my mom and I understand how she feels. It is something that I tell my kids too. I love being their bonus mom. They help complete my life with their smiles, laughter and accomplishments. I am always proud of them and want the best for them. I feel their pain and have cried with them as well as celebrated joyous occasions. I can't wait to see them, hear their stories and see their beautiful faces light up as we laugh and talk. I know exactly what she means...children make your life complete. Happy Mother's Day! I love you mom!

Noah's R.O.A.D. Rally

Two weeks ago we had the chance to see a program sponsored by the KC Ballet at the boys' school. The Reach Out And Dance curriculum relates dance to geography, math, and other classroom subjects. They incorporate dance moves into learning and the kids learn confidence, have fun and get to perform at the end of the year. The fourth graders did a great job and we were very impressed with how well they followed directions. These photos are not the best but you get the idea....Noah was moving around so much that many of them are blurry....and I let Lucas take most of these. :)

Lucas' Musical Debut

Last week Lucas made his musical debut during his very first Kindergarten Musical. He was extra nervous because he had been picked for a solo part but he did a fantastic job! I went to music class with him two different times so I had the alphabet song stuck in my head for months but it worked out great because we practiced every weekend. He told me a month before his performance that his throat hurt and he didn't know if he was going to be able to go to school that day and wouldn't be able to sing that night either...poor thing was so nervous! We talked about keeping his eyes on his music teacher and practiced his "letter e" song and when it came to the big night he was super excited!

Here is the whole group getting ready to get their waves and hello's out of the way. :)


Such a cute toothless smile.


Solo part- "My short sound is 'e'. My Long sound is 'ee'. You can learn them easily."

My brother Gary was in town visiting mom and he was brave enough to join us at the music program. :) The kids met him about 3 years ago but it was only for a few minutes and they didn't really remember it. This time, they were pretty excited to meet their Uncle Gary and they fought over who got to sit with him at dinner the next night. Lucas quickly became his buddy and they had some great conversations the next night at Cinzetti's. Gary had never experienced a dinner buddy before but Lucas claimed him and showed him the ropes...

Here is their first meeting. Lucas had heard that Gary's plane was hit by lightning and he wanted to know all about it.

So, our little Rock Star did a great job and we were so proud of him! I have to admit that I catch myself singing that "delightful" alphabet song every once in a while...I wonder how long that will be stuck in my head?

Field Day Fun!

All 3 boys had their Field Day yesterday and since I couldn't go to the hospital I took a few hours to volunteer and watch the fun. Lucas had his fun in the morning and was hot and tired after 3 hours in the sun. He ran a great race, got first place and I am so glad I captured it! He is such a speedy runner!! He raced in a Big Shirt race, joined in on the tug of war, played basketball, ran more races and participated in 36 different stations during his day. No wonder he was exhausted!

I got to chase Eli around for about an hour and captured a few of his great moments. :) Wet Sponge Race, Balloon Pop, Tug of War, Bowling and more races. He was hot and tired but had a good time.

Noah was the hardest child to capture on film. He would tell me he was going to one area and when I would turn around (to watch Eli) he would sneak out of line and go to another activity. He thought it was hilarious...but I did manage to capture him when he left the Tug of War line after 10 minutes of waiting....to run off with his BEST FRIEND *M. They played some sort of beach ball game for quite a while and they had a great time.

I really enjoyed volunteering and working with the H.S. and 6th grade helpers. Every one had a great Field Day!

Happy Bonus Mom Day!

We started a tradition this year with a new family holiday....Bonus Mom Day!! We celebrated on Sunday (one week before Mother's Day) and I loved every minute that our family had together. I didn't get home from the hospital until almost 5 am but I was very pleased to be woken up by Noah and Lucas saying Happy Bonus Mom Day!! at 8:30 am. Noah had made big plans on Sat. and even though the whole family was up till almost 2am...they brought me breakfast in bed! It was super sweet! The kids have done this for me the past several years on the day before Mother's Day but I really enjoyed my own holiday!!

The kids decorated a sleeping shirt for me that matched the one we made for Scott on Father's Day last year. They each wrote sweet things and drew pictures. Lucas wrote on the front and then decided he wanted to draw a Jayhawk for me. Like any good alumni, I try to instill Jayhawk values into each of the kids...and it's working....for 3 out of 4....but Lucas surprised us with his AWESOME artwork! I gave Eli my Jayhawk puppet and Lucas used it for a still life drawing on the back of the shirt. It is AMAZING!! I LOVE my Bonus Mom Shirt and the sweet kids that made it for me.

After lunch we went to the Nelson-Atkins museum as our big event. We love this museum and you really can't beat a FREE activity for 7 people. I love seeing all the paintings by Monet & Van Gogh as well as the beautiful statues and pottery from 12th century B.C.! It is such a beautiful, peaceful place...and just what I needed that day. I had several calls from the hospital during my Mother's Day but everyone kept me focused and we had a great time. Have I mentioned how much I love each one of my kids? Or how much I LOVE my husband? He is such an amazing husband and I am so thankful for his support. Have I mentioned how much I love my mother in law? She is here helping me run the household while my mom is on life support and she is priceless. We have a great relationship and I wouldn't trade her for the world! Ok, back to my day. :)

Our little Thinkers.....


They have an amazing Egyptian exhibit...


I love seeing the layers of paint and imagining how it was created...


I love this photo and the beauty of the brush strokes in this room...


Eli after an exhausting game of badminton...


Can't visit the museum without playing in the huge grassy yard...


My wonderful kids who make me a very happy Bonus Mom...

I had a great Bonus Mom Day and love the relationships I have with each one of them! They are amazing children who love me just as I am. Thank you Autumn, Noah, Eli, Lucas and Daddy for a great Mother's Day. I love you!