Paracord for Antigua

The last couple of months I have struggled. 
I have struggled with this mess...

And this mess...

My 10 year old disappears for hours on end to his room.  It is a strange and unsettling feeling to not have him underfoot, running in and out the door.  A little frustrating when there is math to do or books to be read.

Then there are the nights, I go into peak on him and discover him still awake.  Hard at work creating or researching and learning a new pattern.  

But my through it all my heart swells..

Ever since the missions team visited Awana one night to explain their upcoming trip to Antigua to build a hard court at a church he has been a man with a mission.  Their visit to Awana was to drum up excitement for the missions offering to be collected for a month.  They happened to mention that some of the money would be used to purchase prizes for a carnival night during the mission trip.  My young man dreamed of making para cord bracelets for the team to give away.  A dream he has not let go.  So while I do ask for the occasional clean up and vacuum and insist on lights out, I am very proud of this young man.  He willingly takes breaks to do some math and read when I request him to, but when my requests have been fulfilled he is back to work.  He is a young man with a very big heart, generous and thoughtful.  He even sold some creations as a fundraiser to help pay for all the supplies.  Sometimes, he just couldn't help himself and he would just give away his creations just to love on someone.  Each bracelet has a story.  Each made with love and thought to the color combinations and type of pattern.  Though each child may not know all of this, it is our prayer they will be blessed and feel the love of the Lord

His endeavor has created a bond with his oldest sister as she is going on the trip.  They have brainstormed together.  She has patiently listened as he explained each bracelet to her.  She has encouraged him as he questioned whether each was of high enough quality to give as a gift.  Would the color combination be liked?  Earlier this week she took him shopping to buy more para cord.  Something this Momma has stood back and watched.  I have held myself back, not interfering, because it has been a beautiful thing to watch unfold.  To be honest, sometimes when Momma gets involved she redirects and changes the flow unintentionally.  It is a wondrous thing to provide tools, encouragement and stand back to see what will happen.  

There are only a few hours left, and more will be added....  And I am sure I may have to say lights out at some point tonight, but this is what is flying to Antigua tomorrow.  The attached verse is: 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

One of the very first verses children learn in Awana...

Part 2 of Early Easter Fun ~ Dying the Eggs

Two days after blowing the eggs, I needed some peace and quiet.  I had the kids prep the table with newspaper.  I looked online how to dye Easter eggs, the "old-fashioned" way.  Old-fashioned in that I remembered doing it with food coloring and vinegar when I was a kid.  I don't ever remember using a kit.  I wing a lot of things, but I wanted some peace and quiet and needed to make sure it would work. 
So we made up the colors and I set them to work. 
Who knew that my younger 3 would entertain themselves for over an hour? How many eggs did they dye??  TWO EACH! 
They knew they needed 2 for each of the 2 older sibs not there at the moment.  I never know when a project will elicit the response, "But I want to do it..."  They are just at that age.  They loved blowing the egg goo out of the shelves.  They did oblige the youngers and offer their eggs up to their younger sibs to explore more creativity. 
Even though I enjoyed the quiet very much, I had to snap a couple of pictures to capture the moment. 

Early Easter Fun!

Being slowed down has sometimes left me feeling like "less" than a mom.  I rest a lot and haven't been able to do all the mom things I used to do.  However, there are moments that are truly "INSPIRED" by God.  Like the Thursday before Easter.  Feeling like I kind of have let the kids down and not feeling too holiday like, I came upon some magazines that were sitting around waiting to be read.  INSPIRED.  Headed home with The Man and announced we were going to blow eggs.  He knew what I was talking about.  He was interested and excited to give it a try.

 

He was Awesome at the task!

 

He finished 2 eggs before I had one half way done. 
He had my half way egg done about the time I got part way into a new one and broke the shell blowing!

3 for my 1 broken. 

He has discovered a new talent.

 

Then the rest of the kids arrived home and
wanted to give it a try.....

 

Fun Girl had great success and did a couple.

Fun Girl worked hard like I did.
She succeeded in her mother's footsteps and blew so hard
she broke her egg too.
She tried another egg and succumbed to the lack of oxygen.

 

 

Hockey Player felt the need to share
his fashion skills with hair accessories
and his sense of humor.



 

And then he decided to prove he was as full of hot air as The Man.

 

Honestly, I don't know what happened to a picture of Dad's Bud. 

 

We ended up with enough eggs to make "Breakfast" burritos for lunch

and

enough eggs for each of the kids to dye a couple of eggs each the next day.

Dad's Bud ~ New things all the time

Dad's Bud and Daddy O are in Cub Scouts together.  His latest project was to build this plane. 

 

His aunts need to see pictures of his latest project.  He did such an awesome job.  I am so proud of his efforts to try new things and persevere through new challenges.  

Different kind of school...

Lots of snow a couple of weeks ago. Add a mom that is suppose to be resting and having speech issues, the kids get to pursue their personal interests. Little Princess needed a hat to cover her ears while playing in the snow. So she whipped up this beauty! I was tickled to walk into my room to see her waiting for me. She wanted to know what I thought of the flower before she secured it onto the hat more permanently. BEAUTIFUL!

Way to Go Aunt Tracy and Uncle Charlie!

See this smile.

You put it on Dad's Bud face!

 

 

Paint with Water by Melissa and Doug

 

This is the coolest thing ever.

Water Color pages with paint included on the page.

This isn't the dip your water in brush and paint with water and watch the color appear.

Each individual page has a water color strip to use. 

Trim off the top of the page.

Cup of water with the paint brush included.

Paint away.

So perfect here in the hospital.

No mixing the paint colors and ruining the box.  When done, toss the strip.

I can see myself getting more for:

 athletic trips to keep the youngers occuppied while they wait

gifts for younger cousins

and just to have at home,

cause I so don't like cleaning up the water color boxes!

 

 

 

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