$112K +

"A wife of noble character who can find? 

   She is worth far more than rubies"  Proverbs 31:10

I read recently that if a stay-at-home mom were paid, she'd earn at least $112,000 a year. The group who determined this salary listed all the duties of a SAHM, and then examined the salaries of those who do those jobs for a living. Interesting.

If I were to be paid-- monetarily-- for all that I do, my husband could quit his job! And yet, often I (or all mothers or fathers, to be honest) receive little tangible compensation for my hard work. I could lament this reality, pining for some compensation for the tedious daily tasks, yet, as I've pondered this figure, I'm reminded that I am worth far MORE than a mere $112K... and not because of what I do, but because of who He is, and whose I am.

Yes, my job is invaluable, and I love it (though some days do try my patience). I am tasked with training, disciplining, and raising my kids to be kind, loving, caring, compassionate, generous, faithful, good; with running the household; with organizing our calendar/ planning events. Most importantly, I am tasked with teaching my children about God, who He is, and what He's done for us. Woah. That's an enormous responsibility, and one that I'm (on my own) ill-equipped to do.

I have found that SAHMs regularly degrade their worth. We're not bringing in a paycheck, so somehow we're not contributing as much to our families. We can't spend a little on ourselves, because we haven't "earned" it. Why do we have such a negative view of our worth when we have been blessed with such a high calling? We're not tasked with training/ interacting/ dealing with those whom we might have a passing interaction; we are called to care for OUR children. We have the opportunity to prepare them for the future (while enjoying the journey with them). What an amazing blessing!

We don't need a number to tell us what we're worth. Instead, we have God's Word, which affords us more than what some number-crunchers deduced:

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life (10-12)....She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks (17).... She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her" (Proverbs 31: 25 - 29).

Embracing and accepting our calling means we should EMBRACE and ACCEPT our worth! We are worth "far more than rubies" (10). That's certainly more than $112! Because God has crafted us for this calling, blessing us with the children in our care, He determines our worth. Not man.

So though $112K extra a year might be nice, I prefer the salary fitting of the daughter of the King (eternal life), and the opportunity to offer THAT salary to my children one day. In the meantime, I will embrace my calling, my job, the tedious, menial tasks with joy, knowing that my worth is determined by God. And in His eyes, I am invaluable.

The Kiddos

It's been awhile since my last post AND since I've update everyone on the kids, so I thought I'd do both today. Though their ages are trying at times (little miss surprises me with her occasional tantrums and baby boy regularly gets into places he shouldn't), those moments are tempered by the playful, fun ones.

*Lately, Leah has been asking for a pet. This came from out of the blue (contrary to belief that I might have coached her. Though I do want a dog, I certainly don't want the added responsibility of one right now.)
  L: "Mommy, I want a pet."
  Me: "Oh, well, we'll see about that. What do you want?"
  L: "A cat."
  M: "Hmmm, you'll have to talk to Daddy about that. He doesn't like cats."
  L, considering that fact: "Well, does Daddy like dogs?"
  M: "Yes, Daddy likes dogs."
  L: "Then I want a dog."
 After our conversation, Leah repeated it with her dad. Of course, he was a bit surprised they were even having it. Since then, Leah has mentioned WHEN she gets her dog (not if). Hmmmm, she might have to wait awhile on that.

*Polishing the Floors, a Win-Win.
  Not sure how this started, but lately, the kids (thanks to Daddy) have become obsessed with cleaning the wood floors. Well, maybe not exactly, but they do love blanket rides. Leah wraps herself in the blanket, pretending to be a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. (Yes, she even emerges from her cocoon.) Although this is the usual scenario for her, she did modify it the other day; she loaded up the blanket with toys, and then pretended she was Santa, delivering toys down the hallway.
  Hunter loves lying face down during the rides. We're not exactly sure why, but boy, is it funny. Sometimes he'll turn over onto his back, which often means he's just barely lying on the blanket. Other times, he'll try to stand (obviously he doesn't get very far). Ahh, simple fun.

*Speaking of simple fun, notice the new "toys" in these photos. The kids loved playing in a box. They'd just sit in it. Not sure the allure of cardboard, but it kept them entertained. Course, I think the flashlights helped, too. Hunter will go to the drawer where we keep them, point, and say, "Light?" He loves walking around with them, but he especially enjoys playing with them in the darkened laundry room. Again, who knew such a simple tool would bring the kids such joy.
  Now, I realize Leah doesn't look too joyful in the box. That was her "Mommy, I'm making a sad face" for the photo. Hmmm, honestly, it looks like both of them aren't too happy. Almost as if I had locked 'em up.

*So the hubs might not like this photo, but it was too funny NOT to include. After church on Sunday, Hunter pulled out Leah's Ariel costume from the box of dress-up clothes and brought it over to me. Seeing no harm in indulging him, I helped him into it. That boy was so happy! He continued about his business (playing) while we made lunch. And when it was time to eat (and he had to lose the costume), he was NOT happy!
  Later that day, while Leah and I were at Awana, Hunter again "asked" to wear the costume, but Scott told him "no". That's not what Hunter wanted to hear: he threw a tantrum because he couldn't wear the costume. (I'm sure he's going to kill me one day when he sees this photo!)

*No photo for this tidbit, but I've noticed that Hunter has been learning how to play from Leah (as evidenced by the previous story). Leah likes to pretend she's Jasmine kitty, and Hunter has begun doing the same. At times, independently of Leah, he will drop to all fours, mew, and crawl over to me. Once he gets to me, he pulls himself up for a "kitty hug and cuddle". Satisfied, he'll then crawl away (or do a circuit and repeat). Too funny.

A Lesson from Bad Fish

*DISCLAIMER: Some references might be a bit TMI, but they illustrate the message.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well" Psalm 139: 14

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

Saturday night started out perfectly. Our sitter arrived, the kids were eager to play with her, and Scott and I were free to enjoy dinner and a movie. Ahhh, time together. All continued to go smoothly when we arrived at Outback. We hadn't been in quite some time, despite our history there (some of you may know that our first date was at Outback), and we were pleasantly surprised to discover that there wasn't a wait (shocking, I know, but maybe it had something to do with us arriving at 5!). 

We ordered, then talked while we waited for our meals, fish (mine) and steak (Scott's). Our food finally arrived, and neither of us was disappointed. The fish was perfect: Mahi mahi topped with artichokes, sundried tomatoes, and a lemon sauce. It hit the spot, satisfying a craving I didn't know I had.

Next up, the new James Bond movie (definitely recommend it!). We made it in time for the 6:30 showing (the time is important, especially since the movie is about 2.5 hours long), found decent seats, and got comfortable. Sometime during the movie, I started feeling slightly uncomfortable. My once satiated tummy was twisting and turning, and not in the regular digestion sense. (Leah had the stomach bug last week, so that was at the back of my mind, too.) Still, I lost myself (mostly) in the movie, willing the gurglings to pass... and made it safely through the movie (though I was only too happy to be heading home). 

We made it home... and none too soon. Scott bid our sitter good-bye, as I was incapacitated in the facilities... where I also spent the first half of the night (well, alternating between there and bed). Chills, aches, and fever accompanied my hourly visits to the bathroom, until, finally, my body had nothing left to expel. And then... rest.

Sunday, feeling much better after two naps, I had a chance for some quiet time and reflection. Funny how I could then see God's hand (in a positive way) even in the midst of food poisoning. 

First, Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made." How grateful I am that God designed our bodies in such a way to remove the harmful bacteria that I had inadvertently ingested. Here was something delicious yet dangerous... and I had no idea. Yet God, in His ingenuity, gifted my body with another defensive mechanism (though certainly not pleasant) to protect me from greater harm. How amazing!

Second, Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." My dinner was beautiful, delicious, much like sin. How often have I relished in my sin, excusing it or justifying it because it "looked" acceptable by society's standards? Yet smothering it in a delectable sauce doesn't change it; it's still sin, it's still deadly, and it still separates me from God. 

BUT... there's hope for I know that Jesus died for my sins. He suffered the pain of my sin-- separation from our Holy God and Father-- even though He was perfect. Even though, he did nothing wrong. Yet suffer He did so that He could rise again, interceding on behalf of believers, forgiving us, and allowing us to avoid the physical, emotional, and spiritual anguish that our sin deserves. 

So, thank you, Lord, for bad fish. For a physical reminder of what I won't have to endure because I know my faith and trust are in you. In whom is your faith and trust? May it be "the author and perfecter of our faith (Jesus), who, for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12: 2).

Slipper Dancing

So, I was going to write about the election, especially since this has been quite the lesson/ ride for me this past week. And who knows, I just might write, if only to convey the peace that God has given me in the midst of my own feelings of despair. But for now, a more light-hearted, and enjoyable post: Hunter dancing.

My son LOVES to dance. The other night, Scott turned on some "cruising" music for Hunter to listen to while riding around in his Cozy Coupe. Every time they drove through the living room, Scott had to stop the car so that Hunter could get out, dance, and then return to the car for the rest of the ride. Seriously. This boy LOVES to dance.

Big sister passed along her Car slippers after she received new piggy slippers. Nevermind that the slippers are still too big for Hunter; he LOVES shuffling along in them, stopping every so often to reposition a foot that slipped out. So stinkin' adorable!

Now just combine those two images --dancing and slippers-- and you can imagine the result. Better yet, just watch the video. (My apologies for the angle; I can't rotate it.)

Like a Million Bucks

This past summer, Scott and I talked about saving up for a swingset for the kiddos. I looked at a few to get an idea of cost, and then we started socking away some money. Not only would we have to save for the swingset itself, but we'd have to save for the tree removal service, too, since we didn't have space in the backyard for a sizeable set. We knew this would take some time, especially since there were other house projects (the front porch) that took priority.

And then God, like He usually does, intervened.

Turns out our neighbors had a swingset that their kids had outgrown. A playset that they just wanted to GIVE away. Yes, GIVE.

And that upped our initial timetable.

Being the handy husband that he is, Scott borrowed a chainsaw and cut down the trees in our yard. Little. Big. They were no match for him (though a rotten tree did put up a good fight). That took about two weekends.

Another weekend, he ground the stumps down. (That turned out to be an all-day affair, much to our surprise.)

Come September, he and two of our neighbors carried the playset over to our yard so that Scott could begin the make-over. First a face-lift (power-washing). Then some nips and tucks here and there (board replacement). Finally, the make-up (stain). But she still wasn't ready.

New "jewelry" (rungs on the rope ladder). A new "hairstyle" (a new steel roof). And finally, she looks like a million bucks. And all for about a quarter of what just a new playset itself (not factoring in tree removal) would have cost us.

Don't tell me that God doesn't provide. I only have to glance out back to see that He does.

 The view from the bay window in the kitchen. Scott hadn't anticipated the tree falling toward the house. Thankfully, it was just short enough to miss doing any damage.

 Hard to tell, but notice the color difference between the playset and the ladder on the right. Just staining it made a big difference. You'll notice that there's no roof  and that the rope ladder isn't functional (the wood rungs were rotting).

 Leah enjoyed helping Daddy "paint" the ladder.

 Like a million bucks! Notice the roof that Scott designed and built, as well as the PVC rungs on the rope ladder. All of his hard work has been well worth it. The kids LOVE going outside to play.

Hunter LOVES the slide, particularly walking up it (assisted, of course) and then sliding down. He tumbled off the end and landed in a bed of leaves. I think he would have stayed there all afternoon had I let him!

 Leah had to try out the bed of leaves for herself.

 Playing pirates with big sis in the "fort". Or just looking adorable!

Weathering the Storm

Looks like our playset was the perfect place for our hawk (okay, the neighborhood hawk, but she holds a special place in our hearts, especially since she's helping to rid us of the adorable but pesky chipmunks that have taken up residence in our yard) to weather Hurricane Sandy. She (the hawk) showed up yesterday around 3 and stayed for about 30 minutes, before a particularly strong gust of wind encouraged her to find refuge elsewhere. I do hope she fared okay; like I said, she holds a special place in our hearts.

As for our family itself, we're just fine. The kids didn't mind staying inside all day yesterday (Hunter was upset today, though, when we were outside only long enough to get the mail and remove the trash can from the garage; that boy LOVES being outdoors), and were unfazed by the wind and rain last night. (Apparently Scott and I were, too; once I fell asleep, I didn't wake until Scott's alarm went off this morning.) Thankfully, too, there's no damage, just lots of leaves and several branches. Even better, my hubby didn't/ doesn't have to extend his shift at work. Considering what we had been expecting, I'd say that we fared really well.

Happy Day!

Eight years ago today Scott and I joined our hands and hearts in marriage. Much has happened since that beautiful fall day in 2004, but every moment together has helped us grow and strengthen our marriage.

Tonight we'll celebrate with an annual tradition: dinner at Arby's. Of course, unlike our visit there on our wedding night on the way to the airport hotel, tonight we'll have two kids in tow, and simply return home afterwards to partake in peanut butter cup s'mores bars (Yum! Thought an anniversary was the perfect "excuse" to try this recipe!) before putting the kids to bed.

(And for those concerned that we won't have a chance to celebrate sans kids, we did; when my in-laws were in town for Hunter's dedication, Scott and I went out to dinner before checking out the new shops by Wegman's. We were actually away for THREE HOURS! That's a LOT for us!)

Be free! Be free!

As part of Leah's study on butterflies, I ordered some caterpillars back in September. I was a bit wary when the little critters arrived; they weren't moving, and the brown food in their jar wasn't exactly aesthetically pleasing. Still, I held on hope that the caterpillars would grow and proceed through their life cycle before our very eyes.

Turns out that all six of our "pets" lived; they proved a daily source of entertainment (in short amounts) for all four of us (yes, even the hubs and I were interested). The kiddos would clamor around the island (well, Hunter needed some assistance) to peek at the caterpillars crawling around their home.

Then one day, they started "the change", and we were the fascinated bystanders. The first caterpillar to spin his chrysalis did so during Leah's rest, so I ran upstairs to get her. Granted, it did take it a little time to finish, but I didn't know that at the time. Plus, it was fun experiencing the moment with Leah.

Finally, after a couple days, all six of our caterpillars had spun chrysalids; now we just had to wait... and wait... and wait. Then, last week, just after breakfast, I happened to glance at our butterfly garden, and there, hanging on to the side, was a butterfly. Just like that! Number two arrived later that morning, and then number three appeared that afternoon. Number four arrived the next day. (Sad to say, but number five wasn't fully developed; it never fully emerged from the chrysalis, and ultimately died. Number six must have died in its chrysalis for it never appeared.) The kids enjoyed watching the butterflies flit around their garden or sip nectar from the orange slices and sugar water we gave them. (Leah was good about looking and not touching, but Hunter didn't quite understand. He'd pound on the top of the garden with excitement, sending the butterflies trembling down to the bottom.)

Sunday afternoon, Scott and Leah released our "pets" in the backyard (though Leah had told me earlier that she wanted them to fly around our house. Uh, no.) They were hesitant to leave the comfort of their "home", but soon gained the courage to fly off into the "great unknown".

 Scott set the two unopened chrysalids on the food plate in the hopes that the butterflies might still make it.

If you look closely, you can see one of our butterflies on the log.

Change of Plans

So, initially I was going to update everyone on the backyard project/ addition, but then I saw something this morning that made me change my mind. 

We have been so blessed by where we live: our neighborhood is convenient to EVERYTHING; our neighbors are great; our home is in good condition (even if we have been updating it here and there); and, unlike many homes in this area, we actually have privacy thanks to our wooded lot. 

Though I am not a tree-hugger or environmentalist by any means, I do enjoy and appreciate nature (after all, it is God's creation and one of many ways in which He demonstrates His creativity and His love for us). So is it any surprise that I often find myself scanning the backyard for critters of one sort or another: chipmunks (so cute... but so destructive! Argh!), squirrels (eh, see one, seen 'em all), chickadees (can't get enough of these. Maybe that's because of a report I wrote back in elementary school), doves, woodpeckers, cardinals, rabbits (don't see these often enough), foxes (thankfully our yard is usually just a cut through; too often, these are rather mangy looking), deer (REGULARLY! Scott keeps telling me that one day he's going to hunt them from our deck), snakes (ugh!!), turtles (saw a baby one crossing our driveway last year), toads, and hawks (saw one just last week. He hung around for a few days. Friday he was on our deck. Saturday he went zooming past Scott's ear while Scott was outside working.).

And then Sunday, and again today, I saw something I hadn't seen in our neighborhood before. Something beautiful, majestic, and strong: a bald-eagle. As I was driving to church, he flew over our street. Then today, as we were playing outside, he flew down our street, prey (a squirrel) in talons. So amazing. Guess I know what I'll be keeping an eye out for now.

15 Months Old

15 tidbits about my 15-month-old boy. He's growing so fast!

1. Could spend the entire day outdoors
2. So not into vegetables
3. Runs. A lot.
4. Sports an adorable comb-over
5. Finds biting mommy to be immensely entertaining (I, however, don't share that sentiment)
6. Has a strange fascination with playing in dark rooms (the laundry room, bathroom)
7. Super cuddly
8. Likes to pick out books for naptime/ bedtime
9. Is done eating when Leah is (if not before)
10. "Dada" is his favorite word (so nice to hear on a weekend morning)
11. Definitely a morning person
12. Enjoys hide-and-seek, especially if he's the finder
13. Great little helper (throws away diapers and picks up toys)
14. Loves playing with big sister (to include chasing her and attacking her)
15. Such a charmer

Apples!

Thank you Mariah for organizing the annual apple-picking excursion this past weekend. The weather was PERFECT: sunny skies, moderate/ seasonable temps, a light breeze, and zero humidity. Ahhh, perfect for picking apples.

I'll let the photos do most of the talking; the trip was worth it, even if Hunter's only nap was the last 30 minutes of our ride home.

Hunter wanted in on the picking action; we had to explain that apples on the ground weren't exactly pick-worthy.

Can you see the hubs in the tree?

Watching Daddy pick apples. Notice who's in the stroller, and who isn't.

Apples taste better when you pick 'em yourselves.

Checking out the flower Leah picked for me. When I told him to sniff it, he leaned in as if he were going to kiss it.

The best part about apple picking? Making an apple pie!

Rolling out the leftover pie crust to make cinnamon chips. After all her help, turns out Leah doesn't like apple pie (but she does enjoy ice cream and cinnamon chips!).

First Day of School!

We (okay, it's more like "I") made the decision to start Leah in pre-school this year... at home, so I have been working on compiling activities for different units (and swapping them with a friend who is doing the same). [I won't go into too much detail here since I covered much of this in an earlier post.]

To say Leah's been excited would be an understatement. On her first day of school (last Tuesday), she came downstairs to find her backpack sitting on the table, filled with all the materials for that day's lesson on butterflies. Not wasting any time, she unzipped the bag and pulled out the contents, eager for us to begin. "Not until after breakfast, kiddo." (Wouldn't you know it, that was the fastest she's eaten breakfast in a LONG time.)

With breakfast out of the way, it was time to get dressed (she picked out her outfit: pink tank and blue plaid shorts), take the first day of school photo (she actually LET me take her picture. That hasn't happened in a while.), and begin our lesson: making a butterfly mask. We talked about how a butterfly's wings are symmetrical, and though the wings on her butterfly aren't, at least she had the right idea; there are flowers on both sides. Our first lesson didn't take too long, especially since we spread it out over the course of the day due to letting the paint dry, but that didn't diminish her enthusiasm.

Later that day, when Scott asked, "Leah, did you go to school today? What did you learn?" Leah replied, "No, Daddy. I didn't go to school. I did school at my house." Who'd have thought she'd pick up on such a slight difference?

Since that first day, we've "done school" two more times, and each day, Leah loves it (and let's be honest, so do I). Next time you see her, be sure to ask about the life cycle of a butterfly. I'm sure she'd willingly share her new-found knowledge. 

 Sept. 4, 2012 First Day of PSL (Pre-school Light)

 Painting half the butterfly mask before folding it in half to create the mirror image. (She was more interested in painting it all purple, which certainly made it easier to print on the other half.)

Butterfly girl!

New York Vacation 2012

We trekked north for our annual New York summer vacation a couple weeks ago. Unlike last year, where we packed our week with numerous activities, this year, we took a more relaxed approach. This should have been a restful trip (and, for the most part it was), but sleeping in a home next to a busy country road that's frequented by big trucks doesn't bode well for sleeping babies or preschoolers. Thus the kiddos were up early every day (well, except for the day we left; then Leah slept in until just after 7)-- as in, usually by 6:30, 6:45 at the absolute latest. (In case you didn't know, at home, the kids aren't usually up until at least 7.)

Despite the less-than-ideal/ expected amount of sleep, the kids powered through the days, buoyed by the joy and excitement of being at Papa and Grandma's. Our week was filled with time with the cousins, running around the yard, enjoying the fire pit (complete with hot dogs and s'mores), a visit with Great Grandma Teddy (complete with a spiedie lunch and a ride on a carousel), a trip to the fair, and a horse ride. Of course, some days we had time to relax at my in-laws' place. Those were the moments when I could enjoy being a mom without the distractions of errands to run, a house to maintain, or a "to do" list to complete. Instead, I could play with my kids (that is, when they wanted to. For some reason, Leah just wanted to play with Grandma.) or read a magazine (read during the day when my kids are AWAKE? What an absurd notion!). 

Ahhh, vacation. Though it's over, and we're back in the swing of things, complete with a busy fall schedule, I feel rested and rejuvenated. Guess that's what vacation does to a girl, eh?

 Daily, Hunter would bring us his shoes (and sometimes my shoes!) then point to the door. He couldn't get enough of the outdoors, especially with ride-on toys available. He loved this motorized car, and was particularly proud of himself once he learned how to make it go.

If Leah had her way, she would have stayed on the carousel all afternoon.

She looks like she's dancing, but really, she's chasing (and popping) bubbles.

Leah and cousin Mila snuggle in a chair around the fire pit.

Hunter loved playing this game with Grandma through the window. (That is, when he wasn't busy running laps around the house.)

Quality time with Daddy.

Leah and her cousins (Mila and Kate) check out a 3-day old calf that was born at the fair.

Hunter LOVED petting the sheep... until they "baaed" and scared him!

Scott bought the orangeade for himself, but Hunter drank most of it. That little bugger couldn't get enough of it!

Trying cotton candy for the first time.

Hunter was all about the tractor. Who's really steering?

When asked who wanted to ride the horse first, Leah immediately volunteered.

Despite the expression on his face, Hunter enjoyed himself.

Leah knew exactly what to do on the Dragon Coaster: scream her little girl heart out!