Sharing is hard!

The sibling battle today is over a baby stroller... about 5 or 6 months ago I put the baby stroller away because it was a hazard to Greyson's well-being. He would try to get in it and would flip it over, so it was put away for a time. I remembered it today and thought I'd try to get it out again. However, from the second it was brought into sight, there has been a war over who gets to play with it. I think we have now settled into taking turns for it. Whew! I would hate for the world to end because we didn't have two baby strollers! (that is a good idea! I should bring in the "real" umbrella stroller too!)

The battles have been become more and more frequent. I don't know if I should look forward to the days that Greyson can speak his mind or not. Right now I intervene to keep the peace but when Greyson has his words, I think it is going to be a whole new world of teaching to negotiate.

In other MN Rhodes news, Greyson has started saying "ma-ma"! He usually says it first thing in the morning when he wants to get up, calling me out of bed. I don't know if he knows he is calling me, just that it gets me out of bed (most of the time). Greyson is also starting to make animal sounds - "moo" for cow, smacking lips for fish, "aaa" for sheep, "ack" for duck, snort for pig - all very cute. I will try to get it on video for sure!

Madelyn is going for her MN-required kindergarden screening this afternoon. I have primed her a little, telling her we are going to see "special teachers that will ask lots of questions". I really don't know what to expect tho. I'm interested in knowing what they have to say because Madelyn is right on the cusp of the school cutoff - her bday is Aug 17th and the cutoff is Sept 1. We are leaning toward starting her in kindergarden right when she turns 5, but we also have a year and a half before we have to stick with that decision. We know it is more than a decision about where she is academically, have to consider the behavioral and emotional stuff too. I'll keep you posted about the screening.

Have a great day!

a wedding and a funeral

Ben has returned home now. Before he left he happened to mention that he was "going to a wedding and a funeral" and I thought "how wrong does that sound?" From the reports that I have gotten, it sounds like everything went well. The wake, the funeral, the burial, the wedding, and the reception.... all within 48 hours. Amazing. Uncle Steve's wake was very well attended. It's said that there was a reception line that didn't end for 3.5 hours! I can't imagine the physical and emotional exhaustion that would come with receiving people for that long! And that was just the first of five physically and emotionally demanding events to occur.... Amazing. Ben was an honorary pallbearer at the funeral (mostly because the family didn't know if he was going to make it to be "real" pallbearer). He feels quite honored.

From reports I've heard, the wedding was wonderful. Yes, the bride broke down a couple times during the vows (expected), but all in all, the wedding was about the joy of the union and *not* about sadness over the man who wasn't able to make it. Thank you, Lord, for your loving mercy.

On Sunday, I sang in the praise team for service and, of course, one of the songs we sang was Blessed Be Your Name. Standing on stage, it brought me to tears (btw, not the ideal place to fall apart). The words are so poignant and remind me that life as God's child does not promise happiness, instead it promises joy and fullness and peace even in times of strife and trials.

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say:
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name

I have a passage that was given to me during the hardest time of my life, when I lost my Sarah. This passage is now framed with a small bit of the flowers that I received then at the bottom of our stairs (thanks, Mom). I walk past it many times a day and probably read it once a week. It really does seem so backwards to think that my God isn't trying to make me happy. He is trying to bring me closer to Himself and to eternal joy and peace using many ways, including the hard times.

The very fire that blackens my horizons warms my soul. The darkness that oppresses my mind sharpens my vision. The flood that overwhelms my heart quenches my thirst. The thorns that penetrate my flesh strengthen my spirit. The grave that buries my desires deepens my devotion. Man's failure to comprehend this intention of God is one of life's true calamities.

James Means - A Tearful Goodbye

Thank you, God, for the the trials that come and go and for the devotion that deepens with each one.

Christmas pictures reposted, January pictures too

I was looking at my online pictures a couple of days ago (yes, even I look at them) and realized that the Christmas pictures disappeared. I think it was my fault. Anyway, I have reposted them for you. I have new January pictures posted for you too. Enjoy!

The unthinkable....

Before Ben and I were married, back in his college days and before, he would spend time with his Uncle Steve. He would tell me about this man that he would hike with, rebuild cars with, borrow pinball machines from, share music with, talk about theology and family, and even the days when Uncle Steve and his father would install car stereos together... he *loves* his Uncle Steve. After we were married, I quickly understood. Uncle Steve - a phenomenal husband, father, musician, man... a man who loves God and his people, a sweet and gentle soul with a talent for music that only God himself could have bestowed. (The music on the MP3 player above is Uncle Steve playing on Sept 10, 2006. NOTE: I know it is a huge file and takes awhile to load. It may have to restart it a time or two to hear it without it getting stuck buffering.)

After we were married, Ben and I moved away to find jobs and would only see Uncle Steve at the long weekend family reunion held every year on Petit Jean Mt, Arkansas and every other year at Thanksgiving. Man, do we look forward to that time with family! It really is an awesome way to get to know family and when you live as far away as we do, it is a treat!

this picture is from Petit Jean 2003 (more pics) - Ben, Uncle Steve, and Ben's Dad

God took Uncle Steve on Tuesday. Although Ben and I had expected that when he died, it would be sudden and unexpected, it is still a shock. Uncle Steve has had heart issues for about 20 years and because Ben and I know a bit about how the heart works, we knew that one day it would probably take him without much warning. (Which leaves me wondering... why didn't he have an ICD?) Like this isn't sad enough, his daughter's wedding is this Saturday - unthinkable... I know that God has to have something awesome planned but it just doesn't seem right. Here is this awesome man who probably wanted nothing more than to walk his daughter down the aisle this week (and play the classical songs that she asked him to play on the piano at the wedding) and the Lord decides that there is something more important. I want so much to celebrate his life and what he accomplished here, but I'm left not asking "why?" but "why NOW?". My heart aches for him in his last moments and his family as they try to figure out how to make the next week happen. The funeral is tomorrow and the wedding is still Saturday. I wish so much that I could be there to help make it happen. Ben left last night and I opted to stay home with the kids - Ben should be there to say goodbye to his favorite uncle. He should be there to support his sisters and parents (especially his father) as they grieve too. Hopefully grieving can turn into joyfulness for this bride and groom somehow. Please pray for them as they work the logistics to make it all come together and as they experience the emotions that come. Please pray for this new couple to have a special serving of grace from God to get through this tumuluous time. Please pray for the extended family as they celebrate and grieve this week and may they be sensitive to the needs of the people around them. Lord, please help me see your hand in this and where my joy in *this* should come from. Thank you, God, for the time Uncle Steve was able to spend with us though. He was truly a man of You.

Pizzas from the heart

Well, Happy Valentines Day! I hope you had a very loving one. I attempted to make a "Love Day" for the kids and then ultimately for my husband. I don't know if I succeeded but I know that we had a lot of fun. The day started by dressing in pink and red and then Madelyn learning a little about what God says about love - watch the clip. Be aware that the verse is a crude paraphase of 1 John 4:7 - "Friends, love each other because God is love." (or scooter, whatever.)



So, then we made sugar cookies with heart and sprinkles. Madelyn loved that! She kept telling me how much she liked making cookies and how she wants to do it more. I did learn the importance of not making the cookie balls too big when you put them on the baking sheet though.... let's just say that the first batch out fo the oven didn't come out so well. Oops.

We took a trip to Medtronic to have lunch with some other Moms that I used to meet with monthly before I quit. Before we went to lunch though, I took the kids to see their old classes and they were so excited to see everyone! It was really nice to see how Greyson walked in like he owned the place and Madelyn connect with some old friends (ones she has literally grown up with since 3months). When we went to lunch, it was really nice to see all the moms again. The mom of one of Madelyn's oldest, best friends (Jack) went and got him so that they could eat lunch together. It was so sweet! Madelyn kept saying "I haven't seen Jack in a long time and I love him!" I have now decided that I need to somehow nuture a few of these relationships that she has with these "old" friends. Now I have to figure out how... Connor, Jack, Lucy, Joseph(and newer friends - Kieran, Jacob, and more) - Madelyn loves you!

After naps, I sat the kids down to do some painting for Dad. Madelyn used a brush to paint, but Greyson used his fingers. He couldn't get over having paint on his hands enough to actually paint very much so I got his hands full of paint and made handprints so that we can remember how big his hands were at 15 months.

My favorite part of "love day" was making heart pizzas. I made pizza because it is one of Ben's favorite foods, if not the front runner. Now these babies were made from scratch! The dough was much easier to make than I thought it would be. It took about 20 minutes to prep and 2 hours to rise before I shaped it. It was a lot of fun! I made two - one with Ben's favorite toppings, pineapple and ham, and one with my favorite toppings (and the kids, incidently), sausage and mushrooms. Yum yum!


Thank you, Lord, for my family and the love that you bless us with everyday.

I love this picture!

I don't really know why but I love this picture! Just thought I'd share...

PS - Thanks Aunt Liz for the great shirt!

"I am going...to prepare a place for you."

Madelyn and I have been going to church on Wednesday nights. Madelyn was invited to be part of the preschool choir and since she LOVES to sing, we decided to take her to be a part of it and the program that runs after it called Awana. It is a bit of a hardship to make it happen though. The choir meets at 6pm and because it is rush hour it takes about 45 minutes to get there. That means we have to leave at 5:15pm, which means that Ben has to leave work early and I have to have the kids fed before he gets home. However, I have concluded that it is SO worth it because.... a week ago Madelyn memorized her first Bible verse! It really isn't just that she memorized her first verse, there are other things too - like the time she gets to spend with friends and teachers and learning about God - but when she memorized a Bible verse, that was my realization of how good it is that she spends this time at church on Wednesday nights.

Do you like your S'mores charred?

Last night, Madelyn got her appetite back in full force and ate two servings of sour cream chicken enchiladas. Even though, on a normal day, she'll eat her weight at breakfast, it is rare these days that she eats half of her dinner. So when she ate TWO full servings, we knew that her appetite had to be back. We decided to celebrate by having s'mores for dessert. This is Madelyn's first time with this yummy treat! It has been years since I've had one too.


We did find out that Ben likes his marshmellows on the darker brown side, but not charred. I, however, like my marshmellows slightly charred. I think it is funny that we can be picky about how "well" our marshmellows are done - kinda like our meat at a steakhouse.

Madelyn really liked her s'more. She was kinda taken aback by the fact that we were using the fireplace to prepare food.

Greyson didn't get in on the s'mores but got to eat a couple of marshmellows, which made him VERY happy. He did keep trying to sneak a bite on our graham crackers too. :)

Here's a video I took of Greyson later on in the evening playing. In the background you will hear that we are enjoying Ben's U2 Greatest Hits album.

What we're up to...

Here's my stab at a family update for you all. Things have been going really well in our household. We are all enjoying where God has us.

Lately Greyson has been a cranky grump! The reason? He is giving up his morning nap but can't quite make it to afternoon naptime without falling apart. It kinda interesting to see him losing it because is something new that we haven't seen much of before. Greyson is generally such a happy kid, so content. Greyson's favorite things to do: brush his teeth, hang out in his crib (he refuses to come out sometimes! :), go up and down the stairs (on his tummy), and be held by Mom. He really is a Mommy's Boy..... Something funny happened yesterday - we were watching America's Funniest Home Videos and, of course, it was showing a lot of people falling and being knocked over and Greyson would start crying EVERYTIME someone would fall. He would calm down and then the next person would fall and he'd start crying again.... I guess I have a sensitive little boy on my hands. I'll have to make sure to nuture that! :)

Greyson being a crank while we are playing outside.

Here's another where he is checking out a snowman his size!

Greyson LOVES the birthday card that Aunt Liz sent him. It is a musical card that plays the conga. It is so cute watching him palying with it!

Madelyn is doing well too. She is sitting right here next to me doing her favorite thing - watching a DVD, namely Finding Nemo. I have been trying so hard to limit her TV watching, so I break it up and only let her watch about 30-45 mins a day, but it so hard! That and dressing up are the only things she wants to do!! She loves her DVDs. She has a Madeline one, several VeggieTales, and Finding Nemo. I am definitely in a stage of trying to get some activities lined up for us to do instead. I have lots of ideas, now I have to get the supplies to do them. We'll be in a better routine soon. It will be nice when it warms up and we can outside more often. Madelyn experienced a "first" yesterday. She woke up about 6am and told me that her stomach hurt, then she threw up. Not knowing what throwing up is, I can't imagine what she was thinking or how she felt! We don't know if she had a virus or ate something that upset her stomach, but she is all better already. We are still waiting for her appetite to fully return tho.

we are very much into fort building these days!

Madelyn goes to the dentist! She did awesome!

Madelyn petting a stringray at a nearby aquarium

A Rhodes Family Christmas (Belated post, I know)

For some reason I haven't felt like updating my blog lately. When it comes to a blog, should you update it out of guilt? Well, here is my quilt-offering. I am updating today just because I know there are people that read this and care about us. I love you all too, so here it is. [Note: I must not feel too guilty, because I started this post a month ago and am now just getting back to finishing it.]

So, I haven't told y'all about Christmas yet. I did post some pictures but they in no way tell everything that I want to tell you! Christmas was so much fun! The kids were great and the people that came to celebrate with us, Ben's parents, sisters and their husbands, really made it feel special. They had quite the drive up in white out conditions, but (thank you, God) they arrived safe. Our house was filled to the brim with people, but Ben and I don't think that it was too cramped (we hope the others didn't feel cramped either). It was nice to have everyone here to celebrate Christmas and just play with us. We played games, went sledding, sang Christmas carols, told the Christmas story, open gifts, played lasertag, did lots of talking.... we had a blast! I think that it a little cold for our visitors (single digit temps) but they made though okay.

Madelyn really soaked in the season this year. She really enjoyed all the things that come with Christmas - the decorating, carols, stories about Jesus, family, gifts, making a gingerbread house, making cookies... I think her favorite part was just having family here to play with. Greyson also loved having everyone here. I think his favorite part was the Christmas Eve carols. He loved it! He got up and danced to Uncle Mike's guitar playing while everyone else was singing.... so cute! What followed was my favorite part where Grandad (Buddy) read the Christmas story. It is the perfect end to Christmas Eve night. Thanks, Rhodes Family, for coming and making our Christmas so special!! We feel so blessed!