Great Devotional

I have this awesome devotional book that my mom gave me for Christmas last year. It's called "Jesus Is Calling" By Sara Young. It's a devotional for everyday of the year. I keep it in the car so I can read it before I go into work. The devotionals are short but powerful. This one I keep reading over and over.
TRUST ME in the midst of a messy day. (Ok, I have to stop right here and say how often I forget to do that. I am very busy at work and often my desk is a mess with patient info. everywhere and the phone ringing off the hook.) Your inner calm-your Peace in my Presence-need not to be shaken by what is going on around you. Though you live in the temporal world, your innermost being is rooted and grounded in eternity. When you start to feel stressed, detach yourself from the disturbances around you. (Let me tell you a couple of the girls at work have mouths like you wouldn't believe and they get on the phone with their significant other and fight, yell, cus aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!)
Instead of desperately striving to maintain order and control in your little world, relax and remember that circumstances cannot touch My Peace. (Praise God! He is my refuge) Seek My face, and I will share My mind with you, opening your eyes to see things from My perspective. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid. The Peace I give is sufficient for you. ( I don't know about you, but that right there gives me revival in my soul. Reminds me how He is there, there in my messes and in the middle of the barrage of conversations that I don't need to hear. Thankfully he is here at home when the kids are tired, I;m tired but I have to carry on and cook, bathe, do dishes, check homework, and break up the fights and there too He gives me Peace. It's not easy, but so worth letting him ease my mind).

CVM Picnic

Today, Sunday, we went to the CVM (Cardiovascular Medicine)Picnic at Fejuary Park (sp?) in Davenport. It was a beautiful day, lots of sun shine and a great cool breeze. Lunch was catered by Reifee's. We had grilled chicken, potato salad, cole slaw, broccoli salad, baked beans, BBQ pork sandwiches, and brownies. I got attack by a locust during lunch and got creeped out by that. There were lots of people I knew and of course a lot more that I didn't know. Dave says I need to get a tattoo so that I fit in better, in that case I would also need to acquire some brown kids (as Riley would put it) too. I caught up with some old friends from when I worked at CVM years ago, everyone ooo'd and aaah'd over the kids. Riley was five months old when we moved from Davenport to Traverse City.
We went to the petting zoo. There was a pregnant goat there who looked miserable, she could hardly walk. Lots of tom turkeys, chickens and roosters (who crowed very frquently), geese, and a couple of huge hogs, Elk, Wolves, Water Buffalo or something like that and the reptile house. There was a clown there who painted the kids faces and did balloon animals and objects. Cheyenne got a lady bug painted on her face, I was surprised she sat there and didn't move. Riley and Cheyenne both got balloon animals. No pictures to show. I forgot to take the camera, I was very irritated with myself. I always have the camera. But we had a good time.

August 25, 2007 Last Super Saturday

Yesterday was the last Super Saturday and we ended it in style.
We had our regular schedule of bible stories, puppets, singing, crafts, snacks and games. Yes, I do have orange hair in the picture above. Every week my hair and face looked as if the lab blowed up. This week I painted the kids hair who could solve the secret code. We made secret decoders, rockets that launched and compass braceletts. The kids love the rockets. They launch off of straws. It was announced that the boys won in collecting money for missions. There were two rockets in the foyer every week and kids and adults could put money in it for Missionaries who minister to the inner city in LA, Calif. I believe. The boys rocket weighed in at 118 lbs. and the girls weighed in at 38 lbs. (give or take a pound or two). I know Riley was adding to the rocket every Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night that we were there. After our regular time we all meet in the gym for lunch. Pizza, cookies and punch. Then the kids played outside on the three water slides and the bounce house. The day ended around 2:00 p.m.

Pepaw and Grandma Leave

Pepaw and Grandma left Friday morning for Alabama to see my brother Dale and his wife Lori. So we took family pictures before they left. They made it to Alabama in one day about 15 hours of driving for them. When they left it was pouring rain. We always miss them when they leave. The first thing Cheyenne said when she woke up Friday morning was where's Grandma? We said our goodbyes and had prayer together Thursday night so mom and dad could leave early Friday morning.

Grandma and Cheyenne

Cheyenne has been pretty much glued to grandma the whole time they have been here. They both eat applesauce in the morning together. Cheyenne of course likes to pretend she's rolling her hair like grandma. Last night she tucked her napkin just like grandma. Tooo cute!!

Sunday Lunch

Sunday after church we took mom and dad out to lunch at Old Country Buffet. They are leaving Friday morning. They have changed their plans a couple of times for us. They took Riley to school his first day of school and picked him. So tomorrow they will be traveling to Alabama to see my brother and his wife.

Riley and Cheyenne

Getting ready for church this morning. The kids look so nice I had to take a picture. Yesterday, Cheyenne officially turned 2 1/2 yrs. old she has grown 1/2 inch over the summer. Riley is 7 1/3 yrs. old he has grown a whole inch over the summer. Tuesday afternoon I registered Riley for 2nd grade at Harrison School. His teacher will be Mrs. Collins. The school is built like a fortess. Inside looks very fortified, I don't know how else to describe it, it's nice but strength is definitely felt there. My friend Twyla told me that the Principal is a christian and many of the teachers are too. Prasie the Lord!! So Riley starts school this Thursday, August 23, 2007. Cheyenne will continue at Angie's Daycare. We are looking into pre-school options for her.

Chuckie Cheese Meets Pepaw

Tuesday night Pepaw and Grandma
took us to Chuckie Cheese's. Man, did we have fun. Riley played air hockey with Grandma and water shooting game with pepaw. Pepaw tried to teach Cheyenne how to play Skeetball, she cheats she like to crawl up the lane. So we ate pizza, drank pop and play lots of games. Wednesday we took them to church with us. Friday night went to Belgium Village, pepaw had to have a VandeRubin (yummy!!). Grandma, Cheyenne and I went resale shopping afterward.

I think pepaw and Grandma are really getting a run for their money this week. The kids have been home with them everday aand not in day care.

PePaw and Grandma Lawrence Are Here

Mom and Dad have arrived. We are all very excited that they are here. They brought Riley a new backpack full of school supplies and Cheyenne got new crayons, paper and glue sticks. She loves the glue sticks. She has been glue crazy since. Since Pepaw and Grandma bought school supplies we were able to buy a couple new pairs of shorts for Riley. So I guess this is his "GQ look". Cheyenne rolls her hair every morning with grandma and her curlers. She thinks that's fun. I told her that she doesn't have to sleep in them like I did when I was a little girl. I had perfect banana curls when I was younger. Everday they get to put one hand in the bowl of changes and pull out as many coins as they can with one hand. They enjoy that. Riley has bought swimming googles with his so far. Miss Cheyenne has bought a new purse from the Salvation Army.

Weekend Activities

This weekend we were suppose to go to a Wedding in Michigan, but wasn't able to go. I was pretty bummed about that, but Modern Woodman of America paid for free admissions to the Niabi Zoo, Botanical Gardens, Family Museum and Putnam Museum. We made it to the Botanical Gardens and Putnam Museum so at least we got to do something besides sit around the house. We had planned to go to the Family Museum but by the time we got there it was closing. We really wanted to go to the zoo but it was tooooo hot and muggy. So enjoy the following blogs about our adventures. My parents are coming Monday evening and will be with us for awhile. We all have been looking forward to that. Riley and Cheyenne will be sharing Riley's room. Pray for them!

I'm In the Lords Army

Riley asked me to give him "an army" haircut. So I did and trid not to mourn all his beautiful thick golden locks falling as I cut it. He loves it Told me it was perfect. Yeah Mom! He so wants to be in the army. Prasie God he is only 7yrs. I told him he was in the Lord's Army. I love rubbing his head. My little boy is growing up!

Weekend Activities

The Botanical Garden in Rock Island was also free Saturday. Daddy had not been there since we've been back in the QCA so we went so Daddy could see it. He likes the banana tree and the coconut tree and the Kio fish. There was a wedding party taking pictures there. Don't think they realized it was a "free"weekend so they had to dodge a lot of screaming kids and picture snapping adults.

Arsenal Island

Arsenal Island is the QCA Army Base. Riley is totally fascinated by "armors" as he says. So we took him to see all the artillery.

Rock Island Lock & Dam

While we were on the Arsenal Bridge we were held up by the bridge opening for the tug boat of a barge. So we took a turn after the bridge closed so that Riley see what happens. Cheyenne was asleep in the back seat so she and I sat in the car while the guys were watching the barge.
Of course we had the air conditioning on. She slept and I read the Bible.

Weekend Activities

Riley all ready for a day a fun in the sun. The hot sun, the hot hot hot sun.
Riley becoming the baker of yester-year at the Putnam Museum. He's making a cake.

Riley in mid boogie at the Putnam Museum listening to Jazz music by Bix Bieder..... whatever. He's a famous musician in the QCA who died a long time ago and so now they celebrate his life by drinking, eating, playing jaz and a 7 mile run that no Quad Citian has ever won let alone an American has won.

Cheyenne caught a fish with a magnet as bait, who knew she was a great fisher woman. The secret must be the binky.
Cheyenne making tea in a real tea kettle for her mom.
Riley and Cheyenne in front a his favorite boat at the Putnam Museum.

It was free to go to the Putnam Museum this weekend. The Chinese art always freaks me out. The "Buddah" statue. Gives me the creeps. I always feel like satan dwells in there. The Eygtian one is a little creepy because of the decaying mummy, but the "buddah" statue i want to burn.

Other was we enjoying go to the Putnam Museum, especially when it is free.

Sleeping Beauty

It's been a crazy few weeks with all the changes going on, but we are all adjusting well. I think Cheyenne has had the hardest time. Riley understands a little more but Cheyenne just knows everything different. But she is now eating meat. Yeah!!! I didn't think she would ever eat meat besides chicken nuggets (is that really meat?). So know ham, hot dogs, and peanut butter on pancakes, raisins. My dinners menu are broadening. Mac and cheese gets old quick. Riley is really helping me too. He is such a little man.

Today is "Dad and Lad Day" I think they are going to the movies. Rattatuee(sp?).

Girls Night Out

Tuesday night Mommy and Cheyenne had their first "girls night out".

Riley was at church watching the Master's Puppets from Cedarville and Daddy was out of town working, so it was just the girls. So what did two young chicks do on the town? Shopping! Must go shopping. Dinner, Chocolate and Play Time. Whew!! What a night. No we didn't blow the budget, but we did have fun. We shopped at Good Will. Cheyenne got a new baby, purse and two new books. For dinner we went to Fazoli's and shared Fettucine Alfredo and bread sticks. Then we went to the mall and played. I have decided that those play lands at the malls are minature "pick up joints". Girls fighting for attention and the toys and the boys chasing the girls. We met "Alex" he was determined to hold Cheyenne's hand and she wanted no part of that. He tried to pick her up and Cheyenne hit him. She is very independent and she let him know it. We had a great time.

Dinner for Six

Saturday we had Andy & Heather Feliksiak and Jim & Judy Pauly over for dinner. Riley was excited because Jim & Judy have four boys so they all played in the basement with Cheyenne of course. We ate dinner and play I Love The 80's Board Game. Girls vs. Guy. We lost. They guys won. Andy is a walking trivia book, must get him together with Dave Thieseen (okay Dave that's twice in one day I've mentioned you, here's your 15 min. of fame). Next month we go to Jim and Judy's for a cookout.