Birthday Vacation

This past weekend my little family and I traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia for a little vacation. Kind people my husband works with have offered us their time share several time over the last few years and there is always something that keeps us from using it (childbirth, family visiting, etc.)

Finally something worked out. My Beloved was presented with several dates a month or so ago and he instantly knew which one he wanted. It became my birthday trip! Yep, I had a birthday... yesterday. I'm 31. It's a little weird, but then, I think every year is weird these days as I never imagined life past 28. Don't ask me why. It's not that I didn't think I'd make it past 28, or that I've never imagined details... it's just that I never thought much about the numbers beyond that.

At any rate... we went on vacation. Let me tell you... it was so nice. This is the first vacation we've taken (since our honeymoon, which really doesn't count), just us. We've vacationed to Maine, but with friends or to visit my sister. We've vacationed to Michigan, but to see My Beloveds parents and/or grandparents. As wonderful as those visits were, there is just something special about pure vacation. No schedule (unless we want one), no need to compromise with others... just whatever we want to do, anytime we want to do it. (I'll go on and on sometime about the wonders of visiting family and vacationing with others... i.e. seeing loved ones and having babysitters for a quick evening stroll.)

I did want to share some of the fun of this weekend!

Seeing animals in Colonial Williamsburg was very exciting. We made the decision (since My Beloved was still unwell and we were getting a late start) not to buy tickets, but to see what we could just walking around.

These sheep were extra fun because so many of them were right by the fence. I was concerned a couple times that the kids were getting too close.

The coaches and carriges were fun too... and Tornado loved that everyone wore "funny" clothes, as Daddy called them.


And did you know that "oxen" are not a particular animal, but any animal breed and trained as work animals... this includes the steer (pictured), sheep dogs, water buffalo in India, and even our seeing eye dogs and such here. I had no idea... my head is still spinning a little, but a nice man in "funny" clothes told us, so it must be true.

One of two highlights of the trip for Tornado was riding the bus. With My Beloveds waning energy, we weren't planning on seeing Colonial Williamsburg at all. Then we found out that for $2 a person (and the kids are free) we could get a bus pass that would make stops all around the colonial area... picking up every 5 minutes. After eating our lunch and watching the buses go by (which was also very exciting by the way), we decided that was the way to go.

Oh, and the other highlight of the trip??? Chasing squirrels! Seriously... we could have stayed home and done both of those things, but then I wouldn't feel so rested!


Saturday we visited Jamestown where we saw a musket demonstration...
and helped hollow out a canoe from a log... among other things. (Some of those things include chasing chickens, wearing armor, climbing all over a ship, laying in the first mate's bed, and lots of learning and sight seeing for Mommy and Daddy.

Sunday was checkout day, but before making the 5 hour trip north back home, we stopped into York town were we saw a working farm from that period (and learned some great things) and saw an artillery demonstration (not Tornado's favorite part... he doesn't like loud things and kept asking if we could go somewhere else.)


Well, that is vacation in a nut shell! Thanks for following along!

By the way, I had so much fun... I'm not finished glowing from all the fun I had! It was the most wonderful trip we could have had... fun, relaxation, time with my family, and more!

Labels: As it happens..., Heart Strings

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 1:04 PM 1 Comments

Get involved: teaching creation to college students

I got an email yesterday from missionary friends of mine about a very interesting ministry that is preparing to take place here in the states. Living Waters Ministries has come up with an amazing idea to get the gospel into the hands of college students across the country... and to share with them the true Origen of Species!

Here is what they have to say:

We (Living Waters Ministries) now have leaders for 55 colleges to help us give away this special version of Origin of Species. We are aiming at 100, so we need laborers. Also, we are very encouraged that 159 yard sales are being held to try and raise more funds to expand this endeavor.

Please watch this video clip of Kirk. It's very exciting. We have been getting wonderful encouragement, such as "This is a genius idea." "I just watched it....this is VERY clever....very clever..... " After you have watched it, we would be grateful if you would send it to every Christian and every ministry you know, and ask them to send it to everyone they know.

Labels: Passing it On

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:45 AM 0 Comments

Grace

It happens this way all the time... in a tough spot, God's grace always abounds.

This cold that moved over my family could have caused much more trouble. First of all, I could have gotten it, and with God's grace (and regular drinking of Airborne) I have not yet gotten it. Secondly, Tornado's asthma could have continued to have a hold on him all week long, with 2-4 nebulizer treatments (or more) each day, but we haven't needed it since Tuesday morning. The steroids seem to have helped the inflammation of his lungs go down (seriously... inflammation of the lungs does not sound good.) Third, my house could lay in ruin and I could be even further behind in business than I was at the beginning of the week, but neither are true... and this is exactly what I want to share in this post.

Anytime before, say, a week or so ago, I would have let my lack of sleep (have I mentioned that Tornado has been waking 2-4 times each night?--I feel like we're back where we started 2 and a half years ago) and/or general difficulty of taking care of sick kids slow me down, or stop me completely. Now, I'm not saying I have arrived... I definitely wasted some of my time this last week in the name of one or both of those things (not to mention additional excuses), but I also did more than I feel like I've done in a while... and with sick kids.

I have been easily overwhelmed for a long while now. Frustrated with kids that were seemingly out of control, and I couldn't seem to figure out how to change that. Tired of a house that is perpetually cluttered and therefore hard to clean. Undisciplined in my time management. In short... living for myself to be honest. Living a self-centered existence... and wouldn't you know it, hating most every minute of it.

But again, God is gracious. Where sin abounds, His grace much more abounds. (Romans 5:20)

God has used this week to challenge this discouraged daughter of His. And in the face of fussy, sick children, I've seen change... in myself and, slowly but surely, my home as well.

I've also seen changes in my children as I set aside self-centeredness and proactively worked to train them in the way they should go. (Proverbs 22:6) I have seen transformation... before my eyes.

My ambitions and goals, hopes and desires have been in the right place for a long time... but I never realized that my actions were falling pitifully behind.

Labels: As it happens..., Life Lessons for Mommy, Raising Children, Reflections

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:10 AM 2 Comments

"Somebody is going to feel me better"

The kids are sick. The first colds of the season I suppose. How I hate that they are in September. We've got a long "winter" ahead of us.

I was so hoping that Tornado's asthma wouldn't return this year, but alas, it has. Sunday we began seeing the first symptoms in Tornado (Daddy had last week and Sweet Pea started with it a couple days before). As we put him to bed I heard wheezing, so out came the inhaler.

Monday morning, 6:30, Tornado was at my bedside and he didn't sound good. Not good only got worse as he lay with Daddy for a bit. We have never been co-sleepers, so this was the first time either of our little ones lay in bed between us (occassionally I'll let one lay with me on my side in the morning, but that's all). By 7 or 7:15, we decided something needed to be done. Tornado lay with Daddy for a few minutes while I gathered up the nebulizer and its accessories.

The treatment didn't seem to do much good. The wheezing and rapid breathing continued. We served breakfast and let him play quietly. He sat with me while I checked some things and tried to determine how much of this was the cough/cold and how much may be an asthma attack. By 8:30 we were doing another nebulizer treatment (though we probably should have been doing it sooner). Retractions and wheezing were continuing and his breathing was as fast as 60+ breaths per minute (instead of 20ish).

Upon a 8:45 call to the pediatrician, we were told to come as soon as we could. None of us being dressed yet, I had to kick into action. While we were getting ready, Tornado informed me that "Somebody is going to feel me better." I had to smile. Around 9:30 we were at the doctors, Tornado was doing another nebulizer treatment and we had prescriptions for steroids and a new inhaler.

After a trip to the pharmacy/grocery store, we were home and My Beloved was on his way to work.

The days have been long, full of claims like "I am sick," when he wanted to get out of something or wanted more attention, and "I'm not sick anymore" when he wants to play or go to the library. We've been cuddling, watching lots of Signing Time and trying to keep the house running as best as possible. When they sleep, I try to get the business caught up from August's down time. I should say "if" they sleep... it doesn't always happen. :)

Are house is getting progressively better... and I'm (so far) staying well. Now if only I could keep Tornado from waking and getting out of bed several times every night, I may actually feel refreshed and awake in the mornings! (God is good... all the time!)

Labels: As it happens...

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 8:40 AM 2 Comments

Why we have chosen the healthy path

I'm guest posting over at Keeper of the Home today! Come on over and join me to learn about some of our motives for healthier living.

Labels: Healthy Living

posted by ~Babychaser~ @ 10:56 AM 0 Comments