What is Anika Saying These Days?

Anika still isn't talking that much, but she initiates sign language signs for the words: more, eat, water, milk, cheese, girl, dad, mom, baby, mouse, coffee, bird, duck, blanket, all-done, please, want, and book. She will copy other signs too, but these she does all on her own.

She is now saying: baby, bee, ball, pop (for pop and popcorn), poo-poop, and wee-wee. She just added all these "b" words in the last week or two. She'll probably take off with talking soon.

We've been getting along so well together knowing all these signs and these few words. It has helped so much. We don't get so frustrated with each other now. She is at a fun age that I am really enjoying.

Busy!

I've been working on crown molding in our family room. I can't wait to get it done and off the floor. It's been there for two weeks. Then I can finish the painting. I bought a real popcorn machine cart for that room and I have a gumball machine lamp too. Eventually I'll have framed game boards on the wall. It is our "game" room. I'll be so happy when I'm done with that project! My next project will be outside. I've got a flower bed to plant.

Tegan got shots today. She was really brave and only cried when she got the shots, so we went Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream and McDonalds as a reward. I was really proud of her. I was actually supposed to get her shots on Monday, but just showed up today instead thinking that was when our appointment was. Oops! I don't know where my head is these days.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

"It's Fun to Get New Clothes!

We got a package from Gramma DeeDee & Grampa Morrow today. The girls were so excited. We waited to open it until Kelby got home from school. Tegan could barely contain herself. They each got two new dresses. The are so cute. Thank You!

Now I need to go out and mow the lawn. It is a beautful day today! I've been at the computer all morning, so I guess I better get out there. The only problem is that I keep getting that rash I used to get from the sun. Who ever heard of being allergic to the sun?

Bye for now.

Sorry No Pictures

I'm so sorry that there are still no pictures. I'm working on a program to make it easier, but in the mean time, it's harder! I'll get it figured out soon I hope. This is like a fun game to me.

Mike has got the fence up and only the gates to go. I bet it is done today. Then I have the crown molding to get up. That should be an interesting task!

You wouldn't believe how much the girls love this yard. They play and play and play out there. Anika always wants to "wee-wee" with her big sisters. (Did I already tell you that means swing?) We are having a great weekend.

Last night we had family over to watch the Narnia movie. It is like a regular movie theater here. Mike put in a projector and sound system (that is in fact why I have to put up crown molding - to hide the wires.) This house is great for entertaining.

Okay...bye for now. I'll get back to working on the pictures!

Random Thoughts

I've got myself busy doing busy stuff at Kelby's school again. I can't wait to switch schools. I plan on flying under the radar of involvement next year! But, it's not like I don't enjoy myself. I feel like I have at least accomplished a lot at this school. We have raised enough to get a piece of playground equipment over the summer! The school is having a 50's dance next month, so I am going to plan a craft night where the kids and parents can come and make decorations. It should be fun. Then I will also be planning another walk-a-thon for the end of the year, but I should really recruit some help since it isn't even going to be our school next year. Plus I need to train someone to take over for me!

The girls and I like to go on bike rides these days. My friend let me use a bike trailer. I pull around Anika and Tegan and Kelby rides on her own. We rode over to Dairy Queen for dinner one night. The kids love it when we go places on our bikes. We are close enough to ride over to the new school so they can play on the equipment there.

Tegan signed up for kindergarten yesterday. She was pretty excited when they gave her a pencil box with crayons, scissors, glue, flashcards, and an activity book. Even I was impressed! Now we just need to get her caught up on shots and she isn't looking forward to that.

Kelby was so exhausted yesterday after school, but she was fine today. Her homework put her over the edge emotionally, so she just wanted to go to bed without supper. She just needs a nap every now and again to keep on top of it.

That's about it for today. Love to all!

A Great Quote

I got a little gift at MOPS today and this quote was attached. It was so motivating to me.

"If you have grave doubts that dismay you and bear you down, if you think that there is no chance for you - Stop! Each year sees new records set in almost every field. Better songs can be written, better radios can be made, more beautiful paintings can be painted. Someone is going to do these things. Why should not YOU be the one to do some of them? But you must rise above present discouragement and keep driving steadily and cheerfully forward, as all great persons have had to do." (Kopplin)

I always feel one step behind on my ideas. This gives me the motivation to push on and see them through. God is speaking to me...is He speaking any of you too?

Happy Easter!

Update Part 1

Hello Family and Friends! I hope that everyone had a great Easter. We sure did. I'll get pictures up soon. The weather was even good for the most part. We went to church and over to Gramma Debbie & Grampa George's house. We had a good dinner and and Easter egg hunt. The girls had a blast with their cousins.

I think we did a good job teaching them the real reason for Easter. We were watching an Easter Veggie Tale movie. One of the characters thought that Easter was all about plastic eggs. During the movie, Tegan kept shouting, "No he's WRONG! It isn't about the eggs, it's about God!" It was so cute and I was so proud. Tegan is getting really boisterous and outgoing. We go to sign her up for kindergarten on Wednesday.

Kelby is getting sick of school. I'm not sure what it is that is bothering her. She is hard to get to talk about her feelings. I hope it is just a phase. It must just be the time of year. We can't wait for summer. The week before last was Spring Break, so she got a taste of freedom and doesn't want to go back.

We stayed busy over Spring Break. By the time it was done I was exhausted. Anika, Tegan, Kelby and I went down to Children's on that Monday. Kelby had hearing and heart tests. She has high-frequency hearing loss, but her heart is doing great! They check because of the chemotherapy she had as a child. They say the hearing loss isn't as bad as it could be and it shouldn't affect her learning. The rest of Spring Break was busy. We went to the Children's museum, Jungle Playland, and had a park picnic. It was fun for the girls.

I have decided to learn some more web programming to make this site better. It has been a fun adventure in learning. Don't be shocked if you see changes, but for the most part it will just be functionality for me that improves.

So, there's not a lot of stress for any of us right now. Mike just got back from a conference in Orlando last week. I was alone with the girls for five nights, but it wasn't too bad. It just makes me appreciate having my best friend at home!

Park Today - Update Part 2

Today we went down to Riverfront Park. It was a nice day out. The girls love to make special outings, so I feel like a better mom when I do it.

Otherwise, nothing exciting is going on today.

By the way, Anika has learned to at least say, "wee wee" when she wants to swing. It is her first real communication with words on her own. She is also almost saying ball, "baa baa". She says baby really well too. We are making progress. She does sign language really well. She asks for cheese and milk with signs on her own and copies many more.

I need to work on finishing my family room decorating, but I keep working on the computer instead. Mike has been working on getting our backyard fenced. I can't wait. It will be nice to be able to trap Anika and Hercules back there. The yard is mostly fenced except one major side and a small spot in the back. The back spot is blocked by a bunch of trees at least. Mike is also going to plant a vegetable garden back there. It should be a fun, outdoor spring and summer for us!

Love to you all.

Who Created Evil (From an Email)

A university professor challenged his students with this question: "Did God create everything that exists?"

A student bravely replied "Yes, he did!"

"God created everything?" the professor asked.

"Yes sir," the student replied.

The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil since evil exists, and according to the principal that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

The professor was quite pleased with himself and boasted to the students that he had proven once more that the Christian faith was a myth.

Another student raised his hand and said, "Can I ask you a question professor?"

"Of course," replied the professor. The student stood up and asked, "Professor, does cold exist?"

The professor replied "Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?"

The students snickered at the young man's question. The young man replied, "In fact sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is in reality the absence of heat. Everybody or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body, or matter, have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (- 460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat. Cold does not exist. We have created this word to describe how we feel if we have no heat.

The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong sir. Darkness does not exist either. Darkness is in reality the absence of light. Light, we can study, but not darkness. In fact we can use Newton's prism to break white light into many colors and study the various wavelengths of each color. You cannot measure darkness. A simple ray of light can break into a world of darkness and illuminate it. How can you know how dark a certain space is? You measure the amount of light present. Isn't this correct? Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor. "Sir, does evil exist?"

Now uncertain, the professor responded, "Of course, as I have already said. We see it every day. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

The young man's name --- Albert Einstein

May today there be peace within you. Don't tell God how big your "storm" is. Tell the "storm" how big your GOD is!

Spring Pictures

 

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