And this is how the good news is spread

Mallory is special. I wish you could all know her.
For those of you who do, this story will not come as a surprise to you.

A few months ago Mallory decided that she wanted to start a club with her friends at school, a God Club. The idea of her club would be that during recess they would find a place to sit and talk about God and the Bible. Mal's idea. (Seriously, I never would have suggested asking first grade girls to give up their only free time of the day to sit and listen even more.) At first, several girls were eager to be a part of this club. Instead of all of them talking about God, though, the other girls would ask Mallory questions and she would answer. She always had a story from the Bible picked out to tell them as well.

(Keep in mind that I didn't know about any of this until after this club had met several times)

In time, the other girls grew bored and decided to go back to playing on the playground. With no other members in the club, Mallory decided to join them. They have since been playing "puppies" during recess. Whatever that is.

Then, before school this morning, Mallory told me that a girl from her class had asked her a question about the Bible. This particular girl, we'll call K, was not a member of the original group. So, either she had heard about the God Club where Mallory answers Bible questions or she just knew that Mallory is the friend to ask when you have a question.

K sought Mallory out.

K saw a picture in her Bible of Paul being bitten by a snake. She had never heard that story and wanted to know it. (My first thought when Mallory told me this was that Mal doesn't know that particular story herself.) Wrong. Without hesitation Mallory told K the whole story of Paul being shipwrecked, the snake coming out of the fire, and the people thinking he was a god.
You can read it yourself here

I listened to Mallory repeat in detail the story she told to K. I couldn't believe how easily and with such confidence she told it. To be honest, I didn't even remember all that she had said and I was pretty sure that we have never studied Acts 28 with her. So, I asked her how she knew all that. Mallory said that she had heard the story at church during the children's class. I knew that she loved going to this class, but now I also know that she really pays attention.

Then, Mallory said something that I'll probably never forget.

"You know, if I hadn't have gone to church to hear that story, then I wouldn't have been able to answer K's question."

She's only 7, but already so wise. A man at church prepared a lesson to teach to the children. One child listened well and told the same story to another child. Who knows where this chain of events will lead. My best guess? Heaven.

If we want to be able to teach others the word of God, then we must be prepared. How can we teach what we don't know?

"...Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect..." I Peter 3:15

Mallory prepared herself by first showing others a willingness and ability to share God. She made it known that she wants to talk about the Bible. She did not grow weary when others chose to play instead. She prepared herself by paying attention when someone else was sharing with her. Then, she patiently waited for someone to ask.

"...'I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them." Mark 10:15

Mallory and friends

The two shall become one

There was a wedding uniting two wonderful people.
Everything was perfect.

I was blessed to get to spend time with two of my favorite people, Adam and Casey...whose marriage just celebrated 1 1/2 years.

I even ran into my old friend, Kimberly...who is still looking very young and beautiful!

Jeremy and I reflected on our own wedding...one of our favorite days ever.

Has it really been eight years?

And they lived happily ever after in the Lord.

I love marriage.

Fa La La La La....

...the ER stinks.

In so many ways.

I should know... I spent most of Monday night there with Mallory. She developed the croup very suddenly while spending the night with my parents. My parents are so wonderful and my mom is so "on top" of things that she didn't even hesitate to call when she heard the barking. I met them at the emergency room about 30 minutes later and the four of us made that stinky place our home until sunrise. BUT the great part of that was that the donut shops were just opening up on our way home, so we got some right out of the oven.

YUM!

Mal's sick and I'm worried. Please pray for her. The croup is a big deal for her. She's battled it countless times in her short 7 years. It can go from bad to critical in such a short time....and that's usually overnight while we're sleeping. So, I probably won't sleep this week. We are going to attempt to proceed with our Christmas as planned, but I'm taking with me a big box filled with all of her medicines and breathing machine.

If I had gotten to mail out Christmas cards this year, then this is what they would have looked like. I designed them on time, ordered them on time, but then Kodak only shipped me 1.

One.

Who orders ONE Christmas card? Kodak says that I did, even though I'm pretty sure I typed in 50. Oh well. Those of you who are used to seeing my adorable kids' faces on your mantel each year will just have to settle for the computer screen instead.

Hope you all have a very Merry and good smelling Christmas!

My pride overflows

These kids are so talented...it's embarassing.

In case you couldn't understand this high quality video, they are singing

Awesome Underwear and Good Garbage

with Will's new underwear on their heads

Yep. I am so proud.

Just 3 new

I'm working at lightning speed trying to create a special scrapbook for someone else. It's fun, but it means less time for my own pages. I probably won't be able to post any new layouts until after Christmas. Hopefully, this will tide you all over until then. :)

Super small journaling reads:

Will has a slight obsession with cars. He will play with them all day as long as he has someone else willing to play with him. There is a very specific way, though, in which he wants to play cars. Each person chooses a car (he always gets Lightning McQueen) then proceeds to “talk” for them. Conversations always go like this:
“Hi. How are you? I Lightning Queen. I fast.” (pause while the other car responds)
Then he says the exact samething all over again. About 50 times per day.
“Hi. How are you? I Lightning Queen. I fast.”
Don’t even try to vary the conversation. It won’t work. Trust me.

Mallory knows this routine better than any of us...which led to this recentconversation with Daddy. After reading about Josiah the 8 year old king.
Mallory: How can an 8 year old be a king?
Daddy:Well, that’s how it works. His dad died, so Josiah had to take over. If I were king and then I died, Will would become king
Mallory: Will would not make a very good king(in her best Will voice ‘Okay, everybody play cars. That’s the law!’)pretends to have two little cars in her hand: ‘Hi!’

Super small journaling reads:

Jeremy reads the newspaper almost every Sunday. He usually spreads it out across the living room floor and patiently tries to read while the kids run, jump and laugh all around him. This Sunday was different. This Sunday Will sat down right next to his Daddy, picked up his own section and started “reading” too. After about a minute, Will looked at Jeremy and said, “Just like you Daddy.” Then, Jeremy’s heart melted.



I'm not that impressed with this layout, but it's a year overdue, and those stitched letters took me forever. So, I'm posting it:)

Super small journaling reads:
On the night that your Kindergarten class was performing Handel’s Messiah, you were forced tostay home sick. I wanted to make sure you were still able to have a special evening, so we put
together a Christmas Tea. We set the table with our Christmas china, lit holiday candles, & made some of your favorite treats. You created placecards for each of us and even added your own special touch to the paper napkins.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone!

Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

I really do love my family. I know they are a blessing from God. Of course, there are many, many more people that I'm thankful for. At some point, I would run out of circles, though!

Right now Mal and Will are in the backyard preparing a feast for anyone who would like to come. My old rug will serve as the table and tablecloth and our porch chairs have been turned upside down for plates. It consists mostly of pinecones and pineneedles. The food may be...umm...tough? But the company is sure to delight! Be sure to say
"Happy Shanks-Yous-Gibbing" so Will knows what your talking about :)

Some things don't change

Did you forget about me? It's been a while since I've posted. Several people have asked Jeremy and myself to post some recent pictures. However, every time I sit down to write an update it seems like we get to go through another crisis. Then the update is outdated. I just can't keep up. We've been on such an emotional rollercoaster that I'm starting to feel a little numb. Do you ever get that way?

For me, it's gotten to the point that every time the phone rings I get tense. Before I've even reached the phone to answer it I've already prayed that everyone is safe. Trying to sum up everything that has happened lately seems a little overwhelming. Instead, I thought I'd write about what hasn't changed since the last time I posted. Because I'm the girly, need-to-make-it-look-pretty person that I am, I scrapbooked about it too :)

Journaling reads:
Our love for God and our desire to live for Him hasn’t changed. In fact, I’m certain our faith has grown because of the trials. Our studyof His word has increased & our prayer life has improved. Hmm..makes me wonder why I’m so afraid of trials if these are the results!
Jeremy is the same loving husband & adoring father that he has always been. He works so hard at providing for us and at keeping our focus on God.
Mallory is as sweet and thoughtful as ever...probably more so. She still loves her brother and has an unbelievable amount of patience with him. She still loves her school and works very hard at pleasing her teacher, her parents and God.
I am still in love with Jeremy (going on 8 years) and my precious kids. I still love staying at home with Will and volunteering at Mal's school as much as I can. I love God's word and I try to learn more from Him with each passing day.
Okay, so Will actually has changed a lot lately. BUT, he is still the same cute, fun-loving,active, death-defying, hilarious boy that we’vealways adored.
We still cherish our little family and crave getting to be together as much as possible.



Maybe someday I'll get around to writing about all the emotional highs and lows we've been through, but for now I'm going to just skip it. :)Jerry Seinfeld style. Now on to what you really came here to see: pics of the kids. Here are a few layouts that I finally finished.


Have I ever mentioned how SWEET my kids are? :)

Journaling reads:

Last night I caved to Mallory's pleas and allowed both kids to sleep on the floor of our room last night. Jeremy wasn't thrilled about the idea since it has never really worked well before and he had to get up early for work. My response was that Will is older now and I'm sure he'll be fine. My mistake.
Will was up every two hours crying because he wanted to sleep in bed with us. Jeremy absolutely won't allow that. He just can't stand to be kicked in his back while he is trying to sleep. So, I got up every two hours as well to put Will back on his mat and sing him back to sleep. By about 4:00 am I had pretty much had it. Will climbed into bed and snuggled up close to me. I let him. I just didn't want to get out of bed again. Then, I felt the sweetest little kisses on my shoulder. Will must have kissed me 20 times before he rested his head on my shoulder and fell asleep. (sigh) Maybe he was trying to say thank you for letting him stay there, or maybe he was just saying I love you. Either way, I will gladly forfeit 8 hours of sleep for 30 seconds of unsolicited Will-kisses ANY night! He's so sweet.

When I woke up that morning I noticed that Mallory wasn't on her mat anymore. She wasn't even in the room. I got worried about her, so I went on a Mal-hunt. I found her in the kitchen cleaning off the table and wiping it down. "Mom!", she gasped, "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be sleeping! Can you please go back to bed?" I quickly replied, "Uhh...yep. I sure can." About 30 minutes later I got up again and found a breakfast buffet laid out on the table for the three of us. Mallory used paper coffee liners and filled them with various things for breakfast. Then, she said, "Ok, you sit down and just tell me what you would like on your plate!" She's so sweet.

Mallory was Tinkerbell for Halloween:

Will was Bob the Builder:Now that Will is almost 2 1/2, I've finished his 2 year old layout:

Journaling reads:
Games:"aypay" where Daddythrows you around &flips you. you beg him to play every day. Monster chase where you, Mallory & I take turns roaring likelike a monster & chasing eachother aroundthe house. You prefer for me to be "it".
Toys: You have a slight obsession with cars. Not a day goes by that Idon't see you driving them around on the walls or windowsills.
Shoes: you have been obsessed with these shoes from the moment that you saw them! You want to wear them everywhere including your bed and the bath tub!
Books: I'm so glad that you love to read! The two books that you insist on reading at least once per day are Snug House Bug House and Cooking with the Cat.

Older picture, new layout:

This routine is old (goes back to when Mal was a toddler), but the layout and journaling are new:

Older picture, new layout:

Ok, these will have to do until I find some more scrapbooking time. I just bought a bunch of new stuff, though, and I'm dying to play with it all. So, the layouts will be coming more frequently (one can dream:)