A little bit more about me-Kalyn

SCHOOL

Today if you asked me what I thought of school I would answer that I really enjoy it and love finding facts and information. But if you had asked me the same question when I was ten or younger I would answer that I hated school and would rather do anything else in the world. So what made me change my mind about school? Well some people would say I just finally grew to like it. But when I was nine years old we found out that I was a dyslexic. I had a hard time learning how to read, spell, write, and just about everything else. We went to see a specialist about it and she showed us some exercises to do and some ways to make what I was learning stick. One of the exercises was drawing eights with a pencil every day and learning to follow it with my eyes. For spelling we would cut out long pieces of paper and draw a word really big on it and then I would color it in and we would hang it up on the pantry door so every day I was looking at it. Mom would let me choose what to work on for school and work math and science into that. Slowly and painfully I started to understand reading and spelling; and today you probably wouldn't guess that I am a dyslexic. I still miss spell a whole lot of words and I still have to sound out some really big ones and still sometimes I forget what I just learned. But I have learned to work with it and live with it. I thank God every day that mom home schools us. Mom really helped by letting me follow my passions and learn about what I was interested in at the time. Today I am reading about the Rwanda genocide and writing my Colorado report. I still have trouble with spelling and grammar a lot but I am moving forward. Math I still don't like but dad says I am better at it then I think.

It wasn't easy getting to were I am in school today and I love my mother all the more for sticking with me and helping me move forward.

So thank you Mother for all the hard years you put into helping me like and enjoy school; and just to let you now. I really do like school. :)

Random Picture Challenge

This week at 4 Little Men and Girly Twins the challange is:
February

2008

or

17th folder

33rd picture

This picture is from Feb. 2008...we were having a birthday party for Landon with family from Denver....what can we say...we LOVE Corban's "pillow lips"!!

Be sure to visit 4 Little Men and Girly Twins for more fun pictures!

good, strong heart!

Here is a picture of Jace with Kalyn and Caresse at the Texas coast almost two years ago.

Thank you so much for your prayers for Jace as he went to the heart dr. today. They did several more test and are doing another echocordiogram. The news is good...the dr. really didn't find anything of concern and feels that the initial (first echocordiogram) may have been misread. Still he did another and we will have the results soon. That brings us back to why we had the echocodiogram...Jace struggles with what has been labeled exercise induced asthma...yet we have not found the right treatment to help him with this. Besides asthma symptoms, his chest hurts and he feels just weak and yuck! Soooo, back to square one, with relief that his heart is good and strong, to find out what we need to do to help him with this.

I am looking forward to this weekend..some books to read, and want some time in the Bible! Continuing to seek His direction for a few children with early childhood trauma issues...I really want to parent them with HIS wisdom...books are helpful, but HIS help is what I so desire! Just last night, as we were playing musical chairs, one of the darlin's broke down...tummy ache, crying, a complete mess...I recognized that something triggered her fear response...and man, for her, it is life or death...even holding and trying to comfort never really brought her back to O.K.. We must keep seeking HIM! to parent them!

Thankful Thursday

Psalm 118:1 says "Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good: for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Sometimes (good, happy times) it is easy to thank the LORD for his goodness, at other times (hard, emotional times) it is not as easy ... yet many times in the Bible we are told to remember, to give thanks. I really notice a shift in my faith, emotions and attitudes as I practice thankfulness...so Linny, again thank you for encouraging us in this holy practice!

I am thankful this week...

-for beautiful ice sculptures in my trees,

-that Kalyn and I are on the Uganda team,

-for snow fun that we have enjoyed this week,

-for beauty even in a rooster's brillant colors,

-for my sweet man

-for four young children under four (this is a confession as well..."be thankful Shonni, as they interrupt and yell for the 1,000,000th time, that they are healthy and well, there are nap times (LOL),

-did I mention that I am thankful for nap times

-for Kalyn and Caresse, Kiana and Landon, who clean the lunch up so I can have my computor time

-changing of the clothes for a new season mostly done

-that three children get to participate in the Easter weekend.

Thank you for visiting and be sure to drop by A Place Called Simplicity for more thankful encouragement.

Africa Mission Trip

YES, we are going to Africa...the who is Kalyn and me, the why is the mission trip that Dw at A Place Called Simplicity is taking, the where is Uganda, and the when is May 27 - June 9. We are of course, very excited....especially Kalyn. Every since she was three she has said that she wants to be a missionary. She even told me once that God will have to send the right husband when it is time...a husband who also wants to be a missionary. So we always try to support this passion in her heart. My husband felt that this was a good season in our family for us to do this. We do have a few prayer requests ...

-leaving my family (especially the little ones) is never easy, for them or me!,

-that Kalyn and I are spiritually, mentally and physically prepared to serve and love on the people and children of Uganda and to have a heart to understand their pain and share their stories,

-raising support for the trip,

-my sweet husband who loves us and will take over here while we are there...though for three days he has to be gone and we need someone to watch our family for that time...may be our niece...not sure.

Thank you all for your excitement for us and for your prayers! I love sharing the journey of life and faith with you all!

Ohhh, special delivery

I won a give away from my sweet friend at No Greater Joy Mom. My first...so it is very special...I'm going to go upstairs and put babies down for nap, and pray for Jace, and enjoy my new books ( I LOVE books!!)

Oh, by the way, we're going to Africa soon...ha-ha, you'll have to wait to find out why and where!! I know I'm teasing, but I really have to go get three screaming babies to bed!!!

Unexpected!

Our oldest, Jace, with one of his best friends, Mackenzie (the babies can't say his name, so they call him Ms. Candy-LOL)

I have to get babies down for nap...but quick ask for prayer...we found out today that Jace had an Echocordiogram come back as abnormal...basically, it sounds like he has an enlarged heart and some dialated areas. For a 19 year old, this is NOT normal. Jace is in Dallas and will travel to Lubbock on Friday to go to the Heart hospital there to see a Cardiologist. It is hard for me to not be there and we are praying for God to lead! Thank you for your prayers! Will write more later after we have nap time!