Mr. Construction

Tyler is always wanting to build something. We have had this wood sitting in our back yard since we bought our house. The previous owners said they would come and pick it up but... a year later it was still sitting here. So, Tyler asked for the millionth time if he could use it. I decided that no one was ever coming to get it so he could go have some fun. I never thought he would make something this great. I know it looks like a little shanty but he loves it and its actually pretty cool. He even has a floor in it. He's all boy!!

The new fort

Tyler showing his friend Austin their new hang-out.

Kansas City

Jason had a conference to attend this past weekend in Kansas City. Since his flight and Hotel were being paid for we thought it would be a great time for me to tag along. I left a day before him and was able to drive in to see my family in Columbia. I spent a wonderful evening with my Aunt and Grandma. It was really nice to be able to visit without all the kids. We went to a nice restaurant and I actually got to take my time eating and enjoying the conversation. The next day everyone came to my Grandmas for lunch. It was great to see everyone!
After that I was on my way back to Kansas City to meet up with Jason. We were able to enjoy some great Kansas City BBQ, go down and shop at the plaza, catch a movie, went to an amazing Steakhouse that played live Jazz (The Majestic), and just enjoyed our time alone.
My Mom stayed with our children for this trip. I know that they loved having their "bammy" staying at their house with them. Nice treat for them too!


View of downtown from our room

My Aunt and Grandma

Big Pile Of Dirt

About a month ago we had several tons of dirt brought in for some foundation work we needed done. After it was all done we still had a few tons left. Its a bit of an eye sore but the kids went out today and spent HOURS playing in it! I am still taken back by the things they have the most fun with. Its not the expensive new toy, the latest movie, or the mountains of books in their closets . Its the cardboard box (that the expensive toy came in), the empty easter basket to carry toys around in, or in this case the pile of dirt. I had no idea it would be so much fun! Seriously? This is all I had to get them? It was a true joy to sit on the patio and watch my children use their imaginations. They came in with, literally, pounds of sand in their shoes and clothes. For the first time in way too long, I didn't mind at all. Cleaning all the sand out of the bathroom, washing it out of the tub, sweeping the floor, and washing the clothes were nothing compared to the fun they had.

Happy Easter

We decided that it would be nice to have the kids pictures taken for Easter. Since digital cameras have come along we don't make it to the portrait studio as often. But, they turned out great and I wanted to share them.

They were all looking at the camera and smiling at the same time!! This is quite the task so I have to give some big kuddos to the photographer.

Invisible

I received this by email yesterday on one of the worst days I have had in a long time. It was perfect timing. I hope that if you are a mom you will find this as uplifting as I did.


It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?'
Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The invisible Mom.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this?
Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.'
I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well.
It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a hair clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.
I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte , with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees.'
In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:
No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it.'
And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.'

I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does.

No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over.

You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become.

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction.
But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime, because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, 'My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and dresses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.'

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacri fices of invisible women.

Puuuurfection

Okay, so the last thing I ever wanted or maybe needed was something else to take care of. I mean I do already have my hands completely full with our little ones! My husband AND kids have been bugging me for a long time about getting a family pet. I have been asked about every kind of animal on the plant (truly!) and which one they could have. My answer was always NONE!! I just know I'd be the one taking care of it. Last Friday Jason had the day off and I was convinced to take a trip to the local animal shelter. After walking through and having an extensive conversation with myself I decided that a cat would be the easiest animal for me to take care of. As you've already guessed we walked out with a cat. I'm such a sucker. He is Siamese and only a year old. I don't think we could have picked a better pet for our family. He has such a sweet demeanor and talk about quiet!! Had I known cats were so easy to take care of I would have gotten one years ago. I am happy to introduce our new family member...RAMSES.

He lets the kids hold and pet him. I can't think of a cat that has ever let my kids even get close!

Welcome Home Ramses

Therapeutic Riding

Every Friday we take Nicholas to the Therapeutic Riding center. It is a program designed to help children with many different special needs. In Nicholas' case it is to help deal with his RAD (reactive attachment disorder) and his sensory issues. In the beginning I had some reservations about the program. We have been going for almost 4 months now and we are starting to see some positive things coming from the riding program. I am so glad that we gave it a chance and hope that it will continue to be a positive resource for Nicholas.

Apache gets to have a treat after Nicholas gets done grooming him. Nick loves to give the treats but doesn't necessarily like the feeling of Apaches tongue.

Learning how to listen and be in control of his horse.


This was his second time riding. He was all smiles!