Spiritual Training

As a parent it is our great joy to train our children. What we train them in though can make all the difference!

As a family we have devotions after dinner most nights. Most nights we also have devotions with each kid personally in their bed. The reason we do this is because we want them to know the Lord and walk with Him. We believe that if we begin this training early it will be a natural part of their everyday lives.

Recently, I've thought a lot about Annabelle. She has professed Christ as her Savior and given her life to him. I started thinking about how at the age of 8 I made the same choice. As I grew though I didn't really know how to spend time with God. I didn't know what a quite time or devotional time should look like. I read my Bible here and there, but didn't know what to do with what I had read.

At the same time, I've been wanting to reward her for her great progress in reading. At first I thought about taking her to the Christian bookstore and letting her pick out a new book. Then I was talking to another Mom about teaching our girls about devotions and the Lord laid this idea on my heart...why not reward her for her reading with her own devotional that she can do by herself!

So on Saturday I took her to the Christian bookstore and told her that as a reward for good reading I know thought she was old enough to have a personal quiet time with God. She was THRILLED!!

I was so excited after I read the Introduction! It was exactly what I was hoping for this book to be for her.

She started yesterday and she is already on page 35 of the book. She has shared some of the pages with us and she is answering the questions honestly and with an open heart. It is so neat to see my little girl interacting with God!

Please see my heart--I share these things to encourage you dear parent who is training your child in the ways of the Lord. It isn't always easy, we are are imperfect parents trying to parent an imperfect daughter, but because of Christ we have His grace and He is helping us. The greatest gift I realized lately that I can give to my daughter is to help her create a habit of spending time with God.

I know she isn't grown yet, and we have a long way to go, but my prayer is that this habit like all habits will become a part of her daily life and thus she will walk with God daily. I know the secret to being content is in a relationship with God and I pray that as she grows she will begin to see this as well. I will continue to pray for her and encourage her in her walk all the days of her life.

Be Blessed!

Back To School Blessing

I love back to school time! Maybe it is because I am a teacher, but I've always loved going back to school.

I have been so encouraged by parents throughout the years that I try real hard to do something, even if small, to show my kids teachers that we appreciate them and are praying for them!

I created this cute little tag tonight and wanted to make it available to share with others if they want it.                              

My prayer this year for my kids is to connect with their teachers and other students. I am praying especially for Annabelle that she would be blessed with some good friends. She has some great friends from Adrian and we are so thankful that we've been able to keep up with those friends, but we'd love to see her bond with at least one girl in her class this year.

Click the link to open the

Smart Cookie Teacher Gift Tag

Life Lessons

I was at Aldis today with my girls. We ran in to get one item, but of course saw two more along the way. As we went to get in line there was only one register open. There were 6 people in line, all with very full carts!

I just looked at the line and said, "Wow!"
Shopper # 5 in line: "Ma'am, you can go in front of me since you only have 3 things."
Me: But there is someone behind you.
Shopper #6: Oh that is fine go in front of her.
Shopper #4: You can go in front of me too.
Shopper #3: Go in front of me too.
Shopper #2: You might as well go in front of me too!
Me: Wow, you all are so nice! Thank you so much!
Shopper #5 (who started all this): Just remember this and pay it forward someday
Me: WOW that is funny because just yesterday I did the same thing you all are doing, but I only did it for one man!

Rewind to yesterday at Kroger
I had 17 items and knew I couldn't go in the 15 item or less lane so I started going towards the other lanes when a worker stopped me and told me to go to the 15 item or less lane. I mentioned I had more than 15, but she said I was fine. As soon as I get in line a guy gets behind me with nothing. Noting this I asked if he was purchasing something. He said he was but it was up behind the counter. I insisted that he go in front of me since he only had one item and I knew I had more than the 15. He was a sweet older gentleman and we chatted while we waited for the person in front of us.  

My girls weren't there for the Kroger episode.

We got in the car and this song was playing, Do Something by Matthew West

The point of this song is we all can Do Something to make this world a better place! I know what was done today was small and what I did yesterday was small, but it is those small things that will eventually lead to bigger acts of kindness.

I got the opportunity to talk to my girls about what happened and made sure they didn't walk away until they knew they can do something too, it all starts with kindness! And the message of the song is "RIGHT NOW" is the time to do something no matter how small!

Be Blessed!!

Allergy Graduate

March 17, 2014

I posted our results on facebook, but forgot to update the blog on Jack's last allergy appointment!

3 hours in a doctors room 6 spoonfuls of peanut butter and NO reactions! We are allergy free and he loves Peanut Butter! The Allergist said we "Graduated"! I told the allergist about our treatments that we did before we left and we have now made it our aim to share with as many as we come in contact with that suffer from allergies.

To this date in June, he has not had a reaction to Peanut butter and has it a few times a week!

To read more about our journey through Allergy Elimination read the post below starting with Allergy Answered Prayer.

Jack's bedtime snack...Jack says forget the apples I just want the peanut butter, hence the finger marks!

Allergist Analaysis

I got a phone call from the allergist this afternoon. We had an appointment scheduled for Wednesday that they wanted to reschedule because his lab results from his blood test came back NEGATIVE for peanut and oranges. This is now two tests that have confirmed he has no more allergies!

The next step is what they call the food challenge. We have an appointment now for March 17th. I will bring peanut butter to the appointment and they will give it to him. We will have to stay there for several hours to confirm he has no reaction. I am excited for this next step. I never thought when we found out he was a 4/5 for peanuts that I would ever be giving him peanut butter!

I have stopped checking labels. At this point we are just avoiding peanuts and anything that contains peanut butter. We feel very blessed to have been able to get Jack these treatments over the past few years. Thank you for sharing in our journey with us! I will be sure to update after the food challenge in March.

Allergy Answered Prayer

Today is a big day in our household. After 2 1/2 years of struggling with allegies our baby boy is Allergy FREE! This is our journey to healing...

Here is Jack at 6 months old

December 2011
Jack was so itchy and bleeding because of his constant scratching that we took him to Toledo Children's hospital. The ER doctor told us that it was the worst case of eczema and cradle cap she had ever seen! She suggested we get him into a dermatologist that week. The dermatologist could not give us a cause, but put him on a steroid to clear it up. However as soon as he went off the steroid everything started back up, see the picture above taken in January 2012. The dermotalogist suggestion was keep him on the steroid. I did not want to keep my baby on a steroid without knowing what was causing all this.

January 2012
Saw the allergist for the first time. At that time he was just allergic to peanuts and tree nuts and were given an epi pen. But if you looked at him you knew he wasn't eating peanuts and tree nuts, so there had to be something else that wasn't showing up. We went back 1 year later and he was allergic to eggs and oranges. We also stopped immunizations at this time.

April 2012

We saw a homeopathic doctor in Ann Arbor who put him on a gluten, dairy, soy, corn, and peanut free diet until he was two! I knew we could not do this until he was two, so I started looking for a new doctor. We also started raw goat's milk, which helped a lot but didn't cure him.

June 2012 - January 2014

Through KLove radio station 3 mornings in a row I heard an advertisement for ABA Chiropractic and Holistic Health Center. I emailed them to see if they worked with children and to share our journey. They were confident they could help Jack. We started doing allergy elimination treatments the first week of June. The treatment uses lazers at your accupuncture points to eliminate the allergy. It is doesn't hurt at all and you just have to sit still. Since Jack was little he sat on my lap and I held him for all the treatments. More information about the treatments can be found here: http://www.naet.com/. We did allergy elimination treatments for the following: peanuts and tree nuts, gluten, eggs and chicken, B Complex, potatoes, tomatoes, and beans. 

February 2014
I know you are skeptical and so am I, we took him to an allergist today and she cleared all his allergies. The face on the doctor and two nurses when they came in and looked at his back was priceless! They were so stunned, I said, "Is he allergy free?" And the doctor said, "Yes." I said, "I know why." They proceeded to ask me questions about the treatments and she said even though she'd never heard of it, "Obviously it worked!"
Now What...
The allergist sent us for lab work to run a blood test to again prove that he is not allergic to peanuts. They were so shocked they want a second opinion. In 3 weeks we go back to the allergist for the results, although she said the scratch test is the most accurate, and at that appointment they will actually give him peanut butter. I'll be honest since we've avoided it for so long I am alright with waiting until we are there to give it to him, see even I still have a little skepticism after all we've been through, but I would do it all over again to let Jack be able to eat anything!

My heart just breaks when I think of others going through what we've been through so I had to share. Be Well and never stop advocating for your child! Follow your God given Mommy instincts!

Our Sweet Boy at 2 1/2

Gabby's First Trip to the Dentist

We've been talking about going to the dentist for weeks. She has a seek and find book that taught her all the too,s they would use. She was excited to get a new toothbrush. Before we left she wanted to bring the book so the dentist could read it to her. The hygienist used the book to show her things that she was using on her mouth, but they never read it to her. She had two cavities on her front two teeth, possibly from drinking/sipping on juice, so he told her only water in between meals. This will be hard because she is such a drinker. 

Water Wednesday

Gabby and Annie went to the splash pad with me. Jack is getting over a cold so he stayed home to nap. They actually enjoyed the playground a bit more than the splash pad. Tomorrow we take a friend and I think they will enjoy it a lot more. 

Dance Recital

Last Day at LCS

We have been so thankful for the education Annabelle has received from LCS. It is more than just academics, she thinks biblically already at a young age. She asks questions that are deep and well thought out and we enjoy the challenge of answering them. Here are some pics from her last day. 

Take a Trip Tuesday

We went on our Annual Strawberry picking trip today. However today was special because Gabby got to come for the first time. I started Strawberry picking with Annie when she was three and I told her that when Gabby turned three she would get to come with us.  We had a great time. Gabby understood the difference between picking the red ones and not the green ones.

We had our traditional strawberry shortcake for lunch and now for the second year in a row we made strawberry pie! yum!

Hiatus

I've realized that since the birth of Jack I haven't blogged! I guess three kids, a full time job, husband, and ministry can keep you pretty busy. However now that our family is moving I'd love to blog to keep it as a journal of some sort for our family. As I look back at the positive done it is like looking through and old family album. I realize I've lost about 20 months, but if I continue now I know someday I'll look back, like I just did and be thankful.

Cloth diaper give away!!!

We have been cloth diapering for over a year now with Gabby and I love it!! I love encouraging other moms to try it out as well. Well here is a chance. My college friend, Jen, is having a giveaway on her blog! Check it out and good luck!! The Rieses Pieces

 

This is our Cloth Swimmy diaper

Name writing

I've been trying to teach Annie how to write her name before she begins school and so today we got a bit creative. However, now her dad wants me to show her how to write her full name instead. ;-) Her name as 9 letter but at least there are only 5 letters in it, since she has doubles. ;-)

Preschool/Daycare 2010-2011

Scrapbooking design personalized with Smilebox

Gabrielle's 1st Birthday

This photo album customized with Smilebox

Monthly Milestones - 8 mos

 Gabby is 8 months old!

In Gabby's 7th month...

She got her first twelve day of Christmas gift, which is our family tradition.

First Christmas

Started on her sippy cup which was in her Chrsitmas Stocking

She continues to go to anyone and loves people. She reminds me so much of her sister at this age.

She attended her first funeral for my grandpa Marguy, which the kids call VuVu. I wish he could have met my girls before he passed away, but we never made it to Conneticut. It was such a celebration of this life having all the family together and seeing all of my cousins and watching our children interact with one another.

Started crawling forward and I can't believe I don't have a video.  I have many videos where she had been crawling, but by the time I got the camera she stopped!:-(

A Series of FORTUNATE Events

It was our 11 month anniversary. Keep in mind we had been dating off and on for 9 years at this point, so 11 monthes was a BIG deal! Plus 11:11 is special to us. We hadn't been on a date in a while because he was going to UT and I was teaching in PA, so he was home for break.

I got a new outfit for this special date and at the mall I ran into a friend, Jeff Grasso , who said, "I bet you are getting engaged tonight." I thought NO WAY!

Anyway he picked me up about 4:30pm and said he had forgotten something at his house. When we got there he told me to come in, but I told him I'd wait because I had to finish up something on his gift. So then he told me to come in when I was done. I went in and he called me to their living room. When I sat down on the couch he handed me a book he had made. It was called, "The Story of Us". As I read through it I really had no idea what was coming I was just thinking this was a great anniversary/Christmas present.

At the end there was a page about how being away from me he realized he wanted to spend all of his time with me (I started to possibly think it was what it was) and on the next page was a pink packet with a string coming out. I pulled the string and the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen was on the end of it! I had NEVER showed him a ring or told him what I wanted. My belief was he would know me so well he would know what I would like and still to this day my ring is the prettiest that I've ever seen...at least to me!

Side note about the ring: The night before I was out with Kristi Walker and I saw a ring just like mine on a billboard and I said, "I love that ring!" Kristi said she thought I knew and couldn't believe that I had just pointed to a ring that was just like the one Josh had gotten me!

I, of course, said YES and I didn't cry through the whole thing because I was so SHOCKED! Josh however did tear up when he asked me and it was the sweetest thing!

Sorry for the poor quality. I had to scan them.

We went to the Dietrich theather, and old theather and saw of A Series of Unfortunate Events...quite the opposite title of our life together ;-)

Monthly Milestones - 7 mos

 

Gabby turns 7 months! 

In Gabby's 6th month she....

 Had her first Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Wilson's house. Here are most of the grandkids on the Mosher side of the family

She likes to have what her sister has! Check this out!

Started wearing her hair in pigtails! 

Went on her first Christmas tree hunt and was so good even thought it took us like 45 minutes in the freezing cold. She never made a sound!

 

 She started to crawl, but backwards.  One day at daycare they said she crawled underneath all the cribs and made her way down the room and when she got there she laid down to fall asleep!

She still loves her sister! Annie can get her really laughing and she just want to be near her. They are so precious together.

She started licking her lips to show us she was hungry! This video is too funny!

She continues to be joyful and happy unless she needs something and has such a calm personality. She loves clapping. She eats three meals a day with 3 6oz bottles and at all of her fruits and veggies and likes them all.

Monthly Milestones - 6 Mos

Today Gabby turns 6 months!

It is hard to believe that Gabby is 6 months old already! She has grown so much this month and brings such joy to our household! I continue to be amazed at the connection I see growing between Annie and Gabby and pray that it will continue as they grow older.

She now eats 3 meals a day. Her meals consist of rice cereal, fruits and veggies. She back down to 6 oz bottles of milk and only gets 3 a day. She continues to sleep through the night although every now and then will wake up at around 4 am talking to herself. As soon as I put her in bed with me she falls back asleep.

Here are some things she did in her 5th month:

1. Started sitting up, although for very short periods of time until today!
2. Started Veggies and Fruits (sweet peas, green beens, squash, bananna, sweet potatoes, applesauces -in that order).
3. She likes to reach out for us to pick her up and likes to touch our faces.
4. She likes to wide open mouth kiss us!
5. She is very responsive to us, people and objects. She babbles, coos and screams as demonstrated in the video above to show excitement and happiness!
6. She can grab objects and bring them to her mouth. Her motions are much more purposeful this month.
7. She will follow you around the room with her eyes and if Josh or I leave the room she stretches out her neck to try and see us! It is the funniest thing!
8. She does not like to be left alone anymore! She will scream or shout if I put her in her bouncer and she can't see me!
9. She likes to try and pull the spoon up to her mouth, especially when Daddy is feeding her.
10. At dinner when we are eating she wants to eat. She reaches and grabs for every thing! She likes to sit and be apart of the dinner table.
11. Easily entertained, especially by her sister!