Refreshed (BSLC)

Some people just have a way of making you feel rejuvenated, energized, motivated, and plain old good.

My dear friend Tiffany is like that.  What a blessing she has been in my life the last 15+ years let alone just the last few!

Family Music Time had parent play date night last night and we (after being torn as to what to do and wanting to be in two places at one time) bypassed our monthly Young Adults Beef O'Brady's bible study (how cool is that!? You should come some time!) and went to the parent play date.  It was so informative and will help us make the most of our time as members of the Family Music Time community.  Keegan has just grown leaps and bounds in so many facets due to this music class - and it's only our second semester!

But alas, Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church was not far from our minds!  After the music class we went to dinner and talked all things BSLC.  We are so excited about some new areas for growth and ministry in our small little church that is also growing leaps and bounds. 

It was an interesting discussion and realization that WE will be the potential future leadership of the church.  Some day WE will take over the reigns and so it is important to get involved now and keep our children and families and friends all growing together in a positive way.  Also by WE I don't just mean Tiffany and I, but Tiffany and I know we are a part of the WE.

We both really believe that God put is in this church for a reason, whether it just be for our benefit or to serve as well. Okay, God, we hear you loud and clear! 

Our discussion of course came to vocation.  We have our standard vocations and things we each feel compelled to be a part of.  Our vocations in life cross many paths with each other and we can build off of each other's strengths and support each other's weaknesses. We also talked about how vocations don't necessarily mean always enjoying what you do or the easy way etc.  Sometimes our purpose, our vocations, can be the hard thing to do and include sacrifice. It's also so easy to question when I feel like my own life is a mess and broken. Man am I broken.  Simul justus et peccator. But I digress....

I still don't completely know what I am to do in life.  I truly, truly feel that God's path for me is to be a mom.  I feel I am meant to have more kids and to be hands on in raising them.  What more noble cause is there?! I also truly, truly feel God wants me to be at BSLC and to serve him there.  Of course going to worship each week is something He wants.  But that's not really serving Him.  That's reinforcement of his grace and a recharge for the week. He wants me to Serve.  I think this next year is going to start bringing some of this to the forefront.  For now, I am ready!  I have my co-conspirator Tiffany by my side which just makes me more energized. I may struggle along the way but I know His Will will be done.

Church Commitments

It's weird, but I really feel like there is a specific purpose or role for me that God has set out above and beyond my primary roles of wife and mother (and employer but I really wouldn't say that my "work" role is a calling but more of a means to an end).  Of course, I do not know what this role is. 

I feel a connection with my church home.  Not just a "I love the people and it makes me feel good" sort of connection but more of a "a-ha, I hear you God, this is where I am supposed to be whether I want to fight it or not."  (And I do love the people!)

Sure it would be easier to sleep in on Sundays, skip bible study, and keep my comfortable relationship with the Lord that requires minimal commitment.  Sometimes I crave that. Then I think how ridiculous that is. Jesus said pick up your cross and follow me REGARDLESS of what you may lose.  And how blessed to be in position to not lose much (other than that sleep on a Sunday morning - although Keegan kind of puts a stop to that anyways).  I do know I should not let my responsibilities as wife and mother suffer for my involvement in church activities but really they don't.  If anything, they are enriched by it.

I had a series of events, both good and bad, that have solidified my spot in my church family.  God directing me every step of the way through blessings and sorrows.

Why am I writing about this?  What am I rambling on about?  Well I feel like I am at a crossroads. 

Commitments.  A crossroads as to what to commit to and what those commitments entail.  They can all kind of go hand in hand.  It will be interesting to see what these next few months bring.

Sometimes I want to step back and not step up. Why?  I don't know.  To not be commited.  To not have the accountability that comes along with commitment.

Then I think, "I would rather have my hands full, than my hands empty." What a blessing it is to have a house to clean, a child to raise, activities to do, things to learn, people to help. Sometimes it is all about how you think of it.

To be continued.....

Keegan's Buddy Zachary turned 2!

This weekend we went up to Orlando to celebrate Keegan's buddy Zachary (our great friends' son) turning two!  He was born 1 month before Keegan.  I cannot believe how time is flying. 

What a great weekend it was too!  The party was at Gymboree.  How I wish we had a Gymboree in Fort Myers!  It's kind of like music class but lots of activity.  The parties there are a lot of free play, then some group play, then food, then a little more free play.  Keegan had a blast!  Z-man's party was there last year as well.  It was completely perfect (and completely different) both years!  Last year, Keegan couldn't walk yet but he still enjoyed climbing on everything.  This year he was a complete Monkey!

Unfortunately, I still only have my iPhone for a camera (I know what I am looking for Black Friday!) so these are some of the better shots.

To top off our great weekend - we went to Seaworld to walk their trick or treat area and see the Sesame Street show.  Keegan was thrilled to see Elmo and Abby Cadabby (his class is 3/4 girls so he definitely knows who Abby is!).  He didn't really want to be too up close and personal to them though. Here he is saying "fiiissshhhh" instead of cheese.

On the Road to Organization: Medical Binder

I am trying hard to get organized.  Really, I am.  I need to.  My life is hectic and chaotic and completely disorganized.  My goal before the year is out is to be way more organized.  One of our big to-do list items is to organize our garage.  That will take days.  For now, I am trying to organize our life in to binders.  Fun.  Truly.

Aside from my work-in-progress household binder, I decided that all of our kid(s) should have a medical binder.  I actually had most of Keegan's doctor visit papers in a folder but that system was only organizational as in they were in one place but not separated, not quick to shuffle through....

For Keegan's navy binder I made a basic front cover and spine label and then on the inside I did a coordinating Table of Contents page.  I added 8 pocketed page dividers, whole punched the paperwork I already had, put it all in order, and bingo = 1 medical binder complete.  Well mostly complete.  I am sure in organizing said garage that is still in a disarray from our move I will come across some more papers to add.  But mostly complete.  Now when he has a well visit, sick visit, or anything in between, I can grab the binder and go.

A Week of Lunches 10-19-12

I really need to be better about sending a variety of foods with Keegan for school lunches.  Sometimes I send vegan hot dogs, sometimes I send lentil "meat" loaf, sometimes perogies - all things he has loved at some point or another.  The thing is, he doesn't always eat them.  He can be SO fickle.  Which is very frustrating.  So, my go-to meal is PB&J.  I am hoping to broaden the lunch horizon soon enough.

What do you send a vegetarian toddler to school with that they can be self sufficient in eating?  Also I have about 5 minutes in the morning to put his lunch together (totally my fault).

The awesome thing about PB&J - it is so EASY to make it so CUTE.  At least in my opinion.

Here are Keegan's lunches for the week:

Monday he had a pumpkin shaped PB&J, organic fruit snacks (no gelatin!), soy yogurt, applesauce, and peaches. The pumpkin was in honor of our foray into the pumpkin patch on Sunday.

Tuesday he had a medium fish shaped and two small star shaped PB&J sandwiches, a banana, soy yogurt, applesauce, and Annie's Organic little bunny cheese crackers. The fish was in honor of his LOVE of Finding Nemo (and incessant demands to see Nemo's daddy) and stars are kind of a favorite shape of his right now.

Wednesday he had dinosaur shaped PB&J sandwiches, organic yogurt, applesauce, an organic fruit snack, and sweet potato crisps/puffs (he's apparently so over those).  It was kind of an uninspired lunch.  Roar.

Thursday he had a leaf shaped PB&J sandwich, organic yogurt, applesauce, a banana, and a chocolate heart cookie from Ikea. 

 

Side Note: I've been eyeing a (different) leaf cookie cutter on clearance at Target and I should have bought it. It's a metal one. The plastic one I have was apparently no match for cheap bread. I also should not buy cheap bread anymore. Publix usually has the good stuff BOGO but since they didn't I grabbed the under $1 wheat (not 100% whole wheat so really not much of a purpose to it). Shame on me.



Friday he had one large and two small star shaped PB&J sandwiches along with an organic yogurt pouch, applesauce, a banana, and organic fruit snacks which are his beloved "treats." The star shaped sandwiches are because it seems that stars are definitely his favorite shape and he was tickled pink to have stars in his lunch on Tuesday.

I have to thrown in an additional picture of today's lunch because his sandwiches were packed in a total splurge item but totally cute - an Elmo sandwich container:

***Yes, the shadows in my pictures are awful, I have to work on that!***

I send him with water and lately a small organic juice box or a cup of some form of milk although he refuses to drink most forms of milk nowadays - cow, almond, soy, soy fruit and protein..... he eats yogurt everyday and has cheese and other forms of calcium.  No worries.

Of course each meal had to have 4 sides.  I think Keegan is a bit like me with his habits and obsessiveness.  Not with the 4 sides.  Not yet at least.  Poor Jay.

Picture Day!

Today is picture day at Keegan's school. We are really hoping he decides to smile this time.  They had their pictures done in the spring - his first ever school pictures.  I was just SURE I was going to have to buy them.  I mean, come on, his FIRST school pictures.  Then we got the proofs.... I couldn't tell if he was terrified, confused, or annoyed.  I just could not spend money on them.  I did save the proofs as a keepsake to embarrass him by laugh at in years to come.  But today, today, we have high hopes!

Keegan was dressed in a fancy new outfit of cute blue corduroys and a white short sleeve argyle design sweater.  Even his shoes are corduroy.  Swoon.

Here he is trying to smuggle in his Minnie Mouse puzzle piece:

Time for school!

Let's go mom!

Don't worry mom, I've got the keys.

See?  I've got this!



Fall Fun (and Foolery)

This weekend was jam packed with fun and foolery - or at least it felt that way!  Our nephews spent Friday and Saturday night with us.  Take 3 individually (ok - one of them is actually relatively calm when alone) hyper little boys and put them together for nearly 48 hours and what do you get?  A tornado of activity!

Keegan could not contain his excitement that his cousins were over!

He even had a buddy to eat his beloved "bice" (rice) with:

There was lots of playing with cars and Legos, movie watching, coloring, and shrieking to fill the time!  The first night my younger nephew wasn't quite feeling being in unfamiliar surroundings and his crying woke Keegan up.  Then my nephew went back to sleep just fine, but Keegan did not want to sleep in his crib if his cousins were having a slumber party on his floor!  The problem was Keegan wanted to cuddle with his cousins (too cute) but they wanted to rest in peace.  So Keegan was up for about 4 hours in our bed kicking us, talking to us, climbing on us.... we were exhausted Saturday!

Saturday brought music class for Keegan where he could see his love Avery.  He was still quite cheeky and hyper!  My mom watched the boys for several hours so that Jay and I could nap while Keegan napped.  Then the insanity began all over again :-) 

After dinner I put Keegan down and (other than waking up briefly twice in the middle of the night - once being quite concerned for Nemo's daddy since he is super obsessed with Finding Nemo and especially Nemo's daddy) he slept through the night!  My nephews helped me as I started the crafting for Keegan's 2nd birthday party.

I had to cut all sorts of homemade Bakugan party favors for my nephews because the oldest nephew decided it was Big Mickey's (mouse that is - his favorite stuffed animal) birthday today. By the time they went to sleep, they slept through the night!  Score! I had told my nephews about the baby monitor so that they knew I could hear them and they would be safe.  Bright and early in the morning, my youngest nephew kept repeating in to the monitor "Aunt Keri, Keegan wants out. Aunt Keri, Keegan wants out."  Good looking out.


Today was church - thank you Jesus! Keegan stayed home with Jay while I went to service by myself today. It feels weird without my Keegan there but he's still kind of snotty.  I asked Jay to give Keegan a nebulizer treatment while I was gone. He's becoming an old pro:

 

 

Then this evening we decided to go to the pumpkin patch - it is THE pumpkin patch in Lehigh hehe...  The church at the corner of Leeland Heights and Richmond always has a pumpkin patch each year.  I've never gone, but always drive past it.  Last year Kara and I took Keegan to Lakes Park but he wasn't walking yet.  Not only is he walking this year, but he is running and in to everything too!  He had a blast!  It was so much fun to watch him chase around to find his beloved pumpkins!

 

 

 

 

To top off our evening, we went to Beef O'Brady's.  They are supposed to have some Oktoberfest type specials.  Jay had sausage.  Keegan and I had "normal" food ;-)  I did have a Sam Adam's Boston Lager beer which was fallesque.

 

Jay took in the football games while Keegan took in Disney Junior on my phone.  They were making the same expressions!  The pictures didn't quite catch that because Jay noticed I was going to take the photos so he started to smile.

 

I LOVE my men!  And I love fall!  I give God so much thanks for all of my many blessing! We topped off our night saying our prayers with Keegan - nothing sweeter than hearing him say "Our Father......"